trepidations | Additional History & Background

Unfortunately, much of what we see in Peter throughout the novels lends very little to his life as a Hogwarts student. In fact, much of his history begins around James and Lily's death, and his sudden, but violent, disappearance. Much of what we do know about him before his betrayal is few and far between. He is seen only as the evil, cowardly servant to Lord Voldemort, leaving the reader to piece together just how he was friends with the Marauders in his school days, and how he came to be the person he is at the end of the series.

PRE-HOGWARTS

Peter was the only son born to a relatively quiet and middle-class wizarding family. He lived in a quiet little village on the outskirts of the wizarding community. His mother was most protective of him, constantly coddling him and looking after him. Although they were a pure blood family, they were not well known nor noticed, and therefore did not attend many of the functions for other pure blooded families. They did not have the money or wealth that most families did, and often kept to themselves in their little rural town. In being accepted into Hogwarts, Peter's mother put a great deal of pressure on him to do well, and to make a name for the family, even if it was in a school setting.

His parents were loving, his mother moreso than his father, but all were striving to make a better name for the family. His father worked in the lowest rungs for the ministry, as a basic paper-pusher of sorts, and seemed to dislike the monotony of his job. Mrs. Pettigrew remained home with their son, and cared for him. With a meager income, they did not have much, and Peter was often left to his own devices to entertain himself. His father recovered some muggle items from a friend, and Peter fell in love with doing jigsaw puzzles by hand, finding that using magic made it too easy and oversimplified them.

MARAUDERS & HOGWARTS

When Peter received his letter from Hogwarts, he was both excited and nervous. He did not have to spend days packing his things (he didn't have too terribly much to bring) but he did have to think about what house he wanted to be in. Going to Hogwarts in and of itself was terrifying, and not something he looked forward to as the summer came to an end. When he arrived at Platform 9 3/4, he focused simply on boarding the train safely. He wanted to make a new person out of himself when he started at school, and did not want to be the quiet, nervous boy he was at home. He never expected to make friends quickly, but being the small, mousy boy trying to push his way through a crowd of excited students wasn't easy.

It wasn't easy at all until one James Potter ran into him. He ended up in a coach with James, Remus and Sirius, a strange but welcoming group. Peter latched onto their charismatic energy, especially James Potter, who he took to liking quite immediately. He could tell very quickly that these three boys would be ones to make friends with, not only for their infectious personalities but simply because they were already more popular and stronger than he was. No doubt they kept him around for pity in the beginning, but as the boys shared a dorm and classes, Peter quickly became part of their merry band. He tried desperately to please all of them, and appeal to their needs individually, so as to fit in better.

Proud of his friendship with them, over the years Peter did things that amazed even himself: He learned to be an Animagus with James and Sirius to keep their friend Remus company after discovering what he was doing during his monthly absences. Peter took note of Remus' absences first, which led his fellow Marauders to inquire about their dear friend. However, it took a great deal of hard work on his part, but he didn't give up. He wasn't happy with it, of course, especially when compared to the others, but he was proud because he'd done something he never dreamed he'd be able to do. He was not at all pleased to be given the nickname, Wormtail, finding that Sirius teased him often about it, and neither his form nor his nickname measured up to his friends'. He was incredibly fond of the little secret they shared, especially since no other member of the student body could be a part of it. He felt very special.

Soon thereafter, he aided in the completion of the Marauders Map, which helped the group become more infamous than not. He always seemed to be a bystander, someone in the background cheering the others on. He did not necessarily participate in the events themselves, but was often coerced to be the distraction while his friends did many other things to the school building. While not the most intelligent, nor the most favored of the students, he was still an amiable and genuinely sweet creature that the staff would stop and answer questions for. He sometimes took the place of his schoolmates in detention as well, especially if Sirius had a special date or James had Quidditch practice. He was more than happy to help his friends, even if it meant something horrible for himself.

He is especially afraid of Severus Snape, however, and often participates in the little gags his friends play on the young Slytherin. However, Peter, not feeling safe beyond the shield of his friends, avoids being caught with enemies when he does not have them around.

FIRST WAR & ONWARDS

After graduation Peter joined the Order of the Phoenix to help defeat Lord Voldemort. During his time away from Hogwarts, he managed to get a job in Diagon Alley, selling trinkets and other little handy items that students may see fit on their way to a new school year. It wasn't a particularly glamorous job, nothing like what his friends might have gotten, but it kept him busy alongside his duties with those in the Order. At some point during the following four years, Peter distanced himself from the Order and joined the Death Eaters as a spy. Giving Voldemort information about the Order and it’s members. It is learned through another double agent that Voldemort is going after Lily and James Potter in order to kill them. The Fidelius Charm is suggested to James and Lily and a Secret Keeper is chosen to protect them and their son. Everyone is lead to believe that Sirius Black is the Secret Keeper, but James attempts a front and instead makes Peter the Secret Keeper for their family without informing anyone else, not even Remus or Albus. This choice is what leads to the Potters death.

Once he is made Secret Keeper, Peter gave Voldemort the location of the Potters and the sets off to kill them. He succeeds. Except for, of course, in killing Harry Potter. Knowing that he will be the one to receive all the blame, Peter faked his death, afraid of the torment and the blame that will fall on his head. No less for killing his friends, and so he seeks out Sirius. He taunted Sirius out in the open, staring a fight with an age old friend and enemy, blaming him for the Potter’s deaths. After that, Peter used magic to blow up the street killing thirteen muggles. He cut off his finger, and transformed into a rat to disappear. No one but the marauders knew about the animagus forms, leaving the scene of the crime at Sirius' hands. The only thing found is his finger. Sirius is arrested and Peter is thought dead but hailed a hero, protecting the names of the Potters by fighting Sirius in his last moments.

For the next thirteen years, Peter hides disguised as the pet rat of the Wealseys, named Scabbers. It is an unfortunate coincidence that family turns out to be the ones that Harry grows very close to.

During Harry’s third year, Peter's true identity and his true actions are revealed. He did manage to escape, however. It was revealed that he traveled to Albania in order to help The Dark Lord himself. This leads into Harry’s third year where, at the climax of the Tri-Wizard Tournament, Peter is casts the spell to fully revive Voldemort, creating a life potion of sorts, and assisting in trapping the young Harry so that Voldemort may then revive. It is shown that he has given himself completely to Lord Voldemort, by taking off his hand to help bring him back into power to defeat Harry Potter.

Wormtail’s final moments are seen by Harry and Ron; while the trio is being held at the Malfoy’s Mansion. Wormtail attempts to kill Harry but he hesitates for a single moment. The moment is enough to be considered a traitorous act by the silver hand that was given to him by Voldemort in the 4th book. The silver hand turns on Peter, and despite Ron and Harry trying to save him, the hand strangles Pettigrew.