[HPforGrownups] Pettigrew/random thoughts

[Carole Estes]

No: HPFGUIDX 10653


----- Original Message -----
From: "Monika Zaboklicka" <monika.zaboklicka at csl.com.pl>

> >1. His skill as a Wizard
> >
> >FACT: He knows a curse that could destroy 13 muggles (and one
> >presumes the surrounding area) and he becomes an animagus.
> >
> >MEMORY: James and Sirius had to help him a lot with the Animagus
> >charm, concurred by McGonagall having to hassle his in class.
>
>
> In 13-Muggles-at-one-go incident Pettigrew was also faster than Black,
> contrary to McGonagall's claim that he was always hopeless at dueling. If
> *that* was hopelessness, guess how poor Black is at it...
> But perhaps Pettigrew learnt his tricks from Voldemort.

You have to keep in mind Sirius' mental condition at the moment Pettigrew
threw that curse.  In the previous 48 hours or so, he's realized that one of
his closest friends (and not the one he suspected) was a spy for Voldemort.
He had seen the wreckage of his best friend's house and maybe even their
bodies. He has come to the realization that they were dead and Harry was an
orphan because of his lousy idea to make Peter the secret keeper.  That must
have been a rather crushing blow to him.  Isn't a symptom of shock a
decrease in reaction time.  I venture to guess Black was not up to his usual
skill that night when Peter bested him.  Additionally the curse itself, IIRC
appears to be a dark arts curse, at least thats the impression the general
wizarding public has, therefore not something Black was expecting or maybe
even knew how to defend against.

Also, Black was pursueing Pettigrew, he was expecting Pettigrew to be in a
defensive position.  I'm not sure it occurred to Black that Peter might
attack, although it should have.  I'm not saying that Pettigrew is not a
reasonably skilled wizard, but I think the circumstances of that night put
Sirius "off his game" so to speak.

I have a question about that curse.  If it was powerful enough to kill 12
muggles at a fair distance, why weren't Pettigrew and Black killed by it.
Was it a curse that would only kill muggles?  Even if it was directed away
from them, you would think something with that much energy would impact the
people closest to the origin of the curse.  I always got the impression that
Black and Pettigrew were standing rather close to one another at that point.
I guess Pettigrew blocked the curse from impacting Black, as the curse was
thrown behind Pettigrew's back, but  he  would have had to transform at the
moment the curse was uttered in order to prevent it from harming
himself...hmmmm. Any ideas?


>
> >2. Friendships
>
> >So, is it really fair to blame Peter for not having faith in his
> >friends? Only James and Sirius seemed to trust each other completely.
>
>
> Couldn't agree more. For me, the Marauders' friendship wasn't as great as
> Lupin and Black seem to remember it.  I don't quite believe in Sirius's
> declaration "we would have died for you!"

Just curious as to why you don't believe this statement.  I think during the
time before James and Lily were betrayed, Sirius would have been willing to
die for any of the Marauders.  Why would he entrust Peter with the job of
Secret Keeper if he didn't trust Pettigrew.  He might not have believed
Peter was an exceptional wizard, but he entrusted James and Lily, and
Harry's lives to him.

> I am quite willing to believe that
> James and Sirius were real friends, and that perhaps James liked Remus and
> Peter very much. Anyway, I'm not so sure about Black. I honestly believe
> that Lupin would not be allowed to stay in Hogwarts if he attacked another
> student, no matter whose fault it'd be or how loudly Dumbledore protested.
> Did Black think of that when he was sending Snape to Shrieking Shack?

So are you saying, you think Sirius wasn't that fond of Remus, that's why he
sent Snape down to the Shreiking shack?  Its always been my impression of
Black's character that he didn't really think through the consequences of
this prank.  Teenage boys are notorious for pulling very dangerous pranks
that had they spent as much time thinking of the real consequences of their
actions as they did thinking up the prank, they wouldn't pull the prank.
Its been my impression that pre-Azkaban Sirius was rather arrogant and
convinced of his own cleverness, not very introspective and not very
responsible.  You can see the difference between James and Sirius in their
reaction to the prank.  Sirius instigated it (not vey mature) and James
realized the consequences and risked his life to fix it (much more mature).

Carole
responding to any and all posts having the slightest bit to do with Sirius.
<grin>