Sirius Black

Sirius Collection

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Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix

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and the Order of the Phoenix

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Summon Sirius's official Fact File

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Debate club: Sirius Black – role model or bad influence?

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__And a friendly warning: this article does contain some big spoilers. If you’re good to go, lend us your (extendable) ears…__

## Sirius Black was an excellent role model
We think it’s pretty obvious that [Sirius Black](/fact-file/characters-and-pets/sirius-black) was a role model. Fundamentally, he was a *good* person. He fought for what was right and was unafraid to stand against Voldemort. He joined the Order of the Phoenix not once, but twice. Despite being a pure-blood, he didn’t believe that he was superior to other witches, wizards and Muggles. He had a lot going for him and his well-placed morals were even more impressive if you think about the start that he had in life.

Sirius came from a family of pure-blood fanatics. Most of his family were Slytherins with ties to Dark magic. [Bellatrix Lestrange](/fact-file/characters-and-pets/bellatrix-lestrange) and [Narcissa Malfoy](/fact-file/characters-and-pets/narcissa-malfoy) were his cousins and they both were intrinsically linked to Voldemort. His mother was clearly a bigot – her screaming portrait reminding us of that over and over again. Sirius had grown up in a house where vile views were the norm and those who didn’t buy into the family philosophy were cast out – as demonstrated by the burn marks on the Black family tapestry. However, Sirius refused to fall into line. 

Even as a teenager, Sirius firmly rejected his family’s views, and was kicked out of his home as a result. We shouldn’t underestimate how difficult that would have been: no teenager should be forced out into the world on their own. As Dumbledore says, ‘It takes a great deal of bravery to stand up to our enemies, but just as much to stand up to our friends’. We reckon that sentiment extends to family too. These were the people that were supposed to take care of him, but even then he was willing to risk it all because he knew it was important to do what was right and not what was easy. His actions here are very much that of a role model.

Ok, so maybe there are a few not-so-great things that we need to address. It could be said that Sirius tended to be reckless – joining Harry at King’s Cross in his Animagus form could be seen as not an entirely wise choice. But he was human. He had been cooped up in [Grimmauld Place](/fact-file/locations/number-twelve-grimmauld-place) going increasingly stir crazy. He slipped up – but that should not mean that it negates all his other positives qualities. And surely, having a role model demonstrate that everybody can make mistakes is ultimately a good thing? Nobody is perfect and trying to be perfect will only cause you stress and heartache in the end.

And yes, there isn’t much of an excuse for how he joined in with the treatment of Severus Snape as a teenager. Yet, he was *also* a teenager and prone to poor judgement. The important thing was that he owned these mistakes later on, when Harry witnessed his actions through a Pensieve. 

But for all of Sirius’ faults, and Snape aside, there were plenty of examples of Padfoot embracing his friendly doggish ways and being caring and kind to others. The way he accepted Remus Lupin at school was a big testament to his character, for example. As a [werewolf](/fact-file/creatures/werewolf), a large chunk of the wizarding world would have rejected Remus – but Sirius embraced him for who he was, even becoming an Animagus along with James and Peter (a long, complicated and risky process!) to ensure that Remus would never have to endure the pain he experienced at the full moon alone again.

Then there was Sirius’ relationship with Harry. He was the father figure that Harry so desperately needed. For one of the first times in his life, Harry experienced what it was like to be unconditionally loved and that family doesn’t necessarily mean your blood relatives. Sirius also helped Harry navigate some complex emotions – remember how he spoke to Harry about how the world was not black and white? Or divided into good people and [Death Eaters](/fact-file/magical-miscellany/death-eaters)? That’s valuable advice from somebody who had experienced his fair share of horrors, but could clearly still find light in the world. Passing that advice down to Harry was so important.

Then there was his willingness to do anything for those that mattered to him. Some may argue that such a trait is reckless, but we think it’s pretty heroic. Those who call him irresponsible probably think he shouldn’t have raced to the Ministry of Magic when he learnt Harry had gone there on an ill-fated rescue mission. However, what did you expect him to do? His best friend’s son, his own godson, was in danger. Would Sirius have been able to forgive himself if Harry had come to any harm? These sorts of actions make it clear to see why Sirius was placed in Gryffindor. And that kind of love is something that we think should be admired.

Overall, there is no doubt that Sirius was a complex man. However, he was, at his core, a person worthy of being looked up to. He knew right from wrong, was willing to take risks, could see the nuances of the world and was unafraid to love fiercely. He might not have been perfect, but he was human and clearly showed that (in his own words) ‘We’ve all got both light and dark inside us. What matters is the part we choose to act on...that’s who we really are'.

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## Actually, Sirius Black was not that great a role model, when you think about it  
Ok, hear us out – by taking on the other side of this argument, this by no means is us saying that Sirius Black wasn’t a wonderful and captivating character, or that our hearts were not broken into a thousand little pieces when we lost him so early in the stories. We assure you, we were clutching our books in sheer devastation just like you. However, there were times in the books and films where the more rebellious side of Sirius could’ve put the young, impressionable Harry in even more danger than he already (frequently) found himself in. To Harry, Sirius was a remnant of the relationship he could’ve had with his dad, so of course Harry was more than happy to make dangerous choices with his newly found godfather! Harry, too, was a natural adventurer – just like Sirius’s old best friend. A fact not lost on Sirius, and a fact that maybe caused Sirius to be so reckless with Harry in the first place, just like he was with [James](/fact-file/characters-and-pets/james-potter). 

After the two become acquainted in *Prisoner of Azkaban*, there are numerous times where Sirius leads Harry (who lest we remind you is a young teenager at this point!) into troublesome scenarios. In *Goblet of Fire*, as a man on the run, Harry is often communicating with Sirius in risky ways – such as bringing him food on the outskirts of [Hogsmeade](/fact-file/locations/hogsmeade) or having frenzied secret meetings with him via Hogwarts fireplaces. Sure, Sirius was the one encouraging all of this, and the conversations were important ones, but by putting Harry in increasingly dicey situations, Sirius could’ve risked Harry getting in serious trouble at school – or indeed – got himself thrown back in [Azkaban](/fact-file/locations/azkaban), as Hermione is sure to point out.  

Things come to a head in *Order of the Phoenix*, after Lord Voldemort’s return, with Harry desperate for information during an infuriating, isolated summer at Privet Drive, designed for his own protection.  

