Becoming Remus Lupin: Determined to Forgive #MNBHP

But he ‘accidentally’ let it slip that you’re a werewolf, so you had to leave!” said Harry angrily.

Lupin shrugged. “The news would have leaked out anyway. We both know he wanted my job, but he could have wreaked much worse damage on me by tampering with the potion. He kept me healthy. I must be grateful.”

“Maybe he didn’t dare mess with the potion with Dumbledore watching him!” said Harry.

“You are determined to hate him, Harry,” said Lupin with a faint smile. “And I understand; with James as your father, with Sirius as your godfather, you have inherited an old prejudice. By all means tell Dumbledore what you have told Arthur and me, but do not expect him to share your view of the matter; do not even expect him to be surprised by what you tell him. It might have been on Dumbledore’s orders that Severus questioned Draco.”

HBP

While Harry is determined to hate, Lupin is determined to forgive. Snape did Lupin a colossal disservice in spreading the news of his being a werewolf. If Lupin couldn’t find employment before, he certainly wouldn’t now. Yet, Lupin focuses on the good Snape did do for him—making the potion that kept him healthy.

No person is perfect. Not you or me. Not our friends or families or enemies or even J.K. Rowling (gasps—don’t Avada Kedavra me, I’m sure she’d agree). To expect anyone to be perfect is setting them up to fail and ourselves up to be hurt. The only way we are going to find true, lasting peace and friendship and love is by being determined to forgive. Not just those faults we see in ourselves but faults that we cannot even fathom. We have to recognize that everyone struggles with something and be willing to overlook their bad moments and focus on the good we do find in them.

Do we do this just for them? Yes and no. We forgive because in order to love anyone, a great deal of forgiveness and grace will need to be extended over time. But we also forgive because we love ourselves and we don’t want our anger to make us bitter and resentful. We forgive others so that unforgiveness won’t be another fault—the worst in many ways—that we have to bear.

CHALLENGE

Be more like Lupin who was determined to forgive, even the man who would never forgive him.

Next Week: Becoming Albus Dumbledore: Kind to Bullies