Dumbledore's judgment (WAS Hermione and 'Evil is a strong word')

[pippin_999]

No: HPFGUIDX 166001

Alla:
> It seems to me that Dumbledore did precisely that - misunderstood 
> Sirius' core characteristics, period, no?
> 
> I mean, Dumbledore thought it possible that Sirius betrayed a man, 
> whom he loved like a brother, thought so despite observing seven 
> years of closeness between them, despite knowing that Potters took 
> Sirius in, despite observing them ( supposedly) when they were in 
> the Order ( the group of nearest comrades that DD supposedly lead).
> 
> DD seemed to be so **sure** that Sirius is capable of betraying his 
> brother and his family that he deemed it possible to give evidence 
> at the hearing ( okay, we don't know that he was not subpoenaed, but 
> it is possible that he came forward voluntarily, no?)

Pippin:
But someone close to the Potters was manifestly the spy. Someone who
was believed by everyone to be loyal, who was trusted like a brother
by the Potters, had to be the person who was betraying them. So,
unfortunately, the fact that the Potters believed implicitly in Sirius's
loyalty did absolutely nothing to establish Sirius's innocence. You
seem to forget that the Potters trusted Pettigrew just as much.

As far as Dumbledore knew, Sirius was the Secret-keeper, and the
only one who *could* have betrayed the Potters. 

It's amusing that you think so little of the Order members for their
second-hand trust in Snape, yet you fault Dumbledore for not having
second-hand trust in Sirius. How was Dumbledore to know that 
Sirius would under no circumstances betray the Potters? Because
James told him so? Do you think James ever explained to Dumbledore
*why* he trusted Sirius so much? He can't have, because it would
have meant explaining about the animagi and Lupin's furry little
excursions outside the Shrieking Shack.

Pippin