JKR CHAT: Sirius and the Mirror

[Steve]

No: HPFGUIDX 92159

K Rowling made some comments about Sirius in the recent chat. Sorry to
say that I think some people are taking this information to extreme
and in my opinion unlikely conclusions.

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Will the two way mirror Sirius gave Harry ever show up again?
JK Rowling replies -> Ooooo good question. There's your answer.

If we ever see Sirius again, what form will he be in?
JK Rowling replies -> I couldn't possibly answer that for fear of
incriminating myself.
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We could interpret this as JKR simply saying 'no comment'. That
doesn't mean Sirius will come back, and equally doesn't mean he won't.

However, if he does re-appear in the story, that doesn't mean he will
literally come back from the dead. We have seen James Potter appear in
the story several times, in Snape's worst memory, for example. But
while he came back into the story, he did not come back from the dead. 

Any re-appearance of Sirius could be in the same vein. In fact, I
would almost guarantee that Sirius will re-appear in the form of
memories whether they are in narrative, recollection, or in the Pensieve. 

One additional possiblilty is that Harry will able to communicate
BRIEFLY with Sirius by talking to him through the Veil in the Chamber
of Death. Keep in mind that someone now in the realm of the dead, has
much different priorities that someone amoung the living. Petty fears
and earthly desires mean very little to the ones who live in perfect
peace and tranquility beyond the veil.

Other than involving someone like Trelawney, I see this as the only
way to communcate with the dead. I also see it as a sufficiently
limited way of communicating with Sirius as to not disturb the story
significantly, and as not opening unresolvable plot holes. 

A greater, more exciting, but much less likely possibility is that, as
many have predicted, the story will require Harry to travel 'beyond
the veil'. That's not that uncommon a theme in mythology/fantasy. 

So, my point is that Sirius does not have to return from the dead in
order for him to return to the story. And, I take JKR's comment to
mean nothing more than the possibility that Sirius will return to the
story. Perhaps there will be some revelation in Sirius's backstory
that will be helpful to Harry.

Now, on to the mirror; my feelings are the same, the mirror will
return to the story, nothing more. It's a handy device just like the
Cloak and the Map. The Order now knows that failing to keep Harry
informed and failing to give him a fast easy effective method of
communication is very much to everyone's detriment. 

Whether the matching mirror, or the mirror's counterpart, will be at
the Order's headquarters, or whether Hermione will simply create a
matching set of mirrors is difficult to say. But the re-appearance of
the mirror in no way confirms, or in my opinion implies, comminication
with Sirius; it merely says that in the future, Harry will use it as a
handy communication device.

One devilish advantage JKR has in this type of interview is that she
can deny the person asking a question any kind of dialog. It's
Question then Answer, but no room or time for debate, discussion, or
any kind of follow up. Certainly, if there had been the opportunity
for discussion and follow up, she would have been force to correct her
mistake about Percy's age relative to Charlie. For someone who is
engaged in 'mystery', this format is very well suited to her needs.

Just a few thoughts.

bboy_mn