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!
It was late after class and Cassidy really just wanted to sit and talk to her mother. She had been trying all day to come up with what she wanted to talk about, their trip to Greece, if she was allowed to bring her friend and of course about a girl who kissed her. She didn't know how to deal with something like that because no one ever wanted to kiss her and when they did.. they didn't dip her like one of the old french movies she used to watch when she was bored.
Cassidy walked into the classroom after knocking on the door and peeking around the corner of said door to see if there was anyone there. Lucky for her it was just her mother and she walked in, closing the door behind her and headed for her mother's desk. "Hi mum." she said with a wave and a smile on her face. She loved her mother and sometimes it felt like it was both of them against the world.
It also sometimes felt like she was robbing her mother from happiness. Cassidy wondered if her mother ever felt lonely and it made her sad to think she was the reason why. "How was your day?"
All Gwyneth wanted was a moment of peace, not worry about her job and her students. But it seemed like a few of them had their problems that needed to be addressed, that needed her attention 100% - and another thing, she needed to see who was passing and failing her class. The subject she had taught wasn’t easy to understand - some people struggled to get some of the stuff right. It was understandable, but if they didn’t try hard enough to do their homework, she wasn’t going to let them get away with it. Exams were coming up and she felt like she was going to fail a couple of her students just because.
The woman had been working on some paperwork when there was a knock on the door and she was about to hold up her finger to tell the person one moment but instead she heard her daughter's voice. The professor had stopped what she was doing that very moment - and cocked her head to the side. ”Thought you were another student. Thank goodness it’s just you.” she said with a sweet smile.
There were some good things about her mother being the head of Ravenclaw, being a professor and always there when she needed her but Cassidy was also a little stubborn and she wouldn't just want her mother to worry about Cassidy all the time. When her mother said that she thought Cassidy was someone else the girl nodded knowing very well many students probably come in here to speak to her mother. For grades, for advice and maybe even more reasons Cassidy didn't know or care about. She was happy her mother was doing a job she loved.
"My day hasn't been too bad." she said softly and sat down on a chair across from her mother's desk. "Professor O'Connor taught us about unforgivable curses." she said and bit her lip for a moment. She hated that class and though she loved defense against the dark arts, the subject was just not her cup of tea. "A boy I thought was my friend wanted to use them on spiders.. I am glad the professor didn't do it." she said and looked at her mother with a small smile. "I cannot be friends with someone who wants to see creatures being harmed by those spells." she nodded.
Truth be told, Gwyneth had been working hard to make sure there was food on the table and clothes on her back and Cassidy’s. They have been through a lot together and she’d like to consider that they’re each others best friend’s. Even though her daughter was a teenager, secrets were bound to be held from her because she wasn’t one to entirely pry into her daughter's life. Sure, she knew of the strong friendship that Cassidy had with the Stevens’ girl and seeing how close they were when Gwyn would see them together, she knew those two girls had each others backs no matter what. She was proud of Cassidy and her will to make friends.
When Cassidy had told her about the Defense Against The Dark Arts class, it caused Gwyn to go into protective mama mode. Even though she knew the children should be taught of the unforgivable curses, it would have been nice to be warned from the professor himself. Part of her wanted to slap Jack, but another part of her respected the man. She’d let this pass - for now. ”Well, it’s not legal to use the curses. Professor O'Connor is a good man. He knows what he’s doing.” she said with a tired smile as she stood up from her chair.
”Oh, I am. I didn’t get much sleep last night.” she admitted as she moved toward the table she had a tea set on. ”Would you like some tea, hon?”
The ravenclaw girl wanted to make her mother proud and though she didn't like to play favorites, Cassidy needed her mother. Her mother was the person who saved her from herself, who always believed in her and who always protected her. Cassidy remembered the day her father got killed, it was meant to be a good day but then her uncle found them and caused a fight that ended in death. Cassidy never saw anything so cruel and she wasn't stupid, she knew the damage was done to Greyson as much as herself and her mother.
"He's a good professor but the class was rough.." she admitted, slipping her hands under her legs as she was seated in the chair. The girl wanted to make her mother proud and be strong but some things she just couldn't get away from, her ptsd being one of them. "Do you need hugs to help you sleep? Im sure no one will mind if I stay with you.." Cassidy offered hoping her mother would say yes. She could use a night with her mother and just feel safe. Casey helped her through the nightmares but the screaming bothered her roommates too.
"Yes please." Cassidy looked around the classroom, chewing on her bottom lip. "I have been having nightmares again."
Gwyneth never thought she’d be working at Hogwarts, remembering the days she had ran around the corridors at night to avoid getting caught by prefects. The woman barely talked about her Hogwarts days to her daughter, knowing it could give her daughter some ideas. Was Gwyn trouble in school? Not really, but she had done things she regretted this day, but learned from them. The woman was quite proud that her daughter wasn’t a troublemaker, and kinda thankful for that. Last thing she needed was for her students to believe she was playing favorites. She wasn’t.
”Yeah, I can see if I can kidnap you for an evening.” the woman said as she started to get the tea pot ready and looked at her daughter when she mentioned she has been having nightmares again. ”I have them too.” she said and turned back around to pour some tea in a teacup for her daughter and herself, picking up them both. She placed the cups down on her desk, and placed the container of sugar in the middle.
”I wish there was something I could do for those nightmares. Does Casey know?” she asked, knowing that her daughter and Casey were like sisters in a way.
To have Cassidy be quite honest, she was aware her mother was not sleeping well. She had always heard her mother talk about becoming the astronomy professor because she loved astronomy as much as she was unable to sleep well at night. Cassidy once even got her therapeutic tea to see if that would help her mother at all these days. The girl waited for her cup of tea and looked at her mother who was making it. There was something relaxing about drinking tea with her mother, catch up on the latest events.
"The matron gave me herbs but they don't work well." she admitted and reached for the sugar. "I don't think anyone would mind if I stayed with you. I could use some hugs." she said with a small smile, hoping to cheer her mother and deep down herself up with it. Cassidy let out a small sigh as she sipped from her tea, she felt a bit relieved drinking it like her mother made some magical brew that just instantly calmed her down, made her feel better. "Maybe we can both ask the matron for herbs?" she offered not sure if her mother already had some.
"She knows, she hugs me back to sleep sometimes. It's silly isn't it?" she asked with a blush on her cheeks. Casey was her best friend and her mother knew that.
There were some good things about her mother being the head of Ravenclaw, being a professor and always there when she needed her but Cassidy was also a little stubborn and she wouldn't just want her mother to worry about Cassidy all the time. When her mother said that she thought Cassidy was someone else the girl nodded knowing very well many students probably come in here to speak to her mother. For grades, for advice and maybe even more reasons Cassidy didn't know or care about. She was happy her mother was doing a job she loved.