DD and the rat (was:Re: Minerva McGonagall-/Dumbledore)

[huntergreen_3]

No: HPFGUIDX 115564


Carolyn wrote:
>>The most convincing analysis I have seen recently about Sirius's
possible guilt in this respect formed part of a presentation at
ConventionAlley this August (Webb & Brown - 'Let's Chat About the
Rat').

(Melannen):
'If Sirius really thought that dying under Voldemort's torture would
be enough to save the Potters, and any of them would have done so
rather than betray, there's no reason he couldn't have done that
himself. Either he was too scared to die horribly, or he knew that
anyone, including himself, would eventually crack once Voldemort got
his hands on him. Either way that leaves him looking little better
than Peter.'<<

HunterGreen:
I understand that you didn't write the above quote, but you quoted 
it, so I assume you agree with it. The whole secret-keeper switch has 
always been rather clear to me: James and Lily would use Peter as the 
secret-keeper, but no one besides the four of them would know. So 
Voldemort would still go after Sirius, and still torture and kill 
him, and would have no idea to go after Peter. If Sirius was the 
secret-keeper that might be enough to break the spell (how can the 
charm work if the secret-keeper is dead?). Even if it doesn't, 
Voldemort is wasting his time torturing and killing someone who has 
no information. If Sirius died, it would act as a warning for Peter 
that Voldemort might start pursuing other options (probably Lupin or 
one of Lily's friends first though). 
Sirius breaking under torture is quite a bit different than Peter 
willingly going to Voldemort and telling him where the Potters were 
(which is what he did). I think Sirius (and James and Lily, who went 
along with the plan) was trying to make a backup plan in case he did 
break under torture. Unless he planned on telling everyone that he 
wasn't the secret-keeper, he was hardly saving himself from 
Voldemort. The only reason Voldemort never went after Sirius is 
because Peter *already* was a traitor.

Carolyn:
>>Perhaps DD left Sirius to rot in Azkaban as a fitting punishment for
this weakness.<<

HunterGreen:
Fitting punishment? Even if Sirius switched the secret-keeper to 
Peter purely because he was afraid he might crack under *torture*, 
that is hardly something he needs to be punished for. In the end it 
was Lily and James' decision, and *they* chose Peter. Since when is 
Dumbledore vengeful enough to let someone sit in prison for 12 years 
when they haven't committed any crime? He didn't punish Sirius nearly 
as severely for the prank incident, which was much more than a simple 
personal weakness (the action was worse, not the results). The 
explanation we've been given makes the most sense in this situation: 
Dumbledore thought Sirius was guilty, therefore he didn't see a 
reason to get him out of jail.