In the world of Harry Potter, there’s a big twist that involves what seems like just a regular pet rat. Ron Weasley’s rat Scabbers was actually Peter Pettigrew, a wizard hiding in his Animagus form for twelve years from both the magic cops and Voldemort’s followers.
The Weasley family kept this unassuming rat as a family pet for a long time, first given to Percy before making its way to Ron. What looked like a super-old rat was hiding a huge secret right under their noses that played a big part in what went down at Hogwarts.
As an Animagus who could turn into a rat , Pettigrew used this trick to dodge the law after betraying James and Lily Potter. His act fooled the whole wizarding community, which led to Sirius Black being wrongly jailed and set the stage for a lot of drama that would affect Harry Potter’s life.
Key Takeaways
- A regular-looking pet rat was hiding one of the wizarding world’s biggest traitors for over ten years
- The power to turn into an animal let a dangerous wizard blend in with a student’s family
- Your closest buddies might not always be who they seem to be in the magical realm
The Early Life of Peter Pettigrew
Peter Pettigrew kicked off his journey at Hogwarts in 1971, where the Sorting Hat took its sweet time, over five minutes, before putting him in Gryffindor House. Born to a half-blood family in Forest Hill, London in 1960, his parents were Stefan and Joan Pettigrew.
Joining the Marauders
During his early Hogwarts days, Peter got tight with three clever Gryffindors: James Potter, Sirius Black, and Remus Lupin. Even though he wasn’t as skilled as the others, they still welcomed him into their crew.
The four of them became known as the Marauders, a close-knit group that uncovered Hogwarts’ secrets together. Peter often leaned on his friends to help him with homework and protect him from bullies.
Becoming an Animagus
When they found out Remus was a werewolf, the Marauders decided to become Animagi so they could keep him company during full moons. It took them three years to nail down this tricky magic.
Peter’s Animagus form was a rat, earning him the nickname Wormtail. This transformation would come in handy later when he had to blend in as the Weasley family’s pet rat, Scabbers.
Being a rat let Peter sneak into places and hear things other students couldn’t, slipping through tight spots undetected.
The Betrayal and Aftermath
Peter Pettigrew’s choices caused huge fallout in the wizarding world. His betrayal of the Potters and his lies stretched over ten years while an innocent man remained behind bars.
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The Fidelius Charm and Betrayal
The betrayal of the Potters kicked off when Peter Pettigrew became their Secret Keeper. They used a magic shield called the Fidelius Charm to hide James and Lily from Voldemort.
Instead of keeping his pals safe, Pettigrew spilled the beans and told Voldemort where they were. His treachery led to James and Lily’s killing on October 31, 1981.
To cover his tracks, Pettigrew framed Sirius Black. He killed 12 Muggles in a crowded area, chopped off his own finger, and transformed into a rat to blame Sirius for all those deaths.
Life as Scabbers
As Scabbers, the pet rat , Pettigrew found a home with the Weasley family. He started off with Percy Weasley and eventually became Ron’s pet.
For twelve years, he lived a quiet life while Sirius was stuck in Azkaban for something he didn’t do.
Hermione’s cat, Crookshanks, seemed to sense that something wasn’t right with Scabbers and kept trying to catch him.
Identity Exposed and Return to Voldemort
In the Shrieking Shack showdown, Sirius Black and Remus Lupin revealed who Pettigrew really was. They forced him to change back into his human self.
After slipping away from being caught, Pettigrew found Voldemort again. He helped bring him back to full power and was rewarded with a shiny silver hand.
Pettigrew kept working with the Death Eaters until that silver hand turned on him, leading to his downfall.
The Final Years
Peter Pettigrew’s weakness and disloyalty hit new lows when Lord Voldemort returned to power, leading to consequences that sealed his fate.
In Service of the Dark Lord
Pettigrew had a big part in bringing Voldemort back. He actually sacrificed his own hand in the ritual that restored Voldemort’s body and got a magical silver hand in return.
At Malfoy Manor, he became a lowly servant to Voldemort and the Death Eaters, showing just how little respect he earned after all those years of loyalty.
That silver hand was both a blessing and a curse. It gave him super strength but also tied him closer to Voldemort.
The Battle of Hogwarts and Death
In 1998, Pettigrew’s life came to an end in the dungeons of Malfoy Manor. When he hesitated to kill Harry Potter because of the life debt he owed, his silver hand turned against him.
The magical hand, sensing his moment of mercy, strangled him. This showed that even a tiny act of kindness could have serious consequences while serving Voldemort.
His death felt like a fitting end to a life spent in betrayal. The gift given to him by his master ended up being the cause of his demise.
