Why didn't the Longbottoms go into hiding?/Secret Keeper Switch

[mhbobbin]

No: HPFGUIDX 111034

--- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, "romuluslupin1" 
<romuluslupin1 at y...> wrote:
> > mhbobbin writes: that makes sense that they had a job to do. 
Except 
> > that at the time LV goes after the Potters he seems to have been 
> > **winning** the war so it also wouldn't be surprising to learn 
that 
> > ones who feared they specifically might be targeted might not 
stick 
> > around to find out. LV was picking off OotP members one by one. 
And 
> > Sirius Black declined to be the Potters' secret keeper because 
he 
> > himself was planning to go into hiding. 
> 
> 
> I won't let your speaking ill of the dead go unpunished! ;-)
> 
> As I read it, Sirius didn't turn down the SK job out of cowardice 
> (that's the way it sounds in your post. If you didn't mean that, I 
> apologize), he did it out of cleverness (however ill fated). He 
was 
> planning to go into hiding as the *official* SK while Peter (who 
was 
> also going to hide out) and the Potters (who were protected by the 
SK 
> charm) went on their merry ways. I figured Sirius was planning to 
go 
> somewhere leaving a trail a mile large for the DE to follow, then 
> trasform into Padfoot in order to mud the trail and then apparate, 
> fly or whatever to Bora Bora (or wherever else he spent the time 
> between POA and GOF). I bet Uncle Alphard left him a summer house 
in 
> the Tropics or something.
> 
> Romulus Lupin, always ready to defend poor, maligned Sirius.

mhbobbin now, 
(crying out poor maligned Sirius doesn't need defense from me!):

This thread was kidnapped by another thread, which had to do with 
the big Secret Keeper Switch.

In a Thread on Sunday, labeled """Secret Keeper Switch""" mhbobbin 
wrote this, also applicable here:

 My original Post was was in the context of the Longbottoms and 
whether it was appropriate for Aurors to go into hiding. My point 
was that times were so dangerous that even Sirius Black had planned 
to go into hiding--even prior to becoming the Secret Keeper. Not 
because he was a coward but out of prudence. Ostensibly many wizards 
went into hiding as LV was at the height of his powers before 
Godrics Hollow. Better to be in hiding and be ready to fight another 
day. I was incorrect in my statement that Sirius wanted to decline 
the SK job so he could go into hiding--I was only focused on the 
concept that EVEN Sirius was planning to go into hiding so why 
couldn't Aurors hide their baby?

I cite PoA, Chapter Ten: The Marauders' Map. The conversation is the 
one in the bar that Harry overhears. Per Professor 
McGonagall: "James Potter told DD that Black would die rather than 
tell where they were, that Black was planning to go into hiding 
himself... and yet, DD remained worried."

I read this line as Black was already planning to go into hiding, 
therefore, it would be a simple matter for him to be the Secret 
Keeper. Others read it as Sirius was ready to be the Secret Keeper 
and then go into hiding. Either way, it makes my original point 
about wizards taking precautionary steps in a dangerous time.

Once Black switched the SK role with Pettigrew we don't know whether
Black then went into hiding or not. Given that he was a big risk-
taker, he may have chosen to remain where he could be a decoy,
leading DEs away from Pettigrew and the Potters. Or both Pettigrew 
and Black went into hiding, knowing that LV would be looking for 
Black rather than the rat. My personal belief is that Sirius  made 
himself scarce. 

Alas, I don't think that is what is most important here. I think the 
decision process that led up to the fateful decision to make 
Pettigrew the Secret Keeper--including the roles of the Potters, 
Sirius, Peter and Remus (who Black admits to suspecting was the spy) 
was what is critical to this part of the story. There are few 
moments where the entire story hinges on a decision and I believe 
the decision to make Pettigrew the Secret Keeper --and everything 
that led up to it and the immediate aftermath--is what is most 
critical here.

mhbobbin