Secret Keepers

[Guest]

[Sharon]

Anyone who reads the JKR site will know that she has a FAQ poll where people vote for a question to be answered.  The last question on there was about Secret Keepers and what happens when the Secret Keeper dies (it is still there if you want to have a read).  Now in this answer she clearly states that when a Secret Keeper dies the secret dies with them ie the people that they had told still know the secret but cannot pass the secret on to anyone else.

Forward to DH page 79 (UK edition), The Ghoul in Pyjamas chapter and Mr Weasley explains why they cannot use Grimauld place any more.  He says that when a Secret Keeper dies everyone who knew the secret then becomes a keeper with the ability to pass on that secret.  So as Snape knew the location and was now a Secret Keeper he could tell the Death Eaters.

Sorry I know that is quite confusing but I hope you can see what I am getting at.  I thought Secret Keepers would be important and when the question appeared I asked everyone to vote for that one but I am now a little disappointed.  Do you think JKR deliberately gave the wrong answer to protect book 7?  I could see why she might but then why post that question?  I am sure this will be the first of many peoples niggles that hopefully someone else will be able to dispel with a brilliant answer 

[tialessa]

You have a Secret Keeper...  Then you have people who know what the Secret Keeper know because they were told...  The Secret Keeper dies, but everyone who already knows the secret still knows the secret.  Thus Snape knows because he'd been told. 

Now if everyone who knew the secret had that memory removed at the time the Secret Keeper died, then Grimmauld Place would be safe, but no one would know where it was...

[Sharon]

Yes I see what you are saying and that is how I understood the charm worked.  However Arthur actually says that everyone who knew the secret becomes a Secret Keeper, presumably with the ability to tell others the secret ie Snape could not only visit Grimauld place he could also give other Death Eaters the address.  Before his death Dumbledore was the only person able to give new people the location.

[Morningangel-Iola]

But Snape didn't tell them did he? Because they knew they were in the right area but couldn't see it or get in. I have an other question how did Snape get in when there were anti Snape recautions. The dust DD maybe because Snape only killed him on his orders but what about the tonuge tie thingy.

[Sharon]

Snape didn't tell them because he was a good guy.  If he had been evil he would have been able to give them the address.  They probably had an idea what part of London the house was in or maybe they were staking out several locations.  As you say the dust DD wouldn't have been a problem to Snape but then again neither would the tongue jinx as he had no intention of giving away the location of the house.