Peter and HBP.
Jul. 20th, 2005 03:16 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
pauraque_bkFolks have already been prodding me for this, so I guess I'll get on with it. What does the new canon have to say about Peter?
Peter was quite important in PoA and GoF, of course, but oddly absent from OotP. I was hoping HBP might give us a clue as to why he wasn't at the Department of Mysteries, but if anything it only raised more questions. Why is he at Spinner's End? Why is he again missing from a major battle between the DEs and the Order?
Well, let's see what we've got to work with.
We know now that she's talking about Snape, so I'm guessing "our kind" means pure-blood wizards. If she knows Peter is there too (and she may well not), that would imply he's either half-blood or Muggleborn too.
Underestimating Peter has been a fatal error for some, but Snape appears unconcerned about this. He follows Voldemort in calling him "Wormtail" -- do you think he ever knew that as Peter's nickname at school? I can easily see Snape enjoying being unpleasant to Peter simply because he was James's friend, but given Peter's importance in finding and resurrecting Voldemort (not to mention changing his nappies), there may be some DE political maneuvering here too.
Snape appears to know Peter's animagus form now, though we don't know when he found that out. Perhaps Narcissa and Bella know too, or else the "vermin" remark would be something of a non sequitur to them. Then again, he may just be needling Peter.
This is very like his description in PoA: "pointed nose", "very small, watery eyes", "squeaky" voice, "cringing" -- which I think is what she means by "hunchbacked" here. Not literally hunchbacked, merely cowering. Only thing new is this "simper", a coy, self-conscious smile. We've never seen him smile as an adult before. In fact, this is the first time we've seen him as a grown-up while not in some kind of immediate duress or danger.
He either recognizes Narcissa and Bella (when has he met them?), or overheard Snape say their names. I think he's being solicitous here, though it could be read as sarcastic. We don't see their reactions to him.
Peter's body language is submissive, but he talks back to Snape openly, and in front of important guests. The fact that he avoids Snape's eyes may only mean that he doesn't want Snape using Legilimency on him. This exchange seems to confirm that the key point of contention is which of them is more important to Voldemort -- which of them has his ear.
Voldemort has put them together -- for what purpose? What is Snape doing, and why should he need Peter's assistance? Even in a Muggle mill town, it doesn't seem like a very good idea for Snape, a double-agent, to be living with a known Death Eater, unless there's some compelling reason for it. Although Snape phrases his desire for Peter to go back to his room as a dominating order, Peter actually has power in this situation... What if someone sees him in Snape's window, or coming in or out of the house? That'd be the end of Snape's sixteen-year cover.
(Elf-made wine? What elves?)
Look at that -- he's pissed! I guess he and Severus won't be giving joint Christmas presents anytime soon.
Snape doesn't want Peter to hear them discussing the whole Draco-killing-Dumbledore plan. Either Peter doesn't know about it, or Snape wants it to appear so.
It was a while before I thought of Peter again...
I think it's pretty slow of Harry not to ask if it was Peter or Lily here. Not that it would have helped, but he's asking Lupin anyway, and it makes him look dense not to.
There are only a couple more direct references to Peter in the book.
Notable that Sirius and James clearly made up the core friendship, with Remus and Peter at the outskirts, rarely included. This is absolutely in line with what we see in OotP.
True enough. Snape provided the motive, Peter the means. We don't know if they really interacted, though.
Peter is otherwise conspicuous only by his absence from the battle at the Astronomy Tower. Quite a lot of DEs show up for this, though several from OotP don't get name-checks. Does Peter just not get invited to these Order-dueling parties? Why not? He's certainly capable of slaughtering the innocent -- both in magical skill and ruthlessness. Maybe he's back at Snape's house fluffing up the sofa cushions.
Several people have suggested that Peter's hand may be one of Voldemort's Horcruxes1 -- specifically, that the silver may have come from a Horcrux object that was melted down. This is conceivable, and would be a boon to anyone who likes to see Peter's hand as having a mind of its own (or V's own), but I don't see any specific evidence for it. I prefer![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
ani_bester's thought that Peter may kill Fenrir.
So, that's all I've got for now. Hit me with some theories on what Snape and Peter were doing at Spinner's End!
1I know everyone's already saying Horcruces, but did you notice that no one but Voldemort has more than one? No one would be used to forming a "proper" plural for it, even Dumbledore.
Peter was quite important in PoA and GoF, of course, but oddly absent from OotP. I was hoping HBP might give us a clue as to why he wasn't at the Department of Mysteries, but if anything it only raised more questions. Why is he at Spinner's End? Why is he again missing from a major battle between the DEs and the Order?
Well, let's see what we've got to work with.
'He lives here?' asked Bella in a voice of contempt. 'Here? In this Muggle dunghill? We must be the first of our kind ever to set foot--' (26 UK)
We know now that she's talking about Snape, so I'm guessing "our kind" means pure-blood wizards. If she knows Peter is there too (and she may well not), that would imply he's either half-blood or Muggleborn too.
'We... we are alone, aren't we?' Narcissa asked quietly.
'Yes, of course. Well, Wormtail's here, but we're not counting vermin, are we?'
He pointed his wand at the wall of books behind him and with a bang, a hidden door flew open, revealing a narrow staircase upon which a small man stood frozen.
'As you have clearly realised, Wormtail, we have guests,' said Snape lazily. (28-29 UK)
Underestimating Peter has been a fatal error for some, but Snape appears unconcerned about this. He follows Voldemort in calling him "Wormtail" -- do you think he ever knew that as Peter's nickname at school? I can easily see Snape enjoying being unpleasant to Peter simply because he was James's friend, but given Peter's importance in finding and resurrecting Voldemort (not to mention changing his nappies), there may be some DE political maneuvering here too.
