Having just finished re-reading all the HP books from one right through to six I think now is a good time for me to write down my thoughts on what the important hints are with relation to book seven that JKR has littered through the books. It is a well known fact that JKR has been dropping us hints and fore-shadowing stuff right from the start so I re-read the books taking note of things I interpreted as clues that have not yet come to anything as of the end of book six. Over the next few weeks I’ll be writing a number of articles that follow on from this one, each one focusing on one hint or a related set of hints. I’m going to kick off the series with one of the simpler clues which comes form book three, Petigrew’s debt to Harry.

Petigrew’s Debt

At the end of book three Dumbledore makes a big deal out of the fact that Harry saved Peter Petigrew’s life and how that left Petigrew deeply indebted to Harry. We have seen some hints of this debt affecting Petigrew in book four but it was only the smallest of hints. We see Petigrew try to persuade Voldemort not to use Harry for the spell to return him to his body. Petigrew does not play an important roll in the plot of any of the books after book four yet we see JKR just slip him every now and then as if to remind us that he’s still there, in the background, ready to play a big part in the grand finale.

What I Think it Means for Book Seven

Although some may argue that Petigrew has re-paid his debt by trying to persuade Voldemort not to use Harry in book four I don’t buy that for a second. That seems like far too trivial a gesture to pay back such a momentous debt to me. This is why I think we will see more of Petigrew in the final book. I’m confident that he will play a part in the downfall of Voldemort and believe he may even make good in the end by sacrificing himself to either save Harry, destroy a Horcrux or help kill Voldemort. We have seen Petigrew’s courage fail him repeatedly but I still think he will redeem himself by trying to make up for his betrayal of the Potters. I fully accept that the last bit is probably more wishful thinking than anything else because there really is nothing in the books so far to support that apart from the fact that I doubt JKR would have stressed Petigrew’s debt to Harry were she not planning to go somewhere with it.

Judging by his behaviour in book four I don’t think Petigrew could bring himself to kill Harry. That’s why I think his defection from the bad side could well be triggered by an order from Voldemort or another Death Eater to harm Harry in some way.