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

[marinafrants]

No: HPFGUIDX 85109

--- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, "Jen Reese" <stevejjen at e...> 
wrote: (Regarding Lupin becoming prefect)

> Could it have been a vote of confidence from Dumbledore? 
Shacklebolt 
> wonders later in the chapter why DD didn't do this for Harry: It 
> would've shown confidence in him. It's what I'd have done." (OOTP, 
> US, chap. 9, p. 172) There might be a history of Dumbledore 
choosing 
> prefects to show other students the person deserves an honor. Kind 
> of like Ron, come to think of it. His accomplishment in many other 
> student's eyes is "friend of Harry" just as Lupin's would have 
> been "friend of James/Sirius". Dumbledore may be pointing out 
these 
> people deserve a second look for more subtle accomplishments.

But in Lupin's case, the last he needed was people giving him a 
second look.  His whole existence at Hogwarts depended on keeping a 
huge and difficult-to-conceal secret.  Drawing other people's 
attention too much was not just uncomfortable or undesirable for 
him, it was dangerous.  And what would've been the point, really?  
To combat prejudice against werewolves?  Since nobody was supposed 
to know Lupin was a werewolf, showcasing his accomplilshments would 
not have achieved it.  Ron's elevation to Prefect is, at least in 
theory, a personal benefit for Ron.  Lupin's would've done nothing 
for him, or for the persecuted group he belongs to.

Marina
rusalka at ix.netcom.com