Why Does Peter Wait to Tell Voldemort about Animagi?

[Jen Reese]

No: HPFGUIDX 85778

I find it fascinating that Pettigrew did not tell LV about the 
illegal animagi until he returns to him in GOF. Sirius says in 
OOTP, "Voldemort will know all about me being an animagus by now, 
Wormtail will have told him, so my big disguise is useless." (chap. 
5, p. 82). 

Why did Peter wait? 

In a thought from post 85773, David wonders if Peter was ever a true 
member of the Order. It does seem Pettigrew genuinely joined the 
Order for at least a short time because Sirius says in POA: "You'd 
been passing information to him for a year before Lily and James 
died!" and Peter responds: "He--he was taking over everywhere...Wh--
what was there to be gained by refusing him?" (US, chap. 19, p. 
374). We don't know exactly when the Order was formed, but Voldemort 
was rising throughout the 70's, with MWPP and Lily graduating in 
1978. That would give them 3 years to be in the Order prior to the 
fateful Halloween night. So it's only presumption, but I don't think 
Peter was a spy the whole time, rather he turned when LV started 
taking over everywhere, and the Order was being "picked off one by 
one" as Lupin tells us in OOTP. 

But this bit about not telling LV about the animagi, that has me 
questioning Peter's motives in betraying the Potters to LV. If he 
were indeed a loyal Spy, with true allegiance to Voldemort, he would 
pass on everything he knows to him. I'm wondering now if he wasn't 
reserving this information as his own last "loophole" and indeed he 
was able to transform and live as Wormtail for many years until 
he's 'outed' in the Shrieking Shack. Then his choice is between 
joining LV and going to Azkaban, and he chooses LV again. 

Pettigrew seems to crave becoming part of the "inner circle" whether 
it's with the Marauders or LV. Perhaps he thought by helping LV back 
to life, telling him about the illegal animagi, that he would be 
elevated in LV's circle of DE's. But LV continues to be contemptuous 
of him, and Pettigrew is conspicuously absent in OOTP. 

To me, Pettigrew is the true wildcard. His motives are so shifty and 
he seems to have true allegiance to no one but himself. And the life-
debt with Harry adds another level of ambiguity to this already 
shadowy character. What is he going to do next?! I wouldn't be 
surprised to find out Wormtail has disappeared from Voldemort's 
service and will turn up at a crucial moment in the coming War.

Jen Reese