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!
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
73 posts
0 likes
Post by LYUBOV KAREVA on Aug 17, 2019 19:16:25 GMT
Papa!
How's work? Will they give you time off for Christmas? I'm collecting everyone's lists. Nadya already gave hers, but it wasn't very long. I think all she really wants is plants, and she has the greenhouses for that. Much cheaper for her to pick whatever she wants instead of me buying it. But I've got to get you something as soon as we get back to London. You are coming to pick us up at Hogsmeade, right? I doubt all of my roommates are staying, I'd be so lonely here on my own.
...speaking of school, how are you with Transfiguration? I'm having trouble with it again. There's no way I can vanish anything if it ends up on the O.W.L., and I know it probably will. I've been trying so hard. I know I'm not allowed to do magic at home, but maybe you can demonstrate it for me? Just... don't do it in front of Vera and Nadya, please? I trust you not to tell them.
After what happened at the Winter Ball the Ministry has turned into a nest of angered wasps, but I've demanded to be given the whole duration of your winter break off. I am very overworked and I am looking forward to spending some quality time with you three. Don't worry about getting me a present, a hug is all I want.
I wasn't the best at Transfiguration, but I certainly wasn't the worst, so I will do my best to help you, my love. Your secret is safe with me, but I want you to remember that you should never ever be ashamed of asking for help -- practice is the mother of knowledge, and you're better off being trained by someone who knows what they're doing, rather than struggling on your own. I will arrange to get your sisters out of the house for a day so we can practice, alright?
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
73 posts
0 likes
Post by LYUBOV KAREVA on Aug 19, 2019 17:40:59 GMT
Papa,
Thanks for answering my letter so quickly! I was worried you'd be too busy. I'm glad you have time--both now and over the holidays. Plus you can avoid worrying about me and Nadya, neither of us got hurt at the ball (don't know if she told you). I know she was writing you a bunch a couple weeks ago, but maybe she hasn't recently.
So, Transfiguration. Practice would be good. The problem with it is that everything has to be so exact, or it can go really wrong, and I have such a hard time remembering all of it. I can't picture all the details like I'm supposed to. And if I picture it wrong, it comes out wrong! Vanishing is even harder, because how do you picture nothing? And make sure to get every bit of it in the right place? I know I can do magic, but it seems to only come out when I don't want it. Has that ever happened to you? It doesn't seem to happen to everyone else here, but maybe they just don't tell me.
I'll always find time for my girls, even if I am collapsing underneath a tower of paperwork. Nadya hasn't written to me, but I would have found out through the aurors anyhow -- I know it must have been a terrible experience and I trust you two to look after each other. But it is nice to have a confirmation from you, makes my heart beat a bit steadier.
Transfiguration might just be the hardest type of magic there is, so don't feel too bad for not getting it right on the first try. There are plenty of mages here in the Ministry that can't do the simplest of transformations without great effort, so you're okay. It also requires a good visual imagination, which, truth be told, I lack too. I'll think about how to help you with that, but I have an idea for vanishing.
Try taking an item you want to vanish. First, pick a surface, but don't put the item there yet. Take a few minutes and look at the empty space, notice how it looks, how the furniture is laid out -- memorize it. Then, once you feel ready, place the item in front of you and concentrate on that memory of the space without it. Perhaps that could help?
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
73 posts
0 likes
Post by LYUBOV KAREVA on Aug 20, 2019 19:01:05 GMT
Papa,
So I tried what you suggested, and it sort of worked, but--not exactly. (Okay, I'll tell you the truth: it exploded. I didn't even know that was possible to happen with this spell?) I'm glad I was just practicing on a match instead of something that might be harmed, but on second thought--I also know I probably shouldn't have practiced on something flammable. You know how that usually goes for me. But I didn't cause any real damage this time, I promise.
But I'll try again. I also have an idea now. Do you have a camera? I can't remember. If you don't, I can try to borrow one from someone else. I'm going to try taking a picture of the place without the item, and then looking at it when I do the spell. Then maybe I'll have the perfect image in my mind, because I can actually see it. And once I can do that, I'll try it without the picture! Do you think that might work?
I managed to acquire this camera from a friend -- it isn't digital, so magic shouldn't interfere with it. I hope I added the instruction manual in the package! I am very eager to hear how this goes for you. My fingers are crossed!
The match exploding doesn't sound promising at all, but I trust you when you say it was alright. I would appreciate if you'd practice on something a bit more safe next time. I've been considering if there might be something wrong with how you're casting the spell, but I'll only be able to judge that once you're home (Just a few days now!). If it wasn't the break, I'd urge you to consult your Transfiguration professor, but how about we try to resolve this ourselves first?
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
73 posts
0 likes
Post by LYUBOV KAREVA on Aug 22, 2019 18:42:05 GMT
Papa!
It worked! It worked once, so maybe it will again! I didn't use a match this time, even though I thought it might be a nice small thing to practice on--we've used them in class before. We have an empty bed in our dormitory this year, so I took one of the ties for the curtains. Small enough, and no big loss if I messed it up really bad. I took a picture and did it that way, and while I haven't made it work in class yet, I really did see it happen for myself! Vanished into thin air. I only hope nobody notices it missing. I'm sure they can get a new one.
I also took some pictures of myself. I'm sending one that turned out good so you can see. I think it's really fun, but I started using up a lot of the film so I had to stop. Maybe a digital one would be even better, but that wouldn't work here. Are they really expensive? I'd like one, even if it's just to keep at home.
I'm glad to hear that the photography trick worked! I'm sure nobody will mind the strap disappearing, you're not the first or the last student to live in that dorm, they've seen worse destruction.
My, how you've grown, my love, you're turning into a beautiful young lady with every passing day. I wish I would see you and your sisters more often, it feels like you're growing up without me. I won't bore you with this sappy nonsense, but I will let you know that I've framed your photo and placed it on my work desk.
And now I know what to get you for Christmas! Don't worry about money, I'm sure I can find a used one somewhere, that'll be cheaper.
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
73 posts
0 likes
Post by LYUBOV KAREVA on Aug 27, 2019 19:04:32 GMT
Papa,
I'll keep practicing, and then you can show me more stuff over the break. Maybe you'll see something that I've been missing. I like the photography trick a lot, but I can't exactly take that into exams. Exams are always the big problem. There's so much pressure and it feels like I forget everything. At least those are still several months away, so I can use the camera until then!
I'm glad you liked the picture. I might take more if I don't need the film for magic stuff. Maybe I can give you another picture as a present! I feel really bad that you miss us, since school is so far away from home. When you come to Hogsmeade, then I'll give you a big hug. We haven't been able to go there in almost a whole month--that's so weird. It makes me feel like a little first-year again. I miss it, 'cause it's always so pretty in the winter, with lights everywhere and cozy stuff. Nadya said there's some new restaurant there. She went there on the last Hogsmeade weekend. Could we go, if there's time, before you have to take us home? I'd like that a lot.
