Shaken, not stirred.

[pauraque_bk]

This is a question I haven't been able to answer satisfactorily for my own purposes, which is a bit embarrassing (and burdensome, as a writer), so I'd like to get some fresh opinions.

How could Dumbledore not know Peter was the spy?

Peter was in the Order; presumably he and Dumbledore had some interaction. Dumbledore is an expert Legilimens. Peter is very emotionally demonstrative -- he seems the last person who would be able to conceal such a secret.

Perhaps Peter was so underestimated that Dumbledore would never have thought he was a traitor, no matter how odd his behavior. Or maybe his behavior actually didn't seem odd: He's a nervous person, everyone knew that, and no one thought anything of elevated anxiety during wartime.

Is it possible that Peter was not afraid of the prospect of being found out, either because he placed such trust in Voldemort, or due to some other aspect of the circumstance?

Or might Peter have done such a good job at diverting suspicion onto Remus that it was never really questioned by those who were in the loop?

Whatever the case, it seems odd that Dumbledore wouldn't check everyone in the Order from time to time -- it appears that all he has to do to get a quick read on someone is to look into their eyes. This leads to the thought that something was hindering Dumbledore's ability to read Peter. Many have suggested that Voldemort taught Peter a few tricks, as it were -- could Occlumency be one of them? The Occlumency/Legilimency experts we know (Snape, Dumbledore, Voldemort), are all socially maladjusted in one way or another; Peter would make an interesting addition to this group.

Or might Voldemort have placed Peter under something like the Fidelius Charm, preventing him from revealing the secret?

This one is a bit of a stumper for me. All suggestions welcome.

Comments

[donnaimmaculata.livejournal.com]

The problem with Dumbledore's failures is that they are never pointed out by the other characters: Harry never seems to wonder why Dumbledore didn't notice the Quirell/Voldemort thing, or Fake!Moody, which indicates that the author doesn't want to point them out as Dumbledor's failures. Would the other characters discuss them at some point, it would make Dumbledore somewhat more human. He is important because he's got to set things right at the end of each novel, but during the novel he isn't, and it bugs me.