From Black to White (was Peter...)

[Steve]

No: HPFGUIDX 90289

--- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, "kiricat2001" <Zarleycat at a...>
wrote:

> Marianne (kiricat):
> 
> I see a contradiction here.  If V owed his life to Lily, surely 
> simply giving her a warning to step aside is not a method to repay 
> that.  
> 

bboy_mn:

I won't go into this in depth because I've had my say on the matter in
a previous discussion. Plus, it's one of those discussions that can
never be resolved, or at least, not with available information.

When Voldemort entered the room in which Harry and Lily were, he had
one major objective, one absolute TOP priority, and that was Harry.
Lily was inconsequential, so he told her to move aside. Harry was in
Voldemort sights and he didn't have the time, interest, or inclination
to allow himself to be delayed by the mere presents of some 'silly girl'.

When Lily became an annoyance and a delay to his objective, Voldemort
disposed of her like yesterday's rubbish; no more, no less.

So, 'step aside you silly girl' (paraphrased) wasn't compassion but
complete and utter disinterest in Lily.

> Marianne:
> I've always seen Peter as amoral. ...edited...
> 
> Now, his (Peter's) situation doesn't strike me as a particularly
> happy one. ...edited...
> 
> But, is that enough to make him switch sides again or suddenly get a 
> conscience?  I don't think so. ...edited...,  it would be because he
> saw a potential way to once again save himself. 
> 

bboy_mn:

Peter is a real mystery in this story, but when you think about it, we
have many great mysteries that must/should be resolved before the end.
Conclusion, that last book in the series is really going to be 
exciting when all these mysteries finally converge and are resolved.

I can only concluded that Peter is going to play a major role in this
final resolution, but what that role will be is difficult to discern.

There are so many possibilities. Peter could turn spy for the good
side, but his ability to move about freely is extremely limited, and
that also limits his ability to communicate with anyone. I'm not
thinking of the fact that he is suppose to be dead here, I'm thinking
more of the impression I get that Voldemort doesn't let Peter stray
very far from his side. I don't think Voldie really trust Worntail.
So, while I can see the possibility, I'm not leaning heavily on Peter
as a good spy; unless it is a last minute one time act of desperation.

I will however agree that while there will be an element of conscience
involved in his 'heroic' action, it will mostly be motivated by
realizing the Voldemort is doomed to lose, and that will lead Peter to
try to cultivate this new realization to his advantage.

An alternate is that Peter will intervene in some way to save Harry.
Example, Voldemort captures Harry and uses him as leverage against
Dumbledore, but Peter sneaks in the dungeon and helps Harry escape.
OR... Peter and one other DE are in a position where they have the
opportunity to kill Harry, but Peter kills the other DE so Harry can
get away, then makes up a story where the DE was somehow killed by the
Order or by Harry. OR... in the final scene, Voldemort is about to
kill Harry, and Peter thrusts his magic hand into Voldemort's chest
and rips out his heart. ...and many many more.

The problem with the 'heart ripping out' is that there are so many
other possible alternate characters who could just as easily be the
real destroyer of Voldemort; Ron, Neville, Dobby, Dumbledore, Tom
Riddle as a separate entity from Voldemort, etc....


Marianne:
> 
> Oh - I just had a thought.  I could see Harry making a bargain with 
> Peter that ran along the lines of "I'll do what I can to protect you 
> from harm or see that you get a only a short prison sentence, but 
> only if you clear Sirius' name."
> 
> Marianne, 

bboy_mn:

Now this brings up a very interesting question - Will Sirius's name
ever be cleared and how?

Marianne suggests that in consideration for a lighter sentence, Peter
might be willing to testify. I propose other possibilities which don't
necessarily rule out Peter playing a part.

My personal opinion has always been that Sirius's name will be cleared
in a pre-emptive effort to clear the Black family estate. Harry will
publish another article/interview in which he explains what happened;
Peter wasn't really dead, Peter actually killed the 13 people, etc.... 

It would seem that they must first clear Sirius's name, then lay the
ground work for a favorable resolution of the Estate, the acknowledge
that Black is dead, then finally clear the Black Family Estate,
hopefully in Harry's favor, if not directly then at least, indirectly.
The key being that they can't acknowledge that he is dead until the
have cleared his name and have some knowledge that the estate will be
resolved in favor of the good guys. 

Personally, I suspect the existance of a handwritten Will by Sirius,
but the validity will be contested as long as Sirius is considered a
criminal. Therefore, the first step is to clear his name.

Naturally, Draco is the nearest male Heir, so it would be a fight
between Harry and Draco over the estate. That could make some juicy
conflict between Harry and Draco.

One outcome I wouldn't mind seeing is Sirius leaving the bulk of the
estate to the Weasleys in Trust, that is, the Weasleys manage the
Black Estate on Harry's behalf. In a way, that would make Arthur and
Molly Harry's official wizard guardians, not to mention making them
rich; at least functionally rich, if not literally rich.

Don't really want to start the 'Black Inheritance' thread again, as
that's been discussed in detail. I'm more interested in people opinion
of IF and HOW Sirius Black's name will be cleared.

So MANY mysteries and only two books left, that hardly seems like
enough books to resolve them all.

Just a thought.

bboy_mn