In light of recent attacks of students and children in Hogsmeade and Hogwarts, the Headmaster Fox and Deputy Headmaster O’Keeffe has requested from the Minister of Magic, Hannah Fischer for help. And help has arrived in the form of a former Care of Magical Creatures professor that many of the older students will remember, Mr. Luce Gillespie, currently a senior member of the Department for the Regulation and Control of Magical Creatures (DRCM). So I sat down with him one afternoon to find out exactly what is known and to (hopefully) quench some rumours that are floating around the castle.
To summarise what has been occurring lately is this. There has been a string of attacks on students here in Hogwarts and children in Hogsmeade. There have been three known attacks on the full moon with two other attacks on the waxing crescent and waning gibbous phases of the moon. Three of these attacks have been on the castle grounds and the other two were attacked in Hogsmeade. However, Mr. Gillespie holds an opinion that is contrary to popular belief and rumours in the castle, these attacks are not a werewolf working alone but in collaboration with a dark witch or wizard. We know this because of the attacks that occur that are not falling on the full moon.
When asked of any theories as to who might be causing the attacks. Mr. Gillespie explained he was hesitant to form a theory right now-mostly because he did not feel that he have enough information to “narrow anything down at this time and in thinking that way I could blind myself to something right in front of me.” He went on to say that he felt that based on the evidence of the spells performed on those who were attacked he felt confident enough to state that it was an adult but he was unsure if he or she had aid from within the castle.
Finally, when asked what students should do if they find themselves attacked Mr. Gillespie offered up this advice, “avoid travelling in groups less than three. As far as we’ve seen, no one in a group has been attacked. Don’t wander the grounds alone, and especially not near sunset. Practice your offensive and defensive spells. You may not be able to stop a werewolf, and I would never advise a student to take a life, but you could fire sparks into their eyes and take advantage to flee. Encase yourself in a bubble. Anything you can think of, it may seem silly but if it causes a momentary distraction, long enough for you to run or signal for help… It could save your life.”
