Lily the popular girl

[julie]

No: HPFGUIDX 167926


> 
> Pippin:
> Do we know that Peter can make himself unplottable? I don't
> think so. If not, it  would explain why he was safe as a rat
> only as long as Sirius was in jail and everyone else thought 
> he was dead. Otherwise, IMO, he could escape detection only
> while he was at Hogwarts, or under the protection and 
> concealment of a more powerful wizard such as Voldemort, or 
> Snape.
> 
> It would also explain how Sirius could be sure he had escaped 
> and not blown himself up. 

Julie:
You may be right. It doesn't change the need for a motive 
beyond simple fear for Peter's original betrayal of the
Potters, IMO, but Peter certainly could have helped LV 
get his body back to avoid being hunted for the rest of
his life (as long as that might last). 

Pippin:
> I don't think that Peter could have bargained for Lily's life.
> He doesn't have the power -- Voldemort could get whatever
> he wanted out of Peter with intimidation and threats. 
> Voldemort bargains only with those, like the Gurg of the
> Giants, who have a powerbase of their own.  If there was
> a bargain it was probably with someone  with connections 
> to one of the power groups Voldemort was wooing. The
> only one of the Marauders that would fit is Lupin.
> 

Julie:
I'm still not convinced Peter had to have a powerbase to
bargain with LV, especially if *he* initiated the bargaining.
"I can give you the location of the Potters, but I want 
something in return. For you to spare Lily's life." Now I
realize LV could just torture it out of Peter, but why
bother to go to that trouble if Peter is willing to give
the information freely, and all Peter wants in return is
an inconsequential and at most moderately-talented (in
comparison to himself) witch? 

This is predicated on my personal opinion that LV doesn't
enjoy torture or murder in itself. It doesn't bother 
him either, but he uses torture and murder to get what
he wants. It's a means to an end for him. He tortures for
information, to send a message, to insure the loyalty of
his DEs through fear. He kills to rid himself of enemies,
rivals, and those who don't "belong" in his vision of 
a kingdom ruled by him. He's not at all unwilling to 
kill Lily (and he does when she continues to stand in his 
way), but equally he doesn't really care if she lives as
long as she stays out of his way. 

As for Lupin, he could have some bargaining power if he
has sway with the werewolves. We don't know that he really
does, and while ESE!Lupin is an interesting concept, I 
still can't see JKR going there because 1. she likes
Lupin too much, and 2. we already have Fenrir as the 
evil werewolf incarnation and why pile on more negativity
to the deliberate metaphor for outcasts of society, and 3.
Lupin is the only Marauder left who hasn't been done in 
by his own worst impluses. Does JKR really need pound
this common failing into Harry's mind by completing the set?

Julie, who really wants Lupin's best side to shine through
in DH, because Harry deserves at least one of his mentor
figures to truly come through for him--and survive.