Clearing Sirius's Name

[aldrea279]

No: HPFGUIDX 41768

Tammy:
>>First, and most obvious, EVERYONE who was a death
eater at some point, Even the traitors such as snape,
what happend to them? They all got a dark mark that
appeared on their left arm. So, if Sirius didn't get
one it should be clear that he was not ever a death
eater or a supporter of Voldemort.>>

We don't know if the thing is even visible all the time.  I know in 
GoF, Karkaroff gets increasingly worried because his Dark Mark was 
getting clearer.   We know if Voldemort touches the Mark on the arm 
of a DE, it gets very vivid and is a sign to all DE's to Aparate 
directly to Voldemort.

But that doesn't mean it's visible all the time.  To me, it would be 
a rather stupid move by Voldemort to brand all of his followers in a 
way that can identify them for what they are.  I mean, secrecy seemed 
to be a big thing to them.  They didn't even know who was who all the 
time, because of their masks.  With such people (like the Malfoys) 
who claimed to have been tricked, you could just check their left arm 
to see if they're lying.  But no one did that.  Why?  I, personally, 
think the Mark is -not- visible all the time.  It was growing more 
vivid during GoF, because Voldemort probably *wanted* it to.  He 
wanted all his DE's to know he was getting stronger.  Those that were 
disloyal would have time to squirm, and those that were loyal would 
get renewed hope(such as the Lestranges in Azkaban).  So I think if 
Voldemort wants it to be clear, it will.  And if he touches the Mark 
on a DE's arm, it grows *very* vivid.

>>The other thing is All the death eaters now know that
pettigrew lived! Surely everyone else could possibly
find out he's alive, and that would bring the chance
to clear Sirius's name.>>

I don't think the DE's would spread the word that Wormtail was 
alive.  Pettigrew has a bit of an advantage with that.  No one
(outside of the DE's and Harry and Co.) knows that he's alive.  Also, 
they don't know that he's an Animagus.  Knowledge is power, after 
all, and we know how much Voldie and his gang love to keep power all 
for themselves.

~Aldrea