a cure for werewolfs?

[Amy Z]

No: HPFGUIDX 14284

Rena wrote:

> I am in the middle of re-reading the Chamber of Secrets and noticed
> that Lockhart says, "he performed the immensely complex Homorphus
> Charm" and the werewolf turned back into a man, thus "delievered 
them
> [the villagers] from the monthly terror of werewolf attacks."
> 
<snip>
> 
> O.K. so we know that Lockhart didn't do what he said he did in his
> books, but in towards the end of CoS he admits that other people did
> it and he got the story, then performed a memory charm to make them
> forget and he could claim the fame.
> <snip>

> Ideas? Suggestions? Answers?

Wow, I never noticed this.

Here are two theories:

(1) Lockhart is lying, not only about his having performed the charm 
himself, but about the whole story.  He only tells this to his 
students, IIRC.  A bunch of 2nd-years might not know that lycanthropy 
is incurable.  (Though Hermione Granger is one of them . . . hmmm.)

(2) (a better theory IMO)  There *is* such a charm (performed only by 
people who know what they're doing, not Lockhart) but what GL doesn't 
tell us is its devastating effects on the afflicted person.  He/she 
ceases to be a werewolf, but also has his/her personality wiped 
entirely blank.  It's the Ho*morphus* Charm:  you keep the form of a 
human, yes, but your mind and spirit are erased.  Most werewolves, 
including Lupin, opt to continue suffering lycantrhopy and remain 
themselves (27 days out of 28, anyway).

Amy Z

-----------------------------------------
 "This is the weirdest thing we've ever
 done," Harry said fervently.
       --HP and the Prisoner of Azkaban
-----------------------------------------