Dumbledore and Sirius' guilt (Was: Clearing Sirius/ Dumbledore's gleam)

[kiricat2001]

No: HPFGUIDX 36265

--- In HPforGrownups at y..., "jklb66" <jklb66 at y...> wrote:
> 
> Dumbledore was able to testify for Snape because he WITNESSED Snape 
> acting as a spy against Voldemort.  Dumbledore can't testify for 
> Sirius because he doesn't have any first hand knowledge of Sirius's 
> innocence.  All he could say is, "Sirius told me he is innocent, 
and 
> I believed him."  

Which brings up a question regarding Dumbledore and Sirius.  We know 
that Dumbledore believed that Sirius was the Potters' Secret Keeper.  
He told the MOM that was the case once Sirius was in custody after 
the confrontation with Pettigrew.  

What I wonder is this:  Did Dumbledore believe the (admittedly)
overwhelming evidence of Sirius' guilt and write him off as the worst 
kind of traitor? Or did he try to visit Sirius either before or right 
after he was sent to Azkaban to get Sirius' version of the story?  If 
so, was he not allowed this visit?  That strikes me as odd.  I would 
think that someone as well-known, respected and powerful as 
Dumbledore would be able to get at least fifteen minutes to see a 
prisoner, even if the only way he could do it was to call in some 
favors.  

And, if he was allowed the visit, obviously Sirius was not able to 
convince Dumbledore that he was innocent.  And, if that was the case, 
why does Dumbledore suddenly believe him in PoA?  He has no more 
concrete evidence - he hasn't seen Pettigrew, he hears Snape's 
version of events, and Remus is not available to offer any 
explanations.  All he has to go on are the observations of Harry and 
Hermione and whatever Sirius told him while being held in Flitwick's 
office. Is it Harry/Hermione's explanation that convinces Dumbledore? 

Marianne