All of these frustrations eventually culminate in Harry wanting to join the resurrected resistance group to fight the Dark Lord, the Order of the Phoenix – a group comprised of confidants of Albus Dumbledore, [Aurors](/fact-file/magical-miscellany/auror), teachers, and most importantly: adults. This request created a fascinating clash between Sirius, Harry’s living father figure, and Molly Weasley, who had acted as a surrogate mother to Harry since their first meeting. This exchange helps sum up our argument quite nicely…


‘He’s not a child!’ said Sirius impatiently.
‘He’s not an adult either!’ said Mrs Weasley, the colour rising in
her cheeks. ‘He’s not James, Sirius!’
‘I’m perfectly clear who he is, thanks, Molly,’ said Sirius coldly.
‘I’m not sure you are!’ said Mrs Weasley. ‘Sometimes, the way
you talk about him it’s as though you think you’ve got your best
friend back!’

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This blow from [Molly](/fact-file/characters-and-pets/molly-weasley) was quietly devastating– although Harry was happy to argue alongside Sirius – happy to be compared to his late father and to challenge Molly: “what’s wrong with that?” Molly’s retaliation was simple: Harry was merely 15 years old, asking to be initiated in an army fighting the Darkest wizard of all time – one that was intent on murdering Harry himself as part of his terrifying ascent. Call us squares, but Molly has a convincing point here! From a story-telling point of view, it is important that Harry was eventually able to remain privy to the Order’s meetings, but from a responsibility-of-care-point-of-view, Sirius was only encouraging Harry’s more dangerous instincts. At the time, Harry saw Molly as getting in the way, but can’t you see it all from her perspective? Why put this young teenage wizard, her son’s best friend, a crucial cog in this Wizarding War, in even more danger? And was Sirius inviting Harry into the Order for the right reasons, or did he just want his childhood best friend back? 

Although Sirius did offer sage, godfatherly advice to Harry, his rash decisions and, ahem, doggish personality caused more trouble than good – eventually leading to Sirius’s own tragic demise, and Harry blaming himself for it. If Sirius had only been less audacious, things might have turned out differently. But perhaps Harry Potter, James Potter’s son, was simply too much like his father for this pair to never not be enticed by mischief. 

***
So, there you have it. Two compelling arguments! But what do you think? Was Sirius Black Harry’s short-lived mentor, or too immature to take on fatherly duties? Join us next time for another wizarding world debate.


The striking similarities between Harry Potter and Sirius Black

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Harry standing outside Umbridge's office 

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There’s a moment in *Prisoner of Azkaban* – after [Harry](/features/harry-potter "Harry Potter") has discovered his godfather [Sirius](/features/sirius-black "Sirius Black") is not a murderer, but before Sirius has been recaptured – when a home with a real parent-type figure seems on the cards. Living with Sirius is an idea Harry jumps at, despite having, until very recently, believed Sirius to be a very Dark wizard. Which is a mark of just how lacking Harry’s home life has been – something Sirius understands. They have a lot in common…

## Both had miserable childhoods

Having lost his parents at a young age, Harry was brought up by a bunch of the [biggest Muggles imaginable](/collection/the-dursley "The Dursley Family"). Unaware that he’s a wizard, Harry has to deal with the Dursleys’ dislike and a contempt so deep it has him sleeping in a cupboard. While he’s fed, schooled and free from physical pain, Harry grows up without the love of family or the companionship of friends.

On the other hand, Sirius grew up with two parents and a brother, [Regulus](/features/regulus-black "Regulus Black"), but he was so different from the pure-blood-loving Blacks that he ran away at 16, an action his mother rewarded by removing him permanently from the family tapestry. The mumblings of [Kreacher](/features/kreacher "Kreacher"), Sirius’s very begrudging house-elf, reveal Sirius was hated by his mother, and the feeling was mutual.

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Harry's bedroom was the cupboard under the stairs for eleven years.

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## Both find comfort in other people’s families

Harry meets [Ron](/features/ron-weasley "Ron Weasley") on the Hogwarts Express and they bond immediately – much like when Sirius met Harry’s father [James](/features/james-potter "James Potter"). While [the Weasleys](/feature/the-weasley-family-tree "The Weasley family tree") become the family Harry never had, it seems [the Potters](/feature/the-potter-family-tree "The Potter family tree") did the same for Sirius. 

Harry becomes so firmly embedded in the Weasley family that Ron’s mother [Molly’s](/features/molly-weasley "Molly Weasley") response to the reminder that Harry is not her son is: ‘He’s as good as.’ Similarly, when Sirius left home it was [James Potter’s family](/writing-by-jk-rowling/the-potter-family "The Potter Family by J.K. Rowling") he escaped to. ‘They sort of adopted me as a second son,’ Sirius says.

## They’re both famous

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Harry has always been The Boy Who Lived and also becomes known – if not believed – for his insistence that [Voldemort](/features/lord-voldemort "Lord Voldemort") has returned. Meanwhile, Sirius is infamous for being the man who escaped [Azkaban](/features/azkaban "Azkaban") and, wrongly, Voldemort’s most loyal supporter.

With both of them facing distrust from – and, in Sirius’s case, reimprisonment by – a corrupt [Ministry of Magic](/features/the-ministry-of-magic "The Ministry of Magic"), they are also subject to speculation from the Ministry-influenced press. For Sirius this means he is literally housebound and, after a long summer at [the Dursleys’](/features/number-four-privet-drive "Number Four, Privet Drive"), Harry also knows the frustration of being kept away from important matters for his own protection.

## Both have suffered loss

With the death of [his parents](/feature/behind-the-scenes-james-and-lily-potter "Behind the scenes: James & Lily Potter"), Harry lost the opportunity to grow up in a loving family. But Sirius also suffered, losing a friend who was like a brother. Both of them have their lives literally changed by Voldemort’s actions: Sirius spent 12 years in Azkaban for a crime he didn’t commit and Harry spent 11 years at the Dursleys’, protected but neglected, deprived of love and friendship. 

## They’re natural leaders

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Harry teaches Dumbledore's Army how to do the Patronus spell.

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Perhaps those experiences of unhappiness, grief and imprisonment go some way to explaining the similarities in Sirius and Harry’s temperaments. Both hate to be idle. It’s obvious in *Order of the Phoenix,* when they’re each kept in a kind of limbo by [Dumbledore](/features/albus-dumbledore "Albus Dumbledore"), but it’s not just enforced protection they rebel against.

Within their respective friendship groups, both Harry and Sirius are ringleaders. Harry, for instance, refuses to listen to [McGonagall](/features/minerva-mcgonagall "Minerva McGonagall") when she tells him the [Philosopher’s Stone](/features/philosophers-stone "The Philosopher’s Stone") is well protected, and Ron and Hermione join him to retrieve it. What we know of Sirius’s school years paints him as somewhat less noble – encouraging James to hex [Snape](/features/severus-snape "Severus Snape") because he’s bored, for one – but, like Harry, he is pretty influential, with even James keen to impress him.

