Sirius - Harry's freedom in GoF

[Amy Z]

No: HPFGUIDX 13515

Rita wrote:

> when Dumbledore sent Sirius to alert the old gang, it 
> was one year after Dumbledore had learned of Sirius's innocence. I 
> expect that one year is enough time for Dumbledore to have spread 
the 
> word of Sirius's innocence and Peter's guilt, either to the selected 
> few who would trust his word more than Fudge's, or to everyone and 
> damn the consequence of being thought loony by most Daily Prophet 
> readers.

I wondered about this question vis-a-vis Harry's freedom in GoF.  As 
far as the teachers know, the situation is unchanged from PoA:  Sirius 
Black is still on the loose, still a mad murderer, and still after 
Harry.  Yet Harry is allowed to go to Hogsmeade, teachers aren't 
escorting him around the school, etc.

I think, therefore, that it must be the case that Dumbledore *has* 
told some people, if not the whole story, then just "don't worry, 
Harry's safe" and/or "don't worry, Sirius Black isn't really a 
killer."  But the MOM doesn't know/believe it, or else Sirius wouldn't 
have to be in hiding.  In PoA, in the hospital wing, Dumbledore tells 
Harry and Hermione that with Peter gone, no one will believe Sirius is 
innocent.  This seems unchanged; only those who trust Dumbledore's 
judgment absolutely will believe the story (or, as in Ron's case, 
those who trust Harry and Hermione). 

And it makes sense that Sirius will have to go to Remus first and then 
Remus will have to be the ambassador to most of "the old crowd."  (The 
Weasleys can help, now that Molly has been filled in.)  I'm really 
curious (and nervous) about how things will unfold for Sirius.  Right 
now everyone is gunning for him:  the Ministry AND the Death Eaters.  

Amy Z

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 If only the hat had mentioned a house 
 for people who felt a bit queasy, 
 that would have been the one for him.
     --HP and the Philosopher's Stone
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