Dept of Mysteries Veil Room (Sirius)

[Kelsey Dangelo]

No: HPFGUIDX 115009


Angie responds:
>> One thing we know for sure, then, is that either you or I will be 
disappointed, because I will be disappointed if Sirius is dead. :) I 
agree it is a good thing that JKR has children's characters that deal 
with death.  But I also think if her goal is to help with that, she 
should have written Sirius off in such a way that his death would 
could not be questioned.  Here, she clearly left the door open, so 
IMO it's not a case in which a dead relative suddenly pops back.  I 
agree that would not be good.  I would hope that any child reading 
the series would be old enough to understand Sirius's disappearance 
behind the veil can be interpreted as something other than him being 
dead. <snip> <<

 
Kelsey:

When I read that Sirius had died, I threw my book across the room. Along with every Sirius fan, I was (am) in denial of his death.

I think he is truly dead, although I hate it. There is too much foreshadowing before his death (he becomes more of a problem than a solution to Harry’s and the WW’s problems). There is too much closure at the end (Dumbledore, Remus, and Hagrid saying he’s dead and Nick saying he won’t be a ghost). And his death is teaching Harry too many lessons (not to mention readers).

On the other hand, Sirius had one heck of a tragic life (abusive/neglectful childhood, failing to save the life of his best friend, years in Azkaban, year on the run, year in “prison” of his family’s home). Sirius seemed to be such an important figure for Harry and the story (an entire book named after him). His death was sudden and left us hanging. Not to mention, mysterious (what the heck is that veil?).

So, here’s my theory and compromise. Sirius is dead, but we haven’t heard the last of him. Harry and Sirius are just too devoted to each other to let the ball drop at the veil. Harry and Sirius both risked life and limb and soul-sucking in order to save, help, and be with each other. The fact that there is a gateway into death (not to mention the mysterious mirror) leaves a literal opening for communication. 

Harry (the archetypical hero figure) will journey into the underworld. JKR isn’t going to cop-out and have Sirius come trotting back with Harry into the upper-world for a happily ever after. But there will be some sort of resolution (an allegorical way for Harry to say goodbye and to see Sirius at peace). I don’t think Harry’s going into the underworld just because he’s a hero figure. Something will get him there.

Also, I think that the two keys to Voldemort’s undoing (that he’s obsessed with never dying and that he can’t understand love) are both connected to Sirius (he’s dead and also the object of Harry’s love). I think that Sirius will play a key role in aiding Harry to defeat Voldemort. Maybe just by luring Harry and Voldemort into the underworld.

This may all be wishful thinking considering how much I really like the (very flawed) character of Sirius Black and hope that we haven’t seen the last of him or that his role in the saga wasn’t just as a shadowy figure and a corpse.

 
Kelsey, who should have seen Sirius' death coming because she's cursed into loving dead characters.