Why Did Lupin Choose the Hogwarts Express for Traveling to Hogwarts?
Every year, Hogwarts gets a new Defense Against Dark Arts professor. In the first book, it’s Quirrell; the second year gives us Lockhart, and so on. Professor Remus Lupin is quite an odd one out here, and not only because he is a werewolf. One notable peculiarity is that of all the DADA professors, Lupin is the only one who arrives at Hogwarts via the Hogwarts Express. He could have traveled by other methods, such as a Portkey or Floo powder, so what was the reason behind him choosing the Hogwarts Express? It may not be just a plot convenience. Here are some theories about why he decided to take the train.
Lupin was drained and exhausted from the full moon.
The Hogwarts Express always makes the journey from Platform Nine and Three-Quarters from King’s Cross Station on September 1. Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban takes place in 1993, and August 31 into September 1 of that year was a full moon – so Lupin had just transformed the night before traveling. This implies Lupin is exhausted, and that’s why we see him snoring off through all of Harry, Ron, and Hermione’s conversations. The transformation back to human form just hours prior would have rendered him weak and feeble, inhibiting him from Apparating near Hogwarts. His exhaustion must also have hindered him from using Portkeys or the Floo powder.
Lupin was on the train based on orders from Dumbledore.
After Sirius escaped from Azkaban, Harry’s safety was jeopardized, according to Dumbledore, since he was unaware of the truth about Peter Pettigrew at this time. Dumbledore could have thought that Sirius would try to find Harry and harm him. Moreover, Dementors were on Sirius’s tail, and they could injure other students as well. Dumbledore was confident enough in Lupin’s skills against the Dark Arts to hire him, so it is perfectly plausible that Dumbledore asked Lupin to be on the train and warned him of potential encounters with Sirius or Dementors (maybe that’s why Lupin had chocolate with him, too!). However, even if Lupin was there due to Dumbledore’s instructions, ending up in the same compartment as Harry, Ron, and Hermione must be coincidence or plot convenience.
Lupin’s presence on the train could be explained by either of these two theories, both of which could also be true simultaneously. Or maybe we are creating a mountain out of a molehill. Perhaps Lupin took the train simply because he could, and the events that followed do not have any connections. What do you think? Let us know in the comments.
