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!
"I've graded your last weeks papers on the Scandinavian pantheon and I am, for the most part, satisfied with the results." Sean stated once all the students had settled down into their seats and the silencing charm had signaled to them that it was time to quit their chatter. "You'll receive them at the end of the lesson and I'd suggest you follow the notes I've added on your individual works, especially 5th years. Exams aren't far off."
"Today we will continue the subject of Scandinavia. There is a certain phenomenon you can, or, to be more precise, you could encounter in the 16 - 18th centuries in Sweden, Norway, Denmark and Iceland."
"The Black Books. Those of you who take Ancient Runes might have heard of the concept before. In Denmark they often were called the Cyprianus."
"These books, depending from the country of origin, held many spells and incantations, often concerning healing and defensive spells. Of course, there were more nefarious witches and wizards, who didn't shy away from inventing new ways to cause harm to people around them."
"Now, the history of these black books start one century earlier, and not even in a Scandinavian country. There are several reasons for this. First of all - what kind of cultural process was happening in Europe during the 16th century? And bonus points if you could tell me how it popularized the writing down of spells?"
"And secondly - who can tell me which wizard could be, so to say, held responsible for the popularity of the Black Books in the following centuries?"
Post by LYDIA LLEWELLYN on Dec 1, 2019 14:04:24 GMT
As Lydia made her way into the History of Magic classroom, it was with her head firmly down as she avoided what felt like the stares of literally everyone. Call her soft, call her weak - she didn't want to deal with any sort conflict or confrontation, especially not in front of a classroom of her peers. Taking her designated seat to Joshua, Lydia hid the side of her face with her hand and muttered, "It feels like I'm wearing a huge, red 'A' pinned to my chest. When did I become Hester Prynne? Actually, no - don't tell me that."
Merlin, she knew it sounded awful but besides the chattering and the 'slag' coughs... what hurt the most was the fact that Thomas wouldn't even look at her. He hadn't pulled her aside, he hadn't come and spoke to her. It was like what had happened between them meant nothing to him, and... it stung since it had meant so much to her.
Before she could try and articulate this however, Professor O'Keeffe was talking about the Scandinavian pantheon papers and Lydia straightened up in her seat. She felt like she'd done a really good job on them, and she hoped the Professor thought so too. She planned on heeding whatever notes he'd made for her to the 't' as well because she'd fuel his criticism towards helping her in her OWLs. He could count on it. She was going to do him proud... or so she hoped.
It turned out that today they were going to be focusing the lesson on Cyprianus, and so Lydia fell quiet. In all honesty, she didn't know the answer to any of his questions, nor did she dare to even guess the answer. She'd just sit back, listen to her peers, write down the information and soak it in to help her at a later date.
History of Magic was the least of Frankie’s worried when she had walked into the classroom, taking her usual seat near the back of the classroom. The Gryffindor fourth year looked around at her peers, her expression blank as she looked at the siblings. Okay, she had heard what had happened but she wasn’t one to judge the girl. It was a drama she didn’t want to get involved with - something that shouldn’t be her business even if they made the ordeal sorta public.
When the professor had started talking, Frankie had snapped out of her stare at the siblings and her attention went onto the professor. The female’s eyes scanned the area once the questions were asked and she had sat back in her seat as she waited to make some notes.
Why was History necessary for a girl like Sienna? Sienna had come from an Italian family, a family that’s involved with the Government among other things. History and government had crossed paths, and it’s why Sienna was taking History of Magic. And the fact that her family had told her that she must take this subject to understand things from the past and now. The old magic, it is all explained during this class and Sienna was doing a good job. But then again, she was doing good in most of her classes and wasn’t going to let anyone say otherwise.
Sienna had taken a seat in the front of the classroom, her quill and parchment paper out ready for some notes. The prefect was always prepared for classes (even the boring ones) because she was always going to expect the unexpected.
Sienna had glanced toward Lydia and her brother for a moment, making her scowl. She forgot those two were there too. The things she wanted to say, but she wasn’t going to speak out of turn.
Colwynn had been one of the first people in the class and she'd taken the few moments alone to get caught up on some of her potions homework. She hated potions. Which was probably why she'd put it off for so long. Her homework was almost done so she wasn't worried about it. She just had to make sure her grammar was acceptable.
She only looked up when she heard a series of whispers, and none of them all too kind. Honestly, she probably wouldn't have known what a slag was if it wasn't for her aggressively Irishman father, but even if she didn't know what it meant, being a stupid American and all, she would have gathered the meaning from the tone. It severely rubbed Colwynn the wrong way. She didn't like slut-shaming.
