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The Ilfracombe Incident was an event in wizarding history, when a rogue Common Welsh Green dragon attacked a group of sunbathers in Ilfracombe in 1932. The attack was quelled by the wizarding Toke family, who proceeded to modify the memories of the Muggle witnesses en masse, but failed to get every one, exposing several non-magic people to the wizarding world.[1]

History[]

In 1932, an unrestrained Common Welsh Green descended upon a group of beach-goers in Ilfracombe. By sheer chance, the holidaying wizarding Toke family was present as well, and managed to thwart the attack. The family then proceeded to cast the largest group of Memory Charms seen in the twentieth century in order to make the Muggle witnesses forget. The Toke family were subsequently awarded the Order of Merlin, First Class, for their heroism and quick thinking.[1]

Despite their mass charming, some escaped from their Memory Charms. This includes a certain "Dodgy" Dirk who maintained for at least forty years, much to the obvious confusion of Muggles, that a "dirty great flying lizard" punctured his lilo.[1]

Behind the scenes[]

  • Ilfracombe has been the site of several major fires throughout its history, suggesting that the Welsh Green attack may have been the cause of one of these or damage from it was recorded as fire damage. No known fire occurred in 1932 but this may be due to the Memory Charms.
  • The name "Li-lo" was registered as a product trademark in the UK on 19 April 1944, making its use describing an incident in 1932 possibly anachronistic; however Dirk may have taken to calling it this after the term entered common use.

Appearances[]

Notes and references[]

  1. 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6 1.7 1.8 1.9 Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them: Introduction (Magical Beasts in Hiding)
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