lupercus in nocturne_alley @ 2003-03-31 21:03:00

Werewolves, Segment I
Before we begin, there are a few of you who have not selected partners. I have taken the liberty to select them for you:

Ronald Weasley - Seamus Finnigan
Hannah Abbott - Mandy Brocklehurst
Harry Potter - Parvati Patil
Padma Patil - Lisa Turpin
Hermione Granger - Neville Longbottom
Blaise Zabini - Dean Thomas
Susan Bones - Lavender Brown
Terry Boot - Justin Finch-Fletchley
Ernie Macmillan - Gregory Goyle

No, you may not change partners. You will work together, or you will fail the class. I would like to remind you all that this particular part of your lessons counts for nearly half your grade in this class. There will be an exam at the end of the term on what you have learned. If you're not planning to take notes, I suggest you rethink that strategy.



Debate surrounding the origins of werewolves has been considerable for nearly a millennia, since the very first known case [History Of Magic, p. 657-90]. There are however two very popular theories on the subject, and I will focus on them for the time being.

The first theory is that werewolves originated through the mutation of a virus found widespread among wild animals. Referred to by Muggles as "rabies," this virus causes madness and eventually death, mainly in dogs and small rodents such as mice and bats. However, in the case of werewolves, it is an advanced stage of the virus so pronounced that it actually causes complete physical transfiguration.

However, there are no documented cases of werewolfism occurring in Muggles, which suggests that the affliction has some connection to magic inherent. This has led wizard researchers to conclude that werewolves have strictly magical origins. [Theories of Magitivity, p. 56]

Sadly, all evidence to support this theory points to an unfortunate blunder on the part of a well-meaning wizard sometime in the 3rd century who, in his attempts to concoct a potion to cure hiccoughs, accidentally created from his test subject a werewolf, and thus caused the spread of the curse from beast to human.

There is no known cure for werewolvism. However, recent studies in the art and science of potion-making, not to mention certain charms and incantations, have made much progress in the care and handling of the werewolf. For example, the werewolf can be contained within a confined space using a number of security hexes, while a werewolf can be stunned with success using a modified Petrificus spell. These have helped lower the rate of werewolf-related attacks and accidents.

Perhaps nothing has made more of an impact, though, on werewolves in general than the development of the Wolfsbane Potion. A recent discovery, Wolfsbane allows the witch or wizard to retain their mind during the full moon, leaving them no different than your average Animagus. While transformation still occurs, the animal is docile, and controlled by the human consciousness [see Moste Potente Potions, p. 456-78].

An incredibly complex spell, Wolfsbane was originally attempted by one Bringelda Futchner, a witch whose daughter was afflicted as a werewolf very young. Upon her daughter's untimely death, Futchner abandoned the project, and it lay dormant until picked up again by a young student of the Alchemic Arts, Severus Snape, in 1979. In 1985 Snape, having successfully brewed the Wolfsbane potion to completion, published his findings in The Worlde Potions Journal. The following is an excerpt:

Wolfsbane, when ingested at regular intervals during the waxing moon, maintains the subject's mental and emotional stability throughout the weeks leading to transformation. During the change from human to werewolf the subject is completely aware of his or her surroundings, and is able to keep their wits about them. They will not be driven to attack or bite bystanders, and are no more dangerous than a domesticated canine.

There are of course drawbacks and side-effects to Wolfsbane, as with any potion of its nature. A human mind has more capacity for memory than that of an animal, causing the subject to remember the pain and horror of every transformation. Side-effects include nausea, headaches, dizzy spells, mild euphoria or marked fatigue, and increased appetite.

One final note on Wolfsbane: Because of its complexity there are few in the world who are capable of brewing it, making it extremely hard to come by and sought-after throughout the globe. Its existence is controversial [See "Treating the Enemy," Daily Prophet, 23/11/1987], and not covered under many Wizard Health Insurance (WHI) plans. It is not approved for use outside of Great Britain, with the exception of Australia and France.

QUESTIONS:
- Where would one likely make the mistake in a Hiccough cure to cause such severe viral and magical mutation?
- What is the first known case of werewolvism documented?
- Detail the breakthrough which allowed Professor Snape to finally complete the Wolfsbane project.



We will address the next segment, Legends and Lies, on Wednesday.

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