Fawkes' Age, "Wormtail" vs. Pettigrew PLUS Harry Did Touch Scabbers

[erisedstraeh2002]

No: HPFGUIDX 54310

First I wrote:

> Just because JKR has implied that she named Fawkes the phoenix 
> after Guy Fawkes doesn't mean that Fawkes the phoenix has to have 
> been born (for the first time) after the death of the real Guy 
> Fawkes.  

then Patricia Bullington-McGuire responded:

> Exactly.  It only means he was given the name "Fawkes" after the 
> gunpowder plot took place.  

Now me again:

Oh, dear, I'm not making myself clear.  The point I'm trying 
(unsuccessfully!) to make is that JKR's choosing of the name "Fawkes" 
doesn't need to fit into the chronology of actual historical events.  
I think Fawkes has always been named Fawkes, ever since he was 
originally born, and that JKR chose his name because it symbolized 
the rebirth of the phoenix from fire.

Patricia Bullington-McGuire again:

> Personally, I don't believe Fawkes was Godric's phoenix.  Phoenixes 
> are notoriously hard to domesticate and extremely loyal.  I doubt 
> he would accept being handed down from wizard to wizard like a 
> family pet.  I believe he is with Dumbledore because he chose 
> Dumbledore, and it is a testament to Dumbledore's greatness as a 
> wizard that he could "domesticate" a phoenix where so many others 
> have failed.

Me again:

I do think Fawkes was Gryffindor's phoenix, but I don't see him as 
being handed down like a pet.  I agree that he chooses his master, 
and I think he chose both Gryffindor and Dumbledore.  I also think 
there's some sort of connection between Gryffindor and Dumbledore, 
and that Fawkes is part of that connection.  Since both Gryffindor 
and Dumbledore are considered great wizards, I think it's plausible 
that both of them could have domesticated Fawkes.

Patricia Bullington-McGuire again:
 
> I disagree that Pettigrew "walked free" in the sense that Crouch 
> meant that.  Pettigrew's life after Voldemort's defeat actually 
> mirrors Crouch's rather closely.  Both had to fake their deaths to 
> avoid/escape Azkaban.  Both then had to live in a terribly 
> demeaning manner after that, Peter reduced to being a pet ret and 
> Crouch hidden under an invisibility cloak 24 hours a day, subject 
> to the Imperius Curse.  

Me again:

I still think there are significant differences.  Crouch Jr. spent a 
year in Azkaban, while Pettigrew never went there at all.  Crouch Jr. 
was controlled by the Imperius Curse, while Pettigrew was able to 
choose what he wanted to do.  It was Pettigrew's decision to live as 
a rat - no one forced him to live that way.  I would argue that 
Pettigrew had a fairly enjoyable life as a rat - as Ron says, all he 
did when he was Scabbers was eat and sleep, which isn't really such a 
bad existence (IMO, anyway)!

Patricia Bullington-McGuire again:

> Furthermore, Pettigrew and Crouch were the only DEs who returned to 
> Voldemort's service before Voldemort regained his full power. 

Me again:

Yes, but again there are significant differences:  Crouch Jr. was 
eager and anxious to find Voldemort (and was sent to Azkaban as a 
result) while Pettigrew hid from Voldemort for 12 years and only went 
to seek him out when he "was driven out of hiding by those he had 
once counted friends" (Ch. 33, GoF).

Mr. Ed asked:

> (has Harry EVER touched Wormtail/Peter/Scabbers??)

Me again:

Yes.  End of Ch. 12 PS/SS: "but then, he thought, as he [Harry] 
shoved Scabbers off his pillow..."

~Phyllis