Lupin, Snape and Potions (was Re: Is Snape really THAT good in Potions?(

[potioncat]

No: HPFGUIDX 119553


 
> Neri:
> If I remember my canon right, the little of what we know about 
> Lupin's brewing abilities comes from the same passage in PoA that 
(I 
> still maintain, in the absence of counter-examples) is our sole 
> direct canon for Snape's brewing abilities. 

Potioncat:
I agree, that the only character who ever speaks about Snape's skill 
at potions is Lupin.  Now, if the reader feels Lupin is pretty much 
trustworthy, the reader will believe him.  If the reader feels he is 
ESE or just not trustworthy, the reader will reserve judgement.  I 
will have to say that I am enough of a hypocrit to believe Lupin is 
correct about Snape, but may not be telling the truth about himself.


Neri:
snip 
> It is reasonable to suppose that Lupin completed a Potions NEWT 
with 
> a good grade: he is intelligent, was probably a good student (a 
> prefect and a "good boy" who started studying for the 
Transfiguration 
> OWL minutes after getting out of the DADA exam) and he had a 
strong 
> study group. He also has the disposition for Potions: quiet, 
patient, 
> subtle and motivated. In fact, in the Pensive scene 15 yrs old 
Remus 
> seems to be more patient and subtle than 15 yrs old Severus. For 
all 
> we know, he could have got a better grade in his Potions NEWT than 
> Snape did.

Potioncat:
I don't think it is reasonable to think Lupin took Potions after OWL 
level.  I don't doubt that if he did take it, he did well at it.  
But I don't think we have any idea what he took.  No, I take that 
back.  I'll bet he took DADA.  I think he took Charms and 
Transfigurations.  I'm basing that on what I think we've see him 
doing at Hogwarts and at GP. 

I would bet that neither James nor Sirius took Potions and that in 
itself may have kept Remus out of it.  Or he may have avoided 
Potions to avoid Severus. Keep in mind, wolfsbane hadn't been 
invented yet, so there wasn't that motivation. 

My point is, we don't have any canon to tell us what NEWT level 
courses any of the Marauders took. But even I have to smile at the 
idea of Remus and Severus in Potions together and Remus getting a 
better grade!  

Potioncat