There had been rumors going on for quite some time about some mysterious figures which were seen coming in and out of the forest. They were clad in all black, with their faces covered with enchanted hoods to hide their identities. These people would go in and out multiple times a day. Flashes of light could be seen around the forest, specially at night. There were all sorts of strange noises coming from the woods, and the occasional fire and cries of an animal in pain could be heard even from the Quidditch pitch. There were many theories popular among the students, ranging from secret government experiments, to the illegal activities of some dark witches and wizards. Some older students had even placed bets. Nobody knew for certain what was happening, but one thing was absolutely clear to everyone - the Forbidden forest was even more forbidden now.