I thought Sirius died to illustrate how life isn't always fair. Also... I think that Harry did react. We just didn't get to see most of the grieving process between OotP and HBP - there is mention of how he had been pretty much just lying around and staying in his room until he got the letter from Dumbledore. I'd say that was when he was coming to terms with things. Grief takes us all in different ways...
I'd also say that this may well be where his newfound maturity comes from. Harry, as seen in HBP, is much more mature in many ways that he was before.
Harry wasn't ok with Sirius dying. But... once someone is dead, they're dead, and there's nothing you can do about it. Once he came to terms with that, and with what the Prophecy pointed to his life being, there were other things to worry about. Other things to do. Did you really want to read about a Harry unable to come to terms with his godfather's death? A Harry bursting into tears every couple of pages? A Harry acting completely out of character? Harry has always been somewhat of a stalwart, and that trait hasn't changed.
If you need another example, look at the Londoners. Something terrible happens, but instead of becoming obsessed with their bad fortune, instead of panicking, or over-reacting, they got on with life.
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timeasmymeasure
no subject
Date: 2005-07-17 09:15 am (UTC)I'd also say that this may well be where his newfound maturity comes from. Harry, as seen in HBP, is much more mature in many ways that he was before.
Harry wasn't ok with Sirius dying. But... once someone is dead, they're dead, and there's nothing you can do about it. Once he came to terms with that, and with what the Prophecy pointed to his life being, there were other things to worry about. Other things to do. Did you really want to read about a Harry unable to come to terms with his godfather's death? A Harry bursting into tears every couple of pages? A Harry acting completely out of character? Harry has always been somewhat of a stalwart, and that trait hasn't changed.
If you need another example, look at the Londoners. Something terrible happens, but instead of becoming obsessed with their bad fortune, instead of panicking, or over-reacting, they got on with life.