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"Another term lycanthrope, often used to describes werewolves, however, refers to someone who suffers from a mental disease of fantasising being a wolf. This particular mental disorder is termed lycanthropy."
The Essential Defence Against the Dark Arts[src]

Lycanthropy was the state in which a werewolf found him or herself: that of turning into a fearsome and deadly near-wolf. Muggles were far less likely to be infected by lycanthropy than wizardkind, as the wounds had a higher fatality rate. To date, there was no cure for lycanthropy. Lycanthropy was a deeply feared and despised condition, as tragic tales were told that victims begged to be allowed to die rather than becoming werewolves.[6]

The term was often used to describe actual werewolves, but some authors, like Arsenius Jigger in his work The Essential Defence Against the Dark Arts, asserted that its correct use was of describing a mental disease of fantasising being a wolf and, thus, preferred the term werewolfry, when referring to the condition of being a werewolf.[7]

Behind the scenes[]

  • J. K. Rowling has stated that she used lycanthropy as a metaphor for HIV in the Harry Potter novels.[8] This statement was repeated in material provided for Pottermore Presents, leading some sources to report it as if was new information. In response, Rowling posted a series of scathing Twitter messages pointing out that "at a conservative estimate, 90% of 'revelations' that keep cropping up about Potter characters are recycled from years ago".[9]
  • Despite the similarities between the two conditions, lycanthropy was not considered a type of blood malediction, and a female werewolf was not considered a Maledictus.

Appearances[]

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