[HPforGrownups] Lupin after the war (Was:The new headmaster)

[annegirl11 at juno.com]

No: HPFGUIDX 116838

Carol said:
> I think it's overly optimistic to expect virtually the whole WW to
> completely overcome its fear of werewolves

Like fighting any prejudice, redefinition could include teaching students
that werewolves are just people with a condition, not dark creatures, etc
etc. Ratcheting down their danger level in Fantastic Beasts and other
textbooks would be nice, too. (Yes, I actually get annoyed that FB has
werewolves at the same danger level of, I forget, something insanely
dangerous. Only one night a month!)

,> perhaps as short as
> twenty-four hours, when they're fully beast.

12 hours, max, in the dead of winter. They're only changed during the
night.

> They are not born throughany union of human and wolf

What would it matter if they were born of a human and non-human? That's
the whole point of Hagrid and that Beuxbatons woman - they're
discriminated against b/c of their lineage. The WW needs to stop its
obcession with pureblood.

> (JKR has said that the werewolf cubs under Hagrid's 
> bed were a lie on Tom Riddle's part

Side note, but, that's exactly the kind of rumor a pureblood bastard like
TM would spread.

> 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.

They don't need to be supervised or cared for on the job. They're not
going to wolf out suddenly just because they're angry or something. They
just need a safe, nonpopulated place to run around in when they change.
In the interest of public heath, the MoM would just need to set up some
field somewhere for werewolves to apparate to at dusk. And the MoM could
put up whatever wards to keep the changed wolves from getting out. Hell,
they could play together and keep each other from hurting themselves. 

> and I don't think Lupin would ever be
> allowed near children after having endangered three students.

In the WW? Where kids fall of brooms and blow up cauldrons on a daily
basis? The whole point of Lupin's character is that he's gentle and kind,
except for one night a month. He's an excellent teacher and as long as he
manages his condition (which he does, taking the wolfsbane and going to
the shack), he's a hell of a lot safer than SOME (greasy git) professors.


> 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.

I really really don't think Sirius intended to kill Snape. Making Sirius
a 16-year-old murderer would be stretching his character to reaches that
I don't think are reasonable. We don't know the circumstances of why the
Prank happened. I think it makes the most sense that Snape suspected that
there was something up with Remus, Snape tormented Sirius with the info,
and Sirius -- being a 16 yr old kid with a bad temper and poor restraint
-- said sometihng like "Yeah? If you think you know so much, check out
the whomping willow tonite." Sirius probably didn't even expect Snape to
get through -- the knot was a secret, and even if Snape did know about
it, it was more likely he'd get conked before he tried to push it. 

Also, I think Snape knows that Remus, as a human, never wanted to kill
Snape. Snape hates Remus because Snape hates half-humans. Snape may not
be a DE, but I do think he holds pureblood values. 

> His friends are all dead

We don't see Remus aside from the ten minutes per year he's talking to
Harry. *Sirius* was lonely and berift, but Remus has had 16 years to
build a life for himself. It's a difficult life, and probably a little
lonely, but I think Remus has friends, dates occasionally, etc. Remus is
introverted, too; I don't think he needs a huge social circle. 

> he can't in  good conscience marry

Why not?! Show of hands, who here would marry sweet, kind, smart and
bookish, reasonably good-looking Remus? I would, in a second. His
lycanthropy is not an issue - he can't pass it on to children (and even
if he could, that can be worked around), and he has had decades to learn
how to manage it responsibly and safely. Remus is not dangerous. Even on
full moon nights, he takes wolfsbane (which helps him keep his human
mind, so he won't just attack anyone) and goes somewhere safe to change.
He's been a werewolf for 30 years and has never harmed anyone. He knows
how to keep himself safe around others.

> he'll have to *earn* the respect and trust of the 
> WW if the opportunity arises--it won't just be handed to him.

As does anyone in life. 

Remus has something in his life that makes life difficult a couple days a
month and makes people prejudiced against him. There are millions of
people in that position; friend of mine was just saying that Remus is a
metaphore for a plethora of people who are discriminated against because
of race; religion; sexual orientation; having a disease like AIDS, MS, or
schizophrenia; or any of the other host of problems that come up when
life isn't perfect. You deal with it -- you surround yourself with people
who love and support you, take whatever precautions are necesary in your
professional life, and basically learn to do what you have to do in order
to be who you are. Remus' situation or condition is not *who* he is -
it's something he has to live with, but it doesn't have to take over his
life. 

The MoM has an obigation to the people it governs to help people like
Remus be able to live their lives. 

Aura

~*~
"You said I killed you - haunt me, then! The murdered do haunt their
murderers, I believe. Be with me always - take any form - drive me mad!
Only do not leave me in this abyss, where I cannot find you!"
--Wuthering Heights
http://archive.skyehawke.com/authors.php?no=606