Are werewolves impervious to magic?

[chimaera]

Couldn't a werewolf (tranformed) be stopped by a Stupefy, Petritificus
Totalis, or similar spell? Is this mentioned in the books? Are
werewolves resistant to spells, like giants (too many of these
loopholes, in my opinion)?

Hmmm ... maybe James didn't actually save Snape's life!

[gjw]

Post by chimaera
Couldn't a werewolf (tranformed) be stopped by a Stupefy, Petritificus
Totalis, or similar spell? Is this mentioned in the books? Are
werewolves resistant to spells, like giants (too many of these
loopholes, in my opinion)?

It was never mentioned, one way or the other. But I think the evidence
suggests that possibility. When Lupin transforms and endangers the
kids, Black doesn't attempt to use a simple spell to stun or petrify
him. Instead, he changes into a dog and fights him. Granted, this
could be a desire not to harm his friend - but Hermione petrified her
friend Neville, without any serious consequences. It would seem that a
dog fight would be far more hazardous.

Also, Dumbledore and Snape both seem to believe that Lupin (as the
werewolf) would have killed Snape. If it were easy to magically
dispense of a werewolf, the danger would be minimal. (Of course,
there's the surprise element to consider. Coming out of a narrow
tunnel, one might not be prepared to deal quickly enough with a
surprise werewolf attack.)

Then there is the general fear of werewolves in the wizarding
community (which forced Lupin to leave the school). Granted, some of
this could be merely bigotry against anyone different. But the way
characters talk about werewolves seems to indicate that they genuinely
fear them. If it were simple to subdue one with a wand, the fear
shouldn't be that acute.

On the other hand, Lockhart claims to have zapped a werewolf in a
phone booth - but Lockhart isn't a particularly reliable source... He
also claims to have "performed the immensely complex Homorphus Charm"
and changed a werewolf back into a human. Again, though, it was
probably bragging on Lockhart's part.

Later, Lockhart, defending his lies, says "some ugly old Armenian
warlock, even if he did save a village from werewolves." Which
indicates that there WAS someone how saved people from werewolves. But
we're not told how he did it.

Snape assigns the kids " an essay on the ways you recognize and kill
werewolves." That tells us that it is possible to kill them (old
legends are a silver bullet and/or wolfbane), but still doesn't
mention any magical defense against them.

[Toon]

Post by gjw
On the other hand, Lockhart claims to have zapped a werewolf in a
phone booth - but Lockhart isn't a particularly reliable source... He

Poor Superman.

[Kyrina Spellweaver]

Post by gjw
On the other hand, Lockhart claims to have zapped a werewolf in a
phone booth - but Lockhart isn't a particularly reliable source... He
also claims to have "performed the immensely complex Homorphus Charm"
and changed a werewolf back into a human. Again, though, it was
probably bragging on Lockhart's part.
Later, Lockhart, defending his lies, says "some ugly old Armenian
warlock, even if he did save a village from werewolves." Which
indicates that there WAS someone how saved people from werewolves. But
we're not told how he did it.
Snape assigns the kids " an essay on the ways you recognize and kill
werewolves." That tells us that it is possible to kill them (old
legends are a silver bullet and/or wolfbane), but still doesn't
mention any magical defense against them.

My theory is that there is magic that can stop werewolves but that it's
highly specialized and powerful.
Lockhart had to track down someone who was known for saving a village
from werewolves which to me suggests that being able to deal with
werewolves is something rare. Killing may be easier but maybe spells to
force transformation or subdue werewolves are harder. I can imagine the
spell(s) for non-lethal handling of are very difficult to cast (assuming
you can even find a source to learn it from)

They may also just have a bit of resistance to magic, sort of like
dragons. They can be affected but it's harder and in extreme situations
may not be worth risking.

[richard e white]

Post by Kyrina Spellweaver

Post by gjw
On the other hand, Lockhart claims to have zapped a werewolf in a
phone booth - but Lockhart isn't a particularly reliable source... He
also claims to have "performed the immensely complex Homorphus Charm"
and changed a werewolf back into a human. Again, though, it was
probably bragging on Lockhart's part.
Later, Lockhart, defending his lies, says "some ugly old Armenian
warlock, even if he did save a village from werewolves." Which
indicates that there WAS someone how saved people from werewolves. But
we're not told how he did it.
Snape assigns the kids " an essay on the ways you recognize and kill
werewolves." That tells us that it is possible to kill them (old
legends are a silver bullet and/or wolfbane), but still doesn't
mention any magical defense against them.

