Nice vs. Good, honesty, and Snape: Was Snape, Apologies, and Redemption

[pippin_999]

No: HPFGUIDX 153156

> Lanval:
 I doubt Lupin would have picked Neville as his first example 
> on how to fight a boggart. And how would Lupin know that Neville's 
> worst fear would turn out to be Snape? 


Pippin:

Because he's an expert legilimens? Granted he hasn't admitted to it,
but Harry does notice that Lupin appears to be able to read minds.
Besides no one would need to be a legilimens to note that Neville
is terrified of Snape.

The very predictable upshot of this episode is that Snape bullies
Neville worse than ever. As far as I'm concerned, it was all about
Lupin showing off at Snape's expense. He could have given
Neville instructions in private, just as he did for Harry. Or he could
have done what he did in the final, and had Neville go in to
confront the boggart instead of letting the boggart come out.

> Lanval:
> So you think it's fair to judge a person's character by something he 
> did, or rather failed to do, at the age of fifteen? 
> 
Pippin:
Tom's character at eleven was a good indicator of what he became.
Lupin might have changed since then (as Tom could have) but the
indications are that he hasn't. He *says* he hasn't. 

Lanval:
> He gave DD notice, thus accepting resposibility for his failure. 
> Where in the next three books has he continued any kind of 
> untrustworthy behavior?

Pippin:

Lupin tells Vernon they'll be monitoring the situation at Privet Drive
and  asks Harry to keep in touch. Then he takes off on a  mission
that doesn't allow him to contact Harry. I think Harry would have
appreciated knowing that Lupin hadn't just forgotten about him.
Hagrid managed to let Harry know he'd be gone for a while. Lupin
could have done the same.

Pippin