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!
Post by JACK O'CONNOR on Jun 26, 2019 11:02:56 GMT
With his handy mug of coffee clasped in his hands, Jack tried to remain calm and focused as he stared at the wood panels of his door, anticipating a knock from a ministry official at any given moment now. They wanted him to recount his account of the events that transpired in his latest class with the sixth and seventh years, the one where he nearly had one surprise vampire student attack another one of his students who was part-veela. The one where he had to stupefy said vampire in front of the rest of his students, something that still left him feeling tremendously guilty.
He understood why the ministry needed to talk to him and in fact, he was the one who had contact them about the whole incident, wanting to get ahead of it before a concerned parent or student decided to. He just hoped that it wouldn't get blown out of proportion and that the auror they sent wasn't about to question the hell out of his teaching methods after all of his years at Hogwarts. He'd never had an incident quite this bad happen before.
6'0". IRISH. BIG HEART. LOYAL. BRAVE. WORKAHOLIC. BISEXUAL. SINGLE. distinguishing features: a big scar runs across jack's left cheek credit for award goes to ollie! <3
Maximus had been with the ministry for a few years now and he'd seen his fair share of strange incidents, some more horrifying than others, but he couldn't remember ever having been sent to Hogwarts for investigation. He'd read the note the teacher in question had sent and had instructions on the procedures to follow in this singular situation.
Walking up the lawns to the castle Maximus couldn't help but think back to his own days at the school. He supposed there were few who wouldn't feel at least a bit nostalgic at the sight of the castle and it's grounds. Here and there he could see a face looking of the many windows, probably wishing they were outside in the snow right now instead of following lessons.
The gates were opened for him by the caretaker and soon he was walking down familiar corridors to where he knew the defence professor's office to be. It was strange to think that it was defence against the dark arts of all classes where the fight between two students with 'animalistic characteristics' had broken out. It was the class where the students were supposed to learn about these incidents and where he thought the teacher should be most proficient in dealing with the situation. Maximus found himself rather interested in what the interview would reveal.
Reaching what he hoped would be the right door, he knocked. Upon being admitted, he approached the teacher with an outstretched hand. "Professor O'Connor," he greeted respectfully, extending his hand for a handshake. "I understand that there has been a situation in your classroom. I trust the students are safe now?" he asked, not unkindly. He had a certain degree of faith in someone with the title of deputy headmaster and someone who was in regular contact with the ministry, but would want to make sure he agreed with the man's judgement nonetheless.
Post by JACK O'CONNOR on Jun 28, 2019 15:04:20 GMT
When the knock on the door echoed into his office, Jack was on his feet immediately, cracking open the door only to find a familiar looking man in front of him. Perhaps they'd had a run-in at Hogsmeade sometime? But that's what he was here to speak about. Taking the man's hand, he gave him a firm handshake. "Mr. Desford, is it? Please, take a seat," Jack said, waving his hand at the seat opposite his desk as he took his own seat.
"The students are safe, that's correct. I'll debrief you on the situation now, if that's okay? Dueling is something I have done in my classroom for years, from second year onward in fact. We revisited it in my sixth and seventh year class because we have been practicing non-verbal defensive and offensive spells, and I would like them to practice dueling in a controlled environment so they're prepared in case it ever happens outside of Hogwarts," Jack told the man, voice calm and steady. "The students took turns in pairs, and I was supervising. One of my students, Nadezhda Kareva, faced another student, Alana Valentino. She got knocked back very early in the duel and wasn't able to block it in time. She was injured, drew blood, but before I had a chance to realise, Miss Valentino went to lunge at her. I saw fangs and signs of her being a vampire, so I stupefied her before she could reach Miss Kareva and any of the other students. Under any normal circumstances, I wouldn't stupefy a student, but in order to keep the rest of my class safe, I deemed it necessary."
"I ordered all of my students out before I could perform the counter-spell and sent Miss Kareva to the hospital wing with another student. Miss Valentino's brother fetched one of the healers. When the healer came back and it was just myself, the healer, and Alana in the room, I performed the counter-spell and offered her a blood bag to quench her thirst," Jack explained, hands clasped in front of him. "Prior to finding out that Miss Valentino was, in fact, a vampire... I had noticed very minor signs like her aversion to the sun and not touching garlic dishes at dinner, however both could be chalked up to her just being a teenager. Her parents hadn't sent a letter informing me something was different about her and I discussed my concerns with the Headmistress who told me to continue observing before pulling Miss Valentino aside for a chat. I thought that this class would be fine to hold regardless because I have never had blood drawn during a duel between sixth and seventh years before. Perhaps there was some poor judgement on my part there, but I would not have held the class if I knew it would lead to such a dangerous situation."
Clearing his throat, Jack raised his now considerably cooler coffee to his lips, taking a sip and letting Maximus soak in all of the information he had just shared with him.
