Werewolf

A **werewolf**, also known as a **lycanthrope**, is a canonical magical being which normally looks like a human but during the time of the full moon takes the form of an unusually violent and aggressive wolf. Unless they have prepared by drinking the Wolfsbane potion, the transformed werewolf does not remember their human life and will thus often attack and kill their loved ones, but once they are back in their human form they do remember what they did as a wolf. Those bitten by a werewolf in wolf form will, if they survive, become werewolves themselves; werewolves are thus technically not a separate species but rather victims of a disease (known as *werewolfry*, or more commonly *lycanthropy*). Bites from a werewolf in human form are not infectious, but will leave a permanent scar and some wolf-like traits such as a fondness for raw meat.

## Canonical information

Main article: **Werewolf** at *The Harry Potter Wiki*
Within the wizarding world, werewolves are commonly feared and shunned, even while in human form, and also looked down upon as being immoral and evil. This means that they have problems finding work, and usually are forced to live in poverty – which in turn means they cannot afford the expensive Wolfsbane potion, thus making them *more* dangerous. Up until the 1990s, the Ministry has also enacted various discriminatory legislation with a severely negative impact on werewolves but little substantial gain for the rest of society. As a result, many werewolves have banded together to live in their own communities outside the larger wizarding society, and during the Second Wizarding War they often sided with Voldemort.

The child of two werewolves mating and conceiving while in wolf form (a very rare occurrence) will be a full wolf with near-human intelligence but neither the transformation nor the sadistic tendencies of a werewolf. It is not known if such a child conceived while in human form will be a werewolf or a normal human, nor if the parents in the latter case would recognize it as their own while in wolf form. Children between werewolves and non-infected humans are rare, due to the stigma and prejudice as well as to the fear of transferring the disease; in the only known case of such a half-werewolf, Teddy Lupin, he did not inherit it, but of course a single data point does not tell us how common it is. Theoretically, it could be more common in cases where the mother is afflicted than those where the father is; the fact that Teddy is a metamorphmagus – and thus has more control over the shape of his body than most wizards and witches – could also be a factor.

## Non-canonical information

* In *Harry Potter: Neko's Mate*, it is said that werewolves (and also many other magical creatures) are more or less immune to many types of mind magic.

* In *Ignore the Dementor*, it is said that the Hogwarts Society of Magical Creatures maintains special werewolf rooms in the dungeons where werewolves can stay during the full moon.

* In *The Power of Seven*, it is said that the bite of a non-transformed werewolf will increase the sex drive as well as (at least in men) the size of the sexual organs.

## References

1. ↑ *Harry Potter: Neko's Mate*, Chapter 3
2. ↑ *Harry Potter: Neko's Mate*, Chapter 30
3. ↑ *Ignore the Dementor*, Chapter 11
4. ↑ *The Power of Seven*, Chapter 49