My theory is that there is magic that can stop werewolves but that it's
highly specialized and powerful.
Lockhart had to track down someone who was known for saving a village
from werewolves which to me suggests that being able to deal with
werewolves is something rare. Killing may be easier but maybe spells to
force transformation or subdue werewolves are harder. I can imagine the
spell(s) for non-lethal handling of are very difficult to cast (assuming
you can even find a source to learn it from)
They may also just have a bit of resistance to magic, sort of like
dragons. They can be affected but it's harder and in extreme situations
may not be worth risking.
--
Kyrina Spellweaver

If lockhart kept the facts of the werewolf attack true but put his own name
in then I think the line about putting the wand to it's throught might be
part of the ansser. Most magical folk don't want to risk getting that
close.


--
Richard The Blind Typer
Lets Hear It For Talking Computers.

[Toon]

Post by chimaera
Couldn't a werewolf (tranformed) be stopped by a Stupefy, Petritificus
Totalis, or similar spell? Is this mentioned in the books? Are
werewolves resistant to spells, like giants (too many of these
loopholes, in my opinion)?

I wondered why nobody used PetritificusTotalis to stop Lupin. He'll
transform, but can't attack. And why haven't we seen this spell since
The Stone? Will it be an attack used by Harry against V in the
finale?

Post by chimaera
Hmmm ... maybe James didn't actually save Snape's life!

Then who did?

[chimaera]

I was just musing that if spells did work on werewolves and if young
Snape had his wand at the ready, he might have been able to stop the
werewolf himself. I realize that canon strongly implies otherwise.

[Shiral]

Snape may have had a momentary panic when he 'locked up' and couldn't
do anything in his own defense when faced with a real, live werewolf.
What James did to save him may have been a spell that kept Lupin from
coming at Snape for a minute, or it may have been as basic and
unmagical as James simply getting Snape out of Lupin's way, and making
him run to safety. I doubt James would want Snape to know that he,
Sirius and Peter could become Animagi. It would give Snape way too much
ammunition against them.

Melissa

[richard e white]

Post by Toon

Post by chimaera
Couldn't a werewolf (tranformed) be stopped by a Stupefy, Petritificus
Totalis, or similar spell? Is this mentioned in the books? Are
werewolves resistant to spells, like giants (too many of these
loopholes, in my opinion)?

I wondered why nobody used PetritificusTotalis to stop Lupin. He'll
transform, but can't attack. And why haven't we seen this spell since
The Stone? Will it be an attack used by Harry against V in the
finale?

Post by chimaera
Hmmm ... maybe James didn't actually save Snape's life!

Then who did?

It was used in book 5


--
Richard The Blind Typer
Lets Hear It For Talking Computers.

[Kish]

Post by Toon

Post by chimaera
Couldn't a werewolf (tranformed) be stopped by a Stupefy, Petritificus
Totalis, or similar spell? Is this mentioned in the books? Are
werewolves resistant to spells, like giants (too many of these
loopholes, in my opinion)?

I wondered why nobody used PetritificusTotalis to stop Lupin. He'll
transform, but can't attack. And why haven't we seen this spell since
The Stone?

Probably because, as far as combat goes, it's a less efficient (the
incantation is twice as long) version of the Stunning curse. Now that
Harry and co. are fifth years and know Stupefy, they don't need
Petrificus Totalus.

[Toon]

Post by Kish

Post by Toon

Post by chimaera
Couldn't a werewolf (tranformed) be stopped by a Stupefy, Petritificus
Totalis, or similar spell? Is this mentioned in the books? Are
werewolves resistant to spells, like giants (too many of these
loopholes, in my opinion)?

I wondered why nobody used PetritificusTotalis to stop Lupin. He'll
transform, but can't attack. And why haven't we seen this spell since
The Stone?

Probably because, as far as combat goes, it's a less efficient (the
incantation is twice as long) version of the Stunning curse. Now that
Harry and co. are fifth years and know Stupefy, they don't need
Petrificus Totalus.

But it sounds so cool when Hemrione said it in the movie. Almost
poetic.

