RL/SB SHIP Canon Evidence (was SHIP and RL experiences)

[Lynete]

No: HPFGUIDX 137276

As has been previously metioned, two essays regarding canonical
evidence
for the RL/SB ship can be found at:

http://www.livejournal.com/users/elwing_alcyone/11152.html

and

http://www.livejournal.com/users/blacksatinrose/102275.html

Here's my thoughts. Some of this follows the two above essays
closely, 
so thanks to Elwing and Blacksatinrose.

I actually found most of the subtext in PoA to be indicative of the 
enduring quality of their friendship rather than a more intimate 
relationship between them. Remus' composure is broken when people 
mention Sirius (he drops his briefcase, etc.). Who among us would
drop 
years of suspicion and anger in a moment and embrace the person you 
believed had helped murder two of your best friends 'like a brother'? 
That's powerful friendship.  Speculation about The Hug? Most non-
shippers assume that's the point all RL/SB shippers start from. From 
Harry's point of view, it was 'like a brother'. That's his 
interpretation. Would Harry have known how two men who loved each
other 
would look when they hugged? (Shrugs). Minimal importance anyhow. 
Moving on, we are shown that Remus is very much IN control when
Sirius 
is OUT of control, and very protective of Sirius. Sirius is likewise 
protective of Remus. (Note: at this point in the movie, we are given 
Snape's analysis of their relationship, but we're not supposed to 
discuss the movie here, right?) Anyway, can't argue about one thing - 
they were certainly very good friends. We all want friends that 
supportive and understanding.

In GoF, there's just the order by Dumbledore to Sirius to "lay low at 
Lupin's". I found that interesting speculation only because she tells 
us Lupin HAS 'a place". I'm merely curious as to where Remus lived,
and 
how he paid his bills.

OoTP is where I found "canon fodder" and came around.

-Lupin pulls out his wand and taps on the door of Number 12 Grimmauld 
place. Everybody else rings the bell and awakens Mrs. Black. Lupin
has 
the key, or has been apparently accepted as a member of the household 
in a way others aren't. On p86 b/91 US, Lupin leaves the table to
shut 
up Mrs. Black's portrait. Again, that seems very much a job of an 
official member of the household. Then on p 110 B/96 US we are 
told, "...Lupin, who was staying in the house with Sirius...". 
Not "Lupin,who was staying there to save money" or "Lupin, who was 
staying in the house to be close to the Order." JKR could have said 
anything she wanted, but she was specific - he was stying there
*with* 
Sirius. Definitely a member of the 'new' family at Grimmauld Place.
The 
question is, does 'like a brother' still apply? Well,if it had been, 
say Tonks, who was staying in the the house with Sirius, I'd think 
*not* like a sibling.

-The forty line stare (pp84-85 B/ pp88-89 US).This is the discussion
at 
the dinner table about how much to tell Harry which begins "Lupin's 
eyes were fixed on Sirius" and ends 40 lines later with Lupin
"looking 
away from Sirius at last". They look at each other A LOT. 

Ignipes from Fiction Alley noted: "Reading through the scenes in
which 
Remus and Sirius both appear, something I notice is that we ALWAYS
know 
when they are looking at or touching each other. Always. Even if
Harry 
is the focal point of the scene, JKR makes a point of telling us when 
Remus looks at Sirius, when Sirius looks at Remus, when one of them 
touches the other, even in the most casual way." Referring to PoA, 
Elwing did a count and found 45 pages when Remus and Sirius were 
together. In those pages, they look at each other 15 times, Ron and 
Hermione look at each other 9 times and Harry and Hermione look at
each 
other 5 times - that includes the times when Harry looked at Ron AND 
Hermione. JKR seems to be making a point here - maybe just that Remus 
finds his friend unpredictable and wants to be ready to do damage 
control. Maybe not. Not all of us saw HP/GW coming even though JKR
says 
it was there.

-The joint Christmas gift. Lupin hadn't even written to Harry before, 
and while the absence of gifts before or after OoTP are explainable 
because of Remus' financial situation, there were no cards or letters 
after this either.

-Snape's pensieve. At least one girl is noticing Sirius, and James is 
checking out the girls. But Sirius is just looking canonically 
gorgeous...Being handsome is not proof of orientation, of course, but 
the fact that he's attractive and *not* noticing the girl who finds
him 
so is interesting. In fact, throughout the books we find hints about 
everyone else's orientation - Dumbledore blushes at a compliment by 
Madame Pomfrey, James looks at the girls by the lake etc., but JKR 
hasn't given us any clues about Remus and Sirius - until the RL/NT 
references in HBP, which seem unrequited on Lupin' part.

-Harry calls Grimmauld Place through the fireplace. Lupin answers, 
fetches Sirius and kneels down to join the conversation. I found that 
to indicate Remus was feeling comfortable enough at the house to
listen 
in on Sirius' call on the other phone so to speak. I don't know about 
you, but I wouldn't feel comfortable about doing that at any of my 
friend's houses.

-HBP. As I've said before, I do not accept that Tonks has been
herself. 
She's graceful, her manner of speech is different, her Patronus has 
changed. I need more subtext to accept RL/NT.

I really don't like to debate ships, but I've now pointed out the
canon 
evidence for RL/SB, such as it is. Please check out the essays above, 
make up your own mind and whatever you decide , please be cordial to 
the poor shippers, whatever their particular One True Way may be!

Slainte',
Lynette