Lupin and Wolfsbane potion

[Steve]

No: HPFGUIDX 147526

--- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, "allies426" <AllieS426 at ...> wrote:
>
> 
> Allie:
> 
> Isn't it VERY unusual that Lupin has *not* mastered the Wolfsbane 
> potion?  Okay, even if it's very complicated and requires a lot 
> of  hard to find ingredients, what else does Lupin have to do?  
> He barely works because of his condition.  .... The man has had
> OVER 20 YEARS to learn how to make it!  ...
> I don't think he's ESE!, but this particular aspect of his story 
> requires a little suspension-of-belief for me.
>

bboyminn:

One small factor that you are overlooking Allie,...MONEY. You said it
yourself, Lupin doesn't work. Where is he going to get the money to
brew the potion. Not only the ingredients, but he must have a suitable
place to brew it. Not likely in a one room flat. 

Also, Wolfsbane Potion is relatively recent. I was invented by by
Damocles who is the Uncle of the current Hogwarts student Marcus
Belby. Damocles was taugh by Slughorn when he was teaching at Hogwarts. 

We do know that Slughorn was likely the Potions teacher before Snape,
and Snape has been at the school for about 15 years; just slightly
less time than Harry has been alive. So, if the Wolfbane Potion was
only invented 20 to 25 years ago, that probably implies it took a
certain amount of time for the information to spread and for the
general public to become aware of the potion and exactly how it was
brewed. So, based on this assumption, Lupin really hasn't had 20 years
to learn how to make it.

Regardless, it still comes down to money. He can barely feed himself,
and he dresses in near rags, I don't see him as having the spare cash
to gather the ingredients. Especially when the first few batches are
likely not to be successful. That represents wasted money that could a
have otherwised fed, clothed, and housed him. 

Just a thought.

Steve/bboyminn