[HPforGrownups] A theory regarding the "innocence" of Sirius Black and the Redemption of Peter

[Taryn Kimel]

No: HPFGUIDX 50761

Webba:
Hi! I am painstakingly researching possible signs of redemption for 
Peter for the roundtable I am *hoping* is accepted for Nimbus. In my 
reading, I have discovered a couple of things and would like to pose 
a theory. Bear with me, as perhaps I am making no sense...this is 
merely a stab in the dark. 

Me:
Well, don't mind me if I get a little protective. After all, you are trying to save a character I greatly dislike and set up my favorite character for evilness. ^_~

Webba:
It should be apparent to all of us by now that JKR chooses her words 
and dialogue carefully. Things are rarely black and white with her. 
Things that appear mundane to us at first become crystal clear later 
on, which leads me to ponder this quote by professor Trelawney in 
PoA: 

quote:
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The Dark Lord lies alone and friendless, abandoned by his followers. 
His servant has been chained these twelve years. Tonight before 
midnight...will break free and set out to rejoin his master...
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Does it seem odd to anyone else that the word "chained" is written 
here? Wormtail was never chained in the truest sense of the word. Is 
it meant to be symbolic? However, one other person was chained, and 
that was Sirius Black. Yes, Wormtail did "break free" before midnight 
but one other person broke free as well--Sirius Black. When Harry and 
Hermione used the Time-Turner, they went back several hours and 
managed to save Sirius. When they get back into the hospital wing it 
isfive minutes to midnight. 

In other words, two people "chained"--one literally and one not broke 
free. 

Me:

Why shouldn't it be symbolic? Classic seers never seem to speak in exactly literal terms. And /was/ Sirius actually literally /chained/? It seemed that the only thing keeping the prisoners in Azkaban was the Dementors. Sirius was able to escape without the trouble of chains (and I doubt his Animagus form was smaller so as to slip through any shackles).

Webba:
There may be arguments that Wormtail remained as a rat to spy for 
Lord V., but he had no idea when or if the Dark Lord would rise again-
-to everyone it seemed as if The Dark Lord was dead and gone forever. 
Given that canonic portrayal of our beloved rat lends itself to the 
idea that Peter attatched himself to anyone who could protect him, I 
have a hard time believing that Peter would willingly try and tie 
himself to a person who held no power whatsoever for several years. 
Even if there were people upset that Wormtail had let down the side 
of darkness, they were either in Azkaban or dead. And with public 
opinion and the testimony of Muggles being what it was, I could 
totally see Wormtail being able to defend himself successfully 
against Black based on the outward appearances of the crime. Perhaps 
he remained a rat because he was afraid he'd be murdered by people 
like Lucius Malfoy who put on such prompt appearances...or he was a 
spy for the side of the good. 

Me:
But there were /other/ people he might get in trouble with. For example, DE's. It'd be easy to accuse him of causing Voldemort's fall. I'd be seriously worried about my life, too.

Webba:
Later in PoA, Dumbledore states to Harry and Hermione that he himself 
testified before the ministry: 

quote:
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I myself gave evidence to the Ministry that Sirius had been the 
Potters' Secret Keeper--PoA pg. 392
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Why does he say this? If indeed the plan to change Secret-Keepers 
from Sirius to Peter were indeed true, as Sirius insists it was, why 
wouldn't Dumbledore say that it was Peter? Why would he still be 
saying it was "Sirius?" Didn't Dumbledore himself perform the 
Fidelius charm? I would think he'd know who he performed it on. 

Me:
I had the feeling that Sirius switched over by some other method. Didn't he say he did it without telling anyone? Dumbledore gave evidence against Sirius because he /believed Sirius had committed the crime/. If he /did/ perform the Fidelius charm (which I can't recall right at the moment), then he did it on /Sirius/. He had every reason to believe Sirius was a spy for Voldemort.

Webba:
Dumbledore also states to Harry and Hermione that "two innocent lives 
can be saved tonight." He never says Black specifically.... 

Me:
But Peter didn't /need/ saving at this point. He was already long gone.

Webba:
Now obviously Wormtail is indebted to the Dark Lord in some way, or 
is there out of sheer cowardice or whatever you wish to call it, but 
I seriously (no pun intended) suspect there's more to Sirius Black 
than meets the eye. He's remembered as laughing when the Ministry 
caught up with him. He's laughing at the sight in front of him--
Pettigrew's bloodied robes and all... 

Me:
Certainly it was one of the red herrings we got along the way. But think about it--Sirius has, in his eyes, caused the death of two of his greatest friends by switching Secret-Keepers with the one pathetic man who no one would suspect--including himself. Oh, the irony. The man is in /hysterics/.

Webba:
After all this research, I find myself not wholly convinced that 
Sirius Black is as innocent as he seems to be at the end of PoA. 
Wormtail's no paragon of virtue, either, but something about Sirius 
doesn't sit well with me. I can't put my finger on it though. 

Me:
*sniffles and snugs her Sirius tight*

--Taryn

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