Sirius and Lupin

[Lissa Hess]

No: HPFGUIDX 106760

Bunch of bits and pieces here....

HunterGreen:
>When Harry *asks* about the incident in
>the pensieve, Sirius says very clearly that he's not proud of it (of
>course, that makes me wonder why he called Snape 'Snivellus' earlier
>in the book, but oh well). He's rather derisive of both him and
>James' actions when they were fifteen.


Lissa:
I've wondered about that spot.  Sirius answered VERY quickly, looking 
straight at Lupin.  I wonder if perhaps that was a sore spot between the 
two of them, and he's saying he's not proud of the Prank as much for 
Lupin's benefit as he is Harry's?

Pippin:
So Lupin manipulates Sirius into telling Snape the secret of the
 > willow, and uses any of several means to get Snape to try
 > it--imperius, a hotheadedness potion (is that too difficult for
 > Lupin to make?) a confundus charm, who knows? But the point
 > is, Lupin has nothing to lose. Even if he or Sirius is caught, it's
 > still better than all four of them going down.

Lissa:
The ESE!Lupin theory is one I just can't get behind.  Not because I would 
slowly throttle JKR if she did that to my favorite character, but because 
she's admitted to playing with the theme of intolerance most of all with Lupin.

The point she's been trying to get across with Lupin (as well as many other 
characters, but...) is that prejudice isn't right.  Because he's been one 
of her focal characters for this theme, I can't see her having him be evil 
all this time, because it entirely changes her point.  Lupin is a truly 
good person living with a terrible stigma, and I can't see her saying 
"see?  He deserved it all the time!"

I do think there's going to be a traitor in the midst somewhere, but I 
seriously doubt it will be Lupin.

Demetra:
I'm not too sure about this either, or was he simply clinging to
Lupin (like he does with Harry, who looks like James) as the last
reminder of the good old days. Certainly Lupin seems to be trying to
help Sirius, but that seems to be Lupin's general nature.
An unimportant side note, but I wondered why the heck Sirius never
bought Lupin a new set of dang robes? Sirius obviously has the
money. I suppose it could be a pride thing with Lupin (like Ron),
but Harry managed to procure a new set of dress robes for his
friend. Why couldnt Sirius?

Lissa:
Because Lupin didn't want to be a kept man? ;)  Only candy and flowers from 
a gentleman, dearie!

Ahem.

As far as the Glory Days aspect of Lupin and Sirius's friendship in OotP, I 
think that's certainly there, but I don't think that's all.  We don't see 
it first-hand because it's entirely Harry's POV, but there are some clues 
that the relationship is based in the here and now.  I think the biggest is 
when Sirius tells the trio that they ought to hear Remus rant about 
Umbridge.  Since WHEN does Remus rant?  That's something we absolutely 
never see.  The emotional intimacy is still there on Lupin's side, but I 
think the fact Sirius was listening, and the coherent way he mentions it 
indicates that he is investing something in this relationship as well.  He 
IS seeing the present Lupin.  (I suspect Lupin being so shabby now probably 
really pushes the point home too.  It must be really hard to come back and 
find one of your best friends in such a state.)

I do agree that there's a level of nostalgia and clinging to their 
relationship.  I think it probably comes from both sides- not only has 
Sirius been alone and stagnated for 12 years, but Lupin's been an outcast 
for all that time as well.  He's probably missed those days at Hogwarts 
just as much as Sirius.  But I do think with the tasks at hand, everything 
that's happened with the rift in their friendship, James and Lily dying, 
Harry, Voldemort, etc., they've been forced to see each other as the people 
they are now as well.  I think they just still fit together well, and at 
the moment I do actually mean that as friends.

(This is not to say that I think their relationship is fluffy 
happiness.  Not at all.  Even though I fall into the theirloveiscanon camp, 
I think they probably had a lot of subjects they avoided and arguments we 
never see.   Both these poor boys are so screwed up and the situation is so 
stressful I don't think it could be any other way as written.  Evil, evil 
JKR.  And I mean that as a compliment.)

Anyway, I guess the summation of my ramblings is I think their relationship 
is brilliantly complicated.  Wow.  I take a lot of space just to say that.
Lissa