[HPforGrownups] Re: What possessed Peter to restore Voldemort? (Was: Trusting Snape)

[Magda Grantwich]

No: HPFGUIDX 149545


> SSSusan:
> This is a very fascinating take on Peter, imo.  It would be kind of
> satisfying, I think, to discover a Peter who is this STRONG (in a 
> way), a person who actually has THOUGHT about what he wants and how
> to get it, rather than just the cowardly, weak, wimpering follower 
> he seems to be so much of the time.  
> 
> Yes, interesting indeed.
> 
> The one question which comes to mind, though, is how would you 
> explain Wormtail's attempt (I think that's an okay work to use to 
> classify it) to get Voldy to use someone else's blood in the 
> rebirthing -- that it didn't *have* to be Harry's?  I've always 
> taken that as an attempt on Wormtail's part to, perhaps, get 
> himself "unindebted" to Harry.  But maybe it was something else?  
> 
> Can you think of a way this action on Wormtail's part could fit
> with the man you've described?


There could be three reasons for it:  

1.  Peter is uneasily aware of the Life Debt and would prefer not to
have any contact with Harry at all.  

2.  Peter is a little concerned that Voldemort's tendency to go for
the Grand Symbolic Gesture might be more trouble than it's worth.
Using someone else would accomplish the same end with a lot less
fuss. (And in hindsight, Peter was right.)  This concern depends more
on logistics than on any kind of personal feeling.  

3.  A (very) small residue of guilt over the betrayal of James and
Lily, especially after meeting Harry, who is the incarnation of his
father, face to face - much different from observing him from his
rat-form.

Or - more likely - a combination of all three.

I don't think Peter spends a lot of time looking back or examining
his motivations.  Other people don't mean much to him - he's almost
as cold as Voldemort that way.  He's almost moving on to the next
situation he can manipulate, scurrying like a rat from garbage can to
garbage can.  It's nothing personal, anyone would do the same thing,
it's not his fault, etc. etc.

That's my take.

Magda

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