POA: Scabbers / Pettigrew & the Weasleys

[Steve]

No: HPFGUIDX 98264

--- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, "magsthomas" <magsthomas at y...>
wrote:
> 
> 
> My husband is listening to POA at work (in part for something to do
> while he programs and in part prep. for the film's release) and we
> struck up a conversation about clues that point to Scabbers not
> being quite what he seems.
> 
> In the process, we asked ourselves the following questions:
> 
> a) When did Scabbers go live w/ the Weasleys? 
> 
> b) Did it really make a difference as something other than a hiding
> place before Ron became friends w/ Harry?
> 
> We think we have an answer to A -- but I wanted to toss B out there
> for discussion.  Pettigrew is sure to resurface in Books 6 or 7.
> What are your theories?
> 
> - M.

bboy_mn:

I will start with part A.) by analysing the Weasley's situation and
Pettigrew's intent.

First, what would be the best type of family for Peter to hide with?
Then what would be the type of family that would most likely take him in? 

-The Weasleys have a large family with a lot of kids. More kids means
more likely for a stray pet to be taken in. 

-The Weasleys are poor and therefore more likely to take in a stray
pet rather than go out a buy one. I seriously doubt that any rat would
have live very long had it tried to join the Malfoy clan (or the Black
or the Crouch or the Diggory).

-The Weasleys, while poor, are still a well respected pureblood
wizarding family.

-The Weasleys live in the country in a secluded area. 

-Mr. Weasley works in the Ministry of Magic - Department of Law
Enforcement. How very very convinient.

-The Weaselys are generally kind and benevolent people.

My theory is that Peter looked at the same issues I have pointed out
above, and came to the conclusion that the Weasleys would be an ideal
family to be with, and a family with a high likelihood of actually
taking him in.

I speculate, as I so often do, that Peter traveled to the Weasley farm
and made himself known to the kids, but cautiously stayed out of sight
of the adults. He acted tame, gave indications that he was a clean
rat, and tried his damnedest to be ever so cute.

I suspect initially he drew the attention of Fred and George who, true
to form, were most eager to launch Peter aboard a Dr. Filibuster No
Heat Wet Start Firework, but Peter was rescued by Percy. Percy kept an
eye on Peter-the Rat after that giving him scraps of food, and
generally being nice to him. Once he was under Percy's protection, the
other kids, as they came along, would have cozied up to him or at
least gotten used to him. By the time Arthur and Molly found out about
the rat, he had been around so long, was so tame, and so well liked by
the kids, the parents decided it would be best to just let him stay on
and allow the kids to have their pet. 

Once Percy became a god-almighty Prefect, he was much too mature for
something as childish as a pet rat, and he had his new owl, so he
passed Scabbers on to Ron.

I don't think Scabbers had any forsight that Ron would become Harry's
best friend, but he would reasonably assume that Ron would be at the
same school with Harry, and that Scabbers would therefore gain some
degree of information about Harry. But it was just a brilliant stroke
of luck that threw Harry and Ron together in the beginning. At stroke
of luck that very much worked to Scabber's advantage.

As to when all this occured, I'm sure it happened not too long after
Voldemort was ripped from his body by Harry. Peter/Scabbers would have
been desperate to find someplace safe, as well as some place where he
could keep and ear out for news. He probably thought about it a while,
and formed the grand plan I have outlined above. I would say that
within a month or two of faking his own death, Peter would have become
Scabbers-the pet rat.

Side note, frequently asked; if the Hogwarts Letter says you can have
a owl, toad, or cat, how did Percy and Ron manage to get away with a
rat. I once again speculate that Percy, being a nearly perfect student
both in his deportment and his studies, asked for an acception which
was granted. When Ron inherited Scabbers, he also inherited the
permission. Although, I suspect it was a somewhat unofficial
inheritance, but since Scabbers had been there previously without
causing any problems, the staff had no objections.

Just a thought.

bboy_mn