Werewolves, silver and prior planning...

[grey_wolf_c]

No: HPFGUIDX 39160

Bernadette wrote:
><snip intro>
> 
> [Me & my daughter] were cleaning our good silver, the stuff you have
> to polish to keep it from turning black, and she mentioned that Lupin
> wouldn't be able to touch it because it's dangerous to werewolves. 
> And then I (not really thinking about it) said, "But if he doesn't
> use silverware and has to have  different types of eating
> utensils and plates than everyone else, people are going to guess
> his secret."
> 
> Then my Ever-So-Smart!daughter pointed out that on Harry's first
> day at Hogwarts we were told that the plates and flatware were
> made of GOLD.... (Insert image of mom smacking self on forehead
> with back of hand covered in soapsuds)
> 
> So, does this count as another bit of evidence that JKR HAS been
> setting bits in place to touch on in later books?
> 
> Bernadette
> 
> "Friendship is unnecessary, like philosophy, like art. It has no
> survival value; rather it is one of those things that give value
> to survival."
> -- C.S. Lewis (1898-1963).

It could be. Then again, it could be simple casualty. I do hope, 
however, that when JKR told us about gold plates and stuff, she meant 
only decorations or at most a seath of gold, since gold is too maleable 
to use as either plates, knives or forks.

Anyway, your comment made me realise that I don't think it has ever 
been explicitly said in the Pottervers that werewolves *in this 
particular reality* cannot touch silver. I know it's generally accepted 
that this is so, but I'd thought it would've been mentioned by now. 
Unfortunately, I'm not 100% sure of this, and since I've got a special 
"thing" for werewolves (Yes, I know, you'd never had guessed...), I'd 
love any view on this, specially if using canon.

It has been said before, though, that Wormtail's brand new Silver Hand 
could be pointing at the destruction of Lupin. A fellow listee, 
however, pointed out that, in fact, we are never told that the hand is 
made form silver, only that it has a silver shine.

In retrospect, it seems that when JKR introduces an already-existing 
creature into her world, she includes all the baggage it's normally 
asociated with it. On the other hand, werewolves in particular have 
several versions available, some of which make no mention to silver 
(others have no trouble with Aconite, and others don't fully transform, 
but go halfway into a terrible beast, etc.), and JKR *has* made 
exceptions (elves and goblins sort of leap to mind).

Hope that helps,

Grey Wolf, a werewolf at heart