Brilliant Event: Creature Discomforts

Creature Discomforts was the name given to an event of the Calamity.

Part I (3–10 May, 2021)

A surge centered around baby beasts has the team wondering if Grim is trying to send another message. Could this be the break they need to find The Unforgivable and a cure for Ron's missing memories?

Brilliant Hagrid's Hut Exterior

"The Healers at St Mungo's and I have tried every charm, counter-spell, and potion we could think of, but nothing's worked. We're no closer to restoring Ron's memories than we were when we first rescued him from The Unforgivable."

— Harry Potter

"The more I think about that day, the more convinced I am that there must be a mole within the Ministry. Seeing through our Polyjuice Potions is one thing. But to know where we were hiding the real Kit Gerrard and Flavius Flint..?"

— Hermione Granger

"An informant within our ranks does seem like the most reasonable explanation, doesn't it? Though it's hard to believe any of our coworkers - most of whom we've known for years - would betray us like that..."

— Harry Potter

"Harry, Hermione, I've been looking everywhere for you! The Calamity is snatching baby beasts again. It's just like that time Grim Fawley used a surge to warn us about a rise in black market beast trading."

— Constance Pickering

"A new surge has begun? Harry and I have been so occupied with Ron and dealing with the aftermath of his abduction that I suppose we didn't notice... In any case, this is an interesting development. Could Grim be trying to send us a similar message? Could it have something to do with The Unforgivable?"

