On Friday, August 15, 2003 at 10:27:44 PM UTC-7, Shashank Joshi wrote:   
   > What I want to know how this would work if the object of a   
   > > Fidelius Charm is a place rather than a person. I am curious because among   
   > > the other protections placed on Number Twelve, Grimmauld Place by the Black   
   > > family, Dumbledore is the Secret-Keeper for the Order's HQ located there.   
   > > However, other Black family members (Narcissa Black Malfoy and Bellatrix   
   > > Black Lestrange) would know where the house at least. Since Bellatrix   
   > > escaped the MoM with Voldemort, Kreacher's absence over the Christmas   
   > > holidays (most likely at the Malfoys) and his affection for Bellatrix, I'd   
   > > say it's safe to say that Grimmauld Place is no longer safe since it's   
   > > reasonable to speculate other Black family members know about the   
   > > whereabouts of the Noble and Ancient House of Black, now that Sirius no   
   > > longer occupies it.   
   >    
   > Firstly, when has the Fidelius charm been used on a person? I can't   
   > remember a mention of this myself. Secondly, remember that the   
   > Fidelius charm was placed on Godric's Hollow. The scret keeper changed   
   > form Black to Pettigrew, but Black still found the house after the   
   > murders (remember he confronted Pettigrew) despite NOT being secret   
   > keeper. This suggests that if you know where the place is, you can   
   > find it regardless of whether or not the charm is placed upon it.   
   > Maybe the charm only prevents people 'stumbling' across the place, or   
   > finding it if they were just looking around the area.   
   >    
   > A quote from PoA to back this up:    
   >    
   > "As long as the Secret-Keeper refused to speak, You-Know-Who could   
   > search the village where Lily and James were staying and never find   
   > them..."   
   >    
   > Although I find it strange that VOldemort wouldn't know where the   
   > Potters lived, seeing as had "thrice defied him." So that means   
   > either:   
   >    
   > 1. You can't find the target of the Fidelius charm EVEN if you know   
   > where it was before - Sirius confronted Pettigrew only nearby or in   
   > the vicinity   
   >    
   > or   
   >    
   > 2. You can find the target of the Fidelius charm if you know where it   
   > was before. Voldemort didn't know the precise location.   
   >    
   > However considering that Hagrid was the one who first collected Harry   
   > form Godric's Hollow (and presuming the Fidelius charm was still on   
   > the house) option 2 seems far more likely.   
   >    
   > Any ideas?   
      
   I get the impression that the Potters were invisible to all unauthorized   
   personnel.  I think that they would be able to roam Godric's Hollow at will   
   without any unauthorized personnel being able to see them!  After all, the   
   quoted passage says that    
   Voldemort would not have found the Potters, even if he searched the entire   
   village!  But what would happen if they bumped into someone?     
   >    
   > Here's an interesting discussion of the topic:   
   > http://www.sugarquill.net/forum/index.php?showtopic=4559   
      
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