Sirius and Confusing and Befuddlement Draughts

[kiricat2001]

No: HPFGUIDX 93268

--- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, "JoAnna" <pt4ever at y...> wrote:
> >>>
> 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.
> >>>
> 
> 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.  

Marianne:

Agreed that Dumbledore didn't have all the facts. He believed the 
Ministry line and the damning evidence of Sirius' guilt.  And this is 
precisely my point - why would Sirius think that Dumbledore would be 
willing to listen to him now, when he has not shown a bit of interest 
in the last 12 years?  

And, I agree, had Sirius sent him a note outlining the case, 
revealing he was an Animagus, Dumbledore would surely have given him 
a hearing.  But, I think that would have shown a huge level of trust 
by Sirius, not only in reaching out to someone who has, like everyone 
else, condemned him, but also handing Dumbledore the one secret that 
Sirius can use to keep himself relatively safe.  I don't know that 
I'd be willing to take that chance, either.

JoAnna:
 
> 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.

Marianne:

I agree, part of the way.  GoF Sirius was not caged, but neither was 
he free.  Shop in Diagon Alley? Stroll through the streets of 
Hogsmeade? Apply for a job at the Ministry?  Sirius was still 
isolated from his own society. Although the level of autonomy he had 
certainly had to feel better than prison, he was still constrained in 
his movements and activities. 

I also have to agree with HunterGreen's later post in hoping that 
whatever ailed Sirius in OoP (depression, stress, iron-poor tired 
blood, prison flashbacks, whatever) was not a result of a magically-
induced condition. It's much more interesting to read about 
characters with real flaws making real mistakes.

And, yes, it's all a moot point, really.  But, what else can we do 
while waiting for Book 6?

Marianne