POA: Scabbers / Pettigrew & the Weasleys

[Beth]

No: HPFGUIDX 98282

--- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, "Steve" <bboy_mn at y...> wrote:
> --- 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.
> 
[snip other plausible speculations]
> 
> Just a thought.
> 
> bboy_mn

Beth: I wonder if he also looked for a family who had a child 
Harry's age in order to be close "just in case".

I also wonder how much time Pettigrew had to spend /not/ being 
Scabbers in order to retain himself. Sirius explained that his 
thoughts were less complicated as a dog and he was therefore able to 
confuse the Dementors and I thought I remembered reading (FBWTFT? 
Mine went missing after being lent...) that when a vampire 
transfigured into a bat s/he had the intellect of a bat which could 
be very dangerous. So did Pettigrew sneak around the Burrow as 
himself late at night or go out to the grove where the boys 
practiced Quidditch and just stand on two feet for a while?

Beth