We're told that the Potters knew that someone close to them was Voldy's mole. That's precisely why Dumbledore offered himself as Secret Keeper.
The question is why didn't he suggest that Lily or James should take the job?
The question is why didn't he suggest that Lily or James should take the job?
Firstly, they did not know for sure, they (James, Sirius, Lupin, DD) only suspected. As Ghavrel mentions, it was unthinkable to them that someone close to them was passing information, in spite of all the evidence cropping up and pointing to this very fact.
As to your question, what if at that time, no one knew the effect of having the subjects of the Fidelius Charm as Secret Keepers? As we've seen from the books, the wizarding world is still unearthing magical secrets (Wolfsbane Potion, Marauders' Map, the Deluminator) so what if this was something Dumbledore figured out recently?
Anyways, I think it has more to do with the fact that being a friend to the Potters equalled to being their kin.
The concept of the spell was probably not as well developed when Rowling wrote The Philosopher's Stone. Some may see it as a plot hole. I don't; I think if Ms. Rowling saw this as a plot hole, she did a marvellous job working around it.
Harry Potter Re-read: The Philosopher's Stone - Final section underway! (& next book plans)
- 12/07/2010 08:27:51 AM
3814 Views
Chapters 1-3: Introducing Harry
- 12/07/2010 08:28:49 AM
2035 Views
Characterisation *NM*
- 12/07/2010 08:29:02 AM
1173 Views
My thoughts, such as they are.
- 12/07/2010 04:09:55 PM
2138 Views
Re: My thoughts, such as they are. *spoilers*
- 12/07/2010 07:43:49 PM
2101 Views
Writing style *NM*
- 12/07/2010 08:29:18 AM
1151 Views
It is very clear it is a children's book at this time
- 12/07/2010 07:18:14 PM
2122 Views
Vernon's slow descent into madness is great.
- 13/07/2010 04:03:26 AM
2120 Views
Re: Vernon's slow descent into madness is great.
- 13/07/2010 08:54:40 AM
2066 Views
Early themes *NM*
- 12/07/2010 08:29:37 AM
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Chapters 4-10: Making Friends at Hogwarts *NM*
- 12/07/2010 08:29:58 AM
1089 Views
Impressions: thoughts about the school, the teachers, the enemies and the friends. *NM*
- 14/07/2010 08:29:38 AM
1124 Views
I'd forgotten how annoying Hermione was
- 14/07/2010 01:48:13 PM
1977 Views
- 14/07/2010 01:48:13 PM
1977 Views
Yep. I like seeing her transformation in this story though.
- 14/07/2010 04:58:04 PM
1926 Views
Re: Yep. I like seeing her transformation in this story though.
- 14/07/2010 06:13:13 PM
1964 Views
Yes and, I think, this may be another candidate for early themes (from above)
- 14/07/2010 07:43:14 PM
2072 Views
Re: Impressions: thoughts about the school, the teachers, the enemies and the friends.
- 14/07/2010 04:22:54 PM
2091 Views
Agree. I loved the instant tension between Harry and Malfoy and with Harry and Snape too.
- 14/07/2010 05:03:20 PM
2245 Views
Some thoughts before I run off to the library again
- 14/07/2010 06:11:45 PM
2163 Views
It's interesting to look at the beginning of the story from Draco's point of view.
- 26/07/2010 03:08:38 PM
2301 Views
Re: It's interesting to look at the beginning of the story from Draco's point of view.
- 26/07/2010 03:18:02 PM
1920 Views
What about the magic?
- 14/07/2010 08:58:51 AM
1940 Views
The magic wasnt really developed at this point
- 14/07/2010 02:13:41 PM
1870 Views
Re: The magic wasnt really developed at this point
- 14/07/2010 08:53:08 PM
2116 Views
I think
- 14/07/2010 04:34:30 PM
1873 Views
Diagon Alley - Olivander's Foreshadowing
- 14/07/2010 05:11:40 PM
2174 Views
I really need a remembrall.
- 14/07/2010 08:57:10 PM
2069 Views
But it doesn't tell you what you've forgotten!
- 15/07/2010 02:51:47 AM
2170 Views
Chapters 11-17: Harry the Hero *NM*
- 12/07/2010 08:30:29 AM
1109 Views
What'd you think of the ending? *NM*
- 15/07/2010 05:21:38 PM
1074 Views
Two separate things:
- 15/07/2010 07:14:08 PM
1929 Views
Lovely
- 15/07/2010 09:00:11 PM
2050 Views
Haha
- 15/07/2010 09:16:16 PM
2117 Views
Re: Haha
- 15/07/2010 09:24:06 PM
2020 Views
But I thought all girls were made of sugar and spice and everything nice?