— Hermione Granger

Images	Name	Description	Remarks
	Brilliant Baby Three-Headed Dog Return To: Argolid Peninsula, Greece	Those who have the rare opportunity to encounter a baby Three-headed dog may find themselves disarmed by their adorable appearance. But these puppies can be quite aggressive and difficult to train. Fortunately some are susceptible to music. Even a whistled tune has the potential to lull one to sleep.	Ron Weasley: "Helga, was Fluffy always this small? I recall him being scarier, with bigger teeth. And drool. Waterfalls of drool." Hermione Granger: "For the hundredth time, Ron, I'm Hermio... Wait a moment, did you just say you remember Fluffy?" Ron Weasley: "Bit of a shock to me too. One second I'm staring at the dog, the next I'm having a flashback of three pairs of bloodthirsty eyes sizing me up..." Hermione Granger: "You can't even remember your wife's name, but you have no problem recalling Hagrid's Three-Headed Dog? How is that possible?" Ron Weasley: "Don't ask me, Helen! I'm the one with amnesia, remember? Hold on, Helen's not right, is it? Heather? Harmony? No..." — Description
	Brilliant Baby Mooncalf Return To: Bridge of Earn, Perthshire, Scotland	Baby Mooncalves are widely considered to be one of the cutest magical creatures. They venture from their burrows during the full moon to dance, play and forage. The rest of their time is spent mostly underground, hiding from predators like Hodags. Though intensely shy, Newt Scamander raised a herd of Mooncalves, a testament to his patient and caring hand.	Hermione Granger: "I got in touch with Dorian Fungbury in Magical Law Enforcement. He's going to reach out to his underworld contacts to see if there's been another rise in illegal magical creature trading. If there has and The Unforgivable are involved - as I suspect they are - this could be our opportunity to track them down." Harry Potter: "I can't believe I'm saying this, but catching The Unforgivable can wait. Ron's suffering. He's depending on us to help him. Our priority right now should be doing everything in our power to get his memory back." Hermione Granger: "I know you feel responsible for what happened to Ron and place the burden of healing him on yourself. But we need to be realistic. The best Healers in the country spent months unsuccessfully trying to restore Kit and Flavius' memories. Our methods clearly aren't working. The Unforgivable, on the other hand, must have discovered a way to reverse the spell. Recently, too. Why else would they suddenly be so interested in getting Flavius back, despite willingly abandoning him?" Harry Potter: "You may be right, Hermione. About me, curing Ron, The Unforgivable... all of it. I suppose if investigating black markets could lead us to The Unforgivable and a cure for Ron, then it's worth prioritising this investigation." — Description
	Baby Acromantula Return To: Borneo, Southeast Asia	If one can win a baby Acromantula's favour, it's possible to gain a powerful and lifelong ally. The Ministry advises against attempting to do so, howeveer, due to the extreme danger involved. Even young Acromantula are capable of taking down an unsuspecting witch or wizard. Indigenous to the jungles of Borneo, it is rumoured that a prolific colony also residesin the Forbidden Forest.	Ronald Weasley: "Eugh, a spider! Don't need my memories to know I hate them. Furry, eight-legged monsters. They'd eat us alive if they got the chance, like that bloody Aragog tried to..." Harry Potter: "Did you say "Aragog"? You remember him, Ron?" Ronald Weasley: "How could I forget? The eight beady eyes, fangs as big as my hand, all his creepy little spider-spawn... Thankfully that magic car rescued me. No, not just me... us? Were you there, Hugh? It's still rather fuzzy..." Harry Potter: "It's Harry, actually. Clearly there are still large gaps in your memory, but if your brain was permanently addled, you couldn't have remembered that night in the Forbidden Forest. There's still hope that your memories can be restored! But why could you suddenly recall Aragog, of all things? Could our treatments be finally getting through to you? Is the memory loss only temporary? Did your fear of spiders trigger it? Or is it something else entirely?" — Description
	Hagrid's Wooden Flute Return To: Hagrid's Hut	This wooden flute was hand carved by Rubeus Hagrid, who gifted it to Harry Potter for Christmas one year. It was said to sound a bit like an owl when played. Harry used the instrument to lull Fluffy, Hagrid's pet Three-headed dog, to sleep.	Gareth Greengrass: "I heard about what happened to Ron. If there's anything I can do for you or your family, please don't hesitate to ask." Hermione Granger: "Thank you, Gareth. Everyone's support has been instrumental in helping us get through this crisis. Though I worry about Rose and Hugo. They're coping, but it's a lot for a kid to handle." Gareth Greengrass: "I understand. When my wife, Aquila, died, I worried a lot about how Cereus, my daughter, would cope." Hermione Granger: "I didn't know you had a daughter. You've never mentioned her before." Gareth Greengrass: "She's grown; been out of the house for a while now. Anyway, my advice to you is to be upfront with your children. If you're honest with your own feelings, it'll encourage them to be honest with theirs. Baby them or shield them from the truth and they'll only come to resent you." — Description
	Bottle of Acromantula venom Return To: Potions Storeroom, Hogwarts Castle	Acromantula venom is incredibly to acquire. Harvesting venom from a live Acromantula is extremely dangerous due to their aggression, making posthumous extraction the most reliable method. But even that can be tricky, as their venom dries up quickly and Acromantulas tend to cannibalise their dead. These factors cement Acromantula venom as one of the most valuable potion ingredients in the world.	Harry Potter: "I've been thinking about this informant theory of yours... How do we even go about proving or disproving something like that? Pointing fingers and throwing out accusations will just make the whole office defensive and paranoid." Hermione Granger: "I have something in mind. But I'm afraid I can't say more than that." Harry Potter: "Why? You can't possibly suspect that I'm the mole, can you?" Hermione Granger: "No... at least not willingly. But I can't rule out the possibility you were under the Imperius Curse... Of course, I think the chance of that being the case is extremely slim, but recent history has proven that we can't be too careful. We're at a turning point, Harry. If we fail to catch the mole now while they're unaware, The Unforgivable's influence will continue to spread within the Ministry like this Acromantula venom, until we're crippled entirely." — Description

"I heard back from Dorian Fungbury, my friend in Magical Law Enforcement. Apparently multiple known magical creature poachers have been spotted in Cape Town, South Africa."

— Hermione Granger

"Seems increasingly likely that this surge is another warning from Grim, doesn't it? But what does black market beast trading have to do with The Unforgivable or the Calamity?"

— Constance Pickering

"Possibly nothing. We don't even have any definitive proof that Grim is manipulating this surge, just a strong suspicion that he is.
But, to borrow Harry's words, if there's even a small chance that The Unforgivable could be involved, we ought to pursue it. After all, they may hold the key to restoring Ron's memories and stopping the Calamity for good."

— Hermione Granger

"In that case, why don't we use this time between waves to investigate this Cape Town lead further? That way we'll be ready to make our move."

— Constance Pickering

Part II (17–24 May, 2021)

Confident that this surge is a warning from Grim about The Unforgivable's involvement in creature poaching, the team plans to crash a black market auction. Will this lead pan out? Or is it another dead end?

Brilliant Mountainside

"I sent a few Aurors undercover to investigate Dorian Fungbury's tip about magical creature poachers in Cape Town, South Africa. They're still investigating, but early reports seem to confirm a rise in black market activity in that area. There's been no word on The Unforgivable however."

