strawberrybasilsorbet

[strawberrybasilsorbet]

The state of siblings in HP&the Deathly Hallows

Deathly Hallows is the book that shines a (new) light on every sibling in the story.

This is where we see Lily and Petunia's childhood, we learn about Aberforth and Albus' story, we read about Regulus' death, Percy's return (and even, to some extent, Harry and Dudley's goodbye, though of course they were never raised as siblings nor did they ever consider each other as such, but they did grow up under the same roof). This is the book where Ron finally confronts his insecurities, by destroying the locket who was throwing all of his family issues back into his face.

We finally meet Andromeda, the last Black sister, and we have Bellatrix mention her ("We—Narcissa and I—have never set eyes on our sister since she married the Mudblood"). In HP7, Molly even tells Harry that Fabian was her brother, which is something the reader never knew

I often see people drawing parallels between Sirius&Regulus and Lily&Petunia, both of these pairs being estranged siblings, but... They really don't have that much in common.

I've never seen anyone commenting on the Blacks' similarities to the Weasleys (by which I mean Percy) and the Dumbledores, when these three families have SO much more to offer. I think about them so often you do not understand. I don't even know where to begin. I've ended up putting a bunch of dialogue from the book, so it's a bit lengthy, but long story short:

Albus, Aberforth, Sirius, Regulus and Percy make me feel insane

Percy and Albus, two brillant, ambitious and arrogant young men, who felt trapped, who thought they were destined for more than the condition their family had condemned them to, who were desperate to leave their home and get their chance to shine despite their father's awful reputation, even by supporting corrupt ideals. Read what Dumbledore tells Harry at the end of HP7, and tell me it couldn't have come out straight of Percy's mouth:

"I resented it, Harry. I was gifted, I was brilliant. I wanted to escape. I wanted to shine. I wanted glory [...] So that, when my mother died, and I was left the responsibility of a damaged sister and a wayward brother, I returned to my village in anger and bitterness. Trapped and wasted, I thought!"

"[Percy] said he’s been having to struggle against Dad’s lousy reputation ever since he joined the Ministry and that Dad’s got no ambition and that’s why we’ve always been — you know — not had a lot of money"

Mind you, there's a bit of Sirius in it too, Sirius who also left. We learn about Percy and Sirius at around the same time (the beginning of Ootp, chapters 4 and 6) and I don't think it's a coincidence (edit: forgot to mention it but there's even a chapter named "Percy and Padfoot" in that book). Here's what Ron says:

"And if Mum and Dad were going to become traitors to the Ministry [Percy] was going to make sure everyone knew he didn’t belong to our family anymore. And he packed his bags the same night and left."

" 'You ran away from home?' 'When I was about sixteen,' said Sirius. 'I’d had enough.' "

"As far as I’m concerned, they’re not my family. She’s certainly not my family. [...] D’you think I’m proud of having relatives like her?”

Fred and George were angry at their older brother for putting his ambitions above his family and morals (I'm Percy's #1 fan and defender btw), and Aberforth was furious with Albus for the same reason. Again, this reads like something that Ron could've said about Percy, the pompous little snob (i love him):

Sirius and Percy are also not present on the family pictures:

"A photograph of the Weasley family stood beside the in-tray. Harry noticed that Percy appeared to have walked out of it."

" “I used to be there,” said Sirius, pointing at a small, round, charred hole in the tapestry, rather like a cigarette burn."

"Not Albus, he was always up in his bedroom when he was home, reading his books and counting his prizes, keeping up with his correspondence with ‘the most notable magical names of the day’ "

It's just that Percy and Albus betrayed their family by supporting wrong causes and Sirius betrayed his family by supporting the right one. but Regulus' support was an act of loyalty to his family. Aberforth and Kreacher tell Harry about Albus and Regulus' former goals:

"Didn’t I understand, my poor sister wouldn’t have to be hidden once they’d changed the world, and led the wizards out of hiding, and taught the Muggles their place?"

"For years [Master Regulus] talked of the Dark Lord, who was going to bring the wizards out of hiding to rule the Muggles and the Muggle-borns...."

I know I've been comparing Albus to Sirius, both of them being the oldest brother, but really Albus' ideological progression and death most resemble Regulus'. (both Black brothers share traits with both Dumbledores really). though of course, Harry didn't let Ron and Hermione make excuses for Dumbledore just because he was young:

" 'it’s an awful thought that Dumbledore’s ideas helped Grindelwald rise to power. But on the other hand, even Rita can’t pretend that they knew each other for more than a few months one summer when they were both really young, and— '

'I thought you’d say that,' said Harry."

" 'Dumbledore being pals with Grindelwald, but now it’s just something to laugh about for people who didn’t like Dumbledore, and a bit of a slap in the face for everyone who though he was such a good bloke. I don’t know that it’s such a big deal, though. He was really young when they— '

'Our age,' said Harry"

" 'He was a Death Eater,' said Harry. 'Sirius told me about him, he joined up when he was really young and then got cold feet and tried to leave' "

(i would like it on record that the exact expression "really young" is found thrice in HP7, two of them being about Albus, the last one about Regulus. i'm so incredibly normal about this)

"and when he was sixteen years old, Master Regulus joined the Dark Lord"

"[Dumbledore] changed, Harry, he changed! It’s as simple as that! Maybe he did believe those things when he was seventeen"

"I know what you’re going to say, she went on as Harry began to protest, that Regulus changed his mind . . ."

Albus and Regulus were two misguided brothers who both drank the drink of despair in the Inferi cave before dying, the only two wizards to have done so. Not only that, both of them had actually planned their own death; though it was a secret only known by the one who had assisted them (the chapters revealing the truth about Regulus and Albus are literally called "Kreacher's tale" and "the Prince's tale", like they're referencing each other, I'm in my incredibly delusional era right now). They started something (the same thing, in fact) they could not see through to the end, and "faced death in the hope" someone else would finish it:

"We want to finish the work Master Regulus started, we want to—er—ensure that he didn’t die in vain"

"he left me a job [...] Your brother knew how to finish You-Know-Who and he passed the knowledge on to me"

Both Sirius and Aberforth hated their brother's choices, but actually (as Harry told Aberforth) neither of them fully understood their brother's last moments. and because they didn't have that knowledge, neither of them ever gained a complete understanding of their brother:

"And Albus was free, wasn’t he? Free of the burden of his sister, free to become the greatest wizard of the— '

'He was never free,' said Harry."

"From what I found out after he died, he got in so far, then panicked about what he was being asked to do and tried to back out."

"And he drank— all the potion— and Kreacher swapped the lockets"

"The night that your brother died, he drank a potion that drove him out of his mind."

"He thought he was watching Grindelwald hurting you and Ariana... It was torture to him, if you’d seen him then, you wouldn’t say he was free."

"Kreacher and Regulus’s family were all safest if they kept to the old pure-blood line. Regulus was trying to protect them all."

You know who ELSE "was never free" though??

I ask, but you already know.

" 'I don’t like being back here,” [Sirius] said, staring across the drawing room. 'I never thought I’d be stuck in this house again.' "

"I returned to my village in anger and bitterness. Trapped and wasted, I thought!"

Albus was never free. Sirius was never free either.

