Lupin after the war (Was:The new headmaster)

[justcarol67]

No: HPFGUIDX 116752


Alla wrote:
> 
> <snip> I think that McGonagall is 
> likely enough to survive the war, but despite Lupin's obvious desire 
> to be liked , I think he will be fine Headmaster, if he manages to 
> overcome it.
> 
> I am fine with McGonagall becoming a headmistress, but I want a 
> radical change in WW after the war and I think Lupin represents one

Carol responds:
I think it's overly optimistic to expect virtually the whole WW to
completely overcome its fear of werewolves, especially as they do
present a very real danger, but a good first step would be a
redefinition. Unlike giants, which really are nonhuman (and not very
amenable to reason, apparently), and unlike centaurs, which really are
half-human (whatever their origins), werewolves are fully
human--except for a short time each month, perhaps as short as
twenty-four hours, when they're fully beast. They are not born through
any union of human and wolf; they are created when one afflicted human
bites another. (JKR has said that the werewolf cubs under Hagrid's bed
were a lie on Tom Riddle's part; the only werewolf cub is a werewolf
child during the full moon.) An understanding of their special
position would be a first step in enabling them to find jobs in which
they could be supervised cared for during their dangerous phase.
Eventually the WW as a whole would learn that werewolves are not
always dangerous and should not be viewed as untrustworthy because of
an affliction they can't help having. But I don't think such an
understanding will come quickly, and I don't think Lupin would ever be
allowed near children after having endangered three students. In fact,
I hope that his conscience would not allow him to teach.

It would be interesting, however, to see some sort of truce between
him and Snape, with Snape providing Lupin with wolfbane potion again
as an acknowledgment that Lupin (unlike Sirius) never intended to kill
him. For that matter, wolfbane potion might be Snape's road to fame
and glory, not to mention riches--making wolfbane potion available to
all the werewolves in Britain, three galleons a flask. What Lupin
would do to earn the money I don't know. 

But I'm not sure that either of them will survive, particularly Lupin,
for whom it's difficult to see any kind of happy future even with a
monthly supply of potion. His friends are all dead, he can't in good
conscience marry, he'll have to *earn* the respect and trust of the WW
if the opportunity arises--it won't just be handed to him. I keep
thinking of Wormtail's silver hand and Trelawney's comment that Lupin
is unwilling to let her see his future in her crystal ball. If Harry
is going to lose someone he cares about who isn't one of his very
closest friends, Lupin seems like a likely candidate. I wouldn't be
surprised if he dies in Book 6.

Carol