Although it hasn't been "revealed" yet I'm sure you all can piece together where things are going based on the DP article today, so here's the OOC reveal. :P

The Timeline of Events
- Mortimer Lansing (NPC) got the bright idea that he ought to make his fortune running a traveling menagerie/circus, but hey, exotic animals are really difficult (and expensive) to acquire. Women wandering the streets of Hogsmeade are comparably less difficult and expensive. Bonus: maybe they'll be smarter than animals and willing to learn some cool circus tricks?
- This month he's been abducting people and transfiguring them into exotic animals (magical or non) to flesh out his collection. They've been living in a Newt-Scamander-style expandable trunk since they were kidnapped.
- Unfortunately human transfiguration was really the only magical niche Mr. Lansing excelled at and the expansion charm on his trunk malfunctioned, leading the animals to be loosed at the train station when he attempted to leave. (Afternoon of Feb 17)
- The Ministry initially thought these were all real animals, until a hapless DRCMC employee (cough, Ford, not that he's admitting to it) misfired a spell and accidentally un-transfigured one (Agape Lestrange). (Morning of Feb 19)
- At this point the Ministry looked into all the animals they had captured so far and realized some of them are transfigured humans, while some are in fact animals.
- Mortimer Lansing is in custody.

SO WHAT DOES THAT MEAN FOR ME?
I'm one of the victims:

I'm a Hogsmeade resident:

I'm a Ministry employee:

Can I change my mind about something? Yep If you didn't sign anyone up as missing but the animal thing sounds cool and fun, it's not too late to retcon it in if you want. Likewise, if you signed someone up to go missing and this now seems like the Worst Thing Ever, feel free to retcon it out. My feelings won't be hurt.