Werewolves and RL equivalents (was:Re: Snape - a werewolf bigot?

[lizzyben04]

No: HPFGUIDX 170404

> > 
> Lanval: 
> However, about Lupin in PoA -- in the scene we're discussing, 
Lupin 
> has had the benefit of the potion for the third full moon at most. 
I 
> think he would still be quite happy with the novelty of taking it, 
> and feeling its relief (his body likely still aches badly after a 
> transformation, but there would be less discomfort because he does 
> not attack himself). ... Then again, in HBP, he specifically 
mentions how much relief 
> the potion gave to him during his year of teaching at Howarts.
> 
> I'm so confused. :) But I still believe that Lupin had no reason 
to 
> resent having to take the potion, at least not this early in the 
> year, and shows no sign of doing so, not then and not later. 
> >
>

lizzyben:

I agree that Lupin had no *reason* to resent taking the potion, but 
he does. People aren't always reasonable or rational. I think that 
consciously, Lupin acknowledges that the 
potion helped him, and he is grateful to Snape for supplying it. He 
also know that that the potion allows him to transform safely, it 
saves him pain, and ensures the safety of others. So, really, Lupin 
should be down on his knees thanking Snape... Snape, the jerk, the 
taunter, the enemy who never loses a moment to insult Lupin, to 
refer to his illness in public, to enjoy his new power over Lupin, 
to triumph in how the tables have turned. 

Lupin HATES feeling indebted to Snape, and especially hates that 
Snivellus is now more powerful, more successful, more trusted by 
Dumbledore - and always ready to rub it in. So when Snape brings his 
potion, Lupin resists in small ways - trying to recover the power in 
that relationship. First, he resists drinking it in front of Snape - 
why give him the satisfaction of being Lupin's "baby-sitter?" Then, 
over time, as Lupin's guilt over Black grows, as Snape's suspicions 
grow, Lupin starts to (irrationally) resent him even more - because 
Snape is right. He *is* deceiving Dumbledore, & Snape seems to know 
it. And he hates facing Snape, because it makes him feel even more 
guilty. And he hates having to depend on someone who hates him. So 
he "forgets" his potion that night - this hurts Lupin, but it also 
hurts SNAPE. DD entrusted Snape w/the Wolfsbane potion - if Lupin 
transforms w/o it, DD will blame Snape for failing in his duty. 
Snape, who was so worried about security, would fail to keep the 
school safe. This is Lupin's revenge on Snape - and I don't 
even think he's aware that he's doing it. That's what passive-
agressiveness is all about.

Lupin keeps all his resentments & anger bottled up inside - he never 
mentions his anger at Snape, he never fights with Snape, but he lets 
it come out in other ways. I don't believe he consciously *meant* to 
forget his potion, but I do believe that he subconciously "forget" 
on purpose in order to punish both himself, and Snape. Lupin doesn't 
even know he does this, so there's nothing to stop him from doing it 
again. I wouldn't trust Lupin to take his potion at all, especially 
from Snape, given the dynamics of the relationship. IMO this type of 
lapse was inevitable.

lizzyben