But wait! there's more!

"But Harry, his mother had just died, he was stuck alone in the house— '

'Alone? He wasn’t alone! He had his brother and sister for company, his Squib sister he was keeping locked up— ' "

Of course, knowing this about Albus Dumbledore, this scene at the end of OotP might hit a bit different:

“ 'I was trying to keep Sirius alive,' said Dumbledore quietly.

'People don’t like being locked up!' Harry said furiously, rounding on him. 'You did it to me all last summer —'

Dumbledore closed his eyes and buried his face in his long-fingered hands. "

Now do I think there's a link between Albus&Sirius being stuck in the house and Dumbledore keeping his sister locked up to protect her life and keeping Sirius locked up to protect his life... maybe it wasn't intentional, or maybe it was; either way, it's very juicy to think about, and Dumbledore's reaction after what Harry says? if there's even the slightest possibility he might have been thinking about Ariana...I'm EATING this up.

Let us not forget about Percy Weasley though. In the end, both Percy and Albus came to their senses, though not without losing a younger sibling, Fred and Ariana. Is it possible that Albus saw a bit of himself in Percy at the time? Maybe, maybe not, but he did try to comfort Molly about Percy:

" 'Dumbledore says people find it far easier to forgive others for being wrong than being right,' said Hermione. 'I heard him telling your mum, Ron.' "

"Reality returned in the form of my rough, unlettered, and infinitely more admirable brother. I did not want to hear the truths he shouted at me."

So yeah, they made wrong choices, but again, that doesn't mean they can't change:

" 'I was an idiot, I was a pompous prat, I was a— a— '

'Ministry-loving, family-disowning, power-hungry moron, said Fred. "

"Stupid idiot . . . he joined the Death Eaters."

" 'Don’t worry about Percy,' said Sirius abruptly. 'He’ll come round.' "

Remember the previous comparison between Albus and Percy, about both of them being the stuck-up pretentious brother?

"It was a porapous little sign, neatly lettered by hand - the sort of thing that Percy Weasley might have stuck on his bedroom door: Do Not Enter Without the Express Permission of Regulus Arcturus Black"

I think about this description a normal amount, the exact amount of thought warranted for such a short, inconsequential description, in fact

Another thing Deathly Hallows did was challenging our perception of Sirius and Albus (granted, mostly Albus) by developing a younger brother who, against all odds, might have been more admirable than them in certain aspects. when Regulus and Aberforth are first mentioned, one is a cowardly Death Eater and the other is implied to be a goat-fucker. alright. and yet, if you only read the last book, you end up having a more positive impression of Aberforth and Regulus than of their older brothers, to the point where Albus and Sirius even get compared to Voldemort. Interestingly, I feel like Albus makes an indirect reference to Kreacher here:

"That which Voldemort does not value, he takes no trouble to comprehend. Of house-elves and children’s tales, of love, loyalty, and innocence, Voldemort knows and understands nothing."

of course Regulus was not brought up in his last conversation with Harry, but there really isn't anyone else this comment could refer to, and it does echo "Kreacher's tale" nicely:

"Of course, Voldemort would have considered the ways of house-elves far beneath his notice . . . It would never have occurred to him that they might have magic that he didn’t."

"I’ve said all along that wizards would pay for how they treat house-elves. Well, Voldemort did . . . and so did Sirius."

"Sirius was horrible to Kreacher, Harry, and it’s no good looking like that, you know it’s true"

"He’s loyal to people who are kind to him, and Mrs. Black must have been, and Regulus certainly was"

"my rough, unlettered, and infinitely more admirable brother"

"Was I better, ultimately, than Voldemort?"

"Master Regulus always liked Kreacher."

"The barman face was impassive. After a few moments he said,

'I’m sorry to hear it, I liked that elf.' "

Sirius and Albus really wanted to distance themselves from the reminders of their home, and as a result, they weren't always decent people. Of course I don't believe for a second Sirius and Albus were actually as bad as Riddle. they both did fucked up things, so did Regulus who joined the Death Eaters and Aberforth who suggested using Slytherin students as hostages (tf), so I'm not saying one amongst these four is obviously better than the others, but. this reversal is still really interesting.

The fact that Aberforth was helping Harry through Sirius' mirror. The fact that one of Albus' names is Percival. Hell, let's reach even further, Albus meaning "white" and Sirius&Regulus' last name being "black".

Like I'm sorry, but to me this is cinema.

[strawberrybasilsorbet]

so.

i guess fanfiction wasn’t a phase….

[strawberrybasilsorbet]

For the young who want to

BY MARGE PIERCY

Talent is what they say

you have after the novel

is published and favorably

reviewed. Beforehand what

you have is a tedious

delusion, a hobby like knitting.

Work is what you have done

after the play is produced

and the audience claps.

Before that friends keep asking

when you are planning to go

out and get a job.

Genius is what they know you

had after the third volume

of remarkable poems. Earlier

they accuse you of withdrawing,

ask why you don’t have a baby,

call you a bum.

The reason people want M.F.A.’s,

take workshops with fancy names

when all you can really

learn is a few techniques,

typing instructions and some-

body else’s mannerisms

is that every artist lacks

a license to hang on the wall

like your optician, your vet

proving you may be a clumsy sadist

whose fillings fall into the stew

but you’re certified a dentist.

The real writer is one

who really writes. Talent

is an invention like phlogiston

after the fact of fire.

Work is its own cure. You have to

like it better than being loved.

Copyright Credit: Marge Piercy, “For the young who want to” from Circles on the Water: Selected Poems of Marge Piercy (New York: Alfred A. Knopf, 1982). First appeared in Mother Jones V, no. 4 (May 1980). Copyright © 1980, 1982 by Marge Piercy and Middlemarsh, Inc. Used by permission of the Wallace Literary Agency, Inc.

Source: Circles on the Water (Alfred A. Knopf, 1982)

[strawberrybasilsorbet]

oh my god lmao

"Prongsfoot is normalizing cheating because one of them is much better looking than the other"

marauders ship discourse generator

Have fun!!!!!

[strawberrybasilsorbet]

7 and/or 8 for the ask game!!! xx

(Question is referring to this ask game)

7: Recommend a fic that uses a trope you love.

I'm a sucker for dimension-travel fics when they're done well! While it's unfinished, the souls that bind by anavera is a standout that features some of my favorite possibilities of this trope (and wraps them up in a murder mystery setup, to boot!). Read if you adore the moments of bewilderment when familiar characters find one another strange.

8: Recommend a fic with an interesting premise/concept.

Another category where it's hard to pick just one! But I think I'll choose the family potter by dirgewithoutmusic, my favorite story from a series of excellent what-if one-shots.

The premise: What would have happened if the Potters, instead, had raised the Dursleys' orphaned infant son? Read if you love seeing Lily and James be parents together as their children grow, or stories that capture a feeling of bittersweet joy.

[strawberrybasilsorbet]

6 & 11 for the fic rec ask game, please!!

(Question is referring to this ask game)

6: Recommend a fic that does something cool with format or structure (epistolary, social media, 5 things, non-linear, etc.)

