[HPforGrownups] Re: Sirius without trial - a perspective

[Sherry Gomes]

No: HPFGUIDX 158852

Carol responds:
Actually, you're both right. That is, I concede that concern or affection
(not the right word since they're strangers, but the best I can do) for
Harry could have been a secondary motive (he did, after all, sneak a peek at
Harry on Privet Drive and somehow sneak into the stands to watch him play
Quidditch--how is it that no one noticed a great big black dog that looked
like a Grim?), but I think that revenge was the primary motive, just as it
was when he went after Pettigrew in the first place. He seems to be consumed
by the desire for revenge, the desire to commit the murder for which he was
arrested, at least until Lupin comes in and insists that Harry hear the real
story. (After Harry starts talking and Black sees how much he resembles
James, the concern for Harry becomes more important, maybe even taking
precedence in his own mind, but how could he "love" a boy he hasn't seen
since he was an infant and doesn't even know? His concern for Harry would be
based solely on the fact that he was James's son and the innocent victim of
base treachery on the part of Wormtail and perhaps an awareness of the fact
that he was Harry's godfather, whatever that means in WW terms. But love?
How is that possible? You don't love someone you don't know, on principle or
for any other reason. Any "love" (concern for his safety, affection, desire
to know Harry better) that Black feels for Harry at this point is, IMO, a
vestige of his (fraternal) love for James. WHat else can it
be?)



Sherry:

I am perfectly capable of loving children I haven't seen in years.  I love
my niece with every ounce of my body, and that was formed in the first year
of her life, when I used to babysit her for my sister.  If I had not seen
her for 12 more years, it would not have lessened the fact of the love I
have for her.  Every time she fell asleep in my arms, all the times I sang
her to sleep, because she was sick so often, every time she threw up on me,
all the diapers, they are all there in my heart, though she is 18 now.  I
can hear her voice as it sounded then and remember dozens of things about
her.  I've rarely seen her since, because I've lived away for so long.  But
that never stopped me from loving her.  Part of that is loyalty.  And
Loyalty is one of the truest deepest parts of a dog's character.    

I think it's very likely that Sirius was a constant part of baby Harry's
life, considering the bond between James and Sirius and considering the
godfather/guardian relationship.  Add to that, the years in Azkaban to
fixate on it, and I don't see how it's possible that he didn't love Harry,
and I do believe that was his primary motivation for everything in POA.
Maybe he doesn't show his love the way you or I would, but to him, taking
some kind of action was the way to show love, in my opinion, of course.
Even to the point of dying in his attempt to rescue Harry in OOTP.  No
matter how we can accuse him of being reckless and impulsive, for sure, we'd
all think he was a coward at least, if he had sat around headquarters
waiting for word.  I sure would anyway, because I know I'd be there trying
to rescue my loved one, and I'm not particularly reckless. Most of the time.


Sherry