Lupin vs Snape (was Lupin and "Severus")

[Renee]

No: HPFGUIDX 157093

--- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, "Sydney" <sydpad at ...> wrote:
>
>
>Sidney: 
> As for whether Snape's most serious accusation about Lupin is
> mistaken.. well, obviously the ESE argument relies on us not
actually > knowing YET what Lupin's motives and actions are!   


Renee:
But what *is* Snape's most serious accusation against Lupin? That he's
the accomplice of a murderer, actively helping him gain access to his
prospective victim. But Sirius is not a murderer and Lupin wasn't his
accomplice. So the answer would be: yes, Snape was mistaken when he
made this particular accusation. 

Otherwise, Snape makes a derogatory remark about Tonks's Patronus,
calling it weak. This suggests he considers Lupin weak, though he
doesn't even say it in so many words. IMO, this is rather flimsy
evidence, and the content is open to debate. Lupin is weak in certain
areas, but not in others. He has some strengths that Snape lacks (and
vice versa). And being weak doesn't make them evil per se, neither
Lupin nor Snape.    

I've tried to remember other accusations Snape makes against Lupin,
but my memory fails me. Compared to his rants about James and Sirius
and his altercation with the latter in OotP (kitchen scene), what he
*says* about Lupin is actually rather mild, coming from him. 

Snape mostly shows his suspicions by actions - the way he backs out of
Lupin's office, tying Lupin up at the Shack, outing him to the
students. That is what suggests us he's wary of Lupin. His remark
about not knowing the way a werewolf's mind works, also fits in here.
But all these instances are related to Lupin's status as a werewolf,
and IIRC the ESE!theory hinges on Lupin's flaws as a human being. 


> 
> 
> > Renee:
> > But he was wrong about Lupin's motives and his reasons for going to
> > the Shrieking Shack, he was wrong about Sirius, he was wrong about
> > James using Sirius as a Secret-Keeper.
> 
> 
> Sydney:
> 
Actually, James did use Sirius as his SK. He switched to Peter, but
Sirius was the original one. See above for Lupin's motives-- he could
still be lying.

Renee:
Sorry, I wasn't clear. I meant to say Snape's claim that James died
because he used Sirius as his SK was wrong. James did not use Sirius.
That was only the original plan, but they changed to Peter in the last
moment. Though I don't suppose this was because James actually
believed Snape...
As for Lupin still lying, could you be more specific? You mean he
could be lying about his reasons for not telling DD about Padfoot? 

 
> > Renee, previously:
> > Ha! Someone who doesn't dismiss the alchemy theory. But according to
> > this theory, Lupin/Tonks requires Snape to be married to an old woman,
> > and I still wonder who that might be. Especially as JKR has said that
> > information about teachers' mariages is restricted.  
> 
> Sydney:
> 
> See, I wonder if the 'old woman' paired with Snape isn't McGonnegal? 
> They're not married (as far as I know! *eyes them suspiciously*), but
> they often appear paired and she seems like one of the few people
> Snape is comfortable with.  So it could work symbolically.
> 

Renee:
Hey, I was thinking about McGonagall, too!