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Warning!
At least some content in this article is derived from information featured in: Hogwarts Legacy & Harry Potter: Puzzles & Spells & Harry Potter: Wizards Unite & Harry Potter: Hogwarts Mystery. |
- "Four fully grown, enormous, vicious-looking dragons were rearing on their hind legs inside an enclosure fenced with thick planks of wood, roaring and snorting torrents of fire were shooting into the dark sky from their open, fanged mouths, fifty feet above the ground on their outstretched necks."
- — The dragons used in the Triwizard Tournament[src]
Dragons are giant winged, fire-breathing reptilian beasts. Widely regarded as terrifying yet awe-inspiring, they can be found all over the world and are frequently referred to in Asian and medieval European folklore.
Able to fly and breathe fire through their nostrils and mouths, they are one of the most dangerous and hardest to conceal creatures in the wizarding world. Their heartstring can be used as the core of the wand. The British Ministry of Magic classifies them as XXXXX, known wizard killers that are impossible to train or domesticate. Despite how dangerous they are, there are people who are trained to work with them, called dragon keepers, or dragonologists. A wizard or witch who trades and sells dragon eggs (which is an illegal activity) is referred to as a dragon dealer.
Description
Early life
- "Your dragon requires a lot of care during these first few months."
- — Dragon Breeding for Pleasure and Profit[src]
Hatching of a Common Welsh Green
Dragon mothers breathe fire on their eggs to keep them warm. They do not keep their eggs in nests.[1] Newly born dragons are referred to as chicks.[2] The dragon's first fire breaths, usually accompanied by thick grey smoke, appear when the dragon is around six months old. However, the ability to fly is normally developed later, at around twelve months, and the dragon will not be fully mature until it is two years old and ready to live on its own.[3] Dragon Breeding for Pleasure and Profit states that you are to feed a baby dragon a bucket of brandy mixed with chicken blood every half hour.[4] This apparently serves a replacement for dragon milk.[5]
Social behaviour
Not much is known about dragon behaviour, however it seems that, at least with the Chinese Fireball, females are generally larger and dominant over males. Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them states that sometimes females oust males from their territories, at least with the Antipodean Opaleye. Fantastic Beasts also states that Fireballs are unusual in that they are willing to share territory with one another, although no more than three dragons will share the same territory. This indicates that dragons are highly territorial.[6]
Dragons are generally highly aggressive towards anything, even wizards, and will sometimes attack humans without provocation, such as in the case of the Ilfracombe Incident.[6]
History
The Great Fire of London in 1666 was probably started by a young Welsh Green Dragon kept in the basement of the house in Puddling Lane.[7]
Dragon breeding was outlawed by the Warlocks' Convention of 1709.[4]
A rogue Welsh Green dragon descended on a beach full of Muggle holidaymakers in 1932.[6] Tilly Toke and her family happened to be there, and her family cast the largest mass of Memory Charms of the century on all the Muggles of Ilfracombe. She was later awarded the Order of Merlin, First Class for her quick action to avoid breaking the International Statute of Secrecy.[6] The Muggles later remember nothing of the incident, with the exception of an old fellow known as Dodgy Dirk, who still claims that a “dirty great flying lizard” attacked him on the beach. People think he’s crazy, of course.[6]
In 1799 a Ukranian Ironbelly dragon carried off a Muggle sailing ship, fortunately there was no one aboard the ship at the time.[6]
In 1802 according to an unsubstantiated report off the coast of Norway A Norwegian Ridgeback dragon (supposedly) carries off a whale calf.[6]
Newt Scamander, for a time, worked in the Dragon Research and Restraint Bureau at the Ministry of Magic. He also spent World War I working with Ukrainian Ironbelly dragons on the Eastern Front.[6]
In the 1970s a rogue Antipodean Opaleye dragon killed several kangaroos in Australia. It was a male, believed to have come to Australia in search of a place to live after being ousted from its territory in New Zealand by a female.[6]
In 1992 Harry Potter, Ron Weasley, and Hermione Granger arrived just in time to see a baby Norwegian Ridgeback emerge from its egg. The baby dragon sneezed some sparks and almost bit Hagrid (who was delighted). The first signs of hatching must have begun by breakfast time, since it was then that Harry, Ron, and Hermione received a note from Hagrid informing them of it. They went to his hut right after their morning Herbology class.[4]
Dragons in the wizarding world
- "It's hard to stop Muggles noticing us if we're keeping dragons in the back garden — anyway you can't tame dragons, it's dangerous."
