Vampires

[severusbook4]

No: HPFGUIDX 76909

--- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, B Arrowsmith 
<arrowsmithbt at b...> wrote:
> In the  Potterverse are vampires considered to be human?
> 
> Yes, in mythology they  are classed as derived from humans, but 
does 
> this apply in the  WW?
> I've searched the likely sites seeking clarification but can't 
find any 
> canon or near canon references.
> 
> It makes a difference to the theory of Snape being one. According 
to 
> MBAWTFT, only humans are allowed wands.
> 
> Suppositions based on accepted lore are not particularly helpful, 
JKR  
> tends to put her own twist on folk legends.
> 
> Can anybody find a canon reference?
> 
> Kneasy

Severus Here:

So far JKR's touch on vampires has been very light and unsupportive 
of Snape being one or even half one (visions of Blade dance in my 
mind).  Vampires, the mythalogical creatures of the night, are 
either explained as a human that has evolved to a higher stage or as 
a human that has contracted a disease like condition through 
possesion by a spirit that lusts after human blood. This has been 
supported through beliefs predating the birth of Christ.  Vampires 
are also the only supernatural being to have tales in every major 
culture in the world.  The scientific reason vampires do not like 
the sun is because it destroys red blood cells.  Same goes for 
garlic and silver.  People inflicted with a certain blood ailment 
that inpeads their production af red blood cells are extremely sun 
sensitive and must stay out of direct sunlight or suffer nasty 
reprocussions.  Since JKR seems to do her homework when dealing with 
mythical creatures and beasts, we can only hope that she will stay 
semi true to vampires.  And if she does then Snape is not a vampire 
in any stretch af the term.  Snape prefers the dark clothing and the 
dark arts (can anyone say image conscious?), and IMHO I believe he 
is Gothic in nature, the brooding, depressed, unhappy person he is 
portraid to be in the books. And we goths do prefer black over any 
other colour, even on really hot days.  But I always go for lighter 
colours myself and save the blacks for the night time.  

Severus "night-time goth" Snape