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!
"Alright, I know we're all very excited about this lesson with our guest, but it's very important that we set down the ground rules. First, be your best and polite selves today - make me proud to call you my students and don't make the Deputy Headmaster regret permitting me to bring in the guest. I know we'd all have enjoyed an excursion to Hogsmeade instead - I'm sorry that this was cancelled due to the recent attack, but Mr Panin-Sutherland and I have worked very hard to make this lesson a reality," Zoe said as she sat with her bottom rested against her teacher's desk and her two legs crossed over. This time the classroom had been set up much like something out of a Master Chef episode - with each table set up with various cooking utensils that would be required for today (and a few extra that wouldn't - just to make sure that the kids were paying attention).
"Please, can you all gather around this central table and pay very close attention to what Mr Panin-Sutherland says and does. Later we will break into groups with senior students as Head Chef with younger students to assist. Over to the side you'll see an arrangement of muggle branded ingredients as well as how much each would cost if you were to purchase them at what the muggles call 'supermarket' - here in the U.K. the three major supermarkets are Tesco, Sainsbury's and Aldi. There are some others, but as you'll see with each ingredient the price differs depending on which place a muggle decides to buy it from. Whilst we are waiting for our food to cook, we'll have further discussion on why this may occur."
Zoe paused for a moment and motioned for Askold to step forward. "Everyone, please welcome Mr. Panin-Sutherland, whom I'll be handing you over to for now. Thank you very much for coming in and teaching these wonderful students your craft," she said with a warm smile. "I will be here to assist, of course."
Askold Panin-Sutherland, a graduate of Koldovstoretz, someone who'd spent most of his life in Russia without even considering going abroad was now standing in the Muggle Studies classroom of Hogwarts, waiting to teach kids how to make pastries.
He'd gotten terribly unlucky - not even a week after he'd turned the Hogs Head Inn in a place where students could safely spend their time, a werewolf attack had happened and students were banned from visiting the village. It wasn't good for his business, but what concerned Askold more than his wallet was the morale of the kids themselves. The aurors had, in a sense, besieged the castle, trapping them all inside, leaving them without a chance to put their homework away for an evening and just have fun in the town. He felt bad for them.
Yet Askold wasn't someone to sit with his hands folded in his lap and sulk. He'd contacted the school and tried to get permission to set up shop on the school grounds. He was ready to arrange with all the other shopkeepers that he'd bring their wares too, alas, the Deputy Headmaster wasn't too keen on letting him trade. Instead, they reached a compromise -- Askold could come and bake on the spot as part of the Muggle Studies class.
Now he stood in the classroom, toying with the sleeves of his cream colored sweater and the pocket of his linen apron, as Professor Savage (He had to admit - this combination of words made him giggle.) explained to the class who this curly haired, unshaven man was and what the hell was he doing interrupting their class. She kept referring to him by his full last name, and an awkward blush crept to his cheeks -- this was all too formal for him.
Once Zoe had finished briefing the students, he made a hesitant step forward, clapping his hands once and rubbing his palms together in attempt to self-soothe as he tried to find the right words.
"Uh, hello all!" he began, his eyes trailing to Zoe for some encouragement, "You can call me Askold, no need for all the formalities."
He'd never taught a class.
"I come from Russia, and our cuisine is known world wide. Today I want to show you how to make piroshki. Before we begin, does anyone know what those are?"
Arielle had been really bummed ever since they put the restrictions on them going to Hogsmeade. And she didn't like how bad werewolves made things hard. But she was excited to learn that they'd be having a guest. Who from what she heard owned the Hog's Head Inn. So this was definitely going to make up for it, even if she was really bummed about not going to Hogsmeade.
She sat in the classroom, as she listened to Professor Savage talk about how it was important for them to behave and how they didn't want the Deputy Headmaster to regret even inviting him. And she knew she wouldn't be a problem.
The witch had turned her attention to him, and how he told them it was cool to call them Askold. She found it interesting that he came from Russia. And she then listened to how they would teach them how to make piroshki. And Ari had decided to chime in.
"Isn't it an pastry that is from Russia, Ukraine, and Belarus that is a fired bun, in which has a filling of some type in it. Which is generally a meat of some sort, but can also be a sweet filing." she said with an eyebrow raised hoping she got it right.