- — Ron Weasley regarding dragons and their nature[src]
Dragonologists transporting dragons across a vast distance
Draco Malfoy's first name comes from the constellation The Dragon ("Draco" in Latin). The motto of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry is Draco dormiens numquam titillandus; Latin for Never tickle a sleeping dragon.
The Hogwarts gamekeeper, Rubeus Hagrid, loved and adored dragons, briefly owning a Norwegian Ridgeback named Norbert, who turned out to be a female and was subsequently renamed Norberta.[4] In 1993, the Minister for Magic, Cornelius Fudge, suggested placing dragons to guard the school, after being compelled to remove the Dementors, something that Professor Dumbledore thought Hagrid would be very happy with.[8]
A Ukrainian Ironbelly guarding high security vaults at Gringotts
Many useful materials come from dragons, but they are hard to obtain (see Uses below). It takes almost half a dozen wizards just to stun a dragon.[9] Muggles believe that dragons are a mere myth, but have been known on occasion to glimpse these beasts. To prevent them from being seen by Muggles, and to protect them from poaching, dragons are kept on dragon reserves around the world, most of which are far from human habitation. Dragons cannot be domesticated, despite individuals trying to do so.[6] However, it is possible to condition them via torture to make them somewhat subservient, as Gringotts Wizarding Bank had done to the one guarding the lower vaults, who had been trained to expect pain upon hearing a certain noise.[10] The selling of dragon products is closely regulated by the Ministry of Magic, and only dragon species that are over-breeding are killed to make these items. Those who study dragons are known as dragonologist.[3]
A dragon was mentioned in a song heard by Newt Scamander and his friends at the speakeasy known as the Blind Pig in 1926 New York. Also, the curse Fiendfyre produces flames in the shape of dragons,[11] and Gringotts Bank employs dragon feeders. The position includes fireproof robes and pays 7 Galleons per week.
Uses
Harry Potter faces a Hungarian Horntail during the first task of the Triwizard Tournament
Dragons were used in the First Task of the Triwizard Tournament of 1994, in which the champions had to retrieve a golden egg from a nesting mother. The varieties used were: the Hungarian Horntail, the Chinese Fireball, the Swedish Short-Snout, and a Welsh Green.[12] Ron Weasley's brother Charlie worked with dragons in Romania at the time, and helped transport the dragons used in the Tournament.[9] Dragons are also used to guard certain vaults at Gringotts Wizarding Bank, and one was used by Harry Potter, Ron Weasley and Hermione Granger to escape the bank following their break-in in 1998.[10]
Though they cannot be domesticated, there is one known instance of a dragon being used as a mount. In May 1998, Harry Potter, Ron Weasley, and Hermione Granger rode on the back of a dragon,[10] though they had trouble maintaining a grip on their steed, and could not control its flight.[13] During the 1993–1994 school year, before playing in the Quidditch final against Slytherin, Harry dreamed that the Slytherin team were flying on dragons instead of broomsticks. When he awoke he realised that they would not be allowed to ride dragons.[14]
A Patronus Charm cast in the corporeal form of a dragon
The dragon model, like the model in the First Task of Triwizard Tournament of 1994,[12] was used in a roast chestnuts sale, near Weasleys' Wizard Wheezes, in Diagon Alley to hold the chestnut in place.[15]
Dragon milk can be used to create dragon milk cheese, as noted in the revised edition of Charm Your Own Cheese.[3]
Madam Rosmerta owns a silk dressing gown embroidered with dragons, which she was wearing on the night in June 1997 when Harry Potter and Albus Dumbledore apparated back from the Crystal Cave.[16]
There is also a disease called the Dragon Pox in the wizarding world, which is named after the dragon.[2]
