Harry Potter · Character
Peter Pettigrew
Also known as Scabbers, Wormtail, Pettigrew
- Major
- First seen · Book 3
Peter Pettigrew is a major character in Harry Potter (Book 3).
- Gender
- male
- Age
- 30s
- First appears
- Book 3
- Books
- 2
Peter Pettigrew, once the least remarkable of James Potter's school friends, is unmasked in Prisoner of Azkaban as the true betrayer of the Potters, a cowering, rat-like man who had hidden for twelve years as Ron Weasley's pet rat Scabbers while Sirius Black took the blame for his crimes. Exposed by Sirius and Remus Lupin, he escapes and flees back to the master he once served. In Goblet of Fire, the man known as Wormtail becomes Voldemort's indispensable but despised servant: he captures Bertha Jorkins, helps install Barty Crouch Jr. as Moody's impostor, and performs the graveyard ritual that restores the Dark Lord's body, sacrificing his own right hand in exchange for a magical silver one. Fear and self-preservation drive every choice he makes, leaving him both deeply complicit and perpetually afraid.
Description
A small gray rat with a tattered left ear, one missing front toe, and a long bald tail. Its fur is thin and patchy, with wide bald patches in its most emaciated appearance; its whiskers droop. It looks battered and woebegone. Pettigrew is a small, slight man with graying hair and a conspicuous bald patch at the back of his head. His pointed nose and small, watery eyes give his pinched face a furtive, worried look, while his wheezy breathing adds to his frail air. He wears a long black cloak, usually hanging loosely around his narrow frame. One hand is a striking silver replacement, finely formed but coldly metallic against his otherwise ordinary appearance; his posture remains hunched and guarded. Scabbers is identified only as an old rat. The text gives no details about his size beyond his species, nor his coloring, coat, eyes, markings, or other distinguishing features. No clothing or accessories are described.
Connections
Family & partnersFriends & mentorsRivals
- BC
Barty Crouch Jr.accomplice
Accomplices in Voldemort's scheme, they overpower Moody so Crouch Jr. can impersonate him at Hogwarts.
- LV
Lord Voldemortmaster
Pettigrew returns to Voldemort after his exposure, serving him out of fear rather than devotion. He nurses the weakened Dark Lord, restores his body in the graveyard, and is rewarded with a silver hand, yet Voldemort treats him with contempt and doubts his loyalty.
Remus Lupinschool friend
A fellow school friend who believed Pettigrew dead for twelve years, Lupin helps Sirius unmask him as the true traitor.
Ron Weasleypet rat (Scabbers)
Ron unknowingly kept Pettigrew as his pet rat Scabbers for years; the revelation turns Ron's mourned pet into a hated betrayer, and Scabbers is gone thereafter.
- BJ
Bertha Jorkinscaptor
Pettigrew captured Bertha and delivered her to Voldemort, whose extracted information became central to his return.
Harry Pottertarget of murder plot
Having caused the death of Harry's parents, Pettigrew later conspires with Voldemort to murder Harry and uses Harry's blood in the restoration ritual.
Sirius Blackformer friend turned traitor
Once a close friend, Sirius was framed for Pettigrew's crimes and imprisoned in Azkaban; after escaping, he hunts Pettigrew and finally exposes him, though the traitor slips away.
- JP
James Potterbetrayer
Pettigrew, trusted as a friend, betrayed James's whereabouts to Voldemort, enabling the attack that killed him.
- LP
Lily Potterbetrayer
His betrayal exposed Lily and her family to Voldemort, leading to her murder.
Story so far
BOOK 3Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban
- Revealed to be Ron Weasley's long-lived pet rat Scabbers, an unregistered Animagus in hiding for twelve years
- Exposed in the Shrieking Shack by Sirius Black and Remus Lupin as the one who betrayed the Potters to Voldemort
- Shown as a shrunken, sweating, rat-like man missing the index finger on his right hand, the finger he left behind to fake his death
- Spared from immediate execution, he transforms back into a rat and escapes
BOOK 4Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire
- Seen in Harry's dream at the Riddle House as Wormtail, tending Voldemort and plotting Harry's murder
- Captured Bertha Jorkins and brought her to Voldemort, unknowingly supplying vital intelligence for his plan
- Helped subdue Alastor Moody so Barty Crouch Jr. could impersonate him, and later monitored Barty Crouch Sr.
- Performed the graveyard ritual that restored Voldemort's body, cutting off his own right hand
- Received a magical silver hand from Voldemort, who nonetheless scorned him as traitorous and demanded renewed loyalty
Key events
- Book 3
Ch. 17The Shrieking Shack RevelationHarry, Ron, and Hermione confront Sirius Black in the Shrieking Shack, learning that Peter Pettigrew is alive and that Black was framed for the Potters' betrayal. - Book 3
Ch. 20Buckbeak's Rescue and Sirius's EscapeHarry and Hermione use a Time-Turner to save Buckbeak from execution and help Sirius Black escape from the castle before the Dementors can administer the Kiss. - Book 4
Ch. 31Voldemort's ResurrectionHarry and Cedric are transported to a graveyard where Wormtail kills Cedric and uses Harry's blood to resurrect Voldemort in a dark ritual.
Gallery
Book 3: Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban
Appearances
Meet Peter Pettigrew in Bookworm
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