Yes. Unless they were not yet hidden by the Fidelius Charm at that point. As I said, I don't have my books at hand. Does it state unequivocally that they were hidden by the charm when the letter was written?
Well, I checked, and its pretty much proved that they were indeed under the charm.
What I mean is, does the letter have a date, for example. That would constitute "proof". "Pretty much proved" isn't really enough. This is a total waste of time, not to mention in entirely the wrong place.
Dumbledore in the last part of DH:
You have guessed, I know, why the Cloak was in my possession
on the night your parents died. James had showed it to me just
a few days previously.
There. We know the Potters died about a week after the charm. The cloak left them a "few days" before their death. Now, it isn't certain that few days>around a week here, but it seems to be so.
Further, Lily says that Wormtail dropped by last weekend and looked down, which Harry immediately says must have been the last time he saw them, after which he betrayed them.
Plus (wow, never knew this tiny detail from book 1 could be so critical), we know that Harry was delivered to Petunia's house on a Tuesday night (When Mr. and Mrs. Durs ley woke up on the dull, grey Tuesday our story starts...). In the morning, word of the Potter's death was spreading, so the death must have been on Monday. The letter then had to have been written between the previous Sunday and the Sunday before their death. Since Lily says last weekend, rather than x number of days ago, this leads me to believe it was written between Thurday and Sunday. Either way, this is way less than one week before their death, meaning several things:
1) Since Lily says Bathilda visits often (with no indication of discontinuance), this means Bathilda must have been quite addled not to reveal that Sirius wasn't Secret Keeper.
2) Since well after the charm kicked into effect, James couldn't leave the house without the Invisibility Cloak, the theory that his family, and not his house, was the subject of the charm is completely disproved.
Because you have still not shown that they were hidden by the Charm at that point. I don't have the books here, and nothing of what you have quoted states that unequivocally.
Perhaps it might be better to hold off this discussion until we reach the relevant book.
See above. This book has suddenly become very relevant. 

They could drop down to the post office? I thought they couldn't leave the house in your scenario.
If they left, they wouldn't be hidden. Just like outside of Grimmauld Plce, the Order isn't invisible.
I know that. I am just demonstrating that you are contradicting your earlier "proof".
See above. Also, that would be equally unproblematic if they were hidden, rather than their house. It contributes nothing to your argument if that were the case.
If they were hidden, how did they convince the people at the post office to give them anything? Or are you saying they sneaked in and took stuff?
I am not saying they did, I am saying it is an equally plausible explanation, and that your claim that it "proves" something therefore does not hold. I am not trying to prove a position, all I am arguing is that it is not as clear as you have been claiming.
Either way, turns out Petunia's vase was sent for Christmas, so that isn't a problem. Sirius's gift to Harry is, though. But since he was likely told by Pettigrew, maybe he could have an owl deliver?
*sigh*
That is just the point. How would the owl find the house?
That depends entirely on what they do for the Order. We are getting into the realm of unfounded speculation.
Oh come on! They fought Voldy four times and survived. Which means they were threatened. Which means they were seen, and which also means they moved their arses from Godric's Hollow (unless you want to claim they fought Voldemort at home 4 times). That's quite enough detail into what they did, and staying at home didn't come into it.
They fought Voldemort four times and survived. No arguments here. That meant leaving the house, of course. You are setting up straw man arguments. These were also times when they did have the invisibility cloak, for example. And before they had a child, I believe. There are any number of reasons they may have been in a different type of hiding before taking on fully fledged Fidelius Charm protection. We are talking about a short period, and whether they were necessarily covered by the charm at this point. Or, rather, I am discussing whether the things to declare "proven" are really "proven", because they cannot be "proven" if there are other plausible explanations. The fact is this part of the narrative is inconclusive. This is not surprising. It is a trait of fiction, or indeed of much writing.
See, it is perfectly possible to use "destination" and "sight" figuratively. It proves nothing either way.
How was it used figuratively? He saw a building and said he had reached his destination. The meaning is quite clear and direct.
What will constitute proof for you? A statement from Voldemort that he meant the house, and four witnesses to attest to his honesty and sanity? We're discussing stuff from a novel here. All we can take is the meaning of the words in it. And it clearly states that Voldemort thought the house was his destination, and he says that since he can see it, the charm must be broken.
