Lupin as next Headmaster

[princesspeaette]

No: HPFGUIDX 78243

Sachmet wrote:

>First of all Lupin is one of my favourite characters but I think he 
>is too unfair and irresponsible to make a good headmaster. He forgot 
>to take his wolfsbane potion. I mean he has suffered from being a 
>werewolf for so long and then he just forgets to take it? That shows 
>how irresponsible he is imo.
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>



I have to step in and say a few things here.  I adore Remus Lupin, 
and think calling him unfair or irresponsible is comepletly unfair.  
He is not irresponsible for forgetting his potion on that particular 
night.  How would you react in his position.  He is looking at map 
(that he helped create, so he knows it never lies) that shows:

A) One of his oldest friends, an escaped "murderer" is on Hogwarts 
grounds and is using the Shrieking Shack to get onto the grounds.  
Major guilt for never telling Dumbledore he suspected that's how 
Black could get on the grounds. (and although I understand Remus's 
hesitance to lose Dumbledore's trust by telling him about James, 
Black, and Wormtail becoming animagi, I don't condone it. But I do 
understand it.)

B) Another of his oldest friends is also on Hogwarts grounds.  The 
only problem is HE'S SUPPOSEDLY BEEN DEAD FOR 12 YEARS!  The second 
he realized Pettigrew was alive, it threw everything he knew about 
James and Lily's deaths into total chaos.  It meant everything he had 
believed for over a decade was comepletly wrong.  Not something that 
can easily be reordered mentally in just a few minutes.



Sachmet also wrote:
  
>And he is unfair and unjust to people he doesn't like or who his 
>friends don't like (he is very influenceable too). He was prefect 
>but didn't do anything to stop his friends tormenting Snape (and not 
>on just one occasion, he admits himself somewhere in OOtP, that 
>Dumbledore made him prefect to keep his friends in line, but he 
>obviously didn't). Then during POA he didn't stop Harry and his 
>friend banging Snape's head against the ceiling of the tunnel. This 
>doesn't speak for his character. I think he couldn't be fair enough 
>to be a responsible headmaster (even if he is generally a likeable 
>person) but on the other hand neither is Dumbledore, so maybe we 
>will see him as headmaster. This is all my opinion of course.
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

Remus said "I think Dumbledore might have hoped that I would be able 
to exercise some control over my best friends.  I need scarcely say 
that I failed dismally." (pg 170 US hardcover) 

and Dumbledore said in SS/PS at the end of term feast "It takes a 
great deal of bravery to stand up to our enemies, but just as much to 
stand up to our friends."

I think Dumbledore may have made him a prefect *hoping* he might 
control some of S&J rule breaking, but he probably knew it wasn't 
very likely.  Hogwarts was the first place Remus ever had friends 
(being a werewolf and all) he wasn't likely to risk losing them by 
criticizing them too much. (which is not nessecarily weakness of 
character but teenage human nature)  From what we know of MWPP time 
at Hogwarts (which addmittedly isn't much) Remus seems like the best 
candidate for prefect in Gryffindor.

As for not stopping Black from letting Snape's head scrape the 
ceiling in the tunnel to the Whomping Willow, he was chained to an 
injured student and a framing-for-murder spy for Voldemort.  He was a 
bit busy at the moment. Cut him a little slack okay?


~Margaret