Chapter 02 - Concerning Werewolves

"Can anyone tell me how can we distinguish a werewolf from a normal wolf?" - Harry asked his class as arms stretched in the air. "Mr. Norris?"

A tall, dark boy got up and recited:

"A werewolf can be distinguished of a common wolf by its shorter snout, tufted tail, and smaller pupils. Werewolves are also more aggressive and, contrary to the common wolves, tend to seek and attack humans" - he finished.

"Very well, Mr. Norris. Ten points to Slytherin."

The boy's deskmate clapped his back in approval, while at the front, a red-headed girl rolled her eyes in contempt at his smug smile.

"As you are all aware, there is no known cure for lycanthropy. Once a human is bitten by a werewolf, he becomes infected and will turn into a werewolf herself at each full moon. There are however, ways to ease the suffering for the person infected and to reduce the risk of an attack. Can anyone guess..."

The red-headed girl almost knocked her chair as she stood up to answer

"The Wolfsbane potion helps a person control its transformation and to remain tamed during the phase she turns into a werewolf," - she said in a single breath as if afraid someone might be too fast and answer before her.

"That is correct. Take five points for Gryffindor."

"Only five?" - she said, annoyed. "Norris got ten."

At the end of the class, Norris' Slytherin friends grinned widely, but he blushed slightly and looked at his desk.

"Well..." said Harry with a little discomfort - "Mr. Norris gave a full answer, while yours is correct but does not list all the measures that we can employ to try and ensure that a werewolf remains tamed and does not represent a threat to himself and to others."

He directed the students' attention to an image of a wolf quietly resting alongside a cat.

"Here, you can see a werewolf in the company of other animals. Werewolves are only a danger to humans and not to other beasts, whom they can tolerate and even play with. There have been known cases of werewolves being soothed by the presence of other animals, or in the presence of Animagi, that can keep them company."

The girl frowned her face and narrowed her eyes towards Harry, seeming resented that he corrected her.

Harry noticed it but decided to let it slip and continue his lecture.

"However, the Wolfsbane potion remains the best option for safety and to ensure a less painful transformation for those infected. Unfortunately, due to its complexity, it's not something that is easily available to all werewolves. The Werewolf Care Act of 2013 launched a pilot experiment by the Ministry of Magic of creating a new registry of werewolves in Britain, ensuring that all of those that registered received a Ministry-approved and quality ensured batch of Wolfsbane potion each month." - he continued passing around the class drawing the gaze of his students.

"This reform allowed several infected wizards and witches to come out of hiding and regain the ability to have a normal life, taking into account the obvious medical situation they have to endure. But the stigma against werewolves still runs deep in our society, and there are those that still prefer to remain in hiding, shunned from society."

"Excuse me, Sir" - a small girl with big brown eyes interrupted - "isn't that dangerous? Shouldn't the Ministry ensure that werewolves are caught and... well, I mean, they are dangerous. They are evil."

"Werewolves can, in fact, be dangerous. But evil is a strong word..."

"They kill people," - the girl blurted out.

"Let us look at this from another angle. Would you say that dragons or hippogriffs are dangerous creatures? They can kill or maim a human."

"Yes, they are dangerous creatures. Everyone knows that".

"Of course. But would you call them evil?"

"No. I mean, they're beasts. They don't think like people. They attack to eat or to defend themselves."

"Quite correct. And that's what happens with a werewolf. Once transformed, the wizard or witch, loses its ability to think like a normal person and acts according to the beast's instincts, that are to attack, kill and eat its preys".

Harry noticed that some of the students shifted in their seats. Small movements that distanced them from him or, more precisely, from the point he was trying to make.

"There are werewolves that are evil. Like there are wizards that are evil. But not all werewolves plan the best way to attack new victims. Some of them distance themselves from society in order to protect others from suffering from the same ordeal."

"Did you know any werewolf, Professor?" - asked a small sandy-haired boy at the front of the class.

"Yes. I've met several werewolves throughout my life. Both good and evil. In fact, I met a werewolf for the first time right here at Hogwarts, in this very classroom. He was the best Defence Against the Dark Arts Teacher I've had. He died fighting Voldemort on those grounds outside".

The class went silent. Harry lost himself temporarily looking through the window remembering Lupin's lessons, from Kappas and Boggarts to the amazing obstacle course he devised to test them. A smile crossed his face remembering Hermione's Boggart of Professor McGonagall telling her she failed all her exams, as his eyes become watery.

He composed himself to face his class again.

"Ok. For homework..." - a groan rumbled across the room - "Yes..." he continued - "for homework, I want 2-foot of parchment on the distinctive characteristics of werewolves and the ways the Ministry of Magic tried to deal with the werewolves' population throughout the years. To be delivered after the Christmas Holidays."

The students smiled in relief as they started to pack their bags. The redhead girl, however, stood up and raised her arm

"Sorry, I have a question" - she said bravely.

Harry considered her for a moment.

"And what is your question, Miss Potter?"

Lily looked at her father defiantly:

"When are you going to teach us about Dementors?"

"When are you going to teach us about Dementors, Professor?" - he stressed the last word, without a hint of a reprimand.

"Yes. Sorry, err... Professor. When are we going to study Dementors, sir?"

"We'll be studying Dementors around Easter time" - Harry answered with a smile.

"And are you going to teach us the Patronus charm?" Lily asked enthusiastically - "Sir?" She added quickly.

"Well..." - Harry pondered his response - "The Patronus charm is a very complex bit of magic. One that requires years of training and great magical skill. It's something that is usually taught in the seventh year..."

The students start to protest, but Lily was louder:

"Mom told me that you taught her and the rest of Dumbledore's Army in her fourth year. It's not fair."

"Miss Potter, I taught your mother, as well as others, during a period of great uncertainty and risk, when our lives were in danger. Fortunately, that's not the case today."

Before she protested again, Harry continued.

"However, I believe that this class as shown that it's ready to learn and perform more advanced magic and, as such, in due time, I will teach you the Patronus charm".

The class celebrated excitedly, while Lily smiled at him.

"Now hurry up everyone, or you'll be late to Herbology." He crossed the class to exit it but stopped at the door looking at Lily that was still packing her stuff.

"Oh. And Miss Potter?" - he called - "Five points from Gryffindor for your little insubordination."

Lily stood mouthing a silent protest to the air, not able to voice the injustice of it, while Harry winked at her and left the room.