There are always exceptions to the rule. Plus, the Sorting is done when you're only 11. So maybe the Sorting Hat saw some potential for bravery, but Pettigrew stuffed it up later? Just speculation, here.

by Anonymous 13 years ago

Yeah, this is what I thought too. But then he is described as always behind the ''cool guys'' (aka James, Lupin, and Sirius). Then maybe he fit into another Gryffindor quality. Cause if you think about it he doesn't fit in other house perfectly. Not even in Hufflepuff and Hufflepuff accepts EVERYONE. But this is just speculation, too.

by Anonymous 13 years ago

and look at Neville. In his early years he was seen as a pansy, but by the 7th book he really gained courage and kicked some butt.

by Anonymous 12 years ago

We don't even really know Pettigrew! We see him five times over the entire course of the series, and four of those times he's at his worst, every time he's at the risk of being murdered for screwing up. Not that I'm defending him, but I just don't think it's fair of us to judge him with so little information to go off of.

by Anonymous 12 years ago

I don't think he lacked courage. His death, for instance, was very courageous. I couldn't choke myself out.

by Anonymous 12 years ago

He was forced to do that, bound by his magical silver hand and his life debt to Harry.

by Anonymous 12 years ago

He was loyal, loyal enough to give up his hand for tom.

by Anonymous 12 years ago

That was fear, and he knew that he would be rewarded. He would get his hand back, and be one of the closest to Voldemort once he got back to power.

by Anonymous 12 years ago

one could argue it was fear but we don't have enough information to make an assumption like that. I suppose it could also be that Peter chose to be in Gryffindor because he aspired to be more brave, or be around brave people, and as we know the sorting hat honours choice.

by Anonymous 12 years ago

It was said many times that Peter was only a follower of Voldemort out of fear.

by Anonymous 12 years ago

*bravery

by Anonymous 12 years ago

Hmmm...depends on what sort of bravery. I mean, it does take a certain amount of nerve to abandon your friends and betray them to a very dangerous dark wizard, knowing you were going to be bound to the dark side for the rest of your life because of it, and could face terrible consequences. There's good bravery, which spurs you on to do good things (like saving lives, etc.), and bad bravery, which enables you to do bad things that could have serious repercussions (like betraying friends, or killing a person). That's the way I always saw it, anyway.

by Anonymous 12 years ago