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!
Everything was engulfed in fog. His thoughts, somehow sharp and precise, yet muddled and slow at the same time. His movements, deliberate and focused, and yet feeling like he was trying to get through a thousand years of cobwebs with every step.
Sean O’Keeffe was stumbling through the empty halls of Hogwarts, one hand pressing against the cold stone walls, the other clutching his side with blood dripping down from the blade of his knife, leaving a path of red dots like breadcrumbs to follow. Thank God, his office was on the second and not on the seventh floor -- there was no way he’d make that far up without someone spotting him.
His only company were the dormant portraits and his own thoughts, which weren’t much for conversation.
I have to get to the office. I need dittany and silver. I need to clean up and pack. I need to leave. Now.
After what seemed like a decade, the man entered his office, greeted by the enthusiastic chirps of his cat. With his last strength he leaned down to scratch behind the cat’s ear -- but the animal wasn’t too happy with the red liquid that covered his hand, running away, all puffed up and angry.
“Don’t give me that look,” he hissed, “it wasn’t my fault.” With a loud groan, Sean sat down at his desk and tossed the dirty knife on top of it, his fingers cramping around buttons of his tattered dress shirt. Fuck buttons.
There was a shallow, yet long gash going across abdomen -- if the wolf had sunk its claws any harder, Sean would have been dead on the spot. But there was no way Sean O’Keeffe was going to give such satisfaction to some mangy, flea ridden mutt -- it would take more than one to take him down.
The mixture of dittany and silver hissed and bubbled on his skin, making him bite his fingers so that he wouldn’t start screaming in agony. And then it ceased.
And Sean sat there, his chest rising and falling at an alarming rate. Because somewhere between the curses going through his mind and the flashes of pain, one thought had hit him.
He was a werewolf now.
Sean O’Keeffe was a werewolf.
It was his worst nightmare.
He’d become one of those...Things. Those things that had killed his sister, those things that caused so much grief, those things that wasted so much resources, that slowed down progress, those...Those abominations.
He was one of them now.
With a shaking hand he grabbed his wand and cast ‘Muffliato’ on the office door and then he screamed. He screamed until his throat gave out, he screamed until he couldn’t get any air in his lungs in between his compulsive sobs. He thrashed around the room, causing his cat to hiss and hide underneath the bed, two green eyes staring at the man in horror.
His nails dug into his skin, leaving bleeding marks all over his hands, his face his chest -- he was trying to tear himself apart, limb from limb.
His life was ruined. There wasn’t anything to live for. He wanted to rip his own head off.
Time was an illusion.
He didn’t know how long it took until he collapsed on the floor, the last weak sob escaping his lips. Hot tears ran down his face, mixing with droplets of blood. He didn’t care to wipe them off.
But then there was his cat. Sir Fluffybutt, the tuxedo cat with the big, green eyes. His best friend. Best friends look out for each other, even if they’re feline. The cat came out of its hiding place and approached Sean, gently nudging his nose with its own. Checking if his owner was still breathing, just like it did in the mornings when it was time to wake Sean up so he’d fill the food bowl.
And Sean got up this time, too. Gave the cat food and started packing his things. It was time to go home, where they’d be safe, where nobody would bother them.
Sean O’Keeffe was leaving Hogwarts and not looking back.
