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!
Hogsmeade weekends were always something Grace enjoyed... or at least she did usually when she had friends by her side. But today, her friends were suspiciously absent, and so Grace sat at a tiny table in The Three Broomsticks all by herself, occasionally sipping a cup of chai tea she'd ordered a good twenty minutes ago.
Glancing around the bar with the teacup poised to her lips for another sip, Grace's blue eyes searched the packed and busy room for anyone to wave over, but to no avail. She had just been about to place her cup back down and contemplate her next move when suddenly, what felt like a giant collided with her chair, jostling her entire body forward and in the process, almost the entire remainder of her tea spilled across the table and down the front of her dress.
Oh no, this was not good. It was not good at all. Merlin, she was going to get yelled at by a waiter or someone for making a mess. "Oh dear," Grace muttered to herself, worrying her bottom lip as she pulled her wand out of her pocket. Pointing her wand towards the mess, Grace was just about to cast 'scourgify' when she felt, more than heard, someone in front of her.
Wind tussled the metamorphmagus' hair playfully as Teddy walked through the crowded streets of Hogsmeade. It was a bustle that Teddy knew all too well what that meant; all the little students from Hogwarts were enjoying their relative freedom today. He smiled warmly as a couple of baby third years toddled past him, but a shop keep called them quickly with a fearful fussing. Teddy sighed heavily and continued his walk towards what had been his favourite haunt as a student: The Three Broomsticks.
Inside, Teddy managed to scrape together enough money to pass to the bartender for a delicious butterbeer. He was just about to raise the glass to his lips when a flash of blonde caught his eye. It was Grace! Teddy's smile spread from ear to ear and he sneaked his way to the back of her. Playfully he'd bumped into her and before she could catch him out, Teddy had walked super casually around to the other side of the table. Oops! he hadn't meant for her to spill her drink... he'd offer to replace it but he hadn't the money for that!
"Grace! Here, let me help you," Teddy said as he quickly pulled his wand out to perform the scourgify charm. "Just so you know... it usually helps to put the cup to your lips when you try to drink," he teased with a warm grin. "Would you mind some company? I could demonstrate how one drinks without spilling liquid all over yourself?"
Before Grace could even mutter the words 'scourgify,' Teddy appeared in front of her and immediately, Grace was standing to give her old friend a cuddle, wrapping her arms around his middle before moving back.
"Oh Teddy, I've been meaning to owl you and ask how you are..." she said, glancing up at him with sincere eyes. It felt like every week, the state of werewolves was splashed across the front page of the Daily Prophet with a mocking title in great big, bold letters. It was awful, and it made her worry about the well-being of her friend. He didn't deserve this, a lot of werewolves didn't.
Sitting back in her chair, Grace tucked some of her blonde hair behind her ear before letting out a small laugh. "I can't believe you... you saw me spill my tea, how embarrassing," she said, cheeks tinged red. "I'd love for you to sit down and join me though... you can tell me about... er... your, uh... things you're doing?" Asking him directly to tell her about his life was probably a bit personal or depressing or something.
Wrapped in one of the best hugs, Teddy's grin was from ear to ear as he eagerly returned the embrace. Grace was such a breath of fresh, happy (if not a little nervous) air that the werewolf's troubles were gone in those brief few seconds. "Oh don't be sorry Gracie, you're at the business end of school now! I bet you're nose deep in the books almost 24/7," he said cheerfully and let her go sit down again. He too took a seat and within moments a waitress appeared with a fresh pot of tea and a cup.
"I've seen you do worse," he said with an indulgent chuckle. "I did grow up with you, remember?" being those few years older, he remembered little Gracie more than she could've thought. "Would it help if I spilt my tea too?" Teddy laughed as he steeped his tea expertly.
"How have you been? Things have been getting a bit … tougher, for sure. With the kids no longer at Hogwarts, we have to keep them away from Muggles as much as possible... so we're living a bit of a gypsy lifestyle," he tried to think of the best way to describe the camp they'd made in the Cotswolds wilderness. "I worry though; it's just a temporary thing... if the Ministry keeps this up there's going to be a generation of werewolves unable to do more than the most basic of spells."
The business end of school was enough to make Grace want to cry because... she didn't want to be studying for her NEWTs. Everything was so overwhelming and she didn't feel ready. She felt like she was about to burst with nerves everyday. "Teddy..." Grace started apprehensively, biting her lip. "How, um... when you finished school, did you have an idea of what you wanted to do?" Before everything went topsy turvy in the wizarding world, that was. "Were you worried about not getting good enough NEWTs?"
