Only one death [was:Re: Sirius was right, Dumbledore was wrong]

[pippin_999]

No: HPFGUIDX 93339

--- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, "cubfanbudwoman" 
<susiequsie23 at s...> wrote:
> Kneasy:
> > As for Sirius' death in the Ministry, doesn't anyone else find it 
> > odd that in this melee with spells zipping everywhere there is 
only  *one* death? Almost seems as if they weren't  trying the 
rest of  the time. Sirius died for a reason, and it'll probably be a 
much  more significant plot reason than Harry's emotional 
development.
> 
> Susan:
> Yes, it is odd.  I know that the DEs were supposed to be careful 
of  what they did, for fear of hitting Harry & causing the prophecy 
to be  dropped & shattered, but still....  
> 
> I'm not sure I see it so much as if they weren't *trying*, though.  
> [Are you (gasp!) suggesting a *plot*, Kneasy?? <g>]  I just took 
it  like all those movies or TV shows where there's a whole lotta 
> shootin' goin' on, but not much dyin'.  You know, where you're 
> supposed to believe these bad guys, who presumably spend a 
lot of  time practicing shooting, suddenly become bad shots and 
miss all the  good guys, or only land a glancing blow.  <

According to Sirius in GoF, Moody won't  kill unless he has to. 
Dumbledore himself apparently won't use AK under any 
circumstances. And all the Death Eaters are aware of what has 
happened whenever somebody tried to AK Harry--that's why they 
were trying to get the Prophecy in the first place.

But to shift to literary considerations, Sirius's death was 
perilously undramatic to begin with. It would have lessened the 
impact still more if his were but one death among many. I also 
agree that JKR doesn't think out her battles with an eye to tactical 
realism. I've never understood how the Ministry wizards in GoF  
who apparate into a circle around Harry and fire stunners all 
manage to miss each other. 

Pippin