## They’re both rule-breakers

All of this means neither has a problem with breaking rules. When he escapes [Azkaban](/writing-by-jk-rowling/azkaban "Azkaban by J.K. Rowling"), Sirius – supposedly keeping a low profile – turns into a dog to track Harry and even breaks into Hogwarts. Harry has a similar disregard for his own safety. On many occasions – with the Philosopher’s Stone, and when he risks discovery by [Umbridge](/features/dolores-umbridge "Dolores Umbridge") to check on Sirius – this is motivated by what [Hermione](/features/hermione-granger "Hermione Granger") calls his ‘saving-people thing’. But his recklessness isn’t always noble. He does like to roam the corridors in his father’s [Invisibility Cloak](/features/invisibility-cloak "Invisibility Cloak"), and he wasn’t above sneaking into [Hogsmeade](/features/hogsmeade "Hogsmeade") when he was supposedly being hunted by his parents’ murderer.

This is behaviour Sirius indulges, even encourages, telling Harry: ‘The risk would’ve been what made it fun for James.’

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Prongs, Padfoot, Moony and Wormtail in their transfigured animal forms.

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Sirius is pleased both by how similar he and Harry are and how similar Harry is to his father. But, as Molly reminds Sirius, Harry is not James – and even Sirius has to acknowledge that, at 15, he and James were ‘arrogant little berks’. For all their similarities, this is where he and Harry differ – they may share a tendency towards overconfidence and rash behaviour, but the 15-year-old Harry is far more likely to listen to reason than Sirius ever was.

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7 of our favourite Sirius Black moments

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and the Philosopher's Stone 

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## When he lent Hagrid his flying motorbike

We may not have witnessed this first-hand, and, yes, in the days immediately after Hagrid landed the afore-mentioned flying motorbike in Privet Drive Sirius was hauled off to Azkaban, but still. Owning a flying motorbike was pretty daring. Giving it up to Hagrid was pretty generous. And leaving it behind in protection of Harry before heading off to confront Peter Pettigrew was pretty brave. So: daring, generous, brave – it was all pretty Sirius.


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## When he and Lupin revealed that Scabbers was Peter Pettigrew

It’s difficult to identify one standout moment from the infamous Shrieking Shack scene, but the truth about Scabbers is up there. Sirius’s revelations about Crookshanks were also pretty incredible. A dog that was really a human, working hand-in-hand with a human-like-cat to unmask the biggest rat of them all? The mind boggles.

And when Pettigrew was forced to transform, unwillingly, back to his human form, it changed everything. It was also the first time we saw Sirius and Lupin working together and understood who the Marauders were. Pretty special.


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## When he suggested Harry could come and live with him

The bond between Harry and Sirius was there from the minute Harry learnt the truth about Sirius’ involvement in his parents’ death, and of all the too-brief moments of hope that followed, this exchange was the most bittersweet:

> ‘Are you mad?’ said Harry, his voice easily as croaky as Sirius’.
> ‘Of course I want to leave the Dursleys! Have you got a house? When can I move in?’
>  
> Sirius turned right around to look at him; Snape’s head was scraping the ceiling but Sirius didn’t seem to care.
>  
> ‘You want to?’ he said. ‘You mean it?’
> ‘Yeah, I mean it!’ said Harry.
>  
> Sirius’ gaunt face broke into the first true smile Harry had seen upon it. The difference it made was startling, as though a person ten years younger was shining through the starved mask; for a moment, he was recognisable as the man who had laughed at Harry’s parents’ wedding. 

It was not to be, of course. But we’re glad that, for one shining moment, they each got to enjoy the possibility. 


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## His protectiveness of Harry after the final Triwizard task

Sirius spent much of Harry’s fourth year looking out for Harry from afar. In fact, he was far more concerned for Harry than for his own safety – returning to the country as soon as he heard Harry’s scar was hurting, showing up in the Gryffindor common room fireplace, camping out in Hogsmeade. In contrast, his godfatherly advice to Harry was cautious: he even told him not to go out of bounds which, as Harry pointed out, was a bit rich given Sirius’ own school record.

But Sirius’ desire to protect Harry, regardless of the risk to his own safety, was always paramount. It was, after all, the reason he broke out of Azkaban in the first place. So when Sirius was able to comfort Harry in person after the terrible things he’d witnessed after the Triwizard task, it was a meaningful moment.

> ‘We can leave that ’til morning, can’t we, Dumbledore?’ said Sirius harshly. He had put a hand on Harry’s shoulder. ‘Let him have a sleep. Let him rest.’


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## When he recognised Harry’s frustration

Harry’s arrival at Grimmauld Place might have been unceremonious, coming as it did after a summer at the Dursley’s and an unexpected Dementor attack, but it probably didn’t warrant the angry outburst he almost immediately unleashed on Hermione and Ron. And yet, there was one person who understood exactly how Harry felt: Sirius.

Like Harry, Dumbledore’s orders had left Sirius effectively imprisoned in a house that had never really been his home. The effect it had on him was stark. When Sirius was on the run, his attitude to Harry’s safety had been cautious, but as soon as Sirius himself felt restricted, things changed. He became far less careful, and while that caused issues later, it also allowed him to sympathise with Harry’s own feelings – a rare thing for Harry.


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## His occasional words of wisdom

As Harry’s fifth year progressed, Sirius seemed to become even more reckless. His increased visits to the Gryffindor common room fire, his encouragement of Harry’s rule-breaking, his suggestion of a Hogsmeade visit – as the restlessness began to overtake him, he became more cavalier about even Harry’s safety.

But amongst the thoughtless behaviour, there were some wise words. This sentence in particular was one of our favourites:

> ‘…the world isn’t split into good people and Death Eaters.’

Yes, Sirius said that, not Dumbledore. We know, right?


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## How happy he was when the Weasleys and Harry stayed for Christmas

Unless he was reminiscing about his school days or encouraging Harry to throw caution to the wind, it was rare to see Sirius smile. So his delight at having unexpected guests to stay over Christmas was perhaps the most touching moment of all. We’ll even forgive him that rendition of ‘God Rest Ye, Merry Hippogriffs.’


What if Sirius Black had cleared his name in the Prisoner of Azkaban?

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Before we think about what could have happened, let’s recap why he was falsely accused in the first place and remained a wanted man.  

When Voldemort heard the prophecy that spoke of a baby ‘born to those who have thrice defied him, born as the seventh month dies’, he assumed it was talking about the son of James and Lily Potter and marked Harry and his parents for death.

