Father figures revisited

[dfrankiswork at netscape.net]

No: HPFGUIDX 27816

Amanda wrote:

the discussions of
> father figure got interesting. Here, as I recall, was the rundown:
> 
> Hagrid
> Dumbledore
> Arthur Weasley
> Snape. 

That was a very interesting thread.  But I am puzzled by one 
absence.  It could be argued that the person who has made the most 
practical contribution to fathering Harry is Lupin.  The Patronus 
sessions result in Harry finding his father inside himself, and it 
seems natural to me that they do, as Lupin takes time one on one with 
Harry to teach him the spell and practice it.  In effect he provides 
experiences for Harry, and lives through them with him.

By contrast, Dumbledore provides experiences but is mostly absent, 
and though Arthur provides a symbol of domesticity and stability that 
Harry can relate to easily he is less close.

Sirius is Harry's fantasy, and starts to fulfill the role well but 
IMO, Lupin has proved himself.

David