Black and Lupin was CHAPTER DISCUSSION: Chapter 29, Career Advice

[shallowdwell]

No: HPFGUIDX 115901



> >Dungrollin:
> snip 
> > There's that sideways look of Lupin's at Sirius, when Sirius 
> > says `I'm not proud of it'.  Is Lupin surprised at Sirius
> > saying this, as he'd never heard him express regret about the
> > marauders' behaviour towards Snape before?  Or does Lupin think
> > it's an understatement of how Sirius really feels?  Or is Lupin 
> > aware of exactly what Sirius isn't saying, and checking the 
> > expression on Sirius' face to make sure that he doesn't give 
> > something away? Or, perhaps, Lupin is fully aware that Sirius is, 
> > actually, *extremely* proud of that moment, and re-tells the 
story 
> > in excruciating detail at every opportunity?
> snip
> 
> Potioncat:
> Yes, there seems to be something left out.  And the way you asked 
> the questions makes me think of the scene in PoA when Lupin and 
> Snape have the conversation about the map.  They know what they are 
> really saying but we don't. And some of us needed a guide to lead 
us 
> through that conversation even after reading the book several times.
> 
> But I do get the feeling when Harry is talking to Black and Lupin 
> about his father, that Lupin is looking to Serius either for 
> guidence or to evaluate what he will say.

I have that same feeling throughout this part of chapter 29.  The 
thing that sets me off is that Harry, wanting to talk to Sirius about 
his Dad, gets Lupin instead.  And when he explains to Lupin what he 
wants, Lupin doesn't just send Sirius in, but stays for the 
discussion.  And then seems to be at great pains to defend James for 
actions which apparently he did not approve of at the time (even if 
he didn't step in to stop them).  And Sirius keeps 
talking "bracingly" as if he expects Harry to collapse if he 
discovers that his father was flawed.  

And another thing that puzzles me.  Lupin asks how Snape took it when 
he discovered Harry's intrusion.  (How like him to get to the heart 
of the real problem so quickly.)  Sirius is angry and wants to have 
it out with Snape.  But Lupin quickly insists that if anyone is going 
to talk to Snape, it should be him.  Which reminds me of how, back 
when Harry was asking questions about the Order, it is Lupin who 
finally says "that's enough for Harry to know for now," and Sirius 
yields to that.  After arguing the point heatedly with Molly, he is 
willing to bow to Lupin's opinion, never bringing up "but I'm his 
Godfather, at James' wishes," which would surely carry some weight 
with Lupin.

Very interesting. Of course, I trust Lupin's judgment far more than 
Black's in this book.  But it seems plain to me that more is going on 
between those two than meets the eye.

Like, Lupin asks eagerly "Was he playing with the snitch?" and gets 
all reminiscent about it.  But in the penseive scene, Lupin was the 
Marauder least attentive to that annoying little game.  And then, 
when Harry asks if James stopped hexing Snape after his head got 
deflated and he started dating Lilly, Lupin gets very careful in his 
explanation.  It seems that he doesn't wish to lie, but is trying to 
put the very best face on the issue that he can.  Is he concerned 
that Harry's admiration for his father is seriously in danger with 
the full story?

Wondering,

Andrea