Why Sirius Black Is So Important

Why Sirius Black is So Important

From a purely utilitarian point-of-view, Sirius is not the person who does the most for Harry. He’s also reckless, far from a perfect role model, and has enough latent issues to play mental health bingo.

But he’s the one adult in Harry’s life that prioritizes Harry’s safety and happiness over literally anything else.

Sirius has spent years in Azkaban knowing Pettigrew is still out there. But what pushes him over the edge and prompts him to stage an escape? Finding out that Pettigrew going to be at Hogwarts with Harry.

So he breaks out of Azkaban. He evidently goes straight to Little Whinging to check on Harry, since he turns up in Surrey only days after he had escaped from a prison in the middle of the North Sea. Not to speak to Harry, not to explain himself. Just to “catch a glimpse of him.”

For his part, Harry is far more open with Sirius than with any other adult. He feels as though he can talk to Sirius. Despite his reckless tendencies, Sirius listens to Harry’s thoughts and feelings patiently and without judgement.

It’s Sirius who Harry chooses to tell about his scar hurting at the beginning of GoF and about seeing Mr. Weasley’s attack from Voldemort’s perspective. Sirius is also privy to mundane things like Harry’s life with the Dursleys and Harry’s fight with Ron.

In the Department of Mysteries battle at the end of OP, Sirius speaks to Harry three times. And all three times are variations of “get out of here.”

Sirius Black would throw himself under the Hogwarts Express if it meant that Harry would live a long and happy life. Not because Harry is the boy-who-lived and his continued survival is the only way to defeat Voldemort, but because Harry deserves it.