Godrics Hollow - What was the Secret?

[Steve]

No: HPFGUIDX 116043


I've already commented on this in the "Family Secrets" thread, but
I'll bring it up as a separate issue because it might help explain an
inconsistency in the incident at Godrics Hollow. (See orginal comments
in post# 116017)

People have wondered how Hagrid could find the Potter house at Godrics
Hollow if it was protected by the Secret Keeper Charm. Indeed Hagrid
comments that just after he grabbed Harry, muggles started to appear
on the scene. So, how did muggles find the place. The most common
explanation for this is that the Charm was broken when Lily and James
died, or perhaps when the AK Spell rebounded and blew up the house.

Perhaps, it was not the location but the people who were the secret. I
go back to what Prof. Flitwick said in the Three Broomsticks in PoA
when Harry overheard him explain the Fidelius (Secret Keeper) Charm.
He said...

"... As long as the Secret-Keeper refused to speak, You_Know_Who could
search the village for years and never find them, not even if he had
his nose pressed against their sitting room window!"

First I must acknowledge that Flitwick is making a generalization. He
is giving Madam Rosmerta a description of how the Fidelius Charm
works. He is using the Potters as an illustration, but he may not
necessarily be speaking to their exact circumstances. 

But, none the less, if Voldemort or any secret /seeker/ could press
their nose to the sitting room window and not find the persons hidden
inside, that implies that it is the /people/ and not the /place/ that
is the secret.

We have always assumed that the Godrics Hollow situation was similar
to the 12 Grimmauld Place situation where it is the location, the
house, that is the secret. Admittedly, 12 GP has more protections than
the Secret Keeper Charm, but it's also clear that it is indeed the
house that is being kept secret. Side note: Dumbledore is Secret
Keeper for The Order of the Phoenix, and is probably keeping many more
secrets than just the location of Headquarters.

Flitwick seems to imply that it is possible for the people, Lily and
James, to be the objects of the Charm, and that while the /secret
seeker/ might be able to find their house, he would never be able to
find them.

If Lily and James were the secret, and not the house at Godrics Hollow
then that would explain a lot of the inconsistencies regarding people
being able to find the Potter's house the night Voldemort attacked. 

It also has the additional benefit of protecting the Potters where
ever they go. If at some point Godrics Hollow became too risky they
could move to a new location and still be protected. 

Just a thought.

Steve/bboyminn (was bboy_mn)