Harry as godfather (Was: Sirius Black's role in DH -- why?)

[Zara]

No: HPFGUIDX 179197

> > zgirnius:
> > I can't agree on this one. If Sirius had any legal leg to stand 
on 
> > (and the books do not make it clear whether he did, Petunia was 
> > Harry's next of kin), his decision to go after Peter meant he 
lost 
> > any chance to fight for Harry.
> 
> Alla:
> 
> I think they do make it clear though - Sirius was named a guardian, 
> NOT Petunia. Unless you do not believe Sirius of course.

zgirnius:
This is why I employed the adjective 'legal'. James and Lily, who did 
not manage to even have wands handy when Voldemort came calling, 
strike me as the sorts of characters who may not have bothered to put 
their wishes regarding the custody of their son in the event of theor 
deaths in writing. I don't doubt the sincerity Sirius's belief that 
James and Lily would have wanted him to get custody of Harry, but 
even Sirius does not claim, that I can recall, that this wish was 
definitely formalized in whatever manner is usual in the Potterverse. 
I doubt they had written a will either, but Harry would get 
everything as a matter of course. They were young, they thought they 
were invincible, and then they were dead.

> Alla:
> I sympathise with his decision to go after Peter, but I definitely 
> think he should have not hesitated to use any force on Hagrid, take 
> Harry and leave with him.

zgirnius:
Given Hagrid's immunities, and Harry's lack thereof, this may well 
take the prize as Sirius's most sensible decision ever. <g>

> Alla:
> Could anybody reasonably assume that 
> Dumbledore would just believe that one of the order members guilty 
> without talking to this order member **once**?

zgirnius:
Umm, yes. I would be an example. At least, I flatter myself that I am 
a reasonable person. I would expect Dumbledore to act, initially, as 
though Sirius was guilty as sin. There would be time enough to 
apologize after the fact, if he acted wrongly, once Harry was safe. 
Failure to act, could mean the death of Harry despite his miraculous 
survival of Voldemort's attack. Hagrid and Petunia are both 
trustworthy in the sense that neither had any chance of being 
the 'spy close to the Potters' and the traitor. Sirius became Suspect 
Number One for that role, thanks to his (supposed) SKing. Protect 
Harry first, figure out what happened second.

> Zgirnius:
> > Sirius did not know about the blood protection when he made his 
> > choice, he knew only that Hagrid would not turn Harry over to 
him, 
> > because Dumbledore had other plans. He should have gone to 
> Dumbledore 
> > and explained the Secret Keeper fiasco.
 
> Alla:
> Sure, he should have. Just as Dumbledore should have been more 
> willing to check out the facts before playing with people's lifes, 
> IMO.

zgirnius:
Dumbledore faced exigent circumstances. He needed Harry out of the 
hands of a potential traitor before that traitor could finish the job 
Voldemort had botched. Checking the facts could wait for later. 
Placing Harry with the Dursleys was not an irrevocable decision, 
though I think he would have fought hard to keep Harry there.
 
> Alla:
> Um, yes, sure. Only for some reason I really doubt Sirius would 
have 
> agreed to his godson being in Petunia's care, knowing how Lily felt 
> about her sister dear.

zgirnius:
That depends how convincing Dumbledore could be about the danger 
Harry would face, and the efficacy of the blood protection, I 
imagine. James and Lily did not have this variable (the blood 
protection) to consider in choosing a guardian for Harry when they 
selected Sirius. What Lily and Voldemort did at GH, and what 
resulted, was unexpected and unprecedented. I'm giving Sirius the 
benefit of the doubt, here, that he would consider what was best for 
Harry and not just what he himself might want.

I don't know what Sirius would decide under those circumstances. I 
don't even know what I think he should decide, since my opinion would 
depend on the argument presented to him. 

> Alla:
> I would have laughed if somebody told me that before DH, but now I 
> think that he may have, Dumbledore I mean. Speculation obviously.

zgirnius:
I could not disagree more, but it is also irrelevant to my argument. 
Without knowing about the prophecy, blood protection, etc., Sirius 
was not basing his decision on these supposed facts about Dumbledore.