Pettigrew in Gryffindor? (was: Tom-Harry-Choices / Wand-Transformation / Questions / Wzdg)

[corinthum]

No: HPFGUIDX 54891

Christine wrote:

> Correct me if I'm wrong, but I don't believe there is
> any canon that says Pettigrew was in Gryffindor.  I
> certainly think he should have been (even if he
> wasn't) sorted into Slytherin.

What makes you think he should have been in Slytherin, out of
curiostity?  To me, this actually seems the least likely of houses to
fit his personality.  Slytherin favors those who are extremely
ambitious, willing to use any means to get ahead.  Pettigrew, however,
has always remained in others' shadows- first his friends James,
Sirius, and Lupin, and later Voldemort.  He's despertate for
recognition, but not really the epitome of ambition.

So where does he fit?  Not Ravenclaw; he's had his moments of
brilliance, but is overall not the most intelligent man.  It was
stated that he had much more trouble with the Animagus transformation
than the other two.  Also, I believe McGonagal made a statement that
he wasn't too bright, although I amy be mistaken.

Hufflepuff?  No, his loyalty is certainly not constant.  Although we
really don't know what made him turn traitor, so he may have felt
justified in switching his loyalty.  Doubtful, though.

Back to Gryffindor then.  He hasn't appeared very brave in the few
scenes we've seen him, but this is downtrodden-by-Voldemort,
spent-the-last-13-years-as-a-rat Pettigrew.  Perhaps when he arrived
at Hogwarts he still had the potential to be courageous.  He did have
the courage to join James and Sirius in becoming Animagi, a dangerous
undertaking.  And he was involved in the fight against Voldemort
originally, which makes me think he had some speck of bravery in him. 
So, overall, Gryffindor doesn't seem like such a terrible match, when
taken against the other choices.

-Corinth