[HPforGrownups] Re: Sirius and Prank again? Fools Rush in where Wisemen Fear to Go

[Laura Ingalls Huntley]

No: HPFGUIDX 129986

A_svirn:
> I'd say that the fact that he was "young and troubled" doesn't
> diminish the potential wickedness of his intentions in the least.
> Would he be more likely to contemplate murder if he were mature and
> happy? I don't think so somehow. As for not properly realising
> consequences it's ... well, let's say I just don't buy it.

So . . . you think the Prank was an intentional, out-and-out attempted 
murder on Sirius's part?  You think it was actually his intention to 
get Snape killed?  Somehow, I don't think so.  JKR *loves* Sirius.  She 
admits he has many flaws, but, ultimately, she thinks well of him.  She 
cried when he died.  Do you really think she would admire his character 
if he were, in fact, capable of murder at 16?

> How dim
> should he has been not to know exactly what is more likely to happen
> if his classmate were to walk into a transformed werewolf?

Well, how dim do you have to be to let your guard down in order to mock 
a deadly adversary in the middle of a small, yet intense, battle?  
Honestly.  I think JKR has shown that Sirius's biggest flaw -- in fact, 
his *fatal* flaw -- is his inability to think things through and to act 
rashly.  He's bright, yes, in the sense that he can do well at school 
and preform advance magic at a young age, but that does not necessarily 
mean he's any good at considering the consequences of his actions.  In 
a way, Sirius is the consummate Gryfinndor -- he has all of the best 
qualities of the house (bravery, loyalty, etc.) combined with all of 
the very worst (rashness, bravado, recklessness etc.).

Laura