Sirius's death again (was Disliking the next to die)

[Jen Reese]

No: HPFGUIDX 95825

Carolyn:
> So, it appears to have been just a well-placed, non-killing curse 
of 
> some kind which took advantage of Sirius's position by the veil to 
> knock him backwards. Thrown by someone who took sudden advantage 
of 
> whatever position they were in (perhaps behind Bella). Dumbledore 
> wasn't looking for a start - he only turns to the dais after it 
> happens. And as you turn the page to the next chapter, its clear 
the 
> battle is still going on, its definitely not all over for another 
> several minutes yet.
> 
> Unfortunately, Lupin does appear to be in just the right place to 
> have done it, and he's the kind of person that Harry's mind would 
> just refuse to accept had a hand in it. But the slowly-recovered 
> flashback is another classic detective story trick..and Harry's 
got a 
> lot of thinking time ahead of him as he gets back to the Dursleys.

Jen: Wow! You've written a very good analysis of the facts at hand. 
While I don't want to find out Lupin threw that curse, (or if he 
did, that he was furthering the Order's agenda somehow and not 
working with LV), the idea that Harry may come to new conclusions at 
Privet Dr. would be an interesting plot twist.

Harry has a history of doing his most tortured thinking at Privet 
Dr.& Grimmauld. Left alone again, even if for the 'shortest time 
yet' according to JKR, Harry should still have time to allow his 
dark thoughts to rattle around. Reviewing the battle scene in his 
head may also reveal something he(we) didn't see the first time 
around, something that reads as a conveniently ambiguous bit of 
information in OOTP. It could be Lupin's actions, or an entirely 
different scenario.

Harry won't have too much time to think, though. The slow 
encroachment of magical people and beings into Privet Dr. 
foreshadows that his days of safety there are numbered. Dementors in 
the neighborhood last year--who will make it *into* the house this 
time around? All we know for sure is it won't be LV.

Jen, off to read the battle scene again....