Full Moon (was: Support for the ESE Lupin theory!)

[Renee]

No: HPFGUIDX 123902


--- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, "pippin_999" <foxmoth at q...> 
wrote:
> 
> --- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, "alshainofthenorth" 
> <alshainofthenorth at y...> wrote:
> 
> > I wish that JKR had been more consistent about the lunar 
> phases and  the influence of the moon (irritated me to no end 
> when writing a  fanfic account of Lupin's year at Hogwarts. If he 
> doesn't transform  inside the shack, how come he does it inside 
> the castle?) but it may  be that Lupin thought he might somehow 
> make it before moonrise or  that six doses of Wolfsbane potion 
> would be enough to make him safe. <
> 
> Pippin:
> Ah, JKR's misdirection. Lupin's transformation is controlled by 
> the full moon. That is what FBAWTFT says.  Not by the moonrise 
> or the moon's visibility, whatever Harry thinks. Lupin *does* 
> transform inside the shack, and JKR never said he didn't. That's 
> how all the furniture came to be broken, and the reason the 
> villagers heard the howls and screeching. 
> 
> Here's the way I interpret JKR's explanation:
> 
> 
> Lupin went out to the Shrieking Shack before the moon was full 
> and *coincidentally* before it was up. He transformed when he 
> came out  on the night of the SS because the moon reached full 
> and *coincidentally* became visible.
> 
> It had been visible several times before on that evening:
> The moon drifted in and out of sight behind the shifting 
> clouds.--PoA ch 21.
> 
<snip>

Renee:
Here I was, going to leave this subject alone for a change, but 
apparently I can't help myself. 

Fact is, that the full moon rises at sunset (and sets at sunrise), 
give or take a few minutes depending on where you are in the world. 
Ergo, if the moon was repeatedly visible before Lupin transformed, 
the sun was down and the moon had risen. Which automatically means 
it was full *before* Lupin transformed. 

My interpretation: JKR wanted a spectacular Hollywood scene and 
therefore didn't bother to get the facts right. I seem to remember 
that once challenged on this, she tried to amend the error by 
claiming the moon rose precisely at the moment the clouds parted 
(unfortunately I can't find the quote). And it doesn't help, because 
as you point out, she did mention the presence of the moon before 
that particular moment. 

Apparently, JKR hasn't put much thought into handling this werewolf 
transformation business in such a way that it makes sense - from not 
checking any lunar charts to remaining vague about the Wolfsbane 
regime. From which I deduce that the details surrounding Lupin's 
lycanthropy aren't very important in the overal story arc, and that 
it's not particularly meaningful to attach too much significance to 
them.
  
Renee