Section: Headline News
Date: 02 February 1980
The full moon has always been a cautionary tale for young wizarding children. Beware the werewolf. Although all werewolves are now required to register themselves so that the public made be kept safe, there still are the few that do not follow rules.
Late last night, a pack of such werewolves managed to get close to town to cause damage. Multiple homes were broken into and four wizarding children were taken from their homes. Adam Smith (age five), Talia Nott (age three), Scott Thom (age seven), and Mayson Purkiss (age six).
The Ministry and all subsequent news reports are insisting on calling this incident a ‘kidnapping’ for the time being, as no bodies of the children have been recovered, either dead or alive. Despite the fact that it was the full moon and any such werewolf wouldn’t have been in the right mind to plan or orchestrate a kidnapping, authorities are clinging to the hope that there may have been some misguided wizards engaging with the beasts and that there is a larger plan in play. Werewolf packs in the area were known of by officials in the Department of Regulation and Control of Magical Creatures, but they had never come into contact with the village before and had therefore not been deemed a threat to civilian safety–– clearly, a mistake. Reasoning behind the close positioning to the village and the ruthless demonstrated violence is still unknown: was there a larger plan in play, or has the speculated information about the completely irrational nature of the werewolves is being proven in a devastating fashion.
Authorities are working to find a conclusive answer to this tragedy–– and, more importantly, to find the children alive, if that possibility still exists. Locals are asked to stay in their homes after sunset. Werewolves are not only dangerous on the full moon night, as they have stronger animalistic instincts than we do and may attack unprovoked.
The kidnappings happened during the night on February 1st (September 17th). For the next three days (until September 21st), all citizens should be in their homes by 9:00pm. Violators will be taken to a holding cell in the Ministry of Magic.
At 12:00am CST on September 21st, another post will be made with the result of the attacks. At that point, the curfew is lifted. Until then, feel free to have your characters sent to the holding cell (to be released at 12:00am CST on September 21st ),or to have your character cower in fear! If it makes sense, your characters can also know the children!
Adam Smith- halfblood - brother of third year, Barbra Smith
Talia Nott - pureblood - loosely related to the Notts
Scott Thorn - halfblood - only child of Amy and Matt Thorn, owners of Hogsmeade’s Hair Salon
Mayson Purkiss- halfblood - cousin to Doris Purkiss
Important Information About Werewolves:
A werewolf is a human being who, upon the complete rising of the full moon, becomes a fearsome and deadly near-wolf. This condition is caused by infection with lycanthropy.
A werewolf cannot chose whether or not to transform and will no longer remember who they are and would kill even their best friend given the opportunity once transformed. Despite this, they are able to recall everything they have experienced throughout their transformation upon reverting to their human form.
Lycanthropy is a magical illness known to be spread by contact between saliva and blood; thus, when a transformed werewolf bites a human, the bitten will become a werewolf themselves. Most Muggles, however, will die from the extent of their injuries in the instance of a werewolf attack.
If a werewolf is in human form and bites the victim, they will merely gain lupine tendencies such as a fondness for rare meat. Any bite or scratch obtained from a werewolf, whether in human or animal form, will leave permanent scars. However, the fresh wound can be sealed with a mixture of powdered silver and dittany. Unfortunately, there is currently no cure for lycanthropy.
Reputation In the Wizarding World
Acceptance of werewolves is the exception, not the rule. Even open-minded and friendly characters (and yes, even muggleborns) are likely to be frightened, disgusted, or at least hesitant by/around werewolves after discovering their condition. Hate and fear of werewolves is worked into many laws, as well as the education system. Information about the condition is not widespread and therefore a lot of misinformation or rumors are relied upon and treated as fact.
Werewolves are generally regarded with fear and disgust by wizarding society. People seem to think even when in human form, the werewolf may pose danger. It is not uncommon for people known to be werewolves to be shunned by society and discriminated against within the wizarding world. It is very difficult for a werewolf to get a job in the wizarding community, especially after the passing of restrictive anti-werewolf legislation. As a result, many werewolves suffer poverty.
Due to the oppression and discrimination they face, some werewolves have come to hate the wizarding society, and as such have created their own society. Under Fenrir Greyback’s leadership, this society works to infect as many people as possible, especially children, with the goal of one day having enough strength to take control of the wizarding community.
