Need some help
Jun. 15th, 2005 08:43 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
lls_mutantOkay, F-list, I realized I have a major question in AIL that I'm not sure I can answer. So I'm going to try to sort it out here, but I'd really, really like to hear thoughts.
The question: Why didn't James and Lily use Dumbledore as their Secret Keeper? Why did they insist on using Sirius-slash-Peter?
Now, the way I see it, Sirius would have had to have a REALLY strong reason for thinking Remus was the spy. Without giving too much away, I think it came down to when James and Lily were in hiding (because there is a difference between "in hiding" and "under Fidelus"), some secret was given away that only the six of them (James, Lily, Peter, Remus, Sirius, and Dumbledore) knew. I just can't see Sirius willingly suspecting any of his friends (much less his lover) of being a spy if he had ANY other alternative, and same with James. Now, James can eliminate that he and Lily are the spy, because they're being hunted. I can see why he trusted Sirius- they're best friends. But if you only have a certain number to pick from, why not use Dumbledore, when you KNOW Dumbledore is not the spy?
Or did James not know? Do you think something happened that caused James to think Dumbledore WAS selling them out?
I'm thinking it's one of those plot devices. It doesn't make sense for Dumbledore NOT to have offered, so JKR had to have him offer. But in order for the Sirius-Peter plot to work, Sirius had to be the secret keeper (or thought to be). So I suspect it's simply an emotional thing, where James was putting his trust in Sirius and yadayadayada. There might have been some arrogance there, too, of not wanting to listen to Dumbledore, because after all THEY were the guys who pulled off the Animagus transformation at 15, thanks. They knew what they were doing. I'm also under the impression that only the secret keeper could contact the family, and given that Sirius WAS James's best friend, and Harry's godfather and all that, they wanted to keep contact with at least one friend. Does this make sense?
I'm also thinking that the location of the Secret Keeper was not under Fidelius. Sirius was going to go "into hiding", but does that necessarily mean under Fidelius, or did he just make himself unplottable and meant to move? I suspect that there are lesser hiding spells that a wizard can use to keep himself concealed, and that's what Sirius was intending. (Before he decided to switch, of course.)
Other brilliant thoughts?
The question: Why didn't James and Lily use Dumbledore as their Secret Keeper? Why did they insist on using Sirius-slash-Peter?
Now, the way I see it, Sirius would have had to have a REALLY strong reason for thinking Remus was the spy. Without giving too much away, I think it came down to when James and Lily were in hiding (because there is a difference between "in hiding" and "under Fidelus"), some secret was given away that only the six of them (James, Lily, Peter, Remus, Sirius, and Dumbledore) knew. I just can't see Sirius willingly suspecting any of his friends (much less his lover) of being a spy if he had ANY other alternative, and same with James. Now, James can eliminate that he and Lily are the spy, because they're being hunted. I can see why he trusted Sirius- they're best friends. But if you only have a certain number to pick from, why not use Dumbledore, when you KNOW Dumbledore is not the spy?
Or did James not know? Do you think something happened that caused James to think Dumbledore WAS selling them out?
I'm thinking it's one of those plot devices. It doesn't make sense for Dumbledore NOT to have offered, so JKR had to have him offer. But in order for the Sirius-Peter plot to work, Sirius had to be the secret keeper (or thought to be). So I suspect it's simply an emotional thing, where James was putting his trust in Sirius and yadayadayada. There might have been some arrogance there, too, of not wanting to listen to Dumbledore, because after all THEY were the guys who pulled off the Animagus transformation at 15, thanks. They knew what they were doing. I'm also under the impression that only the secret keeper could contact the family, and given that Sirius WAS James's best friend, and Harry's godfather and all that, they wanted to keep contact with at least one friend. Does this make sense?
I'm also thinking that the location of the Secret Keeper was not under Fidelius. Sirius was going to go "into hiding", but does that necessarily mean under Fidelius, or did he just make himself unplottable and meant to move? I suspect that there are lesser hiding spells that a wizard can use to keep himself concealed, and that's what Sirius was intending. (Before he decided to switch, of course.)
Other brilliant thoughts?
