Pettigrew as powerful underrated wizard?

[wartfan2001 at yahoo.co.uk]

No: HPFGUIDX 30493

I'm another lurker who's just decided to post - the thing is that 
there's such a lot of good stuff to read through that you don't 
really need to post most of the time.

Anyway - I think Pettigrew was cleverer than people have given him 
credit for. He was obviously not very naturally talented, but hanging 
round with friends like James and Sirius obviously helped him get 
along. But I feel that he may have deliberately exagerrated his 
weakness and helplessnes in order to work more effectively for 
Voldermort. After all, not even Lupin suspected him until the end of 
PoA. Looking at the facts, Pettigrew managed to outsmart Sirius, and 
kill several muggles into the bargain, whilst managing to escape. And 
in book four, he manages to talk his way out of a tricky situation 
with Bertha Jorkins. And most importantly, he managed to find 
Voldermort, when characters such as the Lestrangers had to torture 
other people to find that information.The trouble is of course is 
that the only real time we get to view him as a character, he is 
first pleading for his life with Sirius and Lupin, and then crawling 
round Voldermort. But there are probably many many other good 
competent wizards, who faced with the same situations, would probably 
have behaved similarly -ie. whining for their life to be spared, and 
being scared by the great Voldermort. 

The point I'm trying to make is that Pettigrew is clever in playing 
up to a reputation he earnt at school, when really, he is most 
effective wizard who can transform into a rat at will, knows the dark 
curses, is strong enough to use them, and was able to defeat a 
powerful wizard in Sirius Black. I think Pettigrew will play a big 
roles in book five, and most likely, beyond.

Thanks for trying to understand all that

Mike