Peter, Sirius, or Lupin: who was the spy again?

[Chris]

No: HPFGUIDX 131751

> So why is this on JKR's website? (Extra Stuff, opening chapters of 
> PS): "Other drafts included a character by the name of 'Pyrites', 
> whose name means 'fool's gold'. He was a servant of Voldemort's and 
> was meeting Sirius in front of the Potters' house. Pyrites, too, had 
> to be discarded . . ."
> 
> Why was a servent of LV *meeting* *Sirius* in front of J&L's house? 
> 
> Is it possible that this is a Flint, or at least an artifact from an 
> earlier draft in which SB was the actual spy? Or is a slip? 
> 
> I guess we'll find out in a couple weeks, maybe, but what do you 
> guys think? 
> 
> TK -- TigerPatronus

   I don't think JKR meant it to be any indication that Sirius was 
once going to be the spy. My guess is Pyrites was a person that Sirius 
would have confronted after the Potters' deaths who was still 
lingering aroung Godric's Hollow. This probably would have replaced 
Hagrid's falshback in PoA when he remembers meeting and comforting 
Sirius, then retrieving the flying motorcylce to go and rescue Harry. 
   However, it does beg the question. Why would this storyline have 
been cut simply because Peter eventually became the spy in her 
writing? Who would have been the spy? I don't see Sirius as the spy, 
at all, ever. This would have blown half of the themes Harry has dealt 
with right out of the mix. Sirius as father-figure and brother. Sirius 
as adult who can't grow up. Sirius as bad angel/negative conscience to 
Harry. All of these themes would have been up in smoke. 

Just MHO,
Chris