Werewolves and related topics

[Hillman, Lee]

No: HPFGUIDX 33827

Hello.

Eloise addressed whether Remus could have been suffering from the
aftereffects of a transformation on the train.

The moon calendars I have consulted showed a full moon on 1st September,
1993, the same day they were supposedly on the train. I believe that Rowling
has admitted to "adjusting" the date of the full moon in PoA to account for
this problem; she moved it back one night to 31 August. Thus he was
supposedly tired and sleeping it off in the compartment.

However, there is also credence to the theory that he was specifically
guarding Harry against potential danger on the train and was really not
asleep the whole time. The kids put their luggage on board and then left the
train again, giving Lupin a window during which he could have climbed
aboard, found the compartment, and taken his place there. It's not clear
whether it was coincidence that they returned to the same compartment,
whether he chose it because he recognized Harry earlier, or whether their
luggage was labelled, but for whatever reason, he happened to be there when
they returned, and I think it's more by design than happenstance. 

I believe that he was asleep for parts of the time, but that he was not
"deeply" asleep. That is, he was dozing and resting, but listening as well.

Cindy said about the Government regulation of werewolves:
> 
> I'd be very surprised if these government agencies are actually 
> supportive of werewolves.  We have the Werewolf Capture Unit, the 
> Werewolf Registry, Werewolf Support Services, and the Werewolf Code 
> of Conduct.  Canon is unclear, but I always assumed that these lovely 
> agency names were cover for what is really going on:  state-sponsored 
> harrassment of and discrimination against werewolves.  
> 

First of all, I'd like to point out that the Werewolf Code of Conduct dates
back to 1637, whereas the Werewolf Registry (in Britain) was not adopted
until 1947. There is nothing to suggest that the Ministry didn't have
offices to deal with werewolves prior to 1947, in fact, I'd say they must
have had for their existence, but it's unlikely that the current offices
have remained unchanged for that whole time. OTOH, this is the Ministry, but
bureaucracy being what it is, I think these things developed over time. It's
also not clear whether these offices are unique to Britain; personally, I
think the Code of Conduct is more universal, but that the ways Ministries
deal with werewolves is decentralised.

Catlady de Los Angeles wrote:

> Scamander wrote that the Capture Unit and the Registry were in the 
> Division of Beasts while the office of Support Services was in the 
> Division of Beings. I expect Support Services DOES provide some 
> support, perhaps paid prescriptions for Wolfsbane Potion. Perhaps 
> instead of prescriptions, the poor werewolves have to go to the 
> Support Services offices to take each dose under "direct observation" 
> (how humiliating). Then if someone did FORGET to take hiser Potion, 
> the Capture Unit could be immediately sent after himer. (In 
> that case, Dumbledore got Lupin a pass to be at Hogwarts instead.) 
> 

Wolfsbane is such a relatively new invention, I don't think the Support
Services Office would take responsibility for supplying it to werewolves,
either free of charge or for a fee. 

I've been working on what I think the Ministry regulations about werewolves
look like. Essentially, I believe that they are designed to protect the
werewolf's basic rights while in human form, while at the same time
providing safety measures and keeping tabs on the werewolves. For example, a
werewolf must come up with some safe place to undergo transformations--note
that I think it is the werewolf's responsibility, not the Ministry's, to
find a place for this purpose. The Support Services Office sends a
caseworker to inspect that transformation area a minimum of once per year.
Similarly, I believe that the werewolf must update the registry office on
things like change of address or other status changes, like employer or
marital status. I think the offices have a near-zero tolerance policy for
lack of compliance with any regulations, simply because of the safety
factor.

However, I do NOT believe that the Ministry takes any official hardline
approach except as it affects the safety of "innocent" wizards and witches.
For example, let me summarize the policies I drafted to cover family
situations. First of all, if the werewolf is married and/or a parent at the
time he is bitten, he will not be forcibly removed from the family without
due cause. However, if a werewolf is bitten and subsequently wishes to marry
or have children, there are administrative procedures to which he must
submit. For a start, his proposed fiancee must sign a statement on file with
the offices to the effect that she knows he is a werewolf and also attesting
to the purpose for the match. This isn't necessarily to interfere in their
union (although it could easily be used to harrass them), but merely to
ensure that the werewolf cannot legally marry without his spouse-to-be
understanding or even knowing what he is. As far as children, according to
my regulations, werewolves by law are considered unfit parents. That is,
they cannot retain sole custody of children--there must be some other
designated primary caretaker. By extension, they cannot adopt or be used as
legal guardians (which explains why Remus could not have been Harry's
godfather, even had he been clear of suspicion from James and Sirius). Two
werewolves may marry, but may not be the primary caretakers of their own
offspring (I'm also assuming that werewolves are bitten, never born).

The way I've viewed these regulations is to conclude that a. the Ministry
will do the minimum necessary to support werewolves; b. the Ministry
acknowledges that most of the time, werewolves are perfectly reasonable
people, but understands that there are risks involved that could become
public safety factors; c. the Ministry has no wish to disrupt or otherwise
take any active part in the daily lives of werewolves except where
necessary; d. the Ministry will act quickly and definitively to suppress any
werewolf who appears to be in danger of going "rogue" and thus creating more
of his kind. 

Advances like Wolfsbane may be adapted into the current system, but as
catlady suggests, I believe the werewolf must apply for a waiver or
otherwise prove that he has a reliable source of the potion. Again, the onus
is on the afflicted person, not proactive from the government.

I don't think there's any kind of dole system for werewolves, any more than
there seems to be welfare for regular wizards, witches, or Squibs who are
down on their luck.


As for the Homorphus Charm, I think that anything Lockhart says must be
regarded with extreme suspicion. If it exists at all, I think it's likely
true that it only lasts momentarily. Of course, I'm not at all certain his
account can be believed at all, since even the ugly Armenian would have been
putting himself at great risk to wrestle with the creature while it was in
beast form. One nip and he'd be in the same boat. 

I think this is one of the most bogus and unbelievable claims of Lockhart's
many bogus and unbelievable claims.

Gwen