Yes, we are discussing stuff from a novel. That is precisely my point. And the meaning of the words in a novel can rarely be taken interpreted in only one, unequivocal way. You are attempting to present your interpretation of events as "fact", which it is not. That is all I am disputing. I am not even trying to argue a point, as I am very aware that I do not have the books on hand, and I haven't read them in a while. All I am doing is questioning your claim to being the sole arbiter of the meaning of the words in the novel by presenting alternative interpretations of what you present as "proof".
"Destination" could have been used on anything from the death of the child to whoknowswhat. It functions as a very wide metaphor when used figuratively.
But how is it figurative in this instance? I'm quite at a loss over your confusion here.
It is not confusion. It is an awareness that language is not maths.
Because it is not conclusive. It is suggestive, but can be explained away.
Nope. See above on that. There's a plot hole here, pure and simple.
There may be a plot hole, but it is not pure and simple.
By that argument, they could have gone to Hogwarts and started killing children to force the Potters out. It is not an argument.
But Dumbledore was at Hogwarts. He wasn't at Godric's Hollow. Something being impossible at Hogwarts doesn't in any way mean it is impossible elsewhere.
Jesus Christ. Do you really not understand what I am trying to say? The point is that if Voldemort were to employ that sort of tactics, it would not matter what sort of invisible the Potters were. Hogwarts was just an example. They could go to a muggle cinema, they could go to Oxford Street, they could start killing randomly. I was just demonstrating to you that your argument is not an argument.
Now, can we drop this until it becomes relevant?
*MySmiley*
structured procrastinator
structured procrastinator
Harry Potter Re-read: The Philosopher's Stone - Final section underway! (& next book plans)
- 12/07/2010 08:27:51 AM
3826 Views
Chapters 1-3: Introducing Harry
- 12/07/2010 08:28:49 AM
2058 Views
Characterisation *NM*
- 12/07/2010 08:29:02 AM
1187 Views
My thoughts, such as they are.
- 12/07/2010 04:09:55 PM
2160 Views
Re: My thoughts, such as they are. *spoilers*
- 12/07/2010 07:43:49 PM
2115 Views
Writing style *NM*
- 12/07/2010 08:29:18 AM
1162 Views
It is very clear it is a children's book at this time
- 12/07/2010 07:18:14 PM
2146 Views
Vernon's slow descent into madness is great.
- 13/07/2010 04:03:26 AM
2142 Views
Re: Vernon's slow descent into madness is great.
- 13/07/2010 08:54:40 AM
2085 Views
Early themes *NM*
- 12/07/2010 08:29:37 AM
1253 Views
Chapters 4-10: Making Friends at Hogwarts *NM*
- 12/07/2010 08:29:58 AM
1102 Views
Impressions: thoughts about the school, the teachers, the enemies and the friends. *NM*
- 14/07/2010 08:29:38 AM
1138 Views
I'd forgotten how annoying Hermione was
- 14/07/2010 01:48:13 PM
1995 Views
- 14/07/2010 01:48:13 PM
1995 Views
Yep. I like seeing her transformation in this story though.
- 14/07/2010 04:58:04 PM
1947 Views
Re: Yep. I like seeing her transformation in this story though.
- 14/07/2010 06:13:13 PM
1983 Views
Yes and, I think, this may be another candidate for early themes (from above)
- 14/07/2010 07:43:14 PM
2098 Views
Re: Impressions: thoughts about the school, the teachers, the enemies and the friends.
- 14/07/2010 04:22:54 PM
2114 Views
Agree. I loved the instant tension between Harry and Malfoy and with Harry and Snape too.
- 14/07/2010 05:03:20 PM
2261 Views
Some thoughts before I run off to the library again
- 14/07/2010 06:11:45 PM
2183 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
2319 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
1942 Views
What about the magic?
- 14/07/2010 08:58:51 AM
1956 Views
The magic wasnt really developed at this point
- 14/07/2010 02:13:41 PM
1890 Views
Re: The magic wasnt really developed at this point
- 14/07/2010 08:53:08 PM
2130 Views
I think
- 14/07/2010 04:34:30 PM
1890 Views
Diagon Alley - Olivander's Foreshadowing
- 14/07/2010 05:11:40 PM
2186 Views
I really need a remembrall.
