[HPforGrownups] Pettigrew: debt and Scabbers - Sirius in the Shrieking Shack

[Yis M Koslowitz]

No: HPFGUIDX 24348


 'Now here's my question...why did Peter as Scabbers, bite Goyle?'
> 
> I have wondered about this too - my very flimsy take on it is that 
> Peter had just realized that his owner had made friends with one 
> Harry Potter. Perhaps rat Peter felt a teeny tiny twinge of guilt 
> knowing what had happened to the boy? And when Malfoy informed Harry 
> 
> that he'll go the way of his parents if he wasn't politer (or some 
> such rude comment) perhaps Scabbers did have his moment of glory (as 
> 
> Fred so aptly titled it in PoA) and was biting him in defence of 
> Harry and his parents? I know, it's a very weak theory, but 
> plausible, I guess.
 
I don't think Peter ever does anything not motivated by his fear/anxiety.
He just wanted everyone to know not to mess with Ron's rat. The last
thing he wants is to be examined closely  - if he has a reputation for
being a bit catankerous, no one will come close. I've said some of this
already, but basically, I just want to say that I really don't think
Peter is capable of exerting himself on behalf of someone else.
Especially since it was seemingly so minor. He could have just let Goyle
snatch a cake or two. All of his behavior, IMHO, is self - protective. 
A question about that - who's more evil, Petigrew or Lucius Malfoy? 
Robyn