So, the Potters went into hiding under the protection of the Fidelius Charm. This is a complex spell, where a secret is hidden within a single, living soul. The person who the information is hidden in, is known as the Secret Keeper. In this instance, as long as Lily and James’s Secret Keeper didn’t divulge the information to Voldemort, they would always be impossible to find. 

Originally Sirius Black was entrusted with this role. Yet, unbeknownst to most, he persuaded Peter Pettigrew to switch places with him. He thought it was the perfect plan. There would be no way that Voldemort would suspect snivelling Peter. However, Pettigrew being the weak and selfish person he was, betrayed James and Lily to Voldemort, sealing their fate.

When Sirius realised what Wormtail had done, he tracked him down. Peter faked his own death to escape and framed his supposed friend. Before transforming into a rat, Pettigrew cut off his finger, screamed that Sirius had betrayed Lily and James and blew apart the street – killing everyone in a twenty-foot radius. He then sped off down into the sewers to hide.

Peter was taken in by the Weasleys and for twelve years lived with them as Scabbers. One day, while in Azkaban, Sirius asked Cornelius Fudge for his newspaper and saw a photo of Scabbers (aka Peter). Realising he was at Hogwarts, Sirius escaped to come and find him. And while he was able to convince Lupin and the golden trio of the truth, disaster struck before he could clear his name. 

After a confrontation in the Shrieking Shack, Sirius, Remus Harry, Ron and Hermione were bringing Peter to the castle to face the Dementors. It also happened to be a full moon that night and Lupin transformed into a werewolf. In the chaos, Peter turned back into a rat and escaped – leaving Sirius with no evidence to prove his innocence. 

If Lupin hadn’t transformed and they had made it back to the castle we wonder how different things would have been. Would Harry have lived with him? Would he have been so reckless? And would he have gone to the Department of Mysteries?

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## Would Peter Pettigrew have been brought to justice?
Wormtail’s story could have looked rather different if he hadn’t been able to escape at that crucial moment. Instead, if he was brought to the castle, we think that there would have been a good chance that he would finally have to face the music. 

We think that the moment Dumbledore saw Peter he would realise the truth. After all, when Peter did escape during *Prisoner of Azkaban*, he was the one to believe the story of Sirius’s innocence.

Although, we also believe it would have been more difficult to convince Cornelius Fudge. The bumbling Minister for Magic was someone who refused to believe in something if it scared him – like the return of Voldemort. We think he wouldn’t believe that it was Peter Pettigrew in front of him without some serious convincing. Then we think it is possible that he would try to suggest Sirius and Peter were in cahoots and working together. Nonetheless, we imagine he could have eventually realised the truth with a lot of cajoling. 

If that was the case, we think Peter would have been sent to Azkaban to face the Dementors’ Kiss. He would have been brought to justice. More importantly, if he was locked up, he wouldn’t have helped Voldemort return to power and things could have looked very different indeed.

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## Would Harry have gone to live with Sirius? 
As we know in *Prisoner of Azkaban*, Sirius made Harry a tentative offer of coming to live with him once his name had been cleared – which Harry was more than thrilled about. However, because of Lupin’s transformation and Pettigrew’s escape, Sirius remained a wanted fugitive. Any hope that Harry had of moving away from the Dursleys was dashed and he was set to spend many more miserable moments stuck in Privet Drive.

But would Harry have been able to live with Sirius even if things had gone to plan? While we would have liked them to, we can’t help but believe it would never have come to pass. In fact, we think Dumbledore probably wouldn’t have allowed it because of the sacrifice Harry’s mother made.

When Voldemort came to murder Harry, he gave Lily a choice. If she stepped aside and allowed him to kill her baby, he would let her live. As we found out later in the series, Voldemort extended this offer after Snape pleaded with him to spare the life of the woman he had always loved. Nevertheless, Lily refused. She placed herself in front of Harry and Voldemort and her love and sacrifice were what gave Harry his protection. 

Lily’s choice invoked an ancient magic which gave Harry a protection that flowed through his veins. Dumbledore knew that Voldemort would most likely return one day and so decided to place his trust in Lily’s blood and leave Harry with his mother’s remaining blood relative. 

When Petunia Dursley begrudgingly brought Harry into her home, she sealed the Charm that had been placed upon him. While Harry could still claim the place where his mother’s blood dwells as his home, he could not be touched or harmed by Voldemort. Lily’s blood and protection lived on and would last until he came of age. 

Therefore, if Harry had gone to live with Sirius while he was still underage, he would not be safe from Voldemort. The miserable years he spent with the Dursleys would have been for nothing and he would be without the protective shield of his mother’s blood. 

Consequently, we reckon Harry would have had to wait until he was at least seventeen before he could officially move in with his godfather. Though we also reckon he would have visited Sirius rather frequently – there’s only so much Vernon, Petunia and Dudley that a person can take.

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## Would Sirius have been as reckless? 
After Sirius escaped from Azkaban, it must have been difficult for someone like him to have to keep a low profile. He was a natural risktaker, rulebreaker and it was clear that he hated to be cooped up. We know that he really struggled once he was confined to Grimmauld Place. As a result, he started to take some stupidly big risks. 

One example of his irresponsible attitude was when he went to see Harry onto the Hogwarts Express while in his Animagus form. Sirius was incredibly blasé about the whole thing, but he really should have exercised more caution. Not only was he spotted, but it was by Lucius Malfoy – someone who could really cause Sirius problems. 

Hermione even realised that Sirius was becoming more reckless the longer he stayed in hiding. She even suggested he was trying to live vicariously through them. But as is often the way, her concerns fell on deaf ears.

So, while we think that Sirius would still have thrown himself headfirst into any situation if he were a free man, we also believe he might not have been quite so desperate to see any form of action. He wouldn’t feel like he had to prove himself – especially when faced by antagonistic people like Snape who called him a coward – as he would have been able to contribute more. 

Hopefully, without the cabin fever and the feeling of uselessness, Sirius would have been able to regulate his emotions and may not have been quite so foolhardy.

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## Would there have been a Battle of the Department of Mysteries? 
We think that there is a small chance that the Battle of the Department of Mysteries might never have occurred if Sirius had been free. 

When Voldemort placed false images of Sirius being tortured in Harry’s mind – he was relying on the fact that Harry would want to rescue him. Harry fell for it hook, line and sinker and went to save his godfather.

But if Sirius hadn’t been stuck at Grimmauld Place and had been able to communicate with Harry more easily and openly, this misunderstanding may never have occurred. Harry would have been able to confirm with Sirius that he was safe, realised that Voldemort was tricking him and may have even been startled into working a bit harder at Occlumency.

