Werewolves
"Now, why do most of you look like you're going to go back to bed?" Professor Kilgore ask.
I raised my head. From my arms. That my head was resting on. "If I may? Professor Kilgore?" He nodded. "Right. So. You were at the Quidditch Match on Saturday?" He nodded again. "Well, you know how Gryffindor won? The best game there was since. Some time ago?" He nodded a third time. "Well. We had a party. Like we do after every game we win. And it didn't end. Until about. Four this morning. So. A lot of us. Only got like. Not even two hours of sleep." I explained.
It was true. The party didn't stop. Sure. Some people left to go and eat in the Great Hall. But. Mostly everyone stayed in the Common Room. Partying. It was great though. It was one of the best games. Almost as good as the time Harry caught the Snitch in less than five minutes.
"I see." Kilgore nodded. For a fourth time. "I guess I will just begin the lesson now." If you're wondering if Kilgore still looks at me weird. The answer. Is yes. And I still don't know why.
"Ok, class. On Friday we finished our lesson on Vampires. So, that means, for the rest of this Semester, we will be learning about Werewolves."
The Marauders and I. All perked up at this. We didn't know that this was going to be about Werewolves.
"Now, can anyone tell me, what is a Werewolf?" Remus put his hand up. I didn't. I put my head back on the table. I was too tired to answer. "Yes, Mr. Lupin?"
"A Werewolf, also known as a Lycanthrope, is a human being who, upon the complete rising of the full moon, becomes an uncontrollable, fearsome and deadly wolf. This condition is caused by infection with Lycanthropy, also known as Werewolfry. A Werewolf cannot choose whether or not to transform and will no longer remember who they are and would kill their best friend given the opportunity once transformed. Despite this, they are able to recall everything they have experienced throughout their transformation upon reverting to their human form." Remus explained.
"That is correct. Ten points to Gryffindor." Kilgore looked at Remus for a second. There was something in his eyes. Something I didn't like. But it was gone a second later. "Can anyone tell me the difference between a regular wolf and a Werewolf?" I raised my hand at this. "Miss Wolfe?"
"Werewolves can be easily distinguished from regular wolves by their shorter snout, more human-like eyes, the tufted tail, and their mindless hunting of humans whilst in wolf form. At all other times, they appear as normal humans, although they will age prematurely, and will gain a pallor as the moon approaches and then wanes. The real difference between a wolf and a werewolf is in behavior. Genuine wolves are not very aggressive, and the vast number of folk tales representing them as mindless predators are now believed by wizarding authorities to refer to Werewolves, not true wolves. A wolf is unlikely to attack a human except under exceptional circumstances. The Werewolf, however, targets humans almost exclusively and poses very little danger to any other creature. Thus, other animals can be around Werewolves, even become friends with them." I explained.
"Another ten points. Can you tell me the process of changing into a Werewolf?"
I nodded. My head was still on the table. "The monthly transformation of a Werewolf is extremely painful if untreated and is usually preceded and succeeded by a few days of pallor and ill health. The Werewolf may display irritation towards friends. While in his or her wolfish form, the Werewolf loses entirely its human sense of right or wrong. However, it is incorrect to state that they suffer from a permanent loss of moral sense.
While human, the Werewolf may be as good or kind as the next person. Alternatively, they may be dangerous even while human. Though Werewolves usually only infect their victims through biting, they sometimes take it too far and kill their victims.
Without any humans nearby to attack, or other animals to occupy it, the Werewolf will attack itself out of frustration."
"Take twenty points to Gryffindor. Excellent explanation. Can anyone tell me the difference between a Werewolf and an Animagus?" This time, Sirius and James put their hands up. "Mr. Black?" Kilgore pointed to Sirius.
"An Animagus can transform into an animal at will, whereas a Werewolf can't. An Animagus has to undergo as process to become an animal, they won't know what said animal is until after the first transformation. A Werewolf has to be bitten at a full moon and will only transform at the full moon." Sirius answered. It's not entirely true. You don't have to be bitten on a full moon. I wasn't. I was still bitten by a Werewolf. It just wasn't a full moon. Greyback said a spell.
I felt Remus squeeze my hand. I squeezed back. We knew all this stuff. Hell. We went through this stuff.
"Good explanation, Mr. Black. Ten points to Gryffindor. Another question. What is a Werewolf's reputation in the Magical World. Yes, Mr. Potter?"
"Werewolves are generally regarded with fear and disgust by wizarding society. People seem to think even when in human form, the Werewolf may pose a danger. It is not uncommon for people known to be Werewolves to be shunned by society and discriminated against within the Wizarding World. It is very difficult for a Werewolf to get a job in the wizarding community. Because of the difficulty in finding work in the Wizarding World, many Werewolves live in poverty. It also forced some to take jobs far below their abilities. Though they have to work at many jobs that are far below their level of abilities, resigning and moving on to another before their workmates notice their signs of Lycanthropy. In a display of ignorance and arrogance, the Ministry expect Werewolves should submit themselves to the department to sign various conducts and registries, which would also force the Werewolves to promise to secure themselves from attacking others. No person would be prepared to walk into the Ministry to admit themselves as Werewolves, thus showing the Ministry's lack of respect of Werewolves' intelligence and dignity. Some, in particular, regarded Werewolves as 'soulless, evil, deserving nothing but death.'" I growled. As James explained. I hated the views on Werewolves. It also doesn't help the fact that Dolores Umbridge passed a restrictive anti-werewolf legislation. That makes it even harder for Werewolves to find jobs. Weirdly enough. That legislation was passed soon after Remus quit in my Third Year.
"Yes, Werewolves don't have a good rep with the Ministry. Same as Vampires, but Werewolves have it extremely hard, if not more. Take fifteen points. Does anybody know more about Werewolves and the Ministry? Miss Wolfe, how about you?"
