Peter Pettigrew

Biodata

Feature	Details
Name	Peter Pettigrew (小矮星彼得)
Alias(es)	Wormtail; Scabbers
Species/Race	Human wizard
Gender	Male
Affiliation	Former spy for Voldemort; former Death Eater
Occupation/Role	Former Gryffindor student; illegal Animagus; fugitive falsely portrayed as the third-generation Dark Lord
Status	Severely injured during an attempted escape; ultimate fate is not established in the provided context 264
First Appearance	Appears as Percy Weasley’s pet rat at King’s Cross Station 17

Background / History

Peter attended Hogwarts as a Gryffindor and was closely associated with James Potter and Sirius Black. With their help, he became an unregistered Animagus whose animal form was a rat. 27 96

He was later captured by Voldemort, surrendered, and acted as a spy within the opposing side. Peter leaked the location of the Potter family’s safe house, leading to James and Lily Potter’s deaths and Voldemort’s temporary downfall when Lily’s sacrificial magic protected Harry. 27 29

After Sirius Black pursued him, Peter staged a large explosion, faked his own death, and escaped in rat form. He spent roughly seven or eight years concealed in the Weasley household, first as Percy’s pet and later as Ron’s rat, Scabbers. 27 75 99

Vinson Wright obtained a tuft of Peter’s fur at King’s Cross and used it to impersonate him with Polyjuice Potion. Vinson’s staged appearances, including a supposed confession to Snape, manufactured the image of Peter as a calculating third-generation Dark Lord. 17 31 75

The real Peter was exposed when Grindelwald located Scabbers at the Burrow. Peter realized that Vinson and Grindelwald had used his identity to frame him, but his protests and terror did little to change his situation. 97 98

Later, while attempting to flee confinement with Barty Crouch Jr.’s apparent assistance, Peter transformed into a rat. Barty threw him into a trap, and a landmine explosion tore apart his body and blew off one of his legs. 264

Appearance

In human form, Peter is a short, stout, unattractive man with a sallow, chubby face and a rat-like manner. His Animagus form is an old, missing-toed rat. 27 97 99

• Short and obese build. 27 97
• Sallow, unpleasant-looking face. 27
• Rat Animagus form resembles Scabbers, an aging rat missing a toe. 99
• His transformation can be destabilized by pain; Vinson’s plucking of his fur nearly caused him to lose rat form. 97

Personality

Peter is fundamentally fearful, self-preserving, and eager to avoid direct danger. He hid as a household rat for years rather than face Sirius, Voldemort, or the consequences of his betrayal. 27 96

Although he betrayed the Potters to Voldemort, Peter rejects the grandiose public image imposed on him. He panics at being labelled a Dark Lord because the title makes him a target for Dumbledore, Sirius, Voldemort, Death Eaters, and the Ministry alike. 96 98

His fear of Voldemort remains deeply ingrained. Upon unexpectedly encountering Voldemort during his escape attempt, Peter immediately reacted with terror. 264

Abilities & Skills

Illegal Animagus Transformation

Peter is an unregistered Animagus capable of becoming a rat.

• Used rat form to survive the explosion staged against Sirius Black. 27
• Hid in the Weasley home for approximately seven or eight years. 27
• Used his small form to attempt an escape from confinement. 264
• His rat form is recognizable to Sirius Black because Sirius helped him become an Animagus. 96 99

Survival and Concealment

Peter’s chief demonstrated strength is evasion rather than combat.

• Faked his death through a large explosion and redirected blame toward Sirius Black. 27
• Maintained a long-term disguise as a pet rat within the Weasley family. 27
• Continues seeking escape routes even while facing enemies far more powerful than himself. 264

False Dark Lord Identity

Much of Peter’s feared reputation was created through Vinson Wright’s impersonation rather than Peter’s own actions.

Publicly attributed claim	What the context establishes
Peter returned to Hogwarts as a powerful mastermind and confessed to engineering Voldemort’s defeat.	Vinson later reverted from Peter’s appearance and stated that the entire performance in Filch’s office had been an act. 31
Peter could transform into a rat, lion, and sparrow.	The transformations witnessed by McGonagall occurred during the false Peter incidents created around Vinson’s impersonation. 45 46 75
Peter was the “third-generation Dark Lord.”	The Daily Prophet spread this identity, but the real Peter was terrified by the accusation and recognized that someone had framed him using Polyjuice Potion. 94 96 97
Peter had secretly replaced Vinson Wright through the Imperius Curse.	A person using Vinson’s appearance made this claim to Snape; Peter later identified Vinson as the person responsible for actions committed under Peter’s name. 202 264

Relationships

• James Potter — Former Hogwarts friend; Peter betrayed James by revealing the Potter safe house’s location to Voldemort. 27 29
• Lily Potter — Former friend and victim of Peter’s betrayal; her sacrifice caused Voldemort’s curse to rebound. 27
• Sirius Black — Former friend who hunted Peter after the betrayal; Peter faked his death in an explosion and left Sirius blamed and imprisoned. 27 32
• Voldemort — Peter surrendered to him and served as his spy; Peter remains terrified of him. 27 264
• Vinson Wright — Took Peter’s fur, impersonated him with Polyjuice Potion, and constructed the false legend of Peter as a Dark Lord. 17 31 75 97
• Percy Weasley — Scabbers was originally Percy’s pet rat. 17 99
• Ron Weasley — Peter lived as Ron’s pet rat after previously belonging to Percy. 96 99
• Grindelwald — Captured Peter at the Burrow while searching for the supposed Horcrux of the “third-generation Dark Lord.” 97 98
• Barty Crouch Jr. — Appeared to aid Peter’s escape, then threw his rat form into a lethal trap. 264

Notable Quotes

“It really wasn't like that back then. Why are you doing this to me? I haven't done anything, I don't want to do anything.” 98

“As long as I can get out of here... I will find Master as soon as possible, rescue you, and take back the Resurrection Stone...” 264

Trivia

• Peter was posthumously awarded the Order of Merlin, First Class after his staged death. 28 75
• The missing toe on Scabbers helped Sirius identify the rat as Peter’s Animagus form. 99
• Vinson’s removal of Peter’s fur at King’s Cross was the key to maintaining the impersonation that created Peter’s Dark Lord reputation. 17 75 97