Damien was getting tired of all the werewolves attacks, because he knew this wouldn't change the view that people already had on werewolves. And he had thought of going to Hogsmeade as an escape. Which now was taken away, but he definitely was excited to learn they would be having a guest speaker. And if he was being honest the guy had been a looker.
He sat in the front of the class with his hands leaning on the desk where he listened to him speak. And how he mentioned that he came from Russia. Which he found interesting and when he brought up they would be teaching them how to make piroshki. And when his cousin mentioned what it was.
The Hufflepuff nodded even if he never had it, but of course Arielle knew everything. But he was looking forward to having some food.
Sam had to say, wandering into the classroom and laying eyes on the array of tools and foodstuffs, and then a stranger, it was a welcome change to the dull and dreary Hogwarts castle had become since the most recent attack. He took his place at one of the desks, picking up random tools and playing with them. An egg beater! He loved these. Spinning it, he revelled in the chaotic rattling noise. He put it back in it's place and picked up the next thing. This one he recognised, a wooden spoon. Sam swung it through the air like a sword and put it back. He reached for the next, but then changed his mind and placed his hands on the desk, drumming his fingers on the wood and staring around the room, itching to start the lesson.
Professor Savage answered his prayers, and he listened as she explained who the stranger was. A cook. Of course they were cooking, but Sam was looking forward to being head chef. Half of him already wanted to order the littlies to get it all wrong, but mostly he wanted to eat. He hadn't heard of piroshki before, but it sounded yummy. He grinned and leaned forward a bit, waiting for instruction.
Post by GRACE LONGBOTTOM on Jul 10, 2019 3:36:33 GMT
Taking a place next to Sam who was being wild and doing... something with all the baking tools, Grace twiddled with the hem of her skirt nervously as she listened to Professor Savage because baking? It was something she was good at, but she was petrified of actually doing whilst being watched and she didn't want to mess up. Especially in front of Askold, the handsome man she'd met that one time at the Hogs Head and had bought some absolutely lovely pastries off.
When Askold explained they'd be making piroshki, Grace's hands immediately dropped her skirt, and she started wringing her hands instead because the likelihood of her messing this up had just increased tenfold. She had no clue on how to make these piroshki's and even though Askold was providing them with a demonstration, it didn't mean she'd get it right the first time. Goodness, how could she be Head Chef and help guide the younger students if she couldn't make these herself?
With a deep breath, Grace spared a glance at Professor Savage, wondering if she could ask to be excused but... no. That wouldn't be right, would it? She'd be rude if she did that. It would be like she was being ungrateful for all the hard work Professor Savage had put into bringing Askold here. Keeping her mouth firmly shut, Grace focused her attention at the front once more and resigned herself to inwardly panicking for the rest of the lesson.
Post by VIOLA ROSALINE on Jul 14, 2019 13:09:28 GMT
Entering the Muggle Studies classroom, Vi was most definitely on a sugar high, practically skipping in with her arms spread wide as she greeted enthusiastically, "GOOD MORNING, PROFESSOR SAVAGE, AND... MAN I DON'T KNOW BUT I'M SURE IS STILL SUPER DUPER COOL!" With her outburst well and truly over, Vi wiggled her way towards the back of the classroom and into her seat with attentive eyes turned at the front, waiting to see what was happening. Of course, she didn't sit still. When did she ever? Almost immediately, she was reaching up to twirl strands of pale blonde hair around her little finger.
The man, Askold, brought himself to the front of the classroom to introduce himself and share what they were doing today. Vi nodded keenly because baking? What a magnificent time they were going to have today! Not that Vi was particularly great at baking or cooking or whatnot but eating? She was fabby dabby at that.
Arielle, a girl from her house, answered Askold's question and immediately, Vi's hand shot up as a follow-up. She wanted to know something very important. "Are we making a sweet... um, petr... pi.. thing today or a savoury thing?" she asked. Man, she hoped it was the former! Then another question struck her and with an excited twinkle in her eyes, she added on, "Do you speak any other languages than Russian, Askold? I've always wanted to learn another language but it's just never clicked!"
Most of the students seemed to be at least interested, if not outright ecstatic about Askold and his pastries being the subject of their lesson. He shot a smile to enthusiastic girl who'd greeted him and Zoe. "I'm sure you're super duper cool!" she had exclaimed, and Askold hoped he wouldn't disappoint the girl. He was a bit too young to be known as a old boring geezer, right?