I sighed. I did know the answer though. "The Ministry of Magic attempts to regulate Werewolves and thus the relationship that exists between them and the Ministry is a rocky one. According to Newton Scamander, Werewolves have been shunted between the Beast and Being divisions of the Department for the Regulation and Control of Magical Creatures for years.
At one point, the Werewolf Registry and Werewolf Capture Unit were both in the Beast Division, while at the same time the office for Werewolf Support Services was in the Being Division. These regulations and services were ultimately a failure, as said by James, that no one would be prepared to walk into the Ministry to admit themselves as Werewolves, and thus none took the prescribed responsibilities of the Werewolf Code of Conduct.
The Werewolf Code of Conduct of 1637 was meant to give Werewolves a framework for coexisting safely and legally within the wizarding world. Werewolves were required to sign a copy of the Code and promise to refrain from attacking and biting non-werewolves. They were also supposed to lock themselves away during their wolf transformation periods.
Werewolves are classified as a XXXXX creature in their transformed state. Which means that they are known killers and are impossible to train or domesticate. Though that is only in their transformed state."
Kilgore nodded. "Correct. Fifteen points. I would ask you who the Werewolves enemies are, but since we've already spent two months learning about Vampires, we needn't say it again." He clapped his hands. "Now, during these two months, we will be learning the history of Werewolves, the Werewolf Code of Conduct of 1637, how the Ministry, Werewolves, and the Magical World coexist. Basically the same we did with Vampires, but instead, it will be with Werewolves." Kilgore's eyes quickly looked at Remus every time he said Werewolf.
Did he know? Did he know Remus was a Werewolf? I have noticed Kilgore look at Remus sometimes. And weirdly too. But. It was always gone before I could pick it up. If he did know Remus was a Werewolf. How did he think of him? Does he hate Werewolves? What was his views on them? I wanted to know. Also. Does he see me as a Werewolf? I know I don't really look the part. I always cover up my bite scar. I didn't cover up my scar on my eye. You couldn't really notice it. Unless you were about three feet away from me. Which. Sometimes he was. I know he's seen it. But. What about Remus's scars. You could really notice them. They covered a lot of his face. Especially the three going down his whole face. From when he was bit. Did Kilgore know? I needed to find out. And soon.
***
The rest of class went by fine. We just started our reading on Werewolves. Homework was just identifying the Werewolf. So. Not bad. I did catch Kilgore's eyes on Remus a few times. And a couple times at me too. But not as much as he did to Remus. I kept catching that look. His eyes were hard. And cold. It made me mad. And upset. I wish he wouldn't do that. It was fine. If he did it to me. I didn't care. But I don't like when Remus gets those looks. Or any of my friends. I didn't like it. Not. One. Bit.
***
"Well. I am done. With Kilgore's essay. Which means. I am done with the rest of my homework. Yay." I stretched my arms out.
"I'm only half way done." Sirius said.
"How? You spend most of your time with not one. But two. Werewolves." I asked him.
"I don't write as fast as you, so fuck off." Sirius glared at me.
I smirked. Then leaned over to him. He was next to me. "Or were you just distracted by your Werewolf boyfriend the whole time?"
"That too." Sirius smirked at me.
"You two want to share what you just said?" James asked.
"Nope." Sirius and I said at the same time. Though I did smirk at James. Wiggling my eyebrows a bit. He bit his lip. Trying not to laugh.
"Hey, Aspen? How do you know so much about the Ministry and Werewolves?" James asked.
I raised an eyebrow. "Um. You do remember I'm a Werewolf? Right?" I paused. "Also. I told you guys last Year. That my Uncle is a Werewolf as well. So. Obviously I know a lot about Werewolves. Also. I read a lot." I gave him a pointed look. He knows how I know. His small grin gave it away.
"Alright, I'll give you that. Sure you shouldn't be in Ravenclaw?"
I shrugged. "Maybe. Don't see anything wrong with that. I think that was the Sorting Hat's third option for me."
"What was the second?" Peter asked.
"Slytherin. It was a big debate. Whether to put me into Gryffindor or Slytherin." I admitted. Wasn't a lie. Even in my own time. The Sorting Hat took awhile to put me in Slytherin. But. Slytherin won. In the end. The only reason I'm in Gryffindor here. Is because of the circumstances.
"Yes. I can see why you would be put into Slytherin. I definitely don't ever want to get you angry again." James shivered. "You are very stubborn. Also mean and vicious when you're angry."
"I know. I get that from my mother." I replied. And smiled. James's mouth twitch a bit. He raised an eyebrow at me. In a questioning manner. I knew what he was asking. I shook my head a tiny bit. Smirking.
"Well, if I ever meet your mother, remind me to not get on her bad side." James chuckled a bit.
I smirked. "I'll try. Though. I am worse than her. So. I guess you'll be fine."
"You're worse than your mother?" Sirius asked.
I smirked. "Oh, yeah. Way worse." Sirius looked horrified. I laughed at his expression. I then looked at Remus. He was being unusually quiet. "You alright there, Rem?"
He slowly looked at me. "Yeah. I'm fine. Just thinking." I frowned. He seemed out if it though. Like something was bothering him.
"You sure?" I asked.
"Yeah, I am." His face softened. When he looked at me. "Aspen, I'm fine. I promise. You don't need to worry about me."
I scoffed. "I worry about you all the time. And I will always keep worrying about my friends."
Remus smiled. Though. It wasn't all there. "Well, I may not be able to stop it, but, I really am fine."
"Ok. If you say so." I replied. I didn't believe him though. Something was bothering him. And I needed to find out what.
Add that to my list of things I needed to find out:
1. What's up with Kilgore?
2. What's up with Remus?