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 GRACE LONGBOTTOM on Sept 17, 2019 11:10:04 GMT
The sound of her brother entering the room was one Grace was used to... it was loud, as per usual, and when he teased the poor Professor at the front about what he was wearing, Grace turned around in her seat to give Arthur an exasperated smile. Stop it, she mouthed, shaking her head. The poor man was probably nervous enough, right? Surely being in front of a classroom of teenagers was daunting... it most certainly was for Grace, and that's why she avoided public speaking at all costs. The chances of making a fool of herself were too high.
Turning back in her seat, she was about to pipe up with a question about what wands had to do with this lesson when she heard all heck break lose behind her. Her brother being his usual self, trying to get a rise out of Vinda which she had told him time and time again not to do to anyone, and... and... the words that left the Slytherin girl's mouth were enough to have Grace's own fists curling. She wasn't as brave as Arthur - she never had been, never would be - and her backbone was practically non-existent but she couldn't just say such horrid things when Arthur had said one silly, harmless... just as she opened her mouth to say something, anything, Vinda's words loud and clear rung through the classroom: It's because you're dog, Longbottom - or maybe that's your sister. After all, I've heard all the rumours. It was like she'd been slapped fair across the face, cheek stinging, even if she didn't hear what she'd whispered to Arthur. That was bad enough, and immediately, her eyes dropped to the desk in front of her because since that rumour of her had been spread roaming the halls, holding hands with Aiden and... and doing other stuff... it had escalated. She'd heard some very not nice things from some of her fellow students.
The next thing she knew... things got worse. Much worse. Grace had never liked conflict, never ever, and the fingernails from her curled fists dug deep into her palm, no doubt adding more scars to the ones that were already littered there. She flinched as the Professor tore strips of Vinda, then her brother and... and... jabbed his wand into his chest. She watched as Arthur sat there without a choice, before being ordered to go over to the corner, and then avoided her eyes.
She wanted desperately to speak to him, to say something but then Aiden was standing to his feet and... defending... and she got it. Kind of. Nobody should have had their character assassinated, he was right in saying that, and Arthur was an idiot for prodding Vinda, but did he... had he not heard the bit where... where she'd brought up the fact that she was a dog? Where Vinda had announced to the class that she'd heard the rumours? Had he missed the part where Vinda had taken it way too far for such a silly comment from her brother in the first place? Grace watched as Aiden heralded Vinda out of the door, trying her best to just not... cry because she didn't have the right to, did she? It was an overreaction. She was being stupid.
Dropping her gaze, Grace went to grab her quill as instructed and that's when she felt it, the wet, slick blood that came from her... she hadn't been pressing that hard, had she? Had she... she'd made herself bleed again. The last time she'd done so, she'd been shocked as well. She didn't realise how much it was... until she was there, palms covered in blood. She couldn't hold her wand in this state, she'd been instructed not to make a peep to her peers so she couldn't ask somebody like... like Emil for help, and so she made her way up to the front. "Excuse me, Professor. I... I'm... I'm bleeding. Can you please, um... f-fix it? Sorry. I don't mean to be a bother," she said, voice barely above a whisper as she laid her hands on his desk, face-up as to not smear blood everywhere.
Not even 30 seconds had passed since the students had waltzed out of the door, the fragile calm was stirred up once more. Sean wanted to groan -- what part of working in silence did these idiots not get?
The frail female voice made him think twice before opening his mouth. Bleeding? How the hell? He finally raised his head to look at the speaker. A blonde girl was standing in front of his desk, hands put down. He took a hard look at the wounds. Nail marks. A sigh escaped his lips, as the sight was all to familiar. He'd done similar things before his anxiety had been treated.
"I'm not good at healing spells, so I won't even attempt that." he said quietly, getting up from his chair and tucking his wand behind the rope that served as his belt. "Lets go to the office, I'll patch you up the muggle way. What's your name?"
He lead the girl to the door on the left side of the class and opened the door, ushering her inside. Before disappearing in along with her, Sean told the class to keep working. He'd charmed the walls of his office to let sound through, so if they would be making a fuss, he'd know.
"Sit," he said once the door closed behind them. The office looked like an extension of the classroom, with the same moss floor and vines on the walls. He set an old-fashioned wash basin in front of the girl and filled it with warm water from the magically heated kettle. While she was rinsing her hands, he rummaged through the cabinets, looking for any bandages.
He worked on her hands in silence, moves quick and confident, yet gentle. "I'd suggest you go to the hospital wing after class, the Matron will fix it up in a few seconds. You stay and work here. I'll bring you your things. Do you like chamomile tea? There is some in that black kettle over there, treat yourself."
After returning with the girls books, he left her with a large mug for tea and a plate of cookies. Sean returned to his desk to watch over the rest of the class.