Sirius and Remus (was : Re: Use of Hagrid's name - More names)

[delwynmarch]

No: HPFGUIDX 98046

Steve (bboy_mn) asked :
> > Of topic thoughts on names - How many people call Sirius Black by
> > 'Sirius', and how many people call Remus Lupin by 'Lupin'. I 
> > think quite a few; most probably, a majority. Any thoughts as to 
> > why we are familiar and friendly enough with Sirius to call him 
> > by his first name, yet, despite his warm friendly demeanor, we 
> > are more inclined to refer to Lupin by his last name? 

And Khilari answered :
> I think it's because we are introduced to Lupin as a teacher 
> first, so Harry becomes used to using his surname. All the 
> students refer to professors by surname and outside lessons they 
> don't add professor. 

Del replies :
But Sirius Black is first introduced to us as a mad mass murderer, 
and for a whole year,he is referred to as either "Sirius Black" or 
just "Black", and pretty much never as "Sirius". It's only when 
Harry becomes friendly with Sirius that he starts calling him by his 
first name only. On the other hand, no matter how friendly Remus 
Lupin is toward Harry, Harry never sees much more than a teacher in 
him, and thus continues calling him by his last name. I think it's 
just a matter of Harry's personal preferences being reflected in the 
way he calls people.

By the way, I've always found it weird and disturbing, the way Harry 
focused all his attention on Sirius, and completely dismissed Remus. 
In Harry's eyes, Sirius was his father's only friend and Remus 
pretty much wasn't anything, even though he was most probably his 
father's second-best friend ! It's a bit like saying that Harry has 
ever only had one friend, Ron, and dismissing completely Hermione.

khilari also wrote :
> Also Lupin sounds like a name and Black doesn't.

Del is puzzled :
How so ?

Del