[HPforGrownups] Re: Who will betray the order?

[Iggy McSnurd]

No: HPFGUIDX 82856

Iggy here:

I just now finished reading the scene of Sirius' death, and have a few
observations:

1- Sirius was almost enjoying the fight with his cousin, Bellatrix, and was
taunting her.

    Only one couple were still battling, apparently unaware of the new
arrival.  Harry saw Sirius duck Bellatrix's jet of red light: He was
laughing at her.  "Come on, you can do better than that!" he yelled, his
voice echoing around the cavernous room.
    The second jet of light hit him squarely in the chest.
    The laughter had not quite died from his face, but his eyes widened in
shock.

    (OotP, ch 35, p 805, US ed.)

    It does not say anything to indicate that the second shot wasn't from
Bellatrix's wand.  Merely that he ducked the first one.  The shock he felt
could very well be from the fact that he never expected his cousin to be
able to beat him, or from the fact that he didn't see the second one coming.
There is also no indication that the second shot came from below the dais.


2 - An arc doesn't necessarily mean that he has to be blown up into the air.

    It seemed to take Sirius an age to fall.  His body curved in a graceful
arc as he sank backward through the ragged veil hanging from the arch...

    (OotP, ch 35, p806, US ed)

    The quote states that he *sank* through the veil, not that his body flew
through the veil.  Sinking implies that there was no gain in altitude to be
atributed to a shot from below, which is what would have happened if he was
shot from below.  Him sinking would indicate that he was either shot by
someone on his own level, or from above.


3 - Sirius probably had some inkling of what the veil was, especially being
in the Order.  Lupin and Dumbledore, even Luna (who wasn't in the Order) all
understood what it was.

    And Harry saw the look of mingled fear and surprise on his godfather's
wasted, once-handsome face as he fell through the ancient doorway and
disappeared behind the veil, which fluttered for a moment as though in a
high wind and then fell back into place.

    (OotP, ch 35, p806, US ed)

    If Sirius knew what the veil was, and had that sudden realization of
where he was going to land, I would definately say he would be surprised and
scared... we all would be.  If you knew that you were going to die
immediately, and you also knew that there was nothing you could do about it,
I'm sure you would have the same expression on your face as he did.  It
would be much like that slow motion moment of someone who almost sees the
bullet leave the gun when someone shoots them.


4 - There was no indication that Lupin was actually below the level of the
dais.  It is merely shown that Lupin intercepted him at ground level.  Remus
could just have easily been up a few steps as well, saw what Harry was
doing, and ran to intercept him.  As a larger adult, he would reach the
floor before Harry.

5 - Lupin seemed to be in as much shock as Harry, he just controlled it
better since he had seen more in his life.

    "He can't come back, Harry," said Lupin, his voice breaking as he
struggled to contain Harry.  "He can't come back, because he's d---"

    (OotP, ch 36, p807, US ed)

    "Here," said Lupin quietly, and pionting his wand at Neville's legs he
said, "Finite."  The spell was lifted. Neville's legs fell back to the floor
and remained still.  Lupin's face was pale.  "Let's -- find the others.
Where are they all, Neville?"
    Lupin turned away from the archway as he spoke.  It sounded as though
every word was causing him pain.

    (OotP, ch 36, p807, US ed)

    To me, these are indicators of someone controlling his grief over
witnessing the death of his last remaining true friend.  Whenever he could,
Sirius stood by Lupin, and even let him stay at his house.  They had been
friends since school, which would mean at least 20 years, if not more.  Had
Lupin truly hated Sirius and wanted to kill him, he could have just done so
without listening to his side of the story in PoA, and would have gotten
away with it cleanly.

6 - When he told Harry to "round up the others and GO!"  it is a reasonable
action of a man who wants to see the son of his late friends, as well as the
other students, get away to safety while those who are more experienced deal
with the Death Eaters.  This does not necessarilly mean that he was trying
to get rid of witnesses to a crime he was planning.


I hope this helps eliminate the feeling that Lupin is a traitor.  Lord knows
I don't think he is.


Just my herd of centaurs worth.


Iggy McSnurd
the Prankster

"Not all who wander are lost."

-- ABS FIRECAT  (and a quote from Tolkein, if I recall correctly.)