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Werewolves in Harry Potter

Remus Lupin (left) and Fenrir Greyback (right), members of the same species of Lycanthrope

"There is a common misconception that these two groups are the same thing. In truth, it is false. Not only are they very different, but there are many species between both genera."
— Gabrielle Delacour, writing in The Evolution of Magic.

The term "Werewolf" refers to two distinct genera, each with multiple species. The most common use of this term refers to the Lycanthrope genus, more commonly referred to as Lycans, which refer to the various species of humans shifting into wolf forms (particularly during full moon nights) who reproduce by infecting and biting (or scratching) others.

However, this term is also used to refer to the Homo Lupus genus, also known as Loup-Garoux, who reproduce biologically and cannot infect another person. Unlike Lycanthropes, while many cultures of the various Homo Lupus species do revere the full moon, they nonetheless do not require it in order to transform.

Jacob-Black-Twilight-Werewolf-1400x700

Jacob Black, a male Homo Lupus or Loup-Garou, and Alpha of his pack.

Differences[]

Werewolves in Harry Potter 2

A member of a species of Lycanthrope.

"There's a confusion in the term "werewolf". Your species are scientifically termed Homo Lupus, or more commonly known as Loup-Garoux, and you continue your species by reproducing biologically. Lycanthropes, or Lycans, on the other hand, reproduce mainly by infecting humans."
— Gabrielle Delacour to Jacob Black.

Homo Lupus or Loup-Garoux are born as natural wolf shape-shifters and pass on their abilities to their biological offspring. By contrast, few species of Lycanthropes, or Lycans, are able to pass on their abilities by reproducing biologically. Furthermore, an especially striking difference between both genera is that Homo Lupus, by and large, usually tend to have more control, not only of their abilities, but their natural instincts (although they may still lose control due to feelings of rage),

There is however, no set rule. Some species of Lycanthropes have been able to reproduce biologically, passing on their abilities to their offspring, and even a select few are able to transform and control themselves with experience (or magic, in the case of the Wolfsbane Potion).

While both genera are vulnerable to silver, some species within both genera have developed various defence mechanisms for better immunity towards the use of silver, whether they are artificial solutions or naturally biological ones gained via evolution, the same way some vampire species have also developed various defence mechanisms towards sunlight. Therefore, they are only vulnerable to silver without their various defences. However, the degree to which they are able to defend themselves, if they possess any, as well as the various methods, differ.

The first Lycans were immortal, and they possessed the ability to continue their species by reproducing biologically, unlike many later species of Lycans. Some Loup-Garoux also possessed the use of venom, although this is not for infecting and transforming others; rather it is a natural means of defence against enemies. Some Loup-Garoux evolved to grow to unusual sizes, such as the Olympic Wolf species, though there was still a large gender disproportion, prompting them to pass on their species by mating with human women, although they have since started to evolve to include more and more females.

History[]

The origins of the Loup-Garoux and the Lycans are steeped in myth and legend. The accounts differ; even Gabrielle Delacour was unsure to what extent the two genera are related.

Selene 1

According to legend, Selene, Greek goddess of the Moon, created Loup-Garoux when she blessed a group of hunter-gatherers.

One legend states that the Loup-Garoux first came into being when the moon goddess Selene (whose Roman name was Luna), or Artemis (Diana), blessed a group of hunter-gatherers with the ability to transform into wolves. Some Loup-Garoux theorise that they were descended from a prehistoric breed of canine which absorbed protean matter from a meteorite, thus enabling them to transform into humans.

Lycaon being transformed

According to legend, Lycaon, king of Arcadia, became a werewolf when he tried to feed human flesh to Zeus, king of the gods.

Another legend states that the king of the Greek kingdom of Arcadia, Lycaon, was cursed with lycanthropy when he tried to feed human flesh to the king of the gods, Zeus, hence the name.

Whatever the reasons, Gabrielle traced the origins of both genera to Greece, originating from the Mesolithic Stone Age, to northern Greece. While the precise origins of the Loup-Garoux are still shrouded in mystery, the origins of the Lycans are more clear.

The man who later became the first Lycanthrope, was born around six thousand years ago, in 4000 B.C.E, in Northern Greece. Known to later generations as William Corvinus, his birth name was lost to time. What was known was that he was the younger twin brother of the man who later became the first vampire, later known as Marcus Corvinus, the son of the first immortal, later-named Alexander Corvinus. His mother, a witch, was unnamed for much of history, later known as Helena Corvinus.

