39 Facts About Sirius Black

Sirius Black is a fictional character in JK Rowling's Harry Potter series.

Sirius Black's character becomes prominent in Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, in which he is the titular prisoner, and is revealed to be the godfather of the central character Harry Potter.

Sirius Black is portrayed in the film adaptations by Gary Oldman.

Sirius Black is the last heir of the House of Black, a once notable Pure-blood Wizarding family.

In line with the Black family tradition of naming children after stars and constellations, Sirius was named after the Dog Star.

Sirius Black rejected his family's pure-blood elitism and reverence for the Dark Arts.

At Hogwarts, rather than be sorted into Slytherin like the rest of his family, Sirius Black was placed in Gryffindor.

In contrast to his home life, Sirius Black greatly enjoyed life at Hogwarts, where he was inseparable from his best friend, James Potter.

Sirius Black's popularity was not universal, as a mutual hatred sprang up between James and Severus Snape.

Sirius Black actively supported James, leading to Snape developing an equal and lifelong loathing of Sirius Black.

Sirius Black left home at the age of sixteen and took refuge with James and his parents.

Sirius Black was left financially independent by his uncle's generous bequest.

Sirius Black remained close friends with James and eventually attended James and Lily Evans' wedding as their best man.

Sirius Black betrayed the Potters to Voldemort, who subsequently tracked them down and murdered them.

Sirius Black was arrested, accused of murdering Pettigrew and the muggles and of serving Voldemort, and was promptly thrown in prison by Barty Crouch, Sr.

Sirius Black spent the next twelve years in Azkaban, brooding over his friends' deaths and obsessing over Pettigrew's betrayal.

Twelve years into his sentence, Sirius Black sees a picture of the Weasley family on the front cover of the Daily Prophet.

Sirius Black realises that stationed at Hogwarts, Pettigrew will easily be able to deliver Harry to Voldemort should Voldemort ever regain power.

Sirius Black is the first person known to have escaped the wizard prison by his own means, accomplishing this feat by transforming into his Animagus dog form.

Sirius Black befriends Hermione Granger's cat Crookshanks, who is aware that Sirius is not actually a dog and who recognises Pettigrew for what he really is.

Lupin, who has learned that Sirius Black is innocent, is reunited in friendship with him.

Harry grows closer to Sirius Black and relies on his help.

Sirius Black has little influence on Harry in this book; his presence cannot prevent the disaster at the Triwizard Tournament, and he mostly gives Harry advice on how to complete the Triwizard Tasks.

Sirius Black is later summoned to Hogwarts by Dumbledore and listens to Harry's re-telling of Voldemort's rebirth.

Sirius Black reassures Harry, who does not want him to leave, that they will see each other again soon and then departs.

Sirius Black takes refuge in his ancient family home at 12, Grimmauld Place.

Harry and Sirius Black stay in touch through owls and the Floo Network, a system to communicate through fireplaces.

Sirius Black is nearly captured by Dolores Umbridge, a Ministry official who is monitoring the Network and the owl mail in and out of Hogwarts.

The Ministry, which refuses to accept that Voldemort has returned and that the dementors have joined him, tries to blame on Sirius Black, stating that Sirius Black helped the prisoners escape and is leading them.

Harry inherits all of Sirius Black's possessions, including the house at Grimmauld Place, the house-elf Kreacher, and Buckbeak the Hippogriff.

Sirius Black makes his final appearance in Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows when Harry discovers the Resurrection Stone within the golden snitch.

Sirius Black had read the first book, and his children were fans of the series.

Several times during the series, Sirius Black is stated to be very good-looking and "carelessly handsome" prior to his imprisonment; Harry noted that as a teenager, Sirius Black always had a slightly spoiled, haughty look on his face.

Sirius Black is protective of Harry, but encourages him to take unwise risks and sometimes - inappropriately - acts with him as he used to with James.

Unlike his parents and brother, Sirius Black detested the Dark Arts and did not believe in the so-called purity of blood.

Sirius Black loved James like a brother and went on to transfer this attachment to Harry.

Sirius Black was described as a powerful wizard by Minerva McGonagall, his former teacher.

The last known surviving bearer of the family name, Sirius Black, is murdered by his cousin Bellatrix Lestrange in Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix.

Sirius Black is often regarded as one of the best characters in the Harry Potter lore, as well as often being recognised as Harry's most notable father-figure.