James, Lupin, and the Head Boy Badge (was: More Questions.)

[pippin_999]

No: HPFGUIDX 85097

Abigail wrote:
> 
>  > Which leaves us with the question of why Lupin wasn't made 
Head  Boy, even if  James was a good candidate.  I don't 
necessarily believe that the HB is selected  solely from among 
the prefects.  <snip>  Either way, there can be  no doubt that 
Lupin should have been in  the running.  So why wasn't he 
chosen?
> > 
> > I think it all comes down to the Prank.  <<

Marina:
> 
> The Prank may have something to do with it, but I think there's 
> another factor to consider: if the scene in the Pensieve is any 
 indication, Lupin did a lousy job as Prefect.  Dumbledore gave 
him the job in the hope that Lupin would keep James and Sirius 
in line, and Lupin completely failed to do so.  So if later James 
improved of  his own accord, either because of the Prank or for 
some other reason, I can easily see Dumbledore deciding that 
he'd be better  Head Boy material.
> 
> James, even in his arrogant bully days, appeared to have 
leadership  qualities -- he could get people to pay attention to 
him and to do  as he said.  Remus didn't develop these qualities 
until later in  life.<<

Ah, but Lupin had leadership qualities too. I don't think any one 
would deny that he has excellent people skills. He says he led 
his friends to become Animagi. And maybe that's his guilt 
talking, but it still shows that he's always considered himself a 
leader. 

Lupin is just not a team player, or rather the only team he's ever 
loyal to is Team Lupin.  He doesn't seem to consider that he 
owes anything to the Hogwarts administration which made him 
a prefect. He *could* have done something to keep his friends in 
line, even Sirius says so. He never even tried.

We can see the same thing happening in PoA. It's Lupin's duty 
as a teacher to report what he knows about Sirius, turn in the 
Marauder's map, not expose a  fellow teacher to ridicule, and not  
take sides in a Quidditch match. He fails consistently. 

Pippin