[HPforGrownups] Chapter Summary - PoA 10 & 11 - Motorbike discrepancy

[Susan Hall]

No: HPFGUIDX 19731

I've wondered about the motorbike myself (why did it escape the attention of
Arthur Weasely or his predecessor in the office?)  but my thoughts go
something like this:-

Hagrid arrives at the smoking ruins of the cottage to find Lily and James
dead and the Potter house in ruins.  He also finds Sirius, in shock, having
realised that Pettigrew must have betrayed them.  Over the past year Sirius
had believed that Remus had turned traitor (why? lingering anti werewolf
feeling even among those who should know better?  Or was Lupin  acting as
yet another double agent?) and the knowledge of Pettigrew's treachery
doesn't immediately exonerate Lupin - either one or both of his friends must
be a traitor.  Sirius and Hagrid argue over custody of Harry, whom Sirius
regards as his first responsibility.  Having lost that argument, Sirius
decides to go and kill Pettigrew.  He doesn't tell Hagrid, who would
probably be sympathetic if he knew Pettigrew had betrayed the Potters
because Hagrid is going straight back to Dumbeldore.  He probably intends to
turn himself in after killing Pettigrew and/or go after Lupin, who if he is
a Voldemort supporter is likely to be a much more dangerous proposition than
Pettigrew.  Accordingly, he tells Hagrid "take the bike, I don't need it any
more".

Hagrid, while flying back to Privet Drive, takes this extravagant statement
as being the result of Sirius' emotional state and regards the bike as
having been loaned to him.  Once he drops off Harry his intention is to go
back, calm Sirius down, probably give him a few drinks and say "I've looked
after yeh bike.  I knew yeh didn't really mean to give it away."

However, before he can return the bike the Pettigrew story breaks, Sirius'
last words to him take on a new significance, and by 12 years later Hagrid's
view about their conversation is "how could I have been so blind?"

Susan