Sirius without trial - a perspective

[zgirnius]

No: HPFGUIDX 158839


> Alla:
> 
> People can lie,yes, so you think Sirius was lying?

zgirnius:
I consider it a possibility, yes, in the way that people often put 
the best spin on their actions. I also suggested that he might 
honestly believe what he says (self-deception). Sirius does not 
strike me as a character who reflects deeply on his own motivations.

Alla:
> I mean, if he was lying that he was escaping because he was worried 
> about Harry, maybe he was lying in the Shack that he wanted to 
commit 
> the murder he was imprisoned for?

zgirnius:
As I indicated, I consider his actions to be a far better way of 
judging his true intent than his words. I am convinced he and Lupin 
were about to commit the murder for which he was imprisoned, so I 
conclude that he did indeed want to commit the murder for which he 
was imprisoned. I also think Rowling wants us to believe this. She 
had Dumbledore, her occasional mouthpiece, explain life-debts to 
Harry as a result of this incident. Life-debt would not be an issue 
if Peter had not been in danger. Harry was in no danger from Peter 
when Sirius and Lupin made their decision, so Harry's well being 
could not have been a consideration at that point.

Alla:
> And I agree with Sherry - we saw clearly IMO what turned out to be 
> more important for him - Harry or revenge, when he did not kill 
> Peter.

zgirnius:
Of course, Harry did point out he was not suggesting letting Peter 
go. There would presumably also be a certain appeal to knowing Peter 
was in Azkaban...and also, I think Sirius is a character who would, 
generally, agree that murder is wrong. If Harry's actions reminded 
*Dumbledore* of James, I can only imagine they would even more 
strongly remind Sirius of him, as presumably Sirius knew James 
better. So he had a variety of reasons to agree. 

I just don't buy this idea that it is clearcut that Sirius loved 
Harry from the start of PoA, and that was his major motivation. I see 
it more as meeting Harry may have helped to rearrange his priorities 
and begin to return him to a more normal mental state. 


> Alla:
> I think both Sirius actions and words show that he cares about 
Harry.

zgirnius:
I never denied this.

Alla:
> Oh, and again his love for Harry does not mean that he did not make 
> plenty mistakes in his life. But I completely disagree ( not with 
> you) that his care for Harry well being is just something tiny, I 
> think it is a big integral part of his character.

zgirnius:
I also think it is a big part of his character. But I don't think it 
was on display all that much in PoA. I feel the events of that night 
had a transforming effect on him. Escaping Azkaban was good, of 
course, but I don't think he really started to get to a more normal 
state of mind until after he met Harry and won his trust (as well as 
that of Lupin and Dumbledore). I also tend to prefer this reading, 
because this way, Harry has earned Sirius's love.