Remus isn't THAT nice - well.....(and Marauders)

[bluesqueak]

No: HPFGUIDX 39167

--- In HPforGrownups at y..., "Felicia Rickmann" <feliciarickmann at d...> 
wrote:

Pip said:

> > It may be an unpopular view, but I think Remus is the first sign 
we
> > have that Dumbledore doesn't always trust the right people. I also
> > think Snape was right in forcing his resignation at the end of 
GoF.
> >
> > Pip

Felicia replied:
 
> I think his strike rate with DDA teachers is low overall but we 
have no
> other teachers from other disciplines to compare Remus with.  Think 
of
> Gilderoy Lockhart as one of Dumbledore's DDA teachers and what a * 
sad * end
> he (eventually) came to.  Everyone thinks the DDA job is jinxed 
after a
> while (but still persist in saying Snape wants it more than 
anything...)
> even Moody turns out not to be Moody in GoF.

True. Dumbledore's strike rate with DDA is dreadful. But I do think 
that unlike Quirrell and Lockhart, who were simply employed as 
teachers, employing a *potentially* dangerous known werewolf did 
require a high level of trust - and that this is the first time we 
see Dumbledore being let down by someone he trusts. Snape, as ever, 
is wrong in detail but right in outline. Remus is not trustworthy.

Quote from PoA, UK hardback.

"I sometimes felt guilty about betraying Dumbledore's trust ... he 
had no idea I was breaking the rules he had laid down for my own and 
others' safety..." P. 260 (Remus).

> 
> I think Remus knows very well what he is capable of.  Dumbledore * 
may *
> have made an error of judgement employing someone parents would 
think
> unsuitable * if they found out * - but until the Shrieking Shack 
incident
> Remus had not, as far as I remember, forgotten to take his regular 
potion
> and would, thus contained, caused no harm. 

Some quotes from PoA, UK hardback.

"The door opened, and in came Snape. He was carrying a goblet..." 
P.117

"I've just been to your office, Lupin. You forgot to take your potion 
tonight, so I took a gobletful along..." P. 263 (Snape)

Looks rather as if there was no way Snape was going to *let* Remus 
forget his potion.

> Like many diseases - mental and
> physical - symptoms can be contained by medication (potions)

Of course they can. *If* the patient accepts that they are ill and so 
remembers to take the medication. Which can be a very serious problem 
indeed.

> Pip says:
> > (who also thinks Human!Remus is very nice. But wouldn't like to 
live
> > with him.)
> 
Felicia replies:
> Remus, as has been said before, is much tougher and edgier than he 
looks -
> but not - as has also been said before BAD.  Life with the Lupins 
might not
> be that bad.....
> 

Oh, I don't think Remus is BAD. I have a little theory (well, as 
you've probably all gathered by now, I have lots of little theories. 
Some of them might even be new [grin]) that all the Marauders had 
some basic character flaw, and that one of the effects Harry is 
having is to make them face that and overcome it.

James is described as arrogant. Currently unfinished and truth factor 
still uncertain (it's mainly Snape's evidence) - we don't know if he 
overcame that before he died.
Remus doesn't accept he's dangerous (but does at the end of PoA).
Peter betrays his friends to save his life (currently unfinished).
Sirius - well, pre-Harry Sirius isn't exactly *brave*, is he? But 
he's learning.

Pip
(Who thinks that if Sirius was genuinely brave instead of only 
sportsjock brave he'd have faced Teenage!Snape himself and not shoved 
being Secret Keeper onto snivelling little Peter).