Pettigrew in Gryffindor?

[pippin_999]

No: HPFGUIDX 54933

The Sorting Hat seems to consider values as well as abilities. It 
puts Hermione, who believes there are more important things 
than cleverness, in Gryffindor. 

IMO, much as he fails to uphold them, Pettigrew does have 
Gryffindor values. He isn't brave, but he despises himself for it. 
We've never seen a Slytherin ashamed of being frightened. As 
for chivalry, Pettigrew certainly believes the strong should protect 
the weak. 

In contrast to the chivalric code, a Slytherin's value system is 
particular rather than universal: "any means to achieve their 
ends." Snape doesn't see anything wrong with favoring his own 
house. Draco thinks any form of rule-breaking is okay, as long 
as he's the one who's doing it. But Pettigrew is conflicted.  He's 
not pleased with himself for betraying the Potters, or assisting 
Voldemort or  binding Harry, even though he manages all these 
things successfully. 

I'll probably get jumped on for this, but I see some similarities 
between Peter and Hermione. They're both clever, secretive, and 
not at their best facing an attack. Peter may not be bookish 
(fortunately for him -- I think the worst thing about spending 
twelve years as a rat would be having nothing to read) but he 
has a logical turn of mind. Consider all the desperate 
rationalizing he does in the Shrieking Shack. 


If I had to guess why he joined Voldemort, I think he was scared 
into it (I, of course, firmly believe that there was another spy
close to the Potters) but also that he felt unappreciated and 
inferior in a society where everyone is judged by their magical 
prowess.

Pippin