![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
swatkatArgh. RL, I'm afraid, is going to be all kinds of crazy, and I may not be around very much in the next couple of months or so. Already the 'To Read' lists – fic, meta posts – are piling up, and I expect it will be worse as fandom goes crazy in anticipation of HBP. *g* But meanwhile, I have thoughts.
I have always maintained that Sirius' death, random and pointless as it may appear, is, in fact, very important to the story, and the death of no other character could've accomplished what his death did. We don't know how important it is in the overall plot arc – or if it is important at all – but it is very, very important for *Harry's* growth, *Harry's* development as a character. Not only does Sirius' death teach him that he's going to lose people he cares for in way Cedric's death couldn't have done, but it also teaches him what happens when *he* is reckless. Because Harry is, in a way, responsible for what happens to Sirius (the other people responsible being Dumbledore and Sirius himself). And even more significantly, Sirius is what Harry could be – if he isn't careful now. Re-reading OotP made me notice the similarities between them even more clearly than I did the last time round – the arrogance, the recklessness, the blind trust – it's all there. And that made me wonder if the adults in Potterverse all act as an indication of sorts, of what the kids could be, if they don't learn now and control themselves.
Take Hermione, for example. I maintain that Umbridge is certainly one example of what Hermione could be – whether JKR meant it that way or not. But even another, more plausible version of grown-up! Hermione, IMO, is Percy Weasley. The similarities between them are striking. Throughout the first three books JKR had emphasized on their similarities – they're both ambitious, both studious, both socially inept – Hermione hides it by being a bossy know-it-all, Percy hides it by being 'pompous'. Even more striking is the strength of belief that they show – Percy could walk away from his family (yes, he loves his family; I can explain why, but that belongs to another post) in order to stand by what he thinks is right. Hermione also believes, passionately – proved all too well by SPEW and the DA. Percy is, of course, also a gullible ass, and that is going to cost him a lot in the future. And this is something that Hermione could also become, if she doesn't learn and goes on with her dangerous "my way or the highway" attitude.
Or Draco Malfoy. Fanon often makes Draco a younger version of Lucius Malfoy, but I don't quite see him that way. But one character he *could* become – the way I see it, is Regulus Black. We know nothing about Regulus, except that he was 'soft', and that he joined Voldemort and died. But the more I think, the more it sounds plausible – because of the background they share, and because of Sirius' definition of him – 'soft'. That's how Draco is – he is pampered, spoilt, idolises his parents and quite blindly believes in Lord Voldemort, even though he doesn't seem to know a lot about what goes on behind the scenes. I can certainly see Draco becoming another lost cause like Regulus. (Of course, with the imprisonment of Lucius, things *are* going to change for Draco; we'll have to wait and see)
With Ron it's easier – we've known from PS/SS what *he* could become – another Arthur Weasley. He *is* ambitious – but he is not Percy, or Fred&George. He has got that same laidback, easygoing attitude of his father. All the same, of all the kids, he seems to be the one who’s made the maximum development in this area. In OotP we saw him take the initiative and try out for the Quidditch team; being the Prefect has also helped. Ron *could* become another Arthur, but he seems to be the only one who has learnt his lesson and isn't going to fall into that pattern anymore.
I have always maintained that Sirius' death, random and pointless as it may appear, is, in fact, very important to the story, and the death of no other character could've accomplished what his death did. We don't know how important it is in the overall plot arc – or if it is important at all – but it is very, very important for *Harry's* growth, *Harry's* development as a character. Not only does Sirius' death teach him that he's going to lose people he cares for in way Cedric's death couldn't have done, but it also teaches him what happens when *he* is reckless. Because Harry is, in a way, responsible for what happens to Sirius (the other people responsible being Dumbledore and Sirius himself). And even more significantly, Sirius is what Harry could be – if he isn't careful now. Re-reading OotP made me notice the similarities between them even more clearly than I did the last time round – the arrogance, the recklessness, the blind trust – it's all there. And that made me wonder if the adults in Potterverse all act as an indication of sorts, of what the kids could be, if they don't learn now and control themselves.
Take Hermione, for example. I maintain that Umbridge is certainly one example of what Hermione could be – whether JKR meant it that way or not. But even another, more plausible version of grown-up! Hermione, IMO, is Percy Weasley. The similarities between them are striking. Throughout the first three books JKR had emphasized on their similarities – they're both ambitious, both studious, both socially inept – Hermione hides it by being a bossy know-it-all, Percy hides it by being 'pompous'. Even more striking is the strength of belief that they show – Percy could walk away from his family (yes, he loves his family; I can explain why, but that belongs to another post) in order to stand by what he thinks is right. Hermione also believes, passionately – proved all too well by SPEW and the DA. Percy is, of course, also a gullible ass, and that is going to cost him a lot in the future. And this is something that Hermione could also become, if she doesn't learn and goes on with her dangerous "my way or the highway" attitude.
Or Draco Malfoy. Fanon often makes Draco a younger version of Lucius Malfoy, but I don't quite see him that way. But one character he *could* become – the way I see it, is Regulus Black. We know nothing about Regulus, except that he was 'soft', and that he joined Voldemort and died. But the more I think, the more it sounds plausible – because of the background they share, and because of Sirius' definition of him – 'soft'. That's how Draco is – he is pampered, spoilt, idolises his parents and quite blindly believes in Lord Voldemort, even though he doesn't seem to know a lot about what goes on behind the scenes. I can certainly see Draco becoming another lost cause like Regulus. (Of course, with the imprisonment of Lucius, things *are* going to change for Draco; we'll have to wait and see)
With Ron it's easier – we've known from PS/SS what *he* could become – another Arthur Weasley. He *is* ambitious – but he is not Percy, or Fred&George. He has got that same laidback, easygoing attitude of his father. All the same, of all the kids, he seems to be the one who’s made the maximum development in this area. In OotP we saw him take the initiative and try out for the Quidditch team; being the Prefect has also helped. Ron *could* become another Arthur, but he seems to be the only one who has learnt his lesson and isn't going to fall into that pattern anymore.
