Pettigrew/Wormtail

[jodel at aol.com]

No: HPFGUIDX 54369

>>I believe it was important to Voldemort to keep his identity hidden, 
especially from Barty Crouch Jr., who, in his own words, has stated: "if 
there's one thing I hate more than any other, it's a Death Eater who walked 
free."  Pettigrew walked free,<<

But Pettigrew didn't walk free. He was in hiding, not even able to resume 
human form for 12 years. That my sound more comfortable than being put under 
Imperius and hidden under an invisibility cloak, but it is really just about 
a toss-up as regards limitations. 

I'd say that Pettigrew is now "Wormtail" because it suits Voldemort very well 
for everyone to go on believing that Pettigrew is dead. The less the *name* 
Pettigrew is bandied about, the less likely it is that someone will let the 
information slip. There isn't really all that much secrecy over Wormtail's 
identity. The DEs know that "Wormtail" is presumed to be a dead man. For that 
matter, among the whole gathering in the graveyard, Wormtail was the only DE 
who was NOT masked. He is 12 years older and has had some rough handling 
since anyone last saw him, but he isn't unrecognizable. His usefullness as a 
spy is over, there is no reason to protect his identity among the ranks. But 
Voldy does not want any questions raised outside the circle about the 
possible continued existence of the wizard once known as Peter Pettigrew. 
Pettigrew is a dead man. Wormtail is a Death Eater in reasonably good 
standing. Refering to him only as Wormtail is what their Master intends. It's 
a psychological ploy.

As to the name Wormtail. I seriously doubt that the Marauders ever publically 
refered to each other by their nicknames. In face, I strongly suspect that 
the Moony, Wormtail Padfoot and Prongs names were invented as aliases 
specifically for the purpose of claiming credit for the Map. They may have 
used the nicknames among themselves afterwards, but I think the Map came 
first. None of those names were known about the school (although it is 
possible that Snape managed to discover them. Snape is good at learning 
things other people would rather he not know) The only people Pettigrew 
believes to have any reason to regignize that name are Black and Lupin, and 
they aren't here.

-JOdel