Sirius revisited

[a_reader2003]

No: HPFGUIDX 104358

--- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, "Jen Reese" <stevejjen at e...> 
wrote:
> 
> Even in Potterverse, sometimes a cigar is just a cigar. If JKR 
tells 
> me Pettigrew turns into a rat when he transforms, then we find out 
> he ratted out his friends, well that's enough information for me to 
> decide what Sirius' character is (and wonder why they never 
> suspected Pettigrew was the spy?). He can be ferocious, and might 
go 
> bad if provoked enough, but Sirius' true form is innately loyal and 
> eager to please.
> 
> Jen, loyal member of the Sirius Protection League

Carolyn:
Your point about Sirius-the-dog is well made, and I have often 
thought it myself. His essential nature seems to be all about pack 
loyalty to a leader, ferocious savagery if attacked, bounding about 
after sticks when he's happy. Not super-bright, but man's best friend 
and all that.

I can  see even the Shrieking Shack incident in this light - an 
opportunity to attack an enemy of his pack leader, James, coupled 
with a brattish teenage indifference to the consequences, and WW 
robustness about dangerous pastimes. And I'm sure he never really 
regretted his actions that night, or understood what all the fuss was 
about.

The idea would also seem to hold good for Peter the rat, McGonagall 
the cat, and the curious aptness of Lupin's name has been much 
discussed. But James the stag? What's that all about? Male deer only 
grow their horns for the mating season, and then they spend many 
months roaring at the top of their voices, engaging in deadly head-
butting fights with rivals, and jealously guarding their herd of 
does, which they have singled out for mating with.

All typical alpha male behaviour in spades, but what on earth does it 
tell us about James?

Carolyn