"It is wonderful to see you too, Harry. Of course we know Remus! The 'Lone Wolf of Britain' at last joining a pack is a cause for notice. Ms Patil, Ms Granger, you are welcome here. My niece Colleen asked to join us here today. And this is Professor Emmitt Smithe, formerly of Oxford University. The good professor holds doctorates in molecular biology and chemistry as well as masteries in Charms and Runic Studies. He is now the lead researcher of our organization." Claire paused and smiled. "And like your researchers, neither is he a werewolf."
Harry smiled at Claire's final observation. He glanced back at the girls and saw Hermione's face. She looked like she'd found a new role model in the good professor. Doctorates and Masteries in both worlds? It was a no-brainer. Padma however was watching Colleen intently. It didn't take the Beast's senses to know she wasn't happy about the young female werewolf's inclusion.
Oliver continued saying, "I've asked Professor Smithe to present a summary of our research and conclusions. Then perhaps the ladies would share their research with us?" At Hermione's excited nod, Oliver smiled. "Excellent. Professor?"
What followed over the next ninety minutes was an in depth review of werewolf history. Harry followed the historical discussion for the most part but was quickly out of his understanding as the scientific terminology started to fill the conversation.
One thing Harry picked up was the trigger to lychanthropy occurred in a part of the higher brain area that was rarely used. Something about the occurrence of the full moon irritated that part of the brain. The brain then sent out the signals to the rest of the body that triggered the physical change. Even if the signals for the physical change were blocked, it would still cause the mental change to occur. Prof Smithe suggested that some patients of the Muggle mental hospitals were in fact 'mild' cases of lycanthropy with only the brain being impacted by the change. Over time the lack of physical release from the curse caused the crazed behaviour to remain even after the full moon had passed.
In the physical body, the 'curse' bonded into the DNA of the subject's body in a most pecular way. When dormant, the wolf DNA was inert and seemed to exist in a pocket dimension much like a Space-Expanding Charm. When the command from the brain was received, the cursed DNA replaced certain human DNA. The more complete the exchange, the greater the physical change and mental control of the subject. Wolfsbane forced the mental control and allowed the human mind to remain in control by putting the wolf-brain to sleep. A Fourth Generation werewolf, like the Westens, saw them gaining a certain amount of mental integration where they were able to guide rather than control the wolf brain like Harry could.
"That is not what really happens," Harry spoke up for the first time in an hour and a half. "I don't 'control' the Beast. I AM the Beast. The wolf is here with me now even in this form. I did try to supress it somewhat last year but I found I lost something and I didn't feel complete without it."
"Fascinating," Smithe said with wide excited eyes. "We've been concentrating our research on the integration of the human brain with the wolf side during the tranformations. This suggests an entirely new line of study!" Hermione and Padma had a similar excitement on their faces. It was like McGonagall had just given them an extra credit assignment.
"Harry made a similar comment to me last summer," Remus added. "I've been listening to Moony's instincts a bit more during the rest of the month. My transformations have been less painful but I have attributed that to both the Potion and the Beast and Padfoot's presence on those nights."
"I've always listened to my wolf side," Colleen suddenly said. "I named her Lady when I was a wee lass. She was like my invisible friend."
"Probably the only kind you could have," Padma muttered under her breath. Harry doubted anyone else but maybe Remus heard her but Harry realized his girlfriend was more upset by Colleen's inclusion than he'd expected. Still the female teen wolf had just provided some positive contribution and said nothing else. Harry decided that he needed to divert attention away.
"Er, professor?" Harry started. "You mentioned that the Christian wizards used a ritual under the full moon to activate their curse."
"Yes, Mr Potter. The timing of when the curse is triggered and when the stories tell us voluntary transformations were blocked all seem to indicate this conclusion."
"Well, why would they do it? Curse the werewolves to only change at certain times and be mindless beasts when it happened."
"Why to sow confusion and pain amongst their enemies I would suppose," the scientist wizard replied in a slightly confused tone.
"Maybe," Harry allowed. "But I keep thinking about something Professor Dumbledore mentioned to us once about the Law of Unintended Consequences."
Remus's eyes took on a faraway cast and he said, "Keep going, Harry."
Harry shrugged. "It just seems to me that if I was cursing shape-changers I would simply want to block their changes completely. After all, most lychanthropes now are not of Norse descent. You even told us how many of the original shape-changers that survived the purges in their homeland went down into Europe specifically to spread the curse to as many Christians as possible. So infecting others with their curse was probably not intended. What if the curse ritual was performed without taking into account the full moon? Wouldn't that make a difference in how the curse was to be countered?" The room's occupants were looking at Harry in a combination of shock, awe, and pure disbelief. Then Padma laughed.
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