This is how I feel. He's not academically brilliant (Like Voldemort, Dumbledore, or even Snape) but he is clever, and he knows how to manipulate people. It makes you wonder who's idea it was that Sirius would be too obvious a choice as the secret Keeper. I think Sirius pushed that idea a little, and was able to fool Dumbledore by avoiding his eyes, acting meek, and being included in the order, simply by virtue of being James's friend.

You can dismiss all of that, but the fact is he, is VERY resourceful.

But he could have survived elsewhere in rat form. He could have joined a colony, Maybe become its leader (FAR superior intellect) and had some rat kids. He CHOSE to join the Weasley's. A group of people who he had harmed might I add (Gideon and Fabian PRewett, Molly's brothers and Order members who were killed by Death Eaters). We can reasonably assume that Peter gave Voldemort their names. I don't know why he did this, (maybe for information from the Light so he could still serve as a Spy in the future? Or perhaps guilt?) But it was certainly deliberate.

Either way, he CERTAINLY could have changed back into a person after around 2 years with Weasley's. Just runaway. He had his wand and Voldemort's. Could you imagine what he could have done in some 3rd world nation, without an organized Ministry of Magic? Some nation that is BARELY able to enforce the statue of Secrecy, and only in the most obvious cases. He could have lived very comfortably (not too comfortably as he doesn't want to draw attention) but he could have lived as an upper-middle class expatriate. Sipping drinks off the Ivory coast of Africa. So, why didn't he?

He's demonstrated he's at least SOMEWHAT clever (framing Sirius, duping Dumbledore, learning to be an animagus) even if he's not very powerful. He certainly had the knowledge and means to live a more pleasant, safer, life elsewhere rather than under enemy noses.

I don't know what it means, but its an interesting question about Peter Pettigrew.

 

Well one thing we know about him is that Peter is a coward. He joined Voldie because he was too scared to go against him. His little speach in PoA proves it. "Haven't I been a good rat". So the idea of leaving the relative safety and security of the known (British Wizarding World) for the unknown (everywhere else) must have terrified him. So he became a pet rat. Its better than living in the wild. Plus the Weasleys are a "light" family so no one will suspect their pet rat.

Peter was supposed to be dead so that mean he wouldn't like to risk exposing himself to the public for necessities (food, TP etc) . He's a coward so he wouldn't go into Knockturn alley without backup. And I really really doubt he knew anything about the muggle world. So he was stuck as a rat.

 

I think the reason no one thought peter as the traitor is because no one thought him capable of doing something like that because of who he hung out with the of so great and good potter/black. the fact that he did do it dosen't make him smart just lucky and imbarcing the fact people think he's a retard.

 

I'm trying to make Peter reasonably smart and powerful in Temptations.

Nothing too big, but just that he knew enough Occlumency to ward off any surface scanning. Seeing as he's naturally reclusive, he may very well have hidden his intelligence. Perhaps it was just easier to "act stupid" and be all submissive to the rest of the maruaders. They took care of him.

Dumbledore would recieve just confused thoughts for Peter off a general surface scan looking for ill will, which shoudn't be all that hard to do for a weak occlumens. This would fit his persona well, and since Dumbledore (and everyone else) thinks him 10 cents short of a retard, nobody would bother attacking him with a full legilmens probe.

As for power, he's not James caliber, but he's strong enough, seeing as he is a Animagus, and that James was one of the best students there. Plus, blowing up a street with a single explosion hex is not something a near squib can do.

 

For all we know, he is weaker than James and Sirius, which according to canon are prodigies. I believe he is resourceful and cunning enough to make up for the power he doesn't possess. For example, I believe that he did aim his explosion curse whilst fighting Sirius at a gas line, to increase the explosion.

 

Pettigrew just follows instructions like good little bitch he's a pure Huffulpuff trough and trough

 

How could he exactly recieved instuctions to blame the death of James and Lily on Sirius, when Voldemort was gone. Maybe I should rephrase the title, Pettigrew is weak but he must be very resourceful in order to do it. Also I don't think a near squib could turn into a rat right after blowing up a whole street.

 

LOL

I believe the correct phrase is 10 cents short of a dollar...


but still, pretty funny.

 

I don't believe Pettigrew is an absolute weakling. I think under normal circumstances he's a slightly under average powerful wizard. He just seemed weak compared to his friends, who all were powerful. But he did become an animagus. Just the pressure of the Dark Lord and his followers (many are powerful witches and wizards) made him betray the order. It shouldn't be that much of a problem to convince him to become a Death Eater.The whole wizarding world is afraid of just the Dark Lords name. Why should Pettigrew be an exception? Being a Gryffindor doesn't mean to die for your friends. It just means that you're at least somewhat brave.

So I believe he's like the average wizard. He just seemed weak compared to the rest of the marauders and the order. Otherwise he's like every other witch or wizard.