Peter Pettigrew Project

OH let me talk my shit on Peter!!

My thought process has always been that Peter was insecure and jealous. I honestly think it’s jkr not fleshing him out in the books because like… when u think about it Peter was a Gryffindor too? And who else was one who seemed cowardly at first and jkr made a point of highlighting his unique bravery? NEVILLE?? Like he had his own brand of bravery and she made it a theme to show him coming into himself and that not all forms of bravery mean you’re rash or bold, but what about Peter? If that’s what she was trying to show, Peter was a Gryffindor too… I don’t think he was simply a coward. He wasn’t just spineless bc that’s contradictory to the other points made in the book...

I think he spent years following the other marauders around, seeing James and Sirius especially who were popular and attractive and charming. Even Remus who may have seemed more like the odd one out was still obviously respected and cherished by James and Sirius. I mean they went through great lengths to help him during the full moons. But what do we know about their relationship with Peter? We never heard anything about the other marauders doing anything for him or valuing him to that extent. I think Peter was always more so along for the ride. And they all had their very close relationships and Peter often found himself excluded. Now I’m speaking strictly in canon terms, so I won’t cite Wolfstar but also say that relationship did exist that would be an added relationship in their friend group, and Wolfstar aside I do think Sirius and Remus still had a close and special connection and Peter?? He was always tagging along, trying to be involved but somehow still feeling excluded and like an outsider. There wasn’t anything particularly exciting or interesting about him, and I think I remember the books saying he wasn’t attractive? But idk if that’s simply bc he was in rat form for so long. Either way he was an insecure, odd one out of a teenage boy. And looking at real life, well it’s not unheard of for those kinds of people who don’t feel accepted or celebrated by society to become radicalized.

Also, keeping in mind how YOUNG they all were. Peter was barely an adult when he betrayed his friends. And I’m not sure how long he was involved with the DE before Lily and James died. He could have been recruited very young. And I have no idea HOW he came to be working with Voldemort, I don’t think JKR ever gave any details on how that came to be…

But I imagine a jealous, insecure, and probably scared young man could easily be turned. his envy could fester into hatred and bitterness towards his friends when times became more desperate and there was a war going on. Voldemort probably seemed like a chance for Peter to finally have his power and glory, to prove that he was better than his former friends who looked down on him. And look at Tom Riddle, he was a half blood who hated muggles because he was treated badly by them and abandoned, an outsider etc. there’s a kinship there, hatred spreads easily. And I don’t think we ever learn if Peter actually believed the Death Eater’s blood purity rhetoric. Was he a believer? Or did he just want power and vengeance and thought going to the opposite side of the friends that he thought mistreated him would give him that?

So in short: jkr left a lot of holes and uncertainty in Peter’s character, but I fully believe that it was his own insecurities and envy turned rotten that led him to that betrayal. Not just cowardice. Because he was a Gryffindor too!! And as terrible as it was, it takes some guts to sell your oldest friends out to Voldemort. Maybe he thought he had little choice and was saving himself by picking the winning side, but to kill and frame your own friends? That’s shows resentment and hatred.

Maybe I’m…Nothing

A Peter Pettigrew Project, 2024 fic

(For more fest info, click here)

You don’t have to sign up, and there aren’t restrictions or end dates for works that are in the collection. We have a small list of rules that will be regulated, but other than that this is a total free for all. We just wanna see our rat boy in more scenarios.

The collection is open now and will be be open for submissions for 3 months.

You don’t have to sign up, and there aren’t restrictions or end dates for works that are in the collection. We have a small list of rules that will be regulated, but other than that this is a total free for all. We just wanna see our rat boy in more scenarios.

The collection is open now and will be be open for submissions for 3 months.