Good People and Death Eaters

Sirius fire-chats with Harry, Ron, and Hermione about Harry's heavily-coded letter:

Dear Snuffles,

Hope you're okay, the first week back here's been terrible, I'm really glad it's the weekend.

We've got a new Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher, Professor Umbridge.  She's nearly as nice as your mum.  I'm writing because that thing I wrote to you about last summer happened again last night when I was doing a detention with Umbridge.

We're all missing our biggest friend, we hope he'll be back soon.

Please write back quickly.

Best,

Harry

That Sirius chooses to respond by means of a surprise fire-chat in the Gryffindor Common Room, risking discovery by any number of Gryffindors (or anyone watching the Floo Network), speaks to his restlessness, after being cooped up alone in Grimmauld Place for a mere week.  Nevertheless, he imparts some insightful wisdom about the nature of people, who are imperfect and flawed whether they follow Voldemort's path or not.  He also sheds some light on the nature of Umbridge's prejudice toward part-humans.

When Harry and his friends try to dissuade Sirius from visiting, he tells Harry, "The risk would've been what made it fun for James," before making a quick exit from the fireplace.

-AK