Veritaserum (was RE-I don't expect a complete bloodbath and a Question)

[Meg Demeranville]

No: HPFGUIDX 49327

Cathy N wrote....
> I have a question now.
> Why when Sirius Black was caught by the MOM after they thought he killed Wormtail(Peter Pettigrew) and a street full of muggles and betrayed James and Lily was he not given Veritaserum(Truth serum). 
> Surely he denied the charges against him?  So it would have been the most logical course of action to take.

klingerji responded:
I have often thought about this question. Why is veritserum not used more often in WW trials. My only thought is that it might be comparable to a ploygraph machine of our world. While they are a strong indicator of the truth and can get someone to tell the truth, they are not permissible in court. i understand that there is a great difference between veritaserum and a polygraph test, but it might work
along the same theory.

any opinions?

now me:
What is to preclude Sirius from having taken Veritaserum? Depending on what he was asked, he may have been able to truthfully respond that he killed the Potters. It is certainly what he believes. From Ch. 17 and 19 PoA (U.S. Hardback):
"You killed my parents," said Harry, his voice shaking slightly, but his wand hand quite steady.
Black stared up at him out of those sunken eyes. 
"I don't deny it," he said very quietly. "But if you knew the whole story" (p. 341-2)

and 

"Harry ... I as good as killed them,' he croaked."I persuaded Lily and James to change to Peter at the last moment, persuaded them to use him as Secret-Keeper instead of me...I'm to blame. I know it....The night they died, I'd arranged to check on Peter, make sure he was still safe, but when I arrived at his hiding place, he'd gone. Yet there was no sign of a struggle. It didn't feel right. I was scared. I set out for your parents' house straight away. And when I saw their house, destroyed, and their bodies...I realized what Peter must've done...what I'd done...." (p. 365)

In both sections, Sirius says that he killed the Potters. If under Veritaserum, he was asked "Did you kill the Potters?", he would have replied "Yes" and been truthful since he believed that in switching Secret-Keepers, he was to blame for their deaths. Unless he was asked how he killed them, and I don't think the MoM cared to know how, he would have taken the blame for their death. So it is possible that he really did confess to the crime.

Just a thought.

--Meg (who has her one year list anniversary this week and who just started her second semester of medical school, both really cool items of note.)


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