According to the accounts, Alexander Corvinus became the first immortal when he contracted a disease so virulent and deadly that all those who had previously caught it, had died. His wife, Helena, fearing the loss of her husband, turned to magic to save him, even begging the powerful Witch-Queen to aid her in her efforts. The Witch-Queen obliged and Alexander's body mutated. Instead of dying, he became the first immortal. Later the couple would have three sons and one daughter, the eldest- the twins- having inherited his immortality, whereas the daughter also inherited her mother's magic. The third son was mortal, but unbeknownst to them, secretly passed down the immortal genes to his descendants.

According to the accounts, during the Dark Ages, after the fall of the Western Roman Empire, William was bitten by a wolf. Gabrielle speculated on whether he was bitten by an ordinary wolf or a Loup-Garou, but regardless, the creature likely had rabies. As a result, William, who had been a sickly child and afflicted with albinism and likely various nervous and anxiety disorders, not only evolved rapidly to become stronger and more physically powerful, he became more magically resistant. Unfortunately, due to the nature of rabies, William's virus-infected cells were constantly in motion, causing him, if not constant pain, then certainly great distress.

This resulted in an inability to control himself, as William would always seek ways to relieve himself of his agony or distress by biting, scratching, or simply moving aggressively, seeking to hunt. His virus was so infectious that the smallest bite or scratch upon a victim would infect and transform them. The venom was so powerful that it was known to reanimate the corpses of his victims in order to transform them.

Eventually, William was captured by his brother Marcus, now a vampire, and his fellow Elders, Viktor and Amelia. His whereabouts remained a mystery until the early twenty-first century, when it was revealed that he had been imprisoned under Viktor's orders.

Unlike the various Lycanthrope species, who would later evolve from William's breed, the first species of Lycans could not transform back into humans. Later species would arise due to circumstances, such as the infecting of a pregnant woman, in which her unborn offspring would be affected, albeit partially.

William Corvinus 1

William Corvinus, an immortal, was the first and most powerful Lycan.

The first two species of Lycans could pass down their abilities by reproducing biologically with their own kind, but offspring were rare, and later generations could not. Eventually, later species of Lycans lost their immortality, although many remained long-lived, and various breeds developed various resistances to silver, which could prove deadly if it entered the bloodstream. Contrary to popular belief, most victims of Lycanthropes did not survive a Lycan bite, and those that did often possessed the magical gene (dormant or active), or some other supernatural trait, to a degree.

Lycan 1

A Lycanthrope of the second species, evolved from William's breed. This kind was still immortal and able to continue their species biologically, to an extent.

Within the Wizarding World, Lycanthropes were treated as outcasts, due to fear, paranoia, prejudice and misunderstanding. The introduction of the Werewolf Registration Act and other such laws, allowed for greater discrimination against those unfortunate enough to survive after being infected with Lycanthropy. As such, many lived in poverty, despite the credentials of some such as Remus Lupin.

By contrast, Homo Lupus, or Loup-Garoux, were largely able to control themselves and roamed in packs. They were nomadic by nature and culture, although some often settled in one place for a few generations, at the very least. According to Gabrielle, their history was rife with persecutions, poverty and civil wars, largely fought in favour of safer havens or larger, less populated territories, or disagreements with how to treat humans, or leadership, such as the case of the murders of the Labonair family, the royalty of the Crescent Pack.

Some species of Loup-Garoux, such as the Crescent Pack of New Orleans, were venomous by nature, but cannot reproduce by infecting others. Their venom was a weapon for defence, mainly against their mortal enemies: vampires. Another species, the Olympic Wolves, eventually evolved to grow into the size of horses, although there still remained a wide gender disproportion, and they often needed to reproduce with human women. The Olympic Wolves, both the Black and the Uley packs were unusual that they regarded themselves as the guardians of a specific territory and a human tribe, the Quileutes.

Unlike their uncontrollable cousins, the Lycans, Loup-Garoux live, hunt and fight in communities known as packs, ruled by a male Alpha, and/or a female Luna. They possessed a sophisticated culture, albeit not as advanced a civilisation such as those of the vampires who of shared a common language and script, although they possessed a rich oral history. Originating from Northern Greece, they migrated to various parts of the world, often willingly or by fleeing persecution, as was the case of the Gandillon family, of whom Vivian was a descendant of.

It is worthy to note that both Loup-Garoux and Lycanthropes cannot stand each other, and on the rare occasions they do cross paths, they often come into violent conflict. However, they do possess one mortal enemy in common: vampires.

Gallery[]

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