As many people here on the Harry Potter spot know, Sirius Black is my favorite character. He has always been and always will be. Some people, along with me, love him. Some hate him. Some don't have much of an opinion on him. I've decided that I want to explain why I like Sirius, and how I came to like him.

I saw HP 1-6 movies before reading any of the books. I remember loving Sirius, even before I read the books. I believe the reason I liked him at the time was the relationship he had with Harry. Harry never really had a father figure, and Sirius was the first family he had. I must have thought the relationship they made over such a short period of time was cute, as I still do. I actually adore their relationship now, and it is one of the reasons I was heart broken when Sirius died. In both the film, before I have ever read OOTP & again in the books. However, now there are so many more reasons why I love Sirius other than his relationship with Harry.

I look up to Sirius because of what he stand for. He stands for what he believes in, and he's not intimidated when someone bigger than him wants him to do something against his wishes. The Ancient House of Black cared very much about their blood status. Although they were not Death Eaters, they were not quiet about backing up Voldemort. Sirius was brought up in a home that represented the "normal Slytherin". That meaning, they looked down upon anyone with a blood status less than "pure" and were into the Dark Arts. Surely, you'd think Sirius would be like them too, having grown up with them. But he didn't. At eleven years old he was sorted into Gryffindor. A big no, no, coming from a Slytherin family. He never gave into his families wishes. He never became a Death Eater, he never gave up what he believed in. He was able to get out, he ran away to the Potters house. Draco proves that getting out of a Slytherin family is difficult. I admire Sirius for getting out. Sirius is a very strong person, which is what he needed to be to get out of the Ancient House of Black untouched by their ways.

He is also very brave. Some say he is rebellious, which can be true, but he always has the best intentions. He is willing to give his life for his friends as he says in Prisoner of Azkaban:
"You don't understand!" whined Pettigrew, "He would have killed me, Sirius!"
"THEN YOU SHOULD HAVE DIED!" roared Black. "DIED RATHER THAN BETRAY YOUR FRIENDS, AS WE WOULD HAVE DONE FOR YOU!"

That is not the only time he showed his willingness to risk his life for those he loves. In Goblet of Fire when Sirius hears that Harry is in trouble, he moves closer to Hogwarts to try to help Harry. At that time Sirius was a wanted man, almost the whole Wizarding World was searching for him. If he were to be found, he would have been given the Dementors Kiss. Sirius risked more than his life for Harry, he risked his soul. Dumbledore said that the Dementors Kiss was "A fate worse than death".

Sirius' want to protect those he loved is what ultimately killed him. He died fighting for what he believed in and fighting to protect Harry. Although I was, and still am, terribly upset that Sirius met his death in the books, it was the only true way for him to go. His whole life he fought for what he believed in and fought for those he loved. It was the only fitting way for him to go. Sirius lived the life the way he wanted to, and even though there were hardships, he managed to stay his own person. He managed to say himself. That's why I love Sirius Black.