This one has to be Still Life With Skull by TheDivineComedian! I can't say too much about the unusual format of this story without spoiling the impact, but it's twisty, unexpected, and terrifying. Read if you love psychological horror, insightful explorations of Remus Lupin's inner life, or creative takes on HP magical lore.

11. Recommend a fic you think is a hidden gem/deserves more reads.

I recently stumbled upon High Horse by bmouse, and I couldn't get this bite-sized fic out of my head. Read if you're intrigued by a rare moment of connection between Sirius and his mother's portrait.

[strawberrybasilsorbet]

3 and 13 for the fic rec ask game!

(Question is referring to this ask game)

3: Recommend a fic that is less than 5,000 words.

I Knew Everything When I Was Young by MidnightStargazer stands out in my mind as an exceptionally well-paced one-shot. It's also a lovely comfort fic! Read if you'll enjoy a sweet, thoughtful AU featuring a squib Sirius, a happier path for Regulus, and a surprise MVP turn from a Dirk Cresswell who will melt your heart.

13. Recommend a fic that you've re-read multiple times.

I'm a serial re-reader, so it was tough to choose just one for this ask! But I have to go with Scars by arlenrose, an Order of the Phoenix scene-that-should-have-been that knocks it out of the park. Read if you love stories that let Sirius shine as a godfather and dig deep into Sirius and Harry as characters.

[strawberrybasilsorbet]

Hogwarts Robes (From Quotes)

So, I decided as a sequel to this post and as part of my (and @wisteria-lodge's who I talked to about this) quest to understand wizard fashion, I collected all quotes referring to their school robes (and some that don't, but have implications™️ about their robes) to once and for all have the most definitive, book-canon image I could make for their school robes.

(Quidditch robes will be coming at a later date)

They aren't worn with trousers

I previously established that Hogwarts robes don't seem to be worn with trousers. Snape, Harry, and Ron are all implied to not be wearing trousers under their robes, along with everyone else:

James whirled about; a second flash of light later, Snape was hanging upside down in the air, his robes falling over his head to reveal skinny, pallid legs and a pair of graying underpants.

(OotP)

He got up and pulled on his jeans because he didn’t want to walk into the station in his wizard’s robes — he’d change on the train.

(PS)

Everybody except Harry was riotously happy and talkative as they changed out of their robes into jeans and sweatshirts

(OotP)

Below the robes, there will be a long undershirt/shift and modern underwear (explained in more detail in the post linked above).

The length

Hogwarts robes are long. They billow around the student's feet:

He [Percy] had already changed into his billowing black Hogwarts robes

(PS)

Their robes billowed and swirled around them as they splashed across the flooded vegetable patch to double Herbology

(OotP)

And cover your shoes, and are floor length:

Ron’s showing much too much ankle in his school robes

(HBP) - said by Molly.

Ron’s were a bit short for him, you could see his sneakers underneath them.

(PS)

Harry got to his feet, trod on the hem of his robes, and stumbled slightly.

(GoF)

It means students need to get used to moving in a floor-length garment and not step over the hems constantly — which is probably a struggle for first-year muggleborns.

(The scene where Harry stepped on his robes is when he's called up as a Triwizard Champion — so in a moment of high stress, he might step on his robes)

(Another note, not all robes are floor length. Dumbledore is often described as wearing "full-length wizard robes", meaning they are floor-length, but some characters have robes that leave their shoes visible for Harry to describe)

The collar

Hogwarts robes are cut similarly to some men's dress robes. This makes sense, the way school uniforms are formal-looking and a person unfamiliar with the culture could think a dress suit and a school uniform look similar.

In some trepidation, Harry opened the last parcel on his camp bed. It wasn’t as bad as he had expected, however; his dress robes didn’t have any lace on them at all — in fact, they were more or less the same as his school ones, except that they were bottle green instead of black.

(GoF)

We know robes come in different cuts and not all are considered "dress robes" and it isn't just a matter of color & fabric (though it is that too. Dress robes tend to come in nicer fabrics such as velvet. (Dumbledore is practically always wearing dress robes)):

Like her father, Luna was wearing bright yellow robes, which she had accessorized with a large sunflower in her hair. Once you got over the brightness of it all, the general effect was quite pleasant. At least there were no radishes dangling from her ears. […] “You look smart. I told Daddy most people would probably wear dress robes, but he believes you ought to wear sun colors to a wedding, for luck, you know.”

(DH)

Pansy Parkinson in very frilly robes of pale pink was clutching Malfoy’s arm.

(GoF)

There was just no getting around the fact that his robes looked more like a dress than anything else. In a desperate attempt to make them look more manly, he used a Severing Charm on the ruff and cuffs. It worked fairly well; at least he was now lace-free, although he hadn’t done a very neat job, and the edges still looked depressingly frayed as the boys set off downstairs.

(GoF)

“Yes, my tiara sets off the whole thing nicely,” said Auntie Muriel in a rather carrying whisper. “But I must say, Ginevra’s dress is far too low-cut.”

(DH)

And we know, thanks to Draco, a high collar on a black robe is considered formal dress robes cut for men:

Malfoy was in front; he was wearing dress robes of black velvet with a high collar, which in Harry’s opinion made him look like a vicar.

(GoF)

And Hogwarts robes have a similarly high collar that keeps it's shape:

Turning up the collars of their robes against the chilly September air

(OotP)

This collar is wide enough to be pulled on like a dress over their heads:

Madam Malkin stood Harry on a stool next to him, slipped a long robe over his head, and began to pin it to the right length.

(PS)

And for Hermione and Marriatta to hide their faces in:

They heard the lock slide back and Hermione emerged, sobbing, her robes pulled up over her head

(CoS)

and Marietta gave a wail and pulled the neck of her robes right up to her eyes

(OotP)

But it still needs to keep its form (as mentioned before).

We know there are no buttons, since Harry mentions buttons on other outfits, but not on his school robes:

“Now then,” said Slughorn, returning to the front of the class and inflating his already bulging chest so that the buttons on his waistcoat threatened to burst off

(HBP)

The beaded bag containing all of their possessions (apart from the Horcrux, which Harry was wearing around his neck) was tucked into an inside pocket of Hermione’s buttoned-up coat. 

(DH)

Nor do they have laces, since Harry would probably mention fiddling with them or tugging on them if they were there.

So I concluded the collar is held in place by a single small metal hook/clasp like this:

That is swen onto the robes themselves.

The belt

The billowing, loose-fitted robe is held in place with a sturdy belt:

Harry tucked the sword and the Sorting Hat into his belt, Ron took hold of the back of Harry’s robes

(CoS)

That can hold wands, swords, etc, easily.

This belt is the only thing that gives the robes their shape, as the only things that Madam Malkin seems to be tailoring/adjusting are the sleeves' hems and the length of the garment:

Madam Malkin stood Harry on a stool next to him, slipped a long robe over his head, and began to pin it to the right length.

(PS)

So, there is a lot of access fabric, and the robes aren't tailored to the body. They are barely tailored at all, which explains why all students are expected to get them; they are very simple, very simple garments.

The Pockets

Their school robes come with multiple large pockets. They are either actually big, or they are enchanted to make them big, as when Harry is wearing his school robes, he puts everything in his robes' pockets.