In rare cases, a corporeal Patronus may take the form of a dragon.[2]
| Material | Use |
|---|---|
| Dragon blood | Albus Dumbledore discovered the twelve uses of dragon blood.[17] The twelfth use is as an oven cleaner.[18] Another one is spot remover.[19] Dragon blood is used in potions within the Wizarding World.[2][20] |
| Dragon claw | During the 1995 school year, in the midst of the O.W.L.s, a trade sprang up among the fifth and seventh year students for various supposed brain stimulants. A student named Harold Dingle was offering powdered dragon claw, though Hermione Granger confiscated it, as it turned out to be dried Doxy droppings. Ron Weasley said that dragon claw does work and that it gives your brain a boost, making you cunning for a few hours, though it is not known if this is actually true.[21] |
| Dragon dung | Dragon dung is sold by the barrel in Knockturn Alley. It is a rich fertiliser used by students at Hogwarts in Herbology.[22] |
| Dragon eggs | Dragon eggs are classified as a Class A Non-Tradeable Material by the Ministry of Magic.[6] Despite the ban, many dragon eggs can still be found on the black market. Chinese Fireball egg shells are highly prized as potion ingredients by Chinese witches and wizards. |
| Dragon heart | Dragon heartstring is an exceptionally powerful, and one of the most common kinds of core used in wands.[23] |
| Dragon horn | Powdered dragon horn is used in many potions. Romanian Longhorn Horns are listed as a Class B-Tradable Material by the Ministry of Magic.[6] |
| Dragon hide | Dragon hide is used to make clothing. Where Muggles would wear leather, wizards wear dragon hide. The skin is very tough, impervious to some spells, and provides the same physical protection as leather, while at the same time having the same texture and appearance as snake skin. Dragon hide is used to make gloves, boots, jackets and shields. In high demand at the moment is the skin of the Swedish Short-Snout. Fred and George Weasley wore dragon skin jackets when they greeted Harry after his fifth school year.[24] Professor Horace Slughorn had a dragon-skin briefcase, with gold clasps.[25] When Rubeus Hagrid and Olympe Maxime went to be emissaries to the giants, on Albus Dumbledore's behalf, they brought a roll of dragon skin as a gift for the Gurg.[26] |
| Dragon liver | Dragon liver is sixteen Sickles an ounce, and is often used as an ingredient for potions.[27][28] |
| Dragon meat | When Hagrid returned from his trip to the giants with many injuries (actually acquired from his half-brother Grawp), he put a bloody, green-tinged, dragon meat steak, slightly larger than an average car tire, on his face as it helped the stinging. It is not known if dragon meat is safe for humans to eat but seems fine for canines.[26] |
Books
- "Tried and tested tips to help you breed dragons, including the old-time favourite of brandy and chicken blood every half hour for newly-hatched chicks."
- — Dragon Breeding for Pleasure and Profit[src]
![Dragon Breeding for Pleasure and Profit[4]](/wiki/File:Dragon-breeding-for-pleasure-and-profit.png "Dragon-breeding-for-pleasure-and-profit.png (46 KB)")
![Dragon Species of Great Britain and Ireland[4]](/wiki/File:Dragon-species-of-great-britain-and-ireland.png "Dragon-species-of-great-britain-and-ireland.png (46 KB)")
![From Egg to Inferno: a Dragon-Keeper's Guide[4]](/wiki/File:From-egg-to-inferno-a-dragon-keepers-guide-pottermore.png "From-egg-to-inferno-a-dragon-keepers-guide-pottermore.png (64 KB)")
![Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them by Newt Scamander[6]](/wiki/File:Fantastic-beasts-and-where-to-find-them-pottermore.png "Fantastic-beasts-and-where-to-find-them-pottermore.png (40 KB)")
Spells that affect dragons
- "Dragons are extremely difficult to slay, owing to the ancient magic that imbues their thick hides, which none but the most powerful spells can penetrate..."
