Of Dishwashers and Animagi

[marinafrants]

No: HPFGUIDX 39858

--- In HPforGrownups at y..., "grey_wolf_c" <greywolf1 at j...> wrote:
> > If Dumbledore had known about the Marauders, I'm sure he would
have 
> > put a stop to the whole thing immediately. He wouldn't have
allowed a 
> > werewolf to wander about and he wouldn't have allowed students to 
> > perform illegal magic.  
> > 
> > Naama
> 
> Why did Dumbledore allow a werewolf into the school? I'm sure it's
much 
> more illegal that than a few unregistered animagi (which seems to be
a 
> common crime). 

There's no indication that letting a werewolf into the school is
illegal at all.  Dumbledore kept it secret because he didn't want
Remus ostracized, and because he didn't want the parents of the other
kids to panic.  If it's legal for a werewolf to teach, I don't see why
it would be illegal for him to attend school.

But Lupin was admitted on the condition that he stay put in the
Shrieking Shack at full moon.  He had no business breaking that
condition, and if Dumbledore knew about it, he had no business
allowing it.

> The animgi transformations allowed Lupin, for the first 
> time, to have some real friends, which is what Dumbledore had been 
> looking for all along when he admited him.
> 
> Dumbledore trusted the boys' good sense, and knew they were not
going 
> to allow Lupin to harm someone. We also know that he is, at least, 
> tolerant with the sort of petty crimes that happen at a boarding
school 
> (such as someone going to the kitchens to steal).

Having friends is one thing.  Knowingly endangering innocent people is
something else entirely.  It's not a petty crime.  Lupin himself
admits that they had several close calls during their Hogsmeade
outings, and that their behavior was wrong.

Then again, the whole Dishwasher theory seems to depend on Dumbledore
being criminally cavalier about the lives of innocent bystanders.  If
he's willing to unleash a reincarnated Voldemort on the general
population while he waits for Harry to grow up, then I suppose the
risk of Lupin munching an occasional pedestrian in Hogsmeade isn't
going to faze him either.

Marina
rusalka at ix.netcom.com