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

[jklb66]

No: HPFGUIDX 36266

--- In HPforGrownups at y..., "kiricat2001" <Zarleycat at a...> wrote:
I wrote:
>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."  

And Mariane replied: 
> 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? 

Actually, Dumbledore seems to believe Sirius even before he reaches 
Harry & Hermione in the hospital wing.  When he arrives, I'm sure 
their insisting that Sirius is innocent confirmed Sirius's story for 
him, but look at his actions even before H&H can say a word-- he 
kicks everyone out of the room so he can speak to H&H privately.  
There is no need to do that in order to hear if H&H's story match 
Sirius's; he does this so he can tell them to use the time-turner.

So, somehow, Sirius did convince Dumbledore that he was innocent.  
Perhaps part of it was that Sirius's story this time was one that 4 
other witnesses (Lupin, HRH) could either confirm or deny, so there 
was no point in lying (other than to buy a few more dementor-free 
moments).  

It does make me think that Dumbledore and Sirius did NOT speak before 
he was sent to Azkaban. Why didn't Dumbledore question him?  Either 
the MoM prevented it, or Dumbledore was so convinced of Sirius's 
guilt in the wake of Peter's murder that he couldn't or wouldn't 
speak to him. Dumbledore is probably kicking himself for that now!

-Jennifer
"We attacked a teacher...We attacked a teacher...Oh, we're going to 
be in so much trouble--"