His wand:

Harry took off his black school robes, removed his wand from his pocket

(GoF)

Choclate Frogs:

Harry felt in the pocket of his robes and pulled out a Chocolate Frog, the very last one from the box Hermione had given him for Christmas. He gave it to Neville, who looked as though he might cry.

(PS)

His knife:

“Sirius’s knife!” said Harry, and he pulled it out from inside his robes and slid it into the crack between the door and the wall.

(OotP)

The Mauraders Map:

“Mischief managed!” The map went blank at once. He folded it carefully, tucked it inside his robes

(PoA)

He folded the map and tucked it inside his robes. 

(PoA)

And even the Invisibility Cloak on occasion:

There was a knock on the door. Harry hastily stuffed the Marauder’s Map and the Invisibility Cloak into his pocket.

(PoA)

The pockets have a lot of space.

And there are multiple pockets per robe (it seems):

“No idea,” said Harry. But Ron was examining Harry’s robes. All the pockets were hanging out.

(CoS)

The Sleeves

Contrary to popular interpretations, the sleeves are not wide, as they can be rolled up or pushed up to their elbows, and they stay there:

Harry felt a lurch of fear. He wasn’t ready. How could you make a dementor less frightening? But he didn’t want to ask for more time; everyone else was nodding and rolling up their sleeves. […] They all retreated, backed against the walls, leaving Neville alone beside the wardrobe. He looked pale and frightened, but he had pushed up the sleeves of his robes and was holding his wand ready.

(PoA)

Which implies they are tighter around the wrist at least, but not overall tight. As they are large enough for Ron to slip his wand into:

“Now, don’t forget, it’s Locomotor Mortis,” Hermione muttered as Ron slipped his wand up his sleeve.

(PS)

If the sleeves were very tight, Harry would mention it. He would also mention if the sleeves were particularly wide, which is why I think the sleeves look something like this:

Tighter around the wrist to allow pushing them up to the elbows or be rolled up, but wider above to make them look like a robe, but not super billowy, so they don't get in the way.

The color

Hogwarts robes are black:

pointed face was standing on a footstool while a second witch pinned up his long black robes.

(PS)

Harry took off his black school robes

(GoF)

Harry noticed that Ron kept moving his prefect’s badge around, first placing it on his bedside table, then putting it into his jeans pocket, then taking it out and laying it on his folded robes, as though to see the effect of the red on the black.

(OotP)

And they look the same for all houses. In the books, there is no house indicator on a person's robes beside their prefect badge if they have one or a scarf/rosette.

In PoA, when all the students are in identical sleeping bags, Harry can still tell the house and year of the speaker:

“It’s very lucky he picked tonight, you know,” said Hermione as they climbed fully dressed into their sleeping bags and propped themselves on their elbows to talk. “The one night we weren’t in the tower. . . .” “I reckon he’s lost track of time, being on the run,” said Ron. “Didn’t realize it was Halloween. Otherwise he’d have come burst- ing in here.” Hermione shuddered. All around them, people were asking one another the same question: “How did he get in?” “Maybe he knows how to Apparate,” said a Ravenclaw a few feet away. “Just appear out of thin air, you know.” “Disguised himself, probably,” said a Hufflepuff fifth year.

(PoA)

In CoS, Harry doesn't know Myrtle is a Ravenclaw; that information is from tertiary canon and not the books. This implies there is nothing on their robes to give them away.

Harry can tell who's from what house because he recognises students' faces/voices and knows what house they are in, not because their robes have a marking of their house — they don't. The fact that he tends to know other students years often, supports this:

The following day, two more girls asked him, a second year and (to his horror) a fifth year

(GoF)

“Hold it!” said Hermione, throwing out an arm and halting a passing fourth year, who was attempting to push past her with a lime-green disk clutched tightly in his hand.

(HBP)

He knows random students' year, not just house. He just recognises them because Hogwarts is a small school.

Shoes

They don't have school shoes. Shoes are not mentioned in the school supply list before first year. They wear socks with their shoes of choice:

He and Ron took off their jackets and pulled on their long black robes. Ron’s were a bit short for him, you could see his sneakers underneath them.

(PS)

narrowly missing Hermione, it burst at Harry’s feet, sending a wave of cold water over his sneakers into his socks. 

(GoF)

and laced up Goyle’s boatlike shoes.

(CoS)

Fabric

Since Hogwarts is in Scotland, where it is cold, the material is kind of important. We know the material is sturdy enough to hold the high collar in place (as mentioned above).

And we know it isn't silk and is warmer than that:

They were shivering, which was unsurprising, given that their robes seemed to be made of fine silk, and none of them were wearing cloaks. 

(GoF)

Though, not that warm:

The temperature dropped with every step they took. As Harry shivered and drew his robes tightly around him

(CoS)

(Nor does it seem to have warmign charms)

As Harry always puts on a cloak when he's cold.

My assumption is that Hogwarts robes are made of wool. Wool is a natural fibre that has been common for clothes since humans started making them, basically. It's great at insulation and regulating body temperature (both in warm and cold climates), breathable, and durable. It should be washed by hand, though, as they wash it with magic, it's probably alright. In addition, I believe they wear an undershirt/shift under their robes, which means there isn't skin contact and won't need to be washed often.

The cloak

The robes come with a black winter cloak:

4. One winter cloak (black, silver fastenings)

(PS)

They have a high collar fastened with a silver clasp/pin:

their cloak collars turned up against the wind.

(OotP)

Yeah, Hogwarts cloaks have a high collar that can be turned up, not a hood. Harry mentions hooded cloaks a lot — Hogwarts robes/cloaks do not have hoods.

It has pockets like the robes:

"Hermione looked very cross indeed and stuffed her box of badges back into her cloak pocket."

(GoF)

It is long (floor-length) and billowy:

their socks and the hems of their cloaks soaked and freezing

(PoA)

Drawing their cloaks more closely around themselves

(GoF)

Hermione bundled up Crookshanks in her cloak

(GoF)

As Hermione keeps Crookshanks in it, and the hems reach the floor like the robes.

Other Accessories

They have Hogwarts house-themed accessories such as scarves, gloves and rosettes:

Three-quarters of the crowd was wearing scarlet rosettes, waving scarlet flags with the Gryffindor lion upon them

(PoA)

Hermione and Ginny sat down opposite them wearing red-and-gold scarves, gloves, and rosettes.

(OotP)

She [McGonagall] was wearing a Gryffindor scarf, but tore it from her throat with shaking hands as she strode toward them, looking livid.

(OotP)

walking down to the Quidditch pitch with Ron, Ginny, and the others. It was almost unbearable to turn away from the mass of students streaming out into the sunshine, all of them wearing rosettes and hats and brandishing banners and scarves

(HBP)

Students and professors both own these items. Maybe there is a shop in Hogsmead for them, though, I'm pretty sure some of them are homemade by students.

Prefect badges:

and Harry noticed a shiny red and gold badge on his chest with the letter P on it

(PS)

A large P was superimposed on the Gryffindor lion. He had seen a badge just like this on Percy’s chest on his very first day at Hogwarts.

(OotP)

A boy [Tom] of about sixteen entered, taking off his pointed hat. A silver prefect’s badge was glinting on his chest.

