With the capture of Verandi Farley and several high-ranking Trossach members, the British wizarding world has finally caught a break. The rate of rogue werewolf attacks have started dropping at a steady rate and, hopefully, things will stay that way. The Ministry is starting to loosen some restrictions, like not arresting werewolves standing on the street for loitering, however there’s still an obvious power imbalance between wizardfolk and werewolves.
The Cotswolds pack are continuing to advocate for the rights of werewolves and petitioning to change the legislation that has been set in motion by the current Minister for Magic, whilst the remaining Trossachs members are trying to stay out of the spotlight and keep a low profile… for now.
Whilst the British wizarding world seems to have calmed down, the same cannot be said for over in Northern Europe where a rebellion of magical creatures has risen. The state of things has gotten so bad that the European Ministry has enacted protocols to protect those under eighteen whilst their adult witches and wizards fight to keep control of their countries.
Students from Durmstrang have been sent to Hogwarts to keep them safe and those not old enough to attend school have been sent to live with relatives or designated British Ministry officials outside of Europe for the time being.
Will the low rates of werewolf attacks in Britain continue? How long will Durmstrang students stay at Hogwarts? Will the creatures usurp the wizardfolk in Northern Europe? Only time will tell.
SEPTEMBER 2019 It's been a very long, eventful summer in the wizarding world. A baby was stolen, several high ranking Trossach members were imprisoned, and werewolf attacks have drastically dropped as a result. What will happen now school has returned?
MAY 2019 An attempt to capture the beta of the Trossachs has been launched. Were the Aurors successful in their mission? Go read more here!
Sleep? On a Saturday night? When it wasn't even one in the morning yet? As if. Zoë sat cross-legged in front of the common room fire, letting the smoke from her cigarette mix in with what was coming from the fireplace. Bold of her? Maybe, but this was Gryffindor Tower, where even the prefects broke the rules once in a while. Sure, some of those from the other Houses did, too--she'd seen Zalewski and Zalayat at the kissing party, she wasn't dumb--but she always maintained she was far happier to be a Gryffindor.
Besides, most of her friends were here. Not all, but most, and that was what mattered. What she'd do without them, who knew? Before Hogwarts, she'd grown up wealthy, but lonely, and she felt as if she would choose the friends over the mansion any day. Or any night, because there was no reason to go to sleep when she could be chatting with Rowan for at least another hour yet.
If there was anyone else in the school quite as dedicated to the wearing of flannel shirts as she was, it was Rowan Howard, and while that wasn't the entire basis of their friendship, she liked to take it as a sign that they were meant to be friends. That and each of their five attempts at making the Gryffindor Quidditch team--although they still had one more year, she reminded herself! Leaning back and blowing a puff of smoke into the air, she glanced over at him. "I haven't had this chill of a weekend in like, a month. Has all the news about Delgado's party made it back to you? Someone totally got punched, but it was in another room. I only wish I could've seen it happen."
Sprawled across the lounge with his long legs dangling off the edge - downsides of being massively bloody tall - Rowan stared at the chocolate frog card he held a few inches away from his face, still munching down the frog he'd shoved in his gob moments before. Then he let out a groan, mouthful of chocolate and all. "Ron Weasley again," he complained, flicking the card over to the coffee table near where Zoë sat, a cigarette stuck between her lips. Daredevil, thy name was Zoë.
The cigarette smoke washed over Rowan from where he sat, and after a minute or two, he made an executive decision. Sliding off the lounge, Rowan scooted his bottom til he was sitting beside Zoë, pinching the cigarette from between her fingers. Then he stuck it between his lips, taking a short puff. "I'd say you're gonna get dude germs from me but I heard you did a lot more than share cigarettes the other week with a bunch of guys," he teased, before handing the cigarette back over. He hummed at her question, loosely shrugging. "Yeah, I heard there was a bunch of drama and near shags against a wall or something? Probably a lot of actual hook-ups after the party though." The news that someone got punched had Rowan's brows raising as he let out a surprised laugh. "Saw Longbottom with a busted lip. Can't imagine the guy went down without a fight though. Who'd he get into it with?"
