Fidelius

[jhlupin]

No: HPFGUIDX 60014

--- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, Maria wrote: 

 while the Fidelius Charm worked, I think even Sirius sort of 
forgot
> > temporally where they lived. But when Pettigrew revealed the 
secret to
> > Voldemort, the charm ceased to work, and everyone instantly 
knew where the
> > Potters lived.

>kelly responded: 
> I agree with the statements I have been reading that say that 
everyone
> forgot where the Potters lived until Peter divulged the secret to 
Voldemort.

LH:  I think that the FC is best understood as concealing the 
identity of a person or persons from all but the secret keeper.  My 
interpretation is that Lily and James could not be identified by 
any other person at any location, Godric's Hollow or otherwise.  
They could walk into Diagon Alley in the height of <school supply 
shopping> and not be recognized.  It seems unlikely that FC 
would <obliviate> the knowledge of of a particular <hide out> or 
address from every mind in the wizarding world.  How long 
would they have to hide inside their home?  Are they under 
<house arrest> until there no longer exists a threat against 
them?  Unlikely.  Instead, they go on about their lives 
unrecognized by all but the SK.  Thus when the secret is 
revealed, no <alarm> is sent out to every wizard in the world, but 
now those once hidden can be recognized, spied upon, found 
and killed.  This would explain the timing of Sirius' actions and 
why he did not apparate to Godric's Hollow when the Potter's 
were betrayed.  He did not suspect the betrayal until Wormtail 
was missing.  He did not immediately apparate at Godric's 
Hollow because he may not have been certain the Potters were 
there.

JHL