- 14/07/2010 08:57:10 PM
2089 Views
But it doesn't tell you what you've forgotten!
- 15/07/2010 02:51:47 AM
2183 Views
Chapters 11-17: Harry the Hero *NM*
- 12/07/2010 08:30:29 AM
1125 Views
What'd you think of the ending? *NM*
- 15/07/2010 05:21:38 PM
1087 Views
Two separate things:
- 15/07/2010 07:14:08 PM
1948 Views
Lovely
- 15/07/2010 09:00:11 PM
2067 Views
Haha
- 15/07/2010 09:16:16 PM
2136 Views
Re: Haha
- 15/07/2010 09:24:06 PM
2034 Views
But I thought all girls were made of sugar and spice and everything nice?
- 15/07/2010 09:26:53 PM
1893 Views
- 15/07/2010 09:26:53 PM
1893 Views
Oh, we are.
- 15/07/2010 09:35:17 PM
1814 Views
Honestly, dumbledore is a bit of an ass...
- 15/07/2010 10:48:32 PM
1827 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
1045 Views
*NM*
- 15/07/2010 11:37:54 PM
1045 Views
Overall thoughts for the book
- 12/07/2010 08:31:37 AM
1947 Views
Foreshadowing and setting up the future
- 12/07/2010 08:32:10 AM
1879 Views
Harry's anger management issues?
- 12/07/2010 07:14:58 PM
1960 Views
Heh.
- 12/07/2010 07:40:40 PM
1980 Views
Nah, not deliberate.
- 12/07/2010 09:14:20 PM
2044 Views
Re: Nah, not deliberate.
- 12/07/2010 09:55:32 PM
1976 Views
I noticed a lot of this.
- 12/07/2010 07:22:54 PM
2085 Views
Re: I noticed a lot of this.
- 12/07/2010 07:39:25 PM
2008 Views
Re: I noticed a lot of this.
- 12/07/2010 07:45:32 PM
1993 Views
On Ginny:
- 12/07/2010 10:36:47 PM
2091 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
1008 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
2223 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
1963 Views
So much (chapters 1-3) *spoilers*
- 12/07/2010 07:35:57 PM
2213 Views
I missed the school roof thing this time around too! Good catch there. *NM*
- 12/07/2010 09:22:21 PM
1109 Views
The thing that tipped me off
- 12/07/2010 09:53:01 PM
1954 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
1094 Views
You have to wonder why Hagrid and Dumbledore didn't suspect the truth about Sirius.
- 26/07/2010 04:04:05 PM
1902 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
2040 Views
Some stuff (chapters 4-11)
- 14/07/2010 09:18:35 PM
2157 Views
Re: Some stuff (chapters 4-11)
- 14/07/2010 10:30:23 PM
1996 Views
I can answer your consistency question!
- 15/07/2010 02:35:42 AM
2113 Views
More stuff (chapters 12-17)
- 15/07/2010 08:55:34 PM
1826 Views
Tiny tiny inconsistency (?) in Ch. 12
- 17/07/2010 04:23:15 PM
2037 Views
What made this book (and the rest of the series) such a success?
- 12/07/2010 08:33:00 AM
2066 Views
I think it was mostly because it was a simple narrative with an identifiable protagnonist.
- 13/07/2010 11:59:06 PM
2021 Views
It has tons of things in it that every kid dreams of doing
- 14/07/2010 01:56:05 PM
2056 Views
It's a simple, well-done little book.
- 12/07/2010 07:46:48 PM
2099 Views
you don't read instructions, do you?
- 12/07/2010 07:49:24 PM
2102 Views
When did you pick up this book?
- 12/07/2010 11:30:46 PM
1981 Views
I was 10.
- 13/07/2010 04:13:44 AM
2127 Views
Ah book orders...man you just brought back nostalgic memories. I miss being a kid
- 13/07/2010 04:42:12 AM
2180 Views
1999
- 13/07/2010 09:03:03 AM
2042 Views
What do you mean by adult version?
- 13/07/2010 02:15:40 PM
2167 Views
They started publishing copies with 'adult' covers so people wouldn't be caught out reading
- 13/07/2010 11:53:46 PM
2093 Views
Got a boxed set for Christmas when Order of the Phoenix came out in hardback.
