Science Fiction & Fantasy Asked by Anya Mae on September 22, 2020
Why tie him up to themselves, when he could have been stunned until they reached the castle, to prevent him from transforming into a rat and escaping? Especially since Snape was knocked out and was transported in a similar fashion. Why didn’t occur to anyone that the same could have been done to Wormtail?
They had said they'd kill Peter if he transformed, and they would have been glad to.
Sirius Black and Remus Lupin originally had planned to kill Peter, and they were both quite eager to do it, especially Sirius. The only reason they didn't was because Harry didn't want them to and asked them to let Pettigrew be taken to Azkaban instead of them killing him.
“You should have realised,’ said Lupin quietly. ‘If Voldemort didn’t kill you, we would. Goodbye, Peter.’
Hermione covered her face with her hands and turned to the wall.
‘NO!’ Harry yelled. He ran forwards, placing himself in front of Pettigrew, facing the wands. ‘You can’t kill him,’ he said breathlessly. ‘You can’t.”
- Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, Chapter 19 (The Servant of Lord Voldemort)
They agreed to tie him up and take him in to Hogwarts, but threatened to kill him if he escaped, and got Harry to agree. Since this was their original goal, it was a threat they'd probably be all too happy to follow through on, and Harry had confirmed that he'd be okay with it, so if Pettigrew transformed and they killed him, they wouldn't be going against Harry's wishes.
“I’m going to tie him up,’ said Lupin. ‘That’s all, I swear.’ Harry stepped out of the way. Thin cords shot from Lupin’s wand this time, and next moment, Pettigrew was wriggling on the floor, bound and gagged.
‘But if you transform, Peter,’ growled Black, his own wand pointing at Pettigrew, too, ‘we will kill you. You agree, Harry?’
Harry looked down at the pitiful figure on the floor, and nodded so that Pettigrew could see him.”
- Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, Chapter 19 (The Servant of Lord Voldemort)
It wasn't because of the injured people. After Lupin splinted his leg, Ron was able to walk, since he was the other one chained to Pettigrew, and Professor Snape was being lifted magically.
“He muttered, ‘Mobilicorpus.’ As though invisible strings were tied to Snape’s wrists, neck and knees, he was pulled into a standing position, head still lolling unpleasantly, like a grotesque puppet. He hung a few inches above the ground, his limp feet dangling. Lupin picked up the Invisibility Cloak and tucked it safely into his pocket.”
- Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, Chapter 19 (The Servant of Lord Voldemort)
Theoretically they would have been able to manage a stunned Pettigrew. There were two capable adult wizards there, so one could have floated Pettigrew while the other floated Snape, which would still leave Harry and Hermione to watch out for Ron.
“Harry had never been part of a stranger group. Crookshanks led the way down the stairs; Lupin, Pettigrew and Ron went next, looking like contestants in a six-legged race. Next came Professor Snape, drifting creepily along, his toes hitting each stair as they descended, held up by his own wand, which was being pointed at him by Sirius. Harry and Hermione brought up the rear. Getting back into the tunnel was difficult. Lupin, Pettigrew and Ron had to turn sideways to manage it; Lupin still had Pettigrew covered with his wand.”
- Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, Chapter 20 (The Dementor's Kiss)
However, Sirius and Lupin wanted to give Pettigrew a chance to step out of line, to do something that would allow them to kill him like they had wanted to.
“One wrong move, Peter,’ said Lupin threateningly, ahead. His wand was still pointed sideways at Pettigrew’s chest.”
- Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, Chapter 20 (The Dementor's Kiss)
Correct answer by Mal on September 22, 2020
If you recall, they were having to move with some speed and Snape was already unconscious when the need to move quickly was discovered.
It was much faster for one of the group to move under his own power (even if it required another to be constantly watching him) than it would have been for a second person to be forced to carry an unconscious person. Recall that Ron also needed help moving at this point. They had four able-bodied people (Harry, Hermione, Sirius, and Lupin) and three people who needed assistance or vigilance (Pettigrew, Snape, and Ron).
They were also anticipating the Dementors (loose on the grounds) would be a possible hurdle on their way to the castle. Having one more of their able-bodied wizards having to carry Pettigrew (as opposed to simply watching him, but otherwise ready to cast at an attacker) would have been more dangerous.
Additionally, having Pettigrew obviously alive when they arrived at the castle, where he would have been immediately recognized by most of the staff, would have made a much stronger case than 'stunned or dead body, being floated by the escaped criminal Sirius Black'.
If Pettigrew is being walked in as an obvious prisoner, that's a very different start for a conversation than a known criminal walking in with a teacher and another person stunned, and several children at wandpoint.
Image isn't everything, but it is important. Sirius and Lupin knew this, and everyone else followed their lead.
It is also possible, of course, that Sirius and Lupin, being human beings in a time of high emotion and stress, simply didn't think about alternative solutions. Sure, they had to bring Snape (who was already stunned) but as far as they knew, Pettigrew was already secured. They were (mentally) already on the next steps - convincing people at the castle and elsewhere of Sirius' innocence.
Answered by Jeff on September 22, 2020
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