[Great Googly Moogly]

Post by chimaera
Couldn't a werewolf (tranformed) be stopped by a Stupefy, Petritificus
Totalis, or similar spell? Is this mentioned in the books? Are
werewolves resistant to spells, like giants (too many of these
loopholes, in my opinion)?
Hmmm ... maybe James didn't actually save Snape's life!

Didn't Lockhart boast about solving a village's werewolf (the Wala-Wala
Werewolf, I think) problem using the homorphous charm, changing the
werewolf back to human? Assuming that this charm actually exist, and
not just another Lockhart invention, why didn't Snape use this on Lupin,
and/or why wasn't it ever mentioned again? Just wondering.

[tuxgeo]

On Thu, 03 Mar 2005 13:23:12 -0500, Great Googly Moogly

Post by Great Googly Moogly

Post by chimaera
Couldn't a werewolf (tranformed) be stopped by a Stupefy, Petritificus
Totalis, or similar spell? Is this mentioned in the books? Are
werewolves resistant to spells, like giants (too many of these
loopholes, in my opinion)?
Hmmm ... maybe James didn't actually save Snape's life!

Didn't Lockhart boast about solving a village's werewolf (the Wala-Wala

"Wagga-Wagga."
[ Walla-Walla is a real place, but it is not a village. ]

Post by Great Googly Moogly
Werewolf, I think) problem using the homorphous charm, changing the
werewolf back to human? Assuming that this charm actually exist, and
not just another Lockhart invention, why didn't Snape use this on Lupin,
and/or why wasn't it ever mentioned again? Just wondering.

Lockhart described that charm as being "immensely complex"
(CoS, p. 162, Scholastic paperback edition) so perhaps
Professor Snape is unable to perform it.

[Voidsinger]

Post by tuxgeo
"Wagga-Wagga."
[ Walla-Walla is a real place, but it is not a village. ]

So is Wagga Wagga....sorry to disappoint you.

Name means "Place of many crows"...."Place of many crows"


Voidsinger

[richard e white]

Post by Great Googly Moogly

Post by chimaera
Couldn't a werewolf (tranformed) be stopped by a Stupefy, Petritificus
Totalis, or similar spell? Is this mentioned in the books? Are
werewolves resistant to spells, like giants (too many of these
loopholes, in my opinion)?
Hmmm ... maybe James didn't actually save Snape's life!

Didn't Lockhart boast about solving a village's werewolf (the Wala-Wala
Werewolf, I think) problem using the homorphous charm, changing the
werewolf back to human? Assuming that this charm actually exist, and
not just another Lockhart invention, why didn't Snape use this on Lupin,
and/or why wasn't it ever mentioned again? Just wondering.

It might not be a permanit fix. may be it changed the werewolf back for one
day but then they knew who was the werewolf and could take stepps to
takecare of him the next time he changed.
But the other guess I have heard is that Lockhart wiped out how to do the
spell when he blanked the other guy's mind.


--
Richard The Blind Typer
Lets Hear It For Talking Computers.

[LouAnn]

Post by chimaera
Couldn't a werewolf (tranformed) be stopped by a Stupefy, Petritificus
Totalis, or similar spell? Is this mentioned in the books? Are
werewolves resistant to spells, like giants (too many of these
loopholes, in my opinion)?
Hmmm ... maybe James didn't actually save Snape's life!

Sorry, I know this has nothing to do with the original question, but I was
just thinking. Why wasn't Sirius infected by the werewolf curse when he was
bitten by Lupin during their fight? Does changing into a dog protect him?

LouAnn
HP Cult Leader

[gjw]

Post by LouAnn

Post by chimaera
Couldn't a werewolf (tranformed) be stopped by a Stupefy, Petritificus
Totalis, or similar spell? Is this mentioned in the books? Are
werewolves resistant to spells, like giants (too many of these
loopholes, in my opinion)?
Hmmm ... maybe James didn't actually save Snape's life!

Sorry, I know this has nothing to do with the original question, but I was
just thinking. Why wasn't Sirius infected by the werewolf curse when he was
bitten by Lupin during their fight? Does changing into a dog protect him?

Lupin says that he was only a danger to humans, not animals. Now,
whether he was talking about infecting them (with lycanthropy) or
simply killing them, I'm not sure.

