Whether Draco Malfoy became a werewolf during the events of the Harry Potter series is a question that many fans have wondered about over the years. While J.K. Rowling’s books never explicitly state that Draco gets turned into a werewolf, there are some clues that suggest he could have been infected with lycanthropy at some point.
Evidence For Draco Becoming a Werewolf
Here are some of the main pieces of evidence that suggest Draco could have become a werewolf:
- He was bitten by Fenrir Greyback in Half-Blood Prince – When Fenrir Greyback attacked Hogwarts on Dumbledore’s orders, he cornered Draco and was seen sinking his teeth into Draco’s arm before being blasted off by a spell from Harry. Greyback is a notorious werewolf, so being bitten by him could have infected Draco with lycanthropy.
- His personality changed significantly in Half-Blood Prince and Deathly Hallows – After being bitten by Greyback, Draco became moodier, more aggressive, and more prone to outbursts of anger. This could align with some of the effects of becoming a werewolf.
- He disappeared for long stretches of time – Throughout Half-Blood Prince and Deathly Hallows, Draco frequently disappeared from Hogwarts for long periods of time with no explanation of where he was going. These mysterious absences could have been to transform safely away from others during the full moon.
- Lupin offered to help him in Deathly Hallows – When the trio are captured and taken to Malfoy Manor in Deathly Hallows, Lupin subtly offers to “have a private chat with Draco” about something. This may have been Lupin offering to give Draco guidance on managing lycanthropy.
While none of this is definitive proof, it does seem plausible from these clues that Draco could have been infected with lycanthropy after being bitten by Fenrir Greyback in Half-Blood Prince. The timing of his increased aggression and mysterious disappearances, combined with Lupin’s cryptic offer of help, all seem to hint that Draco may have become a werewolf.
Evidence Against Draco Becoming a Werewolf
However, there are also several reasons to doubt the theory that Draco became a werewolf:
- No explicit confirmation in the books – If Draco had become a werewolf, you’d expect it to be clearly stated somewhere in the books. But his supposed lycanthropy is never definitively confirmed.
- No signs of monthly transformations – There are no scenes showing Draco going through painful monthly transformations and turnings into a wolf under the full moon while at Hogwarts in his sixth and seventh years.
- He could still cast spells to identify Harry – When the snatchers capture Harry and bring him to Malfoy Manor, Draco is asked to confirm his identity. Draco uses spells to do this, but as a werewolf he should have been able to identify Harry by scent.
- He doesn’t show altered wolfish features – Werewolves like Lupin and Greyback are described as having more feral and wolf-like features due to their lycanthropy. But no such changes are ever described for Draco.
- Draco’s personality change could be explained by stress – Becoming a Death Eater and being given the stressful mission to kill Dumbledore could account for Draco’s shift in personality, without lycanthropy being the cause.
Given the lack of definitive proof from the books, there are enough counter-arguments to make Draco becoming a werewolf seem highly doubtful. While an interesting theory, it does not seem supported by the events and details provided in the Harry Potter series.
Conclusion
In the end, the evidence that Draco Malfoy became a werewolf during the Harry Potter books is largely speculative. While there are some intriguing clues that suggest he could have been infected with lycanthropy, the counter-evidence makes this seem unlikely. There is simply no conclusive proof one way or the other in the novels. J.K. Rowling has also never confirmed outside the books whether Draco became a werewolf after being bitten by Fenrir Greyback. So the debate ultimately remains open to interpretation by fans until or unless Rowling someday definitively addresses the theory.
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Key Takeaways
- Greyback biting Draco and his subsequent changes do suggest possible lycanthropy
- But lack of concrete proof in books makes it uncertain
- Draco’s absences and Lupin’s offer to help seem telling
- But no accounts of transformations or wolf features raise doubts
- Stress of being Death Eater could also explain personality changes
- Ultimately no definitive confirmation either way
The Ambiguity Allows for Fan Speculation
The ambiguity regarding whether Draco became a werewolf allows fans of the Harry Potter series to speculate and debate the question. While no answer is definitive, fans can still enjoy using the clues to form theories and imagine how the story could have gone if Draco had become a werewolf. The lack of concrete resolution from J.K. Rowling means this will likely remain an open question that sparks continued discussion within the fandom. So while fans may never know for sure, the mystery provides an opportunity for creativity and engagement with the Harry Potter universe.
Some fans enjoy imagining how Draco’s character arc may have developed differently if he had become a werewolf. There are interesting story directions around how he would have grappled with this condition while also being a reluctant Death Eater. Fan fiction writers have explored these ideas by depicting Draco struggling to hide his lycanthropy from Voldemort while also learning to manage his transformations with the help of Lupin. Other fans simply enjoy debating the evidence for and against the theory, similar to the debates that still surround other unresolved mysteries in the Harry Potter series.
The uncertainty allows fans to use their imagination and come to their own conclusions about whether Rowling’s subtle clues were intended to hint at Draco ultimately becoming a werewolf after his encounter with Fenrir Greyback. Until and unless Rowling clarifies it outright, the debate can continue, with valid points on both sides. So the question of whether Draco became a werewolf joins the many other thought-provoking gray areas and unanswered questions that make Harry Potter such a compelling fandom.
Impact If Draco Was a Werewolf
If J.K. Rowling were ever to confirm that Draco definitively became a werewolf in the novels, it would have major implications. Here are some of the potential impacts:
- It would add more complexity and nuance to Draco’s character arc across books 6 and 7 as he grapples with both being a Death Eater and a werewolf.
- It may have altered how readers viewed Draco’s actions, making him more sympathetic due to struggling with uncontrolled lycanthropy.
- Lupin would likely have taken on a mentorship role to help guide Draco through his new condition.
- It could have led to a climactic scene where Draco’s werewolf identity is discovered by Voldemort or other Death Eaters.
- The stigma against werewolves may have further isolated Draco from his Death Eater peers.
- It would add moral complexity to Fenrir Greyback’s attack on Hogwarts, making him directly responsible for cursing Draco.
- Harry and readers may have felt more conflicted about Draco, torn between old grudges and new sympathy.
These potential impacts illustrate how much more dramatic Draco’s story arc could have been if his supposed lycanthropy was real. It would force greater moral ambiguity into his descent into Death Eater ranks and make him a more complex, pitiable character. While fans can only speculate, it’s interesting to consider how this secret curse could have upended Draco’s trajectory and changed readers’ perceptions of him.
Conclusion
In conclusion, there is persuasive but ultimately inconclusive evidence to suggest Draco Malfoy may have become a werewolf after being bitten by Fenrir Greyback in Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince. While some fans find the clues convincing, others point to the lack of definitive confirmation as reason for doubt. Until J.K. Rowling resolves the debate, fans are free to imagine how this curse could have impacted Draco’s arc and led to a more nuanced portrayal. While his possible lycanthropy remains ambiguous, it provides an intriguing area for speculation and creativity within the fandom.
