Remus John Lupin

Remus John Lupin, nicknamed Moony, was a half-blood wizard and one of the four original Marauders. Afflicted with lycanthropy from a young age, he lived a life marked by prejudice and secrecy. Despite this, Lupin was known for his quiet kindness, wisdom, and exceptional magical talent. He was a key member of the `Order of the Phoenix` during both the First and Second Wizarding Wars. During the 1993-1994 school year, he served as the Defence Against the Dark Arts professor at `Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry`, where he became a beloved teacher and mentor to `Harry Potter`. He later married fellow Order member `Nymphadora Tonks` and fathered a son, `Teddy Lupin`, before his tragic death during the `Battle of Hogwarts`.

Remus was the only son of the wizard `Lyall Lupin` and his Muggle wife, Hope Howell (Pottermore). His life was irrevocably changed when, as a young boy, he was bitten by the vicious werewolf `Fenrir Greyback`. Greyback had sought revenge on Lyall Lupin for comments he had made about werewolves. The attack left Remus with permanent lycanthropy, forcing him to endure a painful transformation into a savage wolf at every full moon. Due to the stigma against werewolves, Remus and his family lived in isolation, and he believed he would never be able to attend Hogwarts.

To the Lupin family's relief, Headmaster `Albus Dumbledore` made special arrangements for Remus to attend Hogwarts. He was sorted into `Gryffindor` House and quickly befriended three other boys: `James Potter`, `Sirius Black`, and `Peter Pettigrew`. To accommodate his monthly transformations, the `Whomping Willow` was planted on the grounds to guard a secret passage leading to a house in `Hogsmeade`. Remus would transform in this house, which became known as the `Shrieking Shack` due to the sounds heard from it. When his friends discovered his secret, they did not abandon him. Instead, they secretly studied to become unregistered `Animagi` to keep him company in their animal forms during his transformations, which made them much less violent. James became a stag (Prongs), Sirius a large black dog (Padfoot), and Peter a rat (Wormtail). Together, the four friends called themselves the `Marauders` and used their extensive knowledge of the castle to create the `Marauder's Map`, signing it with their nicknames: Moony (Lupin), Wormtail, Padfoot, and Prongs.

After graduating from Hogwarts, Lupin, along with his friends, joined the original `Order of the Phoenix` to fight against `Lord Voldemort` and his `Death Eaters`. This period ended in tragedy for Lupin. He was devastated by the murder of James and `Lily Potter` and shattered by the belief that his best friend, `Sirius Black`, had betrayed them and murdered `Peter Pettigrew` and twelve `Muggles`. Left without any of his closest friends, Lupin entered a long period of solitude and poverty.

In the years following the First Wizarding War, Lupin struggled to find steady employment due to the pervasive prejudice against werewolves. Whenever his condition was discovered, he was forced to leave his post. This led to a lonely and impoverished existence, marked by shabby clothing and poor health.

In 1993, `Albus Dumbledore` tracked Lupin down and offered him the position of `Defence Against the Dark Arts` professor. Lupin accepted, grateful for the chance. He proved to be the most competent and well-liked DADA teacher `Harry Potter` and his classmates had ever had, teaching them practical defence against creatures like `Boggarts`, `Grindylows`, and `Kappas`. He also provided `Severus Snape` with the ingredients to brew the `Wolfsbane Potion`, which allowed him to keep his mind during his transformations. During this year, Lupin mentored Harry, teaching him the `Patronus Charm` to defend against `Dementors`. At the end of the year, in the `Shrieking Shack`, Lupin helped reveal the truth that `Sirius Black` was innocent and `Peter Pettigrew`, disguised as Ron Weasley's rat Scabbers, was the true traitor. However, Lupin forgot to take his potion and transformed under the full moon, allowing Pettigrew to escape. After Snape “accidentally” revealed Lupin's lycanthropy to the school community, Lupin resigned to protect the Headmaster from backlash.

Lupin was a founding member of the restored `Order of the Phoenix`. He served as part of the Advance Guard that escorted Harry from `Number Four, Privet Drive` and was an active member at the headquarters at `Number Twelve, Grimmauld Place`. He fought bravely in the `Battle of the Department of Mysteries`, where he dueled `Lucius Malfoy` and had to physically restrain Harry after the death of Sirius Black. Lupin was later tasked with going undercover among his fellow werewolves, attempting to persuade them not to join `Voldemort`'s forces. He found little success due to their fear of `Fenrir Greyback`. He also fought in the `Battle of the Astronomy Tower`, expressing deep remorse after `Bill Weasley` was mauled by Greyback.

During his time in the Order, `Nymphadora Tonks` fell in love with Lupin. He resisted her feelings for a long time, believing he was too old, poor, and dangerous for her. However, after witnessing `Fleur Delacour`'s unwavering love for Bill Weasley despite his scars, Lupin relented. They married in a quiet ceremony in the summer of 1997. His self-doubt resurfaced when Tonks became pregnant. Fearing he had passed on his condition and would bring shame to his family, he briefly left Tonks and offered to join Harry on his hunt for `Horcruxes`. Harry angrily rebuked him, calling him a coward for abandoning his son. Shamed, Lupin returned to his wife. Their son, `Teddy Lupin`, was born in the spring of 1998, a `Metamorphmagus` like his mother, with no signs of lycanthropy. A joyous Lupin asked Harry to be Teddy's godfather.

