Full Moon - A Rant About Lycantrophy Symptoms

[pippin_999]

No: HPFGUIDX 123972



> Neri:
> Renee, I agree with all my heart that JKR didn't put much 
thought int the whole transformation thing, which most probably 
means it's not something important in the story. I once got very 
interested with Potterverse lycanthropy and did a full research on 
Lupin's symptoms. A
> lot of wasted time. What was I thinking? That I'm going to 
discover the cure for lycanthropy and win myself an Order of 
Merlin?

Pippin:
Poor Neri! I know the feeling. Nobody's going to give me an 
Order of Merlin for my work either. Though you would certainly 
rate a LOON.<g>

I agree that Lupin's secondary symptoms aren't consistent, but 
that makes it realistic to me. Just because the outbreaks are 
periodic doesn't mean the secondary symptoms are regular...as 
I'm sure you know if there's anyone in your life dealing with  PMS 
and/or menstrual cramps. Outbreaks of MS can be the same 
way. My sister *knows* she's going to get an exacerbation of her 
MS two weeks after she catches cold...but no idea of how bad it's 
going to be.

As you point out, Lupin's absences in the book are not regular 
nor are his bouts of illness, and so it seems that JKR is being  
careless, since they are a clue to what he is. But not really. 

Unlike Hermione we readers can't make anything of Lupin's 
absences. We don't observe enough of them and we don't get a 
lunar chart to compare them to. 

But  I'd say JKR is well aware of this, and to make up for it,  she 
gave the readers a clue that Hermione couldn't use: Lupin's 
name.

Pippin