Remus Lupin

Lore & Background

Lupin is a half-blood, born to wizard Lyall Lupin and his Muggle wife Hope Howell on 10 March 1960. He was bitten by the werewolf Fenrir Greyback as a small child and became infected with lycanthropy, an incurable condition. Headmaster Albus Dumbledore allowed him to attend Hogwarts under protective measures: a house was built in Hogsmeade with a secret passage from under the Whomping Willow, where Lupin was confined for his monthly transformations.

The villagers mistook his howling for violent ghosts, and the house was dubbed 'the Shrieking Shack.' Dumbledore promoted this rumour to discourage curious villagers. When Lupin started Hogwarts, his condition was kept secret, but James Potter, Sirius Black and Peter Pettigrew deduced the truth in their second year. By their fifth year, they secretly learned to become Animagi to keep Lupin company during his transformations.

His friends nicknamed him 'Moony' for his condition. In an interview, J. K. Rowling said Lupin has a desire to be liked 'because he's been disliked so often,' and his main failing is that 'he's always so pleased to have friends, so he cuts them an awful lot of slack.' According to Sirius, Lupin did not participate in James and Sirius's bullying, but Lupin regrets never having told them to stop. He is also one of the co-creators of the Marauder's Map.

Reader's Guide

Remus Lupin is defined by his lycanthropy and the prejudice he faces. As a teacher, he was held in extremely high regard by his students, excepting a few from Slytherin, who loved his hands-on teaching style. Harry and his friends considered him to have been their best Defence teacher. Key moments include teaching Harry the Patronus charm, revealing the truth about Sirius Black's innocence, and joining the fight at Hogwarts.

Did You Know?

• Lupin's first name 'Remus' is an allusion to Romulus and Remus, the legendary twin founders of Rome, who as infants were cared for by a she-wolf.
• His last name 'Lupin' recalls the English word 'lupine' (meaning 'characteristic of or relating to wolves'), which derives from Latin 'lupus' ('wolf').
• When Lupin faces boggarts, they take the form of a globular full moon.