Who is Harry's guardian?

[justcarol67]

No: HPFGUIDX 158527


> a_svirn:
> <snip> Dumbledore did not make his decision *after* Sirius went after 
> Pettigrew. He made his decision *before* Sirius had a chance to 
> explain. That's why he went after Pettigrew – there wasn't anything 
> left to him but his revenge.  
> And if <post ends here>

Carol responds:
As I said, Dumbledore had every reason to believe that Sirius Black
was both the Secret Keeper who'd betrayed the Potters and the spy.
Sirius did *not* have just one option, to go after Peter. He could
have gone to dumbledore and explained his position, even presenting
legal proof that he was Harry's guardian if he had any. That he chose
revenge instead pretty much demonstrates, to me at least, that he'd
have been a very poor choice of guardian. Meantime, Dumbledore had no
choice but to take what action he could to protect Harry, and the
blood protection that Petunia could provide and Sirius couldn't seemed
to him the best possible option.

Even if Sirius was innocent (as we know in hindsight that he was),
what kind of protection could he have given Harry? He was a
twenty-two-year-old bachelor with a reckless personality, no
experience in child rearing, and a desire for vengeance against Peter
Pettigrew. He didn't trust anybody--not Remus Lupin, not Dumbledore.
He was a member of the Order and a friend of the Potters, and if he
had run off with Baby!Harry, the loyal DEs would have pursued him.
What sort of safety would have been possible for Harry in such a
situation?

Even if Sirius could prove that he was Harry's legal guardian, surely
love for Harry and whatever common sense he possessed would lead him
to understand that he could only lead Harry into danger and that
Dumbledore could provide protections that he could not. Setting aside
the fate of the WW, surely the safety of the child trumps the rights
of the appointed guardian (appointed by parents who were young
themselves and trusting their affection for their friend over his
suitability as guardian)?

Again, IMO, Dumbledore provided the best possible protection for
Harry, and if Sirius had gone to him instead of chasing after Peter,
he would have been persuaded of the necessity to keep Harry safe and
the impossibility of his providing the necessary protection himself.

Carol, trying to imagine young Sirius Black behaving as a responsible
guardian capable of protecting Harry and failing utterly