[HPforGrownups] Re: Responsability for Sirius's Death

[Kathryn Cawte]

No: HPFGUIDX 84605



> sachmet96
> Number first to blame is Sirius himself. He knew that he shouldn't
> leave the house and did it repeatedly. So he is to blame for his own
> death imo. I wouldn't blame Harry (well not really, he bears a slight
> responisility in not listening to the adults who tried to protect
> him - how are they supposed to protect him when he does what he
> wants?), Snape (he didn't tell Sirius to leave the house, so how can
> he be responsible) or Dumbledore (who told Sirius not to leave the
> house). Ok, I know I maybe am not really objective as when I read
> Sirius dies my first thought was 'Oh, good it's him and not someone I
> like'. But I nontheless think it's mainly his own fault and
> Lestrange's.
>
>
>

Sirius was killed because he was on the'wrong side' as far as the DEs were
concerned, not because he was Sirius Black. So if Lupin or Tonks or
Dumledore had been killed in the same battle you'd be blaming them for being
foolhardy would you?

Harry is not at fault here, neither is Snape (because even if he'd continued
the lessons it wouldn't have made a blind bit of difference imo because
Harry wasn't interested in learning, partly due to Severus' teaching
methods, but I don't think you can blame him for not having the skills to
teach, and mainly because he *wanted* the connection)

The person who holds 99% of the blame is Bellatrix. We are only responsible
for our own actions in this world and no one (other than Trelawney
apparently) is prescient so all we can do is make the best decision we can
in the circumstances and then deal with the consequences. That's what Harry
did, that's what Sirius did. Harry didn't drag Sirius (or any of the others
there - yes we all knew they wouldn't just sit around and do nothing but
they could have chosen to do so, they didn't). Harry chose to risk his life
to try and rescue his godfather, Sirius chose to risk his to rescue Harry.
Bellatrix chose to kill Sirius.

The reason I say 99% of the blame and not 100% is that had Harry had all the
facts at his disposal he wouldn't have made the choices he did, however as I
just said we have to make the best decision we can and I'm sure that's what
DD thought he was doing by keeping quiet - I really don't see how someone so
supposedly intelligent could have misread everyone around him so badly, but
he did. DD created the situation that made Sirius' death possible but life
is all about our choices isn't it? (I seem to remember a certain long-haired
wizard saying something along those lines to young Harry). Sirius *chose* to
be there, Bella *chose* to kill him.

btw and on the subject of 'how are the adults meant to protect him if he
never listens' Albus doesn't seem to understand people at all, you can't
just tell a child (especially one who has seen as much as Harry) don't do
this, without providing any reason, and expect them to pay much attention.
People listen to instructions much better if they know *why* they shouldn't
do something.

K