Sirius Black facts for kids

Sirius Black is a fictional character from J. K. Rowling's Harry Potter book series. He was played by Gary Oldman in the movies. Sirius was a powerful wizard and a pure-blood. He was born on November 3, 1959.

Sirius was the oldest son of Orion and Walburga Black. He was the heir to the old and respected House of Black. His brother was Regulus. His cousins included Bellatrix Lestrange, Andromeda Tonks, and Narcissa Malfoy. Sirius was also Harry Potter's godfather. He was best friends with James Potter, Remus Lupin, and Peter Pettigrew. These four friends were known as the Marauders when they were at school. They even created the famous Marauder's Map.

Who is Sirius Black?

Sirius Black was a very important character in the Harry Potter series. He was known for his bravery and his loyalty to his friends. He had a strong sense of right and wrong, which often put him at odds with his own family.

Early Life and Hogwarts

When Sirius went to Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, he was sorted into Gryffindor house. This was unusual for his family, as most of them had been in Slytherin. Sirius did not get along with his family's beliefs about pure-blood wizards. When he was 16, he ran away from home and went to live with his best friend, James Potter, and his family. The Potters treated Sirius like their own son. One of his favorite things when he was young was his flying motorbike.

The Marauders and Their Secret

Sirius, James Potter, Remus Lupin, and Peter Pettigrew were known as the Marauders. They were very close friends. Sirius was an Animagus, which means he could transform into an animal whenever he wanted. His animal form was a large black dog, sometimes called a "Grim." He, James, and Peter learned to become Animagi to help their friend Remus Lupin. Remus was a werewolf, and transforming into animals allowed them to safely be with him during his transformations.

Wrongly Accused and Escaping Azkaban

Sirius was wrongly accused of a terrible crime. He was blamed for betraying James and Lily Potter to Voldemort, and for the murder of Peter Pettigrew and several Muggles. Because of this, he was sent to Azkaban prison. He spent twelve years there for a crime he did not commit.

Sirius Black was the first wizard ever to escape from Azkaban prison. After a year of believing Sirius was a dangerous criminal, Harry Potter found out the truth: Sirius was innocent. Harry helped Sirius avoid being captured again by the Ministry of Magic.

Fighting for Good: The Order of the Phoenix

After escaping, Sirius had to live on the run. When Voldemort returned, Sirius offered his empty childhood home, 12 Grimmauld Place, to be the secret headquarters for the Order of the Phoenix. This was a group of wizards and witches who fought against Voldemort and his followers. Sirius played an important role in the Order, even though he couldn't leave the house much because he was still a wanted man.

Sirius was killed in a battle at the Ministry of Magic by his cousin, Bellatrix Lestrange, who was a follower of Voldemort. This happened during Harry's fifth year at Hogwarts. Later, during Harry's seventh year, Sirius appeared to Harry in a hazy form with James, Lily, and Remus, thanks to the Resurrection Stone.

Sirius's Legacy

Sirius was the last "true" heir of the House of Black. After he passed away, 12 Grimmauld Place was given to Harry Potter, his godson. This meant Harry became connected to the ancient Black family. Other relatives, like Draco Malfoy (through his mother Narcissa) or Andromeda Tonks and her grandson Edward "Teddy" Remus Lupin, also have connections to the House of Black.

Family Tree Connections

Sirius once said that "almost all pure-bloods are somehow related," and he was no different!

• He was related to the Weasleys through Cedrella Weasley (who was born a Black). She married Septimus Weasley, and they were the grandparents of the Weasley children.
• He was related to the Malfoy family through his cousin Narcissa Malfoy (who was born a Black).
• He was even distantly related to his godson, Harry Potter, through Dorea Potter (who was born a Black). She was a distant relative to Harry and James Potter.

See also

In Spanish: Sirius Black para niños