Godparents - Wolfsbane - Headmaster Who?

[Amy Z]

No: HPFGUIDX 17369

Neil wrote:
> As to Penny's question, I think a godparent could be
> seen a proxy guardian,
> but grandparents, aunts and uncles (The Dursleys -
> gaaaah!!!) would probably
> be considered first, and there is no legal bond
> (unless specified). 

Andrea wrote:

>True, but I thought that Sirius *was* specified
>legally as Harry's guardian.  I don't have my copy of
>PoA with me right now, but Sirius says something like,
>"Your parents wanted you to live with me if anything
>happened to them."

Yep--what James and Lily meant by "godfather" is anyone's guess 
(religious significance?  or just a casual term for "all-around 
surrogate parent, giver of presents, and family friend"?), but that 
they meant Sirius to be Harry's legal guardian as well is crystal 
clear:

  "But I'm also--I don't know if anyone ever told you--I'm your 
godfather."
  "Yeah, I knew that," said Harry.
  "Well . . . your parents appointed me your guardian," said Sirius 
stiffly.  "If anything happened to them . . . " (PA 20)

I would just add that the way the passage reads implies that 
"godfather" does not necessarily equal "guardian"; being Harry's 
godfather and being appointed his guardian are two separate things.  
Which makes sense, since as listies have said, many people have 
multiple godparents, only one of whom is the appointed guardian; have 
godparents but a guardian who isn't a godparent; have no godparents 
but still have a guardian; etc., with endless permutations.

Andrea continued:

>Lily: "Can you imagine my sister's face if Harry
>showed up on her doorstep?"
>[Both dissolve in hysterical laughter]
>James, wiping away tears of laughter: "All right,
>let's ask Sirius instead."

Oh, now you've made me sad.  It's so tragic!  Ten years with a 
cupboard for a bedroom, when he was meant to have had nice Uncle 
Sirius instead.  Not to mention what became of nice Uncle Sirius.  I'm 
just glad James and Lily were spared the knowledge that their Harry 
was going to end up on Petunia's doorstep.

Kristin asked:
>  the Shrieking Shack sequence. Why does Lupin only
> transform when the full  moon came out from behind the
> clouds?  I always had the impression that a werewolf
> transformed no matter what, it didn't matter whether
> or not the moon was obscured. Is this a mistake on JKR's part

We know the Wolfsbane Potion has some effect, and Lupin has been 
taking it all week.  Maybe it weakened the moon's effect enough to 
keep him from transforming...

I admit this is an inadequate explanation, though, 'cause if this were 
the case, all he'd have to do to avoid transforming is stay inside 
after moonrise.  That's not such a bad handicap, to be forced to stay 
inside (and away from windows?) for several hours once a month.  
Clearly this isn't the case--he says clearly that the potion just 
keeps him from turning into a human-killer, but he still turns into "a 
harmless wolf" (I love the plug for wolves, who have an unearned 
reputation as bloodthirsty beasts).  I think it's a Flint (=a 
mistake), but I like the "Snape was trying out a new improvement on 
the potion" idea.

Rita wrote:

>If one of the requirements for being Headmaster/mistress of Hogwarts 
is
>having the initials A. D. then neither Snape nor McGonagall nor 
Potter
>is eligible for the job.

Are you nominating Amos Diggory?  

Jim:  in the sad event that we do need a new headmaster (perish the 
thought, but I'm afraid we will), let's not kick Lupin upstairs.  
There's nothing sadder than seeing a great teacher get turned into a 
full-time administrator!  I wonder:  does Dumbledore teach the 
occasional Advanced Transfiguration seminar?  Or maybe a special DADA 
practicum for 7th-years?

Amy Z

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 His immediate reaction was that it would 
 be worth becoming a prefect just to be able 
 to use this bathroom.
                  -HP and the Goblet of Fire
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