The Things We Lose Have a Way of Coming Back to Us in The End (Missed Quiz Blog)

 

In Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban we are introduced once again to two characters that are, at least initially, polar opposites. Professor Remus Lupin, the new mysterious Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher and the mass murderer Sirius Black, evolve into a new extended family for Harry Potter. While both Lupin and Sirius become a link to Harry’s dad, they assume different roles in Harry’s life.

Professor Lupin is kind towards Harry and develops into a strong father figure and protector and gains Harry’s trust. Lupin attempts to protect Harry not only from the dementors and Sirius Black, but from Harry himself as well.  It is plausible that Lupin recognized Harry’s father’s, somewhat reckless, personality in Harry and realized that once Harry knew the truth he would likely go after Black himself. Lupin is comforting and understanding of Harry’s feelings but is careful not to cross the boundary between student and teacher. He confiscates the Marauder’s Map from Harry, in order to keep him in the castle and out of danger, and berates Harry for being careless. But rather than constantly lecturing Harry to stay out of trouble, Lupin takes him under his wing and guides and prepares him to defend himself against the dementors by teaching him the Patronus charm. Much as a father would do, Lupin tells Harry what he is supposed to do but then prepares him in the likely event that he does not heed the advice and needs to protect himself.

Sirius Black, throughout most of the book, is a deranged mass murderer who escaped the wizard prison, Azkaban, in order to hunt down and kill Harry Potter. Harry initially seems to take this in stride as if it was really no surprise to him that yet another person he did not know wanted to kill him. When Harry discovers that Sirius was his father’s best friend and betrayed his parents to Lord Voldemort leading to their deaths, Harry becomes enraged and seeks revenge. Upon learning the truth, that Sirius was not responsible for his parent’s death, and was in fact Harry’s godfather, Sirius morphed from a threat to Harry into a glistening ray of hope. From this new understanding Sirius Black quickly becomes Harry’s new family. The pair rashly makes plans to live together and Harry finally has a real family and a reason not to have to return to the Dursley’s.

Both Professor Lupin and Sirius Black represent a link to Harry’s father, James Potter. This not only gives Harry a chance to learn more about his father, but also gives Remus Lupin and Sirius Black a part of their best friend back. Both men continually remind Harry just how much like his father he really is. Their pride in James Potter, now projected onto his son, is comforting to Harry. Through his father’s two best friends, Harry finally has a part of his father returned to him.