WEREWOLVES
3rd Year - Option Five
Werewolves have a complicated history with wizardkind: according to some, they are the beings that face the most prejudice from wizards. You may have learned about werewolves in Defense Against the Dark Arts or even in the Dark Arts course offered at WizU; regardless, both of these classes demonstrate that werewolves are generally viewed by wizards as dark and dangerous creatures. However, in History of Magic, you will learn more about the prejudices held by wizarding society toward werewolves and how lycanthropy has impacted the wizarding world.
Prejudice toward lycanthropes dates as far back as 1637, when the Werewolf Code of Conduct was put in place by the Wizards' Council. The Code outlined the responsibilities of werewolves, which included being locked up during each full moon to prevent attacks. The Werewolf Code of Conduct was a failure due to the lack of registration; no one wanted to publicly come out as a werewolf due to the prejudices in the wizarding world.
​
The next attempt at organizing known werewolves by the Ministry came in the form of the Werewolf Registry. The Werewolf Registry was established at some point before 1964, but it was known to be inaccurate and almost as unsuccessful as its predecessor.
Image of Fenrir Greyback
Anti-Werewolf legislation was passed in 1993, drafted by Dolores Umbridge, which made finding jobs for known lycanthropes to be nearly impossible. It forced some werewolves into poverty or into jobs well below their skill level and is considered to be a driving force behind the number of werewolves who joined Voldemort's ranks in the Second Wizarding War.
​
Despite the vast number of government actions that held negative implications for lycanthropes, the only "positive" service created by the Department for the Regulation and Control of Magical Creatures was the Werewolf Support Services. This service offered aid to lycanthropes, but as with other government programs, eventually closed down due to lack of use by werewolves.
HOMEWORK:
1) Many werewolves joined the ranks of Lord Voldemort due to the prejudice and discrimination they faced at the hands of the Ministry of Magic. Do some research and answer the following questions:
a. How were werewolves treated by Death Eaters?
b. What roles did werewolves serve while under Fenrir Greyback's command?
​
2) Do you think the Ministry of Magic should have any programs, be it regulatory or supportive, related to lycanthropy? Why or why not? Be sure to consider the historical successes/failures of past attempts at creating programs.