Ok, I have a question. Remember way back in the 1st film, Philosopher's Stone, Ron said: "There wasn't a bad wizard that didn't come from Slytherin", or something like that.

Well Peter aka Wormtail turned "bad" and he wasn't in Slytherin, he was in Gryffindor right? What I don't understand is why Peter would be placed in Gryffindor if he was going to turn out to be bad?

It's been bugging me since I read about Peter in Book 3, Prisioner of Azkaban!

Comments appreciated.

Yeah, I've thought a bit about that too. I think it's said in the book as well, though then it's Hagrid who says it, if I remember correctly.

The conclusion I've come to is that Hagrid (or Ron in the movie) was wrong. All people who turn out bad aren't necessarily from Slytherin.

About why Peter was put in Gryffindor, that is an interesting question. I don't think which house you are put in has anything to do with wether or not you are bad. Most of them are from Slytherin, because many of the qualities of Slytherin's tend to match with those that the bad ones have. But that doesn't mean a Gryffindor or Ravenclaw (or Hufflepuff) can't be too. So that is not why I think it is interesting that Peter was put in Gryffindor.

I think so because he lack the qualities of a Gryffindor. He has complete lack of bravery and courage. Maybe sometime in the seventh book it will show, but up until now he has yet to show courage. So that is very peculiar, why he was put in Gryffindor.

Still, Neville came in Gryffindor. But he has shown bravery. He stood up against Harry, Ron and Hermione when they were to go and get the Philosopher's Stone, he stood up against Malfoy at a Quidditch match ("I'm worth ten of you Malfoy") and he even went to the Ministry of Magic to save Sirius together with Harry. So though I often think of Neville and Peter as a kind of similar sort of persons, there's also a huge difference between them.

It's a hard question, why Peter was put in Gryffindor.

- Lars

Interesting question Helen

Ron said "There wasn't a witch or wizard that didn't go bad that wasn't in Slytherin"

(Or something to that extent). It implies that all wizards that go 'bad' are from Slytherin

True.

When you think of Slytherin's, happy images don't exactly come to mind first do they? I agree with you, Lars - that all Slytherin's aren't bad, they can't be (It's impossible to divide everything like that!). It's just most of the wizards that turn bad are from that house. Maybe it's because they are more susceptible to power (i.e wanting to achieve their means) that they get corrupted along the way.

But how many wizards, other than Peter - have you known to of 'gone bad' that weren't from Slytherin? The odds are against them I'm afraid :r

Liam

Might it be safe to assume Peter was in the wrong house!? students are sorted into houses depending on the way they are at the time after all, and since everyone change they might have been sorted into another house another year if the ceremony was repeated each term. Unless of course the sorting hat is a seer (Which btw is not entirely impossible! :P ).

~H

Good point!

Although the sorting hat said it was made by the founders so I think it's just a magically imbued object. I don't think it has seer powers like a true seer. But then again who knows? :)

In which case, Peter can't have been put in the wrong house - because like you said the Sorting Hat probably sorts students into the house that will most develop them into adulthood.

Liam

Keep in mind that when Ron said "There wasn't a witch or wizard that didn't go bad that wasn't in Slytherin," it was the first book. At that time, nobody (aside from Voldy and crew) knew that Pettigrew had gone bad. To everyone's knowledge, Pettigrew had been brutally murdered, and a good guy.

When the third book came out, that's the first time anyone knew that Pettigrew was evil- perfectly justifying what we can call Ron's ignorance in the first book.

Concerning the debate of why Pettigrew was put in Gryffindor; it's perfectly plausible that, at the time of the Sorting, he had no future plans to become evil. Once he left Hogwart's, however, he was seduced by the dark side (forgive my Star Wars nuance there... :)) and became evil. That's all.

Elizabeth

But then they thought Sirius Black was a bad guy, and he was also in Gryffindor so... :P

Yes, I agree. I don't think he was evil at Hogwarts. He became evil later when Voldemort grew in strength. (Evil, he is not necessarily very evil now either, but he lacks the courage to stand up against the most powerfull. I think I'd rather call him foolish and not courageous, than evil.) He is not very brave at heart, Peter Pettigrew, so, though it was not planned, he went over to the dark side when it grew so strong as it did during the time before Voldemort's fall.

The odds really are against them. :P But then again, we don't know which house many of the adult wizards were in, so it might be more. But most bad wizards do come from Slytherin. There's no denying that. :P

- Lars

I think Rowling is trying to say that it doesnt matter what House you're in. That it's not our origins or powers that truly define who we are, but our choices and actions. Voldemort, a halfblood, cunning and ambitious, chooses to become a dark wizard. Harry, also cunning and ambitious, chooses to resist the call of the dark. Peter, brave and loyal, later chooses to serve the dark.

and also i think you need to look at each houses selection specifications.

Peter probably was placed in Gryffindor because he was brave enough to stand up for what he believed in. That doesn't necessarily mean what he believe in was good and honest. It doesn't necessarily mean that he was really a true friend of Lily and James. Yes he is a coward when faced with death but in a sense Peter is extremely brave. He faces his fear of Lord Voldemort as he serves him everyday.

And he most definately doesn't fit the description of a Slytherin. He isn't cunning in any sense of the word and he isn't thirsty for power.