Hidebehind

Hidebehind
Species information
Hair colour	Silver
Related to	Demiguise Ghoul
Native to	Massachusetts, United States of America
Ministry of Magic Classification	Beast XXXX

"A vicious, nocturnal beast adept at both disguise and disembowelling. The result of accidental breeding between a Demiguise and a ghoul."

— Description

The Hidebehind is a nocturnal, forest-dwelling spectre-like beast that preys on human-like Creatures. It can shift its shape, allowing it to hide behind almost any object. This hybrid is an accidentally created species.

Description

Although it has the power of Invisibility, those who have seen it describe it as tall with silver-hair, akin to a skinny bear. It can also contort itself to lurk behind any object.

Its prey of choice is humans, which Magizoologists speculate is the result of the cruelty shown by Phineas Fletcher to the creatures in his power. Only a witch or wizard would be likely to survive an attack by these creatures.

History

The Hidebehind was accidentally created when illegal trader Phineas Fletcher attempted to import a trafficked Demiguise into the New World, with the goal of manufacturing Invisibility cloaks. The Demiguise escaped while on board the ship and bred with a stowaway ghoul, and the offspring escaped into the forests of Massachusetts where they still dwell today.

In the early 1620s, a Hidebehind of unusual size and strength was chased away by Isolt Sayre after it had managed to capture a young Pukwudgie. The same Hidebehind was later responsible for the deaths of the parents of Chadwick and Webster Boot, but was later defeated by Isolt Sayre and William the Pukwudgie.

Behind the scenes

• Although they were described as a spectre in their first mention on Pottermore, the Ministry of Magic classifies them as Beasts, given their inclusion into the 2017 edition of Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them.
• The Hidebehind's origin story is similar to that of the Honey Island Swamp Monster, where, early in the twentieth century of Louisiana, a group of chimpanzees escaped from a derailed train and interbred with the local alligator population.

Appearances

• Pottermore
• Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them (2017 edition)