lupercus in nocturne_alley @ 2003-04-07 18:47:00

Werewolf Lessons, Segment IV: Biology of a Werewolf
This is a shorter lesson than the others, because I imagine you're all becoming rather weary of it all. However I truly appreciate everyone's active participation in this class, and commend you all for the excellent work I am seeing. Ten points to Susan Bones for her photo-essay on the werewolf enclosure Wulfsbayn. Another ten points to Vincent Crabbe for his look into the torch-and-pitchfork mindset behind Grindlewald's regime. Dean Thomas recieves ten points for Gryffindor for his examination of werewolf family matters. And finally, ten points to Padma Patil for a gripping dissertation on the crowded werewolf neighborhoods of the early 1940s.

Your last lecture is Wednesday. Friday will be a free period of study to allow you to finish up your work. Your final lesson in werewolves comes on 16 April, at 9pm, in the Great Hall. More information to follow.

Onward, then.


It wasn't until modern times and the efforts of H.O.W.L. researchers that the curse's true nature has come to be understood by non-werewolves. Every case, it seems, is different. The behaviour of the curse is unique to the carrier, as it depends on the carrier's age, physical bearing, gender and level of magical prowess. For some the transformations are bearable. For others, it is not. The rate of suicide is extremely high among werewolves.

It begins with the phases of the moon. As it approaches the gibbous state the werewolf will begin to feel restless, sometimes irritable or extremely fatigued. Senses become heightened – sight, sound, smell - as well as instinct. These symptoms progress as the moon continues to wax.

Wolfsbane Potion greatly helps to alleviate these symptoms, but as it is not readily available few people have access to it, and so the average werewolf will feel as though they're coming apart at the seams, emotionally. At transformation, they come apart physically.

When transformation occurs it begins on the inside, with the bones. They shift, bend and break to form the werewolf's skeleton, and is extremely painful. There is the growth of fur – a burning sensation over the entire body, like thousands of tiny needles being pushed through the skin at once - the elongating of the snout, the lengthening of teeth and claws. The werewolf's human mind becomes completely lost in the pain and confusion of transformation, giving the animal the opportunity to gain control.

There is no sentience to your basic werewolf. Even under the influence of Wolfsbane they are still essentially animal, though the human presence is able to influence their actions. The werewolf is considerably larger than even the biggest wolf and infintely more dangerous, as the curse also affects the werewolf's instinct to stalk, bite or kill. A werewolf is of no danger to other animals; the curse can only be passed on to humans.

Werewolves, unless killed, are immortal.

It is very important to remember that when confronted with a werewolf, you do not run. Never run from anything immortal; it attracts their attention. They are highly resistant to most curses but if your aim is true you can blind them or injure the snout. Also, piercing a werewolf's flesh with pure, virgin silver – a knife, a bullet, etc. – will cause a wound that will never stop bleeding, and unless cured magically the werewolf will likely die before the moon sets.

If all else fails, the Killing Curse is 100% effective.

If attacked, do not struggle, as that only incites the werewolf further. Lie still and play dead – many wizards have actually escaped being bitten that way, because the werewolf will not bite something that is dead. They are not after food. They are intent on procreation through the Bite.

When a victim is bitten, the wound does not bleed. It heals instantly, allowing the victim to live and carry on the curse, though the scar remains very painful for several months, sometimes years afterward. The first transformation often kills a victim, particularly younger ones. There are fewer male werewolves than female, as human women have an inherently higher tolerance for pain. Children rarely survive; a werewolf that has survived from youth to adulthood is extremely rare.

Upon recieving the bite, the victim reports to Werewolf Support Services within five days of the attack. After a description of the sire is taken, the victim is photographed, examined and given hospital treatment if necessary, and given their identification number. The number is "tattooed" upon the victim's arm or leg, where it will remain for the rest of their life. Then they are assigned a caseworker who will monitor the werewolf's activities, issue them a new passport, and peform unannounced visits to the werewolf's home in an effort to assert that the werewolf is adjusting, and obeying all applicable laws.

Failing to report a Bite is a crime, and if apprehended during an attack the werewolf can face either imprisonment in Azkaban or execution.

QUESTIONS:

- Debate the possibility that a werewolf in human form can be distinguished from the non-werewolf human. Feel free to use examples.
- Create a detailed timeline of important discoveries in werewolfology by H.O.W.L. researchers.
- List other possible methods for distracting and/or killing the werewolf. (REVIEW, 3rd YEAR)
- List methods for treating werewolf bites. (REVIEW, 1st YEAR)


See you all again on Wednesday.

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