Sirius without trial - a perspective

[dumbledore11214]

No: HPFGUIDX 158856

> Magpie:
<SNIP>
If Sirius were so 
> motivated by revenge I think we'd have to see signs of it in GoF 
and 
> OotP when Peter is again on the loose. Ironically, Snape's the own 
> furious over his "prey" slipping through his fingers in PoA, iirc. 
> Sirius doesn't take off after Peter but wants to offer Harry a 
place 
> to live.
<SNIP>

Alla:

Yeah, posting this :) I just thought today that maybe Sirius 
infamous **eating rats** in GoF is 
sort of a word play on Sirius not executing revenge on one rat he 
would want to, but instead staying right where Harry needs him and 
eating real ones.


> zgirnius:
> I'm not sure what Carol meant by bringing Harry and Snape into her 
post, but
> I see Snape as a prime example of this idea in action in reverse. 
Based on
> his words and demeanor, he could not care less whether Harry lives 
or dies.
> Based on his actions...totally different picture.
> 
> 
> Sherry:
> 
> Ah, and here's where I say, and never the twain shall meet.  In 
Sirius I see
> amazing loyalty and love and fierce protective faithfulness, 
everything a
> dog is. and the animagus form comes from within the wizard.  A dog 
is loyal
> to a fault.  Sirius' actions constantly show me his love for 
Harry, which
> does not deny his hatred for Wormtail or desire for revenge.  And 
Snape,
> yes, we see his actions clearly, or at least I see his actions and 
interpret
> them completely differently.  <SNIP>

Alla:

I so do not want to get into another Snape debate, but since I am 
expecting to receive this argument any time now, I thought I will 
say something.

Yeah, still surprised that the integral part of Sirius character 
gets put on the backyard, so to speak, but I am expecting to get a 
counter that isn't it what we, who erm...dislike the character do 
with Snape, meaning pushing his **best qualities** away, etc.

Well, the huge difference to me is that Snape motivations so far at 
least can be interpreted many different ways (and I am being 
generous here) and so far I am happy to take a character word for 
it, if I have to.

I would say that to deny Sirius statement that he escaped because he 
was worried about Harry would be similar to me to deny Snape's 
statement ( if that ever be made) that he was doing things to help 
Harry, to save him, etc, basically when his motivations will be 
finally revealed in book 7.

Would I like it if Snape will confess to actively helping Harry all 
along out of the best motivations? Of course not, but would I deny 
this statement as a lie? Certainly not, because that would be the 
revelations moment, the moment of truth.

Sirius is an open book, IMO. He does not lie IMO and whatever he 
says about what he feels or does is meant IMO to be read as truth, 
unless when JKR wants to hide things about their relationship with 
Snape, but again IMO it is clear when things are not revealed fully.

If you like Sirius character, one would say that he wears his heart 
on his sleeve, if you don't well, you would say something with the 
same substance but in more negative terms, but the gist will be the 
same.

Same with his mistakes, if you like the character as I do, you would 
find justifications for his mistakes, if you don't - well, you don't.

But the mistakes remain mistakes, IMO. Sirius recklesness, 
hotheadness, rashness ( pick your favorite word) is an integral part 
of his character, just as his loyalty and his love for Harry is, 
IMO. IMO whether you like the character or not, it is there and yes, 
I am going to challenge the idea that it is something insignificant, 
when I see it as crucial to understanding the character.

Just as before HBP I would say that Snape loyalty to Dumbledore is 
an integral part of his character, together with his irrational 
hatred of Harry.

JMO,
Alla