Lupin's Motivation - That's One, Sirius, thats one

[tinglinger]

No: HPFGUIDX 130151

In response to a recent post here, I said that the
biggest clue BY FAR in the POA movie was how
fond Lupin was of Lily. Lupin seems to have lost
far more than his Marauder buddies due to the
Godric's Hollow disaster.

This also parallels the ESE!Lupin Theory, but
differs in many important respects. In particular
I do not believe that Lupin was a Death Eater or
supported Voldemort in any way. But Lily did play
an important role in Lupin's life.

So as promised, here goes ..........

In Chapter 14 of OOP, Percy and Padfoot, Sirius
makes a very interesting statement when he appears
in the fire in the Gryffindor common room:

Harry had owled Sirius a cryptic message (pg 280)
asking whether Umbridge was a Death Eater and/or
under the control of Lord Voldemort and whether
she had anything to do with the pain in his scar.
Exerpting...

"So you don't think it had anything to do with
Umbridge touching me when I was in detention with
her?" Harry asked.
"I doubt it," said Sirius. "I know her by reputation
and I'm sure she's no Death Eater-"
"she's foul enough to be one," said Harry darkly and
Ron and Hermione nodded vigorously in agreement.
"Yes, but the world isn't split into good people
and Death Eaters," said Sirius with a wry smile. "I
know she's a nasty piece of work, though - you
should hear Remus talk about her."

Now although I feel that Lupin did many thing in
his life that he regretted, I just don't buy into
the theory that he was a spy for Voldemort. It just
doesn't fit somehow...
After all, TWO spies within the marauders requires
too much of a stretch in judgment since Peter has
been extensively described as being in league with
Voldemort to be doubted.
But there IS room to doubt that Lupin is as wonderful
as he is described or that he does not have significant
problems.

So where do I see the flaws with Good!Lupin?
Lupin is too passive in dealing with his friends, but
that is not his FATAL flaw. He has ANOTHER flaw - a
law that can be understood yet never can be condoned.
The flaw is that he can NEVER forgive Sirius for
destroying his life both in the past and, if he did
not act, in the present as well.

And ultimately this flaw will consume him before the
series is concluded.


Before Godric's Hollow
-------------------------------------
In Chapter 18 of POA at the shrieking shack, Lupin
tells his story - his being bitten as a child, the
painful transformations, the lonely friendless
childhood. Only when Dumbledore became headmaster
was a powerful wizard able to take the necessary
precautions to allow Remus to attend Hogwarts.
He still became a werewolf but was protected, first
by Dumbledore and Madame Pomfrey, and then by his
new friends, the first he ever had......
As Lupin says (pg 354)
"But apart from my transformations, I was happier
than I had ever been in my life. For the first time
ever, I had friends, three great friends,
Sirius Black... Peter Pettigrew... and of course,
your father, Harry - James Potter."
This friendship continued..... and according to the
POA movie, eventually included Lily, as described in
a very poignant scene on the bridge with Harry.
Lupin talks of what a special person Lily was,
how caring and brave she was - as we read as well
in Chapter 28 in OOP, Snape's Worst Memory.
(Jo commented in her interview on the POA DVD about
how the director "added a lot of insight").

After graduation, the marauders stayed together as
members of the order, and presumedly the friendship
continued, even after Lily and James were married.
In fact, Lily was the first woman who was kind to
him, perhaps even unafraid... And he celebrated the
birth and first year of life of their first child,
Harry.
But Lord Voldemort was at the heights of his power
and the friendships forged will soon be torn asunder...
Each marauder had their flaw -
Sirius was reckless, Peter was weak, James was an
inconsiderate show-off, and Lupin was too passive and
could not stand up to his friends.....
At least not then......
And the combination of these flaws would lead to
disaster at Godric's Hollow.

Who's To Blame?
--------------------
Lupin still blamed Sirius for the death of the Potters,
even though all the evidence as provided by Sirius
pointed to Petter Pettigrew, and even after Lupin
provided the explanation to Harry in his own words.
But then ....
(POA 365)
"Harry... I as good as killed them," he croaked.
<more excuses and blame taking by Sirius...>
His voice broke. He turned away.
"Enough of this," said Lupin, and there was a steely
note in his voice that Harry had never heard before.

Hmmm... Lupin heard, understand, and still could not
listen to the excuses, the weakness... He could not
forgive Sirius for his role in the Potter's death.
Peter was dismissed as a weakling and non-factor by
everyone who described him. Why would Sirius make Peter
a SK if he hadn't in some ways screwed up himself?
(Droobles Gum Wrapper Theory)
And then again, I always found the following exchange
rather strange ....
(POA 373)
"Forgive me, Remus," said Black.
"Not at all, Padfoot, old friend," said Lupin, ....

Figure of speech? Play on words? Maybe, but I wonder...


The Consequences
------------------
So, as a result of Sirius' bad judgment at best, or
his sheer recklessness at worst, Lupin's comfortable
world was irretrievably shattered after Godric's Hollow.
His friends dead or imprisoned, the one woman who was
kind to him gone as well, her son removed to parts
unknown. Remus Lupin was alone for the first time in
his adult life.

Whether you buy into my Droobles Gum Wrapper theory or
not, there is still ample room to understand why Lupin
would not be too thrilled with his old friend.
He would have many long years to think about the
consequences of both Sirius' actions, and his inaction.
Though werewolves weren't trusted by the wizarding
community, hadn't Sirius know Lupin for years? Wouldn't
it have been a perfect plan.... even more of a bluff,
yet even more responsible to choose him as SK rather
than a weakling like Peter? As Dumbledore tells Harry,
it is our choices that define us ...
And Sirius' choice would not be forgotten by Lupin.

That's one, Sirius, that's one ......