6'0". IRISH. BIG HEART. LOYAL. BRAVE. WORKAHOLIC. BISEXUAL. SINGLE. distinguishing features: a big scar runs across jack's left cheek credit for award goes to ollie! <3
Maximus wasn't sure what he had expected. Probably some teacher intimidated by the fact that there was a ministry official sitting on their office, or someone extremely defensive about their actions, trying their best to say the right thing for the ministry. What he hadn't expected was a calm recount of the events which Maximus could as well have copied for his report. He quickly took out his note book to write down the crucial points of the explanation. The auror did not interrupt but listened silently, taking notes. Only when O'Connor was done and took a sip of his coffee did Maximus stir. It was rather strange that the girl's parents had not informed the school before. Even stranger, not to say lucky that nothing had ever happened so far, and now that it had, it was good that it had happened in class with a competent teacher nearby. Maximus couldn't even begin to imagine all the horrors of alternative outcomes of this ticking time bomb.
"I commend you on your quick reactions, Professor O'Connor," he said when he finally spoke and inclided his head slightly towards the teacher. He could respect a man who took action. "What is being done about the vampire student?" he asked, following his script.
As Maximus sat with his quill in his hand and took notes of what he'd relayed, Jack waited to allow him ample time to finish what he was scribbling down. He wanted everything to be noted down properly, after all, and people didn't usually perform well when they had to rush to complete a task.
It took him off-guard when Maximus commended him for his actions and he sent the other man a polite nod in response. Stupefying a student... it didn't feel good to him even under the circumstances of which it had happened. Then he was being asked what was 'being done' about the vampire student. "Alana Valentino," he repeated. It was important to put a name to the 'vampire student' in question because that way, if the ministry all of sudden declared she was to be kicked out, they would remember that she was a person. Not just a 'vampire student.' "She's remaining on the grounds and we're controlling her blood lust with blood bags from St. Mungos. What happened... it was a pure accident, and she's a teenager. It would not be right to kick her out for being a magical creature." He leveled his gaze on Maximus, eyes saying loud and clear, 'that includes werewolves too.' "Besides, she shouldn't be punished for keeping it a secret. Her parents didn't know, Mr. Desford. The Valentino family are very much Roman Catholics and I'm fairly certain they are purists too, as a matter of fact. Would you like to know what was in the paper this morning? Her obituary. She's dead to them and she has nowhere to go if we kick her out."
If the other man thought that was happening, he had another thing coming to him. Alana Valentino was one of Jack's students, he had an obligation to stand up for her and her rights, and he would take personal responsibility if she tried to attack another student. He refused to put her out on the streets like some dog.
6'0". IRISH. BIG HEART. LOYAL. BRAVE. WORKAHOLIC. BISEXUAL. SINGLE. distinguishing features: a big scar runs across jack's left cheek credit for award goes to ollie! <3
"Ms Valentino," Maximus repeated the name as he wrote it down in his notebook. It would be important to keep track of her and make sure she was indeed kept in check as the teacher assured him. If she was not, the ministry had to take measures to ensure the safety of the student body.
Maximus' eyebrows rose at the slightly more aggressive approach about magical creatures the man opposite him took, but he was not phased. Magical creatures were persecuted, and rightly so, to keep the public safe. The same that would happen with this student if she posed a threat. The auror had thought that a teacher of all people should understand that they had to make decisions about safety for the greater good. "Certainly not for being a creature," he therefore replied evenly, not in the slightest interested in having a discussion about laws and orders the aurors received.
At the revelation about the student's parents making a rather clear stand against their daughter, Maximus was not sure if he was surprised or not. In current times, having relations to a magical creature could be dangerous. Either because of said creature or because of those afraid of the creature. Both sides were becoming more and more dangerous these days. "I understand," the auror replied. "Keep her under control though. If there is any doubt about safety measures, the ministry will decide in favour of the greater good, as I'm sure you will understand," he impressed upon the teacher.
"To better evaluate the situation, I am to inspect a few of your classes, preferably with the same students as those involved in the incident. When would your next classes be?" he asked, ready to put his notebook away and end the session.
Mr. Desford repeated Alana's name then wrote it down and for that, Jack was grateful. At least to one ministry worker, they could put a name to 'the vampire student.' Jack wondered if he'd ended up with another an auror conducting this interview, if they'd have been quite as receptive to his words as Mr. Desford appeared to be. He knew quite a few aurors who flew off the handle at the drop of a hat, who'd be willing to fight Jack for their beliefs, who weren't nearly as professional.
"I understand. She'll be kept under control to the best of my ability, Mr. Desford. I assure you," Jack said in reply, because... the greater good? He could read between the lines. One misstep and they'd murder Alana Valentino in cold blood in name of the protecting the 'greater good.' It sickened Jack, in all honesty, knowing it was just that simple to a lot of people.
"You're welcome to observe my classes. My next sixth and seventh year class will be on Thursday, and we'll be revisiting the topic of vampires. This is something I've discussed with Miss Valentino and whilst I expect it will get heated, I think it's necessary to go over what the students know about vampires and dispel some of the myths they may have heard throughout the years," Jack said, before cupping his hands in front of him. "I'll see you on Thursday then, Mr. Desford? If there's nothing else we need to discuss... I've got a lot of marking left to do."
6'0". IRISH. BIG HEART. LOYAL. BRAVE. WORKAHOLIC. BISEXUAL. SINGLE. distinguishing features: a big scar runs across jack's left cheek credit for award goes to ollie! <3