Teddy mentioned he'd seen her do worse made Grace's cheeks go even redder. Merlin, she'd believe it. The amount of times she fell down the stairs at The Burrow when she was little, or got caught talking to her salamander Rafael like he was a human was a tad embarrassing. Then there was her crush on him... which she'd thankfully outgrown! Laughing as Teddy offered to spill his tea, Grace shook her head. "I don't think you'd want a lap of hot drink, Teddy! You might damage your wand," Grace joked, grinning. "I don't want Scarlett to get cranky at me for that - not that, she... I'm sure she wouldn't. I know she's a Slytherin, but she's lovely. Not to say that Slytherins can't be, I just I don't... that's... you twoaresocute."
Teddy's question made Grace pause for a second, unsure. "I'm... I'm okay. Just worried a-about things. Lots of... things," she admitted, letting her smile drop for a moment. The dropped smile quickly turned into a frown however as Teddy mentioned having to keep the younger werewolves safe, and his concerns for the future. "I... it's not fair. That they have this gift of magic that they can't even learn to use properly... can you, um... do you have other people in your pack? Who can be like Professors and teach them some of the basics?"
Teddy's bright blue eyes softened as he saw how worried his little friend was; his brows raised gently in concern and he leaned forward as she began to ask him something. The question she finally asked... he hoped she didn't notice that pain flashed across his unfortunately rather expressive features. He reached a hand up to his chin to rub thoughtfully for a moment before he smiled. "I think I definitely wanted to become an auror like my mum, and Harry," Teddy said, "they told me that mum had struggled a bit with her clumsiness... but she finally got to qualify. All I had to do was hope that I didn't have to take the tests leading up to the full moon- I find my magic gets a bit unpredictable then," Teddy said with a wrinkled nose. He had supposed that had to do with the fact that werewolves were moody as heck as the moon became full each month.
"Yes... I don't think my 'wand' would react very well to hot liquid now I think of it," Teddy laughed easily, shaking his head. He almost snorted his tea though when she mentioned that Scarlett might get upset about hurting his 'wand', and he coughed as he placed the drink on the table. "I... don't worry, I'm pretty sure that Scarlett adores you, plus let's face it she's hot when she's cranky," Teddy's grin was wide and he wriggled his brows at the thought of Scarlett telling him off. She had buttons that he enjoyed pressing just to watch the show.
"Tell me about what's bothering you Gracie?" Teddy pressed, reaching his hand across the table to offer it in comfort. "I don't know if I will be much help, but I can definitely offer a listening ear," he said and as he spoke, his left ear grew much, much larger. In fact, within seconds the entirety of the left side of his head had grown to be one giant ear. Roo did not take any inspiration from the Aladdin movie - the similarities are merely coincidental.
"I teach the kiddies what I can; charms and defensive skills are pretty easy outside the classroom. Diana, our camp cook, takes the kids on gathering trips but a lot of the ingredients aren't all that easy to find in the Cotswolds wilderness. Occasionally I get supplies thanks to our alpha, but it's not the same as the stores available to the kids in potions class. I think a couple of us have text books the kids can learn from... but it's not the same as having a professor there to steer your learning," Teddy replied. "You... you don't know how precious teachers are until you have to teach kids yourself."
The expression that flashed across Teddy's face was unmissable to Grace and immediately, she felt awful. Was that question too... it was insensitive, given the currently circumstances and political climate of the wizarding world. "I'm sorry," she said softly, voice almost a whisper. Without having a moment to think it through, Grace reached out, her hand reaching to settle over Teddy's forearm. Then Teddy was talking about how he had wanted to become an auror and Grace nodded, taking it in. It must have been difficult, having wanted to be an auror, the very group of people currently helping the ministry solve their 'werewolf problem.' "Is your magic... does it just go all crazy and stuff? Sometimes I get that... and I don't think it's cause... I don't know why I do. What - I mean, if you don't mind sharing, what else effects you during the full moon?" She was certainly curious, given as werewolves may be a creature she may end up working with if she got good enough NEWTs to qualify for the healing program. "Especially not if it's already temperamental," Grace said, nodding with a little hum. "You might have issues with using it then and that'd be a shame, wouldn't it?" As much trouble as she had with her wand, she knew that she'd probably be lost without it. She'd hate for hers to ever get damaged. She's 'hot when she's cranky' was enough to make Grace's cheeks turn a little pink because, well, Scarlett was attractive all the time... not just when she was cranky, and it felt... it made her tummy feel a little funny, admitting that even if it was just to herself. It definitely was a bit of a different feeling than she had when she was telling a friend that they were pretty. "Scarlett... Scarlett's lovely. She's like... she's super... she has great hair and she always dresses really nice like she isn't even just a teenager like the rest of us and she's... you're... I don't know who the lucky one is. Both of you. You're both lucky to have each other really."
