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

[nkafkafi]

No: HPFGUIDX 119603


> 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:
As Boyd recently told us, it is pretty limited to consider a character
either hypocrite or trustworthy, either saint or ESE. Instead we
should consider the whole arc of this character and, I'd add, the
situation in which he told us any canon "fact". One of Lupin's most
obvious character qualities is that he is very modest and understated.
I can't recall him ever claiming to be an authority on anything, not
even things he is obviously very good at, but he'll readily tell you
how much any other person (including Snape) is good and kind and
courageous. Pretty logical too, in his situation: if he draws too much
attention to himself, even positive attention, his secret might be
revealed. When I hear Lupin saying something like "I'm not an expert
on X" I get suspicious. I don't suspect him to be an ESE because he
says Voldemort's name and because he repeatedly shows his capability
for empathy, especially for hurt people and victims of wrongdoing, but
 I do suspect him to hide his own abilities.

> 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.

Neri:
I think I'd take that bet. Potions is an important subject and James
was a head boy, which requires academic excellency. And do you think
head girl Lily also didn't take Potions? More probably she did, and
James followed her there, and the other three marauders probably
followed James. Morover, we don't know who was the Potions teacher
back then, but there's no reason to assume that he/she was as
terrifying as Professor Snape is, nor require such an absurdly high
mark to get into the NEWT class. Potions in the 70s may have been a
popular subject.

> Potioncat:  
> Or he may have avoided 
> Potions to avoid Severus. 

Neri:
Why would he avoid Severus? Lupin is hardly a coward. He may have a
problem standing up to his friends, but not to his enemies.

> Potioncat:
> Keep in mind, wolfsbane hadn't been 
> invented yet, so there wasn't that motivation. 
> 

Neri:
But there was probably some research in the field, and there was the
hope of discovering a cure, and there was the motivation to prove
himself and prove DD right when admitting him.

> Potioncat:
> 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!  
>

Neri:
Only because fandom!Snape is a Potions genius. When I consider
canon!Snape and canon!Lupin, I prefer to reserve judgment. However, I
agree that it won't be in character for Lupin to get the highest grade
in any class. Better make sure it's only the second highest grade, and
avoid drawing too much attention.
 
Neri