Is Lupin Doomed?

[anakinbester]

No: HPFGUIDX 44646



Moonstruck wrote:

> Anyway, here's why I think Lupin is a marked man:
> 
> * The obvious clue is the Remus/Romulus myth. 

As interesting as that is, I've never really seen that as a 
legitimate basis for his death. I'm sure the name comes from the fact 
that both twins were raised by a she-wolf, but I just can't see 
anything beyond that. Perhaps it's the fact that it is such an 
obvious connection. Anyway, I just have never taken that to be proof 
of Lupin's impending doom. 
Unless he does have a Death Eater twin named Romulus lurking about. 
Then I'll worry *L*

 
> * Another thing that worries me is Peter Pettigrew's
> brand new silver hand. 

That I'll give you; In fact that's the number one reason I think 
Remus could be in trouble. A lot of people argue that the color may 
be silver, but the hand is not actually silver; however, I don't see 
why JKR would choose that particular color if there weren't some fall 
out to the fact that its silver. She could just as easily written in 
a flesh colored hand, or a bronze hand, or a steel (grayish) hand. 
But, it was silver; in fact, a big deal was made of it being silver, 
as far as my reading of the description went. 

> What I consider more plausible, however, is that
> Lupin's premature graying signifies a premature death.

I'm going to disagree again. that's stretches the realm of symbolism 
for me.  Partially because my dad was completely gray by 38, so it's 
not this completely unusual idea that he might be getting some gray 
hairs at his age. (Which I'm assuming is early to mid thirties) I 
think, as you said, that it reflects his wisdom, but also the hard 
life he's had to lead. Stress can cause graying too. 

> 
> * When we're introduced to Lupin in PoA, he certainly
> seems half dead. 

Again I think that's reading too much into it. I think that was to 
give his character a sense of vulnerability, and to foreshadow his 
lycanthrope, not his impending doom. 

 
> " 'He looks like one good hex would finish him off,
> doesn't he?' "


That I'll give. That does seem to be a foreshadowing line. Especially 
if you think he and Peter are going to meet up and fight. 
 
> Indeed, in light of the fact that that there is no
> cure for Lupin's lycanthrope (and I highly doubt JKR's
> going to come up with some miracle potion at the
> eleventh hour)he may even be willing to sacrifice his
> life for Harry and his friends. As a plot device, it
> might serve to "put him out of his misery." 

Gosh that's a scary possibility I hadn't considered before. I hope 
that doesn't happen. it almost seems like giving up, and one of the 
things I like about Lupin is he tries to keep on living despite his 
condition. I hope he doesn't die like that!


>He
> seemingly has no family and very few loyal supporters


I've never been sure about his family. Just because he's poor doesn't 
mean he doesn't have a family. Maybe his family was never very rich 
either, so they're not in a position to loan him loads of money. Then 
again, it's entirely possible his whole family his dead. It would 
make sense, given the climate that he grew up in, and what commonly 
happened to people who opposed Voldemort (I'm on a limb assuming his 
whole family opposed Voldemort, but I'd like to think so) 

You did have some good points, and I actually do agree with you that 
Lupin may have his days numbered, however, my reason rests primarily 
on Peter's hand. In fact, I'll be surprised it isn't used against 
Remus, and I think the real question is whether or not Peter is far 
gone enough to personally and directly kill one of his old friends. 

-Ani