Unreliable narrator and faulty perception of Lupin

[olivier.fouquet+harry at m4x.org]

No: HPFGUIDX 117492

 > Sirius have told you if *they'd* changed the plan" (emphasis
 > mine) -PoA 373 ch 19
 >
 > -"thought Sirius killed Peter" p351 ch 18
 >
 > -"convinced [himself] that Sirius was getting into the school
 > using dark arts he learned from Voldemort" p 356 ch 18
 >
 > - never tells us why he didn't realize he was going to transform
 >
 > - expresses no surprise at the sudden appearance of Snape in
 > the Shrieking Shack
 >
 > -has spoken against Umbridge "I know she's a nasty piece of
 > work though -- you should hear Remus talk about her." OOP 302
 > ch 14
 >
 >> Pippin

I don't deny any of the above. However, I second Neri (in almost all 
he/she wrote and especially in) that we could mention a character that:

1) Was a Death Eater, and Moody at least had some doubts that he 
changed allegiance.

2) Was keen about the Dark Arts.

3) Calls Voldemort the Dark Lord and certainly never says anything 
against him.

4) Is suspiciously passive and absent in OoP. In fact, he is the sole 
member of the Order whose contribution is apparently nil.

Yet, neither you Pippin nor I suspect Snape. Because, as Neri said, 
deep down we chose to trust him (and we hope Harry will learn to do 
likewise). Now, Lupin has done mistakes in the past, this is certain, 
but he has acknowledged them, apologized and taken responsibility for 
them. In OoP, he is nothing (speculation aside) that a reasonable guy 
who tries to keep Sirius calm while trying to comfort Molly. This is 
why I for the time being choose to trust him, though he is (like Snape 
and like every character safe possibly Dumbledore) a deeply flawed 
character.

It is true that somethings feel curious in PoA, however I think the 
standard explanation is that JKR needed those surprise in order to 
build the best possible climax in the Shrieking Shack. Besides, 
supposing an evil Lupin makes the ending of PoA less plausible than a 
good Lupin (at least in my opinion). Why didn't an evil Lupin kill 
Sirius (one order member down and the only one to know that Pettigrew 
is still alive) and joined with Pettigrew? He could also have killed 
Snape and why not Harry, Ron and Hermione pour faire bonne mesure (as 
we say in french). He did nothing of the sort. And what about 
Trelawney's second prediction? Lupin has been free the last 12 years.

Now, Dumbledore trusts Lupin, and so do I (and most HP readers). Maybe 
we are all mistaken, but I strongly deny we are confident solely on 
preconceptions and faulty perception of him.

Olivier