Snape appears to know Peter's animagus form now, though we don't know when he found that out. Perhaps Narcissa and Bella know too, or else the "vermin" remark would be something of a non sequitur to them. Then again, he may just be needling Peter.
The man crept, hunchbacked, down the last few steps and moved into the room. He had small, watery eyes, a pointed nose, and wore an unpleasant simper. His left hand was caressing his right, which looked as though it was encased in a bright silver glove.
'Narcissa!' he said, in a squeaky voice. 'And Bellatrix! How charming--' (29 UK)
This is very like his description in PoA: "pointed nose", "very small, watery eyes", "squeaky" voice, "cringing" -- which I think is what she means by "hunchbacked" here. Not literally hunchbacked, merely cowering. Only thing new is this "simper", a coy, self-conscious smile. We've never seen him smile as an adult before. In fact, this is the first time we've seen him as a grown-up while not in some kind of immediate duress or danger.
He either recognizes Narcissa and Bella (when has he met them?), or overheard Snape say their names. I think he's being solicitous here, though it could be read as sarcastic. We don't see their reactions to him.
'Wormtail will get us drinks, if you'd like them,' said Snape. 'And then he will return to his bedroom.'
Wormtail winced as though Snape had thrown something at him.
'I am not your servant!' he squeaked, avoiding Snape's eye.
'Really? I was under the impression that the Dark Lord placed you here to assist me.'
'To assist, yes -- but not to make you drinks and -- and clean your house!'
'I had no idea, Wormtail, that you were craving more dangerous assignments,' said Snape silkily. 'This can be easily arranged: I shall speak to the Dark Lord--'
'I can speak to him myself if I want to!'
'Of course you can,' said Snape, sneering. 'But in the meantime, bring us drinks. Some of the elf-made wine will do.' (29 UK)
Peter's body language is submissive, but he talks back to Snape openly, and in front of important guests. The fact that he avoids Snape's eyes may only mean that he doesn't want Snape using Legilimency on him. This exchange seems to confirm that the key point of contention is which of them is more important to Voldemort -- which of them has his ear.
Voldemort has put them together -- for what purpose? What is Snape doing, and why should he need Peter's assistance? Even in a Muggle mill town, it doesn't seem like a very good idea for Snape, a double-agent, to be living with a known Death Eater, unless there's some compelling reason for it. Although Snape phrases his desire for Peter to go back to his room as a dominating order, Peter actually has power in this situation... What if someone sees him in Snape's window, or coming in or out of the house? That'd be the end of Snape's sixteen-year cover.
(Elf-made wine? What elves?)
Wormtail hesitated for a moment, looking as though he might argue, but then turned and headed through a second hidden door. They heard banging and a clinking of glasses. Within seconds he was back, bearing a dusty bottle and three glasses upon a tray. He dropped these on the rickety table and scurried from their presence, slamming the book-covered door behind him. (29 UK)
Look at that -- he's pissed! I guess he and Severus won't be giving joint Christmas presents anytime soon.
As Narcissa took her second drink she said in a rush, 'Severus, I'm sorry to come here like this, but I had to see you. I think you are the only one who can help me--'
Snape held up a hand to stop her, then pointed his wand again at the concealed staircase door. There was a loud bang and a squeal, followed by the sound of Wormtail scurrying back up the stairs.
'My apologies,' said Snape. 'He has lately taken to listening at doors, I don't know what he means by it ... you were saying, Narcissa?' (28-30 UK)
Snape doesn't want Peter to hear them discussing the whole Draco-killing-Dumbledore plan. Either Peter doesn't know about it, or Snape wants it to appear so.
It was a while before I thought of Peter again...
[Lupin:] 'James was a pure-blood, Harry, and I promise you, he never asked us to call him "Prince".'
Abandoning pretence, Harry said, 'And it wasn't Sirius? Or you?'
'Definitely not.' (315 UK)
I think it's pretty slow of Harry not to ask if it was Peter or Lily here. Not that it would have helped, but he's asking Lupin anyway, and it makes him look dense not to.
There are only a couple more direct references to Peter in the book.
It was, as Harry had anticipated, useless, boring work, punctuated (as Snape had clearly planned) with the regular jolt in the stomach that meant he had just read his father or Sirius's names, usually coupled together in various petty misdeeds, occasionally accompanied by those of Remus Lupin and Peter Pettigrew. (498 UK)
Notable that Sirius and James clearly made up the core friendship, with Remus and Peter at the outskirts, rarely included. This is absolutely in line with what we see in OotP.
It was Snape who had overheard the prophecy. It was Snape who had carried the news of the prophecy to Voldemort. Snape and Peter Pettigrew together had sent Voldemort hunting after Lily and James and their son... (509 UK)
True enough. Snape provided the motive, Peter the means. We don't know if they really interacted, though.
Peter is otherwise conspicuous only by his absence from the battle at the Astronomy Tower. Quite a lot of DEs show up for this, though several from OotP don't get name-checks. Does Peter just not get invited to these Order-dueling parties? Why not? He's certainly capable of slaughtering the innocent -- both in magical skill and ruthlessness. Maybe he's back at Snape's house fluffing up the sofa cushions.
Several people have suggested that Peter's hand may be one of Voldemort's Horcruxes1 -- specifically, that the silver may have come from a Horcrux object that was melted down. This is conceivable, and would be a boon to anyone who likes to see Peter's hand as having a mind of its own (or V's own), but I don't see any specific evidence for it. I prefer
ani_bester's thought that Peter may kill Fenrir.So, that's all I've got for now. Hit me with some theories on what Snape and Peter were doing at Spinner's End!
1I know everyone's already saying Horcruces, but did you notice that no one but Voldemort has more than one? No one would be used to forming a "proper" plural for it, even Dumbledore.
