Bad Ass Lupin (was:Re: Lupin and Legilimency: Why Wait to Reveal?)

[horridporrid03]

No: HPFGUIDX 129943

>>Jen: 
>Jen, still laughing at Betsy calling Lupin a bad ass and thinking 
maybe she'll upgrade her own view of Lupin to a bad-ass huggybunny.<

Betsy Hp:
Glad I could amuse. :) So here's some reasons that I think Lupin is 
much more of a bad-ass than many folks give him credit for (including 
his fellow characters).  I first started re-thinking "sweet, good-
natured" Lupin after reading this essay by Donnaimmaculata:

http://www.livejournal.com/users/donnaimmaculata/59827.html

Obviously she was talking mainly about how she uses Lupin in her 
fanfiction, but she brought up some interesting points.

For one thing, Lupin was damn *scary* in the Shrieking Shack.  Sirius 
may have had the whole, "I'm crazy, man! There's no telling *what* I 
might do!" vibe going on.  But Lupin was very much the ice-cold, "You 
have succeeded in annoying me, so of course you must die," clinical
killer guy.  He was the one Peter was most at risk from, and Peter 
*knew* it. 

>From the moment Lupin greeted him with his: 

"Well, hello, Peter," said Lupin pleasantly, [...] "Long time, no 
see." (PoA scholastic hardback p.366)

to his equally tranquil:

"You should have realized," said Lupin quietly, "if Voldemort didn't 
kill you, we would. Good-bye, Peter." (ibid p.375)

Lupin remains calm and cool and ready to execute Peter once he has 
all the information he needs, with no suggestion of "proper 
authorities".  And Lupin doesn't have the "I've been rotting in
Azkaban!" excuse that Sirius has.  No, Lupin is thinking quite 
clearly and comes quite calmly to the conclusion that cold-blooded 
murder is the proper response. 

I would also point out that when Peter is desperately arguing for his 
life, Sirius needs to go all capslocks on him to shut him up.  "But  
Lupin silenced him with a look." (ibid p.371)  Lupin is most 
definitely the man in charge.

There are hints throughout PoA that Lupin is something more 
than "mild-mannered professor". First is how quickly and apparently 
easily he handles the dementor on the train.  Another big hint
is Snape's behavior when he drops off Lupin's potion.  Snape does not 
turn his back on him.  "He backed out of the room, unsmiling and 
watchful." (ibid p.156)  Why?  I can't imagine Snape treating Sirius 
like he was that dangerous. In fact, I think Snape would cultivate an 
air of contempt (he seems to in OotP, I think.)  But with Lupin, 
Snape backs out of a room.  To my mind, Snape must either know 
something or suspect something about Lupin that tells him, this
man is dangerous - treat with extreme caution. (Okay, yes, he's a 
werewolf, but I don't think Snape thought Lupin would suddenly 
transform and jump him as he left the office.) 

Another interesting part of this scene is Lupin's subtle digs at 
Snape.  During the entire scene Lupin refers to Snape as Severus.  I 
think he's the only person besides Dumbledore who does so. I 
seriously doubt Snape (who calls Lupin, Lupin throughout the scene) 
asked Lupin to call him Severus.  And it seems that staff members 
generally stick with last names.  Lupin certainly refers
to Snape as Professor Snape when he talks about him with Harry, but 
while talking to Snape, he calls him Severus.  It's small, but to me 
its an example of Lupin getting a bit of his own back.  I love it!

He was the last wizard standing at the final battle in OotP and I 
think it's because, until Dumbledore showed up, Lupin was the most 
dangerous man in the room.

Pippin makes an excellent argument for ESE!Lupin (message # 129902) 
and there's definitely more to Lupin than first meets the eye.  The 
only rebuttle I can make is "No! No! I *like* Lupin!" and cross my 
fingers and hope that Lupin isn't evil, he's just a bad-ass. <g>

Betsy Hp, so this is a second attempt at posting after some emergency 
cut and pasting.  I apologize for any format weirdness.