Question about Werewolves

[Milz]

No: HPFGUIDX 24053

--- In HPforGrownups at y..., "Mindy, a.k.a. CLH" <mindyatime at j...> 
wrote:
> I am not very very familiar with all the magical creatures and 
misfits.
> So can someone please explain to me how one becomes a werewolf? And 
how
> come there is no cure for werewolfs? If werewolves only become 
wolves
> once a month, and are normal and even nice ppl like Lupin was for 
th rest
> of the month, why don't 'we' know of any other werewolves besides 
Lupin?

Becoming a werewolf:
It depends on the folk story tradition. According to some accounts, 
you become a werewolf if you receive a bite from a  werewolf. Another 
is drinking water from the paw print of a wolf (editorial comment: 
that sounds just yucky!). Another is making a pack with the devil. 
The most familiar cause is getting bitten by a werewolf.

Cure for werewolves:
Some folk traditions claim that the plant wolfsbane is a cure. 
Mistletoe and Deadly Nightshade are also claimed to be cures.

Why aren't there more werewolves?
There probably IS a werewolf population. But there's also a strong 
anti-werewolf sentiment in the wizarding community. So these 
werewolves most likely stay as incognito as possible and probably 
lock themselves up during full moons.

Milz