10 Smartest Decisions Made By Harry Potter Characters

A lot of characters in the Harry Potter series have secrets. Sometimes it pays off to keep things close to the chest, as in the case of Professor Dumbledore and his suspicion of Horcruxes, and other times it doesn't - like when James and Lily failed to divulge the change in secret keeper, from Sirius to Pettigrew.

In the case of Professor Lupin, he had selfish reasons for keeping his secret. Yet, that choice shifted the progression of Harry's life.

When Sirius broke out of Azkaban, Lupin could have revealed to the authorities that his old friend was an animagus. It would have made capturing Sirius a lot easier for the Ministry, and there would have been a much calmer third year for the trio at Hogwarts. But Lupin, too ashamed to betray the trust Dumbledore had always bestowed in him, decided to tell no one.

This saves the life of Buckbeak and Sirus. Moreover, it allows Harry and Lupin to understand the truth in the betrayal in Lily and James Potter. Without Sirius' prison break, no one would have known Peter Pettigrew was alive and should be considered a threat.

Sirius' escape also forces Harry to learn the Patrons charm, which, as fans know, saves many lives throughout the series. Hermione getting a time turner saved Sirius, but Lupin's decision to remain silent changes the fate of everyone.