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!
Deep inhale! He closed his eyes. His fingers pressed one string after another as he drew the bow back and forth. It felt as normal as breathing. His mum had always said that he could play the violin before he could talk properly. It was the first instrument he has ever played, and now the movements across the strings were almost instinctive. The song that filled the empty classroom in the dungeons was a calm but sad one. Not that it reflected his mood per se, but it was one of his favourites.
Slytherins were used to him finding an empty room, closing the door and practicing his music. They were also used to hearing him as they walked down the corridor to their common room. Never has he been disturbed other than one time where a professor had to kick him out, because she needed to use the classroom.
Maybe, most of the Slytherin students saw it as a part of their everyday that their corridor was filled with gentle music. It was not something extraordinary nor was it special in their opinion. It felt almost too quiet, when he wasn’t practicing. Then you could actually hear the dripping in the deeper parts of the dungeons.
Just like every other day, Mark did not expect to get disturbed today.
Post by VIOLA ROSALINE on Jul 5, 2019 13:58:38 GMT
Despite the fact that it was raining outside and there was a chill deep inside the stony castle, Vi still fully believed that it was a beautiful day. There was a lot to do inside like paint and write and play her guitar, the latter of which she planned to do as soon as she found an empty classroom which hopefully would be at any moment now. She wanted to find somewhere quiet to play, somewhere she wouldn't buggity bug her roomies.
Turning the corner into the dungeon with her guitar tucked under her arm, Vi paused for a moment as the sound of music floated to her ears. There weren't any words, but the way it made her feel... it pulled at her heartstrings, drew her in. It felt like there was a meaning behind it, something Vi found vital to make a song special to her.
Before she truly knew it, Vi's feet started moving once more, heading towards the source of the... violin? It sounded like a violin. Her hand poised on the doorknob, Vi pushed it open with a loud creak, stepping inside only to find herself face to face with Marky Mark Grimstone. "Hiya!" she said brightly, not an ounce of shyness in her body as she took a few steps forward again. "I just wanted to let you know... I think you're an absolutely super duper spectacular musician! I haven't heard anyone that good for... well, for a long time."
The door opened, and Mark stopped playing. Without turning around he sighed deeply, getting mentally ready to announce that this room was occupied. He should have known better that it was someone else than one of his housemates. As mentioned earlier, they rarely disturbed him. However, if someone should, it would definitely be her. He did not know that it was Viola who had entered before he turned around, but he should have guessed it. How typical! Why did he keep on bumping into her?
Yet, at her compliment, Mark had absolutely no idea what to say. After all, he had prepared himself for telling her to leave, but there was no way he would do that after she had spoken so nicely to him. After all, he was raised with good manners and was a very well-behaved boy.
“Thank you.” He said robotically and let his hand that held the bow drop to the side as he removed the violin from underneath his chin. “You play as well?” Mark asked as he now pointed at the guitar with the bow. “Let’s hear!”
What the bloody hell was he doing? He was supposed to get rid of her, not introducing her to a jam session. This was not a garage band! Nevertheless, Mark was too curious to let her go this minute. He had never imagined that Viola Rosaline had one musical bone in her body, and now she was about to prove him wrong.
The music halted as soon as Vi opened the door, announcing her presence to Mark, and there was a moment of disappointment that the girl felt. But then... she'd been the one to interrupt him, so it was kinda sorta logical that he'd stop playing, right? Right. Gosh, of course. She could be so silly sometimes. Despite being a Ravenclaw, thinking wasn't exactly Vi's forte.
When Mark opened his mouth to reply to her, Vi was expecting him to very much be the grumpy bum he always was around her. But instead, he thanked her, then asked if she played the guitar she was holding. "Well, I wouldn't be holding it just for fun," she teased with a giggle as she moved forward, sliding her bottom onto a desk opposite Mark and grinning up at him. "I've been playing since I was an itty bitty tyke. Writing music, too. How long have you and your fabby dabby hands been playing the violin? ... Gosh, that sounds like my name, almost! Just take away the 'n' and change the 'i' for the 'a' and you're golden."
