I've been up most the night thinking about things, and I reckon I should probably just go ahead and contact you about them now instead of spending another sleepless night fretting over them.
Mostly, this is about Peter Pettigrew.
I know how you feel about him. I know how everyone feels about him. I know the things he's done, and I know what sort of pain and misery he's left in his wake. I really do understand all of that. However, I'm having a bit of a time coming to terms with the way people are treating him here.
You've always taught me to look at people with compassion. To try and understand things from their perspective and think about the things I say and do before I do them. I try to do that as much as I can, and I think I'm a better person for it when I manage it. So, when I realized I was reacting with the same type of angry reaction to Pettigrew as everyone else, I did what you've always taught me and I tried to understand things from his point of view.
I know that in his future he's going to do rotten things, but the Pettigrew that's here now hasn't done any of that. I also know that forgiveness is something that a lot of people can't, and won't, offer him for the things he will eventually do. Does that mean that everyone has to be so horrid to him, though? Especially since he doesn't have any memory of doing those awful things, since he hasn't done them yet?
See, for me it's like this. You said that Bellatrix Black could stay with us because she was young, and hadn't done the terrible things she would eventually do. You were willing to give her a chance. I know it backfired, but you still offered. She killed Sirius, she tortured the Longbottoms, and she would've killed Mum if Grandmum hadn't stepped in and offed her first. She was one of Voldemort's most loyal followers, but you were still willing to give her a chance.
Pettigrew, meanwhile, gets shunned the second he shows up.
Now, I'm not saying that we need to offer him a place to stay. I think that would be a very bad idea, and I'm not doubting your judgment on that at all. I just wonder if, by pushing him away like everyone is, it's possibly giving him an actual reason to turn on everyone more than just the fear that drove him before. And I think it's wrong for everyone to have welcomed Bellatrix like they did, but treat Pettigrew like he's a worse wizard than Voldemort himself.
With all of that being said, you should probably know that I offered him a place to stay at the house Merope and I were staying in. I don't feel right just leaving him on the streets. I can't really explain my feelings, but it's the truth.
Please don't be angry when you read this. I know you usually don't react with anger anyway, but I know this is a sore subject for you. I just had to have my opinion be heard.