Werewolf Mystery

[Marion Ros]

No: HPFGUIDX 153803


Lanval:
>> If werewolves do NOT as a rule attack to kill (note that Harry
is 'shocked' at the idea), then the entire story about Snape owing 
a life debt to James falls apart. Snape's life 'may' still have been 
in danger, but if most of Greyback's little victims -- unarmed,
untrained, unaware and fragile-- survive, and are in fact _expected_
to survive... then surely a sixteen year old wizard, armed with a
wand and an astounding knowledge of spells for his age, who quite
possibly knew what he was about to face, shouldn't have much to fear?

Should not 'James saved Snape's life' really be 'James saved Snape
from becoming a werewolf'? Not a pleasant fate either, but preferable
to death, I should think. >>>>>>>

Allie:
>> You are absolutely right. If the common perception that werewolf 
bites are not fatal is correct, then Snape doesn't owe James a life-
debt. I suspect that what we are dealing with is a big, HUGE... 
Flint. I don't think more will be made of it in book 7. <<<<<


Marion:

This is nonsense. Why would the Wizarding World have such a fear for werewolves is they were harmless? If anybody with a wand could adequately defend himself from a werewolf attack, why would it be such a no-no for young werewolves to attend Hogwarts. Young Lupin was an experiment. One that was botched by the so-called 'Prank'. Dumbledore himself thought it best if the monthly transformations took place *outside* of Hogwarts. But Hogwarts is filled with wandwaving teenagers, not to mention several experienced staff. If werewolves were really so easily stopped by anybody with a wand, if they were really not really into killing people and if they 'as a rule do not attack to kill', why should anybody worry about werewolves at all? They're just large mosquitos, right? Their bites might sting a bit, and it might turn you into a werewolf yourself (always handy for costume parties and Halloween) but one flick of a wand and any real danger can be contained. We're talking about people who let their young children practice a sport in which they fly a hundred feet high without a crash helmet. If they break their necks, there's always Skelegro potion, right? 
Can you just imagine? "Oh, look! Loopy Lupin is a werewolf again! Lets go bother him! Bother bother bother! Oh, he's growling! He wants to bite. Bad wolfie! I'll contain your ferociousness with my newly learned batbogie hex, or perhaps the trusty jellylegsjinx."

I don't think so.

We've been told that the  transformation fills the werewolf with bloodlust against *humans* (they don't attack animals, hence the animagi Marauders were quite safe). This is what makes it a Dark Creature, basically. It's a magically partial deformation of body, mind and (if you belief in such things) soul. 
We've been told that, when deprived of suitable prey (humans) and locked up, LupinWolf would attack himself (the werewolf knows instinctively that he himself is part human perhaps?) 
And we've been told that the transformation *hurts*.
We've also been told that Fenrir Greyback would choose to be close to a populated area in order to kill or transform as many as he can, and he chooses a populated area with many *children* by preference (he's just sick than way. He mirrors Tom Riddle that way. Tom also chose his followers when they were seventeen. Notice that older wizards and witches never fell for his charms. Not even screachin' mrs Black would have anything to do with Tom Riddle, thank you very much. But that's another story for another thread)

Now, maybe a fullgrown wizard, or even a wizkid like Snape, *could* defend himself against a werewolf. He had his wand after all, didn't he? A fullgrown man with a gun could defend himself against, say, a Siberian tiger. Think of all those Great White Hunters. A bullet would get them every time.

Yeah, right, but if you would step into a dark cage with a Siberian Tiger, a *rabid* Siberian Tiger, enraged, zoning in on its favourite prey, would having a gun help? You'd need *distance* for a gun. Or a wand. Within a second of noticing it (the image of snarling razorsharp teeth and claws and insane glowing eyes has barely made an imprint on your mind) the beast would be upon you. Before you could lift your wand, your arm would be ripped from your body. Before you could shout 'avada kadavra', it's teeth would be in your neck, severing your head from your shoulders. The last image your brain would process would be of the monster feasting on your intestines.

They don't give delicate nips, you know.

And I've got a niggling suspicion (can't remember if it's canon or not) that werewolves are somewhat resistant to magic (like giants are) Perhaps not impervious, but, really, doesn't only silver kill them?

There's a *reason* the wizarding world hates, fears and loathes werewolves. If they were only a minor inconvenience, the WW would regularly send out a posse to keep the numbers down. But werewolves are just too dangerous. You'd be killed before you know it. And if you'd be 'lucky' enough to survive the attack (because for instance your friends or family chases it off) the werewolf would still be alive and *you'd* be one of them by next full moon.

I don't think that calling the 'Prank' anything other than a murder attempt would fail to do the seriousness of it justice.



Marion