Pettigrew as Auror?

[Cindy C.]

No: HPFGUIDX 30475

We've talked recently about whether Lupin, Black, James or Lily might 
have worked as an auror before Voldemort fell.  I am starting to 
wonder if Pettigrew is the most likely candidate to have worked as an 
auror, for these reasons:

1.  If Peter were an auror, it makes a bit of sense that Black would 
trust him enough to make him secret-keeper.  

2.  To the extent wizards seemed so willing to believe in Sirius' 
guilt, it could be because Peter was an auror and therefore believed 
to be unlikely to be the spy.

3. When Snape apprehends Black in PoA, Fudge proposes that Snape 
receive Order of Merlin, Second Class (First Class if Fudge could 
manage it).  Peter received Order of Merlin, First Class.  At first, 
I thought maybe you get First Class if you die apprehending a dark 
wizard; Second Class if you survive.  But having Fudge consider Snape 
for First Class is inconsistent with that idea.  So perhaps Peter 
receives First Class because he died in the line of duty -- the duty 
of being an auror.

4.  If Peter were an auror, he would come into contact with dark 
wizards and could be recruited.  He also would be a valuable recruit 
for Voldemort because the quality of his information would be so 
good.  

5.  If Peter were an auror, he probably ought to know that Snape was 
a DE, because Moody knew it.  I'm not sure which way that cuts, 
though, so maybe someone can finish that thought.

6.  Another thought is that Peter outsmarts Sirius in their duel, 
having planned the whole thing out quite brilliantly.  It sounds like 
something a cagey auror would think of.  

7.  Peter knows how to perform Avada Kedavra, which is something 
Crouch Sr. authorized the aurors to use.  According to Crouch/Moody, 
Avada Kedavra requires "a powerful bit of magic behind it," so 
a "talentless" thing like Peter might not be able to perform it 
absent training that aurors might receive.

On the other hand, there is one big fact out there that undermines 
the idea of Peter as auror.  McGonagall says in PoA that Peter 
was "hopeless" at dueling.  If so, he'd make a pretty poor auror.  
She also seems to think it was foolish for Peter to try to apprehend 
Black, which seems like an odd thing to say if Peter were an auror.  
I guess it is possible that he improved his dueling skills after his 
days at Hogwarts, and McGonagall doesn't know about it.  We do know 
he improved enough to "win" his duel against Sirius.  

Any thoughts?

Cindy