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

[finwitch]

No: HPFGUIDX 131150

> >>Finwitch:
> >I think the idea of Sirius being fed that plant that causes
> recklessness etc. IS true. It hit me right as Harry was reading 
about
> the plant - is someone feeding it to Sirius?
> >As for Kreacher doing it -- Sirius wanted breakfast and began 
calling
> Kreacher. So if Kreacher usually makes his food he certainly had
> opportunity.
> <snip>
> >For all we know, Narcissa gave it to Kreacher with instructions...<
> <snip>
> 
> Betsy Hp:
> The first instance of unstable behavior, IMO, is the first 
fireplace 
> chat Sirius has with Harry where he tells Harry that he's a lesser 
> man than his father.  And that came only a week after Harry et al 
> left for Hogwarts.  That's part of the reason I doubt Kreacher is 
the 
> culprit, because it's before he's given the command to get out and 
> goes for a nice little visit with Mrs. Malfoy.

Finwitch:

Well, I interpret that Fire-place discussion quite differently. For 
one thing, the most beautiful thing of Sirius (god)parenting (in GoF 
in particular) is the way he's willing if not eager to risk 
everything just to be with Harry. Harry's upset and Sirius suggests 
meeting (which in some ways could actually be safer than the 
monitored fire-place - not if they meet in the cave and Harry brings 
James' invisibility cloak for extra measure).

Harry declines - 'not safe'. As if Sirius wasn't aware of the risk 
(which he was, but was willing to take it).

In other words, they can't meet because Harry doesn't have enough 
nerve. Don't forget that 'their daring, nerve and chivalry set 
Gryffindors apart' - which is a set of values Harry's 'stay safe' 
violates, and sort of undermines Sirius' willingness to take risks...

And well, just as Harry didn't appreciate his own safety all that 
much when Dobby tried to keep him from coming to Hogwarts... neither 
does Sirius. I'd say Sirius was disappointed that Harry didn't have 
the nerve to dare meet him... (and so Sirius would get out of the 
Black house he hated). And Sirius told Harry that he'd prefer a 
Dementor-attack to staying put in that house previously.

And what he said was: "You're less like your father than I thought. 
Risk would have been what made it fun for James". Not that he's a 
lesser man. More of a rebuke of not having enough nerve to take 
risks... they ARE Gryffindors, after all.

I wonder what would have happened if Sirius had been able to meet 
Harry -- shortly in the cave and then fly off on Buckbeak again. I 
actually believe they could have pulled it off without Umbridge 
noticing.

Finwitch