Lupin's Mysterious Background

[prefectmarcus]

No: HPFGUIDX 39576

--- In HPforGrownups at y..., alexpie at a... wrote:
> In chapter 5of PoA, we are told that: "The name Professor R.J. 
Lupin was 
> stamped across one corner (of his case) in peeling letters."  In 
chapter 18, 
> Lupin says (of Dumbledore): "[H]e gave me a job, when I have been 
shunned all 
> my adult life, unable to find paid work because of what I am."
>   The question is, why, then were the letters peeling?  Was Lupin 
perhaps 
> teaching abroad, and wanted to keep it quiet?  Or working as an 
unpaid 
> professor?  Or is this merely Flint-y?
> Ba, of Ravenclaw

There are several plausible reasons.  He could have been hired as a 
teacher (he does seem to have a knack for it) once but was let go 
when his condition became known.  The poor man does seem to have 
difficulty holding down a job.

Also peeling letters can be a sign of poor and/or hasty workmanship 
as well as poor quality of materials.  

Marcus