The Original Order of the Phoenix (now Peter Question)

[Barry Arrowsmith]

--- In the_old_crowd at yahoogroups.com, "kumayama" <kumayama at e...> wrote:
> 
> This brings up an interesting (at least for me) consideration. What
> did Peter think of James  and Lily having a child? If he remained so 
> "star-struck" with James, or at least invested in  his relationship with
>  James, what did he think of having to share Jame's attention with  
> others. Was Lilly already a most unwanted competitor for Jame's 
> attention? Recall the photo Moody shares with Harry in which Peter 
> has positioned himself between James and  Lilly. Is this not faintly 
> remiscent of how a child or dog will interject between two adults  
> sharing affection. So what then might a Potter child represent to Peter?
> Would not the child  draw yet more attention away from Peter, and 
> would it not further cement the James-Lilly  relationship to the 
> detriment of Peter? If Peter looked at it this way (and of course there
> is no direct canon to indicate this) might he not actually be interested
> in LV doing away with  the youngster, and perhaps even James as a 
> result of him feeling slighted that the Jame's had diminished his 
> attention towards Peter for his new role as parent.


Um. The dynamics of all-male groups. 
Enter a female who ensnares the leader, displacing all the others - his closest 
friends.
Resentments, jealousies - who knows what might have been unleashed.

The positionings in that photograph have been the subject of speculation
in the past. Little agreement as to its significance though. Is he intruding
between James and Lily? A would-be Iago? A devious destroyer, Uriah Heap
style? Or are we reading it wrong?
Perhaps the Potters are acting in a protective manner, one each side to
give him feelings of security. No, didn't think you'd like that one.

Usually I work to the principle that I may be wrong but I'm not uncertain.
Can't seem to get that to work with Peter, it's uncertainty all the way.

"You should have died [...] rather than betray your friends, as we would
have done for you."

Somehow the idea of Sirius dying for Peter... er, I don't think so - or is 
that my ESE!Sirius inclinations showing? James though, what would he
sacrifice for Peter? A lot but not everything IMO, certainly not his family.
And Peter wouldn't sacrifice himself to save James - let alone Lily or Harry.
If - and that's a big if -  we believe the situation as described in PoA.

Before GH? Peter is so weak, ineffectual, that it wouldn't surprise me if
he didn't see Harry as an opportunity to get closer and to get more attention
from James. To use your dog metaphor, I can see him sitting by the cradle,
wagging his tail. 
That always pleases the parents. And the dog stays in the warm.

Not a great deal of help, I'm afraid. I just can't get a firm grip on Peter.
There's something missing, or at least my instinct so insists.  What?
Dunno.
Frustrating.

Kneasy