((before you say anything, no page is complete without a cheesy gif.))

ahhh, Peter... what can one say about Peter, especially when he's one's favorite character? yes, it's true. not only is he my favorite Marauder, he's my favorite character. though it took a while of rehashing the book (PoA), and reading the others, then rehashing them, to really conceive this captivation for him, i have to make a point: most people, on first finding out, are as repulsed and disgusted as the other characters are... i wasn't. i didn't hate him right away for killing James and Lily, and betraying his friends, and living a lie. even though all these things are strongly against my nature, and my moral code, and i'd 'rather die than betray my friends', i didn't hate him.

i was, of course, horrified. but even though he was described in such a sniveling, pathetic way, i wasn't disgusted by him. probably b/c i noticed this right away: i noticed he was being made to look the villain (and not even a cool, powerful villain at that- a worthless snivelling traitor). noticing it helped me empathize with him, even then; even while i was horrified. if you've read The Hobbit, you'll recall the business w/ Gollum, "a sort of horror mixed with pity welled up in Bilbo's heart", if i'm not misquoting. well that's what i felt for Wormtail.

out of this first pang of empathy, though, evolved something more. whenever anything was mentioned about the Marauders, and a little teenage Peter Pettigrew, i paid rapt attention. Peter was 'a fat little boy who always tagged along with James and Sirius'. he was clumsy, timid, nervous, unsure of himself. he was never really looked at as on par. he was pudgy and fidgety and small. he wasn't brave; he needed to be encouraged before he took any action.

he was alot like me.

(okay, now, don't you people go automatically hating me b/c of saying this. i'm NOT a traitor, i've already pointed out my strong moral convictions. but this page isn't about ME so i'll shut up.)

anyway.

Even if you hate Wormtail, you'll have to at least admit he's an intriguing character. What made him turn on his friends? Sirius said something about Peter liking 'big strong friends who would protect him' or something of the sort, didn't he? But then again he was in a mortal rage at the time. They wouldn't have been his friend if they didn't like him, or if they thought he was insincere. Sirius might have been accurate about that; but that in itself is not necesarily a vice. Think about it; everyone wants friends who'll stick up for them and support him. And just b/c Peter was timid and fearful doesn't make him horrible and evil and stuff. He was cowardly and made a mistake... a serious mistake. A few of them... But who really knows why he turned?

Anyone who is disgusted w/ Peter b/c he isn't brave needs to stand back and take a good look at themselves, and make sure they're not being hypocrites. Not everyone is brave and courageous and can stand up and face fear. In fact, not that many people can. Peter obviously couldn't... he gave in and let down his friends.

God, that must be horrible. Think about it, it must be the worst feeling in the world... Nowhere to turn, and it's your own fault... the most desperate and complete lonliness.