"If you want to know what a man's like, take a good look at how he treats his inferiors, not his equals."

-Sirius Black: Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire

"Sirius was a brave, clever and energetic man, and such men are not usually content to sit a home in hiding while they believe others to be in danger."

-Dumbledore's description of Sirius Black: Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix

Opener

I've created this thread because as far as I'm aware Sirius doesn't have a respect thread on this site and because he is my favourite Harry Potter character I felt obligated to make one as he deserves one as he is incredibly skilled magically. To prove Sirius's skill I will split my respect thread into sections which are Duelling Abilities, Physical Abilities, Magical Ablities/Academic Achievements and Stataments on the characters magical abilities. Also like with my Lupin respect thread it will contain a Background section but that section most likely won't contain anything you don't already know.

Background

Sirius grew up in a pureblood family which he despised and was resented by because he did not agree with there views on Muggles and Muggle Borns. Sirius eventually found happiness despite his family as he met James Potter, Remus Lupin and Peter Pettigrew at Hogwarts who he made friends with. Sirius's happiness however would be short lived as James and Lily would die during The First Wizarding War and he would be framed for there murder and sent to Azkaban for 12 years. He would eventually break out and try to kill the man responsible for his suffering and the murder of Lily and James, Peter Pettigrew. He would fail however and would be forced to go back in hiding. At the start of The Second Wizarding War he would rejoin The Order of the Phoenix but be forced to stay in their base, his parents home. He eventually became bitter and would rush off to The Department of Mysteries and be killed by Bellatrix Lestrange.

Duelling Abilities

Sirius was a highly skilled duelist who took part in The Battle of the Department of Mysteries at the start of The Second Wizarding war.

"(Then high above them, two more doors burst open and five more people sprinted into the room: Sirius, Lupin, Moody, Tonks and Kingsley.)"

Credit: Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix page 706

During the battle he would take out a member of Voldemort's inner circle relatively quickly.

"(He saw Sirius duelling with a Death Eater some ten feet away.)"

Credit: Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix page 707

"(Sirius and his Death Eater lurched past, duelling so fiercely that thier wands were blurs.)"

Credit: Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix page 707

He would then go on to stalemate Dolohov.

"(Sirius had hurtled out of nowhere, rammed Dolohov with his shoulder and sent him flying out of the way. Now Sirius and Dolohov were duelling, their wands flashing like swords, sparks flying from their wand-tips -)"

Credit: Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix page 708

And finally he would duel Bellatrix for a considersable period of time only losing due to overconfidence.

Note: I've underlined that part to try to get the Bellatrix fanboys to stop saying Bellatrix>Sirius becuase of this showing.

"("Harry, take the prophecy, grab Neville and run!" Sirius yelled, dashing to meet Bellatrix)"

Credit: Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix page 708

"(Only one pair was still battling, apparentely unaware of the new arrival. Harry saw Sirius duck Bellatrix's jet of red light: he was laughing at her. "Come on, you can do better than that!" he yelled, his voice echoing around the cavernous room. The second jet of light hit him squarely on the chest. The laughter had not quite died from his face, but his eyes widened in shock. It seemed to take Sirius an age to fall: his body curved in a graceful arc as he sank backwards through the ragged veil hanging from the arch. Harry saw the look of mingled fear and surprise on his god-father's wasted, once-handsome face as he fell through the ancient doorway and disappeared behind the veil, which fluttered for a omet as though in a high wind, then fell back into place. Harry heard Bellatrix Lestrange's triumphant scream, but knew it meant nothing - Sirius had only just fallen through the archway, he would reappear from the other side any second ... But Sirius did not reappear.)"

Credit: Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix pages 710 and 711

Physical Abilities

Sirius throughout Prisoner of Azkaban and Goblet of Fire was described as incredibly thin (he slighlty recovered at the start of Goblet of Fire but deteriorated as soon as he returned to Hogwarts to help Harry) and didn't really show much in the way of physical ability. However in Order of the Phoenix this changed. By this point Sirius had fully recovered and was shown to be able to draw his wand as fast as Snape who managed to react to a surprise attack from McGonagall and was also described as moving like a blur to Harry while duelling which is incredibly impressive as Harry plays Quidditch and can percieve the Snitch moving at high speeds.

