Lupin as next Headmaster

[goodnight_moon5]

No: HPFGUIDX 77991

--- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, digger <altered.earth at n...> 
wrote:

> Lupin's combination of deep wisdom, selfless attitude, deep 
feeling, 
> calm exterior, and excellent methods of bringing out the best in 
people, 
> mark him out to me as Dumbledore's natural sucessor at Hogwarts.
> 
> This assumes that DD is going to die in book 6/7, but I think we 
all 
> accept that is inevitable. I also am inclined to think a permanent 
cure 
> for his afliction will be found before then. Maybe Neville can help 
us here?
> 
> What say you?
> 
> digger


Oh, Digger, this is difficult.  I *am* a Lupin fan - he is easily my 
favorite character (followed closely by Neville) - both characters 
being very complex, kind, troubled, and much deeper (and stronger)
than they appear.  However - tho this pains me to say - I believe JKR 
is making a point w/Lupin.  He is *supposed* to be a tragic 
character.  JKR says in an interview (I'm seeking the exact quote) 
that Lupin is "He's a damaged person, literally and metaphorically. I 
think it's important for children to know that adults, too, have 
their problems, that they struggle. His being a werewolf is a 
metaphor for people's reactions to illness and disability."   In the 
RAH interview in June she said he was the "nice man and wonderful 
teacher" but he's got this "incurable disease." I think if she makes 
it all "go away" by finding a miraculous cure, it defeats the purpose 
she created into the character.  

However, I do agree w/you (well, my suspicion is) that DD will die in 
the next book.  JKR's said lupin will play a "very big part" in book 
7 and I suspect he will be taking DD's place - metaphorically not 
necessarily literally.  Dumbledore's place in leadership of the OOP, 
DD's place in Harry's trust, etc.  We now know that the person Voldy 
fears most is Harry, so in literary terms, Dumbledore's purpose might 
have run out.  

If the emerging theme of the HP books is bigotry and this covers a 
LOT of "species" - goblins, house elves, werewolves, centaurs, 
giants - then perhaps we'll see a change in climate in the wizarding 
world at the end of book 7.  Perhaps a world where these "creatures" 
are a productive part of society, respected, and not shunned will 
make "happy endings" for many of our favorite characters. In *this* 
scenario, a wolfsbane-controlled Lupin could hold a job at Hogwarts, 
tho I don't know about Headmaster. 

Lauri