[HPforGrownups] Lupin on the Train (was Re: Dumbledore, Head of House, Portkeys)

[Peg Kerr]

No: HPFGUIDX 148



Rita Winston wrote:

>
> Dumbledore knew that Lupin is a good guy, and I (being slow on the
> uptake) only realized last week that the reason that Lupin was on the
> Hogwarts Express, instead of arriving before the students like all
> the other teachers, is that Dumbledore had asked him to ride the
> train to guard Harry (at least I figured that out for myself before I
> read it in a fanfic!).

Hello, everyone, this is my inaugural message.  This is an interesting
theory, Rita, but I see a couple of problems with it.  Remember, Lupin was
asleep when Harry got on the train, and in fact, slept through much of the
journey.  He didn't choose to sit by Harry to guard him; Harry, Ron and
Hermione chose to sit by him.

I think it is more likely that the timing of the full moon that month forced
Lupin to delay his journey to Hogwarts so that he had to arrive later than
the other teachers.  Note that Harry notices that Lupin looks as though he
has been recently ill; presumably he has just gone through his monthly
transformation.  Maybe the aftermath of the transformation just makes him a
bit queasy about apparating for several days afterwards, and so Dumbledore
arranged for him to take the express.

Peg