With that said, Vi balanced the body of the guitar on her thigh, before moving her fingers into position and letting out a deep breath. She was never normally so nervous when performing, but he seemed like quite the harsh critic. She gave herself to the count of '3' and then she started playing one of the songs she'd written years ago, fingers strumming at the chords and her voice joining in moments later. It was, like he had played, a sad song, and her voice was light and airy yet full of meaning behind each word.
”I would never know what you were up to… Maybe that guitar was stolen or something.” Mark explained as Viola mentioned that she would not be carrying the instrument if she didn’t play it.
A hint of irritation sparked inside of him as he realized that he had something in common with her. Mark did not write his own songs though, but he had been playing the violin for a long time as well. It was strange to have something to talk about with Viola, and the feeling was uncomfortable and very unfamiliar. He had at least hoped that the two would sneer at each other rather than getting along – so far.
“I started playing when I was four.” He said, “My mum used to say that I played better than I talked.” It was not hard to imagine though, since Mark rarely talked anyway.
When she started playing, it was horrible to conclude that she was a good singer as well. Maybe there was some hope for Viola after all? She no longer seemed like a mindless ball of joy. There was some depth to her. Her voice was special, and he really liked the sound of it. It made him listen to her words more carefully. Once she finished, he nodded. It was a way of him telling her that she was good.
Post by VIOLA ROSALINE on Jul 6, 2019 11:02:50 GMT
"Stolen? Do I look like a cheeky weeky thief to you?" Vi said with a laugh, not offended in the slightest. He was so serious and straight-laced but she loved it. It was fun to play around and toy with - in the nicest way possible, that was. A mischievous glint light up her eyes. "Wait, wait, wait. Is this your way of telling me you stole that guitar, Mark Mark? Might need to report that to Azkaban. You could go live with all the other naughty boys and girls." She was only kidding, of course, but golly it amused her more than anything.
"Four... hooly dooly, that's about the same age as I was!" Vi enthused, nodding enthusiastically. "Did you want to play the viol-in or was it your mum's idea?" She couldn't help but be chuffed a little at her own joke, grinning at him brightly, as if she was inviting him to share the humour with her. Knowing him, it was unlikely but she had to try. She was determined to win a smile out of him one of these days.
"I'll tell you what mine was about if you tell me what yours was," Vi said with a cheeky wink, although she didn't wait for him to answer the question first. "Growing up, I was bullied like... a lot. Still kinda am. But the, uh... meanie weenies, they didn't like that I was different. Having two mums as well... I guess that meant they thought they were super duper cool to pick on me about that." It wasn't something she spoke about an awful lot because feeling sad wasn't exactly Vi's thing. She preferred to focus on the positive and stay upbeat. "So, yours?"
”I don’t know you very well, so you might as well be a thief!” He narrowed his eyes, not minding the slightest to be very straight forward with her. “And me? A thief? Well, if I only could go to Azkaban for a day it would be OK. I find dementors very fascinating…”
He frowned. Did they still have dementors at Azkaban? The boy wondered. He remembered his parents telling him about the creatures, and the boy had been fascinated by them ever since. Well, much like everything else that had to do with dark arts, mysteries, death and pain. Not that it was something he liked to cause others… On the other hand, it would be fun to practice some spells on a person like Viola… But all in all, he liked to read about it and get caught up in his own little dreamworld.
Mark noticed the small joke Viola had made about the violin. Really? Girl, you can do better than that. It was as if she was thrown off her game. He placed the violin back into its case and closed it, assuming that he was done playing for now.
“My parents thought it was a good idea if I learned an instrument. I don’t think any four year old would pick up a violin, if he could go outside and pull wings off butterflies and legs off spiders.” Mark smirked. “What about you? Why did you start playing?”
