Sirius and Confusing and Befuddlement Draughts

[JoAnna]

No: HPFGUIDX 93186

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Marianne:

And why should Sirius have immediately trusted that a message to
Dumbledore would have led to a cozy chat where all could be explained?
Dumbldedore knew where Sirius was for the last 12 years, yet we have
no evidence that he sought to question Sirius about what happened
with the Potters/Secret Keeper, etc. Dumbledore was the leader of
the Order the first time around, but apparently believed that one of
his soldiers was indeed guilty of horrible treachery and didn't seem
to have a problem with locking the guy away without benefit of a
trial.
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JoAnna:

Dumbledore did not have all the facts.  He had no clue that MMWP were
Animagi or that an escape via transformation by Pettigrew was
possible.  He had no clue that Pettigrew was the Secret-Keeper.  He
had no reason to suspect Sirius innocence *until he was given all the
facts* by Harry and Hermione at the end of PoA.

IMO, all Sirius had to do was owl Dumbledore with the facts - "We were
unregistered Animagi - I was a dog; James, a stag; and Peter, a rat. 
If you don't believe me, ask Lupin.  Peter was Secret-Keeper, we
switched, he was working for Voldemort."  Dumbledore would certainly
have been able to at least verify that MMWP were unregistered Animagi
by talking with Lupin.  

It's a moot point, certainly.  But it shows how Harry is like Sirius
in that respect - neither of them really think their plans through
before implementing them, which sometimes leads to trouble.

I think that the main difference between GoF Sirius and OotP Sirius is
that GoF Sirius was *free* - he could come and go as he pleased, where
he pleased, when he pleased.  OotP Sirius was a prisoner in his own
home, an imprisonment which I'm sure reminded him of Azkaban.  Many
would become reckless and hot-tempered in that situation, though I'm
not discounting the possibility that a Bufuddlement Draught may have
been involved.

- JoAnna