And Let’s Not Forget Remus Lupin

With Twilight-mania going on right now, everyone has gotten so wrapped up in the werewolves of La Push. But surely there have got to be other werewolves in literature, and there are. My first experience in reading about werewolves was in fact in Harry Potter, where we were introduced to Remus Lupin, Harry Potter’s teacher and friend who just so happened to be a werewolf.

When it first came out in the books that Remus was a werewolf, Remus was incredibly ashamed of it, as many werewolves are, and we saw him running off at most inopportune times so that he could secretly change forms and go on the hunt. But even after it came to light, thanks to Severus Snape, Remus Lupin was forced to retire from his position at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry because he was so shamed. However, Remus still played a large part in both the school and in Harry’s life. Lupin was a member of both the First and the Second Order of the Phoenix, and he was good friends with Sirius Black, alleged criminal and Harry Potter’s uncle.

After being shamed from the school, Remus Lupin still managed to lead a somewhat normal life. In the books he married Nymphadora Tonks and together they bore a son, Teddy Lupin. Sadly though, Remus Lupin was to be one of those heroes that we could only speak of as ‘late.’ In Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Remus Lupin helps to fight in the Second Wizarding War. And he does not make it out of the war alive. His wife, Tonks, initially agreed to stay behind and stay with their new son but being unable to stay away from her husband, she too, sadly dies.

I loved Remus Lupin in the Harry Potter books. He was one of the first to come to Harry’s aid in trying to figure out the wizard world, and he also helped Harry out a great deal in sorting out his personal life, especially when Sirius Black was being hunted as a madman criminal. I think for me, Remus was the perfect introduction to the werewolf world. He’s mean and ferocious when need be but mostly, he’s just a man trying to do some good in a world that is often quite evil.

3 comments

  1. uk lupin was my favourite character till i saw how the movie fucked his wolf form. I hope they know better when they bring in greyback to the movies

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