Theories and Questions...

[erisedstraeh2002 <erisedstraeh2002@yahoo.com>]

No: HPFGUIDX 52524

Amanda (AccioPotter) wrote:

> First of all: How did Lupin, who has never been a professor before 
> as werewolves aren't generally allowed to have prestigious jobs in 
> the wizarding world, know that chocolate counteracts the effects of 
> a dementor when Prof. McGonagall didn't know this. He claims to not 
> know much about fighting dementors but he can conjure a patronus 
> and knows how to counteract them??? 

Now me:

After Harry got off the Hogwarts Express in PoA, Professor McGonagall 
asks Madam Pomfrey what he needs to recover from his experience with 
the dementor.  I think it's a bit of a stretch to assume from this 
that Professor McGonagall doesn't know about the beneficial effects 
of chocolate.  I read it more as Professor McGonagall requesting the 
expertise of the nurse rather than an exposition of her own ignorance.

Lupin tells HRH in the Shrieking Shack that he has been unable to 
find "paid work" because he's a werewolf.  However, Dumbledore 
references Lupin as being part of the "old crowd" at the end of GoF, 
and Lupin also says that Dumbledore trusts him.  So while Lupin may 
not have ever held a paid professorial position, the "old crowd" 
reference suggests that Dumbledore relied on Lupin to fight Voldemort 
during the first reign of terror.  Which would mean that Lupin got a 
lot of first-hand experience in defense against the dark arts, which 
likely included fighting off dementors.

And Lupin doesn't say that he doesn't know much about fighting 
dementors.  What he says is:  "I don't pretend to be an expert at 
fighting Dementors, Harry - quite the contrary."  So while he may not 
be an expert, Lupin clearly does know what needs to be done and how 
to teach Harry to do it.

~Phyllis