"Jesus Christ, it's like Salem in here," Colwynn grumbled as she put away her homewor. No one else seemed interested in the class, but in a futile attempt to move the class along, Colwynn said her piece, not bothering to raise her hand. "I'll admit, I don't know much about this, but I think you're talking about John Fell...or Sell, maybe? I don't know, but everyone else seems to have their heads up their asses, which is a shame because if this lesson is going where I think it's going it's gonna be hilarious."
After she'd spoken her piece, she scribbled a note to the girl in question. She didn't know that she was Josh's sister, but that wouldn't have mattered. Being inconspicuous, she folded the paper and with a flick of her wand under her desk the paper zipped from Colwynn's desk in front of the girl who was under scrutiny. On the paper were seven words: Don't let the bastards grind you down. It seemed unlikely that the girl would get the Handmaid's Tale reference, but that didn't matter. If Wynn had played her cards right the girl wouldn't even know who had sent the note.
Post by AGNES CLEARWATER on Dec 8, 2019 8:43:58 GMT
Entering the History of Magic classroom, Aggy's eyes skimmed the room, the corner of her mouth pulling downwards as she spied the victim of the latest Hogwarts drama, Lydia. She wasn't about to join in all the slut-shaming, nor was she about to verbally unleash on her to her face but there was nothing Aggy hated more than a cheater. "Do you think she's a Jolene character in this situation?" she muttered to Evan, but if she was being honest... then the answer was probably no. As far she knew, Thomas was not as any risk of being stolen away from his Dolly Lexie by Lydia. "Merlin forbid that somebody break up with someone they're supposed to be in love with before getting their horn on with someone else. It's unfathomable, right? To actually be someone with a moral compass." Maybe she was being too dark about the situation, casting too much blame on Evan's brother, and so she tacked on, "Or maybe she needs to not break the girl code when she knows he has a girlfriend. It's messed up on both ends."
With her spiel over and done with, Aggy shot a small little wave at Colwynn before sitting next to her. "You'll have to put up with me and Evan this lesson, sorry, but at least we're not in the front where gigantus here would be blocking your view of O'Keeffe." Speaking of... turning her attention to the front, Aggy listened to Professor O'Keeffe launch into how they'd be exploring The Black Books for this lesson. When he asked about which cultural process was happening during the 16th century in Europe, Aggy raised her hand. "Reformation was happening, a movement that challenged the Roman Catholic Church... basically, yet another religious history thing because for some reason, people always deem religion as something to fight about."
a charming young woman... ...capable of being terrible
GRYFFINDOR
16
SIXTH YEAR
1/2 VEELA
we're not running when the world's on fire/we'll be dancing in the smoke
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Post by LYUBOV KAREVA on Dec 9, 2019 3:08:49 GMT
Lyuba had to try hard not to grimace visibly as whispers about Lydia shot back and forth across the classroom. It reminded her uncomfortably of the fact that she'd slept with Wolfgang and even though he had promised that Isobel was alright with it, and the redheaded girl herself hadn't seemed to give her even a single unusual glance, it still felt weird even when it had felt good at the time. Plus, it really wasn't helping her concentration on the lesson, which was usually shaky at the best of times, and this certainly wasn't the best of times.
"Don't talk about her like that," she hissed in Aggy's direction, across Evan, who was sitting between them. She was annoyed enough to leave out the usual questions she would've had for her redheaded friend, like what's a Jolene? Is that a rude word I haven't heard yet, or just some place in America again? "You don't know everything. Maybe he said she was okay with it."
Turning back to her parchment, she scribbled down the things her classmates had already mentioned. John Fell or Sell, Reformation... Lyuba wasn't entirely sure what these things had to do with spellbooks, but that was what asking questions was for, wasn't it? "Professor! Does this have to do with Salem and stuff?" The one girl had mentioned Salem, so maybe she really was on the right track. "Because if the Reformation was religion, and religious people thought wizards were evil, then... something would happen with spellbooks."
The moment that the Harlot of Hufflepuff walked into the room, Gabriel's angelic eyes shone with judgemental hellfire and he ran a hand through his cherubic golden fringe as he very purposefully watched every step Lydia took into the classroom. Instinctually, Gabriel reached a protective hand to place firmly around Olivia's shoulders as if he could sheild the innocent bean from the terrible lack of morals that eminated from Lydia like a radioactive hotspot. "I never thought I'd see the day that a Hufflepuff would just leap over that friendly line so zealously," Gabriel said with a dramatic, disapproving sigh as he sat back in his chair and faced the professor.
