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.

Spoiler warning: Plot and/or ending details follow.

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.

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 supporter of Voldemort: 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 favours very rare meat.

In Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, Tom Riddle claims that, while at school, Rubeus Hagrid used to try to raise werewolf cubs under his bed. He was, however, exaggerating Hagrid's fondness for wild animals: according to Rowling, Riddle's claim was a lie told to slander Hagrid [1]. It has not been specified if werewolf cubs themselves exist in the series: nothing has been said to suggest it.