- — A Hogwarts Library book[src]
While dragon skin can resist most spells, such as a single Stunning Spell, certain strategies may be employed to circumvent the strength of their hides.
| Spell | Effect |
|---|---|
| Conjunctivitis Curse | While dragons resist most spells due to their hide, their eyes are their weakest point, and as such, the Conjunctivitis Curse, which causes irritation in the eyes, remains effective towards them. In the Triwizard Tournament of 1994, Durmstrang champion Viktor Krum used this curse on a dragon, with satisfying results.[12] |
| Stunning Spell |
Like most creatures with spell resistance, the use of multiple spells at once can override their immunity. In the Triwizard Tournament of 1994, Charlie Weasley and several other dragonologists used multiple Stunning Spells to successfully subdue several dragons.[9] |
| Bewitched sleep | Fleur Delacour succeeded in putting a Common Welsh Green into a trance during the Triwizard Tournament.[12] |
Dragon reserves
- "Perhaps this is why dragons need sanctuaries...not to protect us from them, but to protect them from us."
- — William Weasley[src]
| Reserve | Description |
|---|---|
| Romanian Dragon Sanctuary | Home to several types of dragons. Charlie Weasley works and studies dragons here.[4] |
| Chinese Dragon Sanctuary | Home to Chinese Fireballs. |
| Hebrides | The MacFusty Clan cares for their dragons here. |
| Wales | Hidden in the higher mountains. |
| Sweden | Between Arjeplog and Kopparberg. The annual broom race goes right through there. |
| Norwegian Dragon Sanctuary | Home to Norwegian Ridgeback.[4] |
Known breeds
- "There was a silvery blue one with long, pointed horns, snapping and snarling at the wizards on the ground, a smooth-scaled green one, which was writhing and stamping with all its might, a red one with an odd fringe of fine gold spikes around its face, which was shooting mushroom-shaped fire clouds into the air, and a gigantic black one, more lizard-like than the others, which was nearest to to them."
- — Physical descriptions of different breeds[src]
There is no officially sanctioned breeding of dragons, as dragon breeding was outlawed by the Warlocks' Convention of 1709. However, they have been known to interbreed, producing rare hybrids. Below is a list of the ten known pure-bred breeds of dragons according to the fifty-second edition of Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them:
| Breed | Image | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Antipodean Opaleye | 
|
Native to New Zealand, the Opaleye is generally considered one of the most beautiful dragons, with pearly scales that line its body, and glittering multi-coloured eyes that have no pupils.[6] |
| Chinese Fireball (known as "Lion Dragon") | 
|
The Fireball is scarlet and smooth scaled with a fringe of golden spikes around its snub-snouted face and extremely protuberant eyes.[6] |
| Common Welsh Green (a native dragon of Great Britain) | 
|
The common Welsh is green in colour and with two spiked horns that reside on top of its head. The tail is vert stream-line with a single pointed tip at the end.[6] |
| Hebridean Black (the other native dragon of Great Britain) | 
|
It has dark rough scales, ridges along its back, and a tail tipped with an arrow-shaped spike. The Hebridean Black has brilliant purple eyes and can grow to be up to thirty feet long.[6] |
| Hungarian Horntail (considered to be the most dangerous dragon) | 
|
It has black scales, and is lizard-like in appearance. It also has yellow eyes, bronze horns and similarly coloured spikes that protrude from its long tail.[6] |
| Norwegian Ridgeback | 
|
It resembles the Hungarian Horntail, except for the black ridges on its back, the browner texture in its scales. |
| Peruvian Vipertooth (a highly venomous dragon) | 
|
Its scales are smooth and copper-coloured. It also has black ridge-markings and short horns on its head.[6] |
| Romanian Longhorn | 
|
The Romanian Longhorn has dark green scales, and two long, glittering golden horns.[6] |
| Swedish Short-Snout | 
|
The scales are silvery blue, and its powerful flame is also a brilliant blue colour — and hot enough to reduce timber and bone to ashes in seconds.[6] |
| Ukrainian Ironbelly (the largest dragon breed ever recorded) | 
|
It is a bipedal breed, metallic grey in colour, with an immense wingspan, long talons and rough scales said to be as hard as steel. It is the largest breed of dragon which reaches up to six tonnes, and its eyes are deep red. Sometimes the eyes seem to be the same colour as its body because of a protective scale.[6] |
The existence of these two dragons are only shown on a page of notes concerning the book Dragon Breeding for Pleasure and Profit.[29]
| Breed | Image | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Catalonian Fireball | 