"Dude, tell me about it. I never kissed a guy before that. It was so weird. Did you know Delgado's face is all prickly?" Logically, Zoë had known that was true, but despite having plenty of guy friends, she didn't make a habit of touching their faces--not Rowan's, not anyone's. Definitely not Rodrik's--she wanted to give absolutely nobody the illusion that she might entertain the whole marriage thing for a second.
She plucked her cigarette back from her friend's fingers, popping it back between her lips and taking another drag. "It was something between Longbottom and Wagtail. Don't know who hit first, but there were black eyes involved. Sad that it wasn't me, honestly. Would've loved to show off how hard short girls can punch." As someone who didn't appear to ever be growing another inch again, Zoë knew she had a bit of a tendency to puff herself up like an angry cat. She wasn't about to stop, though--she always felt more satisfied with herself when she knew she could make the whole room stare if she wanted to.
"But I think it was something about Grace. Can you imagine? People actually going on about that 'my sister's purity' shit in 2019?" She shook her head, laughing. Yes, it was true that she didn't have any siblings, so she didn't have any firsthand knowledge, but Zoë felt like, if she did, she'd have less than zero patience for that sort of thing. She did what she wanted, family be damned. That was the only way to be free in life--right?
Rowan had never kissed a dude before, but there had been a few times where he'd thought it would be a pretty good idea. Usually when he was all drunk and hazy, but... yeah, okay, sometimes when he was sober too. He was a sixteen year old guy with two fully functioning eyes, so could you really blame him? "Nah, the stubble cross beard seems like it'd be as smooth as hell," he joked, a boyish grin playing at his lips. "Guess you're rating kissing girls way above guys then? Most girls don't have beards, or that's what I've learned from experience." Not much experience, admittedly, but from... some.
A fight between Arthur Longbottom and a notorious flirt. He was surprised they didn't duke it out in front of everyone, but... maybe Arthur had his reasons. Maybe he didn't want it to be over so quickly but hell, Rowan didn't actually know, did he? "You probably hit harder than the both of them, Zoë, Just a matter of whether you can actually reach them," he teased because Zoë was an actual short arse. One of the shorter people in their year, along with Vinda Selwyn and Alana Valentino, the latter of which... barely grazed his chest. Now that he was thinking of all these tiny girls in his year and who they were, Rowan mused out loud, "Is there some sort of connection between being feisty and short? Does every shortie have... what do they call it again... ah, a Napoleon complex?"
When Zoë mentioned that it was about Grace and purity, Rowan drew quiet because... that's what bringing up sisters always did to him lately. He missed his own, more than he could put into words. Eventually though, not speaking was an option and he said quietly, "If Rue was still... here, then I don't think I'd like watching people try stuff on her - I mean, she was - is only thirteen but... people start trying funny stuff at that age." He wasn't about to hit someone over it, that wasn't in his nature, but he doubted he'd just stand idly by. He'd probably just interrupt them with an arm over her shoulder and some diversion tactic.
Rating girls above guys? Yeah, Zoë definitely did. "'Course I do. I guess you've always got to try everything once, but I'm going back to girls, thanks. Nothing against Delgado, just how I am." Some people had struggles figuring out their sexuality, but Zoë had never been one of them. She'd known since--probably the first time she ever saw a pretty woman. Even if her mother seemed to be in denial about it no matter how many times Zoë had told her.
"But yeah, that's that report. I kissed Grace too but he didn't punch me, which, like I said, is really no fun. Not that I want to be punched for kissing her, but come on, it'd be fun to fight him." She paused to raise the cigarette to her lips again, glancing at the flames in front of her. "Maybe it is a short people thing. Valentino's short and she's a bitch and a vampire. I'd be a great Napoleon, by the way. My grandmother was French, so all I need are some of those weird gold shoulder things and I can conquer Russia. Or something." Zoë did not take History of Magic anymore, so those were most of the details she remembered.
Although she wasn't going to back down from saying that Arthur's pretentiousness was a load of bullshit, she couldn't leave Rowan to look so sad about his sister. It was true that awful men creeped on even thirteen-year-olds, but Zoë's response to that was just to fight it. "That's why you teach her to punch creepy dudes! See, I didn't even have anyone to teach me, so she'll be even better at it than me." She paused, finally getting a bit more serious as the night got even later. "Did you hear anything from her yet? I know you said you've been writing her a bunch."
