Peter

[catlady_de_los_angeles]

No: HPFGUIDX 187780

Marianne Wildirishrose wrote in <http://groups.yahoo.com/group/HPforGrownups/message/187720>:

<< We know that Peter lived as a rat with the Weasleys for years. When do you think he joined the family as their "pet." The whys are clear. He was in hiding. Why did he join the Weasleys household? Did he think he'd outlive the other Marauders? He'd be a awfully ratty looking rat after so many years. Or keep away from LV? But could he really outlive Voldy? I'm sure he had no idea that Harry would be involved in the Weasleys lives. >>

I believe that Peter was simply looking for a place where a rat could be warm and snug and well-fed and petted without having to work for a living. If he could live a happy rat life until dying of old age after eighty or one hundred years, it wouldn't matter to him if his enemies outlived him. I don't know if he realised that at some time the humans would get suspicious of this long-lived rat, but if they did start getting suspicious, he could run away and start over with some other family.

Sirius and Remus accused him of choosing the Weasley children because he knew that the Weasley parents were well plugged in to all the gossip and thus he would hear if any of his enemies were on the loose and searching for him. If that was one of his considerations, what did he plan to do about it? Live in the sewers as a dirty rat for the rest of his life?

<< The entire Peter plot is strange to me. It seems too much of coincidence. Or am I thinking to much? >>

The entire Potter plot depends on many coincidences.

It could be said that prophecy stories tend to depend on coincidences - what were the odds that the man young Oedipus killed for not yielding him the right of way at an intersection would be his biological father? Sometimes prophecy stories are for the fun of solving a puzzle - how can Burnham Wood come to Dunsinane? 

Other times prophecy stories are statements that humans can't change the future regardless of their choices and efforts. I really believe that Rowling wants to encourage her readers and admirers to choose to make an effort to be good and do good, so I don't believe that she is trying to spread the word that our choices and efforts don't effect the outcome. (Even tho' her time travel episode supports the message that the future can't be changed.)

Some people might say that God or natural law ('ancient magic') often gives the good guys a little bit of extra help in a pinch (altho' history shows that the good guys sometimes lose anyway) and helpful 'coincidences' are when these interventions are less concealed than usual. 

I think Rowling wants real-life people to make an effort to do good even when the situation seems hopeless and impossible, and therefore wants them to keep hoping, so she tries to encourage real-life people to hope for a  miracle or at least a helpful coincidence to be provided to real-life good guys who do their best and never give up. (Even if they fail, the effort was good for their souls.)

It could also be said that having a plot depend so much on coincidence is the failure of the author to conceal intervention by the author (rather than by the Author) and is a defect in the novel.

<< Peter gives rats a bad reputation. :o) My Hermione and Bella are very sweet ratties. :o) >>

Other listies have said much the same.