Why did you have to ask that question, Mark? Now she will never leave. Nevertheless, as Viola told him what her piece was about, he actually listened – for once. It was not gibberish as some much else she usually said, and it was rather heavy stuff. Having two mums would be enough to make his parents wrinkle their noses, but Mark could not care less. However, he knew very well about how it felt to be bullied. He has never imagined Viola being a victim to that though. He even happened to feel sorry for her.
“What bloody morons! They were probably tired of wanking it off in their filthy common rooms, so they were looking for something else to do, and then stumbled upon you.” He turned to look at Viola after he had packed the violin away. “My piece was nothing personal. I just like that song, and it reminds me of winter.” Mark shrugged.
Post by VIOLA ROSALINE on Jul 7, 2019 10:25:42 GMT
"Well, maybe that just means you should get to know me instead! Then you'd know I'm no thiefy wiefy woo!" Vi declared, that bright grin of hers returning. A raise of her brows accompanied it a moment later however as Markity Mark started talking about Azkaban and not minding going for a visit and finding dementors fascinating. Not the word she'd use to ever describe them! They were all... gah, spooky wooky and she wouldn't want to encounter them.
"They don't have dementors at Azkaban any more, y'know? They have Aurors now and ohmygosh, speaking of which. I'm bummed out that we can't go to Hogsmeade anymore because there was this cutie patootie Auror with dark hair and pretty brown eyes like muddy puddles. You would have adored him." She wasn't sure how Mark felt in regards to men, but this man transcended sexuality! He'd totes make any person go weak in the wibbly wobbly knees.
If he could go outside and pull wings off butterflies and legs off spiders. The look Vi rewarded Mark with after that charming statement practically screamed, 'whaaaat the heckeroni?' because did boys do that? "Ed and Ezra never did that when they were itty bitty tykes... those poor lil' insects," Vi said, grimacing. Then Mark was asking why she started playing and Vi tapped her chin in thought for a moment, pondering over his question before the memory clicked. "I was five years old and about yay high and I asked my mum if I could play a guitar like the girly wirly at the pub so they got me a teacher. But I've been all sing-songy since I was little."
The indignation that escaped Mark's mouth on Vi's behalf was enough to surprise the Ravenclaw girl, and she nodded enthusiastically. "I know, right? Although I don't know about the hanky panky... wanky sorta business, but y'know," Vi said brightly. "Do you write your own songs sometimes?"
”Oh, that is tempting!” Mark replied sarcastically when viola said that he should just get to know her to discover that she was not a thief. “Although I am afraid of catching whatever it is your have…” He pointed a long finger at her, moving it up and down.
Mark challenged himself to listen to Viola without flinching each time she played with words. Half of the time, he needed to listen carefully in order to understand what she was saying. Now she was blabbing about some old man she fancied. That was absolutely disgusting. They just had an attack at Hogsmeade, and all she worried about was not seeing some handsome auror anymore.
“That’s disgusting, Rosaline. You can fangirl all you want over mister muddy puddles brown eyes, but I prefer people my own age.” The fact that she even assumed that he would have liked this auror was absurd.
The boy shrugged when she mentioned two (he assumed it was her brothers) who did not pull limbs off insects. He also just nodded without a reply after Viola had told him how she started playing.
“No, I don’t write my own songs. I don’t know how you can find the time to do that… Don’t you study?” Mark surely had his day packed with homework.
Post by VIOLA ROSALINE on Jul 7, 2019 11:37:50 GMT
The sarcasm that escaped Mark's mouth went soaring over Vi's head... that, or she just didn't particularly care. Instead, she nodded at him like this was the bestest idea ever in the whole wide world. "Afraid of catching awesomeness?" she joked, giving a little shimmy as his finger traced the air. "I can totally see why."
'That's disgusting,' had Vi letting out an amused laugh because, well, it wasn't like she was planning on stripping nudie rudie and smooching said man, right? 'Sides, she couldn't even see Mr. Muddy Puddles. The tragedy that had struck Hogsmeade... the one that made her way too sad to dwell on it... well. Shaking it off, Vi rested her guitar on the table before drawing her legs up onto the table, crossing them and resting her elbow on her thigh. Then she cupped her chin, giving him her best expression of innocence. "So who do you prefer, Marky Mark? Any lil' puddin' pop you've planted a great big kiss on lately?"