— Harry Potter

"It's quite possible they aren't involved at all. But there's enough circumstantial evidence to the contrary that I still think it's worth pursuing."

— Hermione Granger

"I agree. Even if we don't find The Unforgivable, at least we'll make the world a safer place for magical creatures by shutting the market down."

— Constance Pickering

"I just hope we don't waste time that we could be spending restoring Ron's memories or searching elsewhere for The Unforgivable pursuing a fruitless lead."

— Harry Potter

"If this surge is another warning from Grim Fawley, perhaps he'll be able to clarify a few things for us in this second wave..."

— Constance Pickering

Images	Name	Description	Remarks
	Brilliant Baby Troll Return To: Galdhøpiggen, Jotunheimen, Norway	Baby Mountain trolls, while not known for their intelligence, should not be underestimated. Despite their relatively diminutive size, a juvenile Mountain troll's immense strength and lack of social decorum makes them incredibly volatile. That being said, incidents with Mountain trolls are not common given that they live in mountainous areas.	"Harriet, what's that smell?" — Ronald Weasley "Hermione, Ron. I'm Hermione. And what you're smelling is probably residual musk from the baby mountain troll Foundable we just returned." — Hermione Granger "I think I've smelled it before. In a... bathroom? But that can't be right. Why would a troll be in a bathroom? And why do I vaguely recall dropping its club on its head?" — Ronald Weasley "You remember facing Professor Quirrell's mountain troll? This settles it. Some of your memories have definitely returned. But how is this possible? Kit Gerrard and Flavius Flint went multiple months without any sign of memory recovery. Could the Foundables themselves be the key...?" — Hermione Granger
	Brilliant Baby Chinese Fireball Return To: Sichuan, Southwest China	Chinese Fireball dragons are hatched from an egg whose shell is highly prized by Chinese wizards. Clever and only the size of a dog in their infancy, baby Chinese Fireballs are occasionally sold illegally on the black market. Unfortunately many are abandoned once they reach their full size and begin to display their taste for humans.	"I just can't seem to wrap my head around what The Unforgivable's goals are. Adversaries would lead you to believe they're interested in bringing back the Death Eaters and pure-blood supremacy. But this business with magical creature poachers and black markets... It doesn't quite fit with what we've come to expect from them, does it?" — Hermione Granger "You said it yourself, there's no guarantee this dodgy activity in Cape Town has anything to do with The Unforgivable." — Constance Pickering "True, but I can't think of any other logical explanation for why Grim would draw our attention to beast poaching not once, but twice." — Hermione Granger "Perhaps our problem is that we keep comparing The Unforgivable to groups like the Death Eaters or Grindelwald's army. Perhaps, rather than some shared ideal, The Unforgivable's reasons for grouping up are more practical and self-serving." — Constance Pickering
	Baby Graphorn Return To: Finsteraarhorn, Switzerland	Once one of the most endangered magical creatures, Graphorns were brought back from the brink of extinction by Newton Scamander, who rescued the last breeding pair in existence at the time. Thanks to his care and cultivation, baby Graphorns like this have returned to the mountains of Europe. Unfortunately an increase in their population has led to a resurgence of poaching as well, as their horns are a highly prized potion ingredient.	"Greyish purple, a humped back, scaly skin... Baby Graphorns have no right being as cute as they are. Makes me ill thinking about how they and their parents are hunted for their horns. Honestly, how do poachers stomach hurting creatures the way they do? I once cried for an hour because I accidentally stepped on my cat's tail." — Constance Pickering
	Baby Thestral Return To: Forbidden Forest	Thestrals have a rather skeletal appearance and are invisible to all but those who have seen death, leading many witches and wizards to misattribute them as omens of misfortune. Arguably one of the most misunderstood magical creatures, Thestrals are actually rather gentle and intelligent. While the stigma surrounding Thestrals keeps most away, the magical properties of their tail hair make Thestrals - particularly foals like this one - valuable targets for beast poachers.	"Historically, Thestrals have been stigmatised as omens of misfortunate and death. But in recent years, attitudes towards them have improved, partially due to the Second Wizarding War. So many witnessed death during the war that more people than ever were able to see Thestrals. At first their spooky appearance only exacerbated the problem. But as activists launched new outreach programs to combat those misconceptions, popular opinion about Thestrals softened. They're slowly but surely starting to be seen as the brilliant creatures they are. When you witness death and tragedy, your worldview changes. But Thestrals are proof that it's not always for the worst." — Harry Potter
	Satchel Firecrab Shell Jewels Return To: Fiji	Fire Crabs shell are prized as cauldrons and, as such, have been hunted by unscrupulous Wizards for centuries. The jewels that adorn them - which include rubies, sapphires and emeraldsn - have been known to even tempt the rare Muggle that stumbles upon one. Faced with a dwindling Fire crab population, a reservation was created on the coast of Fiji to help with conservation and to protect these vulnerable creatures from poachers.	Harry Potter: "The Aurors I assigned to Cape Town just sent me an owl. According to them, dealers are putting together an underground auction full of illicit goods like these Fire Crab jewels and shells. Unfortunately they're having a difficult time uncovering when and where this auction is taking place. Seems the organisers are being extra cautious and secretive about the details." Constance Pickering: "That's to be expected though, isn't it? Since Grim first alerted us to the rise in illegal beast trading, the Ministry has helped shut down quite a few black markets in Indonesia. It's only natural they're a bit spooked." Hermione Granger: "An auction like that is bound to attract all sorts of Dark witches and wizards. If members of The Unforgivable are among them, this could be a good opportunity to corner them and take them into custody. We have to be there." — Description

