Werewolves

After he met with Gwen, James wasted no time and went straight to the library. From one of the shelves, he took the book he was reading on defensive magic and resumed reading.

He finished reading chapter twenty-eight and started with chapter twenty-nine. The title of this chapter was as follows: WEREWOLVES.

It read as follows:

[A werewolf is a creature that normally resembles a human being, but when the full moon is fully risen it becomes an uncontrollable, fearsome, and deadly wolf. Many use the term lycanthrope to describe werewolves, this is incorrect. Lycanthropy refers to someone who suffers from a mental illness and fantasizes about being a wolf]

James knew that there were two opinions about the correct term. Some authors said that both terms were correct, and others that lycanthropy was not the same and could not be used to name a real werewolf.

Arsenius Jigger, the author of this book, preferred the latter and used the term werewolf when referring to the condition of being a werewolf.

The chapter explained many things about werewolves. How they could not choose whether to transform or not, and when they were transformed they did not remember who they were and would kill even their best friend if they had the chance. It also talked about the infection, how it was transmitted, and ways to cure the wound, although it didn't cure the disease of later transforming into a werewolf.

[The monthly werewolf transformation is extremely painful if left untreated. It is usually preceded and followed by a few days of pallor and ill health. When the person is transforming into a wolf, the individual loses his human sense of good and evil. However, it is incorrect to claim that (as many authorities on the subject have done) they suffer a permanent loss of morality. Werewolves in their human forms, can be as good and gentle as anyone].

'Werewolves have it rough,' thought James pityingly. There was no cure for this disease. Besides this wasn't the worst of it.

Werewolves or werewomen are generally viewed with terror, disgust, and distaste by magical society. People seem to think that even when they are in their human form, the werewolf can pose a danger. It is not unusual for people known to be werewolves to be shunned by society and discriminated against within the magical world. It is very difficult for a werewolf to get a job in the magical community.

This causes most to suffer poverty and end up exiled from society and joining werewolf packs that commit crimes and continue to infect more people.

James thought that the Ministry of Magic bore a great deal of responsibility for this, as they did nothing to stop the oppression and discrimination faced by werewolves.

He finished reading the chapter and was just short of finishing the book. The last thing was a brief conclusion of a few pages.

'Book finished...' said James, closing the book.

Now, it was time to put what he learned into practice. Namely, the defensive spells that the book explained. James found two very useful spells that would serve in his arsenal of defensive magic.

One was 'Barriera Silence.' As the name implies it creates a barrier of silence around the user, muffling outside sounds and preventing people nearby from overhearing James' conversations or noises he makes.

This will serve him well with the invisibility cloak, as despite being invisible his footsteps still create noise, and if he speaks other people can hear his voice.

'It will be very useful for the marauders,' thought James with a slight smile.

The only downside was that the barrier stays where you cast the charm, it doesn't follow the user. So, if you go outside the boundaries of the barrier you will be heard again.

'What better place than the library to practice,' thought James as he opened the book to the page where he explained this charm. The pronunciation, the intention, and the movement of the wand.

After 10 minutes where he went over everything, he took his wand and said in a low tone so he wouldn't get kicked out, "Barriera Silence." He pronounced the LEN and the RA more forcefully, dragging out the A.

James felt his wand vibrate subtly indicating that the spell was cast. He could also visualize a distortion in the air around him. Still, he wasn't sure if the spell had worked properly.

He looked around and could see the librarian in the distance, also several students sitting diligently studying, 'Let's see how good the barrier is,' thought James.

After a few seconds, where he plucked up his courage, he shouted, "SHIT!" to his luck no one looked up in surprise and looked back at him for the rudeness he had just said. The worst thing is that the library is in complete silence, and it would be very embarrassing, but it was a good way to practice and not want to fail.

'Phew... luckily it worked,' thought James somewhat nervously. After a few seconds, he noticed how the faint glow around him disappeared. He practiced for 30 minutes repeating the same process.

