Sirius observations was Re: Snape's Worst (and Best!) OoP Moment?

[pippin_999]

No: HPFGUIDX 132668

> SSSusan:
Oh, I don't have any quibble with you re: Bella, Pippin.  When I 
talked about Snape baiting Sirius, I didn't mean in terms of his 
going to take on *Bella* specifically.  I meant in more general
terms  of his rushing out to DO something... ANYthing... to be 
useful to the  Order -- e.g., to go to the MoM.  

Pippin:
Hmm, I don't think it was either rash or useless for Sirius to go to
the MoM. Sirius and Bella were the last two fighting when Dumbledore
arrived. If Sirius hadn't been there to stop her, who knows what she 
might have done? But she got into a grudge match with her cousin. 
It seems to run in the family, doesn't it? <g>

SSSusan:
> 
> So, while I don't think the 12GP scene was the cause of Sirius' 
> death -- i.e., that Snape "forced" Sirius into rushing recklessly
off  to the MoM -- I do still believe it was a very, very low point
for Snape in terms of his *intentions* when he spoke to Sirius 
about worthlessness, uselessness & cowardice.  

Pippin:
I'm with Dumbledore on this one; I don't think Sirius took it all 
that, er, seriously. He was bored, spoiling for a fight, and Snape
obliged him. Childish, but I don't see it as anything really
terrible. If Hagrid had been there he'd have banged their 
heads together. It's ironic that it's Arthur's arrival that busts
up the fight considering the way Arthur and Lucius got into
it in Book Two. Now, if Snape discontinued the Occlumency 
lessons and failed to report it to DD -- that would be terrible. 
But we don't know that he did.

> Pippin:
> > Also noted on my re-reading of OOP; when Sirius accompanies 
Harry to King's Cross, he's not defying Dumbledore's orders just
because he feels like it.The guard would have been one short without 
him  since Podmore didn't show.
> 
> SSSusan:
> Aha!  So Snape was wrong to "pick on" Sirius for that action.  
> Thanks, Pippin. ;-)

Pippin:
Not necessarily. It's a bit like the flying car incident in Book Two. 
Sending an owl and waiting for instructions would have been wiser.
It's not like they *had* to take the train --what about the Knight
Bus? On the other hand, there obviously wasn't any time to lose
when they went to the MoM.
 
> Pippin:
> > I think Bella realized she'd been stupid; that's why she says,
'the animagus Black' when she's speaking to Voldemort later. She's
trying to justify her actions by pointing out that Sirius was a
powerful wizard, but she knows she blew it. 
> 
> SSSusan:
> Now this intrigues me, but I admit I don't get it.  Can you say
more  about how she blew it and how referring to Sirius as "animagus" 
indicates her understanding that she blew it? 

Pippin:
Her mission was to secure the prophecy. Instead of doing that, she
indulged in a grudge match with Sirius. He was an animagus, and
that makes him a formidable wizard, and a worthy opponent under
most circumstances, but there were better targets available. Her 
Master  would have surely been better served had she not allowed 
Sirius to distract her from them.

Pippin