Lupin and Tonks both answered the call to defend the school during the `Battle of Hogwarts` on May 2, 1998. During the fighting, Remus Lupin was murdered by the `Death Eater` `Antonin Dolohov`. His body was laid out in the `Great Hall` next to that of his wife, who was killed by `Bellatrix Lestrange`. When Harry used the `Resurrection Stone` before facing Voldemort, Lupin appeared alongside James, Lily, and Sirius. He looked peaceful and young again, expressing only regret that his son would never know him, but content that Teddy would know what he died for.

Lupin was described as having a pale face with premature lines and light brown hair that was flecked with grey. His clothes were consistently shabby and patched. The strain of his transformations and life of poverty often left him looking tired and ill. As a werewolf, he was indistinguishable from a true wolf, save for some subtle, slightly more man-like characteristics. Despite a life filled with hardship, Lupin was compassionate, wise, and patient. He was a gifted teacher who treated his students with respect and encouraged them to face their fears. However, he was also plagued by deep-seated shame and self-loathing because of his condition, which made him reluctant to form close relationships for fear of endangering others. He was incredibly brave, fighting in two wars and consistently putting the well-being of others before his own.

• Defence Against the Dark Arts: Lupin was an exceptionally skilled wizard with a profound, practical knowledge of defending against Dark creatures and the `Dark Arts`. His lessons were considered the best many Hogwarts students had ever received.
• Dueling: Lupin was a highly competent duelist who survived numerous battles, including the `Battle of the Department of Mysteries` and the `Battle of the Astronomy Tower`, and fought to the end in the `Battle of Hogwarts`.
• Non-Verbal and Wandless Magic: He demonstrated the ability to use complex magic without speaking, such as when he repelled `Peeves` the `Poltergeist`. He could also conjure a small, handheld fire without a wand.
• Patronus Charm: Lupin was proficient with the `Patronus Charm`, which he taught to Harry. His corporeal Patronus took the form of a wolf, a form he disliked as it reminded him of his affliction. He often cast a non-corporeal Patronus to avoid this (Pottermore).
• Lycanthropy: As a werewolf, he unwillingly transformed into a savage wolf at the full moon. He had no control in this state unless he had taken the `Wolfsbane Potion`.

• Wand: 10¼ inches, `Cypress`, and `Unicorn hair` core, pliable (Pottermore).
• Marauder's Map: As one of the four Marauders, he was a co-creator of this magical map of Hogwarts.
• Dark Detectors: During his time as a professor, his office contained various instruments for detecting dark creatures and magic, such as a `Grindylow` in a tank.

• The Marauders: Lupin loved his school friends deeply, particularly `James Potter` and `Sirius Black`, who went to extraordinary lengths to support him. The betrayal of `Peter Pettigrew` and the perceived betrayal of Sirius left him utterly alone and heartbroken for over a decade.
• Lily Potter: Lupin was very fond of Lily, appreciating her intelligence and the kindness she showed him, standing up for him against Snape's prejudice.
• Harry Potter: Lupin served as a mentor and father figure to Harry. He felt a strong sense of responsibility for his best friend's son and provided him with guidance, support, and crucial defensive training. Harry, in turn, deeply respected and cared for Lupin.
• Nymphadora Tonks: Tonks was Lupin's wife and the mother of his child. He initially resisted her love out of a sense of unworthiness, but her persistence won him over. Their love was a source of great happiness in the final, dark years of his life.
• The Order of the Phoenix: Lupin was a trusted, level-headed, and respected member of the Order in both wars. He often acted as a voice of reason and calm during tense situations.

• Remus: This name is a direct reference to Remus, the twin brother of Romulus, the mythical founders of Rome. According to legend, the twins were abandoned and suckled by a she-wolf.
• Lupin: This surname comes directly from the Latin word lupus, meaning “wolf.” The English adjective “lupine” means “resembling a wolf” or “relating to a wolf.”
• John: A traditional and common Hebrew name meaning “God is gracious,” possibly reflecting the kindness and grace he showed despite his suffering.

• In the film adaptations, Remus Lupin is portrayed by actor David Thewlis.
• J.K. Rowling revealed on Pottermore that Lupin's father, Lyall, worked at the `Ministry of Magic` and once insulted `Fenrir Greyback` to his face without realizing he was a werewolf, leading Greyback to attack Remus in revenge.
• Rowling has stated that she originally intended for both Lupin and Tonks to survive the `Battle of Hogwarts`. However, she decided to kill them to create a tragic parallel to the fate of Harry's parents, leaving another orphan of war, `Teddy Lupin`. She has described killing Lupin as one of the hardest character deaths for her to write.