"(A mass of filthy, matted hair hung to his elbows. If eyes hadn't been shining out of the deep, dark sockets, he might have been a corpse. The waxy skin was stretched so tightly over the bones of his face, it looked like a skull. His yellow teeth were bared in a grin. It was Sirius Black.)"

Credit: Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban page 248

"(Sirius was wearing ragged grey robes; the same ones he had been wearing when he had left Azkaban. His black hair was longer than it had been when he appeared in fire, and it was untidy and matted once more. He looked very thin.)"

Credit: Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire page 452

"(Sirius pushed his chair roughly aside and strode around the table towards Snape, pulling out his wand as he went. Snape whipped out his own.)"

Credit: Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix page 459

"(Professor McGonagall moved faster than Harry could have believed: her wand slashed through the air and for a split second Harry thought that Snape must crumple, unconscious, but the swiftness of his Shield Charm was such that McGonagall was thrown off balance.)"

Credit: Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows page 481

"(Sirius and his Death Eater lurched past, duelling so fiercely that thier wands were blurs.)"

Credit: Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix page 707

Magical Ablities/Academic Achievements

Sirius Black has several Academic Achievements and has proved himself to be an incredibly skilled wizard. Sirius started showing his incredible magical skill and talent in his teenage years as in his 5th year he became an Animagus (which can go horribly wrong and is extremely difficult) and at some point during his teenage years he would write the Maurauder's map both of which are incredibly impresssive with even Dumbledore commenting on how impressive it is to become an Animagus in only your 5th year of school.

"("They became Animagi." "It took them the best part of three years years to work out how to do it. Your father and Sirius here were the cleverest students in the school, and lucky they were, because the the Animagus transformation can go horribly wrong - one reason the Ministry keeps such a close watch on those attempting to do it. Peter needed all the help he could get from James and Sirius. Finally, in our fifth year, they managed it. They could each turn into a different animal at will.")"

Credit: Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban page 259

"("And thats how we came to write the Maurauder's Map, and sign it with our nicknames. Sirius is Padfoot. Peter is Wormtail. James was Prongs.")"

Credit: Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban page 260

"("Sirius told me all about how they became Animagi last night," said Dumbledore, smiling. "An extraordinary achievement - not least, keeping it quiet from me.)"

Credit: Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban page 312

Note: Several people have claimed becoming and Animagi is not impressive because Rita Skeeter could do it ignoring the fact that she could have had help just like Wormtail.

"("Peter needed all the help he could get from James and Sirius.")"

Credit: Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban page 259

Sirius also managed to conceal himself from the Dementors, Aurors and Muggles for two entire years despite several people thinking he would be caught by the Dementors.

"("Mind, I don't fancy 'is chances against them Azkaban guards.")"

Credit: Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban page 35

"("It's the Azkaban guards who'll get him back, you mark my words.")"

Credit: Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban page 55

And then finally Sirius managed to escape from Azkaban. This feat proves how much raw magical strength Sirius had that he managed to resist the Dementors for twelve years in Azkaban without going mad (most go mad within weeks) because of one thought which helped him keep his powers and his memories despite every good thought being sucked out of him. This thought allowed him transform into a dog when everything became to much. Eventually this helped him escape as when he found out Pettigrew was alive his mind was fully cleared so he could now slip past the Dementors as a dog which he did.

