Fidelius Charm

[KathyK]

No: HPFGUIDX 90837

Carol wrote:

> I'm almost certain that Dumbledore testified in a hearing (there 
was no trial) that Sirius had been the Potter's Secret Keeper. He 
believed that Sirius was guilty, not only at that time but through 
most of PoA.
> Sorry I don't have the page reference at hand.<

KathyK can help with that:

It's PoA, Ch 21, "Hermione's Secret" US pg 392:

"I myself gave evidence to the Ministry that Sirius had been the 
Potters' Secret-Keeper."

Dumbledore testified, but not necessarily at a hearing.

Carol:
 
>I also wonder why they didn't use Priori Incantatem< <snip>

KathyK:

Maybe they did.  But with the damning evidence of a street full of 
witnesses and Dumbledore's confirmation that Sirius was Secret-
Keeper, I imagine it would have been very easy to ignore a little 
thing like what Prior Incantato would have revealed.  Or it's quite 
possible they never bothered with the spell because Sirius appeared 
so guilty.  Besides, it's not like he had a trial or anything.  When 
and where did Dumbledore give this evidence?  We don't know.  He 
could have just told the Minister or Crouch what he knew in a 
conversation or it could have been some sort of hearing.  Either 
way, Crouch didn't give Sirius a chance to defend himself, and the 
only people who could have helped him died because of him.  I'll bet 
Sirius didn't even try to explain what happened, he was so guilty 
for what he'd done.    

KathyK, obsessed with the whole Fidelius business