What Jo says about...
Sirius Black (aka "Padfoot") and the Black Family

Please note: unless you see quotemarks, these are summaries, and not JKR's words themselves. Please see the linked article for the actual text.

• Will Sirius ever be proven innocent? Or have you not decided yet? JKR: "I have decided, but if I answer it gives away something quite important in the plot, so I'd rather not ... however, Sirius will be back in future books." [Read the exact quote from Barnes & Noble chat, 1999]
• JK has worked out Sirius' childhood in detail. Conversations with JK Rowling, p.40
• She says this about writing the death in book five: JKR: "Yeah. Well I had re-written the death, re-written it and that was it. It was definitive. And the person was definitely dead. And I walked into the kitchen crying and Neil said to me, 'What on earth is wrong?' and I said, 'Well, I've just killed the person.' Neil doesn't know who the person is. But I said, 'I've just killed the person.' And he said, 'Well, don't do it then.' I thought, 'a doctor' you know ... and I said 'Well it just doesn't work like that. You are writing children's books, you need to be a ruthless killer.'" [Read the exact quote from the BBC Paxman interview, 2003]
• JKR: "Sirius loathed Snape (and the feeling was entirely mutual)." [Read the exact quote from World Book Day, 2004]
• Narcissa (Black) Malfoy is not related to Lily (Evans) Potter. Her name doesn't fit the naming pattern for the Black family (constellations); JKR just thought the name fit her. We will see more of Narcissa in future books [6 and/or 7] [Read the exact quote from World Book Day, 2004]
• What houses were Sirius Black, Remus Lupin, James Potter and Remus Lupin in?
  JK Rowling says: "This is JK herself saying that they were indeed in Gryffindor!" [note that Lupin is named twice and Pettigrew is not in this list]. [Read the exact quote from World Book Day, 2004]
• Will the two way mirror Sirius gave Harry ever show up again? JKR: Ooooo, good question. There’s your answer. [Read the exact quote from World Book Day, 2004]
• JKR won't tell us if Harry will see Sirius again. [Read the exact quote from World Book Day, 2004]
• "Real sleuths" might be able to guess what happened to Sirius' motorbike. [Read the exact quote from World Book Day, 2004]
• The mirror that Harry got from Sirius might not have helped as much as you think but, on the other hand, will help more than you think. [Read the exact quote from Jo's website]
• Harry does not have a Godmother. Harry's christening was very hurried and quiet, just the family and James' best friend Sirius. [Read the exact quote from Edinburgh Book Festival, 2004]
• "Sirius was too busy being a big rebel to get married." [Read the exact quote from Edinburgh Book Festival, 2004]
• Removed a character named "Mopsy the dog-lover" from Book 4; this character lived near Hogsmeade and took Sirius in. In the final version, Sirius stays in a cave. [Read exact quote from Jo's website]
• JK says about Sirius Black: "I do like him, although I do not think he is wholly wonderful." She says he is "brave, loyal, reckless, embittered and slightly unbalanced by his long stay in Azkaban," but his redeeming quality is the affection that he is capable of feeling. He loved James like a brother, and has attached that affection to Harry. [Read the exact quote from Jo's website]
• Sirius was "around twenty-two" years old when he was sent to Azkaban. [Read the exact quote from Jo's website]
• Sirius did indeed laugh when he was framed for the muggle murders because he was so "unhinged." "He knew what he'd lost." [Read the whole quote from the Leaky Cauldron, 2005]
• "I see Sirius as someone who was a case of arrested development. I think you see that from his relationship with Harry in 'Phoenix.' He kind of wants a mate from Harry, and what Harry craves is a father." [Read the whole quote from the Leaky Cauldron, 2005]
• JK will not comment on whether or not Sirius' mirror will allow communication with Regulus or not. [Read the whole quote from the Leaky Cauldron, 2005]
• Sirius' death was not arbitrary. Plot-wise, Harry needs to "go on alone and to give him too much support makes his job too easy." [Read the whole quote from ITV, 2005]
• Who is R.A.B.? Regulus Black is a "fine choice." [Read the whole quote from the Leaky Cauldron, 2005]
• JK will not comment on whether or not Sirius' mirror will allow communication with Regulus or not. [Read the whole quote from the Leaky Cauldron, 2005]
• "Regulus got in a little too deep. Like Draco. He was attracted to it, but the reality of what it meant was way too much to handle." [Read the whole quote from the Leaky Cauldron, 2005]
• Sirius' death was not arbitrary. Plot-wise, Harry needs to "go on alone and to give him too much support makes his job too easy." [Read the whole quote from ITV, 2005]
• Stubby Boardman is not Regulus Black [29 Sept 2006] [Read the exact quote from Jo's website]