CHAPTER DISCUSSION: Chapter 23: Christmas On The Closed Ward

[huntergreen_3]

No: HPFGUIDX 107044

Lissa wrote:
>> I do still think Sirius thinks of Harry as a James hybrid. Not 
consistantly, and not like "this IS James." I think it's more subtle 
than that. Every time Harry doesn't behave like Sirius thinks James 
would have behaved, that's when Sirius gets disappointed. [snip]
 I would definitely attribute this to his freedom. In GoF, I'd say he 
thinks of Harry as Harry, and we aren't seeing that James/Harry 
dichotomy.

In OotP though, Sirius wobbles on his treatment of Harry. He goes from
encouraging him to do things that are truly good for him to trying to 
lure him into thinks that would get him in trouble. ("The risk is 
what would have made it fun for James.") I think Sirius's sanity 
starts to slip when he's virtually imprisoned in his family home. <<

HunterGreen:
I think too much is made of that single incident. Other than the 
first floo powder scene, does Sirius ever appear to confuse Harry 
with James? Personally, I think that that comment had more to do with 
that particular moment than with anything Sirius ever really felt or 
thought. Meaning that he was quite frustrated with his situation, and 
he thought that at the very least he would be able to sneak out to 
visit Harry. I bet it was a bit annoying to be rebuffed by a 15-year-
old, which is probably what prompted that statement, whether or not 
its even true. Oddly enough, as much as Sirius *hates* being trapped 
in the house, we don't hear of him leaving except for those two 
incidents, despite how he little stock he *appears* to put into 
Dumbledore's orders. I think that he (obviously) wanted to leave, but 
had to work himself into it. There had to be a reason.