A silver hand was presented to Peter Pettigrew by Lord Voldemort in the summer of 1995, to replace his lost right hand. It appeared to be composed of metal and exhibited strength superior to that of its owner's former hand, capable of crushing a twig to fine dust.[1] It was impervious to the Revulsion Jinx, and possibly other spells. At first, it seemed to yield to Pettigrew's command, but Voldemort designed it to strangle its owner if any sign of treason or weakness was demonstrated at least once. It was a fail-safe way to ensure Pettigrew's punishment for a second attempt at betrayal.[2]
Creation
Peter Pettigrew bearing his silvery hand
The potion which allowed Lord Voldemort to return needed three important ingredients: bone of a father, flesh of a servant and blood of an enemy. Pettigrew severed his right hand in order to supply the second ingredient.
When Voldemort returned, Pettigrew begged for a new hand, as Voldemort had promised him beforehand. Although Voldemort allowed Pettigrew to suffer the pain at first for thirteen years of disloyalty, Pettigrew's request was honoured and he was eventually presented with a robust silver hand that he could apparently control as though it was his real hand. Pettigrew tested it out by crushing a twig to fine dust, and was enormously grateful.[1]
As Pettigrew lived the remainder of his life as a Death Eater, he adopted a habit of caressing his silver hand, such as when Severus Snape revealed him to be eavesdropping at Narcissa Malfoy and Bellatrix Lestrange's arrival to Spinner's End.
Betrayal and Execution
Pettigrew executed by his own silver hand
During their search for Lord Voldemort's horcruxes, Harry Potter, Hermione Granger, and Ron Weasley were captured and imprisoned at Malfoy Manor, Death Eater headquarters at the time. Following a disturbance from Dobby the house-elf, Disapparating with other prisoners, Pettigrew was ordered to investigate. As he went down the stairs, Harry and Ron tackled him and took his wand. Pettigrew made an attempt to strangle Harry using the silver hand. However, Harry reminded Pettigrew of saving his life four years ago, and Pettigrew released Harry in an unintended and momentary show of mercy. After Pettigrew tried unsuccessfully to undo that moment of weakness, the hand recognised Pettigrew as unfaithful to the Dark Lord and suddenly began strangling him. Despite Harry and Ron's attempts to intervene, the hand proved to be much too powerful to succumb to their efforts and they were forced to watch helplessly as Pettigrew suffocated himself to death.[2]
Behind the scenes
- In the novel Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, the hand was created as a formless silver molten mass in midair before it took the shape and attached itself to Pettigrew's amputated part. In the film adaption, Voldemort pointed his wand at the wrist, and the silver hand formed from a silvery liquid forming onto the wrist.
- In Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1, Pettigrew's final on-screen appearance consists of being rendered unconscious by Dobby, instead of being strangled by his silver hand. This was probably done because the scene where Pettigrew being strangled is considered too violent for a PG-13 movie.
Appearances
- Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire (First appearance)
- Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire (film)
- Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince
- Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince (film)
- Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows
- Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1
- LEGO Harry Potter
- LEGO Harry Potter (videogame years 5-7)
- Harry Potter: The Character Vault