- 15/07/2010 09:26:53 PM
1866 Views
- 15/07/2010 09:26:53 PM
1866 Views
Oh, we are.
- 15/07/2010 09:35:17 PM
1787 Views
Honestly, dumbledore is a bit of an ass...
- 15/07/2010 10:48:32 PM
1804 Views
The decades of manipulation of a child doesn't bother you, but the House Cup does?
*NM*
- 15/07/2010 11:37:54 PM
1035 Views
*NM*
- 15/07/2010 11:37:54 PM
1035 Views
Overall thoughts for the book
- 12/07/2010 08:31:37 AM
1931 Views
Foreshadowing and setting up the future
- 12/07/2010 08:32:10 AM
1860 Views
Harry's anger management issues?
- 12/07/2010 07:14:58 PM
1940 Views
Heh.
- 12/07/2010 07:40:40 PM
1964 Views
Nah, not deliberate.
- 12/07/2010 09:14:20 PM
2030 Views
Re: Nah, not deliberate.
- 12/07/2010 09:55:32 PM
1953 Views
I noticed a lot of this.
- 12/07/2010 07:22:54 PM
2066 Views
Re: I noticed a lot of this.
- 12/07/2010 07:39:25 PM
1989 Views
Re: I noticed a lot of this.
- 12/07/2010 07:45:32 PM
1973 Views
On Ginny:
- 12/07/2010 10:36:47 PM
2071 Views
This was my interpretation too and why I didn't pay much attention to it at the time. *NM*
- 13/07/2010 02:53:08 PM
995 Views
I've noticed a lot of the same things, probably because I've reread this book so many times...
- 13/07/2010 04:45:28 AM
2204 Views
Re: I've noticed a lot of the same things, probably because I've reread this book so many times...
- 13/07/2010 08:58:10 AM
1946 Views
So much (chapters 1-3) *spoilers*
- 12/07/2010 07:35:57 PM
2190 Views
I missed the school roof thing this time around too! Good catch there. *NM*
- 12/07/2010 09:22:21 PM
1095 Views
The thing that tipped me off
- 12/07/2010 09:53:01 PM
1936 Views
Imagine how easy his test would have been if he remembered he'd done it as a child! *NM*
- 13/07/2010 03:20:27 PM
1075 Views
You have to wonder why Hagrid and Dumbledore didn't suspect the truth about Sirius.
- 26/07/2010 04:04:05 PM
1881 Views
I re-read a couple weeks ago, and I was highly amused by all the little things she worked in
- 14/07/2010 04:09:19 AM
2020 Views
Some stuff (chapters 4-11)
- 14/07/2010 09:18:35 PM
2140 Views
Re: Some stuff (chapters 4-11)
- 14/07/2010 10:30:23 PM
1969 Views
I can answer your consistency question!
- 15/07/2010 02:35:42 AM
2093 Views
More stuff (chapters 12-17)
- 15/07/2010 08:55:34 PM
1807 Views
Tiny tiny inconsistency (?) in Ch. 12
- 17/07/2010 04:23:15 PM
2019 Views
What made this book (and the rest of the series) such a success?
- 12/07/2010 08:33:00 AM
2048 Views
I think it was mostly because it was a simple narrative with an identifiable protagnonist.
- 13/07/2010 11:59:06 PM
2002 Views
It has tons of things in it that every kid dreams of doing
- 14/07/2010 01:56:05 PM
2045 Views
It's a simple, well-done little book.
- 12/07/2010 07:46:48 PM
2068 Views
you don't read instructions, do you?
- 12/07/2010 07:49:24 PM
2084 Views
When did you pick up this book?
- 12/07/2010 11:30:46 PM
1971 Views
I was 10.
- 13/07/2010 04:13:44 AM
2105 Views
Ah book orders...man you just brought back nostalgic memories. I miss being a kid
- 13/07/2010 04:42:12 AM
2161 Views
1999
- 13/07/2010 09:03:03 AM
2024 Views
What do you mean by adult version?
- 13/07/2010 02:15:40 PM
2146 Views
They started publishing copies with 'adult' covers so people wouldn't be caught out reading
- 13/07/2010 11:53:46 PM
2076 Views
Got a boxed set for Christmas when Order of the Phoenix came out in hardback.
