10 Harry Potter Plot-Holes That Are Actually Aren't
2. Why Weren't Lily And James Their Own Secret-Keepers?
The Plot-Hole
The Fidelius Charm functions by hiding a secret within a human soul. As long as that human doesn’t spill the beans the secret remains safe. For Lily and James, being their own secret-keepers should have been the obvious choice.
But Wait...
What we have here is a classic case of thinking with the benefit of hindsight. We, the reader, know that Peter Pettigrew was corrupted because we are told that he is, but Lily and James had no such secret insight. Remember, James had no reason to distrust Peter: Peter had kept the secret of Lupin’s lycanthropy for decades and had been one of the architects of the Marauder’s Map. He was in James’ inner circle and as trustworthy as he could possibly be.
It is also a tragic case of idealism trumping sense. Dumbeldore himself offered to be the Potter’s secret-keeper, a choice we can all agree would have been ideal. However, Lily and James refused, preferring to put their faith in their friends. With how rife enmity and distrust were at the time of the First Wizarding War this belief in trust was a practical – and powerfully symbolic – means by which to resist Voldemort’s poisonous influence.
Unfortunately, noble as the ideal was, they were mistaken.
As a silver lining the lesson was learned and come the Second Wizarding War Bill and Arthur Weasley functioned as their own secret keepers. A hard price to pay, but at least the loss was not in vain.