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

[Julie Holmes]

No: HPFGUIDX 54939

<----- Original Message -----
From: Grace Saalsaa >

<I think Pettigrew is very obviously a Slytherin. Remaining in the shadows
of others doesn't mean that he isn't ambitious.>

While I agree that there are multiple forms of ambition, and some are more
passive than others (sycophantism for example), I object to the idea that
ambition is an inherently evil characteristic. In order to do *good* one
must be very ambitious, tenacious, and resourceful. So I disagree with the
idea that Slytherin ambition is not possibly of the noble kind. People can
be difficult and unlikable, but still do great, *positive* things. For
example, Mother Teresa was said to be exceptionally difficult to deal with,
but she did accomplish great things (and I know there are different views on
the politics and actions of Mother Teresa, which I am totally NOT prepared
to argue here...I was just using her as an example). This concept for me
goes beyond JKR's canon, for I do tend to believe she uses Slytherin House
to embody that which is distasteful in the HP universe. Rather I think,
moving beyond the Harry Potter series into a general concept, that it is too
easy to pigeonhole all evil into one source.

I believe Peter Pettigrew is likely a Gryffindor; I may be proven wrong by
further canon. Why does the Sorting Hat sometimes take so long to decide
which house someone belongs in? Because the Sorting Hat knows there are
choices to be made. The Sorting Hat can place someone in the house it thinks
will be most conducive to a person's foremost needs, but it can do only
that. The rest is up to the person. I'm curious to see what lies in store
for Neville and Seamus, as the hat took quite a long time to sort both of
them.

If we default Peter to Slytherin on the basis of his evil choices, then why
not default Snape to Gryffindor? I think the argument could be made if you
base it only on one factor.

~Julie
(Slytherincess, just so you know my bias!)