Once he had asked his question and received a textbook-- cookbook perfect answer from @ari , he nodded in agreement. "Yes, they can have meat, or cabbage, or mushrooms, or eggs, or all together as a filling if you prefer savoury. Or you can put..." he got quiet, trying to find the right English word.
"Uh...What was it...Oh, right! Jam! You can put jam in it if you like sweet pastries." Askold added, pushing up his fake round glasses higher up his nose and rolling up the sleeves of his sweater. He was about to speak, when the same girl who'd called him cool had her arm raised up for a question.
"I think one team will make piroshki s1-", he stopped abruptly, "With. With meat, and the other will make with jam."
This girl was full of questions.
"I only know Russian and English, sadly. I did want to learn Norwegian, but never found the time." he answered and took a rolling pin in his hands. For a few moments his brown eyes traveled over the class, assessing the situation. One particular face attracted his attention.
A girl he had met a few weeks ago, when she and a few others had responded to Askold's flier about free food and tea at the Hogs Head. He searched the depths of his mind for her name as he took a good look at her. She looked a bit...lost. Uncomfortable? She was wringing her hands as if waiting for bad news. The baker felt a pang of sadness in his heart and he wanted to drop the class and sit down for a mug of tea with GRACE LONGBOTTOM , but he had a whole class of kids to tend to, so he couldn't play favorites outright...But what if...
"Grace, it's good to see you again. I'd like you to be my assistant for the first part of this lesson." with a reassuring smile he extended his hand towards her, motioning for her to come closer.
"I and Grace will make a batch of meat & mushroom piroshki to demonstrate how it is done. We will first start by making dough starters for the whole class, as yeast dough takes some time to grow. Feel free to ask questions."
He proceeded to combine yeast, sugar and warm water in three mugs before setting them aside, and showing the kids how to prepare the rest of the yeast dough.
"The dough is ready to rest when it doesn't stick to your hands in big chunks when you pick it up. Now, that needs to sit for an hour. I wasn't sure how much time we have, so I brought with me several pieces of ready dough." he explained, as he took a pale yellow chunk of dough that had been wrapped in plastic sheet from underneath the table.
"Now, we shall make the filling. Grace, could you be so kind and cut the mushrooms? I'll take care of cutting the onions. Could someone open the window so we don't all start crying here?"
Post by GRACE LONGBOTTOM on Jul 16, 2019 9:01:51 GMT
All the fillings that Askold listed had Grace on edge yet again because Merlin, so many different components to this one dish, so many ways to accidentally ruin it. What if the meat wasn't cooked thoroughly enough? What if the pastry for the piroshki split whilst baking? All these worries ran through Grace's mind at a million miles an hour, and on top of the anxious wringing of her hands, Grace's teeth caught her bottom lip, chewing.
Too caught up in the depths of her own mind, Grace didn't notice Askold's thoughtful gaze lingering on her. Perhaps if she did then she wouldn't have jumped like a startled rabbit when the older man's voice cut through her reverie, calling her name and... asking her to be his assistant?
Grace looked up, meeting Askold's deep brown eyes framed by round glasses. They were kind, gentle, and less frantically crazed than when she'd seen him last. It was his eyes, more than his outstretched hand, that propelled her forward. For some reason, she trusted him to guide her and make sure she wasn't going to make a complete mess of assisting him. "Yes, sir - um, Askold. Yes, Askold," she said, moving beside him.
Standing in front of the class was enough to make Grace's insides feel all squirmy yet again, but having Askold beside her helped. Watching him combine all the ingredients provided her with a useful distraction, and quietly, she asked, "Excuse me, I... how long have you been a baker for? You seem... quite, um... quite good at it... which would make sense with all your pastries and sweets at the Hogs Head opening."
Then Askold was instructing her to cut the mushrooms and placing the onto the cutting board, Grace took the knife close by and started slicing them thinly. This was something she could do, despite the fact that her mum was still hesitant to let her handle a knife. She was always worried that since Grace was clumsy, she'd accidentally cut herself open. Grace was determined to prove her mum wrong in that way, and she focused all her attention on what she was doing until the mushrooms were cut. "What next?" she asked softly.
Zoe could tell that Askold was a bit nervous; everyone typically was when they were faced with a bunch of kids for the first time. They were intimidating in their own way … those bright little judgey faces expecting you to shove information in their tiny brains like it was a simple case of inputting data into a computer. If only.