'Don't you study?' had Vi pause for a moment because truthfully? No. "I don't concentrate super duper well when it comes to studying. I always get distracted," she told him, honest as ever. Was their any use in lying to him? No. "But music and painting always manage to get me sit and concentrating and get those squinty, uh, quinty eyes. Do you study?"
Mark let out a small snort as a smug smirk formed on his lips, when viola stated that the only thing he could catch from her was awesomeness. Yes, and the ability to speak. He added in his head as a mental ghost of his mother waved her fist at him, warning him not to forget his manners. She was like a devil on his shoulders whenever he tried to go with this flow and wanted to speak what was on his mind. She was always there.
When Viola asked for his preference in people and who he has kissed lately, Mark rolled his dark eyes and tugged a lock of his slightly long hair behind his ear.
“Oh yeah, didn’t you see all the broken hearts shattered on the dungeon floor on your way here? They belong to all my “puddin’ pop” conquests.” He said sarcastically. “I prefer people who are worth my attention. And what about you, little miss sunshine? Who do you prefer?” He made an annoyed click with his tongue. “Don’t tell me it’s me… Is this why you are here?” With that sentence, the spirit of his mum disappeared from his shoulder – clearly defeated.
So, she had ADD! Well, that was what Mark concluded when Viola told him that she had a difficult time concentrating. Apparently, the only thing that could make the girl sit down and do something was music. Well, this was quite fair as long as she didn’t force her slacking behavior on him.
“Of course, I study!” He said as if he had just been insulted. “I am here to learn, after all. Drooling over aurors comes second in line…” He paused for a moment. “No, scratch that, it comes completely last in line.”
Post by VIOLA ROSALINE on Jul 10, 2019 13:42:59 GMT
"You sound like a cutie patootie piggly wig," Vi teased as soon as the sound of Mark snorting reached her ears. Absolutely adorbs. It made her want to bop his lil' button nose, but she had a feeling he wouldn't like that very much. Maybe it was the fact that she got the vibe he didn't like her a whole lot in general, given the way he had been speaking to her and all.
All the broken hearts made Vi light up with glee because he was totally playing along with her. "I bet you're a real good kisser, right? You kiss the girls and boys and make them cry," she joked. But then all of a sudden he asked what she preferred, and if she was here to kiss him, and Vi laughed, loud and tinkling. "I only kiss people who want to be kissed by me. I don't think you're up for that, are you?" She'd be down diddy down if he was though. He was pretty cute with his long, dark locks and eyes as deep as tide pools.
"Yes, yes. Of course. I bet you study real hard," Vi said, waving off any offense she may have caused the Slytherin boy before tapping her chin in thought because drooling over aurors? The last in line? That couldn't possibly be. "Then who do you drool over, Mark?"
By Merlin’s lice-infected beard, she did it again. Why did she have to use that kind of phrasing all the time? Cutie patootie piggy wig. What – he – hell? Mark sat down on top of one of the tables letting his long legs hang over the edge with the tips of his toes barely touching the floor. He studied Viola very intensely. How could she walk around and be so carefree all the time? It was like she did not think the slightest about what other people thought of her. It was strange to witness and bloody annoying as well. It was as if she was floating somewhere high up on a pink cloud, and Mark could not catch her to pull her back down to earth again. He also feared that if he ever did, she would drag him up with her. And suddenly, she poked his nose.
“What would you say if I started to poke your nose like that?” He almost barked back after having waved her finger away like it was an annoying fly.
He then poked her nose right back – several times.
“Oh yeah, when I am not studying, my lips are attached to another person.” He replied sarcastically with a roll of his dark eyes as Viola concluded that after he has kissed with people, he left them crying. “I am a real Don Juan and a heartbreaker!” He arched an eyebrow.