Casting the spell then cursing and trying to hold it for as long as possible, to his bad luck on one of the last attempts the barrier just dissipated as he was shouting the swear word.

"SLYTHERIN BASTARDS!" shouted James and his voice echoed through the library. All the students studying quietly looked up startled by the sudden shout, and looked at James in confusion.

'The spell lasted 3 minutes and 10 seconds,' thought James, ignoring the stares he was getting. The breakthrough he had was good, as with the first throw he lasted just a few seconds.

'With enough practice, I could make it to the hour. Besides it's not too hard to improve the time...' analyzed James, who was still being watched by all the students. They couldn't believe he now had a stoic look on his face after shouting that.

"Hey you!" said a voice in a low tone that was holding back from bursting out and shouting.

James looked up from the book and noticed the young librarian with a frown on her face and a look he had rarely seen on her bored face.

"What's wrong?" asked James.

"What's wrong?!" she repeated what James said angrily, "You just shouted out of nowhere, and because of you, I spilled tea on the book I was reading!" she added, getting angrier and angrier.

"Oh, that... Sorry. Nothing magic can't fix," James said in a monotone.

Hearing James' poor apology, a vein on Irma's forehead could be seen standing out, "It's forbidden to shout in the library! Get out of here! For two days, you are banned from the library!" said Irma as she pointed to the exit.

'Two days... I got off easy,' thought James as he quietly got up from his seat. He knew how strict Prince was and thought he would have more days prohibited from entering.

"Can I take the book with me?" asked James.

"No, out!" said Irma, becoming increasingly exasperated by James' attitude. At the refusal, he grimaced with annoyance. He left the book on the table and walked towards the exit quietly under everyone's stares.

"See you in two days," said James, waving to Irma as he left the library.

'That arrogant brat!' thought Irma angrily gnashing her teeth and regretting giving him only a two-day ban.

The news of James cursing Slytherin's house in the library was quickly broadcast throughout the castle, and he was now getting more strange looks from everyone.

Sirius spent five minutes laughing uncontrollably at the news. Until James was able to explain to him that he did it because he wanted to practice a charm, and it wasn't that he wanted to draw attention to himself.

This was only understood by the marauders. Everyone else thought James just wanted attention. He also noticed the angry look on Gwen's face, 'I'll have to explain to her that the insult wasn't directed at her...' James thought he had to do it quickly before Gwen's anger escalated.

The next day he sent a letter to Gwen and Emily to meet in classroom 11 at the same time as yesterday. James thought that Emily would also prefer to talk to him in this method and not draw so much attention to herself, as almost the entire first year of Slytherin hates it.

He arrived fifteen minutes early to classroom 11 and waited sitting at the professor's desk. After five minutes Gwen arrived looking at James with an angry face, "Is it true you said that?" she asked about the topic of James cursing Slytherin's house.

"Yes, but... wait. Just listen to me for five minutes, okay?" said James grabbing Gwen's wrist, who was about to leave. She was not amused when her house was insulted and even more so when it was her friend.

"Fine, speak," she said as she sat with her arms crossed where James used to be.

'That was my place...' thought James.

James started telling her about the charm and that when he yelled, 'Slytherin Bastards!' he did so thinking of Rabastan and not her or Emily.

This calmed Gwen since she also disliked Rabastan, "A barrier of silence?" said Gwen interested in the charm. Just at that moment, the door opened surprising the blonde.

It was Emily who arrived on time. James smiled and walked over with a smile, as he hadn't spoken to her in a long time.

"Hey, Emily! How have you been?" asked James, approaching the raven-haired girl. At first, he wasn't too sure if Emily would accept his invitation since when he talked to her a while ago she seemed very distant, but luckily she didn't ignore him.

Emily didn't answer. She just looked at Gwen, who was scowling at her, "Why is she here?" asked Emily in a low tone.