Cutting Characters (esp. RL) Slack (WAS Hagrid, Moody and Violent Responses)

[cindysphynx]

No: HPFGUIDX 34129

> Cindy wrote:
> 
> > I think I will have to adopt a new rule for myself that each 
beloved 
> > character is allowed one hideous mistake, and after that, I will 
> > cross them off my list.  Lupin and Black have used their quota.  
> > Snape probably has used his quota. 
> 

Amy responded:

> Probably?  *Probably?!*  The man was a Death Eater!  

If the pro-Snape crowd has taught me anything, it is that there is a 
complex backstory to Snape.  All we know is that he became a DE and 
came back to our side to spy.  I have to hear all the evidence before 
I can be completely sure about Snape, although I'd dearly love to 
cross him off my list.

Amy again (about dearest Remus):

>And if one of your best friends had 
> for all intents and purposes murdered your two other best friends 
and 
> has been trying to murder the son of one of them all year and now 
> you suddenly learn that he's seconds away from catching him and 
it's 
> all your fault if he kills him because you should've fessed up 
about 
> his being an Animagus long ago and on top of it all, the other 
> supposedly dead friend is alive, wouldn't you be just a wee bit in 
a 
> rush to get out the door, never mind any potion, never mind any 
map?  
> 
> *pant pant*

Pant pant, indeed!  :-)  OK, OK, OK.  You're right.  I must put some 
slack in my standard if I'm going to make it through 3 more books.  
Sirius, Moody and Lupin can have another chance.  Hagrid is still out 
of luck.

That said, I should wind myself up and clarify why I think Lupin has 
a strike against him, and a big one.  It is much more serious than 
forgetting his potion and forgetting the map.  Hey, nobody's perfect, 
right?

The hard cold facts are that Lupin had every reason to believe Black 
was a nutter intent on killing Harry, his best friend's son.  He knew 
Black had a secret way to get into Gryffindor tower.  He knew Black 
was an animagus.  

Then, Black breaks into the castle once, slashing the Fat Lady with a 
great big knife, presumably to kill Harry.  Lupin says nothing.  Then 
Black breaks into the castle again, almost attacking a student.  
Lupin says nothing.  Then Lupin learns Harry has the Map and lectures 
Harry about not coming forward to turn the map in.  And we're 
supposed to excuse all of this because Lupin isn't mature enough to 
be straight with Dumbledore about the Marauder's antics years 
earlier?  Lupin endangers the Fat Lady, Ron and Harry, all to avoid 
the consequences of telling the truth about his own wrongdoing as a 
student.

*pant pant*  :-)

No, Lupin's sins were serious indeed.  

So why do I still adore Lupin?  Go figure.

Cindy (still shaken from the character assaults on Moody, who she 
always figured was terrific and exceptionally cool)