|
It appears to have a black or possibly scorched, somewhat oddly shaped snout and possesses a row of spikes that descends down its neck. Two black horns reside on the top of its head. |
| Portuguese Long-Snout | 
|
Its appearance is somewhat similar to that of the Catalonian Fireball, with ridged neck and scaly hide, but with a longer snout and pointier horns. |
Behind the scenes
- Dragons exist in the legends of many cultures worldwide. The dragons of Harry Potter bear the most resemblance to the modern European dragon in that they fly, breathe fire, and have magically powerful blood.
- Draco Malfoy's first name, Draco, is Latin for both "snake" and "dragon".
- In the film adaptation of Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, Fred and George Weasley have a firework dragon chase Dolores Umbridge through the Great Hall.
- Most of the dragons in the films have the posture of a bat or a pterosaur.
- The Catalonian Fireball appears to be an early draft on the Chinese Fireball because these were notes for Dragon Breeding for Pleasure and Profit on J. K. Rowling's official site. The same for the Portuguese Long-Snout which seems to be an early draft for the Romanian Longhorn and the Swedish Short-Snout.
- In the credits of the film adaptation of Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, it says "No Dragons were harmed in the making of this movie". This probably refers to the scene in the movie where the Hungarian Horntail falls off the bridge.
Appearances
- Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone (First appearance)
- Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone (film)
- Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone (video game) (Appears as statue) (Dragon egg) (Dragon)
- Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (Mentioned only)
- Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (film) (Mentioned on a wood panel in Flourish and Blotts)
- Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (video game) (Appears as statue)
- Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban (Mentioned only)
- Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban (film) (Mentioned only)
- Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire
- Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire (film)
- Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire (video game)
- Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix (Mentioned only)
- Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix (film) (Appears as Fireworks)
- Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix (video game) (Mentioned only)
- Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince (Mentioned only)
- Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince (film)
- Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows
- Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1 (video game)
- Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2
- Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2 (video game)
- Harry Potter and the Cursed Child
- Harry Potter and the Cursed Child (play)
- Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them
- Fantastic Beasts: Cases from the Wizarding World
- Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them: The Original Screenplay (Mentioned only)
- Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them (film) (Mentioned only)
- Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald - The Original Screenplay (Mentioned only)
- Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald (Mentioned only)[30]
- Harry Potter: A Pop-Up Book
- LEGO Harry Potter
- LEGO Harry Potter: Building the Magical World
- LEGO Harry Potter
- LEGO Harry Potter: Years 1-4
- LEGO Harry Potter: Years 5-7
- LEGO Dimensions
- Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey
- Harry Potter Trading Card Game
- Pottermore
- Wonderbook: Book of Spells
- Harry Potter: The Character Vault (Mentioned only)
- Harry Potter: The Creature Vault
- Harry Potter: Hogwarts Mystery
- Harry Potter: Wizards Unite
- Harry Potter: Puzzles & Spells
- Hogwarts Legacy
Notes and references
- ↑ Fantastic Beasts: Cases from the Wizarding World
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 Pottermore
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 J. K. Rowling's official site
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 4.4 4.5 4.6 4.7 4.8 Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone, Chapter 14 (Norbert the Norwegian Ridgeback)
- ↑ Given the fact that dragons produce milk in the first place, that this mixture is the first thing a newborn dragon consumes, as well as the fact that dragons obviously cannot make brandy, it appears this is a wizarding replacement for dragon milk used to feed newborn dragons.
