Black vs. Pettigrew: Why was Black Laughing?

[Tim]

No: HPFGUIDX 44220

> When Black hunts down Pettigrew in the street, Pettigrew blasts 
> himself and a street full of muggles. In PA, we are twice told that 
> Black stood there laughing when this happened, and was still 
> laughing when he was arrested. (Stan on Knight Bus and conversation 
> in Hogsmeade).
> 
> Why would Black be laughing? Thirteen innocent bystanders are dead, 
> he has learned that his old friend was a Dark Wizard spy who 
> betrayed Lily and James, and he recently learned James and Lilly 
are 
> dead. He must know at this point that he'll be blamed for the 
> betrayal (he won't be needing the motorcycle anymore). What's so 
> funny about that? 
> 
> I haven't heard this discussed before, and I can't figure it out. 
> Any help out there?

Sorry, Cindy, I have to respond.

It is my feeling that Black was laughing because he knew Pettigrew 
turned himself into a rat.  Amid all the confusion (smoke, dead 
bodies, etc.) a rat could easily hide or escape.  Black's laughing, 
to me, is a way of saying, "You stupid fool!  You don't think I'll 
find you as a rat?  I've only seen you turn into one a hundred 
times!"  Of course Black never got the chance to find the rat before 
the MoM officials showed up and arrested him.  Black also said in PoA 
that the one thing that kept him "sane" in Azkaban was his thoughts 
of revenge on Pettigrew... if he could only find that rat.

Tim A.