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HP Meta: Bonus thoughts on werewolf as sexual predators, and Lupins’ response to this.

I mentioned in this post in response to @evesaintyves question that I had some additional thoughts on this topic. Here they are:

Warnings: Rape, sexual assault, sexual assault of minors, violence

To an adult reader of the Harry Potter books, I think it’s pretty clear that werewolf attacks are linked with sexual assault. People are scared of werewolves all the time, not just when they’re transformed at full moon. This suggests that werewolves are even when they’re not transformed. Greyback is the only “bad” werewolf we meet so we’ll have to go with him as our example. For me, it’s pretty clear that Greyback is a sexual predator. It’s most explicit in the way he is talked about in relation to Hermione at Malfoy Manor:

“ And lastly, your pretty little friend…” The relish in his voice made Harry’s flesh crawl. “Easy, Greyback.” said Scabior over the jeering of the others. “Oh, I’m not going to bite just yet,” [said Greyback].

“Wait,” said Bellatrix sharply. “All except…. except for the Mudblood.” Greyback gave a grunt of pleasure.

“Reckon she’ll let me have a bit of the girl when she’s finished with her?” Greyback crooned as he forced them along the corridor. “I’d say I’ll get a bite or two, wouldn’t you, ginger?”

“And I think,” said Bellatrix’s voice, “we can dispose of the Mudblood. Greyback, take her if you want her.”

You can also infer it from everybody’s reaction to him attacking Bill in HBP.

On both these occasions Greyback is not transformed, making these incidents different to the werewolf attacks that Lupin and the Montgomery boy suffered.

To clarify: I’m not claiming Bill or Hermione actually were sexually assaulted. That doesn’t work with what happens either scene. But the language around them and the way they are discussed and reacted to suggest that there is a link, either in-universe (as in in-universe an attack from a werewolf, transformed or not, can also can include sexual assault) or allegorical (as in JK is drawing a parallel for the reader).

Also obviously worth mentioning that most of the werewolf attacks we hear about happen to children. According to Lupin, “Greyback specialises in children”. He’s referring to Werewolf Greyback biting them, but given the above this could theoretically refer to Human Grayback sexually assaulting them.

(The difference the supernatural aspect brings is that the attacked becomes the attacker. Victims of (transformed) werewolf attacks don’t just have to deal with the trauma of the assault, they become the thing which attacked them, and are forced to want to attack others in the same way. It’s so many levels of fucked up that I find it quite upsetting to think about).

Which brings us to Lupin. He was attacked as a child, and is now thought of as dangerous when transformed and disgusting because of what he transforms into- and dangerous and disgusting even when not transformed, partly because he’s thought to be a sexual predator. As we know, Lupin absorbs the worst of what everybody thinks about werewolves, so I reckon he thinks that he’s basically a latent rapist. 

I don’t think Lupin falling in love with Tonks is the issue for him- he’s used to being lonely and disappointed. The problem is her falling in love with him back. He must be baffled somebody liking him that much, and even more confused about her actually wanting to sleep with him. It was a real twist of the knife for JKR to have made Tonks a lot younger, since Lupin already sees himself as almost a child sexual predator. Poor bloke kind of thinks he’s a potential rapist, plus the girl he’s ended up falling for is younger. The whole experience must be very disorientating and frightening for him….made worse by the fact that he really does love her, and wants to try to be normal, and actually wants to have sex with his girlfriend in the way most blokes do.

Disc: I’ve said, “scared he’s going to rape” a few times. That actually shows Lupin having quite a poor understanding of sexual assault. Any kind of violence is a choice. If Lupin had his head screwed on enough to understand that, he’d realise that he wouldn’t have to worry. He doesn’t want to rape anybody, so he will avoid making any choice to do so.

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the fates will find a way

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when you know, you know.

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BOOKS ON THE ARTHURIAN LEGEND 📚🗡

NOVELS

"The Mists of Avalon" by Marion Zimmer Bradley ('Avalon series', 4 books);

"Le Morte Darthur" by Thomas Malory;

"The Once and Future King" by T.H. White;

"The Winter King: a Novel of Arthur" by Bernard Cornwell ('The Warlord Chronicles', trilogy);

"The Crystal Cave" by Mary Stewart ('Arthurian Saga', 5 books);

"Lancelot" by Giles Kristian;

"Celtika" by Robert Holdstock ('The Merlin Codex', trilogy);

"Child of the Northern Spring" by Persia Woolley;

"L'Enchanteur" by René Barjavel

"The Coming of the King" by Nikolai Tolstoy

"Le Pas de Merlin" by Jean-Louis Fetjaine (duology) [i'm sorry, I couldn't find the English title]

ESSAYS

"King Arthur. The True Story" by Graham Phillips

"History of the Kings of Britain" by Geoffrey of Monmouth;

"The Druids - Celtic Priests of Nature" by Jean Markale;

"The Celts - Uncovering the Mythic and Historic Origins of Western Culture" by Jean Markale;

"Women of the Celts" by Jean Markale;

"The Epics of Celtic Ireland" by Jean Markale;

"The Druids and the Mysteries of Chartres" by Jean Markale;

"The Wisdom of the Wyrd" by Brian Bates

"The Isle of Avalon. Sacred Mysteries of Arthur and Glastonbury" by Nicholas R. Mann;

"Symbols of the Celts" by Sabine Heinz

I hope this helps! Feel free to add new titles 😍

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Regulus: why Remus?

Remus: I have nothing to live for and I drive like it

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dark academia books as penguin classics

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books and blue hues

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opheliesz

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“Let us read, and let us dance; these two amusements will never do any harm to the world.”

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