Sirius revisited--emotional maturity

[Amey Chinchorkar]

No: HPFGUIDX 104805

<quote>  
SSusan:
Absolutely.  Mom of two little ones here, and this makes perfect 
sense.
I think you're right, too, that we were/are INTENDED to think of 
Sirius as one of the good guys.  And because there were good aspects 
to his character, I have continued to issue *tempered* or 
*qualified* "defenses" of him.  I think there were many good THINGS 
about him, but the recent spate of posts pointing out his failings 
have really made me reconsider the overall Sirius.  
I didn't put as much weight on the "I'm bored.  I wish it were a full 
moon" comment to Lupin as you did **but** the fact that he doesn't 
say "Sorry" or even "Oh, yeah" when Lupin darkly responds "YOU might" 
DOES say something about Sirius' essential nature.  In these 
situations [and I'd add the goading-Harry-in-the-fireplace one to the 
prank & the pensieve scene], he's arrogant and full of himself; he 
thinks of what will bring HIM fun & pleasure, not what others need or 
want.

Ally:

Ah, but Sirius has his shortcomings as an adult, too, doesn't he?  He 
says himself that you can tell a person by the way he behaves to 
those who are inferior to him and turns around and abuses his house 
elf.  A cruel thing.  He allows Snape's head to bang around when 
transporting him - a petty thing.  Even as an adult, he makes no 
apologies for the "prank" despite the fact that it endangered Snape 
and Remus, another petty thing.  He breaks the rules re: Grimmauld 
Place on a number of occasions - an arrogant and reckless thing.

What Sirius has going for him is his love and devotion to Harry and 
James, but outside of that, I think he's more than a little boorish.  
He doesn't seem to have a lot of remorse for things he's done wrong, 
and doesn't seem to care much about the possible implications of his 
impetuousness.  Despite having broken ties with his reputable 
pureblood family, he still seems like quite the elitist to me in 
OOTP.  
</quote>

Amey:
First question, was their friendship so formal that he needed to say sorry? And just for a simple comment? If I remember right, he said sorry to Lupin in Shack for believing him to be a spy. That was a much seriuos thing, and it needed some comment after 12 years. But I don't think Sirius was thinking of anything else except fun and adventure full moon brought. And of course Lupin didn't take it that seriously himself. (It's like Hermione saying she wished to see thestrals also. Gosh, that opens up another thread if it is a hint. Sorry to bring it up if it is FAQ). 
As for his shortcomings as adult, is he really a fully-grown normal adult? I mean, I don't want to post the whole thread of azkaban and others, so I will skip that part. As for allowing Snape's head to bang, Snape wasn't at all interested in hearing Sirius' defence in Shack, was he? Their rivalry is really bad. (Remember Harry and Draco, I doubt if they had done anything else in the position). I am not at all sure the Prank endangered Remus, I mean he was a werewolf then, so what the only danger was he being recognised as such. As for Snape, he is always taunting Sirius for being in the house, not risking his life etc. Is this not a petty thing? He fully understands the condition and still does the same thing, I agree with Harry somewhat, that this was one point which made Sirius come to DoM (of course along with love for Harry). Whatever DD says about Sirius not rising to taunts, it is a big factor. I am sure DD only said that to Harry because he didn't want harry and Sanpe's rivalry to grow more. 


Amey, a seroious defender of Sirius....



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