Sirius-Barty parallels / Poisoned Sirius (was:Re: Sirius as Father Figure...)

[festuco]

No: HPFGUIDX 131017

--- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, "horridporrid03"
<horridporrid03 at y...> wrote:

> Betsy Hp:
> Yes, both men are quite clever and strong wizards.  But Barty is able 
> to keep himself mentally together enough (while surrounded by 
> evidence of those Death Eaters that walked free) to completely fool 
> Dumbledore.  Sirius, on the other hand, can't seem to keep it 
> together enough to not viciously attack Harry in a manner clearly 
> designed to wound deeply, or to provide Harry a modicum of comfort 
> when Harry's afraid he's going mad, or to not sabatoge the lessons 
> Hrry desperatly needs before they even begin.
> 
Gerry

Well, there is a difference between suffering one year of dementors
and twelve years. Remember, Barty was dying after just one year, while
Sirius was still sane after twelve. He had a devoted house elf on his
side who persuaded his father to give him treats etc. 
Barty did only manage to fight his father's imperius after twelve
years.... And then only partially, he needed LV and Wormtail to really
get out, thoug he was in excellent healt. 

Sirus managed to escape, while Barty was rescued by his mother. Barty
was able to actively support his master in GoF, doing what he wanted
to do and knowing his despised father was suppering (great moral
boost), while Sirus was forced into inactivety in OoP. If Sirius could
have had a more active role, he would have acted very differently.
Barty was high in the game, no problems to be on his best there, he
was working for everything he ever wanted. That does not take the same
amount of strength that Sirius needed to go back into one prison after
having spent twelve years innocently in another. 

Sirius is at least twice the man Barty was an probably much, much more.

Gerry