How Did Peter Pettigrew Die?

Remember how Peter Pettigrew chopped off his own hand when resurrecting Voldemort. In return, Voldemort gave Peter a silver prosthetic hand as a reward for his services. Yet, an important point to note is that Voldemort placed a curse on the very hand he gave: “May your loyalty never waver again.”

Peter died when this “gift” turned on him and choked him to death. It's crucial to understand that Peter did not die while saving Harry. The only thing he did was hesitate during the act of killing Harry, an action deemed a betrayal by Voldemort. The hand sensed the hesitation and turned against him.

Background and Betrayal

Following his treacherous betrayal of the faith of the Potters by giving Voldemort their location, Peter went into hiding. Sirius Black, convinced of Peter’s betrayal, sought him out and confronted him. To my interpretation, Peter likely used an explosive spell, such as Bombarda, toking twelve Muggles. To fake his own death, he cut off a finger of his prosthetic hand, framing Sirius for the crime.

Peter then transformed into his Animagus form, a rat, and moved in with the Weasley family for 12 years. Throughout this time, Sirius remained in Azkaban and the third Marauder, Remus Lupin, lived in poverty due to his werewolf status. Pettrigrew, known as 'Scabbers', originally belonged to Percy Weasley before being passed down to Ron.

Escape from Azkaban and Sirius' Pursuit

At the beginning of Prisoner of Azkaban, Sirius spotted the Weasley family in Egypt through a newspaper clipping. Realizing Peter's presence among them, Sirius escaped Azkaban by transforming into a Hound, fooling the Dementors. This escape was a result of the Dementors' inability to sense him as an animal.

Peter learned of Sirius's escape and became gravely ill with anxiety. Ron took him to Hogwarts after a near-death experience at the hands of Hermione's clever cat, Crookshanks. Fred and George bequeathed the Marauder's Map to Harry, who used it to locate Peter. However, Snape eventually caught Peter, but Harry bailed him out. Lupin reprimanded Harry for using the map but admitted that Peter was indeed there.

Sirius's plan to infiltrate Hogwarts through the Shrieking Shack led to a confrontation with Harry, Ron, and Hermione. Sirius attempted to grab Peter, but Harry intercepted and disarmed Sirius. Remus revealed that Sirius and Peter were friends, and Hermione figured out Peter's werewolf status. Snape disrupted the confrontation, leading Harry to provide an explanation about his parents and Peter.

Conspiracy and Death

Peter eventually traveled to Albania, where he aided Voldemort in his return by conspiring with Barty Crouch Jr to kidnap and impersonate Alastor Moody. Crouch then helped Harry win the Triwizard Tournament, used the cup as a portkey, and left Voldemort to finish the job on Harry. When Harry and Cedric touched the cup, they were transported to a graveyard, where Peter killed Cedric with the Killing Curse and attempted to murder Harry on a statue, completing the ritual to grant Voldemort his physical form.

To resurrect Voldemort, Peter sacrificed his own hand, which Voldemort enchanted to punish any betrayal. Peter's hesitation during Harry's attempt on his life led to his hand strangling him. This act of betrayal ultimately led to Peter’s demise, serving as a tragic testament to the importance of loyalty.

Conclusion

Peter Pettigrew's fate serves as a cautionary tale of the consequences of betrayal and the irrevocable nature of oath-bound loyalty. His tragic end highlights the complex nature of trust and how even the smallest acts can have far-reaching consequences. As fans of the Harry Potter series, we are reminded of the importance of loyalty and the lasting impact of our actions. Whether in the halls of Hogwarts or in the shadows of the wizarding world, loyalty is not just a virtue, but a matter of life and death.