The Fidelius Charm is a spell which conceals a secret inside a living person called the "Secret Keeper". The secret can't be discovered unless the Secret Keeper chooses to tell it. It first appears in Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban.
About[]
In the event that a witch or wizard has a secret they need to protect, they could put their trust in a Secret Keeper. They have to produce the Fidelius Charm to conceal their secret inside the soul of their chosen Secret Keeper. Unless they choose to divulge it, nobody else will be able to discover what it is. The charm is able to protect something like the location of a person or object. Those that haven't been told can look into the window of the house containing the secret, but will not see or hear what is in there.[1]
If a Secret Keeper uses their knowledge to commit a crime, evidence of it is given in court.[2]
History[]
In October 1981, James and Lily Potter were in hiding. Voldemort wanted to find and kill their child, Harry Potter. Albus Dumbledore suggested they have a Secret Keeper and he volunteered to be it. He suspected someone close to them was a spy. James wanted Sirius Black instead, who agreed.[1] However, at the very last minute, Sirius thought he would be easily suspected and he should be the diversion instead. He persuaded James to use Peter Pettigrew.[3]
Peter was the spy, and upon being made the Secret Keeper, he told Voldenort where they were less than seven day later.[3] Because of how close Sirius was to James, the wizarding world thought he had been their Secret Keeper. Even their other close friend, Remus Lupin, was not told about the switch.[4] Sirius confronted Peter only to get framed for killing thirteen people, including Peter himself who faked his death. During their duel, Peter was heard asking Sirius how he could have betrayed James and Lily which was considered proof that Sirius was indeed the Secret Keeper.[1]
Known Secret Keepers[]
Trivia[]
- Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows shows Bill Weasley is the Secret Keeper of his own home, Shell Cottage. With this being possible, it is unknown why James and Lily Potter didn't make themselves their own Secret Keepers rather than putting their trust in their friend.
Notes and sources[]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, Chapter 10
- ↑ Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, Chapter 21
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, Chapter 19
- ↑ Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, Chapter 17