[HPforGrownups] Intro, Q's Lupin/Tonks

[caesian]

No: HPFGUIDX 110006

On Aug 13, 2004, at 10:26 AM, Steve wrote:

> Hi everyone.
>
>  Thought I'd introduce myself and ask a couple of questions.
> <Snipped by Caesian> On with the questions:
>
>  1. In PoA, Lupin is on the train with the students. Ron asks
>  who Lupin is as they enter the compartment. Hermione says Professor
>  R. J. Lupin. She gets this from his trunk which has it written out
>  in peeling letters. PoA US ed. PB pg. 74. Why are the letters
>  peeling? If he had just been hired by DD in the last 2 months the
>  letters wouldn't be peeling yet. Was he a teacher before? A secret
>  desire to be a teacher?
>
>  "Steve"
>
>
Hi Steve:

I'm relatively new too, having been here a few short months.  Welcome!

I too often wonder about the the faded and peeling "Prof. R. J. Lupin" 
while listening to that scene on the Hogwarts Express.  I've come up 
with two plausible explanations - that Lupin has been a professor in 
the past (i.e., since he himself graduated from Hogwarts), or that a 
relative, such as his father, having the same initials was a professor.

Impossible to say, but his skillful handling of his students and his 
lessons suggests to me that he may have prior teaching experience.  
(Although I admit that given his character in general, he may be 
naturally gifted.)


now comes a speculation.  Has he taught in the past, enough to garner a 
reasonable degree of experience, but not at Hogwarts?  He could have 
been at a foreign school, but wouldn't they pay him?  Here is my 
speculation - maybe he has been serving as a special tutor to muggle 
children afflicted with lycanthropy?  I would assume this is quite 
rare, but that a wizard child would come to Hogwarts - DD would allow 
it.  But Muggles cannot attend.  This might also explain why he had 
been employed with very little material gain - I could imagine him 
providing these services to families in need.  Just a thought.  Usually 
I abstain from such rampant speculation - but I guess I'm losing  my 
touch ;-)

Cheers,
Caesian



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