[HPforGrownups] Re: Why Lupin can't be evil!

[Erin Hamilton]

No: HPFGUIDX 75573

At 12:27 PM 8/5/2003 -0700, you wrote:


>music4masses <music4masses at earthlink.net> wrote:
>At 08:53 PM 8/4/2003, you wrote:
>
>So staying with this scene in the book, why didn't Lupin run after harry 
>when he got free of his grasp? I am sure he would have been able to catch 
>up to him quit easily. If he cared for harry as much as he seems to, why 
>did he lat Harry chase after a DE, Bellatrix, one who would kill Harry the 
>first chance she got?
>
>Just some thoughts
>
>Eowynn_24


Hmmm...I've got a pretty open mind, but the fact that there's no canon with 
which to make sturdy, and therefore viable, Lupin-is-evil arguments is 
telling. Not to mention it would be contrived, as we have one former friend 
of James as a traitor. Rowling's already been down that road. In the case 
of Peter, we already knew Scabbers was missing a toe and living beyond his 
years. We just didn't know why. There's no such evidence for Lupin. I guess 
I need to see indicators, and not just assertions based on the fact that 
Rowling didn't specifically say otherwise.

Lupin stopping Harry from following Sirius because he's Voldemort's 
faithful servant. I'm not sure in the text where that idea comes from. Did 
he give Malfoy a knowing smirk, or anything? No,his voice broke and 
speaking seemed to cause pain--a very real, human response I think can be 
taken at face value. I'd be surprised if he did try to follow Harry, since 
his response was emotional. It's more likely that he told Dumbledore, who 
arrives on the scene without any of the others. He had been busy containing 
the DEs. Did he see Harry run? Doesn't seem so. Besides, the scene with 
Bellatrix and Harry was important and had to happen. Just too many logical 
explanations justifying Lupin's benign and innocuous behavior. Also, Lupin 
would want Harry in the Order if he was a bad guy, if only to keep close 
tabs, but he insisted otherwise. He also stressed the importance of 
occlumency. Logically, this does not suggest evil. The list goes on. I 
guess I don't see anything remotely suggesting Lupin may be evil that can't 
be better explained to the contrary with supporting text.

Now, maybe Book 6 will bring some new spin entirely, but I doubt it based 
on reasons already mentioned in previous posts. I'll keep an open mind just 
in case...
Erin