Show pageOld revisionsBacklinksBack to top This page is read only. You can view the source, but not change it. Ask your administrator if you think this is wrong. ======Peter Pettigrew====== =====Introduction===== Peter Pettigrew, also known by his [[Marauders]] nickname **Wormtail**, was a [[Wizard]] who was sorted into [[Gryffindor]] house at [[Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry]]. He was a close friend to [[James Potter]], [[Sirius Black]], and [[Remus Lupin]]. Despite this friendship, Pettigrew's cowardice led him to join [[Lord Voldemort]] and become a [[Death Eater]]. As the [[Potter family|Potters']] [[Secret-Keeper]], he betrayed them to [[Voldemort]], leading to their deaths. An unregistered [[Animagus]] whose form was a rat, Pettigrew framed [[Sirius Black]] for his crimes and lived for twelve years as **Scabbers**, the [[Weasley family]]'s pet rat. He was instrumental in [[Voldemort]]'s rebirth and was ultimately killed by the magical silver hand his master had given him. =====Biography===== ====Hogwarts Years and the Marauders==== Peter began attending [[Hogwarts]] in 1971 and was sorted into [[Gryffindor]], where he became an inseparable friend of the popular and talented [[James Potter]] and [[Sirius Black]], and the more reserved [[Remus Lupin]]. Though he was described as a "dull, talentless boy," he was swept up in his friends' orbit. When the group discovered that [[Lupin]] was a [[Werewolf]], they secretly undertook the difficult process of becoming [[Animagus|Animagi]] to support him during his transformations. By their fifth year, Peter had mastered the transformation into a rat, earning him the nickname "Wormtail." The four friends, calling themselves the [[Marauders]], used their abilities to explore the castle grounds by night, leading to their creation of the [[Marauder's Map]]. ====First Wizarding War and Betrayal==== Upon graduating from [[Hogwarts]], Pettigrew joined his friends in the [[Order of the Phoenix]] to fight against [[Lord Voldemort]] and his [[Death Eaters]]. However, believing the [[Dark Lord]]'s side was winning, he secretly became a spy for [[Voldemort]]. When [[Albus Dumbledore]] cast the [[Fidelius Charm]] to protect [[James Potter|James]] and [[Lily Potter]], [[Sirius Black]] was chosen as their [[Secret-Keeper]]. Sirius, believing [[Voldemort]] would target him, persuaded the [[Potter family|Potters]] to switch to Peter at the last moment, thinking no one would suspect the "weak, talentless thing" that was Pettigrew. This proved to be a fatal mistake. Pettigrew betrayed the [[Potter family|Potters]]' location to [[Voldemort]], resulting in their murders on 31 October 1981. A day later, [[Sirius Black]] confronted Pettigrew on a city street. To escape, Pettigrew shouted accusations that Sirius had betrayed the [[Potter family|Potters]], then used a powerful [[Curse]] to kill twelve surrounding [[Muggles]] and blast a crater in the street. He cut off his own forefinger, transformed into his rat form, and scurried into the sewers, successfully framing Sirius for the betrayal, his own murder, and the deaths of the [[Muggles]]. ====Life as Scabbers==== For the next twelve years, Pettigrew lived as a common rat, hiding his identity to evade both the vengeful [[Death Eaters]] (who believed he had lost [[Voldemort]]'s [[Wand]]) and the [[Ministry of Magic]]. He eventually became a pet for the [[Weasley family]], first belonging to [[Percy Weasley]] and later being passed down to [[Ron Weasley]]. As "Scabbers," he lived at [[The Burrow]] and spent most of the year at [[Hogwarts]]. His identity remained a secret until 1993, when he was seen on the [[Marauder's Map]] by [[Fred and George Weasley]] and later by [[Harry Potter]]. ====Return to Voldemort's Service==== In 1994, [[Sirius Black]] escaped from [[Azkaban]] and sought Pettigrew at [[Hogwarts]]. With the help of [[Remus Lupin]], Sirius cornered Pettigrew in the [[Shrieking Shack]] and forced him back into his human form. Pettigrew confessed his betrayal to [[Harry Potter]], [[Ron Weasley]], and [[Hermione Granger]]. Just as he was about to be turned over to the authorities, [[Harry]] intervened, insisting they hand him to the [[Dementors]] instead of killing him. This act of mercy created a [[Life Debt]] between Pettigrew and [[Harry]]. Pettigrew escaped that night during the chaos of [[Lupin]]'s werewolf transformation and fled. He eventually sought out the disembodied [[Lord Voldemort]] in [[Albania]]. Pettigrew helped nurse [[Voldemort]] back to a rudimentary physical form using a [[Potion]] of [[Unicorn blood]] and [[Nagini]]'s venom. At a graveyard in [[Little Hangleton]], he performed the