Nevertheless, that is not to say that Voldemort would have not found another way to lure Harry to the Ministry. Once he realised that there was a connection between them, he would have exploited it anyway. If he had managed to trick Harry using a different person or scenario to lure him, we think the battle would still have occurred.

Sirius and the rest of the Order of the Phoenix would have gone to try and save him no matter what. There would still have been a fight for the prophecy with the Death Eaters, and Voldemort would probably still have made an appearance. 

However, if Sirius had been able to be a more active member of the Order of the Phoenix his battle skills might not have been quite so out of practice, and it is possible he may not have lost his life there that night. Though as Bellatrix was a fearsome foe, it may still have been his fate.

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## Would Remus Lupin still have been a teacher?
Now this entirely depends on what happened the night of the full moon in *Prisoner of Azkaban*. We believe that for Sirius to have cleared his name, Lupin would have had to have remembered to take his Wolfsbane Potion – which would allow him to transform into a sleepy wolf rather than a fearsome werewolf. If that had been the situation, and the ensuing chaos hadn’t happened, Peter may not have slipped away and there wouldn’t have been a full-blown werewolf running around the grounds. 

This leaves the possibility that Lupin’s secret could have still been kept under wraps. Especially if Fudge hadn’t hailed Snape as a hero, promised him an Order of Merlin, then backtracked when Sirius vanished.  

Though, we think it is more likely that he still would have had to resign. Professor Snape was the one to make sure that Lupin’s ‘furry little problem’ didn’t remain private, and we reckon he would have found another reason to reveal his secret. His hatred for Sirius and Remus ran deep and if Sirius had been able to clear his name, we can imagine Snape would have still lashed out. 

You also have to remember that the position of Defence Against the Dark Arts teacher was cursed – nobody lasted more than a year and that would probably have applied to Lupin too.

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## Would Sirius have joined Harry, Ron and Hermione on their hunt for Horcruxes?
If we believe that Sirius was free and hadn’t died during the Battle of the Department of Mysteries, he may have joined the golden trio on their Horcrux hunt. We doubt he would want to miss out on such an adventure. 

While we do know that Lupin’s request to join Harry, Ron and Hermione was turned down, we think it could have been different if it was Sirius who had asked. At that moment in time, Lupin had a pregnant wife waiting for him at home. Whereas the most important person in Sirius’s life was Harry. So, in some ways it makes sense that he would accompany them on their journey. He was a skilled, intelligent wizard who was unafraid of danger and would want to keep Harry safe.

Yet, Harry would also want to keep Sirius safe. He was always reluctant to involve anyone he loved in anything dangerous. This might have meant Sirius could not come along. Sirius was one of the strongest father figures in his life and we don’t think Harry would have wanted to risk losing him if he could help it.

Then there is the secrecy surrounding the Horcruxes themselves. Dumbledore had warned Harry to not talk to anyone outside of Ron and Hermione about them. If Harry were to stick to Dumbledore’s rules, it would be highly awkward to have Sirius tagging along with no real understanding of what they were doing. 

Still, we reckon Sirius probably would have tried to wheedle the truth from Harry. Though as both godfather and godson are stubborn, we think that… discussion would have been quite heated. Both would be trying to protect the other, and both would find it difficult to back down.

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Do you agree with our thoughts about what would have happened if Sirius had been free? Or do you have a different view?

If this has made you wonder about more ‘what if’ scenarios – then take a look at some of our previous musings.

[What if Remus Lupin had never become a werewolf?](https://www.wizardingworld.com/features/what-if-remus-lupin-was-never-werewolf)

[What if Ginny Weasley had never possessed Tom Riddle's diary?](https://www.wizardingworld.com/features/what-if-ginny-had-never-possessed-tom-riddles-diary)

[What if Snape had never been in love with Lily Potter?](https://www.wizardingworld.com/features/what-if-snape-had-never-been-in-love-with-lily-potter)

The chapter that made us fall in love with... Sirius Black

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Harry and Sirius by the Black family tapestry at number twelve, Grimmauld Place

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Sadly, we only had the pleasure of Sirius’s company for three books, with his fierce, complex, clever and downright cool character wooing us on several occasions. But in which chapter did Sirius particularly stand out? Well, it took a while to pick one, but...

## ‘The Noble and Most Ancient House of Black’

In the ‘Noble and Most Ancient House of Black’, Harry realised just how dark Sirius’s life had been. As if Azkaban hadn’t been enough, the rugged hero also had to contend with a childhood riddled with a pure-blood obsessed family. 

The revelations all pour out during this particular chapter. While the gang were hiding out in Grimmauld Place and Mrs Weasley was as cross as two sticks with Mundungus Fletcher, Harry inspected an ancient tapestry in one of the rooms. Sirius explained that it represented his family tree – but unlike most family trees, a lot of names were heartlessly burnt out. 

> ‘You’re not on here!’ said Harry, after scanning the bottom of the tree. 
> ‘I used to be there,’ said Sirius, pointing at a small, round, charred hole in the tapestry, rather like a cigarette burn. ‘My sweet old mother blasted me off after I ran away from home – Kreacher’s quite fond of muttering the story under his breath.’ 
 *Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix* 

Sirius explained how his family, principally his parents, displayed frankly bigoted behaviour, wanting their children to have absolutely pure blood and strictly follow Black family tradition. They shared many of the same ideals as Voldemort, even if they weren’t card-carrying supporters.

Sirius then mentioned that his brother, Regulus, was formerly a Death Eater, much to Harry’s surprise. This was before Harry found out about Regulus’s U-turn, of course.

Sirius went on to explain the interconnected nature of wizarding families and how he was related to Nymphadora Tonks and Bellatrix Lestrange, not to mention the Malfoys. Besides being a pretty shocking revelation, it gave Harry a better idea of how relationships work between wizarding families and that every pure-blood wizard has some connection, however distant, to the others.

## Why it matters

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In many ways, Sirius was a lone wolf – or, rather, a lone dog. He spent a great deal of the series living alone. His disconnect from others was obviously due to his incarceration in Azkaban but ‘The Noble and Most Ancient House of Black’ shows that Sirius’s relationship with his family left him feeling like an outsider long before then. 

Sirius bucked the trend in the Black family by being sorted into Gryffindor as opposed to Slytherin, like the rest of his family. This marked him as being different from the off and him being a Gryffindor – coupled with a significantly more sympathetic disposition – resulted in a rocky relationship with his family. 

His discontent with being at Grimmauld Place, the house where he spent many of his formative years, resulted in Sirius’s more bitter side coming out. He made no bones about the fact he didn’t enjoy his childhood.