- 13/07/2010 03:06:42 PM
2092 Views
The first five were out, waited for HBP.
- 14/07/2010 06:20:39 AM
2186 Views
Very early. Beginning of 1999, so it had just come out in the States. *NM*
- 14/07/2010 08:54:06 AM
1281 Views
I held out quite awhile because I don't like "fads"
- 14/07/2010 02:04:37 PM
2016 Views
I did the same thing.
- 15/07/2010 06:39:16 AM
2128 Views
I would have, if I had known there was hype. I know I would have.
- 15/07/2010 03:28:50 PM
2190 Views
- 15/07/2010 03:28:50 PM
2190 Views
Aged 13 or 14 - a while before the first movie (which was Christmas 2001). *NM*
- 26/07/2010 04:13:55 PM
1265 Views
Jesus Christ.
- 26/07/2010 05:04:46 PM
2261 Views
^That was me. *NM*
- 26/07/2010 09:55:49 PM
1278 Views
^That was me. *NM*
- 26/07/2010 09:55:49 PM
1278 Views
Aw. I was just feeling flattered as I didn't think Tor had read that many of my posts.
*NM*
- 27/07/2010 12:15:52 AM
1235 Views
*NM*
- 27/07/2010 12:15:52 AM
1235 Views
Suggestions for the Re-read
- 12/07/2010 08:33:25 AM
2083 Views
This is my first official time participating and its been fun so far!
- 14/07/2010 05:16:48 PM
2004 Views
Unfortunately, no. (Silly me, pretending someone's still going to read all my posts...
) *NM*
- 26/07/2010 04:20:35 PM
1248 Views
) *NM*
- 26/07/2010 04:20:35 PM
1248 Views
Inconsistencies Re: the Potter's death...
- 15/07/2010 05:16:45 AM
2409 Views
Because they were tricked? They considered Peter and Sirius to be brothers.
- 15/07/2010 07:05:27 AM
2041 Views
That's nonsense..
- 16/07/2010 01:08:40 AM
1992 Views
Take it up with Rowling, since you don't believe me. *NM*
- 16/07/2010 08:19:58 AM
1143 Views
What's there to believe?
- 18/07/2010 06:03:13 AM
2074 Views
Peter + Sirius = family. I don't know how to explain it more simply. *NM*
- 18/07/2010 08:58:20 AM
1251 Views
Re: That's nonsense..
- 16/07/2010 09:37:59 AM
2181 Views
Also
- 16/07/2010 11:17:51 AM
2417 Views
Huh?
- 18/07/2010 05:57:58 AM
1960 Views
But Camilla explained it!
- 18/07/2010 09:27:55 AM
2291 Views
- 18/07/2010 09:27:55 AM
2291 Views
I'm fairly certain you guys have that totally wrong...
- 18/07/2010 05:42:18 PM
1986 Views
Re: I'm fairly certain you guys have that totally wrong...
- 18/07/2010 05:51:36 PM
2011 Views
Re: I'm fairly certain you guys have that totally wrong...
- 18/07/2010 06:17:04 PM
2301 Views
Re: I'm fairly certain you guys have that totally wrong...
- 18/07/2010 06:28:27 PM
2008 Views
That bothers me too.
- 18/07/2010 07:17:14 PM
2089 Views
Re: That bothers me too.
- 18/07/2010 07:20:44 PM
1954 Views
Again...
- 18/07/2010 07:35:10 PM
2254 Views
Re: Again...
- 18/07/2010 08:00:55 PM
2043 Views
Re: Again...
- 19/07/2010 06:33:13 AM
2236 Views
Re: Again...
- 20/07/2010 04:45:16 PM
2066 Views
Yet another load of bosh.
- 21/07/2010 01:00:14 AM
2046 Views
It was just the sort of things these two daredevils would do...
- 14/09/2010 12:11:20 AM
2517 Views
Re: It was just the sort of things these two daredevils would do...
- 14/09/2010 09:20:46 AM
1932 Views
You have to wonder if that's actually true.
- 26/07/2010 04:23:31 PM
2035 Views
Since Lily and James were unable to leave the house
- 18/07/2010 07:14:21 PM
2035 Views
Re: Since Lily and James were unable to leave the house
- 26/07/2010 05:07:48 PM
2455 Views
^ And this, too, was me.
- 26/07/2010 09:58:07 PM
2050 Views
^ And this, too, was me.
- 26/07/2010 09:58:07 PM
2050 Views




*NM*