Why Peter Turned Traitor (was PoA Chap Summary 18-20)

[meboriqua at aol.com]

No: HPFGUIDX 21899

I'm thinking this out right now so it may sound a bit jumbled.

What strikes me about Peter is that he is WEAK.  Even his Marauder 
friends remember his from Hogwarts as someone who liked to be 
surrounded by people smarter and stronger, and his professors (Leaky 
Cauldron scene) remember he wasn't the best student, IIRC.  He seemed 
to have had a reputation for being a bit bumbling and always needing 
help (like to become an animagus).

People like Voldemort can spot weakness in others, and can use it to 
their advantage.  I've seen it done many times, where the manipulative 
and tyrannical supervisor type thrives and survives on having 
inferiors who will do anything for them "...or I'll fire you!"  You'd 
be amamzed at how people will stoop to low levels when they believe 
that what they are doing will bring them a sense of power or advantage 
over others.  That's Peter.  Not only do I imagine that Voldie 
threatened Peter but he probably also promised Peter things Peter 
wanted - better magical skills, sexy witches, wealth... whatever Peter 
desired.

I'm sure there are other things that come into play, such as Peter's 
family and what his life was like after Hogwarts (it seemed pretty 
good for James and Lily, for example).  Peter was weak to begin with 
and couldn't have been happy, and that's a bad combination.

--jenny from ravenclaw*****************************