Pettigrew the murderer?

[KathyK]

No: HPFGUIDX 75858

--- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, "magicroxx" <magicroxx at y...> 
wrote:
> Something has been bothering me since POA and that is if Peter was 
> supposed was supposed to be such a weak wizard, then how did he 
blast 
> half the street away and kill all those people? I don't see how 
this 
> could have happened. I don't have the books with me because I am at 
> work. Also, he just cuts his finger off, blasts the street apart 
and 
> then tranforms into a rat and runs away. He was so squimish about 
> cutting his hand off that I think Sirius would have realized what 
he 
> was going to do and have been able to stop him. 
> 
> At first I thought maybe Voldemort could have been possessing him, 
> but he was a little.....under the weather at that moment. Could 
there 
> have been someone else there?
> 
> Roxx

I think Pettigrew, though weak and talentless, could have and did 
learn some tricks from Voldemort, as he tries to argue that very 
thing about Sirius in the Shrieking Shack.  Maybe when he makes that 
statement he's thinking of the things he himself learned.  It would 
have helped him blow apart the street and kill a bunch of muggles.  
As for Pettigrew being squeamish about cutting off his hand in GoF 
and not seeming to have that problem when Sirius found him, well, 
Sirius was going to kill Peter.  I have no doubt about that.  Peter 
knew his life was in imminent danger.  He did what he had to in order 
to save himself.  
Hmm...actually now that I think about it, that doesn't fit with 
Pettigrew yelling that Sirius betrayed the Potters.  That seems more 
thought out.  Okay, so Pettigrew knew Sirius would pursue him, so he 
made some plans in advance, like accusing Sirius and knowing he'd 
have to disappear quickly, the spell to kill the muggles.  Maybe he 
had time to get used to the idea of cutting off his finger.  
Yes, yes, he must have planned at least part of what he did, because 
he knew enough to leave "evidence" that he was dead.  He also blew up 
a street, killing  a bunch of people while leaving Sirius alive and 
well so he could take the punishment for the Potters' deaths.  Being 
in Voldemort's service taught him some things and maybe he felt a bit 
more powerful with such a strong and powerful leader.

KathyK