This time, Teddy was offering her a hand to comfort her and after a second of hesitation, Grace took it. It was warm and comforting and... well, it was kind of like her dad's in a way. It felt safe... in comparison to his ear that was swelling up as big as an elephant's, causing Grace to crack just the smallest of smiles before turning nervous once more. "I guess... well, I guess I'm nervous about a lot of things. A... about being a prefect again, because people never listen to me when I use my cranky voice, and about school because I'm not doing so well on the... the practical side of things. Then I..." Pausing, Grace wasn't quite sure what to do. Could she... was Teddy going to laugh at her if she dared to mention what had happened with Aiden at the lake? Right before the start of school? His eyes said no, when she glanced into them, and that's why she instantaneously started babbling, "And... and I really, really like someone. A lot. But I think... I think he got the wrong idea when I was talking to him about some things and now he probably thinks I'm a total... total floozy - oh, by Merlin, that word... what an awful word... and... and I didn't mean the thing he thought I meant and now he's going to think I'm even stupider than he already does and... and he says that boys don't even talk to each other about girl's and make fun of them but what if he tells another boy that he thought I wanted to... when I didn't. Cause... cause I've never... and... Merlin, I'm making no sense, am I? I'm sorry. Just... goodness. Please don't... sorry."
As the explanation of how the Cotswolds got by came from Teddy's lips, Grace nodded. It sounded beyond difficult, to live like that, but she was glad that these poor kids had someone to try and teach them what they were missing out on at Hogwarts. But Teddy was right, it wouldn't be the same as learning. "I... I know that it's not the same but if... if you ever want help with herbology and learning what's safe and what's not... I can... can try and help," she offered quietly, before chewing on her bottom lip in thought. "Then if... I still have some of my old school books I can give you guys? I've kept all of them. Some of... of them have notes in the border too? I don't know how helpful it is, but... and... and mum's still running the Leaky Cauldron. I'm sure if you guys ever need a room or something, she'd be happy to put you up?"
Very honestly, sometimes Teddy could damn himself right to Hell as Grace reached out to comfort him. He put his own hand over hers and rubbed the back of it gently because he didn't mean for her to feel awful... but knowing the girl as he did, that was probably unavoidable now. "Oh Merlin does it ever. I daren't apparate at least two days before the full moon for fear of splicing off some precious part of me," Teddy tried to give a light-hearted laugh before tapping her hand gently. "Your magic goes crazy once a month huh? Now that's not something they teach at Hogwarts. What do you think that condition would be called? M.P.M.S.?" Teddy laughed, though cut himself short as he shook his head at his own terrible joke. "Merlin, please don't tell Scarlett I made that joke. At least not if she's suffering it at the time ok?"
Teddy almost choked on his tea as Grace talked about his wand being temperamental. He knew it was very innocent on the girl's side, so he shook his head and his dark locks barely moved thanks to the hair product he typically used. "Gracie, honestly, please never change," he said warmly. He loved the colour that came to her cheeks as the discussion turned to his girlfriend. "Gracie, I do declare it sounds like you have a bit of a crush on my Scar," he teased before taking another drink of his tea. "I'm definitely the lucky one. She's amazing and all she gets from me is the heart break of loving a destitute werewolf who cringes at the idea that soon she'll be graduating and wanting to join me at camp... where Diana cooks a good porridge but the tents are becoming over crowded and no amount of pillowing charms make up for a nice soft bed that she'd have back at Casa Bianchi." Teddy's face grew a little darker as the weight of expectation took over him, "I fear love may not be enough, Grace."
The little lady's hand in his, he squeezed as Grace let her worries tumble from that worry-wart brain of hers. His growing ear joke had the desired effect; he saw that little smile even if it was only there for a moment. "Don't worry too much about your cranky voice Grace, you can leave that to someone more adept at that. Really, if everyone's doing their perfecting right, you shouldn't ever really need to use it. Proactive perfecting I found was much more useful than reactive; kids get creative when they're bored... so maybe you could talk to the Professors and a bunch of other prefects and come up with some activities to get Hogwarts interesting. Then you be the fun prefect, the one that people go to when they need a shoulder to cry on etcetera. Problem solved," Teddy said with a helpful smile and another squeeze of her hand.
When Grace said that she liked someone though, Teddy went silent and his ear shrank back to its normal size as he listened intently to her very convoluted story. "I don't think anyone could ever accuse you of being a floozy, Grace," he interjected with a kind smile. "So calm yourself. I'm sure it's not nearly as bad as all that," Teddy knew that the poor Puff did tend to catastrophise a hell of a lot. "Is anyone dead? No? So things can be fixed. So... instead of worrying about whatever it is you think happened, tell me about the person? Why do you like them?"
