Sirius Black

From Hpwiki

Sirius Black was the estranged eldest son and heir of the Black family. A good friend of James Potter and his wife, Lily Potter (and best man at their wedding), he was believed to have been his friends' Secret Keeper,(all though he was originally the Secret Keeper, but he thought that Voldemort was on to him so he convinced Lily and James Potter to make Wormtail (Peter Pettigrew) the Secret Keeper) and therefore responsible for leaking their location to Voldemort resulting in their deaths. He was framed by Peter Pettigrew (the true Secret Keeper) for the murder of 12 Muggle bystanders the day after the Potters' murder, and was sent to Azkaban without trial.

He owned and rode a flying motorbike, which Sirius leant to Hagrid in the time between the Potters' deaths and the altercation which ended in his arrest, so that Hagrid could deliver Harry to his relatives, the Dursleys, in Surrey.

Sirius was sorted into Gryffindor during his first year at Hogwarts, despite the fact that the majority of his ancestors and relatives had been Slytherins. He befriended James Potter, Remus Lupin and Peter Pettigrew, and formed a group of friends who called themselves the Marauders. The friends learnt how to perform the Animagus transformation so that they could accompany Remus during his monthly transformations. Sirius' Animagus form is a large dog, earning him the nickname Padfoot.

Sirius broke from his family at the age of sixteen, because his parents were supporters of Voldemort's regime, and went to live with James Potter and his parents. He was disowned and removed from the family tree, but still inherited the family residence at Number Twelve, Grimmauld Place and all its chattels upon his mother's death. His uncle Alphard Black gave Sirius money after the estrangement, and was similarly disowned because of it.

Sirius had one younger brother, Regulus. Regulus was a member of the Death Eaters, but according to Sirius was too frightened and tried to back out - and was killed.

In the books

Sirius Black is brought into full focus in Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, where it is revealed he had escaped the wizard prison, Azkaban, where no-one had escaped from before. Upon escaping from his aunt and uncle's house, Harry sees a gigantic black dog on the streets. When Harry reaches Diagon Alley, he discovers that Black is after him. Mr Weasley pleads Harry not to go after Black.

Dementors are placed at Hogwarts and in Hogsmeade to guard the school- they have a frightening effect on Harry, and he tries to learn magic to repel them through his new Defence Against the Dark Arts teacher, Remus Lupin. Harry sees the dog on the Quidditch pitch during a match, and again on the grounds with Crookshanks.

Much later, after a visit to Hagrid, Ron's rat Scabbers, grows nervous and escapes Ron's grasp. As they chase him, the dog appears again and attacks Ron, dragging him underneath the Whomping Willow. The dog is an Animagus, and reveals to be Sirius Black. Sirius does not want to kill Harry, but wants to kill Ron's pet rat. Lupin turns up and reveals his friendship with Sirius. Scabbers is revealed to be Peter Pettigrew (who was believed to be dead), and Lupin and Sirius attempt to kill him.

Eventually, Harry, Ron, Hermione, Lupin and Sirius bring Pettigrew, bound, out of the tree. Lupin, having not received his medicine, transforms into a werewolf, and Sirius is forced to repel him. During this Peter Pettigrew escapes and there is no proof that Sirius is innocent. He is captured by the Dementors and is put into the Dark Tower. Harry and Hermione go back in time to save him, riding him up to the Tower on Buckbeak before the Dementors administer the kiss. Sirius flys away on Buckbeak. It turns out he was the one who sent Harry's Firebolt, which he bought by using Crookshanks to deliver his order. He also gives Harry a note of permission to go to Hogsmeade, and he sends Ron an owl.

In Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire Harry recalls receiving letters from Sirius, sent by tropical birds. He writes to Sirius about his scar hurting. Throughout the book they consult Sirius a few times through use of Floo Powder. They also meet him in a small cave in Hogsmeade.

In Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, Sirius has been writing to Harry but like his friends his letters have been very furtive. Sirius realises how irritating it must be to Harry, and is more considerate in his letters, encouraging Harry not to get into trouble. He is first properly encountered in Grimmauld Place, shutting the curtains which hide his mother's picture.

Sirius is moody throughout the book. He hates being forced to live in his family's house which he ran away from when he was sixteen. He is not allowed to contribute to the Order very much apart from giving the house as Headquarters...

Afterwards, in the Battle of the Department of Mysteries, Sirius was killed by his "deranged" (as J.K. Rowling calls her) cousin, Bellatrix Lestrange.

Sirius In Interviews

Excerpts from the World Book Day 2004 Interview [1]

Rita: Whatever happened to Sirius' flying motorbike?
JK Rowling: Ah, good question. You'll find out, but the real sleuths among you might be able to guess.
Kelpie_8: Will the two way mirror Sirius gave Harry ever show up again?
JK Rowling: Ooooo good question. There's your answer.
Kyla: What made Sirius decide to send Snape to the Willow?
JK Rowling: Because Sirius loathed Snape (and the feeling was entirely mutual). You'll find out more about this in due course.
SiriuslyLovinSirius: If we ever see Sirius again, what form will he be in?
JK Rowling: I couldn't possibly answer that for fear of incriminating myself.
Cookie246122: Why did you kill Sirius? It made me very sad :(
JK Rowling: I'm really, really sorry. I didn't want to do it, but there was a reason. If you think you can forgive me, keep reading, you'll find out. (I feel really guilty now).

Links

Sirius Black Memorial- Remembering Sirius.