elanor_x

Why the idea of Peter’s redemption makes me uneasy, but not Snape’s.

Discussing in sistermagpie’s post the possibility of Snape’s redemption, I have suddenly understood one of the reasons why I have never liked fandom theories that Peter will kill Voldemort, thus making D's prediction "one day you will be glad you saved his life" come true. I feel that such sacrifice should bring redemption and forgiveness, and I can't grant Peter that. He killed Harry's parents, betrayed his own friends [while loyalty and bravery are the 2 central values in the series] and is as despicable as one can get.

sistermagpie wrote about the Western The Man Who Shot Liberty Valence:
“Ransom doesn't look down on Tom. He respects him both for what he did for him and for the sacrifices he made. Ransom can't ever be completely dismissive of the type of man Tom was given what he owes him. As I said, he has to carry part of Tom with him into the new world because of that, and that's the way Tom really doesn't just die forgotten.
I kind of hope Harry has to carry Snape with him the same way.:-)”

I believe some things can not be forgiven by people, f.e. Hitler's crimes, and can't imagine Harry forgiving Peter, unlike Snape, let alone carrying any bit of Pettegrew with him anywhere. If Snape doesn't turn out to be evil and sacrifices himself, the idea of Harry carrying the man with him will partly reconcile me to his death. It will mean both growth for Harry, becoming more like Dumbledore, and giving Snape at least posthumous recognition. As for Peter, I have no idea what JKR will do with him and will prefer just killing him off screen like Amelia Bones or sending to Azkaban to the sacrifice for the mentioned above reasons.

Answering to my comment, sistermagpie also wrote about Peter's redemption: I just don't see how he can be, even in death. Even the thing with Harry saving his life seems to undercut that for me, because it makes anything Peter would do for Harry again in his best interests, somehow, or not something he's necessarily doing out of a sense of right and wrong.
Ironically with Snape it seems like his feeling indebted to James comes out of his own personal feelings, and the way he protects Harry so grudgingly in PS somehow makes it better. Maybe because he's not lying about it or something.
So yeah, I've no idea what will become of Peter but it's hard for me to see a way for the character to rise to far above where he is now after all he's done, especially with a single act. I can't imagine him having a real change of heart, and it seems like that would be necessary for real forgiveness.