#hidebehinds

“Tina! Did you disturb the billywigs again?!”

*Tina trying not to giggle while she levitates* “I have no idea what you’re talking about.”

Newt and Tina worry about each other most every day. (Newt with his dangerous creatures and Tina with her auror job.)

“Newt! Can you please eat a meal if I prepare it and bother to bring it to you inside your suitcase? Especially since you’ve been down here since this time yesterday afternoon?”

“Tina, PLEASE. You’re the only one the runespoor likes.”

“Newt, I am not risking a highly venomous bite from its right head just to find out what its scale texture is.”

Newt and Tina cuddle and sleep together most every night.

“The griffin’s baby is coming, Tina! We’ll finally have a new little one!”

“… Newt dear, you do remember our own child was born three weeks ago?”

“That’s not what I meant and you know it!”

*Tina cackling*

“Scamander, why is there a quintaped, a.k.a a class XXXXX beast, in my bedroom?”

“I dunno, Goldstein. Maybe because I’m studying its reaction to wixen surroundings to see if it’s truly a beast or actually a transfigured person as the legends say.”

“And what are your preliminary thoughts?”

*disappointed sigh* “That it’s a transfigured human.”

“WTF Newt then we need to call the Ministry asap to un-transfigure them”

“Tina dear, have you seen Rita Skeeter’s new article? Apparently I’m cheating on you with a silver-haired beauty.”

“Unless it’s a hidebehind I don’t believe it.”

Newt and Tina love each other more than anything. It’s other people’s loss if they don’t understand.

The Hidebehinds of Mount Greylock

Hidebehinds are creatures encountered often in the forests surrounding Ilvermorny. They are Dark and dangerous, and one of the earliest Defense Against the Dark Arts lessons for first years is how to deal with Hidebehinds because they are so abundant in the woods. These lessons include how to avoid the creature, which is much preferred over defending against it. However, students are also taught that certain spells, such as Fire Charms, Stunning Spells, Repelling Jinxes, and Pulsing Spells, are most effective.

Despite the school’s Dispelling Torches giving off a scent of alcohol imperceptible to humans but poignant to Hidebehinds, small groups or lone travelers almost always catch glimpses of the creatures while walking the woods in the dark. At least once a year, a student will return from the woods saying they had to fight off a Hidebehind (or multiple). However, these claims are rarely confirmed. Those who do truly encounter Hidebehinds rarely return unscathed, though there are no incidents of a student’s death by disembowelment recorded at Ilvermorny.

One ancient Hidebehind hide is hidden in the Wampus common room. The story says that in 1755, a Wampus student named Elijah Boleyn singlehandedly killed a Hidebehind and brought the hide back to the school as proof. He hid it in the common room so he wouldn’t receive detention, but once he left the school, the hide resurfaced and is now hung in a place of pride in a room of the common room to remind Wampus students how powerful they can be if they improve themselves.

~Prefect Selwyn

Dispelling Torches

There are many creatures within the woods of Mount Greylock that are not seen anywhere else. Many are somewhat harmless. Others are deadly. They tend to keep to themselves, but sometimes, they get too close to the paths.

Anytime students venture into the forest, which is allowed and, by some, encouraged, they are required to bring a Dispelling Torch. Many such Torches are kept by each Head of House. The students must speak to the Head in order to obtain a Torch, which allows the Head to keep track of their charges.

The Torch itself is inscribed with ancient Native American symbols and enchantments. Once lit, it generates an area of light much wider than a mundane torch, and the fire will frighten away much larger and more dangerous beings than a mundane fire. It protects all those who are within its ring of light.

However, the Torch cannot be the only precaution. While it does dispel and dissuade attacks from Dark creatures, powerful Dark creatures, such as Hidebehinds, can get through the protective enchantments if they directly wish to do so. Students must be prepared for such things to happen. It is not common, but possible.

One of the only times every single Torch is checked out from the Heads of Houses by the students is the unofficial part of the Initiation during which the older students lead the first years to the Thirteenth Tower. Because of the sheer number of the students, a huge number of Torches is also needed​.

Again, students are forewarned that the Torch cannot be the only precaution when venturing into the forest. Curiosity is encouraged; stupidity is not.