(CoS)

And Quidditch captain badges:

“Wow, I remember when Charlie wore one of these,” said Ron, examining the badge with glee. “Harry, this is so cool, you’re my Captain — if you let me back on the team, I suppose, ha ha. ...”

(HBP)

Along with any other jewellery or accessories, students make or buy for themselves. (Such as Luna's radish earrings or Parvati's butterfly hairpin)

The Hat

They have a pointed black wizard hat that comes with their uniform:

2. One plain pointed hat (black) for day wear

(PS)

They seem to be wearing it in the opening feast:

Through the forest of pointed black Hogwarts hats, Harry saw a long line of scared-looking first years filing into the Hall.

(CoS)

It was a sea of pointed black hats; each of the long House tables was lined with students, their faces glimmering by the light of thousands of candles, which were floating over the tables in midair.

(PoA)

But it is optional most of the time. Though we do see them wear it:

A boy [Tom] of about sixteen entered, taking off his pointed hat. A silver prefect’s badge was glinting on his chest.

(CoS)

“Maybe I’ll skive off Divination,” he said glumly as they stood again in the courtyard after lunch, the wind whipping at the hems of robes and brims of hats. 

(OotP)

So the hats are black, pointy, and have a brim (unlike the movie version we see). I headcanon that in British public school fashion, the hats are mandatory for the start of term and end of term feasts, along with a few other occasions and optional the rest of the time.

Aesthetics

AKA, the style - how does all of this come together?

Since Harry doesn't think the robes look like anything other than robes (not vicar robes like Draco's dress robes, nor a dress like Ron's dress robes) it means they look unmistaknly like something Harry would think of as wizard robes — which means they look like 1980s Hollywood wizard robes since this would be Harry's frame of reference. In general, the Wizarding World fashion seems to be 19th century, doing a Renaissance fair, if we want to give the style a name. Which leads to a garment that look like this:

For what Hogwarts robes probably actually look like in the books. Sleeves that widen out (though, not as much as the image, probably), a lot of fabric only kept in a shape thanks to a belt, reach the floor, collar held up by a single small metal hook — and wouldn't look like a dress to 11-year-old Harry, but like wizard robes.

And because I couldn't help myself, I took some old artwork of the golden trio and drew the robes and cloaks according to the aforementioned evidence on them like dress-up dolls:

(This is a quick sketch and the prefect badges aren't accurate to the books except for their color and the fact that they exist. Also, the cloak's collar is turned down, because it gives some flare to an otherwise not very interesting outfit and they did say "their cloak collars turned up against the wind", so I think it's canonically plausible)

[strawberrybasilsorbet]

(๑ᴖ◡ᴖ๑) Reggie!! Swimming variant sketch under cut:

[strawberrybasilsorbet]

‘Come on, Ginny’s not bad,’ said George fairly, sitting down next to Fred. ‘Actually, I dunno how she got so good, seeing how we never let her play with us.’ ‘She’s been breaking into your broom shed in the garden since the age of six and taking each of your brooms out in turn when you weren’t looking,’ said Hermione from behind her tottering pile of Ancient Rune books. 'Oh,’ said George, looking mildly impressed. 'Well, that’d explain it.' 

Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix

Anything is possible if you’ve got enough nerve.

[instagram @potterbyblvnk] 

[strawberrybasilsorbet]

fic rec ask game

Inspired by the bug me for fic recs ask game. Send an ask with a number and get a fic rec!

Recommend a fic that lives in your brain rent free.

Recommend a fic that is not posted on AO3.

Recommend fic that is less than 5,000 words.

Recommend a fic that is over 50,000 words.

Recommend a gen fic (no pairings).

Recommend a fic that does something cool with format or structure (epistolary, social media, 5 things, non-linear, etc.)

Recommend a fic that uses a trope you love.

Recommend a fic with an interesting premise/concept.

Recommend a fic from a book fandom.

Recommend a fic that is more than 10 years old.

Recommend a fic you think is a hidden gem/deserves more reads.

Recommend a fic that formed or changed your opinion on something (characterization, backstory, relationship, etc.)

Recommend a fic you've re-read multiple times.

Recommend your favorite fic.

Recommend any fic of your choice.

[strawberrybasilsorbet]

So, in the last couple months, I've gotten a few different people commenting on my fanfiction commenting/reviewing methods. I've been involved in fanfic communities since 2008 and I've reviewed literally thousands of stories. I also like leaving long, fairly detailed comments, and I've had multiple people asking me for tips on commenting and what my process is. I needed to take a little break amidst the chaos of packing for a 2000 mile move, so I thought I'd write up a little guide for tips and tricks on leaving great reviews. So here you go: SG's Guide to Commenting on Fanfics!

First of all, my method. I take notes as I read personally. My preferred method is saving stories to my laptop and then highlighting parts I want to comment on, but there are any number of alternate methods, such as using a note app on your phone or jotting down physical notes in a notebook, if you're old-school like that :)

Then, here are my tips on ways to write great comments! (And a reminder, these are just tips, not rules! There is no Fanfiction Comments Bible I am using here, just my own experience for how I write my comments/reviews, so take or leave any portions of it that you want. But hopefully, if you are new to commenting or wanting to leave more detailed comments, you'll find something helpful here.

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1. First, you can never go wrong with an enthusiastic "OMG I loved this! *keyboard smash* *kudos*" I can guarantee you that there is no author out there who doesn't appreciate unbridled enthusiasm about the content they spent hours, days, weeks, or even months working on.

2. Quote passages that stood out to you, then tell the author how that passage made you feel. From my experience, authors love knowing specific passages that impacted their reader. I usually will format it something like this: *Quote from story* Oh my gosh, this piece of dialogue made me laugh so hard...or... *Quote from story* I seriously teared up here, so beautiful.

3. Were there places where the characterization was just spot on? Let the author know. It can be something simple like "When x character did x, that felt SO in character!"

4. Did the characters make you feel emotions? Again, let the author know. "When x character did x, I wanted to punch them so hard!" or "Aw, when x character kissed x character, I felt so warm and fuzzy!"

5. Was there a descriptive passage that felt super realistic? You can say something like "When you described that waterfall, I felt like I was right there" or "When x character was pulling out that splinter, I was squirming the whole time".

6. For a little bit of a more expert reviewer tip, comment on things that author has done to expand or add to the world. This can look like a variety of different comments, but here are some examples. "I love how you've delved into x character's backstory or psychology with your story. I've always found them intriguing and wondered why they made x choice." "Your OC fits so well into this world. I could totally see this character going about their life during the canon events." "I really enjoy that you're exploring x culture in your story; I loved the description of the festival at the beginning."

7. For a really expert tip, comment on the little easter eggs you notice in fics. From my experience, authors are utterly delighted when readers pick up the little tidbits they've meticulously hidden or ways they've shown off their technical skills. This requires more in-depth knowledge of how writing and stories work however. This can look like comments like these: "OMG, I saw what you did there with that foreshadowing when x character said x!" or "That was really clever how you showed a parallel between this character over here and that character over there."

