I'm curious what might have happened if Harry actually drank Veritaserum in Umbridge's office. He wouldn't be able to tell Umbridge where is Sirius Black because he wasn't 12GP's Secret Keeper, and he wouldn't tell her where is Dumbledore because he really didn't know.
What could Harry possibly say about Sirius' whereabouts in those circumstances? "He's in London"?

Well, according to Snape, it was fake Veritaserum anyways, but I understand what you are asking.

IMO, Harry would have been unable to tell Umbridge where Sirius was, but he would have been unable to deny knowing where he is if that makes any sense.

So.... he would have confessed to knowing where Sirius was and possibly who the secret-keeper was, but without Dumbledore, there would have been no way for anyone to get the information out of him.

Maybe Harry could describe where the house is, such as "Sirius' parents house". If he oculd, what's to stop Umbridge and the ministry looking in records as to where this is, and then going there? Or would the whole secret-keeper thing prevent this?

I'm guessing as well that Harry could tell Umbridge quite a lot about the Order that she would find useful, such as Ministry of Magic employees who are in the Order. She could then go and spy on them, or sack them, or just generally make life difficult.

It is true Harry would have not been able to give info about DD (since he didn't know!), but I think he probably would have been able to at least say "Sirius is hiding out at London." He may have even been able to say that he was in his parents old house because that is not telling where the headquarters of the order is. This particular charm (sorry the name slips my mind at the moment) is a particularly confusing one and we don't have much info, but I'd say that Harry would have been able to give enough information for Umbridge to find Sirius. Thank God for Snape. . . lol

Agreed, SoonerGryffindor. There is no way Umbridge could have got the exact location out of him, he could have said London but even that was not good enough for the Ministry, since London is a big place.

And anyway it was fake Vertiaserum..but of course Harry did not know this.

What I don't understand is - Why didn't Harry pretend to drink (like he did) but then tell Umbridge Sirius was somewhere completely different?

Anyway - That is a fair point, it would have made no difference whether Harry drunk it or not. And did Snape say it was fake? Must have missed that.

If Harry lied to Umbridge, it might have caused serious troubles to Snape.

I agree with Spectre, it was best his way, and very lucky he saw Moody's eyes in the cat's to recognize the situation. Even if it was real Veritaserum, there is still a chance Harry would have been able to fight it, just as he can fight off the Imperius Curse.

I can't remember where I got this from... but can't a wizard fight things like vertisaserum like they would legitamency (sp?) in which ase Harry might not be able to, seeing as he isn't very good at it?

Harry was told by either Dumbledore or Slughorn in HBP that a skilled wizard can resist Veritaserum if he's prepared and has an antidote.

If Harry had pretended to know where Sirius was and then Umbridge couldn't find him in the place Harry named, she would have become even more suspicious (sorry if I can't spell) and might have tried again. Harry was smart to be quiet and play dumb.

Even If Harry told the location of Sirius Umbridge or anyone won't be able to find as he isn't the secret keeper.The way the fidellus charm works is that only if the secret keeper divulges the information then will someone be able to enter the house.

Didn't it say somewhere that the whole Black family put on lots of protections on the house? So I don't think the Ministry would know where Sirius' house was.


Really, I'm not too fussed about getting Snape in trouble. I never liked him, ever since book 1.

The fidelius charm was performed to hide the Headquarters of the Order of the Pheonix, not to hide Sirius. Therefore, Harry could have told Umbridge where Sirius was hiding. That being said. . . .



[/b]bravegriffindor[b] is right. The Black family put so many protections on the house that I believe Umbridge would have trouble finding it, and because she had trouble finding the house she would have trouble finding Sirius. But I'm sure as a ministry official she would eventually figure out where the Black family's house was. If she was looking for headquarters, however, it would be a different story, she'd never find it then!