Werewolves

Werewolves, or witches and wizards suffering from a dark curse, are canonical to Harry Potter. [1] Here we'll explain how werewolves are dealt with at Absit Omen.

Magical Illness

Lycanthropy (or “werewolfry”) is a magical illness caused by a curse. When the saliva of a werewolf gets into the blood of a witch or wizard, they are cursed. A magical curse, not a virus or microbe, is responsible for the infection. It is incurable. However, since the 1970s the production of Wolfsbane Potion has become a standard treatment, allowing werewolves to manage the curse safely.

Scratches from a transformed werewolf will not confer the curse. But these wounds are very difficult to treat and never really heal properly. Nearly always they leave vivid scars.

Bites from a human-form werewolf have been known to cause a weak curse with no transformation. However, the victim may experience lupine characteristics such as more body hair, cravings for meat and a penchant for the outdoors. They are not required to register with the Ministry.

Werewolves cannot pass on the curse to their children, so if one has a child with a human partner no lupine tendencies will occur.

Some have interpreted this as an inability to have children, which is untrue. It is extremely risky, given the violent nature of monthly transformations, and as such, usually avoided with sufficient protection, but not impossible. However, expecting mothers are strongly advised to give birth ahead of time while they are human; because the curse is not passed on, the child remains human even during a full moon, which puts both mother and child at risk. Although werewolves are sturdier than normal wolves, their bodies are still poorly equipped for human childbirth.

Muggles cannot be infected with this, or any other magical illnesses.

Characteristics

A werewolf's strengths largely depend on factors such as build, training and personal fitness. However, a werewolf may enjoy heightened senses, a sturdier constitution, improved night vision, and/or faster reflexes.

On the outside, they may have glowing eyes and/or retractable claws and fangs. How wolfish one looks outside a full moon depends on the werewolf itself. Extremists (such as Fenrir Greyback[2]) may exhibit pointed teeth, claws, and an abundance of body hair as well as enlarged irises, like a dog's. During the full moon, they look much like normal wolves—all the way down to the tips of their tails.

The Full Moon

Werewolves also experience an increase in hearing, sense of smell and overall sensitivity. They also experience an excess in energy, leaving them tense, restless, and easily agitated. Among newer or more feral werewolves, this usually manifests as violent mood swings.

In Potions

Werewolf saliva, as the bodily fluid through which the curse is transmitted, is both magical and contagious. It is a key component of the Direwolf Curse.
Werewolf claws often also have magical properties, in that deep enough wounds are enough to transmit certain characteristics (such as a newfound desire for steak). Fennoscandian claws are noted to possess a venomous coat.[3]

Myths

Some werewolves have a sensitivity to silver, but not all. It manifests like a metal allergy; affected skin may develop a rash, severity dependent on pressure and length of exposure.[4]
Wolves do not normally like werewolves. Nor do other animals, particularly those considered prey. Being a werewolf does not grant honorary kinship. The curse is its own musk; without it, the werewolf is still a(nother) wolf, therefore something to fight or studiously avoid.
Forming packs do not actually make members individually, physically stronger. For more information, please see Packs.

From Bite to First Full Moon

If a witch or wizard survives their injuries in a werewolf attack, they are nearly sure to be cursed and become a werewolf. A bite will cause extreme pain at the wound, strong fatigue and malaise, and a sharp temper. In the modern day, anyone who has been bitten will be given an emergency dose of Wolfsbane Potion to attempt to ward off the full curse and to alleviate these initial symptoms. (St. Mungo's does this routinely, but they have not yet been able to show that this emergency dose is at all effective in preventing the curse from setting in.)

The new werewolf will be very sickly and weak during that first month as the curse takes hold and will crave meat and take on aggressive personality traits. Their first transformation will occur at the next full moon.

After the first transformation, the between Full Moon symptoms may diminish or fade as the werewolf becomes more accustomed to the curse.