dark ritual that restored [[Voldemort]] to a full body, sacrificing his own right hand in the process. As a reward, [[Voldemort]] created a powerful, sentient silver hand to replace the one he had lost. ====Second Wizarding War and Death==== During the [[Second Wizarding War]], Pettigrew was a subservient but disdained follower of [[Voldemort]]. He was often tasked with menial duties and lived in fear of his master and the other [[Death Eaters]], particularly [[Severus Snape]]. In 1998, during the Skirmish at [[Malfoy Manor]], Pettigrew was ordered to watch over prisoners in the cellar, including [[Harry]] and [[Ron]]. When they attempted to escape, Pettigrew began to strangle [[Harry]]. For a brief moment, [[Harry]] reminded him of the [[Life Debt]] he owed, causing Pettigrew to hesitate. This flicker of mercy was interpreted as betrayal by the enchanted silver hand, which turned on Pettigrew and strangled him to death. =====Physical Appearance and Personality===== Peter was a short, stout man with thinning, colorless hair, a pointed nose, and small, watery eyes, giving him a rat-like appearance even in human form. After years of hiding as a rat, his skin was grubby. He was missing his right forefinger, and later, his entire right hand was replaced by a magical silver one. As the rat Scabbers, he was described as a fat grey rat with a missing toe on one of his front paws. Pettigrew's defining trait was his cowardice. He was naturally drawn to strong, powerful figures who could offer him protection, gravitating towards [[James Potter]] and [[Sirius Black]] at school, and later turning to [[Lord Voldemort]]. He lacked his own convictions and prioritized self-preservation above loyalty, friendship, and morality. While often underestimated, he possessed a degree of cunning that allowed him to survive and manipulate situations to his advantage. =====Magical Abilities and Skills===== * **[[Animagus]]:** Pettigrew was a skilled, albeit unregistered, [[Animagus]] who could transform into a rat at will. This required significant magical talent and determination, belying the notion that he was completely talentless. * **[[Dark Arts]]:** He was proficient enough in the [[Dark Arts]] to perform the powerful [[Curse]] that killed twelve [[Muggles]] and to assist [[Voldemort]] in the complex dark ritual for his rebirth. * **[[Wand]] Magic:** His original [[Wand]] was lost after he framed [[Sirius]]. He later acquired a new [[Wand]] from [[Garrick Ollivander]] (under duress): nine and a quarter inches, chestnut, with a [[Dragon heartstring]] core, described as brittle. =====Possessions===== * **Silver Hand:** A magical prosthetic hand gifted to him by [[Lord Voldemort]]. It possessed great strength but was cursed to act against Pettigrew if he ever showed disloyalty, which it ultimately did. * **[[Marauder's Map]]:** While not a sole possession, he was one of its four original creators. =====Relationships===== * **[[The Marauders]]:** He idolized [[James Potter]] and [[Sirius Black]] and was a loyal friend to [[Remus Lupin]] for years. His ultimate betrayal destroyed the group and led directly to James's death and Sirius's wrongful imprisonment. * **[[Lord Voldemort]]:** Pettigrew served [[Voldemort]] out of pure fear and a desire for protection. [[Voldemort]] held him in contempt, viewing him as a cowardly but useful servant, and ensured his loyalty through the enchanted silver hand. * **[[Harry Potter]]:** Pettigrew was responsible for the death of [[Harry]]'s parents. In a moment of pity, [[Harry]] spared Pettigrew's life, creating a powerful [[Life Debt]]. This debt was repaid when Pettigrew hesitated to kill [[Harry]], a moment of mercy that cost him his own life. =====Etymology===== * **Peter:** This name is of Greek origin (//Petros//), meaning "rock" or "stone." This is highly ironic given Pettigrew's weak and unreliable character. It may also allude to the biblical Apostle Peter, who famously denied Jesus, mirroring Pettigrew's betrayal of his friends. * **Pettigrew:** This surname likely derives from the Old French //petit// ("small") and //cru// ("growth"), meaning "small growth." This fits his small stature, his [[Animagus]] form as a rat, and his insignificant character. =====Behind the Scenes===== * In the film adaptations of the *Harry Potter* series, Peter Pettigrew was portrayed by actor Timothy Spall. * His death in the films differs from the books. In //Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 1//, Pettigrew is present at [[Malfoy Manor]] but is simply stunned by [[Dobby]] and falls down the stairs. His fate via the silver hand is not depicted, and he is not seen again in the films (film).
