Responsiblity for Black's death

[A Featheringstonehaugh]

No: HPFGUIDX 80036

 I strongly disagree with  the idea that Dumbledore was responsible for Sirius' death. Sirius died because of how he lived; he was arrogant, impetuous, swaggering and bullyingly childish. In good times, these traits may be endearing.   In bad, they are irresponsible and dangerous. And the OOP was a chronicle of bad times. One might be tempted to defend his behavior given his long imprisonment, but remember - he behaved that way before his stint in Azkeban, but back in the good old days, his behavior was chuckled over and tolerated.  The "bad boy" image was then the stuff of Hogwarts legend. But times change and Sirius was incapable of growing up to meet the challenges of those changes  It's too easy to say that Sirius' confinement at Headquarters was the reason for his demise.  He was not in solitary confinement there; he was at the hub of Order activity and need never have been "lonely" from lack of companionship. He had plenty to do besides sit in his Mother's room with Beeky and
 sulk. What's more,  Sirius was an adult wizard, not a house elf incapable of disobeying his master's orders. DD could advise, direct, decree - whatever- but the fact remains that Sirius had freedom of choice and he chose to comply (however grudgingly) with DD's wishes .  I'd go so far as to say Sirius LIKED grumbling about his confinement.  It gave him the opportunity to paint himself as a victim and also as an "if only" hero..... "If only other people weren't stopping me, I'd whip that LV in a second."   Yeah, right.  Sounds  like a WW version of another wannabe hero growling, "Bring 'em on!"  from the safety of the homefront and massive security forces protecting his spoiled hindquarters. Sirius had an  inflated ego and that was his undoing. He gambled and taunted an adversary and he lost. Likewise it is too easy and sentimental to attribute the death to Sirius' devotion to Harry. That's what we fans of Harry want to believe.  That again, someone finally loves our boy so much he'd
 die for him.  Well, DD wasn't the only one not leveling with Harry. Why didn't Sirius explain what was happening and the reasons behind DD's thinking?  As his godfather - a position he seems to use readily enough when it's to his advantage and gives him a chance to throw his weight around -  he had an obligation to talk honestly to Harry.  The books are full of people confiding in one another, so it's not like this goes against some kind of WW Secrecy Code.  We know why the Weasley's didn't tell him - they honestly believed Harry was too young and the situation too dangerous for Harry to know. We heard them verbalize those reasons. They made a judgement call and stuck with it.  But notice that we didn't hear Sirius, the one person with real standing to do so,  saying those protective things. What we DID hear was Sirius offering vague advise about not doing magic and being polite but then goading the boy by comparing him to his father. Being surly and antagonistic to the very person
 the Order is fighting to protect. Some godfather.    
 
Sirius died of an overdose of hubris and no one was responsible for that but Sirius himself.   
 
AF 


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