> ‘I don’t like being back here,’ he said, staring across the drawing room. ‘I never thought I’d be stuck in this house again.’ 
> Harry understood completely. He knew how he would feel, when he was grown up and thought he was free of the place for ever, to return and live at number four, Privet Drive.
 *Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix* 

This is an important chapter not just in the development of Sirius but in a wider sense: it outlines how close-knit the wizarding community is. And, of course, Sirius mentioning his brother Regulus sowed the seeds for the discovery of the R.A.B. locket – and the truth about [Regulus’s tragic ending](/feature/unsung-heroes-of-harry-potter-stories-regulus-black "Unsung heroes: Regulus Black").

> ‘No, no, but believe me, they thought Voldemort had the right idea, they were all for the purification of the wizarding race, getting rid of Muggle-borns and having pure-bloods in charge. They weren’t alone, either, there were quite a few people, before Voldemort showed his true colours, who thought he had the right idea about things ... they got cold feet when they saw what he was prepared to do to get power, though. But I bet my parents thought Regulus was a right little hero for joining up at first.’ 
 *Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix* 

Sirius Black taught us that your biological family don’t have to be your true family. For Sirius, he found a family in Harry’s father and Remus Lupin. Sirius taught Harry many things, but one of the most important messages he imparted on his godson was that even if you don’t have a family, you will always have one in the form of your friends.

Things you may not have noticed about Sirius Black

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Sirius and Harry talking in the department of Mysteries 

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How many of these facts did you know?

## He wasn’t the only Sirius Black

Sirius may have been one of a kind in many respects, but he was not the first – or second – of his name. Born in 1845, the first known Sirius Black was the older brother of Phineas Nigellus Black, former headmaster of Hogwarts. Sadly, according to the Black Family tapestry, Sirius did not survive into adulthood. Phineas later named his own son ‘Sirius’, presumably in honour of his late brother. We’re guessing ‘Sirius the Third’ was not his favourite.

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Black Family Tapestry Mina Lima

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## He was born on 3 November

This piece of Potter trivia was revealed on J.K. Rowling’s Twitter account following Scotland’s match against Samoa in the 2015 Rugby World Cup. The author promised to share Sirius Black’s birthday if enough of her followers showed support for Scotland, staying true to her word by tweeting the date after the game. Believe it or not, [Scottish Rugby](/writing-by-jk-rowling/scottish-rugby "Scottish Rugby: Writing by J.K. Rowling") is quite a big deal in the wizarding world.

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WB ConceptArt SiriusBlack- dressing gown Illust

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## He appeared in an early draft of Philosopher’s Stone

Eagle-eyed Potter fans re-reading the first book will notice that familiar name in the opening chapter, ‘The Boy Who Lived’. However, an older version of the story featured an actual appearance from the man himself. In an early draft of *Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone*, Sirius encountered a wizard named Pyrites in [Godric’s Hollow](/features/godrics-hollow "Godric’s Hollow") – a follower of Voldemort who wore white silk gloves that would occasionally be ‘artistically’ stained with blood. Pyrites was eventually scrapped, but Sirius kept his brief mention as a helpful motorbike donor.

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Hagrid flying into Privet Drive with a baby Harry.

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## He was around 22 when he was sent to Azkaban...

It’s easy to forget just how young the Marauders were during Voldemort’s first rise to power. They were hardly out of school when Sirius was best man at James and Lily’s wedding (marriage wasn’t for Sirius – he was, according to J.K. Rowling, ‘too busy being a big rebel to get married’). As Sirius was incarcerated at a relatively young age, he emerged from prison in a state of arrested development, explaining why he acted more like a pal than a parent to teenage Harry.

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## … and he really did laugh when he was arrested

Though most of the details surrounding his arrest were misreported, the fact that Sirius was laughing at the scene of the crime was, indeed, true. Unhinged by the death of his best friend, along with the knowledge that he’d personally recommended the traitorous [Secret-Keeper](/writing-by-jk-rowling/secret-keeper "Secret Keeper by J.K. Rowling"), Sirius snapped and had a hysterical reaction. He’d also made a shocking realisation, as J.K. Rowling confirmed in a 2005 interview:

> ‘Yes, he laughed. He knew what he’d lost. It was a humourless laugh. Pettigrew... it turned out that he was a better wizard than they knew. Turned out he was better at hiding secrets than they knew.’ 
 *J.K. Rowling, Leaky Cauldron/Mugglenet interview, 16 July 2005*

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## He was supposed to find a friend in ‘Mopsy the dog lover’

In an early draft of *Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire*, Sirius, in his canine Animagus form, was taken in by an eccentric old witch named Mopsy. ‘Mopsy the dog lover’ couldn’t help caring for all the stray pooches of Hogsmeade (something of a variant on the ‘crazy cat lady’) and provided Sirius with food and shelter along with her many other dogs. During the editing process, Mopsy was dropped and poor old Padfoot ended up hiding in a cave, eating rats. At least he had Buckbeak for company.

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Sirius as the big black dog with Buckbeak in the cave in Hogsmeade.

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## He’s definitely not Stubby Boardman (and neither is his brother!)

It probably goes without saying that the *Quibbler* article from *Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix* was, to put it mildly, ‘factually inaccurate’. According to the magazine, Sirius Black was actually singing sensation Stubby Boardman of The Hobgoblins, who retired after being ‘struck on the ear by a turnip’. 

Though few people would have believed the Sirius/Stubby conspiracy, fans later asked J.K. Rowling if Stubby Boardman was really Sirius’s brother, Regulus. She responded on her website, ‘No, he isn’t. Nice idea, though.’

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Homepage Carousel Regulus Black

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## J.K. Rowling cried after writing his death scene...

Though she knew all along what lay ahead for Sirius, J.K. Rowling tried to avoid thinking about it until she penned the fateful chapter, ‘Beyond the Veil’. Writing it was enough to drive the author to tears in her own kitchen. When asked if she could have simply changed her mind and let Sirius live, she replied: ‘Well, it just doesn’t work like that. You are writing children’s books, you need to be a ruthless killer.’ Thus, the Noble and Most Ancient House of Black came to an end.

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## ...but his name lives on

Harry Potter went on to name his first son in memory of his father and godfather. James Sirius Potter was officially sorted into Gryffindor on 1 September 2015, which J.K. Rowling reported on Twitter. He also carried on the tradition of troublemaking by finding and sneaking the Marauder’s Map out of his father’s study. We’re sure James (Sr) and Sirius would have been proud.

