Intro, Q's Lupin/Tonks

[huntergreen_3]

No: HPFGUIDX 110081

Meredith wrote:
> This brings up that same old point about Lupin's name again... is
> his name Remus Lupin because he's a werewolf, or is he a werewolf
> because his name is Remus Lupin? Chicken or the egg theory...

Josh replied:
>> If it were just Remus, then I'd be more interested, however, the
names and characteristics of the respective characters match all too
well in too many cases to be an exception. Is Professor Sprout's
family one of herbologists? Did the Blacks realize that Sirius was
fated to become an animagus dog, colored black, even? Professor
Vector's family must come from a long line of math lovers? And don't
forget enough alliteration amongst names to make you long for comic
books! <<

HunterGreen:
The thing with Lupin is that its BOTH his first and his last name 
that hint at his werewolfness. With Sprout she may have indeed been 
from a long line of Herbologists (perhaps the family was always 
interested in plants BECAUSE of their name), and the last 
name 'Black' is too common for me to see it as a clue (I think the 
dog may have black fur simply because Sirius has black hair, but 
that's just me). 

>> LOL, all the names give you is the quick hint as to the character's
possible nature before it is revealed. Any of us that were surprised
(guilty raised hand here) to see Remus as a werewolf at any point
past his full name, if not the peeling letters, should feel foolish.
Same with Sirius and the supposed grim. <<

Indeed. I think it might just be a joke that JKR has, like a wink at 
the readers. It does make the story more fun that the character who 
is a dog Animagus is named 'Sirius', and the herbology teacher is 
named 'Professor Sprout'.
Its actually sort of funny how often this happens in real life (I 
knew a librarian in middle school with the last name Bookwurm and I 
had a dentist named Dr. Jia [pronounced 'jaw']). I will admit to 
being one of the people who didn't notice Lupin's name during the 
first read (his werewolfness is so obvious after you find it out that 
its amazing that anyone wouldn't notice it before its revealed). I 
had never heard of Sirius the dogstar before I read the book (I know 
realize that's the name of a satelite radio station here in the US, 
which even has a dog on its logo).

>>This is why Dudley and the late-bloomer hint stick in my mind 
(although I might want to change my theory... Petunia could be the 
late bloomer, which would make Dudley a true Squib). <<

Dudley *is* a rather uncommon name (which Vernon himself comments on 
in SS/PS), and the fact that 'dud' is HALF of it, does make it look 
like a large clue. I can't shake the feeling though, that it would be 
such a cheat if Lily turns out to not be a muggleborn (as interesting 
of a theory it is). I think the theory only works if Dudley was 
*expected* to have magical ability.