"("I don't know how I did it," he said slowly. "I think the only reason I never lost my mind is that I knew I was innocent. That wasn't a happy thought so the Dementor's couldn't suck it out of me ... but it kept me sane and knowing who I am ... helped me keep my powers ... so when it all became to much ... I could transform in my cell ... become a dog")"

Credit: Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban page 272

"("Then I saw Peter in that picture ... I realised he was at Hogwarts with Harry ... perfectly positioned to act, if one hint reached his ears that the Dark Side was gathering strength again ..." "... ready to strike the moment he could be sure of allies ... to deliver the last Potter to them. If he gave them Harry, who'd dare say he'd betrayed Lord Voldemort? He'd be welcomed back with honours ..." So you see, I had to do something. I was the only one who knew Peter was still alive ..." "It was as if someone had lit a fire in my head, and the Dementors couldn't destroy it ... it wasn't a happy feeling ... it was an obsession ... but it gave me strength, it cleared my mind. one night when they opened my door to bring food, I slipped past them as a dog ... it's so much harder for them to sense animal emotions that they were confused ... I was thin, very thin ... thin enough to slip throgh the bars ... I swam as a dog back to the mainland ... I journeyed north and slipped into the Hogwarts grounds as a dog ... I've been living in the forest ever since ... except when I come to watch the Quidditch, of course ... you fly as well as your father did Harry ...")"

Credit: Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban pages 272 and 273

"("You know, most of the prisoners in there sit muttering to themselves in the dark , there's no sense in them ... but I was shocked at how normal Black seemed. He spoke quite rationally to me. It was unnerving. You'd have thought he was merely bored - asked if I'd finished with my newspaper, cool as you please, said he missed doing the crossword. Yes, I was astounded at how little effect the Dementors seemed to be having on him - and he was one of the most heavily guarded in the place, you know. Dementors outside his door day and night.")"

Credit: Harry Potter and the Prisoner and Azkaban page 155

It's also worth noting he was a top security prisoner.

"("No one knows how he got out of Azkaban." "No one's ever done it before. And he was a top security prisoner, too.")"

Credit: Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban page 60

"("He was one of the most heavily guarded in the place, you know. Dementors outside his door day and night.")"

Credit: Harry Potter and the Prisoner and Azkaban page 155

Here is a few quotes on the Dementors powers and how terrified of them people are. There are also quotes that prove the Dementors strength as they made someone as strong willed as Hagrid want to die in his sleep.

"("Dementors are among the foulest creatures that walk this earth. They infest the darkest, filthiest places, they glory in decay and despair, they drain peace, hope and happiness out of the air around them. Even muggles feel their presence, though they can't see them. Get too near a dementor and every good feeling, every happy memory, will be sucked out of you. If it can, the Dementor will feed on you long enough to reduce you to something like itself - souless and evil. You'll be left with nothing but the worst experiences of your life.")"

Credit: Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban page 140

"(Harry didn't know anything about the wizard prison, though everyone he'd ever heard speak of it did so in the same fearful tone.)"

Credit: Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban page 35

"(And then there were these Azkaban guards everyone kept talking about. They seemed to scare most people senseless.)"

Credit: Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban page 55

"("If he weren't when he went to Azkaban, he will be now." "I'd blow meself up before I set foot in that place.")"

Credit: Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban page 35

"("The fortress is set on a tiny island, way out to sea, but they don't need walls and water to keep the prisoners in, not when they're all trapped inside there own heads, incapable of a single cheerful thought. Most of them go mad within weeks.")"

Credit Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban page 140

"(Harry wouldn't soon forget the look of terror on Hagrid's face when he had been told where he was going, and Hagrid was one of the bravest people Harry knew.)"

Credit: Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban page 35

"("Never bin anywhere like it. Thought I was goin' mad. Kep' goin' over horrible stuff in me mind ... the day I got expelled from Hogwarts ... day me Dad died ... day I had ter let Norbert go ..." His eyes filled with tears. "Yeh can' really remember who yeh are after a while. An' yeh can' see the point o' livin' at all. I used ter hope I'd jus' die in me sleep ... when they let me out, it was like bein' born again, ev'ry thin' came floodin' back, it was the bes' feelin' in the world." "I don' ever want ter go back ter Azkaban.")"

Credit: Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban pages 163 and 164

Statements on the character's magical abilities

Sirius has numerous in universe statements stating how powerful he was from his student life to his adult life. As a student he was stated to be incredibly bright and along with James the cleverest student in the school.

