Sirius and Bravery WAS Re: Secret Keeper

[bluesqueak <pipdowns@etchells0.demon.co.uk>]

No: HPFGUIDX 51674

--- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, "Calliope" <julia at t...> wrote:
> My theory on this:
> > 
> Julia
> Everyone knew the things that Voldemort was capable of; ie  
> torture.  Maybe Sirius had even had some first hand experience.  
> Who knows.  Anyway, I believe he was afraid that he wouldn't be 
> able to hold out against Voldemort, and even though he would never 
> *consciously* betray Lily and James, he might not be strong enough 
> to endure whatever Voldemort could dish out and eventually give   
> in.  

I think my private problem with the 'Sirius was afraid he'd crack 
under torture' theory is I have this vision.

The vision goes something like [teeny tiny FF]: Sirius is captured. 
Sirius is tortured. 'Reveal the Secret!' goes Voldemort. 'Urgh, 
arghh, I can't! It's Pettigrew! He's the Secret Keeper!"

And then Voldemort goes after poor snivelling little Peter, who 
Sirius is apparently expecting to be a *lot* braver than he was...

> Julia:
> I don't think it was that he was afraid of the torture itself - I 
> think Sirius knew that Voldemort would automatically assume he was 
> the Secret Keeper and come after him regardless.  If he wasn't 
> actually the Secret Keeper, then no matter what Voldemort did,  
> he  couldn't spill the beans.

No, just the beans about exactly *who* the Secret Keeper was. I 
think it would have been an awful lot more sensible [and braver] if 
Sirius had said 'Look, Voldemort's going to assume I'm the Secret 
Keeper and come after me. My advice is to pick a Secret Keeper and 
not tell me who it is. Then however much he tortures me, I won't be 
able to tell him a thing.'

> Julia:
> Like I said, it's just my theory.  I would HOPE that Sirius was 
> not avoiding being SK just to get out of being tortured.  I think 
he's a lot braver than that.

Sirius? Brave? 
Sirius is not actually fight-to-the-death brave. Sirius is downright 
*sneaky*. Sirius's preferred mode of action is to get someone *else* 
to do the dirty work. In the Prank, he uses Lupin to attack Snape. 
In the Secret Keeper he uses Pettigrew. 

Incidentally, if you want more on this theory see TBAY post 
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/HPforGrownups/message/39184

Sirius's Gryffindor bravery is much more like Neville's. He has the 
courage of endurance; the courage to survive 12 years in Azkaban 
with his sanity intact. The courage not to give up when it seems 
hopeless.

But physical, let's fight the guy who knows all the curses, keep the 
Secret under torture bravery? 

No. Canon actually suggests he doesn't have that at all.

Pip!Squeak

[Waves at Dicentra, and now expecting the Sirius Apologists]