- ↑ 6.00 6.01 6.02 6.03 6.04 6.05 6.06 6.07 6.08 6.09 6.10 6.11 6.12 6.13 6.14 6.15 6.16 6.17 6.18 6.19 6.20 6.21 Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them
- ↑ Fifth question of the third W.O.M.B.A.T. at J. K. Rowling's official site
- ↑ Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, Chapter 22 (Owl Post Again)
- ↑ 9.0 9.1 9.2 Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, Chapter 19 (The Hungarian Horntail)
- ↑ 10.0 10.1 10.2 Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Chapter 26 (Gringotts)
- ↑ Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Chapter 31 (The Battle of Hogwarts)
- ↑ 12.0 12.1 12.2 12.3 Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, Chapter 20 (The First Task)
- ↑ Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Chapter 27 (The Final Hiding Place)
- ↑ Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, Chapter 15 (The Quidditch Final)
- ↑ Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince (film)
- ↑ Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, Chapter 27 (The Lightning-Struck Tower)
- ↑ Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone, Chapter 6 (The Journey from Platform Nine and Three-Quarters)
- ↑ Quote from J.K. Rowling interview with the San Francisco Chronicle
- ↑ Interview with Steve Kloves
- ↑ Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone, Chapter 16 (Through the Trapdoor)
- ↑ Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, Chapter 31 (O.W.L.s)
- ↑ Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, Chapter 6 (Gilderoy Lockhart)
- ↑ Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, Chapter 18 (The Weighing of the Wands)
- ↑ Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, Chapter 38 (The Second War Begins)
- ↑ Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, Chapter 18 (Birthday Surprises)
- ↑ 26.0 26.1 Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, Chapter 20 (Hagrid's Tale)
- ↑ Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone, Chapter 5 (Diagon Alley)
- ↑ The price in the older versions of the novel was given as seventeen Sickles, but this was changed because seventeen Sickles is equal to one Galleon, so it would be like saying "One hundred cents".
- ↑ here
- ↑ https://www.pottermore.com/news/watch-the-first-trailer-for-fantastic-beasts-the-crimes-of-grindelwald
| Magical creatures by classification | |
|---|---|
| X | Flobberworm · Horklump |
| XX | Augurey · Bowtruckle · Chizpurfle · Clabbert · Diricawl · Fairy · Ghoul · Gnome · Grindylow · Imp · Jobberknoll · Mooncalf · Porlock · Puffskein · Ramora · Winged horse |
| XXX | Ashwinder · Billywig · Bundimun · Crup · Doxy · Dugbog · Fire crab · Fwooper · Glumbumble · Hippocampus · Hippogriff · Hodag · Jarvey · Knarl · Kneazle · Leprechaun · Lobalug · Mackled Malaclaw · Moke · Murtlap · Niffler · Nogtail · Pixie · Plimpy · Pogrebin · Red Cap · Salamander · Sea serpent · Shrake · Streeler · Winged horse |
| XXXX | Centaur · Demiguise · Erkling · Erumpent · Golden Snidget · Graphorn · Griffin · Hidebehind · Kappa · Kelpie · Merperson · Occamy · Phoenix · Re'em · Runespoor · Snallygaster · Sphinx · Tebo · Thestral · Thunderbird · Troll · Unicorn · Winged horse · Yeti |
| XXXXX | Acromantula · Basilisk · Chimaera · Dragon · Horned Serpent · Lethifold · Manticore · Nundu · Quintaped · Wampus cat · Werewolf |