Quick Questionnaire v1.1

[dungrollin]

No: HPFGUIDX 168564

> Sherry:
>
> I don't think it's I or she could have just said that, when she was
> asked in an interview why she killed Sirius. But she said there was
> an important reason and that we'd know in book seven.

Dungrollin:
Thanks Sherry, yes, JKR said the following:

http://www.accio-quote.org/articles/2005/0705-edinburgh-
ITVcubreporters.htm
"I think you will realise why he had to go in terms of plot when you 
read the seventh book. It wasn't arbitrary although part of the 
answer is the one I have given before. It is more satisfying I think 
for the reader if the hero has to go on alone and to give him too 
much support makes his job too easy, sorry."

zgirnius:
A nice, long list, but does not mention my preferred opinion on the
subject.

Dungrollin:
Yep, forgot that one. Thanks. The new list now looks like this:

-----------------------
Sirius Black "had to die" (according to JKR) to:

a) Hide some facts about Regulus's history which Harry can't be 
allowed to find out too easily.

b) Keep ESE!Snape's cover – "I don't care if Dumbledore thinks you've 
reformed, I know better –" OotP, Ch24 UK p459. Sirius had begun to 
suspect Snape was cheating on DD, and had to be kept quiet.

c) Because he would have been a complication throughout HBP, Harry 
would have told him his suspicions about Snape and Malfoy, and Sirius 
would never have let DD hear the end of it until he got some answers. 
Answers which JKR wants to keep for Book 7.

d) Hide some facts about Snape/Lily/James history
 It's more 
convincing that Lupin was out of the loop than Sirius.

e) Keep ESE!Lupin's cover – Sirius had begun to find Lupin's 
behaviour a bit suspect, and/or knew too much (thanks Pippin) so the 
werewolf had him silenced.

f) Hide some facts about horcruxes – Sirius (somehow) has a load of 
information about Voldemort and his horcruxes (not through Reggie – 
see a) that was unavailable to DD, Harry and all others. Perhaps his 
family had something to do with Grindelwald?

g) Keep SecretAgent!Peter's cover – I'm sure someone could find a way 
to make this work


h) To hide something about what happened at GH – was Sirius using the 
invisibility cloak?

i) Because JKR wants Harry to be alone. Harry would have found it 
difficult to keep secrets from Sirius, and she didn't want anyone to 
help on the Horcrux hunt.

j) ESE!Sirius was taken out by the bad guys because he was in danger 
of blowing his cover, that's why Narcissa didn't blink when Snape 
claimed to have helped - Kreacher never passed any information.

k) Sirius will play a role in DH which can only be played by a dead
person. Possibly the specific manner of his death will play a part as
well (see Carol's theory). (Thanks Zgirnius.)
-----------------------

I don't know why I don't like k. Perhaps because JKR's often gone on 
about how as a children's author you have to be a ruthless killer and 
I'd feel it was a bit of a cheat if Harry and/or Sirius have an 
escape clause. I wouldn't mind if the help from beyond the grave were 
somewhat figurative, but literally? Not so much my cup of tea. Which, 
of course, rules out nothing at all.

I think I'd like it to be something about GH. Sirius did something 
(else) stupid that night, and never admitted it to DD or Harry. 
Something which would solve the mysteries surrounding that night in 
an instant (which wouldn't exclude communication beyond the grave). 
There's something about the way Snape says "... and it certainly 
helped dispose of Sirius Black, though I give you full credit for 
finishing him off" that makes me think Sirius was already on the 
Death Eaters' black list. The question is *why*.

Dungrollin
Wondering where the slavering hordes of FEATHERBOAS pouncing on the 
juicy ones have got to.