Lupin and Leadership (was: James, Lupin, and the Head Boy Badge)

[abigailnus]

No: HPFGUIDX 85129

I (Abigail) wrote:
> > Lupin's emotions are extremely hard to read.  He always 
> behaves with  great civility, but it's hard to discern his actual 
> feelings beneath his  veneer of cordiality.  Even in moments of 
> great distress, such as the SS or right after Sirius' death, he 
> keeps his head, speaking in a soft voice  and counseling 
> reason.  He always argues for the path of understanding 
>  and discourse, is prepared to make friends of his enemies, and 
> takes an  interest in the socially disenfranchised.
> > 
> > Does this soound like anybody we know?

Pippin replied:
> 
> Yeah. You Know Who. <veg>  Voldemort had a veneer of 
> cordiality when he was at Hogwarts. Everybody trusted him. 
> Takes an interest in Giants and Goblins, he does. Speaks for the 
> path of reason, at least in public, so that people like the Blacks 
> didn't know how far he was prepared to go behind the scenes.

No, Voldemort had charm, which is something that neither Lupin nor 
Dumbledore possess.  Voldemort sweet-talked his followers, made 
them promises, seduced them with dreams of power.  Dumbledore 
speaks the truth, simply and plainly.  He never sugar-coats it, or tries 
to put people at their ease when they shouldn't be (with the tragic 
exception of Harry).  And neither does Lupin.  For that matter, Lupin 
is about as far from charming as is it possible to be.  His friendliness 
is low-key and unassuming - he's constantly amazed when people 
seek his company.  Most importantly, unlike Voldemort, Dumbledore 
doesn't seek power.  He wants to change the world, but not for his 
own benefit.  His assuredness in the rightness of his cause is what 
give him his confidence.  Lupin doesn't have that confidence yet, but 
like Dumbledore, he doesn't seek power, and seeks to do good.

> 
> But where, tell me, does Lupin take an interest in making friends 
> with his enemies? He reaches out to Ron after Ron calls him a 
> werewolf, but I'd hardly call Ron an enemy. Snape and Pettigrew 
> are Lupin's enemies. I don't see him reaching out to them.

Lupin reaches out to Snape all through PoA.  He calls him Severus, 
treats him cordially despite Snape's obvious rudeness and blatant 
distrust.  He doesn't buy the guy drinks or anything, but he's 
obviously making an overture in the hopes of putting the past behind 
them both, one which Snape categorically rebuffs.

Abigail