Treatment

The standard of treatment for St. Mungo's Hospital is, generally, as follows:

Patient is stabilized and any life-threatening injuries are addressed.
If there is a chance of a werewolf scratch or bite, those wounds are treated aggressively with salves and potions as werewolf injuries are caustic on their own.
A full dose (about 12oz) of Wolfsbane Potion must be drunk, preferably when the patient is conscious.
Depending on the severity of the injuries, patients are kept in hospital for observation for at least 10 days.
St. Mungo's is required to pass along information regarding werewolf registration.
Even at this stage, St. Mungo's is not prepared to affirm a patient has been cursed. They make a report to the Werewolf Wing who does an investigation to confirm an attack. Paperwork, paperwork ...
Because the first lunar cycle is so intense for new werewolves, bed rest is usually insisted upon.
If there is any change the patient has contracted the curse, they are required by law to report to the Ministry of Magic in the even of a transformation. It is then that their status is confirmed.

St. Mungo's is autonomous from the Ministry of Magic and different hospital leadership can make changes to this procedure so long as it complies with the law.

Packs

Sometimes groups of werewolves form packs for sense of community in a world that is largely anti-werewolf. Such groups are looked down upon and kept secret, or advertised as support groups, for the werewolves' own safety.

Given the stigma of being a werewolf, formal packs are rare. Those that are known are usually looked upon with suspicion and/or derision.

Controversy

The last two years have not been kind to werewolves. In 2008, tainted wolfsbane and a new form of the curse had been deliberately engineered by the WBA led to the creation of direwolves and a rash of werewolf attacks (“the Ides of March”[5]) in 2009. In 2010, werewolves and muggles alike were abducted, thrown into an arena for sport on a full moon (“Werewolf Games”[6]). Due to the stigma, some sympathizers have taken to more covert measures of support (“Underground Werewolf Clinic”).

In Canada, an anti-werewolf group called WALI (Wizards Against the Lycanthrope Invasion) had successfully carried out an attack at the Auror Academy in 2010. This resulted in several casualties including the death of Lexus Dale's husband.

Werewolf Law

Given the contagious and violent nature of the curse, a law-abiding existence can be oppressive, even embarrassing, and often unfair. Wealth and social status notwithstanding, it can be difficult to find a job. As such, many avoid registration—for which there are severe legal repercussions.

Those who do, however, are assigned a case worker, a mentor, and are entitled to monthly doses of Wolfsbane and free lodgings at the Ministry safehouse on the full moon.

In Russia

The Russian government recognizes two categories of werewolves – oboroten ("dark" aggressive wolves who "let" the curse go their heads and display wolfish characteristics and behavior) and wawkalak ("good" law-abiding werewolves). Both come with different expectations and advantages (oboroten are regarded with more suspicion and are usually convicted, wawkalak are generally treated better), but they are strictly policed and punished when deemed necessary—which is usually the case.

Wawkalak are officially considered safe in the eyes of the government. As such, they are entitled to a monthly dose of Wolfsbane Potion, "sick days" and technically welcome at public establishments. They may use private safehouses (if they can afford them) and can attend or submit suggestions to the werewolf legislative body.

Werewolf Hunting

In addition to being both dangerous and inadvisable, it is illegal to hunt werewolves in either human or wolf form. This does not mean that people don't still participate in the sport. Werewolf hunting typically involves the enchantment or charming of the werewolf hide to avoid its reversion to human form after the full moon has passed. It is usually done in pairs or groups. Some hunters, if they can find it, may use Tenacious Twine to restrain their targets while the enchantment is being cast.

This is another incentive for werewolves to transform in packs, if they are in a country or area that does not maintain transformation safe houses.

Mentions on AO

Family You Can't Take Home - Ira Almasy clarifies to her niece Raine Almasy that werewolf hunting in Tyuman (Russia) is a family tradition.
Do I Not Bleed? - Hannah Bombay is invited up to Ira's penthouse in Atreus to admire her collection of mounted werewolf heads.
I Was Working my Lab Late One Night - Lexus Dale explains to to Adrestia Gamp that it was once tradition in Canada to hunt werewolves for their pelts.
Jebediah Layton - A werewolf bounty hunter who was infamously active in South America. Has used his methods on Hannah Bombay and Zel Trumble.
Wolves and Wounds - Ignan Storm is injured while hunting a werewolf in France in 1990, later choosing to poison another in 1991 before full moon Free from the Curse