Lupin's personality (WAS Re: Lupin as next Headmaster)

[jwcpgh]

No: HPFGUIDX 78467

> > Laura:
> >
> > We should distinguish between what Remus (this applies to James 
and
> > Sirius and even Snape as well) was as a teenager and what 
hebecame 
> as
> > an adult.  Remus may have been on the spineless side at school (at
> > least toward J&S) but as an adult, he seems to me to carry a lot 
of
> > moral authority.  He never hesitates to stand up to adult!Sirius 
> and
> > he can keep such volatile personalities as Mad-eye, Tonks and 
Molly
> > in line.
> 
 "marinafrants" <rusalka at i...> wrote:

> Well, it was the adult Remus who kept quiet about Sirius' Animagus
> abilities and knowledge of the secret tunnels into Hogwarts because 
> he was unwilling to lose Dumbledore's regard by revealing his 
> youthful indiscretions.  I suspect that his current ability to keep 
> the people around him in line comes not so much from increased 
moral 
> authority as from increased facility for judging how far he can 
> afford to go, and which buttons he needs to push.  I think the 
adult 
> Remus is a rather manipulative man, actually.  Not from any 
> malicious motive, but from the same defensiveness and need for 
> acceptance that motivated him as a boy. Young Remus protected 
> himself by not provoking reactions from other people.  Older Remus 
> protects himself by controlling the reactions he provokes.
> 
Laura again:

You bring up a tricky question.  It is generally agreed, except among 
the ESE!Lupin crazies <g> that Lupin is fundamentally a good person 
and was as a teenager as well.  He seems to be vulnerable to sins of 
omission, especially where they concern his personal welfare, but in 
the balance he comes out on the good side.  So why, then, did he not 
blow the whistle on Sirius in PoA if he truly felt that Harry was in 
danger?  A vague shape of an idea is coming to me that says that 
somewhere inside him, Remus knew that Sirius was innocent.  And so he 
didn't feel compelled to go to DD and tell him what he (Remus) knew.  
Canonically, his explanation is that he didn't want to suffer DD's 
disappointment in him (for either past or present conduct).  But if 
he kept silent believing that Sirius was trying to kill Harry, that 
makes him a lot worse than weak.  

Jeez, first we lose Sirius, now this?  The horror, the horror...