Lupin, the Moon and the Bewitching Hour

[Hollydaze]

No: HPFGUIDX 32758

Mahoney came up with a new theory on why Lupin does not transform until he sees teh moon even though it has obviously been up for hours.

This included solutions to:
> 1.  Why did he forget to take his potion, when it's so critical?  (He 
> didn't; he just put it off, because he thought he would have time to 
> get to it later.)
> 
> 2.  Why did he run out of the relative security of his office on the 
> night of his transformation?  (Again, he thought he had time to get 
> back to the potion/his office before he transformed.)
> 
> 3.  Why did he not transform until that one particular moment, when 
> it *seems* clear that the moon has been up for a while?  (Because it 
> isn't just the appearance of the moon, but the 'witching hour' on the 
> first night of the full moon that dicates his transformation.)
> 
> 4.  Why did he berate himself and consent to leave Hogwarts, when 
> he'd only made the one mistake, and knew that so long as he stuck to 
> the potion he would be harmless in the future?  (Because it wasn't 
> just that he'd put innocents in danger by forgetfulness; it was 
> because he'd made a conscious choice to take a risk, and in doing so 
> he realized that he'd taken his dangerous condition for granted.  He 
> didn't forget his potion, he forgot to keep in mind how dangerous he 
> was.  Which is almost scarier. 

Cindy backed this up by saying:
> The best part is that it makes Lupin out to be a thoughtful person who made a rational 
> decision (consistent with his character) instead of an incompetent 
> who can't remember the one thing he has to remember in order to avoid 
> killing people.  That's an improvement.  

The most important part of this being that it stays in character for Lupin.

it has even convinced Elizabeth.

However there is one adition I would like to mention if I may.

I really like this idea (especially as Lupin is my fav character) but about 4 days ago someone (sorry I deleted the email and so can't find who it was) mentioned an idea about it having to be teh exact full moon for Lupin to transform. That there is only one time when it is EXACTLY the fullmoon and that it is this that causes the transformation, that the cloud was just to draw our attention to the moon. 

I think if this was added into Mahoney's theory as being the reason behind the "specific time", (as in he knows the EXACT moment of the full moon and so knows exactly when he is going to tranform) then that would back it up even more because I was thinking about the bit with the boggart and if it was the "witching hour" and the moon then his boggart could just as easily been a clock (probably analog) showing 12:00 on it. Also sometimes in the summer the moon doesn't always come up until after 12:00 (especially in Scotland where it is though Hogwarts is located - although this is usually in July August, rather than in June) I just think that the *full* full moon, so to speak would fit more with "traditional" ideas about werewolves than the "witching hour".

Hope I'm not poking my nose in wear it is not wanted as I like this theory a lot but just thought that it might be even better if that was the reason for the specific time rather than 12:00.

HOLLYDAZE!!!


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