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Harry's wand and glasses resting on the Marauders map on a desk 

Everything we know about the traitors of the House of Black

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The Noble and Most Ancient House of Black were not known throughout the Wizarding World for their charity or kindness. They were known for their status, their wealth, their fanatical devotion to pure-blood philosophy. They did not suffer ‘traitors’ gladly. This was plain to see in *Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix* when Harry first saw the Black tapestry: a big and immensely old document of the Black family tree which, notably, featured several members burned out.

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Sirius trapped in the Top Tower from the Prisoner of Azakban 

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The most famous of these members, of course, was Harry’s godfather Sirius Black, who barely made it to adulthood before he was disowned by the family for rejecting the Blacks’ pure-blood ideals and running away from home. But he was not the only one. Sirius was merely one of many Blacks who had been exiled from the family for not following their tyrannical rules. Some rebelled, some fell in love, some were just born to the wrong parents...

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An illustration of the Black Sisters: Narcissa (later Malfoy), Bellatrix (later Lestrange) and Andromeda (later Tonks)

Narcissa Black, Bellatrix Black, Andromeda Black

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Here’s a look at the other Black ‘traitors’, why they got burned out, and who we believe got the most unfair deal of the lot...

## Iola Black 

Iola was one of the very first family members to be burnt out from the Black family tree. Sister of Phineas Nigellus, the unpopular former Hogwarts headmaster, Iola was rejected from her own brethren for marrying a Muggle called Bob Hitchens. Sadly, it’s not surprising to hear this based on what we know of the Black family’s closed-minded views on Muggles and Muggle-borns – and anyone daring to marry one. We definitely know that her brother Phineas wasn’t a fan, as his portrait was known to use phrases like ‘mangy old half-blood’ from time to time. It’s even possible that Phineas – otherwise known as Sirius’s great-great-grandfather – had something to do with his sister’s expulsion. 

## Phineas Black Jr

Phineas Jr was another Black family member who fraternised with Muggles. He was the son of Phineas Nigellus, but unlike his father, did not seem to follow his beliefs about Muggles; in fact, he was rejected from the family for supporting Muggle rights. Phineas Jr’s branch of the family tree were born around the late 1800s, not too long after the International Statute of Wizarding Secrecy became effective in 1692. It is fair to say that anti-Muggle sentiment would still have been high during this time. As such, Phineas’s exile stings particularly badly seeing as he was not only rebelling against his father, but trying to do something for the good of Muggle-kind in general. 

## Marius Black 

Not much is known of Marius Black, who was burnt out from the family tree for a very cruel reason indeed: being a Squib. Judging by the Black family’s pure-blood pride, being non-magical in any sense would presumably be deemed shameful – even if the person couldn’t help it. We’ve seen the word ‘Squib’ used in a derogatory sense in the past, and the stigma still seemed very much alive in Harry’s days; chances are it would have been even worse in the early 1900s. Poor Marius’s only crime was being born without magic – which makes this rejection all the crueller. 

## Cedrella Black 

Cedrella Black was the grandchild of Phineas Nigellus Black, along with two siblings, Callidora and Charis. While both of her siblings married into pure-blood families, however, Cedrella married a wizard called Septimus Weasley, and we think you’ll recognise that last name. Yes, the Weasleys were one of the oldest and most wholesome wizarding families, but they were by no means ‘pure’ – hence Kreacher once flying into a frenzy of ‘blood traitors’ and ‘children of filth’ when the current generation came to stay at Grimmauld Place. Cedrella was subsequently burnt out. But this connection would subsequently mean that Sirius and Molly Weasley were technically cousins.

## Alphard Black 

Alphard was Sirius’s uncle and was cast out of the family tree for helping his young nephew when Sirius ran away from home. Alphard left Sirius the ‘decent bit of gold’ he needed to get started in a new life, but his relatives were clearly not impressed when they found out. Kudos to Alphard for being one figure in Sirius’s life who actually supported him. 

## Andromeda Black 

Poor Andromeda lost her place in the family tree for simply marrying a Muggle-born, Ted Tonks. Undeterred, Andromeda led a proud life without her cut-off family, and simply focused on her own: including her daughter Nymphadora, who soon became an Auror and a fighter of Dark forces. Alas, Andromeda couldn’t quite escape her family: she was known to look a lot like her sister, Bellatrix, only ‘kinder’, and her husband Ted led a troubled life being a Muggle-born, especially once Voldemort and his followers began to ascend for the second time. He lost his Ministry job for refusing to join the newly-formed ‘Muggle-Born Registration Commission’, and was later killed when he went on the run. Being a member of the Black family can be a cruel life.

6 times Sirius was one of the bravest Harry Potter characters

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Harry and Sirius standing in the Department of Mysteries 

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As a wrongly convicted [Azkaban](/features/azkaban "Azkaban") prisoner, it’s no surprise that [Sirius](/features/sirius-black "Sirius Black") often had itchy feet. Even after [Harry](/features/harry-potter "Harry Potter") and [Hermione](/features/hermione-granger "Hermione Granger") rescue Sirius from a soulless life kissed by [Dementors](/features/dementors "Dementors"), Sirius isn’t exactly a free bird once he flies away on [Buckbeak](/features/buckbeak "Buckbeak"). When Sirius’s old family house is needed to hold the headquarters for the Order of the Phoenix, the rebellious Marauder effectively finds himself under house arrest, due to still being known as a dangerous murderer in the wizarding world. On many occasions, we saw how frustrating this was for Sirius, especially as he had always been a bit of a rebel. So even as he encouraged Harry to greater risk-taking, it was obvious he wouldn’t mind breaking a few rules of his own.

But Sirius wasn’t just anarchic for the sake of it. Sure, as a reckless Hogwarts student it might’ve been fun sneaking around as a great black dog for thrills. But as a man, Sirius transferred those rebellious tendencies to bravery for the greater good. Here’s our case for why Sirius was one of the bravest characters of the entire book series.

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## Becoming an Animagus

Not only is it very difficult to transform into an animal at will, it’s also against wizarding law to do so without registering yourself as an Animagus. Not that this bothered Sirius – when he and his friends discovered Lupin was a werewolf, their reaction was not to desert him but to figure out a way to accompany him. What’s a little law-breaking against supporting your werewolf friends? When his friend’s happiness was at stake, Sirius didn’t worry about anything else, including being caught as an illegal Animagus, or maybe suffering a werewolf bite. Pretty brave, when you think about it.