Mysterious Note

Name	Remarks
1st piece	"Constance, what's that scrap of parchment in your hand?" — Harry Potter "Something that, when pieced back together, will hopefully provide some insight into this surge. The Calamity spat it out just now after we returned that last Foundable." — Constance Pickering "I recognise that handwriting. It's definitely Grim's. I've agonised over his petitions to reopen the investigation into the London Five's disappearance enough times that I'd know it anywhere." — Harry Potter "So Grim is trying to send us a message! Now we just have to figure out what it is..." — Constance Pickering
5nd piece	"We've managed to recover about half of the note now, but it's looking more like a page from an Arithmancy textbook than a message. Can you make any sense of this, Hermione?" — Constance Pickering "It's probably a ciphered message, not unlike the one we received back in October. I should be able to decode it once we've found the remaining pieces." — Hermione Granger "But why bother to conceal the message at all? If Grim wanted us to read this, wouldn't it have been much simpler to write a normal letter?" — Constance Pickering "I can only imagine that he was worried it would fall into the wrong hands and trusted us to be able to decode it. Constance, no matter what the contents of this note are, let's keep them close to the chest. If Grim felt it prudent to keep it discreet, we should too." — Hermione Granger
Final piece	"Thanks to the team recovering the last few pieces, I was able to decode Grim's note. Turns out it's a set of coordinates, as well as a time and date. I went ahead and looked the coordinates up. They point to a warehouse in the Port of Cape Town, South Africa, not far from where Dorian Fungbury said the magical creature poachers were spotted." — Hermione Granger "I'd bet my wand that's the location and date of the black market auction! If we infiltrate it, we might be able to detain a member of The Unforgivable!" — Constance Pickering "Let's keep our expectations in check. We don't have any proof The Unforgivable are even involved. Still... this is a promising lead. I'll start putting a team and a plan together." — Harry Potter "Only pick those you're positive you can trust and reveal only what's absolutely necessary, Harry. I have no idea where Grim is or how he got this information, but I'm certain he had a good reason for coding it." — Hermione Granger

"Welcome back! Ron's been asking about you. Well, he's been asking about Henry, but he means you. How did the raid on the black market in Cape Town go?"

— Hermione Granger

"It didn't. The location indicated in Grim's note was deserted. If an auction had taken place there, it was long over by the time we'd arrived... How could this have happened?"

— Harry Potter

"Four possibilities come to mind. First, that we misinterpreted Grim's note, though that seems unlikely. Second, that Grim misled us - either intentionally or accidentally. Third, that someone pretended to be Grim and wrote that letter to trick us. And lastly, that the traders were warned about our plans."

— Hermione Granger

"As much as I don't want to believe that someone we know is a traitor... I must admit that all of these could be plausible. So what now? We may or may not have an informant for The Unforgivable in our midst and have no way to restore Ron's memories."

— Harry Potter

"Actually, I might know how to solve both of our problems. I can't explain how just yet, but you'll just have to trust me."

— Hermione Granger

Appearances

• Harry Potter: Wizards Unite (First appearance)