8. Finally, thank the author! They put lots of effort into creating this piece of art that you've just enjoyed; let them know you appreciate their time, creativity, and effort. And if it's a multi-chapter story or a series, let them know you're invested without being pushy for an update. I like saying something like this at the end of my reviews: "Thank you so much for sharing your work with us! I am so excited to see where the story is going whenever you share the next chapter. Cheers!"

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And of course, remember that a simple comment is better than no comment! I know I'm very much not the only person to have said this, but comments are an essential part of the Fandom ecosystem. If you only have time or energy to leave a quick "I loved it!" then do that! You will make the author's day, I guarantee. But if you're considering whether or not to leave a comment at all, please remember that all fanfic authors are people who have poured enormous amounts of time and effort into the thing you've just enjoyed (to give you an idea, it takes me an average of about 60-80 hours PER CHAPTER to write Gorthauro Estel).

I've also seen posts from people about fears of saying the wrong thing in a review. There are very few "wrong" things to say, but just to allay any fears one might have, I've compiled a quick list of what to avoid in your review.

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Don't beg for updates. Getting an "Update please!" review on a WIP that you haven't been able to work on for whatever reasons is always discouraging. I can understand how a beginning reviewer could see it as a complement, but as someone myself who is slow to update, I can tell you that it only puts a larger sense of pressure, weight, and discouragement on the writer. If you want to let the writer know you are looking forward to an update and are invested in the story, look at my last point in the comment tips above.

Going along with that, don't comment on how long it's been since the story has been updated. During some of my gaps where I just couldn't write for a number of different reasons, I would get frequent comments along the lines of "wow, this story hasn't been updated in a year, are you ever going to update?" Those reviews would make me feel SO bad. I was always intimately aware of how long it had been, and I think most authors are the same. Instead, writing a sweet, enthusiastic review with some of the tips above might just give the author the emotional and mental juice to work on that stalled WIP again.

If the author has a different headcanon about a character, event, etc that doesn't line up with your headcanon, don't comment on it. I recently got a review complaining that I write my Sauron as someone attracted to women. I personally headcanon Sauron as heteroromantic demisexual (which is also what I am), and that's the way I portray him in my fics. If the author's headcanon doesn't line up with yours and it bothers you enough to want to comment on it, that story might just not be for you. If you choose to read the fic, you are choosing to enter into the world of the author's headcanon and you should be respectful of it.

Similarly, if the author makes a choice for where to take their story that you don't care for, don't comment on it. You are perfectly within your rights to stop reading if you don't like the way the author chooses to take their story, but it is their story.

Don't point out mistakes unless you know whether the author is comfortable with it or not. I am personally fine with people pointing out typos or the like to me in public reviews, but some people can be sensitive about it. Check with the author privately rather than leaving a public comment to see what they are comfortable with.

Basically, it comes down to the old adage, if you don't have anything nice to say, don't say anything at all. If you keep your comments positive rather than negative, you're unlikely to say anything "wrong".

-----------------------------------------------------------------

Hopefully, this has been helpful! Now go forth and comment!

[strawberrybasilsorbet]

Can you talk a little about Remus’ intelligence? Recently I’ve felt it’s been severely downplayed in fandom as a response to fanon depicting Sirius as “the dumb one” and Remus as “the smart one” in a wolfstar context. While obviously Sirius is extremely intelligent that doesn’t mean Remus has to be dumb in contrast? I also think they just have different types of intelligence, and I strongly believe that basing their intellect off of their achievements in school is limiting (also people don’t take into account that Remus was sick every month for at least 3 days, even if he was matched perfectly in intelligence with Sirius he’d still be doing worse in school). What’s your take on this my balanced remus lover friend?

I don't think Remus is a 'genius', like James and Sirius might be. But he's a bloody capable wizard - hard-earned, not talent.

The one flashback we get of him as a kid, we see him focusing hard on his OWL's, despite an upcoming Full Moon. He has his own methods for revision - when he asks Sirius if he would help him study, Sirius can't fathom why he should bother. Sirius doesn't need to revise or study - but Remus is good at it.

You're damn right that doesn't mean he is stupid compared to Sirius. There's nothing stupid about forming methods to help himself learn. Sirius and James are natural talents - Remus is a nerd.

By adulthood his work ethic has paid off: He has effortless confidence in his charms and conjuring - doing most of it without incantation. He's kind of a badass: He conjured fire and a non-corporeal Patronus without incantation - while exhausted and in the presence of a dementor. He could duel Lucius Malfoy, battled death eaters in the astronomy tower, dueled while flying and supporting an injured man on his broom - and disarmed multiple people in a row with enough accuracy to catch their wands. (tbf they were children)

Remus is a natural at teaching. First day on the job: he handles a room full of kids like he's been at it for years, even those with difficulties who need extra care and encouragement. He is patient with Harry learning to cast a Patronus, explaining things clearly to him - changing his explanation as Harry's needs change. This shows a deep understanding of both the material he is teaching... and what it is like to learn. Knowing how to struggle, how to adapt, how to learn, the validity of different perspectives - that's good wisdom.

His greatest strength is his Social Intelligence. Witty, astute, cunning, sly, persuasive… Sirius isn't socially inept but he is so honest and blunt he can come across as kicking the door down - rather than Remus' picking the lock and making it seem like a natural innocent behaviour. Does that make sense...? It was the entirety of his role in PoA: A murderer on the loose after Harry's blood - and yet through all the mysterious absences, sketchy evasiveness, superficial closeness with Harry, slightly slap-dash teaching methods and blatant distrust from Snape (who had been proven trustworthy - Harry just thought he was an arse)… Remus Lupin manages to charm his students, getting to know them without any of them knowing anything about him. He has Harry hanging off his every word, despite obvious apprehension to engage with him about his parents or needs. He effortlessly keeps Harry's trust even when he blatantly, skillfully lies in-front of him - and TO him! For his own gain!!! The scene of the Marauders Map is a brazen display of how quickly he can manipulate his way out of a complex situation. Even when he is with a murderer and they all know he will turn into a werewolf soon - he commands emotional focus. Ron is injured, a Murderer is present, they are supposed to be investigating a rat with haste... yet most of the time they are discussing HIM and why HE is 'not so scary, please don't hate me' in a long-winded fashion.

Only Snape seems immune. So he bullies him to shut him up. Without SEEMING like a bully. The kids think he is great, the way he can control the uncontrollable - Snape and Peeves.

Remus slips in and everyone is so taken with him they never notice the lock being picked. Their perception of him is on a tight leash. A magician’s sleight of hand and a silver tongue. Lockheart WISHES he could do this.

Remus is practical and practiced. He has the grit of someone who has fought for his life with both his wand and his tongue. He has lived a life of misdirection, gaslighting and manipulation - always subtle, always present. He reads others better than himself and moves through society with quiet ease, slipping in unnoticed and slipping out just as easily. No wonder he works as a spy.

He’s a top-class wizard - held back only by circumstance. Balancing his core needs, his interests and his health with no support network and poverty…? yeesh. In another life he may have been able to focus his efforts on a passion, rather than on topics that aid his survival in a harsh world.

As he is, though: he’s a formidable duelist and skilled charmer (magically and socially) - a survivalist, both in the wild and within society. An outcast who never seems like one. A wolf in sheep's clothing.