[LouAnn]

Post by gjw

Post by LouAnn

Post by chimaera
Couldn't a werewolf (tranformed) be stopped by a Stupefy, Petritificus
Totalis, or similar spell? Is this mentioned in the books? Are
werewolves resistant to spells, like giants (too many of these
loopholes, in my opinion)?
Hmmm ... maybe James didn't actually save Snape's life!

Sorry, I know this has nothing to do with the original question, but I was
just thinking. Why wasn't Sirius infected by the werewolf curse when he was
bitten by Lupin during their fight? Does changing into a dog protect him?

Lupin says that he was only a danger to humans, not animals. Now,
whether he was talking about infecting them (with lycanthropy) or
simply killing them, I'm not sure.

I always understood that to mean that a werewolf would not attack an animal,
because they are not its prey, not that if bitten it wouldn't be infected.
Also, animagus are not truly the animals they transform into.

So many questions, so few answers.

LouAnn
HP Cult Leader

[gjw]

Post by LouAnn

Post by gjw

Post by LouAnn

Post by chimaera
Couldn't a werewolf (tranformed) be stopped by a Stupefy, Petritificus
Totalis, or similar spell? Is this mentioned in the books? Are
werewolves resistant to spells, like giants (too many of these
loopholes, in my opinion)?
Hmmm ... maybe James didn't actually save Snape's life!

Sorry, I know this has nothing to do with the original question, but I

was

Post by gjw

Post by LouAnn
just thinking. Why wasn't Sirius infected by the werewolf curse when he

was

Post by gjw

Post by LouAnn
bitten by Lupin during their fight? Does changing into a dog protect

him?

Post by gjw
Lupin says that he was only a danger to humans, not animals. Now,
whether he was talking about infecting them (with lycanthropy) or
simply killing them, I'm not sure.

I always understood that to mean that a werewolf would not attack an animal,
because they are not its prey, not that if bitten it wouldn't be infected.
Also, animagus are not truly the animals they transform into.

Apparently they're animal enough to discourage werewolf attacks. ;)

[Spaminator]

Post by chimaera
Couldn't a werewolf (tranformed) be stopped by a Stupefy, Petritificus
Totalis, or similar spell? Is this mentioned in the books? Are
werewolves resistant to spells, like giants (too many of these
loopholes, in my opinion)?
Hmmm ... maybe James didn't actually save Snape's life!

Werewolves are not impervious to magic. Lockhart mentions (and
demonstrates while using Harry as his assistant) using a spell against
a werewolf in the second book.

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Now, we all know that Lockhart was a fraud BUT he told Hary and Ron
that it was hard work tracking down the witches and wizards who
actually did all the feats he had claimed responsibility for and
getting them to tell him exactly how they had done them before wiping
their memory so we can be fairly certain that what he claimed to have
done was actually done by someone.

[Paul W. Lints]

Post by LouAnn

Post by chimaera
Couldn't a werewolf (tranformed) be stopped by a Stupefy, Petritificus
Totalis, or similar spell? Is this mentioned in the books? Are
werewolves resistant to spells, like giants (too many of these
loopholes, in my opinion)?
Hmmm ... maybe James didn't actually save Snape's life!

Sorry, I know this has nothing to do with the original question, but I was
just thinking. Why wasn't Sirius infected by the werewolf curse when he was
bitten by Lupin during their fight? Does changing into a dog protect him?

That's what the book said. Werewolves are only dangerous to humans, and in
that context they were referring to the Marauders as not human when they
transformed.

--
Paul W. Lints UIN:25030144
***@deleteme.csupomona.edu

[richard e white]

Post by LouAnn

Post by chimaera
Couldn't a werewolf (tranformed) be stopped by a Stupefy, Petritificus
Totalis, or similar spell? Is this mentioned in the books? Are
werewolves resistant to spells, like giants (too many of these
loopholes, in my opinion)?
Hmmm ... maybe James didn't actually save Snape's life!

Sorry, I know this has nothing to do with the original question, but I was
just thinking. Why wasn't Sirius infected by the werewolf curse when he was
bitten by Lupin during their fight? Does changing into a dog protect him?
LouAnn
HP Cult Leader

As long as he is a dog.


--
Richard The Blind Typer
Lets Hear It For Talking Computers.