James, Peter, Dumbledore, Secret-Keeper

[serenadust]

No: HPFGUIDX 34146

--- In HPforGrownups at y..., Mary Shearer <marybear82 at y...> wrote:
> 

> 
> 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!
> 

Wow, Mary! You nearly had me in tears with this scenario.  I don't 
recall anyone else coming up with this exact take on how the last 
weeks of the Potters lives played out, but your explanation certainly 
rings true for me.
Great first post!

Jo, feeling even more warmly toward poor, poor Sirius
> 
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