That's my take, as 'balanced remus lover friend' :^) Thanks - I needed to sit down and yap about Remus for a bit, had a shitty month

[strawberrybasilsorbet]

The pantry conversation is fascinating! I think there is also a symbolic layer to the scene which suggests that Sirius knows more than he is letting on. The conversation is bisected by a standout image:

He could only see a sliver of Sirius's face; the rest was in darkness.

Which comes back a few paragraphs later to conclude the scene:

He clapped Harry on the shoulder and left the pantry, leaving Harry standing alone in the dark.

This final line, I think, is both literal and figurative. The pantry is dark, but Harry is also being left "in the dark" (in ignorance) about his visions, both by Sirius in this moment and by the Order, generally.

With this symbolism established (darkness = ignorance), the earlier image of Sirius's nearly-hidden face becomes more interesting to decode. Only "a sliver" of it is visible to Harry, which might suggest to the reader that Sirius is concealing something. Possibly a lot of something.

It's also notable that this image appears at a transition point in the conversation. Prior to the narrator's description of his face — which is emphasized by being set alone as its own paragraph — Sirius deflects Harry's questions, redirecting him to Dumbledore's authority:

When he paused for breath, Sirius said, “Did you tell Dumbledore this?”

Twice:

“I’m sure he would have told you if it was anything to worry about,” said Sirius steadily.

But after his hidden face is described, Sirius pivots to feeding Harry his own (extremely lackluster) explanations, such as:

“It must have been the aftermath of the vision, that’s all,” said Sirius. “You were still thinking of the dream or whatever it was and —”

or:

"You’re in shock, Harry; you’re blaming yourself for something you only witnessed, and it’s lucky you did witness it or Arthur might have died."

All while doing his damnedest to end the conversation as soon as possible.

Why might the text highlight this shift?

Because this is when Sirius starts lying his face off.

The literal, textual, and symbolic elements of the moment come together very well. The one-line paragraph ("Harry could only see a sliver...in darkness") breaks the text of the scene in half, creating a weighty pause that draws the reader's attention. In that pause, Sirius makes a decision to change his approach, switching away from redirection and into active obfuscation. The darkness of the pantry suggests this symbolically, but it also literally prevents Harry from seeing any expression on Sirius's face which might give his lie away.

At first, this might seem out of character for Sirius, who is usually honest with Harry and is more willing than most to arm him with knowledge about Voldemort. But I'd argue that Sirius's choice here builds on another, quieter plot line from an earlier book: his concern about Harry's scar.

Look at the line directly preceding the transition:

"I thought I was a snake, I felt like one — my scar really hurt when I was looking at Dumbledore — Sirius, I wanted to attack him —" He could only see a sliver of Sirius's face; the rest was in darkness.

It's possible that Sirius changes tack at this point because he's realized that Harry isn't being reassured by vague references to Dumbledore's authority and will need a more concrete explanation to help him calm down. But I think it's likelier that, when Harry brings up his scar, he starts veering far too close to a topic that Sirius knows about and wants (or has been ordered) to avoid, prompting the new direction.

We know from Goblet of Fire that Sirius is aware of the connection between Harry's scar and Voldemort's person:

Dear Sirius...A weird thing happened this morning, though. My scar hurt again. Last time that happened it was because Voldemort was at Hogwarts.

We also know that Sirius is deeply concerned by this connection:

Harry — I’m flying north immediately. This news about your scar is the latest in a series of strange rumors that have reached me here. If it hurts again, go straight to Dumbledore...he’s reading the signs, even if no one else is.

And that Sirius and Dumbledore have discussed Harry's scar in private:

“Now, has your scar hurt at any other time this year, excepting the time it woke you up over the summer?” “No, I — how did you know it woke me up over the summer?” said Harry, astonished. “You are not Sirius’s only correspondent,” said Dumbledore. “I have also been in contact with him ever since he left Hogwarts last year.”

And while Sirius usually tries to give Harry the facts, we know from Order of the Phoenix that he accepts Dumbledore's decision to withhold key details about Harry's connection to Voldemort, especially the existence of the prophecy:

“What’s he after apart from followers?” Harry asked swiftly. He thought he saw Sirius and Lupin exchange the most fleeting of looks before Sirius said, “Stuff he can only get by stealth.” When Harry continued to look puzzled, Sirius said, “Like a weapon. Something he didn’t have last time.”

Note that Sirius uses the same tactic here that I speculate he's using in the pantry: first attempting to deflect Harry's question but, when Harry seems unconvinced, pivoting to a distracting lie.

Sirius also pivots from stonewalling to misdirection in at least one other scene:

“But if they do expel me,” said Harry, quietly, “can I come back here and live with you?” Sirius smiled sadly. “We’ll see.” “I’d feel a lot better about the hearing if I knew I didn’t have to go back to the Dursleys,” Harry pressed him. “They must be bad if you prefer this place,” said Sirius gloomily.

What a sneaky subject change!

Hermione may be right that Sirius is chewing on some complex feelings here about wanting Harry to be expelled. But this is also another moment when Harry is circling a subject that we know the Order is trying to conceal from him: the blood protection generated by Lily's sacrifice and, by extension, the details of Voldemort's hunt for the Potters. (At this point, Harry still doesn't know that he, not his parents, was the target of Voldemort's attack...or why). It seems clear that, at some point between the end of PoA and the beginning of OotP, Dumbledore has informed Sirius that he can neither remove Harry from the protection of the Dursleys' home nor provide an honest explanation about why this is. (Whether Sirius agrees that this is necessary, or whether he's been overruled by Dumbledore, is anyone's guess).

And this is before we get into speculation about what details (if any) Sirius may have learned about the prophecy from James.

Viewing the pantry scene in this context, I would argue that Sirius either knows or suspects the connection between Harry's vision, the prophecy, and Harry's scar. This is why he can't give Harry a straightforward answer to his questions, and also why he cuts off the conversation as soon as he can.

Exactly how much does Sirius know? Unclear! Dumbledore is definitely keeping the knowledge that Harry's scar is a Horcrux to himself, but Sirius probably still has more insight than the others. I wouldn't be surprised if, at some point during Sirius's time in the mountain cave, Dumbledore responded to his concerns with some version of the partial explanation he gives to Harry in GoF:

"It is my belief that your scar hurts both when Lord Voldemort is near you, and when he is feeling a particularly strong surge of hatred.” “But … why?” “Because you and he are connected by the curse that failed,” said Dumbledore. “That is no ordinary scar.”

or in OotP:

"...in marking you [as his equal] with that scar, he did not kill you, as he intended, but gave you powers..."

depending on how much Sirius already knows about the prophecy.

Or, if Dumbledore hasn't already told Sirius about the connection between Harry's scar pain and his visions of Voldemort, the pause in the pantry:

"...my scar really hurt when I was looking at Dumbledore — Sirius, I wanted to attack him —" He could only see a sliver of Sirius's face; the rest was in darkness.

might be the moment when Sirius figures it out. In which case, I'd bet he's resolving to bring it up with Dumbledore himself at his first opportunity.

It's a heartbreaking, unsettling scene, because this moment does a lot of damage to Harry's trust in Sirius. (The rupture in their relationship is yet another plot line that is symbolically underscored by Sirius's face, nearly hidden — one might say veiled — in shadow. A haunting visual.)

