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Werewolf Attack in Hogsmeade
by Niobe Thursby
October's mid-month full moon brought out the beasties. Minister Annwyls new Werewolf Capture Unit comprised of Vane Hendric and Ciarra Belisario responded to red sparks in Hogsmeade on the night of October 14.
Vladislaus Dragulia, the Chairwizard of the International Confederation of Wizards, and Knox Greyfriar, a junior Elder on the Wizengamot, were escorting students from Hogsmead to Hogwarts around 8pm. Reports tell us that a single werewolf who has yet to be identified charged at the group from the woods.
Dragulia and Greyfriar were able to defend themselves and the students with the help of Gabrielle Murray-Harker of the Department for International Magical Cooperation until the Werewolf Capture Unit arrived. At this point, both Greyfriar and Dragulia accompanied a student to St. Mungo's Hospital.
At this point, we have no word if anyone has been injured.
"You know we can't tell you any of that," scolded a representative of St. Mungo's Hospital. "Especially in a werewolf situation. Now be off!"
Because of the highly sensitive nature of werewolf attacks, the Daily Prophet was unable to get a statement from either the Department of Magical Law Enforcement or from the Department for the Regulation and Control of Magical Creatures.
Madam Murray-Harker did wish to comment, "The Department of International Magical Cooperation regrets the incident but wishes for the best in the investigation in the Department of Magical Law Enforcement. Also, we send warm regards for both the afflicted and affected in this travesty. It is the wishes and hopes for this department that cooperation with all folk, magical or not, to work together in joint effort to better ourselves for anything in the future."
Despite the governmental roadblocks, two students involved in the attack was kind enough to comment. Their names has been changed to protect her anonymity.
"Flora" tell us, "The capture unit came and then the former Headmaster Apparated with me to St. Mungo's, and the Healers started taking care of him, and then Mr. Dragulia showed up later because he had claw marks on his hand."
Her classmate, called "Beatrude" said this: "Okay, to be honest... It frightened me. If it wasn't for [help] I'd probably be dead right now. Or a werewolf. I don't know which is worse: being completely gone or being completely shunned by society. I think my views on my whole world in general are kind of up for debate now."
"Flora" responded, "Not all werewolves are the same. They can't all be lumped together. Maybe the attack was an accident, I don't know, but people got hurt. Which is scary. I don’t know exactly why the werewolf was out there, but… when I think about it, the new werewolf legislation is even more important now. So I hope it goes through. With those changes, maybe more attacks could be prevented.... it'll take time, though."
Werewolf psychologist Maya Irene-Strangely tells us, "Registered werewolves so rarely break with procedure and find themselves without wolfsbane or a safe room during a full moon. Most werewolves are responsible, conscientious witches and wizards who take the responsibility of caring for their curse very seriously. This is very likely the doing of an unregistered werewolf."
She added, "There are far too many unregistered werewolves and I'm not shy about blaming the practices of the Werewolf Registry, who breathe down the necks of their charges and give information too freely to law enforcement."
On October 11, Minister of Magic Annwyl announced new werewolf legislation that would make it easier for werewolves to access the services they require, and to more stringently enforce anti-discrimination policies.
But not everyone see this as a solution to the problem. Take Manfred Ashford (52) of London.
"Bloody 'ell, been another wolf attack? Well, can't be too surprised, you know. With all those new Hug-A-Wolf laws, it's going to happen more and more. I mean, you can't go dancing with sirens and expect never to crash on the jagged rocks, right? Werewolves are vicious - it's in their nature to hunt and kill. These safe houses are a joke - brainwashing the Wizarding World into thinking we can coexist with these beasts is criminal. There are going to be more bites, I can promise you that."
Let's hope Mr. Ashford is not a Seer. But the question is, has anyone been injured? Has anyone actually been bitten?
"The rumors of my involvement in that attack have been exaggerated. No doubt my comments now will be as well. Rest assured I'm perfectly fine," said Greyfriar.
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[Oct 17] Werewolf Attack in Hogsmeade