Defense Against the Dark Arts: First Year: Week 2: Tuesday

Professor Cadmus Quirrell
Tuesday
Gryffindor Time: 11:00
Ravenclaw Time: 10:00
Hufflepuff Time: 1:00
Slytherin Time: 1:00
Today we will be continuing our study of vamipres with a lesson on methods of preventing vampires. While it is impossible to reverse vampirism, it is possible to prevent contamination from a vampire bite. As you will find in your Fiendish Field Guide
"Complex diabolic pacts and certain obscure black magic rites have been known to create vampires; evil sorcerers and some lycanthropes that have died may rise again to become vampires; extremely evil men (or women) who die while committing an evil act may return as vampires. The most common and sure-fire method of becoming a vampire is to die from a vampire bite. The sanguinary bite (or "kiss") of a vampire is its method of perpetuating its breed, and those rising from the dead to become vampires are subject to the will of the vampire that originally bit him/her. The bite of the vampire is usually detected as two small but swollen puncture wounds; often referred to as "the Seal of Dracula"."
While not entirely accurate in the habits of the vampire, the Fiendish Field Guide is correct in this respect. The simplest way to prevent someone to become a vampire is to keep them alive after they have been bitten. As vampires are 'living dead', if someone doesn't die, they obviously cannot become a vampire. Many potions are useful, such as the Draught of Living Death, which will suspend the process of death by vampire bite. Wolfsbane potion is also useful in preventing syptoms appearing.

Homework: Explain in your own words why a person does not always become a vampire even if they are bitten.