Lupin and Harry ( was Movie PoA Foreshadows Books 6 & 7/search for father)

[bethg2 at yahoo.com]

No: HPFGUIDX 104293

--- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, "Diana" <dianasdolls at y...> 
wrote:


> As portrayed in the books [and in the movie by David Thewlis, I 
> might add], Remus purposely keeps himself emotionally distant from 
> Harry, and everyone else.  It could be because he fell in love with 
> Lily and never got over her, or it could be because he does not 
want 
> to open himself up to Harry and get emotionally involved because he 
> is a werewolf and that would not be good for Harry and could be 
> dangerous, as shown later on.  I'm leaning more towards the latter 
> reason.  Lupin is shunned by most of the WW for being a werewolf 
and 
> I could see Lupin not wanting to drag Harry into this type of 
> existence with him.  


> Diana L.:

> I believe Lupin's emotional reaction when Harry tells him that he 
> heard his dad's voice is because Remus *wants* to comfort Harry and 
> tell him everything about his parents and how well he knew James 
and 
> Lily and how much me misses his friends, but he won't....because 
> Lupin *must* remain emotionally distant from Harry.  Look at it 
from 
> Lupin's veiwpoint - Harry can't come and live with Remus because 
> Remus is poor and most likely has no permanent home.  Harry can't 
> rely on Remus to be there every time he needs him because Remus 
> turns into a full-fledged monster several nights every month.  A 
> werewolf is so mis-trusted and shunned that Harry's prolonged 
> friendship with Remus would be to Harry's reputation's disadvantage 
> in the WW.  Even though Harry wouldn't care one whit about what 
> others think, Remus would for Harry's sake.  Remus keeps his 
> distance to protect Harry.  

Beth: 
Thank you for so nicely defending Remus, saved me a lot of typing. In 
addition to what you said I'd like to add some thoughts about his 
relationship with Harry. 

Through most of the interaction we have between Remus and Harry  it 
is as Professor Lupin.  Throughout the books the trio are always 
being reminded that it is "Professor" Snape so it only makes sense 
that this would transfer.  Professor Lupin can't show favoritism to 
Harry as much as Remus might want to. I can only imagine that Minerva 
gave him quite a talking to on this very subject early in the term :-
) He is reluctant to give the extra lessons but probably figures that 
they would be legit tutoring and then he can spend more time with 
Harry.  In the end when he is leaving he is able to step out of his 
Professor role and be more open with Harry and give him back the map. 

Then, when we next see him in OOTP things change a bit. He is 
obviously the leader of the advanced guard, greets Harry warmly with 
handshake, and tries to put Harry at ease. Later both Molly and 
Sirius accept him into the discussion of what Harry should be told as 
someone with a stake in Harry's care. It is Lupin that ends the 
conversation by telling Harry that he can't be in the Order. Lupin 
reminds him not to judge his father by the pensieve scene, while 
Sirius is intent on bashing Snape. Again, Lupin tells Harry that he 
must study occlumency while Sirius just blusters about Snape.  In the 
MOM it is Lupin that keeps Harry from following Sirius through the 
veil and tries to explain to Harry what has happend despite his own 
grief. It is Lupin that helps Neville and intends to go back and 
check on the other kids. He is part of the group that tells off the 
Dursleys and asks Harry to keep in touch. 

Lupin has already found himself one of Harry's guardians. The 
relationship has developed much slower than Harry's immediate bond 
with Sirius, but that is largely based on their personalities. He 
treads the line between the Molly-coddling and Sirius's buddy-buddy 
stance quite well.  I'll leave the implications of that between him 
and Sirius alone for now.  I expect, and will be quite dissapointed 
otherwise, that Lupin and Harry are due for a talk in book six, one 
in which he tells Harry to call him Remus.

Beth