POA: Scabbers / Pettigrew & the Weasleys - Lost & Found

[Steve]

No: HPFGUIDX 98373

--- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, "huntergreen_3" <patientx3 at a...>
wrote:
> bboy_mn wrote:
> >>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?
> [snip reasons why the weasleys were a good choice]
> 
> >> 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.<<


> HunterGreen:
> But how would he find all this out? Obviously, the Weasley's turned 
> out to be a perfect choice, but how would Peter go about profiling 
> various wizarding families? The only answer I can think of is that
> he knew of them beforehand, and just had to get them to take him in.


bboy_mn now replies:

Exactly; he knew them beforehand. Although, that doesn't necessarily
means Peter was friends with the Weasleys. 

Mr. Weasley works for the Ministry of Magic which seems to be a very
big organization, and he seems to be familair with and on friendly
terms with most of the people there. In addtion, Mr. Weasley is not
above stopping in for a drink every now and then, and we all know a
Pub is a great place to see and be seen, as well as, to know and be
known. Compound that by the fact that Mr. Weasley has 7 kids all of
whom need food, clothing, plus books and other school supplies. Then
factor in that Mr. & Mrs. Weasley are purebloods. Throw in a gererous
dose of flaming red hair and you end up with a family that is familar
to virtually everyone in the British wizard world. 

You ask, how could Peter know them, and I reply, how could he not?
 
 
> bboy_mn:
> >> As to when all this occured, I'm sure it happened not too long 
> >> after Voldemort was ripped from his body by Harry. ... I would 
> >> say that within a month or two of faking his own death, Peter 
> >> would have become Scabbers-the pet rat.<<

 
> HunterGreen:
> I was thinking that it was later, that he went in hiding as a rat 
> for a while before deciding he needed to find someone to take him 
> in, but your post got me thinking. Why is he called 'Scabbers'? 


bboy_mn now replies:

Difficult to argue with you about your belief that Peter was in hiding
as a rat for more than two months before searching for a family to
take him in. In rat form, he would have been extremely well adapted to
hinding in plain sight. He could easily lurk about Diagon Alley or
Hogsmeade pretty much indefinitely, and be sure of having plenty to
eat and being able to find reasonable, for a rat, shelter.

I suspect, he didn't hang around for long though, because I'm guessing
he extremely paranoid, fearing every second for his life and
discovery; not to mention the natural dangers that a rat faces like
predator, poison, and an natural human animosity toward gutter rats.

So why did they call him 'Scabbers'? Might have been because of that
big scab on his front paw where his toe/finger used to be. If he was
clean enough and cute enough, the missing toe/finger would have
actually made him more sympathetic. Percy probably thought the other
rats we picking on poor Scabbers, and felt a bit of empathy toward
him. Anyone with Fred and George for brothers probably knows from a
very young age what it's like to be picked on.

Remember... I just make this stuff up.

bboy_mn