Did Peter used Harry's wand to transform into a rat in the book? WAS: Movie Confusion

[zanooda2]

No: HPFGUIDX 168135

--- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, "Liz S." <cute_janers at ...> wrote:
 
> In the book, didn't Petter steal Harry's wand to turn back into a rat?
>  If not, then sorry, I'm mistaken.  But I was just thinking that even
> though he was tied up, he could have turned into a rat at anytime to
> get away.  So if that's true, then maybe if you force someone to come
> out, then they need a wand to turn back.  

zanooda:

No, Liz, PP didn't steal Harry's wand. He didn't use any wand to 
transform. I didn't have time to give the quote in my previous post, 
and it's long, but here goes. After Lupin transformed,  "Pettigrew had 
dived for Lupin's dropped wand. Ron, unsteady on his bandaged leg, 
fell. There was a bang, a burst of light  -  and Ron lay motionless on 
the ground".

Next, PP curses Crookshanks as well (he was probably dying to do it all 
that year :-)) . After this:

"Expelliarmus!" Harry yelled, pointing his own wand at Pettigrew; 
Lupin's wand flew high into the air and out of sight. "Stay where you 
are!" Harry shouted, running forward. Too late. Pettigrew had 
transformed" (PoA, p.381 US hardback or p.279 UK hardback).

It seems obvious to me that PP didn't need any wand to transform. He 
used Lupin's wand to curse Ron and Crookshanks, then Harry disarmed him 
and ran to him, but PP had enought time to turn into a rat and escape.

I can't be as sure about the movie, because I don't know the movies 
well (and we are not supposed to discuss them here), but I watched this 
scene twice, and I still can't see PP using a wand. He picks up Lupin's 
wand, then Harry disarms him, then he transforms, waving his empty hand.
All right, I may be wrong about the movie, but I'm pretty sure about 
the book :-).

You are right that PP could have transformed at any time, that's why 
Lupin was poiting his wand at him. When Lupin transformed, PP used this 
opportunity to escape. It would be so much easier to stun him and bring 
him to the castle unconscious, IMO.