- 13/07/2010 03:06:42 PM
2106 Views
The first five were out, waited for HBP.
- 14/07/2010 06:20:39 AM
2204 Views
Very early. Beginning of 1999, so it had just come out in the States. *NM*
- 14/07/2010 08:54:06 AM
1295 Views
I held out quite awhile because I don't like "fads"
- 14/07/2010 02:04:37 PM
2033 Views
I did the same thing.
- 15/07/2010 06:39:16 AM
2150 Views
I would have, if I had known there was hype. I know I would have.
- 15/07/2010 03:28:50 PM
2210 Views
- 15/07/2010 03:28:50 PM
2210 Views
Aged 13 or 14 - a while before the first movie (which was Christmas 2001). *NM*
- 26/07/2010 04:13:55 PM
1282 Views
Jesus Christ.
- 26/07/2010 05:04:46 PM
2269 Views
^That was me. *NM*
- 26/07/2010 09:55:49 PM
1292 Views
^That was me. *NM*
- 26/07/2010 09:55:49 PM
1292 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
1251 Views
*NM*
- 27/07/2010 12:15:52 AM
1251 Views
Suggestions for the Re-read
- 12/07/2010 08:33:25 AM
2099 Views
This is my first official time participating and its been fun so far!
- 14/07/2010 05:16:48 PM
2026 Views
Unfortunately, no. (Silly me, pretending someone's still going to read all my posts...
) *NM*
- 26/07/2010 04:20:35 PM
1265 Views
) *NM*
- 26/07/2010 04:20:35 PM
1265 Views
Inconsistencies Re: the Potter's death...
- 15/07/2010 05:16:45 AM
2426 Views
Because they were tricked? They considered Peter and Sirius to be brothers.
- 15/07/2010 07:05:27 AM
2059 Views
That's nonsense..
- 16/07/2010 01:08:40 AM
2007 Views
Take it up with Rowling, since you don't believe me. *NM*
- 16/07/2010 08:19:58 AM
1158 Views
What's there to believe?
- 18/07/2010 06:03:13 AM
2095 Views
Peter + Sirius = family. I don't know how to explain it more simply. *NM*
- 18/07/2010 08:58:20 AM
1268 Views
Re: That's nonsense..
- 16/07/2010 09:37:59 AM
2193 Views
Also
- 16/07/2010 11:17:51 AM
2434 Views
Huh?
- 18/07/2010 05:57:58 AM
1982 Views
But Camilla explained it!
- 18/07/2010 09:27:55 AM
2309 Views
- 18/07/2010 09:27:55 AM
2309 Views
I'm fairly certain you guys have that totally wrong...
- 18/07/2010 05:42:18 PM
2008 Views
Re: I'm fairly certain you guys have that totally wrong...
- 18/07/2010 05:51:36 PM
2032 Views
Re: I'm fairly certain you guys have that totally wrong...
- 18/07/2010 06:17:04 PM
2323 Views
Re: I'm fairly certain you guys have that totally wrong...
- 18/07/2010 06:28:27 PM
2027 Views
That bothers me too.
- 18/07/2010 07:17:14 PM
2112 Views
Re: That bothers me too.
- 18/07/2010 07:20:44 PM
1980 Views
Again...
- 18/07/2010 07:35:10 PM
2273 Views
Re: Again...
- 18/07/2010 08:00:55 PM
2068 Views
Re: Again...
- 19/07/2010 06:33:13 AM
2259 Views
Re: Again...
- 20/07/2010 04:45:16 PM
2087 Views
Yet another load of bosh.
- 21/07/2010 01:00:14 AM
2062 Views
It was just the sort of things these two daredevils would do...
- 14/09/2010 12:11:20 AM
2539 Views
Re: It was just the sort of things these two daredevils would do...
- 14/09/2010 09:20:46 AM
1952 Views
You have to wonder if that's actually true.
- 26/07/2010 04:23:31 PM
2053 Views
Since Lily and James were unable to leave the house
- 18/07/2010 07:14:21 PM
2057 Views
Re: Since Lily and James were unable to leave the house
- 26/07/2010 05:07:48 PM
2465 Views
^ And this, too, was me.
- 26/07/2010 09:58:07 PM
2069 Views
^ And this, too, was me.
- 26/07/2010 09:58:07 PM
2069 Views




*NM*