DD: appreciation + Lupin - Nature of Secret Charm

[Steve]

No: HPFGUIDX 97010

--- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, "severelysigune"
<severelysigune at y...> wrote:
>  Kneasy:  

> Sigune:
> 
> ...MVE... (Massive and Vicious Editing)...
> 
> Anyway - why trust Sirius and not Remus? And are we to understand 
> that during the time they lived in Godric's Hollow, the Potters were 
> entirely cut off from the world, having no visitors at all save 
> Sirius and Dumbledore? If things were not as strict as that, I don't 
> see why James's second biggest pal, id est Remus, would not have been 
> acquainted with the Potters' whereabouts.
> 
> Yours severely, 
> 
> Sigune

bboy_mn:

Let's remember that even if Lupin knew where the Potters were, even if
he had been to the house, the magic of the Secret Keeper Charm would
prevent him from telling anyone. Only the Secret Keeper can reveal the
secret.

To put it into a more modern framework, not matter how much Harry
trusts Neville now (after the fight in the Ministry & and the
revelation of the Prophecy - OoP), Harry still can't tell Neville
about 12 Grimmauld Place. 

I'm not exactly sure how the Secret Keeper magic works. Perhaps at the
instant you attempt to reveal the secret, you mind goes blank, and the
secret is lost until you stop trying to remember it. (Actually, that
happens to me all the time, can't remember something until I stop
trying to remember it.)

Or perhaps there is some kind of punishment spell that accompanies the
Secret Keeper Charm, although, I find this less likely as fear of
punishment rarely stops anyone from commiting an offense. So,
punishment in no way prevents you from revealing the secret. It
doesn't 'kick in' until after the fact.

No real point here, just wanted to point out that Lupin was able to
know the location of the Potters, but was unable to reveal that
information.

Just a thought.

bboy_mn