Sirius Black
editor: Parker Nesbit

Sirius Black was James Potter’s best friend and is Harry’s godfather. He was supposed to be the Potter’s Secret Keeper, but convinced the Potters at the last moment to use Peter Pettigrew. He was falsely accused of killing thirteen people with a single curse and sent to Azkaban without a trial. Escaped in 1993 and has been on the run ever since. 

He, along with Remus J. Lupin, James Potter, and Peter Pettigrew were a close knit group while at Hogwarts. To keep Remus company in his werewolf state, they became animagi and wandered the grounds (and the Forbidden Forest!), which led them to write the Marauder’s Map. 

After the group of friends left Hogwarts c.1977, James Potter married Lily Evans, and Sirius stood as Best Man. Sirius appears in the wedding pictures as a happy, laughing young man. Sirius was named the godfather of Harry when he was born about a year later. When Sirius realized that the Potters had been attacked that fateful October night, he raced to Godric's Hollow on his flying motorcycle, only to find the house in ruins. Hagrid met him there. Sirius suggested that, as Harry's godfather, he should take custody, but Hagrid insisted on following Dumbledore's instructions and taking the boy to Privet Drive. Sirius lent Hagrid his flying motorcycle for the journey. Sirius himself tracked down Peter and confronted the traitor in a Muggle street. Peter screamed that Sirius had killed James and Lily, then set off a huge explosion. Sirius was framed for the deaths of the Potters and sent off to Azkanban. There was no trial.

He escaped Azkaban in 1993 to protect Harry from Peter Pettigrew, whom he had seen in ‘The Daily Prophet’ article about the Weasley’s trip to Egypt.  He escaped as a dog, swam to the mainland, encountered Harry in Magnolia Crescent, and then headed north to Hogwarts, where he knew Peter (as Scabbers) would be going.  Once in the vicinity of Hogwarts, he broke into the castle twice, once slashing the Fat Lady’s picture and once slashing the hangings of Ron’s bed with a knife.  The trio, Remus, and Snape encounter him in the Shrieking Shack and hear the true story of what happened the night of 31 October - 1 November 1981.  Throughout the book, Sirius’ one determination is to find Pettigrew and protect Harry.  Harry and Hermione use the time-turner to rescue him and Buckbeak and they make their escape. 

He returns to Britain when word of Harry’s scar hurting reaches him.  Once again disguised as a gigantic black dog, he makes his way to Hogwarts to protect Harry.  He is there at Harry’s side after the third task, and accompanies him to the hospital wing.  He is asked by Dumbledore to go to Remus’s and contact the ‘old crowd’ for the coming battle with Voldemort.

Sirius Black
eyes: 
hair: black, shoulder length
build: 
age: born c. 1960
distinguishing features: 
nickname:  Padfoot
Animagus form:  A gigantic black dog