Can you talk a little about Remus’ intelligence? Recently I’ve felt it’s been severely downplayed in fandom as a response to fanon depicting Sirius as “the dumb one” and Remus as “the smart one” in a wolfstar context. While obviously Sirius is extremely intelligent that doesn’t mean Remus has to be dumb in contrast? I also think they just have different types of intelligence, and I strongly believe that basing their intellect off of their achievements in school is limiting (also people don’t take into account that Remus was sick every month for at least 3 days, even if he was matched perfectly in intelligence with Sirius he’d still be doing worse in school). What’s your take on this my balanced remus lover friend?
I don't think Remus is a 'genius', like James and Sirius might be. But he's a bloody capable wizard - hard-earned, not talent.
The one flashback we get of him as a kid, we see him focusing hard on his OWL's, despite an upcoming Full Moon. He has his own methods for revision - when he asks Sirius if he would help him study, Sirius can't fathom why he should bother. Sirius doesn't need to revise or study - but Remus is good at it.
You're damn right that doesn't mean he is stupid compared to Sirius. There's nothing stupid about forming methods to help himself learn. Sirius and James are natural talents - Remus is a nerd.
By adulthood his work ethic has paid off: He has effortless confidence in his charms and conjuring - doing most of it without incantation. He's kind of a badass: He conjured fire and a non-corporeal Patronus without incantation - while exhausted and in the presence of a dementor. He could duel Lucius Malfoy, battled death eaters in the astronomy tower, dueled while flying and supporting an injured man on his broom - and disarmed multiple people in a row with enough accuracy to catch their wands. (tbf they were children)
Remus is a natural at teaching. First day on the job: he handles a room full of kids like he's been at it for years, even those with difficulties who need extra care and encouragement. He is patient with Harry learning to cast a Patronus, explaining things clearly to him - changing his explanation as Harry's needs change. This shows a deep understanding of both the material he is teaching... and what it is like to learn. Knowing how to struggle, how to adapt, how to learn, the validity of different perspectives - that's good wisdom.
His greatest strength is his Social Intelligence. Witty, astute, cunning, sly, persuasive… Sirius isn't socially inept but he is so honest and blunt he can come across as kicking the door down - rather than Remus' picking the lock and making it seem like a natural innocent behaviour. Does that make sense...? It was the entirety of his role in PoA: A murderer on the loose after Harry's blood - and yet through all the mysterious absences, sketchy evasiveness, superficial closeness with Harry, slightly slap-dash teaching methods and blatant distrust from Snape (who had been proven trustworthy - Harry just thought he was an arse)… Remus Lupin manages to charm his students, getting to know them without any of them knowing anything about him. He has Harry hanging off his every word, despite obvious apprehension to engage with him about his parents or needs. He effortlessly keeps Harry's trust even when he blatantly, skillfully lies in-front of him - and TO him! For his own gain!!! The scene of the Marauders Map is a brazen display of how quickly he can manipulate his way out of a complex situation. Even when he is with a murderer and they all know he will turn into a werewolf soon - he commands emotional focus. Ron is injured, a Murderer is present, they are supposed to be investigating a rat with haste... yet most of the time they are discussing HIM and why HE is 'not so scary, please don't hate me' in a long-winded fashion.
Only Snape seems immune. So he bullies him to shut him up. Without SEEMING like a bully. The kids think he is great, the way he can control the uncontrollable - Snape and Peeves.
Remus slips in and everyone is so taken with him they never notice the lock being picked. Their perception of him is on a tight leash. A magician’s sleight of hand and a silver tongue. Lockheart WISHES he could do this.
Remus is practical and practiced. He has the grit of someone who has fought for his life with both his wand and his tongue. He has lived a life of misdirection, gaslighting and manipulation - always subtle, always present. He reads others better than himself and moves through society with quiet ease, slipping in unnoticed and slipping out just as easily. No wonder he works as a spy.
He’s a top-class wizard - held back only by circumstance. Balancing his core needs, his interests and his health with no support network and poverty…? yeesh. In another life he may have been able to focus his efforts on a passion, rather than on topics that aid his survival in a harsh world.
As he is, though: he’s a formidable duelist and skilled charmer (magically and socially) - a survivalist, both in the wild and within society. An outcast who never seems like one. A wolf in sheep's clothing.
That's my take, as 'balanced remus lover friend' :^) Thanks - I needed to sit down and yap about Remus for a bit, had a shitty month
i rlly rlly want to finish “strangers” but why is it when you have the idea in your head the harder it feels to just sit down and type it out.
i think walburga and orion were more than content leaving cygnuss up to the task of carrying on the family name, but then he started to have only daughters and they went “oh shit”
you should write a marauders (blackinnon) fic set in a Bridgerton-like setting! (high society, marriage mart, gossip column!). I looove ur writings❣️
omg thank u!! 💗
that’s sounds interesting but i fear i would struggle a lot with time period accuracy in terms of language, common phrases and things like that (not that i would mind that much re-reading some classic in english to immerse myself in it).
you have for sure given me something to think about!
lily: you know, sirius, parents are just people too
sirius: well, mine are particularly shitty people then
lily: how can you say that? they’re your parents, they made you who you are!
sirius: that’s the problem, evans. i’ve had to spend the last seven years undoing their fine job!
also a moment of silence for female characters who get a lot of shit but would be adored if they were male
wait imagine james being disgusted at the beginning by the mere thought of sirius and marlene being together (he keeps forgetting they aren't actually related) and that being the first time he and lily agree on something??? completely different reasons, BUT STILL, a win is a win.
James is not a deadbeat dad: I hate when people say that
"Dumbledore had to take his invisibility cloak because he was going out so much," No. Dumbledore borrowed James' cloak so he could research it, he asked to borrow it, and James let him.
"He leaves to go on motorbike rides with Sirius, leaving Lily and harry alone" Also, no. That was a prequel for a reason. It took place three years before Harry's birth and when James was still in Hogwarts, maybe not even dating Lily yet. And even if he was dating Lily, he can still go out because he wasn't in hiding yet.
"He forgot his wand on the couch" Key word. Forgot. He wasn't in a life or death situation, it was just pure death. He voluntarily risked his life to give Lily time to go up those stairs, knowing he'd die. He told Lily to take Harry without him. If you're going to say James is an idiot for forgetting his wand, don't forget, Lily had no wand upon her either. James was scared and clearly had no time to get his wand because one distraction could've made Voldemort pass him.
the only way i see sirius proposing to marlene is this:
they’ve been a situationship for years. they’re okay with it. it works for them. makes everyone mad but fuck them, it’s their lives. it’s their personal business.
but then, in the midst of a war they’re starting to believe might actually lose (it’s has been a very very bad few months people), they get together. sirius drinks a bit more than usual. and so he asks marlene if she thinks what they have could be more.
if they should take things to the next level.
marlene is kinda lost at the beginning.
then she thinks he’s asking her to be his girlfriend.
sirius insists, she’s there. he’s there. they always go out of their way to be there for each other. they could take things to the next next level.
and then it sinks.
he’s talking marriage.
sirius never actually says it, but rectifies by saying: forget it, i’m drunk, i’ll probably die soon anyway.
she ends up dying instead.
“you don’t need to be everybody’s cup of tea. be gasoline. set shit on fire” — marlene mckinnon
The way that Ron got laughed at for dancing with Minnie but the marauders would have leaped at the opportunity 😂😭
late millennial. multishipper reader. exclusively blackinnon writer (atm). sp/en.
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