The Relationship Between Harry and Lupin — ‘Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban’
Essay Series
The following (edited) was written as a short essay for ENG 470 Literature Seminar: Harry Potter and His Tradition.
The third book in the Harry Potter series features a unique adult-child power structure between Harry Potter and the the series’ latest Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher, Professor Lupin; it is notably curious how quickly Harry attaches himself to Prof. Lupin and how willing he is to reveal information to him as opposed to Hogwarts Headmaster, Albus Dumbledore.
Harry’s fast attachment to and willingness to trust Lupin is apparent when the two are discussing Lupin’s boggart lesson. Harry finds himself telling Lupin that something is indeed bothering him, after initially lying and saying that nothing was wrong, and blatantly questions Lupin’s decision to not let him fight the boggart, “… ‘Yes,’ he said suddenly… ‘Why didn’t you let me fight it?’ said Harry abruptly” (Rowling 155).
It is clear from the use of “suddenly” and “abruptly” that the audience and Harry himself should both be surprised that he would venture to question the actions of a figure of authority, especially in such an offhand and abrupt manner.
Lupin then shocks Harry in return by acknowledging the incident, telling the truth, plain and simple — “‘Well,’ said Lupin frowning slightly, ‘I assumed that if the boggart faced you, it would assume the shape of Lord Voldemort” (155) — as opposed to, for example, the way Dumbledore has revealed truths to Harry in the past with carefully chosen words and elegant phrases.
Harry’s initial trust in Lupin is sparked when he saves his life on the train, but there is something else there, something deeper that Harry senses that allows him to trust Lupin.
At several points throughout the book, the reader is repeatedly made aware the fact that Harry greatly resembles his father not just physically, but in action and personality. Harry is an adventurer and a troublemaker — just like his father and Lupin were when they are at Hogwarts.
In the Shrieking Shack scene, Lupin reflects on his choices, saying he hasn’t changed and remains a selfish troublemaker who breaks the rules, “He [Dumbledore] never knew I had led three fellow students into becoming Animagi illegally. But I always manage to forget my guilty feelings every time we sat down to plan next month’s adventure. And I haven’t changed” (355-356).
Additionally, Lupin, like Harry, has an extreme reverence for Dumbledore and is still troubled by the idea of disappointing him on account of breaking the rules (355).
Harry attaches himself to Lupin because he can — without realizing it — sense their similarities.
Harry is an adventurer, a trouble maker, just like his father and Lupin were when they are at Hogwarts.
The power structure between Lupin and Harry is very different from those that have been established between Harry and other authority figures at Hogwarts, like Dumbledore. While Harry and Lupin aren’t friends, their similarities and Lupin’s history with James Potter connect them on a level deeper than that of student and teacher.
Sensing these similarities, Harry doesn’t seek approval from Lupin in the same way that he does from Dumbledore, allowing him let his guard down.
Harry turns to Lupin with his problems regarding the dementors and receives not only assistance in the form of learning how to defend himself, but, for the first time from an adult, Harry finds someone to turn to for emotional support and even tells Lupin about hearing the screams of his parents.
Likewise, Lupin sees Harry as someone who not only deserves but is owed the truth, and he explicitly states this in the Shrieking Shack before revealing the true story of the Peter Pettigrew debacle, “And Harry — you owe Harry the truth Sirius!” (350).
Through this power structure, Rowling is perhaps trying to suggest to her audience that not all figures of authority should be feared or go unquestioned.
Harry and Lupin’s similarities suggest that, to an extent, adults have retained some of the same emotions and fears from their childhood, yet another reason why they should not go unquestioned.
Upon further evaluation, it can be said that Harry and Lupin’s relationship is “better” (or more beneficial) than the relationship between Harry and Dumbledore. Because Harry is not afraid of Lupin in the same way he is of Dumbledore, and he gets so much more out of this short relationship with Lupin (knowledge about himself, knowledge about his parents, someone to talk to, etc.) than he has over the course of the previous two books with Dumbledore.
