Well, this essay is an absolute monument. Well done! I hardly know where to start in agreeing with you. :D
I also see Sirius as an alpha-dog. In fact, I speculated that it was he, above any of the others, who would have been able to "socialize" Remus Lupin in his werewolf form: dominating him as canines do. (Really - a stag and a rat?) And I think that that ingrained canine dominance/deference, alpha/beta is the vibe everyone sensed between them. Explains the physical touching, too.
You make a sterling point about Sirius dividing the world into persons and non-persons depending whether they are in "his pack" and I share your sad opinion of how he regarded Regulus. He scraped off his parents - how much more the brother who stayed with them, and enjoyed mutual approval?
[Eccentricity Alert] One great charm of my Regulus-as-Crookshanks theory was the sense in which the brothers had reconciled - however unknowingly on Sirius' part. "Crookshanks" protected him with his own body and consistently showed a special regard for Sirius, even into OotP. [End of Eccentricity Alert] :D
But the people in "Sirius' pack" did not have much in which to rejoice, by my reckoning. As alpha, he expects to be served, which has consistently included being entertained, even for all that he "loved" Harry.
If Sirius meant to set Lupin on Snape as a werewolf, I think I do know exactly what he was thinking:
Sirius was bored at school, knew he'd never have to work, and he'd had enough of it. He was a child of privilege, and chafing at any restraints on his life that that entailed. I think he wanted to run away and see the world - just like he ended up on a tropical island after PoA, sending mail by exotic birds.
Sure a non-person would be horribly cursed or killed, but that's what they're for and Snape deserved it for being uppity. Sure Lupin would have had to flee for his life afterwards. That was the best part! He'd have to go with Sirius, then, and be grateful. Sure, James would probably be expelled. Great! Then he'd be available to go, too! Road trip! Sirius was itching to run away.
I'm not convinced that that's all that was going on that night - but if Sirius needed any motivation, I heard the bells ring on that one when it hit me recently. :D
Of course I'm right with you on Snape as protector, and you state the case of love-in-action really beautifully. (And I do appreciate the reflection on Hermione in that, too.) I hope I can do half as well in the last essay of the series I'm working on, because you're 'way out in front of me. ;D
Wow. Just, wow. This one's going in permanent bookmarks. :D
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Wow!
Date: 2007-05-29 05:15 pm (UTC)I also see Sirius as an alpha-dog. In fact, I speculated that it was he, above any of the others, who would have been able to "socialize" Remus Lupin in his werewolf form: dominating him as canines do. (Really - a stag and a rat?) And I think that that ingrained canine dominance/deference, alpha/beta is the vibe everyone sensed between them. Explains the physical touching, too.
You make a sterling point about Sirius dividing the world into persons and non-persons depending whether they are in "his pack" and I share your sad opinion of how he regarded Regulus. He scraped off his parents - how much more the brother who stayed with them, and enjoyed mutual approval?
[Eccentricity Alert] One great charm of my Regulus-as-Crookshanks theory was the sense in which the brothers had reconciled - however unknowingly on Sirius' part. "Crookshanks" protected him with his own body and consistently showed a special regard for Sirius, even into OotP. [End of Eccentricity Alert] :D
But the people in "Sirius' pack" did not have much in which to rejoice, by my reckoning. As alpha, he expects to be served, which has consistently included being entertained, even for all that he "loved" Harry.
If Sirius meant to set Lupin on Snape as a werewolf, I think I do know exactly what he was thinking:
Sirius was bored at school, knew he'd never have to work, and he'd had enough of it. He was a child of privilege, and chafing at any restraints on his life that that entailed. I think he wanted to run away and see the world - just like he ended up on a tropical island after PoA, sending mail by exotic birds.
Sure a non-person would be horribly cursed or killed, but that's what they're for and Snape deserved it for being uppity. Sure Lupin would have had to flee for his life afterwards. That was the best part! He'd have to go with Sirius, then, and be grateful. Sure, James would probably be expelled. Great! Then he'd be available to go, too! Road trip! Sirius was itching to run away.
I'm not convinced that that's all that was going on that night - but if Sirius needed any motivation, I heard the bells ring on that one when it hit me recently. :D
Of course I'm right with you on Snape as protector, and you state the case of love-in-action really beautifully. (And I do appreciate the reflection on Hermione in that, too.) I hope I can do half as well in the last essay of the series I'm working on, because you're 'way out in front of me. ;D
Wow. Just, wow. This one's going in permanent bookmarks. :D