Did Rita see Sirius transform?

[Devika <devika@sas.upenn.edu>]

No: HPFGUIDX 52555

--- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, "Kate the Great <pup1986 at y...>" 
<pup1986 at y...> wrote:
> Today I noticed something VERY intriguing...
> In the fourth book, in the second to last chapter, at the very end 
of 
> the chapter Hermione catches Rita Skeeter in beetle form on the 
> windowsill.
> 
> BEFORE Hermione caught Rita, Sirius transformed from dog to human 
and 
> back to dog *in the same room.*
> 
> Did Rita see? I think she probably did. It's one of those very 
subtle 
> things JKR is so good at adding that come in very important later 
on. 

I reply: 

Yes, I think she most likely did see.  It's something that's been 
worrying me ever since the first time I read GoF.  The fact that 
Hermione knows Rita's secret doesn't really comfort me very much.  
Rita may think that outing Sirius as an illegal animagus is worth 
risking Hermione outing her as one, especially if it means assisting 
in the capture of an escaped convict--and getting a great story out 
of the deal.
In fact, I think it's safe to assume that Rita saw quite a bit, if 
not all of what happened in the hospital wing at the end of GoF.  
That includes Sirius's animagus form, the fact that Snape was a Death 
Eater (but she probably knew that already), and Dumbledore's 
disagreement with Fudge and his plans to fight Voldemort without 
Fudge's help.  All in all, Rita has quite a bit to write about--I 
don't know if she'll be able to resist the temptation. 

On the other hand, Rita might be able to help Sirius in some way.  
Imagine:  a brilliant article exposing the terrible miscarriage of 
justice that the Ministry of Magic committed by sentencing an 
innocent man to a life term in Azkaban, not to mention the true 
culprit behind those twelve (not thirteen) murders.  I think this is 
a case where the truth may be far more interesting than fiction, and 
Rita does seem to enjoy pointing out errors made by the Ministry.  I 
think that enough people would believe Rita that it might force the 
Ministry to look at Sirius's case again, or at least it would give 
him some public support (I can just imagine the Free Sirius Black 
organizations popping up throughout the WW).  Now if only Rita could 
somehow be manipulated into learning the whole story and writing 
truthfully about it.  That would be interesting.

--Devika, who would love to see Sirius clear his name, and who can 
always hope it happens in OoP :)