"Uhh Lyds, did you even get your paper in? Or were you a bit too busy in the library?" the Hufflepuff asked innocently, tapping on the girl's chair in front of him with the tip of his toe. "I can already tell you O'Keeffe's notes: actually hand something in, Shoveler." Gabriel glanced at his brother as O'Keeffe began with the rest of his droll speech about Black Books and wrote on his parchment: still glad Uncle Graham left? for Greyson because at least Graham had talked about history that had involved the United Kingdom.
"Lyubov don't start with Salem else the Yank," Gabriel waved his hand towards Ravenerd Colwynn, "will think we've moved from Eastern Europe History of Magic to Yankee Doodle History and it'll confuse her even more than remembering a simple name like John Fell. Don't worry your pretty little head Vale; wouldn't want your panda make-up to run... oh wait..." the Hufflepuff grimaced and wrinkled his nose as if he saw something that repulsed him because... panda make-up was definitely not a good look.
History wasn't an easy subject and it always caused Ollie to be nose deep in her books. Though the class seemed quite more occupied with something else. The moment Lydia walked into the class it seemed like the she devil had appeared to some people in here. Of course she made a mistake but god, why make such a fuss about it? Ollie truly didn't understand and was penning down some of her notes when she felt Gabriel's arm wrapped around her like he was trying to protect her. Protect her from what? Lydia? That was silly.
"What's going on?" she asked softly and then listened to Gabriel talking to people, one by one and what he said was quite mean. Why would he even be like that? Did they upset him in a way and turned to Lydia who just seemed quite upset as well. Ollie frowned a bit as she put her quill down and looked at Gabriel with confusion when he spoke to Lydia. "Don't be mean to her, she is so sad already." she told him, her big blue eyes basically pleading him to stop being mean. Why was he being mean in the first place?
"Did she do something to hurt you? She is so sweet." she said and shook her head before looking at her work again. "What is a Yank? Is that an animal?" she asked and then looked at Gabriel again talking to the new girl. "I do like European history better..." she said not that it seemed to matter in the conversation and just looked at the professor and back at her notes. Why couldn't people just for once get along?
Post by EVAN OLIVER WOOD on Dec 9, 2019 12:42:38 GMT
Let it be known that Evan was feeling almost as awkward as the Llewellyn girl - a one time friend, in fact - as he shuffled into the classroom and decidedly did not sit near them; in fact, thankfully, the list of people that Evan was avoiding appeared to all be sitting over one half of the class and so he very casually ensured his own little circle of friends were over the other side. He could hear something stir up over by Greyson and Lydia but Evan bobbed his head so that he could listen to Agnes as she spoke of... a Jolene character? he frowned and was about to ask what a Jolene was - maybe some kind of chopped up carrot? maybe he'd misheard carrot as 'character'? Evan liked julienned carrots. His belly rumbled at the thought as he sat down at his desk and prepared his papers and book.
Ah, fuck, Evan's bright blue eyes darkened as they closed to near slits as he listened to Agnes talk about his big brother like he was the worst person in the world. Evan cleared his throat, "Aggy, as much as I love your high horse... maybe we should listen to Professor O'Keeffe..?" he really didn't want to discuss his brother's... ew... love life... with anyone other than his brother, as it was 100% none of anyone else's business but also because he didn't know exactly how he felt about the situation with his own moral compass. In compass terms, it was spinning and Evan was always a true north kind of boy until this past year. Fuck puberty.
When Lyuba chimed in, Evan had pressed his back as far against his chair as he could - something even clicked in the old wood, he could feel it - and he nodded an agreement until... "Ly... I mean I've heard you errr... Europeans... " definitely not meaning Veela. Nope. Definitely not refrencing that part of her heritage. Evan valued his skin, " are errr.. sexually adventurous but... we... we really aren't," Evan shook his head, in all his virgin wisdom, "no one in their right mind would assume Lexie was ok with it.... Merlin, I don't think it'd have occurred to Tom to even suggest.." Evan's face was paling at the image of his brother being a greasy, grimy sleeze-ball like... Evan glanced at Greyson and he made a face because just... no.
Turning back to the conversation and hearing the period, Salem and all that Evan was severely confused. "Wait wait... wasn't this the same period the muggles were burning us at the stake? Who in their right mind would write a book of spells and popularise it? Stinks of conspiracy to me," Evan tried to rub the back of his neck to release the tension headache that was building. "I mean sure that's one way to kill off your enemy ... were... were normal people back then even able to like... read? or did they just look at the pretty pictures? cuz I've seen those old books. They're very... like... pretty."