## Escaping his pure-blood obsessed family

Sirius clearly had a miserable childhood: the only Gryffindor in a [family full of Slytherins](/features/black-family-tree), he was (according to Kreacher) hated by his mother for being the black sheep of the Black family. Being brought up in a pure-blood obsessed household was no picnic, and if the Malfoys were anything to go by, then straying from the family line was very rare and certainly not easily executed. But Sirius kept up a constant resistance that saw him fill his room with Muggle posters, make friends with a werewolf and, finally, run away from home at 16. These weren’t acts of childhood rebellion, they were choices. Sirius actively rejected his family’s beliefs and expectations, and that took a lot of courage.

PMARCHIVE-SiriusBlack WB F5 SiriusHoldingHarrysShouldersGrimmauldPlace Still 080615 Land 3A02ovgJYsk22A2yK6Wgkc

SiriusBlack WB F5 SiriusHoldingHarrysShouldersGrimmauldPlace Still 080615 Land

Sirius holding Harry's shoulder in Grimmauld Place from the Order of the Phoneix 

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## His loyalty to his friends

That Sirius had a reckless streak was pretty obvious, and during his school days he and James spurred each other to even greater feats of rule-breaking. In Sirius’s own words they could be arrogant; occasionally they were even cruel. But Sirius’s saving grace was his loyalty to his friends – even the trick he played on Snape was in response to Snape trying to get them expelled. And his schoolboy loyalties were nothing compared to what he was willing to do in later life. 

As the Potters’ potential Secret-Keeper, Sirius risked being killed by Voldemort – something he absolutely would have done, as he told Pettigrew:

> ‘THEN YOU SHOULD HAVE DIED! … DIED RATHER THAN BETRAY YOUR FRIENDS, AS WE WOULD HAVE DONE FOR YOU!’ 
 *Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban* 

However, Sirius thought the Potters would be safer with Pettigrew as their Secret-Keeper, sure that Voldemort would come after him and leave the ‘weak, talentless’ Pettigrew alone. Misguided as it was, Sirius persuading James to use Pettigrew as Secret-Keeper was motivated by concerns for his family’s safety. That Pettigrew would betray them was something Sirius never considered because, to him, loyalty was a given.

PMARCHIVE-PeterPettigrew PM B3C19M1 ScabbersTurnedIntoWormtailWithLupinSiriusInShriekingShack Moment 6fHHwz9w8EWWcKYgkWE6KU

PeterPettigrew PM B3C19M1 ScabbersTurnedIntoWormtailWithLupinSiriusInShriekingShack Moment

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## Breaking out of Azkaban

Those Azkaban years must have been the worst in Sirius’s life: wrongly imprisoned, mourning the deaths of his friends and with nothing else to think about. Sirius was also the only one who knew that Pettigrew – a former friend he had sorely misjudged – was responsible for the Potters’ deaths. Yet rather than let these feelings overwhelm him, Sirius used them to his benefit. Realising Pettigrew was at Hogwarts posing as Scabbers gave him the focus he needed to escape. And not just escape: to track Pettigrew all the way to Hogwarts, despite the fact that the school was guarded by Dementors and the whole world was looking for him.

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## Supporting Harry through the Triwizard Tournament

Sirius’s visits to Harry in the guise of Padfoot do show his reckless streak. He was meant to be hiding, but there he was in Hogsmeade with Buckbeak, eating stolen chicken legs. But the reason he travelled to see Harry was because he wanted to be there for him. As he used to be with his schoolfriends, so he was now with Harry: supporting his godson was much more important than his own safety. 

## Following Harry to the Department of Mysteries

Nowhere was this more obvious than in Sirius’s last and greatest act of bravery. That Voldemort used Harry’s affection for Sirius to lure him to the Department of Mysteries showed how close they’d become, and Sirius reciprocated by refusing to sit at home when Harry was threatened. He could have done; other members of the Order of the Phoenix responded, and being found at the Ministry of Magic would have been particularly disastrous for Sirius given he was still on the run from Azkaban. But that was never an option. 

He may have lost his duel with Bellatrix, but the fact that his final moments were spent actively defending his godson was, at least, a fitting death for Sirius.

‘Quite the double act’: the tragedy of Prongs and Padfoot

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PMARCHIVE-SiriusBlack WB F5 MaraudersMoonyPadfootProngsWormtail Still 080615 Land 2CxZn4lxrmUACekWcECuku

SiriusBlack WB F5 MaraudersMoonyPadfootProngsWormtail Still 080615 Land

Moony Padfoot Prongs and Wormtail at Hogwarts by the lake

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## The Hogwarts days 

When two boys met by chance on the [Hogwarts Express](/writing-by-jk-rowling/the-hogwarts-express "The Hogwarts Express by J.K. Rowling"), it was plain for all to see how much promise [James Potter](/features/james-potter "James Potter") and [Sirius Black](/features/sirius-black "Sirius Black") had – as individuals and as a duo. Both were possessed of good looks, easygoing confidence and a lively wit. They were blessed not only with these natural gifts, but the good fortune to have met each other in the first place. 

Their other friend, regular partner in crime (and no dullard himself) [Remus Lupin](/features/remus-lupin "Remus Lupin"), happily described the pair as ‘the cleverest students in the school’. No less a harsh taskmaster than [Minerva McGonagall](/features/minerva-mcgonagall "Minerva McGonagall") recalled they were ‘ringleaders’ of their little gang, and ‘both very bright, of course – exceptionally bright in fact’. This was in spite of McGonagall’s view: ‘I don’t think we’ve ever had such a pair of troublemakers.’

So why did it all ultimately turn sour for these smart, self-confident wizards in the prime of their youth (‘Inseparable!’ in the warm assessment of [Professor Filius Flitwick](/features/filius-flitwick "Filius Flitwick")) when long, happy lives should have been theirs for the taking?

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## The rise of Lord Voldemort 

As prominent members of the original [Order of the Phoenix](/features/the-definitive-guide-to-the-order-of-the-phoenix-and-dumbledores-army-infographic "The definitive guide to the Order of the Phoenix and Dumbledore’s Army"), the boys used their considerable talents for good, but it wasn’t always so. Like when they were handed any one of umpteen detentions for hexing their fellow students (including one for swelling hapless Bertram Aubrey’s head to twice its usual size). And more especially when they picked on poor [Severus Snape](/features/severus-snape "Severus Snape") – though, in fairness, it should be recalled that James Potter acted swiftly in rescuing Snape from certain death following a dangerous prank set by Sirius. 

Both understood the risks of being associated with the Order. Dark forces would seek to destroy them. But neither expected their undoing, when it finally came, would spring from one of their own close associates.

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Illustration of James Potter from the first Order of the Phoenix infographic

We solemnly swear that this page is devoted to all things Padfoot! Harry's Marauding godfather may have been the black sheep of the Black family, but to James, and to us, he's truly man's best friend. 

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