[HPforGrownups] Against Evil!Lupin theory (Was Re: Lupin's Shiver...)

[Maria Kirilenko]

No: HPFGUIDX 49445


Pippin wrote:

It [the shiver] might mean that Ever So Evil Lupin is under strict orders from 
Voldemort to keep Harry alive.  See

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/HPforGrownups/message/39362

message #39362

for  the Evil Lupin theory. 

I write:

OK, I read that message... twice. I know it was a while ago, but since I love Lupin, I can't help but try to defend him, even though my efforts are weak. <grin> 

Right... The canon supporting Evil!Lupin theory: (I quote message # 39362)

"Come to think of it, Crouch!Moody does *exactly* what Lupin did to win Harry's confidence.

Humiliate one of his enemies, like Snape or Draco 
(Boggart/ferret)
Befriend Neville ( Boggart/herbology book)
Use Voldemort's name. Crouch!Moody only uses it once, IIRC. 
But it's important, because *we* have to know that Voldemort's 
servants can use it if they wish.
Teach him a really neat dark arts fighting technique (patronus, 
imperius resistance)
Show him a little undeserved favoritism (rooting for Gryffindor, 
help with the First Task)
Get him out of a tight spot with Snape (Snape's Grudge/Egg and 
the Eye)"

This seems to me to be the core of the Evil!Lupin theory, since the rest of it if mostly speculation:

"JKR wouldn't create two characters with the 
same narrative function. Only one of them can be the 
scapegoat--the other is guilty, guilty, guilty. It can't be Sirius. 
Everybody in the wizarding world thinks he dunnit. It's Harry's 
quest to clear his name. But that leaves--

Yup. Lupin is ever so evil." (message # 39362)

First off, I wouldn't say that we know all about JKR to make assumptions about what she would or wouldn't do. Secondly, Lupin and Sirius *don't* have the same narrative function. Yes, they are James' friends, but Ron and Hr are Harry's friends too... Both of them couldn't be traitors - so how can we say that 2 of James' friends are traitors? (Am I making sense? L and S are sooo different, and they play such different roles in the story. BTW, don't Fred and George have the same narrative function? Could one of them be a traitor? <grin. I am not really serious.>)

The Shrieking Shack scenario described in the message doesn't contradict the facts we know from the story, but the story doesn't contradict itself either.

OK, now to the defense of Lupin part. Yes, Lupin and Moony do roughly the same things (listed above). But Moody does them *because a good guy would do them.* Lupin, being a good guy, does them! There are logical explanations of each of them. 

1. Humiliation of enemy (Snape/Draco): I don't think Lupin was humiliating Snape. Telling Neville to fight the boggart by mentally dressing Snape in his grandmother's clothes was an effective way of fighting the boggart. While Lupin is obviously amused to see his school foe in a dress, it was the only way to act. 

2. Befriend Neville. Lupin doesn't befriend Neville, he teaches him to fight the boggart. Of course, L is kind to him, but because L *is* kind. It's his personality trait. 

3. Use Voldemort's name: Well, Sirius uses it too, and he isn't evil.

4. Teaching of advanced magic: Harry asked to Lupin to teach him to fight dementors, and Lupin did it, because *He Is Nice and cares about Harry.* Lupin doesn't want Harry fainting or falling off him broom all the time. 

5 & 6 Undeserved favoritism & tight spot with Snape: Liking a person and wanting to help him when he is in trouble is something a good guy would do... even if a good teacher (maybe) wouldn't. But, then again, Hogwarts doesn't seem too many good teachers in every sense of the word. There's Dumbledore (yes, he isn't a teacher strictly speaking, but being the headmaster, he is supposed to set an example), who is wonderful and whom I love, obviously favors Gryffindor in the first two books when he awards them just enough points for them to get the House Cup. There's Snape, who's an excellent Potions Master, but whose *teaching* abilities are... ummm... bad... Trelawney, who's a fraud; scared, stuttoring Professor Quirrell and equally evil Crouch (so what if DD disn't know it was him); Lockhart... Even Hagrid, who means well and loves his subject, doesn't exactly fit the bill of good teacher. 

We don't know much about Prof. Sprout (I'm inclined to think she's OK), and even McGonnagall, who is fair and strict and knowledgeable, has a fault - she doesn't emotionally "bond" with her students, if I may use the word. 

I hope I didn't forget anyone... that would be embarassing.

Lupin seems to me a Great Teacher, the best one at Hogwarts (that we know of).

I guess I kind of strayed from what I was talking about originally. What I actually wanted to say was: Fake!Moody does the same things as Lupin (good guy things) because he is a bad guy and he needs to show he is a good guy. Real!Moody, a good guy (I think that's certain :) ), would do the same things, which is why Fake!Moody does them.

Also, I know there have been replies to message 39362. I'm sorry, I haven't read them for lack of time, so pardon me if I tread on anyone's toes with my comments. I mean well, really I do. :)

Regards,

Maria



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