Werewolf (Harry Potter)
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A werewolf in the Harry Potter series is a human who, at the full moon, transforms into a vicious wolf.
The werewolf is a most unusual creature in that it doesn't technically exist except for a brief period of time around the full moon. At any other time, a werewolf is a completely normal human. However, the term werewolf is used for both the wolf-like creature and the normal human. Remus Lupin is a werewolf by definition even if he isn't in the actual form of the wolf.
A werewolf can be distinguished from a true wolf physically by several small distinguishing characteristics, including the pupils of the eyes, snout shape, and tufted tail. Most werewolves live outside of normal society and steal to eat. They currently support Voldemort, who they think will give them a better life. Lupin is the only known exception to this.
A werewolf comes into being when a person is bitten by another werewolf. Once this happens, the person must learn to manage the condition. Modern potion-making has come up with a draught called Wolfsbane Potion which controls some of the worst effects of the condition. Wolfsbane Potion is quite difficult to make, even for fully qualified wizards - Lupin is unable to do so and has to rely on Severus Snape - and is said to have a rather disgusting taste and sugar makes it useless. Nothing discovered in the wizarding world can completely cure a werewolf, unfortunately.
There are only three known werewolves in the series: One is Remus Lupin, one is an unnamed character who was in the same ward as Arthur Weasley in St Mungo's Hospital for Magical Maladies and Injuries, and the third one is Fenrir Greyback, a Death Eater; he is the one who bit Lupin. Bill Weasley was also bitten by Greyback during the battle at Hogwarts in Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince. Most wizards expect that because Greyback was in human form at the time, Bill will not become a complete werewolf, but may gain wolfish features. One change that's already been observed is that Bill now favors very rare meat. It is unusual that Fenir Greyback was in human form and bit Bill as normally a wizard would seem to use spells in a combat situation.
In Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, we learn from Tom Riddle that, while at school, Rubeus Hagrid used to try to raise werewolf cubs under his desk. This is the only mention of werewolf cubs in the books so far. Unless these are babies bitten by a werewolf such as Greyback (who is known to have a taste for children), it raises questions over the heredity of the condition.
Or Tom Riddle may be exaggerating about Hagrid's love of wild animals, which may mean there are no such things as werewolf cubs. Rowling stated in an online chat that Riddle's claim was a lie told to slander Hagrid. [1].