Mark blinked a couple of times, narrowing his eyes as he tilted his head trying to figure out whether Viola made fun or not. She actually sounded like she would not mind kissing him. He knew that she would never go that far with a person. Behind that carefree mask, there must be a little virgin girl scared of moving forward and scared of too much intimacy. He could not believe that Viola would ever kiss a random person, if that person wanted to kiss her.
“Are you seriously indicating that you want to kiss me, Rosaline?” He asked her – still with narrowed eyes. “Well, the idea would be much rather appealing if you wiped away that lipstick of yours.”
Mark rolled his eyes when she continued to wanting to know who he drooled over. Alright, he would say it then.
“No one!” He replied firmly. “There is absolutely no one.”
Post by VIOLA ROSALINE on Jul 11, 2019 12:12:07 GMT
Mark's reaction to her poking his nose immediately had Vi giggling, but it wasn't until he physically starting poking her nose over and over like a kid with a little teddy bear that she actually bent forward and clutched at her stomach, her fit of giggles feeling like they were never ending. Merlin, why was that so funny? But then finally, they started subsiding and she beamed up at him like he was the light at the end of the rainbow. "I'd say you're adorbs when you're angry and you can poke me any time," she declared, wiping away some tears that had pooled in the corners of her eyes.
"Well, everyone has to take a break some times. Do your little honey bunnies bounce their way into your the coldy... woldy boys dormitories?" Vi asked, not detecting his tone of sarcasm again. She really was quite impervious to it! Perhaps it was years of growing up with two smart-mouthed little brothers. She'd just become immune. With an impish grin at his next, Vi informed Mark matter-of-factly, "No, no. You're not Don Juan. You're Mark Grimstone: Heartbreaker Extraordinaire! You're your own person, get it right."
"Are you indicating that you'd want to kiss me, Mark?" Vi shot back with a little wink, then she rolled her eyes at his suggestion of nixing her lipstick. Pulling a tissue from her pocket, Vi gave her lips a wipe over, until there was no more lipstick that came off. It was a shame because that particular shade of inkity pinkity (the actual name of the lipstick, she swore!) made her look super duper.
Then she slid her bottom off the table she had been sitting at, sidling over to Mark with a wiggle of her eyebrows. If he rejected her, then oh well! She had plenty of other people she could get a good smooch out of. Besides, what was the harm in trying. Shooting him a cheeky smile, she asked him in the chirpiest tone of voice known to mankind, "You ready to pucker up, buttercup?"
”Careful! Or I might end up poking too hard. It can give you nosebleed.” He arched a dark eyebrow when Viola assured him that he could poke her any time.
What was up with his girl? It was as if nothing could get her down or at least surprise her a little. Maybe disgust her or make her feel the need to pull back a little. It was like she had no boundaries. And as she elegantly jumped over each and single one of Mark’s, he could not trespass any of hers – no matter how hard he tried. Poking back her nose, sarcasm… And now, if she was really up to her dare, she would end up having him kiss her. However, concerning this, Mark was certain that Viola was just talks and no action. He was sure she would back down in the end.
“Oh yes, I keep them all warm under one blanket. We tend to make a puddle of people just laying there in each other’s sweats.” He replied sarcastically once again, although finally understanding that sarcasm did not work on her.
Viola wiped off her lipstick before jumping down from the table. She came so close to him that he had to lean backwards as far as his abs could possibly keep that posture. His face did not look like one that was ready for a kiss, and his eyebrows went all the way up to underneath his raven black hair.
“You wouldn’t dare, Rosaline.” He hissed as a smirk formed on his face despite doubting his words for a second – she stood very close.
Deep inhale! He closed his eyes. His fingers pressed one string after another as he drew the bow back and forth. It felt as normal as breathing. His mum had always said that he could play the violin before he could talk properly. It was the first instrument he has ever played, and now the movements across the strings were almost instinctive. The song that filled the empty classroom in the dungeons was a calm but sad one. Not that it reflected his mood per se, but it was one of his favourites.
