Father Figures (was: Wanted! Complex Adult Female...)

[zgirnius]

No: HPFGUIDX 164776

> Betsy Hp:
> Right, Lupin is a person of interest, because JKR has made Lupin 
> interesting.  Because she wants Harry (as well as the readers) 
> interested.  So she gives Lupin interesting flaws while McGonagall 
> stays remote and perfect. 

zgirnius:
I would be delighted to learn more about McG. She is interesting, and 
not remote and perfect.

> Betsy Hp:
> But McGonagall *doesn't* have those stories.  Or at least she 
doesn't 
> share them with Harry.  And Lupin is able to stop Harry from doing 
> whatever he was going to do to Sirius and listen to Lupin's story.  

zgirnius:
I would not consider "Expelliarmus" a sign of a connection on a deep, 
emotional level.

> Betsy Hp:
> Well, yeah.  But when Harry is in trouble or is troubled, he 
doesn't 
> seek out McGonagall.  He turns to Lupin or Arthur or Sirius or even 
> Snape.

zgirnius:
Sorry to interrupt...Snape? When was this? I also can't recall Harry 
turning to Arthur for help, though that is less interesting. And 
(despite your feelings about it) by the conditions you are giving for 
impartant father figures, Dumbledore should be on the list. He both 
is a figure that can make Harry think, and one to whom he turns when 
he is emotionally troubled.

However, I'm not arguing that there aren't some important father 
figures in the story, only that Lupin isn't one of them.

BetsyHP:
>  There have been times that 
> Harry needs help or advice and either Dumbledore isn't reachable or 
> Harry's too intimidated to go to him.

zgirnius:
This happens with actual real-life fathers in good families. Dads go 
on business trips, are in important meetings, etc. As are moms. That 
Harry tries to find him is the big sign of an emotional connection.

> Betsy Hp:
> So?  JKR tells a tight tale.  James was involved in the Order and 
the 
> fight against Voldemort, as is Harry.  The point is, we learn 
> something about Lupin.  And Sirius.  And Hagrid. And Arthur.  But 
we 
> don't learn all that much about McGonagall.  What does she do for 
the 
> Order again? <g>

zgirnius:
Arthur is a liaison to the Ministry. Arthur also does guard duty in 
the Ministry. McG is DD's second in command at Hogwarts (not just as 
Deputy Headmistress, but for the Order as well). Neither of them 
tells Harry this. 

If you count learning stuff about James, we know how McG felt about 
James, Sirius, Lily, and poor little Peter. We also know she likes 
Quidditch. And thinks very highly of Hermione. And likes Hagrid. I 
felt she was a big presence in OotP.

She even has flaws. She lectures Harry about not losing his temper 
with Umbridge, but in the end that is exactly what *she* does. Harry 
would have gone to her about the Sirius vision, had she been around.