Disliking the next to die

[a_reader2003]

No: HPFGUIDX 95803

--- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, "Arya" <dequardo at w...> wrote:
> 
> I *did* notice this.  I had heard the leaked truth that Sirius 
would be the one to die before OotP came out so when I read the book 
and that very first scene where Sirius appears, I was shocked (as was 
Harry) at the change in tone his character had taken.  The first 
thing I whought was that JKR was distancing us (or herself) from 
Sirius.  This little nagging feeling stayed with me throughout 
> the book and the decreasing 'role' Sirius seems to play. 

Carolyn:
I had exactly the same experience - I heard the rumour on our very 
respectable Radio 4 Today programme about two days before the book 
came out - the leak had come from some pages which had been stolen 
from the printers, so it was pretty authentic.

I therefore read OOP the same way, thinking 'no, please no', 
everytime his characterisation got darker, everytime she dropped a 
clue. She handled it just the way I have handled things I don't like, 
but will have to face up to.. steadily walking away, realistically 
looking the bad aspects in the face, trying not to glorify the good 
bits. Bracing us for what happens. And it worked; I didn't cry..it 
was just inevitable in the end (although partly because it was 
bloodless and so quick and mysterious).

But one of my biggest regrets is hearing that news before the book - 
I will never know if the fore-shadowing is really effective, or 
whether his death comes as a real shock. I shall be so careful to 
stop my ears at every leak before the publication of book 6 !

On balance, though, I am inclined to the conspiracy theories 
surrounding who killed him. Yes, he took a nosedive psychologically 
because of being cooped up, but in retrospect I find that aspect a 
bit over-egged, and as you say, very different from what we saw of 
his character previously. 

The gloomy lead-up was as much about teaching Harry a lesson about 
impetuousness as Sirius suffering the consequences of his actions. I 
tend to agree with the people who suggest that someone other than 
Bellatrix took advantage of the situation to settle an old score of 
their own. He didn't actually have to die - after all, no one else 
did.. isn't that a bit suspicious with all those curses zapping 
about ? You would have thought she could have expended a few minor 
DEs and a ministry wizard or two, just to add colour.


> 
> As to using this to predict the future, not so sure I agree on 
Hagrid (but I like him, so I am possibly biased) but did recall 
thinking early on that Molly 'mollycoddling' Weasley was sure getting 
on my nerves and that I wouldn't mind seeing her bite it.  I can see 
her going in Book 6.  Actually, same for Dumbledore.  

Carolyn:
Keen as I am on the tiresome Molly getting her just desserts, I feel 
she would suffer far more by seeing one of her children killed. Lets 
hope its Percy, and not the twins. One of those dying and not the 
brother would really twist my heart. The remaining twin would need to 
go out in a blaze of glory avenging his loss.

However, I also think the real gloom and doom foreshadowing points to 
Dumbledore. We are getting increasing mentions of how old he is 
looking - probably running out of his secret stash of Elixir of Life 
that Nicholas Flamel left him. End of Book 6 is my prediction, 
leaving it all up to Harry..