Does anyone else find the Scabbers/Ron thing revolting?

[justcarol67]

No: HPFGUIDX 125745


List Elves please note: I'm reposting this and deleting the previous
version because the attribution is messed up. My apologies! C.

Sandra wrote:
> > > I find it thoroughly creepy that Ron and the other Weasleys 
were deceived into giving so much affection and physical attention
(hugs and stroking etc) to a rat that was in fact a vile, unhinged man
in disguise. If I was Ron I wouldn't stop washing myself for at least
a month. 
> 
Carol responds:
I can't tell whether the source of your revulsion relates to what you
believe is implied pedophilia or just thorough disgust that Peter
Pettigrew, murderer and traitor was sleeping on Ron's bed (and very
near to Harry) and that Ron at least occasionally petted his rat or
scratched his ears as he would with any pet, not realizing that the
rat was not a rat (at least not literally).
 
For me, it's more a matter of pity for Ron that the pet he loved
didn't deserve his love. I don't think there's much more to it than
that. IMO, Peter is essentially lazy and selfish rather than
essentially evil. He's only evil when his selfish needs require it (if
he has a choice between being killed or committing murder, he'll
commit murder), but as the Weasley children's only pet (till Percy got
his owl), his basic needs (food, shelter, and disguise) were met and
he spent most of his time sleeping. It's only when he realized that
Sirius Black had escaped from Azkaban that he apparently began
listening in on conversations, and of course as both rat and animagus
he had reason to fear Crookshanks. But I don't think that Ron was ever
in any danger from Scabbers while he remained in that form, and it was
Harry, not Ron, who was in danger from Peter Pettigrew once he was
"outed" and escaped to Voldemort. 
 
So, no, I don't find the situation disgusting or revolting, only sadly
ironic. I'm just glad that Ron now has a pet, Pigwidgeon (sp?), that
really is a pet. Too bad he hates Crookshanks, who could sleep on his
bed and have his ears or back rubbed and be worthy of the affection.
 
Carol, who's eager to see what everyone thinks of the new book covers!