[HPforGrownups] Pettigrew and the Sorting Hat

[Aberforth's Goat]

No: HPFGUIDX 37890

Rita purred,

> Maybe I'll get around to writing something for the discussion
> questions. Meanwhile, I can add one: Why did the Sorting Hat
put him
> in Gryffindor?

Did it? I assume it did, but I don't believe it's ever been
proven. Here's an excerpt from my FAQ:

* * * * *

WHICH HOUSE WAS HE IN?

This leads to a further question: was Peter a Gryffindor evil
enough to betray his best friend or a Slytherin dumb enough to
have a pal called James Potter?

Jo has given us no conclusive proof - either in canon or in
interviews - that *any* of the marauders actually belonged to
Gryffindor.[1] However, granted the close parallels between Harry
and James (in particular their enmity with Snape and Draco), it
is very difficult to imagine James (at least) in any other house.

Also, Jo has said in on-line chats that Lily and Hagrid were
"naturally" from Gryffindor. It's hard to imagine how this
"naturally" could apply to Lilly and Hagrid but not to James -
nor for that matter to Remus and Sirius too.

Further, although fans have often speculated that the four
friends came from different houses, we have yet to see a close,
non-romantic friendship between members of differing houses -
particularly if one of the houses is Slytherin. [2] Thus, if at
least one of the marauders was in Gryffindor, chances are, they
all were.

However, if we assume that Pettigrew was a Gryffindor, what are
we to make of his betrayal? According to a group member named
Rowena Grunnion-Ffitch [sic], someone of Pettigrew's propensities

*can't* be a Gryffindor since their chief characteristic is
courage and he has none at all. He does however have cunning, he
could be a Slytherin."

Point taken: he could be a Slytherin. However, I think it is more
likely that Pettigrew is a Gryffindor, albeit a lapsed one - and
that his current excursion from the path of virtue doesn't count
against him. For one thing, many members would actually be
reassured to know that the Potterverse isn't governed by a sort
of inexorable moral apartheid in which eleven year olds sent to a
certain school class will spend the rest of their lives behaving
according to the virtues of that particular class. Somehow, we
have a hard time believing that a person like Jo Rowling could
create a world like that.

In any case, it is seems likely that Pettigrew will eventually
repent of his follies. One shouldn't forget the passage in PoA
where Harry regrets his decision to save Pettigrew's life.
Dumbledore disagrees:

[quote from same passage quoted in the discussion question]

This leaves a strong impression that Pettigrew will not spend the
rest of his life with his head stuck in a black hat. Caius
Marcius  has gone so far as to predict that Pettigrew will give
his life to save Harry (5123). Naturally, Pettigrew's true fans
protested vehemently and conclusively disproved this theory - but
since they don't exist, Caius Marcius could well be right. [3]


[1] In fact, she doesn't even call them "Marauders"; but since
everyone else does, I will too.
[2] Yes. Hormonally enhanced friendships between houses are
common. However, the gates of Slytherin appear - so far - to have
blocked out even the feral scent of love.
[3] However, anyone who objects to such bloodthirsty scenarios
may prefer my own more peaceable version: 5405.

* * * * *

Baaaaaa!

Aberforth's Goat (a.k.a. Mike Gray)
_______________________

"Of course, I'm not entirely sure he can read, so that
may not have been bravery...."