[HPforGrownups] Re: In defense of DD WAS musings on Dumbledore - Even Longer/Sirius and DD

[Sherry Gomes]

No: HPFGUIDX 158710

> Julie:
> Dumbledore gave evidence. He could have lied about what he knew I 
> suppose, but again, he had no reason to suspect the evidence was 
> anything but genuinely damning. It was the evidence that condemned 
> Sirius, not Dumbledore.
> 
> BTW, it was McGonagall who said James told Dumbledore that Sirius was 
> his secret-keeper. I can't think of any reason for McGonagall to lie, 
> or for Dumbledore to lie--either to McGonagall or at the trial--so I'm 
> taking it as fact that Dumbledore knew Sirius was the secret-keeper. I 
> suppose one doesn't have to take it as fact, and can assume Dumbledore 
> lied just to get Sirius put away, but then we're straying into nothing 
> more than ESE!Dumbledore and I don't see it at all. Some seem to see 
> it though ;-)



Sherry:

Actually, I don't necessarily think either Dumbledore or Minerva lied.  But
Minerva is speaking to a group of eager listeners, 12 years after the events
being discussed.  It is highly likely her memory is tainted by what she
*thinks* happened and by time.  That's normal behavior after all; the story
changes and gets embellished over the years till a person believes what they
are saying even if it isn't exactly the way it all went down.  It is also
more dramatic to say Dumbledore had the word from James.  It might also have
been a way to quiet her own suspicions, since nobody ever questioned
Dumbledore's actions.  However, we still do not have any place, that I can
find--and I've just been rereading POA--where Dumbledore himself says, James
Potter told me Sirius was the secret keeper.  It's still hearsay, second
hand or more hearsay at that.  not admissible in a court of law here, but we
know the WW has a rather strange idea of a justice system.  

I am not saying I think DD is evil or anything.  I think he is a good man
who has made mistakes.  But everyone, good or bad, has to live with the
consequences of their actions, and in these cases, DD's actions affected and
ruined more than one life.  I can't just smile and say, oh he meant well, so
it doesn't matter.  the road to hell and all that.  And yes, I am more and
more struck by the very different way he treated Snape and Sirius, both his
subordinates in the order.  

Sherry, who would love to delve into Julie's questions about Minerva in
another post.