worse than a vampire

[koinonia02]

No: HPFGUIDX 90169

--- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, "pippin_999" <foxmoth at q...> 
wrote: 
> I have a feeling the silvery orb is a prophecy orb and not the 
> moon at all. " Or did you realize that the boggart turned into the 
> full moon when it saw me?" is, like many other things that Lupin 
> says, equivocal.


Carol/Message 90134
As for Lupin's boggart not being the full moon, I've wondered about
that, too. Not only does Lavender refer to it as a crystal ball after
the boggart lesson, I seem to recall a scene in which Sybil Trelawney
offers to read Lupin's future and he runs off in the opposite
direction. (If I didn't imagine this scene, it would have to be in
PoA.) But his words to Hermione in the Shrieking Shack seem to
indicate that it really is a full moon. And what would a werewolf 
fear more than the moon that would reveal his true identity?

~Calimora/90139 
Perhaps the crystal ball that could(did) reveal his future?
McGonagall's comments about Sybil imply that there are a few
genuinely talented seers out there. Perhaps the Divination class
wasn't always rubish.

Potioncat/90157:
I do think Lupin's Boggart is the moon. I think the prophecy orb was
a red herring.

"K"

The Boggart lesson:

'It's a shapeshifter,' she said. 'It can take the shape of whatever 
it thinks will frighten us most.' 
<snip>
'So the Boggart sitting in the darkness within has not yet assumed a 
form. He does not yet know what will frighten the person on the 
other side of the door.
<snip>
'It's always best to have company when you're dealing with a 
Boggart. He becomes confused.
<snip>
The charm that repels a Boggart is simple, yet it requires force of 
mind. You see, the thing that really finishes a Boggart is 
*laughter*. What you need to do is force it to assume a shape that 
you find amusing.  poa/ch 7/pg 101/uk

The wardrobe burst open. Hook-nosed and menacing, Professor Snape 
stepped out, his eyes flashing at Neville.
<snip>
'R-r-riddikulus!' squeaked Neville.
There was a noise like a whip-crack. Snape stumbled; 
<snip>
There was a roar of laughter; the Boggart paused, confused, and 
Professor Lupin shouted, 'Parvati! Forward!
Parvarti walked forward, her face set. Snape rounded on her. There 
was another crack, and where he had stood was a blood-stained, 
bandaged mummy... poa/ch 7/pgs 103-104

Parvati cries 'riddikulus'...
The bandages unravel, become entangled and fall...
Lupin calls for Seamus...Seamus darts past Parvati.

*Crack!*
A banshee appears
Seamus cries 'Riddikulus'...
banshee makes a rasping noise and clutches her throat, her voice is 
gone.

*Crack!*
Turns into a rat, which chases it's tail.

*Crack!*
Becomes a rattlesnake, which slithered and writhed before...

*Crack!*
Single, bloody eyeball.

Lupin calls for Dean.
Dean hurries forward.
*Crack!*
Eyeball becomes a severed hand.

'Riddikulus!' yelled Dean.
Hand is trapped in a mousetrap.

Lupin calls for Ron.
Ron leaps forward.
*Crack!*
Giant spider.
'Riddikulus!' bellowed Ron.
The spider's legs vanish and it rolls over and over.

Boggart comes to a halt at Harry's feet. He raises his wand but...

'Here' shouted Professor Lupin suddenly, hurrying forward.
*Crack!*
A silvery-white orb hangs in the air in front of Lupin.
'Riddikulus! Lupin says, almost lazily.

*Crack!*
'Forward, Neville, and finish him off!' said Lupin, as the Boggart 
landed on the floor as a cockroach. Crack! Snape was back. This time 
Neville charged forward looking determined. 

*Crack!*
'Riddikulus!* Neville shouts.
Split second view of Snape in his lacy dress.
Neville - 'Ha,!' of laughter, and the Boggart exploded into a 
thousand tiny wisps of smoke, and was gone. poa/ch 7/pgs 104-105/uk
~~~~
The person approaches the Boggart.
The Boggart assumes a shape.
The person calls Riddikulus.
The Boggart, still associated with what that person fears, is then 
shown in a way that person finds amusing, then the  *next shape* is 
of what the *next person* fears.

In shortened form:
Riddikulus
Snape/Boggart stumbles
Crack

Riddikulus
Mummy/Boggart is unravelling
Crack

Banshee/Boggart
Can no longer shriek.
Crack

Boggart/Orb
Crack

Should not the orb have been shown again in the form that Lupin 
finds amusing *before* the *Crack*? Regardless of whether it is the 
moon or a prophecy orb, we should have seen something else after 
Lupin cried Riddikulus. The orb turns into a cockroach after the 
*Crack*. So is that cockroach associated with Lupin's boggart or is 
it now associated with Neville, as it's Neville that has now come 
forward to finish off the Boggart?

If the cockroach is associated with Lupin's Boggart, then the 
cockroach is connected with the orb. The amusement has to do with 
the orb and not with Snape. Right??? I'm asking if that would be 
correct. At least that's how I'm reading it.

Why would it be amusing for the moon to turn into a cockroach? Or 
why would it be amusing for a prophecy orb to turn into a cockroach? 
I guess what I'm trying to say is that whatever that person finds 
amusing is still associated with that fear. It's the orb and 
cockroaches. Not the cockroach and Snape. 

I do believe the red herring is the moon. It's only Lupin who says 
that is what he sees. Yet as Carol has pointed out Lavender Brown 
sees it as a crystal ball. So should we believe Lupin or is he 
hiding something?

Or did you realize that the Boggart changed into the moon when it 
was me?' (Lupin) poa/ch 17/pg 253/uk

~~'I wonder why Professor Lupin's frightened of crystal balls?' said 
Lavender thoughtfully. poa/ch 7/pg 105/uk~~

One could look at the following as an attempt by Lupin to learn 
about Harry's divination lesson. Hence, Lupin is indeed interested 
in some sort of prophecy. Is Lupin really interested in only Harry 
or is he also interested in what the tea leaves say?

~~'Sit down,' said Lupin, taking the lid off a dusty tin. 'I've only 
got teabags, I'm afraid - but I daresay you've had enough of tea 
leaves?'

Harry looked at him. Lupin's eyes were twinkling.

'How did you know about that?' Harry asked.

'Professor McGonagall told me,' said Lupin, passing Harry a chipped 
mug of tea. poa/ch 8/pg 116/uk

The connection between cyrstal balls and orbs is seen again in 
another incident.

~~'If you must know, Minerva, I have seen that poor Professor Lupin 
will not be with us for very long. He seems aware, himself, that his 
time is short. He positively fled when I offered to crystal-gaze for 
him -'  poa/ch 11/pg 170/uk


So what is Lupin's fear? Is it his true identity or is it the 
future? I'm not really sure. Could it not be both? If you are a 
believer in the James/Lupin switch, would not James be afraid of the 
prophecy orb (Harry's ?) and of revealing his true indentity? 
Personally, I don't belive that James is Lupin but I will say it is 
possible that someone else could be Lupin. As in we have never known 
the true Lupin, just the one who is using his body.

So, I do believe it's a prophecy orb but I don't think it 
necessarily makes dear Lupin out to be evil.

"K"