Lupin's Mistake

[cindysphynx]

No: HPFGUIDX 31706

Hollydaze wrote:

> It is actually something else that bugs me, how could Lupin have 
>had the potion with him in the first place (as pointed out by you) 
>to have forgotten to take it? And how can Snape have known that he 
>forgot?


If I understand your question correctly, you're wondering how Snape 
knew Lupin forgot his potion and whether all of the events 
surrounding this make sense.

I think that they probably do make sense.  JKR establishes that when 
it is potion time, Snape brings the steaming goblet, and Lupin drinks 
it promptly.  So that night, Lupin is just sitting at his desk 
watching the map, waiting for Snape.  He sees Sirius on the map and 
takes off.  Then, Snape shows up with the goblet, just like before.  
He goes to set the goblet down on Lupin's desk, figuring Lupin will 
return momentarily, and sees the map and Lupin running away.

Maybe the issue is how Snape knows Lupin "forgot" to take his 
potion.  An answer could be that the normal procedure is for Lupin to 
contact Snape and let him know he is ready for his potion.  Snape, 
hearing no communication from Lupin, figures that Lupin forgot that 
the full moon was that night.  So Snape, in a rare and 
uncharacteristic moment of professional courtesy and compassion, 
brings the potion to Lupin.  

One thing about the whole potion brewing issue is intriguing to me, 
though.  Snape has to brew the potion and then walk it from the 
dungeon up to Lupin.  It strikes me as odd that Snape would do Lupin 
this favor.  I would expect Lupin, as the junior faculty member, to 
be required to visit the dungeon to retrieve the potion.  Maybe Snape 
isn't that bad after all?  

Nah.

Cindy