werewolf - Do werewolves in Harry Potter only transform under moonlight?

Researching another question, I came across a quote I was looking for that seems to show werewolves only transform in the moonlight:

A cloud shifted. There were suddenly dim shadows on the ground. Their party was bathed in moonlight.

Snape collided with Lupin, Pettigrew, and Ron, who had stopped abruptly. Black froze. He flung out one arm to make Harry and Hermione stop.

Harry could see Lupin's silhouette. He had gone rigid. Then his limbs began to shake.

"Oh, my --" Hermione gasped. "He didn't take his potion tonight! He's not safe!"

I had always figured that when he was in the Shrieking Shack he was shaded from the moon, so it didn't affect him. But then I thought about his school days - where was he when he transformed? The Shrieking Shack! And if it does take moonlight, why couldn't he just hang out in the dungeons or somewhere else in Hogwarts?

Anyone see a way to reconcile these?

Answer

This may be a stretch, and it's certainly not canon (but it is loosely based on canon). I wouldn't even put it as an answer except that your final question asked "Anyone see a way to reconcile these?"

This is a way to reconcile these...

Before that night's events started, Hagrid sent the following note to Harry:

Lost appeal. They're going to execute at sunset. Nothing you can do. Don't come down. I don't want you to see it. Hagrid.

Given the timing of the scheduled execution (sunset), it wouldn't be dark immediately at the time of the execution. It usually takes a half hour or so after sunset for it to become full dark. That gives just enough time for the events to unfold in-between the scheduled execution time and Lupin's transformation.

That means that it's possible that Lupin's transformation wasn't directly caused by the moonlight, but by the onset of full dark. The moon coming out from behind the clouds at that time was coincidence (and a good coincidence for dramatic effect).

Comments

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