Sirius' Innocence

[kmcbears1]

No: HPFGUIDX 112851

--- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, "Cathy Drolet" <cldrolet at s...> 
wrote:
> IIRC, at the end of PoA, the following people knew Sirius was 
innocent:
> Dumbledore, Harry, Ron, Hermione, Lupin, Pettigrew (always knew)
> Snape knew but didn't believe it
> Fudge may have known but didn't believe it
> 
> Also, the following knew Sirius was an animagus:
> Dumbledore, Harry, Ron, Hermione, Lupin (always knew), Pettigrew 
(always knew)
> 
> By the end of GoF, Snape and Molly also knew Sirius was an animagus 
(Bill had already left the hospital wing).  Snape still believes 
Sirius is guilty.  It is also believed that Pettigrew has, by this 
time, informed LV who has informed his DE's.  I would have thought 
Pettigrew would have told during the first Voldy War.
> 
> But, Dumbledore sends Sirius - in animagus form - to Lupin (who 
already knew both innocence and animagus), Arabella Figg, Mundungus 
Fletcher and 'the old crowd' who, I think we can assume meant Dedalus 
Diggle, Emmaline Vance, Sturgis Podmore, Elphias Dodge, and possibly 
Aberforth.  Mad-Eye Moody, of the old crowd, was at the school so I 
presume DD told him.
> 
> Wouldn't any of these people be a little more than alarmed if a 
mass murderer, Azkaban escapee showed up on their doorstep?  The 
person they believe betrayed the Potters?  In the form of a dog? And 
transformed in front of their eyes?  Most of these people are 
magical, would none of them think to stun (at the very least) Sirius 
until the Magical Law Enforcement Squad could come and get him?
> 
<snip>

kmcbears writes:
It doesn't say he needs to alert them in person.  He could send owls 
or maybe even use the method that DD told Harry about in the OotP for 
members of the Order.   No books here at work (except for a German 
translation one of the guys is reading and I don't read German) so 
forgive me for parapharsing...
Members of the Order have more reliable means of communication than 
the fire in Dolores Umbridge's office.

He may have used an Order means of communication starting with "DD 
wants me to alert you to the following facts ..... ending with 
a "Feel free to check with DD if you doubt what I'm telling you."  

DD follows this message up very quickly with a meeting notice.  

Yeah - I'd believe Sirius was telling the truth.  

- kmc (formerly signed as Karen but as there are a few other Karen's 
is changing her signature.