Pettigrew Power (Was: James Potter Bio Facts)

[Hitomi]

No: HPFGUIDX 90244

> Kathy here: 
> I loved what you had to say about Peter and the way that you 
stated it 
> all....It was Harry's compassion along with his mother's that set 
them 
> apart. It really brought up two questions when reading all you had 
to say 
> about Peter:
> 1st:  Why did V ask Lily to step aside? Maybe Lily (like Harry to 
Pettigrew) 
> was compassionate to V and saved his life once. Then V owed Lily.
> 2nd: If Harry is soooo compassionate that he can't stand a side 
and let a 
> muggle (like Dudley)  or a wizard (like Pettigrew) be killed, then 
how can 
> he kill V? Maybe thats when Pettigrew steps in. He still owes 
Harry his 
> life. ...Pettigrew still has time to change his spots.
> 
> Thanks for the thoughts Hitomi!

Hitomi:
Ok, first and foremost, thank you Kathy and Nora Renka (in your e-
mail) for your support and compliments.  It's greatly appreciated 
and valued ;)

But getting to the actual posting part: concerning the first 
question.  My theory, unless of course we're given more information, 
such as your suggestion that perhaps Lily once saved LV's life 
(which is a rather interesting theory, and made me think quite a 
bit), is that LV just couldn't be bothered killing Lily, especially 
since his main threat (due to the prophecy) was Harry.  I'm sure he 
would have killed Lily after having killed Harry (had he been able 
to do so), but at that immediate moment, Lily was probably just in 
the way.  LV has been shown to be very apathetic in some instances, 
and Lily was not his immediate concern.  

Weak theory, I know, but the best I can come up with given what 
little information we have.  I doubt, even if Lily had saved his 
life, that LV would have taken that into consideration.  Remember, 
that would go into the category of that "ancient magic" DD mentions, 
the magic LV despises, and thus underestimates, because he can't 
understand love.  Which begs the question of when Lily saved her 
son, was that also in accordance with the prophecy, or in other 
words, was she helping to fulfill it (assuming she might not have 
known of Trelawney's prophecy)?

I could go on and on about this, but I'm basically just going to 
wait until we know more, because there isn't any real point.  It's 
just arguing theories, and I don't feel like arguing something I 
can't give real proof for.  But again, your suggestion definitely 
made me think.  I hope Book 6 comes out soon (well sooner than 
another two and a half years).

Second question: Harry's compassion could also lead to his killing 
LV.  I look at it this way (though, of course, we know Harry's 
having saved Peter will come into play, and your theory is more than 
valid) - whenever it comes down to Harry vs. LV, as it most likely 
will, Harry will be making the decision between the world and one 
evil man.  And I know Harry would shoulder the burden of murder if 
it meant saving those he loves, especially Ron and Hermione.  His 
memory of Ron and Hermione saved him from the dementors in the 
beginning of Book 5.  This may sound cliche, but for them, for their 
life and happiness, Harry would kill.  And that's why I sometimes 
wonder if Harry will actually die or not (which would be beyond 
depressing).  Could Harry actually live with such a burden?  I don't 
know.  I'm not saying he'd willingly kill himself, of course not, 
but death is the "next great adventure for the well-organized 
mind."  It would be Tolkien-ish, having Harry willing go to rest, 
but it's a hypothetical ending I'm working with, and unlikely to 
happen.  Still, it's worth thinking about.  But yes, Harry's 
compassion is one of the things I love most about him.  His empathy.

~ Hitomi, who again offers her thanks