"("Black and Potter. Ringleaders of their little gang. Both very bright, of course - exceptionally bright in fact - but don't think we've ever had such a pair of troublemakers -")"

Credit: Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban page 152

"("Your father and Sirius here were the cleverest students in the school.")"

Credit: Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban page 259

As mentioned before Sirius was considered an exceptional wizard with Fudge stating in Prisoner of Azkaban that Hagrid (remember Hagrid took out 4 of 5 aurors) and just about anyone else would fail to subdue Black and the only people that stood a chance were top tier aurors.

"("I'd've ripped him limb - from - limb," Hagrid growled. "You don't know what you're talking about, Hagrid," said Fudge sharply. "Nobody but trained Hit Wizards from the Magical Law Enforcement Squad would have stood a chance against Black once he was cornered.")"

Credit: Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban page 155

"(He distinctly saw six sharply defined figures walk over the threshold.)"

Credit: Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix page 634

"(Hagrid roared, "Reasonable be damned, yeh won' take me like this, Dawlish!")"

Credit: Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix page 635

"(Hagrid gave a howl of fury, lifted the culprit bodily from the ground and threw him; the man flew what looked like ten feet and did not get up again.)"

Credit: Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix page 636

"(Hagrid took two massive swipes at his closest attackers; judging by their immediate, collapse, they had been knocked out cold.)"

Credit: Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix page 636

"("Get him, get him!" screamed Umbridge, but her remaining helper seemed highly reluctant to go within reach of Hagrid's fists.)"

Credit: Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix page 637

It is also mentioned multiple times that he was Voldemort's second in command which goes to show how powerful he is because even though there was no evidence to suggest it people believed Black was Vodemort's second in command which must mean they thought he was more powerful than all of Voldemort's Death Eaters. There is even more evidence of this as when the Azkaban breakout happens in Order of the Phoenix people believed The Daily Prophet's article that Black was behind it and that he was leading the Death Eaters.

"("Very close to You-Know-'Oo, they say.")"

Credit: Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban page 34

"("I 'eard he thought 'e'd be second-in-command once You Know-'Oo 'ad taken over.")"

Credit: Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban page 34

"(Surely Black, as Voldemort's right-hand man.)"

Credit: Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban page 55

"("Give him back his most devoted servant.")"

Credit: Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban page 156

"("We think it likely that these individuals, who include Black's cousin, Bellatrix Lestrange, have rallied around Black as thier leader.")"

Credit: Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix page 481

He is also stated to be Azkaban's most infamous prisoner.

"(Sirius Black, possibly the most infamous prisoner to ever be held in Azkaban fortress.)"

Credit: Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban page 33

On top of all of this Dumbledore credits Sirius with being clever.

"("Sirius was a brave, clever and energetic man.")"

Credit: Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix page 727

Finally Fudge states he believes Black is powerful enough to bring Lord Voldemort back.

"("Give him back his most devoted servant, and I shudder to think how quickly he'll rise again ...")"

Credit: Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban page 156

Closing Sentences

So that's my respect thread. Hope you enjoyed reading it.

Also if I missed anything impressive he did please let me know.

Callouts. Sorry if you're not interested. If you're not just ask me to remove your name from my list. So I won't tag you in future.

Man I need to reread all of these books, nice job here

Cheers.

@arkhamasylum3:

Excellent. He is a really underrated HP character and duelist, you have done him justice

Thanks.

Yea don't tag me please.

Solid work.

Excellent RT. 👍

Thanks.

Cheers.

@arkhamasylum3:

;)

Nicely done! You covered all the bases I could think of myself and perhaps more. He did need his own thread, I agree.

One thing that occurs to me reading this is the nuance of Bellatrix v. Sirius and how triumphant she is at killing him. She doesn't really glory at beating anyone else to my recollection.

Gotta say Sirius is easily one of the best charecters in the series.

Also nice thread

Nice work. Definitely one of my favourite characters so it's nice to see him getting some respect.

Thanks.

Nice

Thanks bro.

Very good thread!

Cheers.