DD and the rat (was:Re: Minerva McGonagall-/Dumbledore)

[Nora Renka]

No: HPFGUIDX 115538


--- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, "arrowsmithbt" 
<arrowsmithbt at b...> wrote:
> 
> --- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, "carolynwhite2" 
<carolynwhite2 at a...> wrote:
> > 
> > Set against all this is the massive difficulty in imagining that 
> > Peter could really lie to Voldie to this extent if Voldie is the 
> > Legilimens that he is claimed to be.
> > 
> 
> Why bother pretending when actions speak louder than words?
> He participates in the murder of Bertha, Frank Bryce, 
> Barty Crouch Snr and actually performs the deed on Cedric.
> 
> Do you think DD sleeps sound o'nights?

Umm, do I get you right, Kneasy--arguing that DD is *currently* 
actually using Peter as a deep cover spy, and that DD needs that spy 
so much that he would put aside the moral qualms about using a spy 
who does the things mentioned above?

Now, I know you like to argue for a ruthless DD, but I think that's 
even a little beyond the pale for the (oft-cited) epitome of goodness.

I'll eat crow if this is wrong, but I think, regarding Peter, the 
more straightforward reading is the more accurate one.  Peter was the 
chained servant who escaped, Peter has been running around helping to 
resurrect his boss, Peter was the spy within the Order in VW1.

This is not to say that Peter hasn't had at least *some* qualms about 
this, and I think he's most likely on the 'Big BANGy Redemption 
Scenes List', but he's fallen pretty low at present.

(On the SK switch thing: to support the statements quoted above, we 
do almost have to assume this sort of thing:

Sirius: Guys, I'm really sorry--I'm such a loser that I can't bear 
the thought of actually being the one to keep your secret, so I'm 
going to shove it off on Peter.
James: Lily, sounds good to me.
Lily: Whatever you say, James--I'm the obedient housewife.

I mean, at least theoretically, L&J both had to think it was a decent 
enough idea, and Lily could have cast the charm herself.  I don't 
think there are any strong reasons to doubt the account we've been 
given so far; it would have been a fine plan, if Peter hadn't been a 
traitor.  But he did canonically fool everyone--and it makes it a LOT 
more complicated and manipulative to argue that he didn't fool DD.  
It also demands a very, very exact string of coincidences/events 
falling out exactly as predicted--and I'll bet against it.  DD not 
pulling Black out of the slammer--we argued about that a little while 
ago.  High on the list of questions I'd like to ask her.)

Kneasy, you up for that bet?

-Nora returns to the land of the not-quite-sick