Lupin/Detective Mysteries

[Elizabeth Dalton]

No: HPFGUIDX 32412

I posted a theory that Lupin wouldn't change until the moonlight struck him, but
that he'd have an overwhelming urge to go look at the moon, due to his curse.

cindysphynx wrote:
> 
> Hmmm.  I like this theory in theory, but I do have one problem.  In
> PoA, we're told that the Shrieking Shack has boarded-up windows.  I
> would assume these windows were boarded up when Lupin used it to
> transform; otherwise the residents would know it was haunted not by
> ghosts but by a werewolf, and Lupin-wolf could have broken out.  So
> if the windows are boarded up, that means that whenever he has not
> had his potion, he transforms even if he doesn't look at the moon or
> isn't touched by its light.  It also means that he doesn't go insane
> if he is prevented from seeing the full moon by being in the
> Shrieking Shack, no?
> 

Curses! Another fine theory left in the dust.

Erm... (scrambles desperately to save this theory) how about a skylight
somewhere in the Shrieking Shack?

(But he transforms even if he has his potion, remember. He just keeps his human
mind.)

Cindy again:
> 
> Maybe you've put your finger on my fundamental problem with PS/SS and
> CoS and all mystery novels -- since there's no real suspense, you
> need brilliant clues and lots of misdirection to keep things
> interesting, I guess.
> 

Well, at least we agree that PS/SS and CoS were mystery novels. I'll give you
that PS/SS wasn't an especially good one, though.

My guess is that we liked PS/SS because Harry was so darn charming & lovable.

And there was that bit of cleverness with the Mirror....

Actually, looks like Rachel has a good explanation -- general fun & wit combined
with some really wild plot twists. (Am I the only one who picked up CoS
primarily to find out "what's up with this Snape guy?") Though, to be brutally
honest, I wasn't all that impressed with the first two books. (Will I get
Howlers for this?? ;) They were decent, but not especially better than other
"kid's" books I've read this year. I'm still amazed that Scholastic offered six
figures for PS/SS, before CoS was even written, and all that marketing hype....
How did they know that PoA would be so great? I'm reluctant to praise the
editorial skills of the staff at Scholastic, for obvious reasons.

Elizabeth
(Still pondering her "one question" and also considering how we could arrange
for HPFGU to crash any future online chats, with our list of questions in our
hot little virtual hands....)