DD is dead, but is Sirius?

[Deb]

No: HPFGUIDX 133760

--- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, "Gail" <gailw73 at y...> wrote:
> It is interesting to note that DD appeared after death in a portrait 
> in his office, sleeping during H's visit to P.McG, (not ready/able 
to 
> talk /animate ,yet?) However, SB has not appeared, that we know of, 
in 
> a talking portrait. Perhaps he is not dead, having passed the 
curtain 
> while still alive?  I note the difference between portraits and 
> animated photos (imho): the photos are looped past history, like 
short 
> movie clips, while the 'painted' portrait captures the continuing 
soul 
> of the departed; portraits can initiate conversation and act in the 
> present. gw73


 I think the difference is that Dumbledore died a physical death.. 
either from the AK, the liquid in the basin, or the long fall off the 
totower... his body died and then his spirit went beyong the veil (a 
metaphor for dying). Sirius on the other hand died BECAUSE his body 
slid beyond the veil... he was not dead when he slid through that 
curtain
 In OOP- "It seemed to take Sirius an age to fall. His body curved in 
a graceful arc as he sank backwaad through the ragged veil hanging 
from the arch.... 
  "And Harry saw the look of mingled fear and surprise on his 
godfather's wasted, once-handsome face as he fell through the ancient 
doorway and disappeared behind the veil which fluttered for a moment 
as thought in a high wind and then fell back into place" 
  So IMO Sirius is actually more dead.. more gone from the mundane 
reality because he is totally... body and spirit... beyond the veil. 
Plus he was still relatively young and not of an age where the coming 
of death is anticipated and planned for. Dumbledore, on the other 
hand, is old, has been thinking and planning for his death for quite 
awhile, was aware that his death was imminent, and may have had time 
to leave a spirit essence behind. Or it is written into the employment 
contract for Heads of Hogwarts that at death they join the ranks of 
previous Heads and are honor bound (as one of the other Heads tells 
Phineas Nigellus when he balks at aiding Dumbledore) to give 
assistance and counsel to the current Head of the school. So signing 
such a contract may seal a spell that creates the portrait and the 
animating presence at the time of death.   

Deb