Sirius' declaration of loyalty in the Shrieking Shack

[finwitch]

No: HPFGUIDX 139730


Saraquel:
-snipping excellent post--
> If the crunch came, and there was any doubt, I think Sirius is the 
> sort of person who would prefer to die mistaken in thinking loyalty 
> was intact, than to risk, being in any way responsible for the death 
> of someone who might turn out to have been innocent.

Finwitch:

I find that very well said. I also believe that Dumbledore felt the 
same way and very much so. I mean, in particular, about Severus Snape. 
The possibility that Severus Snape was sincere in his repentance and 
defiance of Voldemort - how ever small - was enough.

Just like Regulus - Sirius despises his ever joining Death Eaters, but 
he has *no* doubt whatsoever that he truly left them. And Dumbledore 
never had doubts about Snape leaving Death Eaters.

I certainly refuse to believe that it was foolish of Dumbledore to 
accept this repentant, even if there was no proof but Snape's word, 
even if Snape lied about it. Yes, it was a risk - but trust is *always* 
a risk. You can never know for sure. Dumbledore died for his trust in 
Snape, but even so, I think *he* had the better part than Moody the 
Paranoid.

Finwitch