JKR's Single Biggest Error - ie: Veritaserum

[dumbledore11214]

No: HPFGUIDX 124083


Betsy:
Okay - I think I see where the disagreement is happening.  The way I 
see it, no investigation, hearing, discussion, nothing, occurred 
*after* Sirius was captured.  I see it that Sirius was grabbed, 
thrown in Azkaban and the file was closed.
 
An investigation occurred *before* the capture to determine who was 
responsible for the deaths, and that's when Dumbledore gave evidence 
that Sirius was their secret-keeper, and that's how the Aurors knew 
who to hunt down.


Alla:

Yes, you are right on target about our disagreement. :) The way I 
see it we don't know when the investigation occurred, although it 
may very well be as you described it.
 


Betsy:
I agree, if Sirius was protesting his innocence on his way to 
Azkaban (though his mad laughter suggests he was in no shape to say 
much of anything), then at the very least questioning him would have 
been wise.  Using Veritaserum would have been wise as well.  And a 
trial would have been both wise and fair.  However, Sirius was not 
treated wisely or fairly.  So while not using Veritaserum was a 
mistake on the part of the Ministry, it fits well with their 
behavior and so is not a mistake on the part of the author.  At 
least in my opinion. :)


Alla:

I think I know what I think JKR's mistake is. She did not describe 
WHEN exactly Veritaserum is supposed to be used.

For example, it may very well be that in the case of war 
emergencies, acused goes straight to jail ( do you know how much I 
hate what I just typed? :)), but we don't know that and so far I am 
left with the impression that Veritaserum is a clumsy plot device, 
which JKR used because she needed Crouch Jr.'s confession and did 
not explain to us when Ministry uses and does not use Veritaserum.

Just my opinion,

Alla