Peter's Culpability Re: VA/H=Mx13+RP? Snape's Culpability?

[M.Clifford]

No: HPFGUIDX 147236


> Magpie:
> <SNIP>
>  In that scenario, Peter's decision to betray the Potters 
> > stands on its own, a completely separate, free choice to betray 
> them.
> 
> Alla:
> 
> On that I disagree completely. I did say yesterday that sure Peter 
> is  much guiltier in Potters deaths if Snape tried to do the right 
> thing, but without Snape's doing his deed, Peter may not have NEEDED 
> to do that choice, ever, so in my book it can NEVER be evaluated 
> completely separate from what Snape did. IMO they tied together and 
> it just cannot be undone.
> 
> JMO,
> 
> Alla
>

Valky:
Gosh, I hate to disagree with you Alla, but I am afraid I do. 

Peter needed no help from Snape to betray his friends, that much is
clear, the impetus to do so was entirely his own, the will to see an
innocent baby attacked, his best friend and his best friend's kind and
beautiful wife murdered, and his other best friends lives cast in to
dark chaos and misery all to save his slimy skin, needed no shove at
all, he would always have done it, regardless of what opportunity
presented itself to cater to his selfish ends, I don't think Peter can
be with honesty, seen in any other light, his secrets are told. 

Now I also wonder why you see so unequivocally that Snape alone
presented the opportunity for Peter to betray. What of the Secret
Keeper issue? The Potters had a reliable and loyal secret keeper who
would never betray them, but for what Peter had already done, ie
spying for Voldemort for years, lying and betraying everyone that had
every cared about him, the Potters and Sirius would never have
questioned the safety of their secret, and exactly as you say above,
Peter would never have *needed* to make that one particular decision
of turning over the Secret to Voldemort, but then again, he had
*already made that decision years before* so what difference could
Snape ever have made to that? It actually seems like Peter was going
to turn James and Lily over to Voldemort with or without the prophecy,
and Peter will always be 100% culpable for that, right?

Valky