WHY a vampire? was No fire in the office

[Steve]

No: HPFGUIDX 88082

--- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, "bookraptor11" <DMCourt11 at c...>
wrote:

> 
> Donna:
> Just wanted to add to that the in the Lexicon it states: Vampires 
> are studied in DADA but *are not considered wizards* (emphasis 
> mine).
> 
> In GOF(US paperback p.147) Percy is angry with Rita Skeeter for 
> stating that the ministry should be stamping out vampires "As if it 
> wasn't specifically stated in paragraph twelve of the Guidelines for 
> the Treatment of Non-Wizard Part-Humans--"
> 
> That is their classification, which the Lexicon itself has wrong, as 
> it has them under Creatures 
> 

bboy_mn:

There is a difference between what you are functionally, and how you
are classified. Centaurs, for example. are humanoid and with an
intelligence equal to or superior to humans. However, Centaur declined
to allow themselves to be classified as 'beings' because they did not
wnat to be lumped into a catagory that also included creatures that
they considered lesser beings (like pixies or whatever... searched
high and low for my magical creatures book, so I could quote it, but I
can't find it).


> Donna continues:
>
> 14. We have seen Snape performing magic (dueling club in COS for one 
> example).
> 
> Not that vampires don't have supernatural powers, but it is not 
> considered wizardry, it is part of their essense. 
> 

bboy_mn:

Wish I could find my magical creatures book so I could quote, but I
guess I'll just have to make due.

I don't think the book says that a vampire can't be a wizard; again
it's not a matter of completely defining something, so much as a
matter of classifing it. Wizards who become vampires become a special
case, they are not beings as they do have their own unique problems
and powers, and yet they have not de-evolved so far that they have
become beasts, so they, like ghosts, are placed in a special catagory.

Others are right to point out that the manifestation of werewolfism
comes and goes with the waxing and waning of the moon. Where as a
vampire remains fully and completely a vampire once they become one;
vampire 24 hours a day/7 days a week.

Also, if we draw on common folklore, Vampires live very human lives,
and to some extent maintain very human characteristics. Keep in mind
that there are many, sometimes contradictory, variations of the
vampire legend. Like the allergic to the sun thing, that's not in all
vampire legends. 

My point is that a Vampire could be a wizard, but once they become a
vampire, they are re-classified into a special vampire catagory. 

Part of the confusion in the discussion revolves around how one
becomes a vampire. Is one born a vampire by random chance, is one born
a vampire as the son or daughter of a vampire, or does one become a
vampire by being bitten but not killed by a another vampire? Being
infected by a bite in a fashion similar to a werewolf, would mean that
an educated practicing wizard could suddenly become a vampire.


> Donna continues:
>
> Before this strays too far off the point, I just want to finish with 
> half vampires. I think the jury is still out on that one. Vampires 
> have been mentioned several times, but half vampires so far don't 
> exist in JKR's world.
> 
> Donna

bboy_mn:

In myth and movies, vampires are portrayed as lustful creatures, they
lust for both blood and flesh (if you know what I mean; nudge, nudge,
wink, wink). They are very sexual creatures, so I have no problem
seeing an infected vampire having sex with a muggle woman or witch.
And as we know, sex frequently leads to babies. The idea of a half
vampire is therefore not that far fetched, if we take that to mean the
son or daughter of the mating of a vampire and non-vampire. 

Exactly, how vampirism would manifest itself under these conditions is
unclear and ripe for speculation, but the 'mixed' offspring of a
vampire is theoretically possible.

Just a thought from someone who never ever thought he would comment in
a 'Snape is a Vampire' thread.

bboy_mn