Pettigrew's effectiveness I(Re: Rats! (Or: A Treatise on Ron and Evil))

[annemehr <annemehr@yahoo.com>]

No: HPFGUIDX 48278

--- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, "clicketykeys 
<clicketykeys at y...>" <clicketykeys at y...> wrote:
> --- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, "marinafrants <rusalka at i...>" 
<
> rusalka at i...> wrote:
> > --- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, "clicketykeys 
> > <clicketykeys at y...>" <clicketykeys at y...> wrote:
> 

> > > Right. Voldemort's 'persuasion' is not necessarily sweet-talk. 
> > > Voldemort also said he "overpowered" her. It takes absolutely no 
> > > finesse to kosh someone on the head and drag them to your boss - 
> > he'll 
> > > know what to do!
> > 
> > He overpowered her *after* he persuaded her to go on a night-time 
> > stroll with him.  Which only makes sense -- you can't kosh 
somebody 
> > on the head in a public place, and Peter and Bertha met in an inn. 
 
> > Whatever he did, he had to get her someplace private first.
> > 
> But Bertha is (IIRC) described as both nosey and dumb. I think this 
is 
> another example of Peter getting lucky, because even if all he could 
> come up with was, "Uh... come with me!" it worked. All this 
> establishes is that Peter is smarter than Bertha is when her 
> curiosity's got the best of her. And Bertha wasn't known for being a 
> Hermione.
> 
> CK

Anne:
Don't forget, that when Pettigrew met Bertha in the Inn, that *Bertha* 
also met *Pettigrew*, and it's implied that she recognized him, addled 
brain or no.  There is a lot about how Pettigrew found Bertha in the 
first dream Harry had, where Frank Bryce is listening to Voldemort and 
Wormatail talking in the old Riddle mansion:

"I found you," said Wormtail, and there was definitely a sulky edge to 
his voice now.  "I was the one who found you. I brought you Bertha 
Jorkins."

"That is true," said the second man, sounding amused.  "A stroke of 
brilliance I would not have thought possible from you, Wormtail -- 
though, if truth be told, you were not aware how useful she would be 
when you caught her, were you?"

And, the second reason for killing Bertha Jorkins, after noting that 
she was no longer useful for anything:

"In any case, awkward questions would have been asked if she had gone 
back to the Ministry with the news that she had met you on her 
holidays.  Wizards who are supposed to be dead would do well not to 
run into Ministry of Magic witches at wayside inns...."

So, I think Pettigrew had to do some quick thinking and apply some 
actual powers of persuasion to get Bertha out of there before she 
could attract unwanted attention.  It does seem to have surprised 
Voldemort somewhat, but I think it at least shows that Pettigrew has 
some talent, just not always the foresight or insight to know how to 
use it.  When he really applies himself (to the service of his own 
personal survival), his talents reveal themselves.  Otherwise, his 
talents remain hidden, and people think they don't exist.  He's 
probably not the sharpest knife in the drawer, but he's still sharper 
than he gets credit for.

Anne