The... minor characters in Book 7 - Lupin

[Steve]

No: HPFGUIDX 143038

--- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, "lucianam73" <lucianam73 at y...>
wrote:
>
> > Lucianam:
> (snipped almost everything)
> > > I'd also like to know why Lupin chose Defense. 

 
> > MercuryBlue:
> (snipped)
> > Lupin didn't choose squat.
> > 
> > Dumbledore needed a Defense teacher. More to the point, 
> > Dumbledore needed someone who was familiar enough with 
> > [Sirius] to be able to predict his moves and plug any holes
> > in the wards ...

> Lucianam:
> 
> ...I'm under the impression that was very unlikely to have 
> happened. I figured, from Dumbledore's answers to Snape ..., 
> that he regarded Lupin just as any other teacher at Hogwarts. 
> No more suspicious, no less. ...

bboyminn:

First, we must remember that Defense Against Dark Arts teachers are
NOT readily available. That given, I think under the unique
circumstances of PoA, there was some advantage in convincing Lupin to
take the position. First, Lupin REALLY needed the job. Second, there
was certainly some advantage in Lupin being around with Sirius Black
on the loose. This advantage could appear in a variety of ways; for
example, if the got into a confrontation with Black, Lupin might have
been able to prevail on their friendship to reason with him. Or
Lupin's inside intimate knowledge of Black might have given him some
advantage in a duel, or in tracking Black down or predicting his
moves. Third, it would be a chance for Lupin to get to know Harry. The
list is not an attempt to define Dumbledore's action, just give a
sample of perfectly reasonable and logical motivations. 


>  
> Lucianam:
> 
> But how did Lupin become a DADA teacher if he didn't choose to
> be one? A person doesn't suddenly 'become' a teacher, whatever 
> subject they're teaching, they need years of study and preparation. 
> ... It'd be a very weird arrangement if just any person who 
> Dumbledore thought 'useful' at Hogwarts, in a given moment ... 
> could teach the students.
> 
> Lupin was presented as a capable teacher. He was presented 
> as 'professor' since we met him (Professor R.J.Lupin, written in his 
> case). I don't see any good reasons to think he didn't study to be 
> DADA teacher. ...
> 
> Lucianam


bboyminn:

I have my own wholly unfounded but reasonably logical speculations
about Lupin and his apparent vast bank of knowledge. This stems from a
past discussion about After-Hogwarts schooling and academic
accreditation in the wizard world.

In that past discussion, I speculated that private organizations like
the [I made it up] International Fraternal Oder of Wizards have
Academic Review Committees. Although, they aren't the only review
committee. Perhaps the International Confederation of Wizards has one.
Perhaps even individual governments have their own. Any witch or
wizard wanting to improve and accreditation their academic standing
must do independant research, submit papers, and make a presentation
to one of the academic review committees. The committee of [alledged]
experts review the information, judge it's merit, and if sufficient,
bestows academic titles on said witch or wizard. 

In a sense, that's all universities were in the beginning; a bunch of
so called experts that you had to satisfy to become a 'Professor' or
'Doctor'. 

Now we've come full circle to Lupin. I have a theory [unfounded] that
Lupin's mother was very level-headed and very intelligent. When Lupin
was bitten, his standard course of academics seem very much
threatened. It was very unlikely that he would be allowed to go to
school with other kids. So, she encourage him to study hard on his
own, to put his time to a productive and useful purpose rather that
moping about feeling sorry for himself. 

Luckly, Lupin was allowed to attend Hogwarts. But after Hogwarts his
job prospects were extremely limited. Again, his mother encouraged him
to keep studying, to keep growing and learning, to keep bettering
himself. He thought he would never go to school, but he did. Now as an
adult, he thinks he can never amount to anything, but his mother
points out that the moment doesn't dictate the future. Just as his
school status changed, so to could his future adult status. It was up
to him, Lupin, to make the most of his time and his life.

So, he studied hard, he read books, he researched magic, he wrote
papers and made presentations, and he achieve the designated rank of
'Professor' [professoriate]. If he continues to study, someday he may
obtain the rank of 'Doctor'[doctorate].

It's a glum and lonely life with nothing but books and perhaps a
hinkypunk or grindylow for company, but it's more productive than
going the 'Fenrir Greyback' route.

So there you have it, my totally unfounded theory on Lupin's status
and vast bank of knowledge in the wizard world.

To the central point, I can see several logical reasons why it might
be advantageous for Dumbledore to have Lupin on his staff during that
particular year.

Just passing it along.

Steve/bboyminn