Hidebehind

Hidebehind
Species information
Hair colour	Silver
Related to	Demiguise Ghoul
Native to	Massachusetts, United States of America, North America
Mortality	Mortal
Distinction	Resembles a spectre Nocturnal Can turn invisible Shapeshifting Carnivorous; feeds on humans
Ministry of Magic Classification	Beast XXXX
Status	Extant

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

— Description

The Hidebehind was a nocturnal, forest-dwelling, spectre-like beast that preyed on humanoid creatures, but a witch and Pukwudgie working together were able to defeat the creature. It could shift its shape, allowing it to hide behind almost any object. They did not exist naturally; they were only created by breeding a Demiguise and a ghoul. It was also featured in the revised edition of Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them.

Description

Although it had the power of invisibility, those who had seen it described it as tall with silver-hair, akin to a skinny bear. It could also contort its body to have a somewhat different shape and as such could better lurk behind any object.

Its prey of choice was humans, which Magizoologists speculated was the result of the cruelty shown by Phineas Fletcher to the creatures in his care. Only a witch or wizard would have been 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 America, 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. It is likely that other Hidebehinds did exist before this, as others have been noted to exist other than this one.

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 British 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. Interestingly, Hidebehinds also slightly resemble monkeys.
• There is a creature in American folklore known as the Hidebehind, which also preyed upon humans.

Appearances

• Pottermore (First appearance)
• Harry Potter (website)
• Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them (2017 edition)
• Harry Potter: Hogwarts Mystery (Mentioned only)
• Harry Potter: Magic Awakened (using their Demiguise model)
• Hogwarts Legacy (Mentioned only)