[HPforGrownups] James, Peter, Dumbledore, Secret-Keeper

[Mary Shearer]

No: HPFGUIDX 34137


--- Katze <jdumas at kingwoodcable.com> wrote:
> I was pondering something earlier today, and I've
> started to think that
> perhaps James didn't trust Peter 100%. Why? We know
> that Sirius
> convinced James to go with Peter, but he wasn't the
> first choice. James
> also left his invisibility cloak in the care of
> Dumbledore, along with
> Harry's key to the Gringott's vault. So I wonder if
> James already knew
> that Peter was up to no good? He couldn't have known
> anything factual,
> because he still chose Peter as the Secret-Keeper. 
> 
> But why would James leave his belongings in D's
> care, and yet choose
> another for the Secret-Keeper? Is this even a valid
> consideration?
> 
> -Katze
> 
Hi All!
Delurking after a week or so because this post
intrigued me.  I too, wondered why those things had
been left in Dumbledore's care instead of with Serius,
who was James' dearest friend and most trusted
confidant. Perhaps the scenario is even darker than
Katze suggests, or maybe I just need Prozac.

In SS/PS, Dumbledore gives Harry his cloak along with
a note stating that "Your father left this in my
possession before he died. It is time it was returned
to you. Use it well." Is it possible that James left
it with Dumbledore not only because his life was in
danger, but because he needed to keep it from those
who knew of its existence?  In PoA, both Sirius and
Lupin admit that each thought the other was the spy.
Sirius talks James into switching the identity of the
secret keeper, probably telling James that he believes
Lupin to be the spy. Yet James leaves everything,
including provisions for Harry's care, with D, even
though that role had already been given to Sirius. If
James already suspected Pettigrew, and Serius has
raised doubts about Lupin, sadly, this points to the
possibility that James and Lily suspected Sirius as
well. They cannot trust any of their closest friends,
and are now utterly alone. Wow - dark days for the
Potters!  In GoF, Dumbledore states (not in so many
words) that sowing the seeds of mistrust among allies
and undermining relationships is Voldemort's
stock-in-trade. If we add these things together, this
scenario becomes a real possibility, and Sirius'
fierce devotion to Harry has an even sounder basis. 
Why?  Because in retrospect, Sirius would understand
that his action of insisting on another secret keeper
would leave him suspect in James and Lily's eyes, and
know that James' last days had to be agonizing. His
friends die at Voldemort's hand because he failed to
keep them safe, and he has the added burden of knowing
that the Potters didn't/couldn't/shouldn't have
trusted him. This makes him an even more tragic figure
than before, and leaves him desperate to make it up to
James somehow. Harry, who is so much like his father,
becomes Sirius' shot at redemption, and the focus of
his existence.  That explains why he is willing to
risk all to be at Harry's side as the signs of
Voldemort's return become more prevalent. All of his
love for James, all of his guilt over James and Lily's
death, and all of the lost affection of those misspent
years in Azkaban are pinned on Harry. Harry already
leans pretty heavily on Sirius by the end of GoF, but
I look for his role as Harry's surrogate father to
deepen in the future. Well - that's it. Please feel
free to poke holes, as I hate the thought of James'
pain during his last days, if this was the case. If
anyone has a sunnier take on these events, it would be
very welcome!

Mary - who is feeling slightly less depressed now, and
raises a glass to JKR's ability to capture the
imagination!      

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