On the train Lupin looks tired, ill and sleeps through almost everything that happens meaning he was completley drained of energy. That makes me think there must have been a full moon around the start of term. He was probably too tired to arrive at the school in the typical manner for teachers, which we are never told exactly what that is. Also, I'm sure the professors arrive a few days before the start of term, but if I were Lupin I would have wanted to stay home for the transformation.

It's also possible that Dumbledore encourage the idea of him taking the train both so he could rest, and keep a close eye on Harry. Dumbledore might not have been anticipating Dementors, but Black was supposed to be a madman. They all figured he killed 13 muggles and a wizard in broad daylight, what's to stop him from breaking onto a trian full of school age kids? Lupin probably lept at the chance to protect his best friend's son.

well i think its totally coincidental that the trio happened to sit in the compartment w/their new DADA teacher, but maybe the other students didnt want to take seats there cuz someone was already in it so the trio had to go there cuz it was the only one left. i agree w/siriusly in love about the transformation part but im not so sure about the keep-an-eye-on-harry thing.

I don't think that Lupin was trying to be on the same compartment, I think he just wanted to be ready and be on the train incase Black broke in. He was on guard...

I agree with the fact that Lupin most likely just under went a transformation due to a full moon. The reason is this after the Summer Soltice in June the remaining full moons of the year fall somewhere after 15th of each month with August normally beening the lastest. This year's August full moon falls on the 29th.

Lupin didn't choose to be in the compartment with the trio, they choose to be in the compartment with him. Why? They were late getting to train from the Leaky Cauldron and the other students had avoided the compartment as if it had the plague. No other students wanted to have they last bit of freedom interferred with but the trio had no other choice because the other compartments were filled.

This is noted on page 74 of POA:


Additional thought: If Lupin had just transformed it might have been without the Wolfsbane Potion. If so, the transformation would have been that much more difficult for him. He told Harry when they spoke about the potion was a recent discovery, and he wasn't a very good potion maker that is why Snape brewed the potion for him. It was a complex potion.

I think what AnimagusSnuffles mean't is that Remus was transforming without the potion before his start of term at Hogwarts, which is why he was tired - after all he was sleeping and extremely shattered, which I think that was the reason he took the train. Dumbledore would have requested it too as Black was on the loose and at that point they all believed him to be guilty.

It was a coincidence they were in the same compartment, a lucky one for Harry! But I think Lupin would have been pleased to have got some rest by going on the train, otherwise he would have had to use his energy apparating to Hogsmede or finding another way to travel - at least the Hogwarts express is a free ride that allows him to rest and keep and eye on any sudden events at the same time.

I think that either he was too tired to arrive the normal way for teachers or he was sent there to keep an eye on Harry.

Don't the teachers live at Hogwarts? So that would mean that they don't have to travel back and forth to school.

That still remains to be seen, but I have a feeing they are not there 24/7. After all, they must have a family of some sort to speak of.

Not to mention he was just hired... so he wouldn't of already been there. I agree that he was probably on the train, at least in part, to keep an eye on Harry.

They live there during the school year, but during the summer they have homes. JK said some of them even haves spouses and families, although we obviously don't know who.

Probably now, because if Dumbledore wanted someone to be on the train just for Sirius Black, he definitely going to want several people on with 10 escaped DE's and Voldemort returned to full power. Things are going to really change now that the Ministry's realizing that Voldemort's back in power.

maybe he was ordered by dumbledore to repel dementors if they drew near harry and the others......................sorry im just too tired to think of other complex reasons

maybe he was ordered by dumbledore to repel dementors if they drew near harry and the others......................sorry im just too tired to think of other complex reasons

Perhaps because the Ministry was monitoring him so closely, and because the 10 Death Eaters from Azkaban hadn't escaped yet.

That could be a possibility maybe for the book six, I guess we will just have to wait and see... :/

I admit though, it would be cool if something big went down on Hogwarts Express - it could be an interesting concept, like a 'Murder on the Orient Express' scenario!

How do you know that a teacher wasn't on the train? They might have been on, but not want any student to see them. Most likely not, but who knows.

I also think that there are other ways he could have gotten to the school, but it works out that Dumbledore would want Lupin to be there because of the dementors, especially being the DADA teacher. Dumbledore would want someone there to protect Harry and the other students.

Not having someone on the train in OOTP is a good point, but i dont think the death eaters would have attacked the train on the way there, and then the way home they might have had someone there against the dementors but i think the main focus on the way home was how Harry was feeling about Sirius

I also think that there are other ways he could have gotten to the school, but it works out that Dumbledore would want Lupin to be there because of the dementors, especially being the DADA teacher. Dumbledore would want someone there to protect Harry and the other students.

Not having someone on the train in OOTP is a good point, but i dont think the death eaters would have attacked the train on the way there, and then the way home they might have had someone there against the dementors but i think the main focus on the way home was how Harry was feeling about Sirius

It is likely that Lupin was on the train because Sirius Black was on the loose and Dumbledore and the Ministry both believed that Sirius was after Harry.