[HPforGrownups] Re: The Timing of Lupin (long)

[mindy bindy]

No: HPFGUIDX 109881

> SSSusan:
> I disagree with the strength of the statements made here re: the 
> degree of risk taken for Lupin's sake vs. the worth of Lupin's 
> contributions.  I'll start off right away acknowledging that as a 
> student, Lupin & buddies took tremendous, sometimes stupid risks 
> *and* that on the night of the SS incident Lupin failed to take his 
> potion.  He HAS made mistakes; risks have been present.   But I 
> wouldn't go so far as to say they weren't really worth the payoff.
> 

h: I was just extending an argument to be cheeky - in reality I'm all in 
favour of him. I just think it's worth pointing out the physical risk he 
could present. (something that many other modern werewolf renditions 
don't deal with)

> I think Lupin's contributions *have* been significant or at 
> least "worth it."  In the beginning, as a student, DD took him and 
> set the stage for being able to say to the world at large, "See?  
> Discrimination against a werewolf is unnecessary."  Lupin made it 
> through 7 years, became a prefect, and almost the entire student body 
> was none the wiser.  [Yes, there are still those pesky "what ifs" 
> regarding the Marauder risks, but nothing awful DID happen in the 
> end.]  DD is a man who believes that wizards need to treat their 
> fellows and those creatures "lesser" than themselves better than they 
> have done.  He took the risk, he made a (quiet) stand, but at any 
> time he could have pointed out that it had worked.  In that way Lupin 
> was sort of a "test case" and I'd argue that turned out to be worth 
> the risk.  No, we don't know of any more werewolf children who've 
> come to Hogwarts, but if another appeared on the scene, would DD take 
> him/her in?  Based on his experience w/ Lupin, I think he would.  
> [And he might watch him/her more closely!]

h: Yes, I can see that he'd be a good test case if the subject ever came 
up, but as an exercise in mixed-tutoring it was a partial security 
failure, as the amount of risk to other pupils in letting him and his 
mates wander the grounds is unacceptable. Although the WW does have a 
different concept of risk than the outside world, an incurable disease 
like lycanthropy needs to be taken seriously. (I am in favour of DD 
making any amount of effort to make people such as Lupin part of 
society, I just think he didn't consider security properly). In such an 
extreme case, DD should have had him watched every single month.

...

> With OotP I think it's an understatement to say all he did of 
> importance was stop Harry from going through the veil.  He led the 
> advance guard at the start of the year; he took the lead in 
> addressing the Dursleys again at the end of the year.  His role with 
> the Ordersimilar to that of Molly, Kingsley, and many otherswasn't 
> spelled out clearly.  

h: I think I may be forgetting how much comes from Harry's POV. He 
doesn't know or care what many of the adults get up to, despite wanting 
to join the Order. Perhaps it would help if he asked some questions 
about other people for a change!

We did find out what Hagrid was doing, and we
> know Snape is doing SOMETHING important and dangerous, and we know 
> Order members are taking turns pulling guard duty in the MoM.  We 
> know Lupin was present at meetings and helping with planning.  That's 
> about all we know.  Just because we don't know the specifics of what 
> these folks are doing doesn't mean they're not contributing.  I guess 
> I'm asking, is there a reason to suspect that Lupin, especially, has 
> added nothing worthwhile to the cause?  I'd think that *Sirius* is 
> the one whose contributions would be questioned, since he was unable 
> to get out and do much.  But why Lupin?  
> 

h: He didn't seem to do a lot in the MoM battle, but agin it's hard to 
tell when everything is told from Harry's POV. I didn't realise what an 
interesting and mystery-making writing technique it is until now. 
Sometimes it's so frustrating that Harry doesn't ask the right questions.

> Also, now that he's NOT teaching at Hogwarts and so isn't tied to a 
> job position that makes it difficult to disappear for a couple of 
> days each month, what is the risk to the Order of having him in it?  


h: I don't think he's any risk *now* - he'll just make the usual 
discreet arrangements, made easier by being in contact with Snape. It's 
just... a fishy feeling.