The offer of help from Grace was so kind, Teddy's face pulled into a smile that tried to stop a tear from falling because Merlin that was some sappy shit. "Of course, I'd love all the help I can get during summer Grace. Just you're to be no where near camp on a full moon ok? Promise me you guys will stay behind locked doors each and every full moon? It's just not safe out at the moment." Teddy realised a little too late that he'd probably only scare the living daylights out of his young friend... but, in the end he didn't recant the warning because it was important. Her safety was important. Arthur, Aunty Hannah, Uncle Neville … it was all so important. "Huh. I would really appreciate a room at the Leaky Cauldron for one... night. Er - don't get all flustered - but for Scarlett's 18th... it'd be amazing."
Teddy's remark of 'slicing off some precious part of me' had Grace nodding, as though she knew exactly where her were coming from... although she didn't. "Yes, it'd be awful to splice off a finger or something, wouldn't it? Or your big toe. That's what helps you balance... Arthur says my big toes are both wonky and that's why I'm always falling over but I think they're normal. Maybe. I don't particularly look at other people's feet and check," Grace said, frowning. Oh dear, she'd gone off into another tangent, hadn't she? Then Teddy was saying a joke that had Grace rather embarrassed and she very lightly tapped his arms with her fingers. "Teddy, you can't... we're in public. People might - that's not..." She lowered her voice. as though someone was actually listening, "... it's not good manners."
Teddy was proclaiming she had a crush on Scarlett and if Grace could wiggle under the table and disappear right now, she would. Hands flying up, she tried to cool down the blush that raged in her cheeks. Merlin, she was going to turn into a tomato at this point. "I don't have a crush on... on Scarlett. Or... well, any... I don't think..." She didn't know if she liked girls, in all truthfulness. Yes, some of them were quite lovely, and she liked - but she wasn't sure. She didn't want to say anything aloud and then regret it, as she did with most of her words. Shaking her head, the next words that left Teddy's mouth made Grace's heart pang with sadness for him, and she squeezed his hands. "She loves you, Teddy. So much. She - I think she'd be happy sleeping on the floor in the Forbidden Forest with you. She doesn't need a soft bed, she just wants to be with you. Merlin, who wouldn't? You're kind and funny and so generous. You go above and beyond for people, you always have, Teddy."
"But I do - because I keep bursting in on people when they're... in the middle of... of... doing stuff, and they just ignore me. I saw a fifth year with his shirt of the other day. A fifth year. What... who's... who's doing that at fifteen? In a classroom? We all sit there! For class. That's why... why it's a classroom. Not a... not a kissingroom." Gosh, she sounded like the world's biggest prude, but almost every time she caught people, she felt like she was going to catch on fire or spontaneously combust and she didn't like it. "I don't think any of the others think I'm fun. I don't even know what activities I could do with them. All the Hufflepuffs - well, most of them - come to be with the problems but others just..
Teddy was laying down several gems of wisdom on her, and yet Grace began chewing her lip again because how could it not be as bad as she thought? She'd spoken about - and he thought she'd been speaking about... and she hadn't. Teddy asking if someone was dead, however, made Grace laugh and she buried her face in her hands, shaking it. "No-one's dead," she promised. Then he asked why she liked Aiden and after a moment's hesitation, the words all came tumbling out, "I like him because... because he's kind and intelligent and... gosh, he's really loyal too, you know. He has a sister... and he'd go to the ends of the world for her. I like that he's so close to her, even if she kind of makes me want to hide from her sometimes. I think it's really sweet, and he makes me just... just feel like I don't have to be embarrassed or apology for being myself. Like... like it's okay that I say silly things and I'm not always the smartest and... plus, he's Italian. Or, well, he speaks Italian and it kind of makes my tummy funny because it sounds really pleasant when he speaks it." Pausing for a moment, Grace's voice grew small as she admitted to Teddy, "But... he's... I don't think he likes me back. I... I don't think I'm on his level, you know? I'm not really... I don't think I'm prett - or... or... intelligent enough. There's so many other people in our year who he could get with, and I wouldn't be mad if he did. I just want him to... to be happy." Although, the thought of him kissing someone like Mavican, for example, was enough to have Grace's stomach churning uncomfortably, her skin prickling. She'd be jealous if they got together, but quietly. She wouldn't say something, but she'd probably have to look away.
Teddy was saying yes to her offer of help and Grace's face light up with happiness. She couldn't quite wipe the smile from her face as she nodded. "I promise. I promise, I promise. Locked doors, every time. Magical and muggle locks," she pledged.
Teddy's next words, asking for a room at the Leaky for one night, had Grace's eyes widening because... oh. Oh. Despite his request for her not to get all flustered, it didn't work and Grace looked steadily down at her tea, mumbling, "Um.... right. Yes. Okay. She... I..." Should she tell them to use... no, that was far too invasive, wasn't it? "Er... do you want help? Not with - with... that. Um. I meant, like... picking out a gift or something or... or baking a cake. Not with - I don't want to see... er... that. Sorry."