Little Miss Rosaline bounded into the classroom like the ray of sunshine she was and Zoe grinned, "good day, Viola! Try not to scare our guest before he's shown us how to cook, hey?" Zoe chuckled warmly and turned her attention back to the other students in the class. She watched as young Sam Caverly looked over the various cooking instruments and fiddled with them. There was no harm in that and he wasn't disturbing the class, so she let her light blue eyes scan over the other students. She gave young Arielle an encouraging nod when she answered correctly, "wow Arielle, you're a clever-clogs! Five points to Ravenclaw."
Next came Askold asking nervous Miss Longbottom up to help him with the pastry making and Zoe gave Grace an encouraging thumbs-up. "Ten points to Grace for her excellent sous-chef skills," Zoe said happily as she pushed herself from her desk and took a casual walk around the classroom towards the window. There was a bookshelf in the way, so she had to bend over to undo the latch and then she pushed it open. "Opened the window - if it's alright with you Askold, while you guys prepare the filling for the savoury piroshki? sorry I hope I said that right..." Zoe smiled uncomfortably, though she was the type of teacher that liked to show her students that she was not infallible so she didn't really sweat the mistakes much.
"So Askold, are these pastries something people from Russia eat for breakfast? or as a snack? The meat one reminds me of the sausage rolls... they make good party snacks," Zoe wanted to stimulate a little extra discussion in the classroom after all. "Are these pastries available at the Hogs Head? Can you use the pastry part to make other kinds of food or is it only used for piroshki fillings?" There … that would hopefully help stimulate the conversation.
Ari had been really excited to cook and watched when Grace Longbottom had went up and helped Askold. She had been looking forward to tryng it and when Professor Savage had given her house points, the girl let out a small smile and she had hoped that she wasn't just a show off, even if she knew that she was extremely smart. And she listened as Professor Savage had asked Askold some questions, and she decided to ask, "So is the Hog's Head now an Russian pastry place?" she asked hoping that she wasn't too much.
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 Aug 9, 2019 8:33:46 GMT
In theory, Lyuba knew how to make pirozhki. She'd seen it done many times, and had cut quite a few mushrooms in the same way Grace Longbottom was doing at that moment. In fact, she'd probably be doing it again over the winter break, chopping up fillings and brushing egg onto the dough. But she knew that, if left to her own devices, she'd probably burn down the kitchen trying to make the pastries. Luckily, she had never burned food that badly, but that was only because she didn't usually use the oven. She wasn't a pyromaniac, she just--always seemed to end up with fire where it wasn't supposed to be.
But all that was forgotten when she finally knew the answer to something a professor asked right away--even if the question had actually been asked of their guest. "They make great snacks!" she said, already speaking as she raised her hand. "Or you can make really big ones and eat them as a whole meal." She hoped they'd get to eat their work when they were finished. Maybe today would be the day when she'd finally become a success in the kitchen. A few of her classmates were fairly good at baking, she knew. If she could be in a group with them, she'd probably be fine. While Askold and Grace worked, Lyuba glanced around the room, hoping they would be able to pick out their own groups when they got to cook on their own.
Reginald’s nose wrinkled. Ever since the first day he entered Muggle Studies, it turned out to be one big disappointment. He’d signed up because elf Henry told him his mother used to teach this class during the short time she was a Professor. But either his mother had a very different program or she wasn’t as great as he imagined her. Henry always spoke of her and her brother with praise. They ranked high when the dark lord ruled. Sadly due to the Ministry’s awful actions, Regi never really got to know them. His uncle was still alive but locked in Azkaban, he was unable to contact him.
This class was different from what he imagined it to be. With the current professor he easily would believe it was muggle propaganda. She was a beautiful woman but the fact that she was a spawn of the evil kind of human made her way less appealing.
His eyebrow arched when a man stood in their class. Did the muggle-spawn bring in her man? Whatever. The two were definitely shagging, a blind person could tell. The two were basically undressing each other with their eyes. Regi wouldn’t be surprised if they started making out infront of them all. Strangely enough that’d be the most informative Muggle studies class yet.
When it was announced they’d be cooking, the Gryffindor rolled his eyes. Did they look like bloody elves? He had Henry for these kinds of things. Of course they managed to make cooking even worse by removing the magic. Reginald refused to do peasant work. He crossed his arms and glared in protest. “I once was told we’d go to school to learn stuff which would help us in our adult lives. I don’t see any purpose in this,” he grumbled to himself. The food didn’t even look pretty. That was probably the worst of all.
