[HPforGrownups] How does the Fidelius Charm work?

[Amanda Lewanski]

No: HPFGUIDX 23146

caliburncy at yahoo.com wrote:

> No use bothering the webmaster with stuff that could be readily
> explained (and perhaps has been discussed and dismissed already).

But Steve-baiting is fun! And it isn't fattening!

> Fudge describes the Fidelius Charm as "the magical concealment of a
> secret inside a single, living soul."  More importantly, he says that
> the information "is henceforth impossible to find, unless of course,
> the Secret-Keeper chooses to divulge it." (PA10)  Yet Hagrid and
> Sirius both were able to find Lily and James hiding place without
> asking Peter, the Secret-Keeper.

I'm betting that Hagrid and Sirius both already knew. When you try to
find someone, you sort of by definition don't know where they are. I
think that James and Lily's close friends, and people who did need to
know, weren't "trying to find them," they already knew, and simply went
up and knocked on the door. Presumably visitors to the hidden Potters
used some sort of concealment or other magical not-being-followed
insurance, but I don't think the Fidelius Charm *removes* knowledge from
people who already have it. I think it prevents people who *don't* know
from finding out.

--Amanda


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