Wrong-headed compassion (was Re: Harry Draco and bathroom)

[zanooda2]

No: HPFGUIDX 162795

--- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, "pippin_999" <foxmoth at ...> 
wrote:

> > zanooda:
 
> > But it really surprises me that more level-headed people like 
> > Lupin or Hermione go along with Sirius without even trying to 
> > convince him that PP is his only hope to go free. 

 
> Pippin:

> That scene, more than any other, convinces me that Lupin is the
> Book Seven traitor. <SNIP>
 
 
zanooda:

Well, Pippin, I've been around long enough to know your point of view 
on Lupin. Unfortunately, I've never read any actual discussion on the 
issue, it was all before my time. I should find some old threads on 
ESE!Lupin and make myself familiar with your arguments before I will 
be able to give you my opinion.

For now I can only say that I'm not an ESE!Lupiner (or is it ESE!
Lupinist?), but I agree with you that Lupin behaves suspiciously in  
some scenes, including the one we discuss. What stops me from 
believing that Lupin is a traitor? I don't know, maybe it's because I 
like him?

Or maybe because I don't see much sense in his actions even if we 
assume that he is evil. Take this same Shrieking Shack scene. I agree 
that Lupin acts suspiciously here. He takes active part in 
the "execution", although it's not in Sirius's best interests to kill 
PP.
 
It's also not in Lupin's best interest, because after killing PP 
he'll become a hunted man for the rest of his life, just like Sirius. 
He starts to roll up his sleeves even before Sirius says "let's kill 
him together", giving the impression that it's him, not Sirius, who 
actually "leads the way" here (that's my personal opinion, of course, 
and I may be wrong). 

I don't know what is your take on this scene, but it looks like Lupin 
wants to silence PP at all costs, by killing him or at least by 
gagging him, which he does a little later. OK, it looks bad, but I 
don't understand what is the reason for ESE!Lupin to do all this. 
Does he think that PP knows that Lupin was "the other spy" and 
doesn't want him to tell? 

But, first of all, it seems to me that PP doesn't know anything, 
otherwise he would have said something, being in such a desperate 
situation. Besides, no one would have believed him, IMO. Everyone 
would just assume that he tries to frame Lupin as he framed Sirius, 
that's all. 

Anyway, as I said before, I need to read some of the previous 
argument before I have a definite opinion, but for now I don't see 
much logic in Lupin's actions, either he is evil or good.