It's a fantastic example of how much can be accomplished with one image!

Hi! So obvi we didn’t get much time w them together, but do you think w more time Sirius/Harry would have been more physically affectionate? It just kinda seemed like they were holding each other at a distance especially in ootp, w the one armed side hug, hand on shoulder etc.

And what do you think of the scene in the cupboard where Harry is venting his concerns to Sirius and Sirius kinda …sends him to bed and walks out lol do you think that’s more of Sirius keeping a distance?

I think Sirius is keeping a distance in OotP, but he isn't doing it for the sake of keeping distance. Also, that the scene you mentioned isn't quite that. I think keeping distance isn't his intention:

“Sirius,” Harry muttered, unable to stand it a moment longer. “Can I have a quick word? Er — now?” He walked into the dark pantry and Sirius followed. Without preamble Harry told his godfather every detail of the vision he had had, including the fact that he himself had been the snake who had attacked Mr. Weasley. When he paused for breath, Sirius said, “Did you tell Dumbledore this?” “Yes,” said Harry impatiently, “but he didn’t tell me what it meant. Well, he doesn’t tell me anything anymore. . . .” “I’m sure he would have told you if it was anything to worry about,” said Sirius steadily. “But that’s not all,” said Harry in a voice only a little above a whisper. “Sirius, I . . . I think I’m going mad. . . . Back in Dumbledore’s office, just before we took the Portkey . . . for a couple of seconds there I thought I was a snake, I felt like one — my scar really hurt when I was looking at Dumbledore — Sirius, I wanted to attack him —” He could only see a sliver of Sirius’s face; the rest was in darkness. “It must have been the aftermath of the vision, that’s all,” said Sirius. “You were still thinking of the dream or whatever it was and —” “It wasn’t that,” said Harry, shaking his head. “It was like something rose up inside me, like there’s a snake inside me —” “You need to sleep,” said Sirius firmly. “You’re going to have breakfast and then go upstairs to bed, and then you can go and see Arthur after lunch with the others. You’re in shock, Harry; you’re blaming yourself for something you only witnessed, and it’s lucky you did witness it or Arthur might have died. Just stop worrying. . . .” He clapped Harry on the shoulder and left the pantry, leaving Harry standing alone in the dark.

(OotP, Ch22)

Harry, as usual, seeks Sirius' advice when something is wrong. Sirius is the adult Harry trusts the most, so it isn't a surprise there. Sirius' reaction, though, is much less helpful than he usually is (especially back in GoF). And I think there are two contributing factors to it:

a. Being back in Grimmauld Place.

Being back in his childhood home brings back a lot of unpleasant memories for Sirius. He is depressed, he is imprisoned again in a place he thought he'd never return to, the Order and Dumbledore don't treat him like it's his house, and he knows he has no power over the Order, his own home, or what happens to Harry and he feels lost and scared and is trying not to show Harry any of that.

This scene shows some of it:

“Don’t worry,” Sirius said. Harry looked up and realized that Sirius had been watching him. “I’m sure they’re going to clear you, there’s definitely something in the International Statute of Secrecy about being allowed to use magic to save your own life.” “But if they do expel me,” said Harry, quietly, “can I come back here and live with you?” Sirius smiled sadly. “We’ll see.” “I’d feel a lot better about the hearing if I knew I didn’t have to go back to the Dursleys,” Harry pressed him. “They must be bad if you prefer this place,” said Sirius gloomily.

(OotP, Ch6)

Sirius lets Harry down not because he doesn't want Harry to live with him, we know he does, but it's because he knows he isn't making the decisions. He knows Harry would go wherever Dumbledore sends him, and he doesn't want to get Harry's (or his own) hopes up for something he knows he has no control over.

Not only that, but he knows him wanting Harry to get expelled and stay with him (which he wants) is selfish and would be to Harry's detriment. So, he's trying to not make it an option, neither for himself nor for Harry.

And we see he hides his depression from Harry. We know he drinks enough that Harry smells it on him:

Sirius was hurrying toward them all, looking anxious. He was unshaven and still in his day clothes; there was also a slightly Mundungus-like whiff of stale drink about him.

(OotP, Ch22)

But never in front of Harry. While Harry is at Grimmauld, Sirius doesn't drink and doesn't let himself lose himself, even if he wants to, because he is trying to be there for Harry. Whenever Harry says anything, Sirius immediately jumps to accommodate. Sirius cares, a lot, he's just in a shit mental state.

“Right — yeah,” said Harry distractedly. It was his last chance to tell Sirius to be careful; he turned, looked into his godfather’s face and opened his mouth to speak, but before he could do so Sirius was giving him a brief, one-armed hug. He said gruffly, “Look after yourself, Harry,” and next moment Harry found himself being shunted out into the icy winter air, with Tonks

(OotP, Ch24)

In the above scene, Harry wants to tell Sirius to be careful and watch out for himself, something Sirius doesn't want to hear. Sirius knows he is being self-destructive when Harry isn't around, and in the above scene, I always read it as him wanting to not promise Harry he'd be careful. Because if Harry asked him, he'd promise, and if he did, he'd feel inclined to keep his promise, which he isn't interested in doing. He wants to self-destruct, and he knows Harry wouldn't like it.

b. Dumbledore's orders.

We know Sirius was told by Dumbledore, Molly, Lupin, etc. that he shouldn't tell Harry the full story. Not only that, but Dumbledore told the Order about some of his suspicions regarding Harry being possessed by Voldemort:

“Yes,” said Mrs. Weasley. She sounded rather uneasy. “You know, Dumbledore seems almost to have been waiting for Harry to see something like this. . . .” “Yeah, well,” said Moody, “there’s something funny about the Potter kid, we all know that.” “Dumbledore seemed worried about Harry when I spoke to him this morning,” whispered Mrs. Weasley. “ ’Course he’s worried,” growled Moody. “The boy’s seeing things from inside You-Know-Who’s snake. . . . Obviously, Potter doesn’t realize what that means, but if You-Know-Who’s possessing him —”

(OotP, Ch22)

Dumbledore expected something like it, and even Molly noticed, Moody thinks it's obvious this is a case of possession — you think Sirius doesn't realize it? Sirius probably thinks like them, that Harry was temporarily passed by Voldemort, and he's terrified.

He shuts down Harry's fears in the pantry scene because these are probably his own fears, too. He is trying to convince both Harry and himself that Harry is fine and isn't possessed by Voldemort. That he isn't dangerous or in danger because he would be helpless to help him. And Sirius hates feeling like that. It's how he felt all the time in Grimmauld.

The scene in the pantry always read to me like very aggressive reassurance mixed with denial.

[strawberrybasilsorbet]

I always found lovely the fact that Luna Lovegood drew her friends' faces on her bedroom walls so I decided to draw a niche super specific fanart

[strawberrybasilsorbet]

Honestly it boils down to reparenting yourself & rewiring your own neuronal pathways & telling yourself a firm “stop” when you notice your mind slipping down negative loopholes & being present in the moment & enjoying being mid task rather than waiting for it to end & not thinking of inertia as your baseline and natural way of living

[strawberrybasilsorbet]

Young Sirius.