This class was going to be a disaster and even Felix knew it. The fifth years were a bunch of horny morons with ill fates ahead of them but to point it all out was, pointless. They practically did it for him with their snarky comments, their slutty behavior and the pretending like it would influence the rest of their lives. Oh surely there will be influences for their futures but that would be lack of educational brain content rather than their idiotic behavior or lack of sex. Felix was seated beside his fiancee since there were little to no other seats available and his eyes were on the books and professor before the monkeys started their dance again.
"Bunch of apes I swear." he told Sienna and rolled his eyes when the blonde Avery spoke. Felix actually liked Gabriel was quite disappointed about his approaches here. Insulting others though correctly so was just not going to move along this class any further and only get him in useless trouble. There was a sigh from Felix as he turned to look at Gabriel before looking at who he was talking to. This new girl from America who looked like a panda just like she did during the kissing game was now a target as well and why?
Being a panda might be a bad fashion choice but it wasn't a crime. "Do let me know if you ever get into a sexual debacle, I will cancel the engagement right off the bat." he warned Sienna and turned to his books.
Normally a good natured little Puff, Josh had done his best to give his sister a reassuring smile as she walked into class. Just focus on me, he willed her silently and he let the side of his shoulder bump against hers gently when she plonked on down beside him. ”You are Lydia Llewellyn, the Amazing sister of Danica and myself and we wouldn’t have it any other way,” he reminded her, decidedly not adding though it would’ve helped if you didn’t boink Wood kthanx because that was not helpful. She was a smart girl and he was 97% sure she already knew that without it being said during class. Josh heard the snide comment from his house and dorm mate, the evil little twin Gabe, come from behind them but he paid it no mind. After five years and having two sisters, Josh had become very adept at blocking out annoying voices when he chose to. ”I think we’re on page...”
Josh stopped mid sentence because now Gabe was prodding at Lydia like she was a moon calf that refused to get in its pen for the night. ”Seriously, Avery, what is your problem?” Josh asked, looking over his shoulder at the idiot behind him. ”How about you mind your own business for once in your life?” he awkwardly swatted away Gabe’s offending legs from Lydia’s chair before he turned back to the class at hand.
The young man let Colwynn catch his attention as she began to offer up an answer to the professor. He had absolutely no idea who this John Fell guy was or the black books and he began quickly searching the pages of his History book to find the reference because he didn’t want to appear stupid in front of her. Then other students added to the discussion while Josh looked until Gabe put in his two cents again.
”Ollie your boyfriend just used a derogatory term for an American in reference to Colwynn,” Josh turned his attention to the naïvely sweet girlfriend of the awful Avery. ”... honestly, why is someone as nice as you with a boy like him?” Josh looked Gabe up and down, clearly sizing him up. ”Shall we step outside so that the other students can continue their lesson or will you kindly shut the fuck up?” Josh pointedly asked the agitated teenager behind him before he turned back to the discussion with the entire classroom. ”Do any of these books still exist, Professor? Have you tried any of the ancient spells? Maybe they still work,” and Josh said to his immediate peers in a voice inaudible to those towards the front (ie the teacher); ”and do any of them permanently cure arsehole dorm mates?”
Oh this was so dramatic already and Gemini was so excited for this class before it got ruined! The girl was having a good day before all of the people got mean at some girl. What had she done for the entire class to go wicked on her? Gemini was seated in the back with her girlfriend and watched the scene unfold in front of her, it was so dramatic it could be a part of a novel, maybe a movie. The brunette started drawing the scene in front of her, little sketches for her diary.
Gabriel then started talking, saying mean things. "Oi big brother.." she hissed at him and shook her head, hoping he would not say such things out loud. It was not nice and thankfully Ollie thought the same. Then another boy got mad at her brother and she honestly didn't like that either. "Why are they so mean to each other? What happened?" she asked Charlie a bit confused and barely even knew what the class was about. Who did what when now?
a charming young woman... ...capable of being terrible
GRYFFINDOR
16
SIXTH YEAR
1/2 VEELA
we're not running when the world's on fire/we'll be dancing in the smoke
73 posts
0 likes
Post by LYUBOV KAREVA on Dec 10, 2019 2:59:06 GMT
"Oh, really?" Lyuba turned her irritation on Evan next, blue eyes narrowing. It was the first time she had ever found herself truly angry at her classmate, but she didn't think she could hold back. As if she hadn't been living in Britain her whole life--no, she knew what he was implying about her. "I'm not stupid and don't you dare call me a slut just because of my--my heritage. More like I enjoy myself, like I don't have a stick up my arse like you." Her hand curled tightly around her quill, note-taking all but forgotten, as her voice rose louder, seemingly without control.
