OOP: Sirius, bullying, secret-keeping

[jenny_ravenclaw]

No: HPFGUIDX 64267

--- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, Marianna Lvovsky 
<mariannayus at y...> wrote:
 
> I don't think Peter was a poor bullied boy here. In
> PoA, it is mentioned that Peter has been passing info
> to VM for a year before the Potters' death (who forced
> him then?). He is hardly an innocent who's been forced
> into a position to betray and does so out of fear.
> Leaving aside the Sirius-forced-him issue, nothing
> would excuse Peter's behavior (bullying or not, if he
> did not want to be in a position to be secret-keeper
> and thus have to betray them, he could have said no). 
> 
> As on Sirius forcing him: I severely doubt it. For
> one, Sirius is not stupid. If someone is reluctant to
> do something like this, he would not be a good
> secret-keeper. And don't forget, "compassionate" Lily
> was in on it. I doubt she would be OK with forcing.
> 
> I don't know if Peter quivered with eagerness when
> offered the chance, but given what he know of his
> personality, the fact that he was passing info to VM,
> his servility & cringing, the fact that he AK'd Cedric
> and done all sorts of unspeakable things, all goes to
> show that he probably *was* eager to betray and did
> not object over much.>

Yes, and didn't Peter cast the spell that blew up enough of a street 
to kill - what was it? - 12 Muggles?  And wasn't he the one who 
successfully framed someone who had once been a very close friend?  

Let's not fool ourselves about Peter Pettigrew.  A lesson I've 
learned in my own life is to never underestimate the quiet ones. In 
Snape's memory, we see Peter observing, not participating in the 
bullying.  Who knows if he and Snape were friends at the time, or if 
they were both already participating in Junior DE meetings of some 
sort?  Also, Peter's quietness gave him plenty of time to think, 
analyze, plot... not exactly what I would call weak and talentless.

--jenny from ravenclaw *********************************************