"Girls and girls only for Zoë Valeria. Consider my heart crushed," Rowan joked, cheeks dimpling as he shot an impish smile in her direction. Back in third year, Rowan had thought Zoë was rather cute in a way that was more than friends, but he had been thirteen back then with a crush on pretty much every girl in their year. He'd taken a particular fancy to Alana Valentino and her soul-crushing ways - something that had incurred a lot of playful ribbing from his friends for wanting to be eaten alive... and that was before she was a vampire too. "You'll have to give me some tips on how you get the chicks. I always strike out. I think they can tell I'm not one of those suave guys like... Kallenbach, as soon as I open my mouth, and they're disappointed."
The thought of Zoë kissing Grace brought an interesting visual into his mind because... well, it was two hot girls with their tongues in each others mouths, hands roaming everywhere - at least, that's what they did in his mind. He wasn't so sure that had happened at the party, and he wasn't about to ask for details either. Instead, he chuckled once more as he said, "Is conquer Russia some sort of euphemism for conquering Lyuba? I'd pay to see -" That. That didn't come out right and Rowan winced. "Maybe I'll get you some gold shoulder things for Christmas. Just have to figure out what they are, or you might end up with some weird tassel things hanging off a jacket."
"I don't reckon I'd throw a good a punch as most people in our year. Maybe I should ask Rousseau for tips," he said, trying to lighten the mood with a joke. It'd been impressive, watching her smack Ryker straight in the face earlier in the year, although... he'd twinged in sympathy because it looked like it had hurt. Rowan's attempt of keeping the mood light and distracted was all for nothing as Zoë asked if he'd heard from Rue. Brows furrowing, Rowan shook his head. "She hasn't wrote me back yet. Hope there's no other Rue Howard in the wizarding world, getting all these letters about how much I..." Miss her. "I'm just gonna keep writing letters just in case. Nothing else I can really do."
"Please, Ro. You don't want to be like Kallenbach. He's like, sleazier than a used broomstick salesman." Zoë was truly baffled at why the greasy-haired (and greasy-smiled) boy had been a Ravenclaw instead of a Slytherin, but hey, at least it forced him to share a room with the other Valentino. That sounded like punishment. "You just gotta be yourself, right? That's the real trick." It had worked for Zoë so far--although, she thought bitterly, it hadn't ever gotten her a real girlfriend. Not that she had much to complain about the girls she'd slept with--but they weren't in love with her.
"Oh, and I'm not conquering Lyuba!" she said, slapping Rowan playfully with the back of her hand. "I have to put up with Rodrik's sad eyes too much already. You've seen him mope, haven't you?" She shook her head. "I mean, he'll find someone. He will. It won't be me though," she added, shuddering. "You can get him the shoulder things too. To help him out. You know, they're like circles, with tassels and stuff?" She totally wasn't describing it right, but she had no idea what they were called. "Foolproof, I bet."
She played idly with the edge of the rug on the floor, lounging her back against the couch. "Maybe you can call Kaylie to give your sister some punching lessons, when you find her. I bet she'd have fun with that." For all that Zoë disliked Slytherins, and Alana, she had somehow kept up her friendship with the blonde throughout the years.
"Yeah, but he has really great hair, doesn't he?" Rowan joked, the corners of his eyes crinkling in amusement. If you asked him, his hair was better but Kallenbach was a close runner up for Best Dude Hair in Sixth Year. The guy just needed to stop using so much gel all the time. Turned out that Zoë's advice for picking up chicks was to just be himself and Rowan's let out a small huff of laughter, shaking his head. "You get that from a self-help book or something? I am myself. Just don't think I'm the type most chicks dig."And in Rowan's observations across the year, there definitely was a type girls gravitated towards - the cool, charming guys who were slick with the flirting and charms. They didn't like self-aware, flannel-wearing, coffee-chugging hipsters like himself.
