OotP Chapter Discussion: 36, Only One He Ever Feared

[vmonte]

No: HPFGUIDX 122309


Beth wrote:
Why Lupin? Because Remus is the only one left after Sirius falls who
is focused on _Harry_ rather than catching the DEs. Tonks was out by
then, and Moody is injured. Even if she had left them active, Tonks,
Moody, and Kingsley are aurors, with no particular attachment to
Harry.The aurors' first priority is to catch the bad guys and protect
the ministry. They are not there for just Harry's sake.

There are not many other adults in Harry's world that would have been
focused on his welfare in that situation. Molly doesn't seem to do
field work, and I doubt anyone would be sending Arthur into battle
just yet. Minerva would have focused on the children's safety, but
she was "unavailable" as well. Hagrid was on the run and would only
have physical force to offer in battle anyhow.

>From a narrative viewpoint putting Lupin with Harry at that moment
lets the reader see his reaction to Sirius's death and sets the stage
for Remus taking responsibility for Harry now.

vmonte responds:
I like your post very much, and it makes sense. I liked the character
of Sirius, and I felt bad when he died, but I really saw him as a
danger to the Order. Sirius and Snape had/have too much old baggage
to be really of any use to the Order. Their vision is too clouded by
old hurts and regrets. They dwell on the past and can be easily
distracted from the end goal. These are dangerous qualities IMO. In
Snape's case it's bad because his hatred of James clouds everything
he does. In PoA and GoF there are several instances in which Snape
could have helped Harry out, but he didn't. Why? Honestly, I don't
think I can read another Snape has a temper tantrum scene.

And I seriously think that Snape is out of DD's inner circle often.
He is always finding out about things after the fact. Why I wonder?
If he is on the Order's side (and as many posters believe DD's right
hand man) why is he often clueless about what is going on?

Sirius was a danger because he was too reckless. He never thought
before he did anything, and how helpful is that?

During OOTP I was actually happy that Dumbledore decided to entrust
Snape with teaching Harry the O lessons. I felt that DD was giving
Snape a chance to see Harry for who he was (and vise versa). But as
usual, Snape and Harry are like oil and water--and Snape cannot let
go of the past. Harry at least is capable of compassion for other
people. You know, Snape and Petunia are very much alike. They are 
jealous,
spiteful, and cruel (Petunia has a hang-up regarding Lily, and Snape's
hang-up is James).

IMO, this is the big difference between Harry and Snape. Snape is
what Harry could have become if he had let his life beat him down.

Lupin on the other hand (as long as he doesn't turn into a werewolf)
is emotionally mature enough to really help Harry in the next two
books.

Vivian