"So before you think your dear brother wasn't perfectly fine with it, think of the odds of her slipping and falling on his dick by accident!" Lyuba wasn't sure if she was defending herself or Lydia more at this point, as Wolfgang's words floated in her mind. And then as she recalled her own sister's beliefs, perhaps she was speaking for Nadya too.
The feather in her hand was beginning to smoke dangerously, and it was only that faint scent of something burning that snapped Lyuba out of her anger for a moment. With an indignant huff, she snatched her parchment and quill off the table, slinging her bag around one shoulder, and took a seat by some wide-eyed third-year, crossing her arms and trying to force herself to cool down.
Post by AGNES CLEARWATER on Dec 10, 2019 5:35:10 GMT
High horse immediately had Aggy's eyes narrowing into slits straight back at Evan, her nostrils flaring because, "You know what? I don't think I'm on a bloody high horse for having an opinion on something I know a fair fucking lot about from my own life - hello cheating mother who emotionally destroyed my father and broke our family up even more - and I'm not going to just shut up like some chastised school kid because you tell me to." Anger was crawling up her skin, seeping into every vein. The fact she was chronically sleep deprived these days didn't help keep a lid on her anger, and Aggy's jaw clenched as she tore her gaze to the front once more to try and concentrate.
But the next thing she knew, she was getting hissed at by Lyuba and the anger that had started taking over her body only grew especially as she saw Evan nodding along. She wasn't a fan of being told what to do, and she knew first hand how damaging cheating was. People didn't just get a free pass when they played such a large part in hurting another person. "Yeah because Merlin forbid I criticise the actions of somebody who slept with someone who has a girlfriend of two years by saying she broke the girl code. You don't know everything else either, and anyone with a brain would check that it was okay with the girlfriend before dropping trou especially since nothing over the past two years has implied Thomas is in an open relationship. You never take that shit at face value."
But then Evan was opening his big fat gob again to defend his brother, essentially calling Lyuba sexually adventurous because she was European, and Aggy shot him a withering look. "What the fuck, Evan. Before you tell me to get off my high horse, you might want to consider dismounting your own," she snapped, before she left Lyuba and Evan both to fend for themselves as she gathered her shit and moved to another table. Good luck to them. May the odds be ever in their bloody favour.
Raising her hand, despite the fact that she was drawn so tight that she was bound to explode at any given moment, Aggy answered O'Keeffe's second question. "Agrippa was responsible."
History wasn't an easy subject and it always caused Ollie to be nose deep in her books. Though the class seemed quite more occupied with something else. The moment Lydia walked into the class it seemed like the she devil had appeared to some people in here. Of course she made a mistake but god, why make such a fuss about it? Ollie truly didn't understand and was penning down some of her notes when she felt Gabriel's arm wrapped around her like he was trying to protect her. Protect her from what? Lydia? That was silly. 
This class was going to be a disaster and even Felix knew it. The fifth years were a bunch of horny morons with ill fates ahead of them but to point it all out was, pointless. They practically did it for him with their snarky comments, their slutty behavior and the pretending like it would influence the rest of their lives. Oh surely there will be influences for their futures but that would be lack of educational brain content rather than their idiotic behavior or lack of sex. Felix was seated beside his fiancee since there were little to no other seats available and his eyes were on the books and professor before the monkeys started their dance again. 
Normally a good natured little Puff, Josh had done his best to give his sister a reassuring smile as she walked into class. Just focus on me, he willed her silently and he let the side of his shoulder bump against hers gently when she plonked on down beside him. ”You are Lydia Llewellyn, the Amazing sister of Danica and myself and we wouldn’t have it any other way,” he reminded her, decidedly not adding though it would’ve helped if you didn’t boink Wood kthanx because that was not helpful. She was a smart girl and he was 97% sure she already knew that without it being said during class. Josh heard the snide comment from his house and dorm mate, the evil little twin Gabe, come from behind them but he paid it no mind. After five years and having two sisters, Josh had become very adept at blocking out annoying voices when he chose to. ”I think we’re on page...” 
Oh this was so dramatic already and Gemini was so excited for this class before it got ruined! The girl was having a good day before all of the people got mean at some girl. What had she done for the entire class to go wicked on her? Gemini was seated in the back with her girlfriend and watched the scene unfold in front of her, it was so dramatic it could be a part of a novel, maybe a movie. The brunette started drawing the scene in front of her, little sketches for her diary.