"Shame," Rowan commented lightly, fingers reaching up to rub the very spot on his arm she'd just smacked. "Jeez, Valeria, if that's how hard you slap then you'd probably break my bloody shoulder if you were to hit me." As he spoke, laughter danced in his eyes. He was very obviously teasing, but he had no doubt that if Zoë was determined enough... she could break somebody's nose. "He does have big, sad puppy dog eyes, doesn't he? Guess it's better than the alternative, having Cujo eyes, but... he's been moping for days." Zoë was still trying to describe these things to her, and he had no freaking clue what she was talking about but instead of saying so, he just nodded like uh-huh, yeah, picking up what you're putting down, Zoë before she could confuse him anymore.
Kaylie probably would happily volunteer her teaching-someone-to-punch services if he mentioned that Rue needed a helper but... he had to actually find out if his sister was still out there, alive and breathing first. The thought that she may not be tugged at his heart, but before he could allow him to get too lost in his thoughts about the whole thing, he changed the subject. "Anything else exciting happen at the spin the bottle party?"
"I am the self-help book, Ro. I'll be on one of those Muggle shows before you know it," Zoë said, laughing. Giving advice was never her strong suit, but she did her best. Even if her best was usually recommending the person to either kiss or punch someone--hey, it's what she would do, so it was good advice, she decided. "And my official advice is to not do your hair like Kallenbach. I'm amazed he can ever wash that much gel out of his hair at this point."
"Oh, yeah, and speaking of Rodrik," she added, eyes sparkling, "I tried to bring him to the party to get over Lyuba, you know, kiss someone else to get your mind off the problem, but of course she showed up. I mean, she likes parties and stuff, right? I don't talk to her enough, but I should've predicted it." Zoë shook her head, sighing. "And so he landed on her, and then he spilled his drink all over himself, and instead of kissing him she had to come over and tergeo that shit. I was so scared, she had her wand pointed right at his crotch."
"But yeah, you should've come. It's okay, though, I'm sure Delgado won't resist the urge to have some other sort of party before he's out of here. You can come to that one. Now that's a man you could totally imitate the hair of. I don't know how to curl hair, or else I'd see how you look with it," she said with a devilish grin.
"Zoë Valeria: How I Aspire to be Napoleon... sounds like a great series. Binge-worthy. Reckon they'll show it on Netflix?" Rowan asked, knee knocking into hers gently. He may not have been muggleborn like Zoë was, but he'd grown up in the muggle world with a mother who just so happened to be a squib, and so it felt like he had just as much a foot in that world as he did the wizarding world. The thought of Wolfgang washing gel out of his hair was, much to his surprise, mostly just a vision of the Ravenclaw in the shower lathering himself up with... and it was a thought that Rowan tucked away for later when he wasn't around Zoë. "Got anything other than cigarettes with you? Wouldn't say no to a drink or anything."
Maybe it was in poor taste, but Rowan was coughing out a laugh at first, the thought of Rodrik spilling a drink straight in his lap and second, at the thought of Lyuba whipping out her wand to tergeo him. "Merlin, imagine if that'd gone pair-shaped. You'd had to have taken him to the hospital wing and had O'Connor swing by." At this point, Rowan's laughter had divulged from a cough to something akin to giggles instead. "Can you imagine? I don't think he'd believe you if you were to say she was just trying to clean up a drink and accidentally ended up vanishing his -" He was laughing way too hard to finish his sentence and tilting his head back, Rowan wiped tears from his eyes because shit, man, the visuals of that was a hoot and a half.
"Delgado will probably have a party ever month leading up to the day he does. Hell, his whole last week'll probably be a party," he said, before he was nodding with wide eyes because shit, yeah, that guy had great hair. Were curls a way to get the girls? Was that some saying they... said? "I dunno, man. I've braided my hair and shit before when going to bed and I swear to Merlin, I looked like Hagrid when I brushed it out. Now, dude's a cool dude - I guess, never met him - but Hagrid hair? That's a hard pass."
Sprawled across the lounge with his long legs dangling off the edge - downsides of being massively bloody tall - Rowan stared at the chocolate frog card he held a few inches away from his face, still munching down the frog he'd shoved in his gob 