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 LYDIA LLEWELLYN on Jan 11, 2020 10:22:36 GMT
Tightening her long, chestnut-coloured ponytail as she entered the library, Lydia resolutely did not look in the direction of the poetry section for... for reasons. Mainly because it would bring back certain memories with a certain someone, but also because there were probably some not so kind words carved into the shelving back there... actually, if she was being honest, there were probably multiple different shelves with phrases such as 'owl Lydia Llewellyn for a good time' carved in them around the library. Given she was not fitted with a GPS locator, the people who loved to remind Lydia of all her short-comings would have to just guess where exactly she dropped her pants.
Moving towards a table at the back, glancing down at her chipped nail polish - she really needed to stop scratching at it when she was bored - Lydia was about to sit down when the presence at a table nearby distracted her. It was Lars with a bloody huge bruise marring the side of his face. "Merlin's left tit, Lars, what happened? You look like you went a round with a hippogriff," she said, shaking her head as she dropped into the chair right beside him.
OWL's were coming up and Lars, unlike most of his house mates (why had their Sorting Hat put him in what seemed to be the most lazy tower of all), was ear deep into his notes, trying to memorize and practice until he couldn't anymore. And since his dorm room wasn't even a safe place to study anymore, given that a certain dickhead liked to act like there was an awl stuck up his ass at any given moment, Lars had no other choice but to retreat to the library.
He had to pass his exams with great marks so he could use it as leverage for when he'd demand his parents transfer him back to Durmstrang. It was his place, and he'd come back and show everyone back there that Lars Sundby wasn't someone to be pushed around and that his parents were just paranoid. There was a difference between becoming a dark wizard and showing others their place.
Alas, even the library couldn't save him from social interaction. He turned his head to look in the direction of his friend, Lydia, who was acting all shocked about the bruise on his face. "Greyson Avery decided it had been too long since someone beat the shit out of him," he grumbled, placing the book down on the table. "I was minding my own business, studying -- a concept as foreign to him as not being an ass -- when he started pissing me off."
Post by LYDIA LLEWELLYN on Jan 11, 2020 10:54:40 GMT
Lydia really wasn't all that shocked when Lars revealed just who was behind the mark on his face and her eyes went rolling, head quickly shaking afterwards. "I hope you walloped him real good, made him look like he'd gone ten rounds with a hippogriff," she said, before beginning to pull out a heavy textbook, a scroll of parchment and her lucky quill. The quill that she fully intended on using for her OWLs because she hadn't failed an exam yet with it yet in hand - of course, that could be because she poured over her textbooks for hours on end studying, but she preferred to believe in the power of the quill.
"I'm shocked and appalled that Greyson Avery, known pacifist, decided to pick a fight with you." It was such a lie because she knew very well what Greyson Avery was like, along with his brother. Speaking of whom... "His brother is just as bad, he just doesn't take things physically - in any sense of the word," she said with a hum because yes, she was still bitter about the words he had to say to her in History of Magic and she wasn't above spreading the word he was a virgin when he so gleefully and tactlessly asked her about the library incident, whilst calling her shoveler. He was the biggest clotpole she knew.
"You see this book, Lydia?" he asked, lifting up the heavy tome in front of him, "I smacked him right across the face with it. Would have gone again, but Belanger appeared out of thin air... I mean, I'm thankful that he got that prick off of me, but if I had the chance, I'd turn his face into bloody pulp." He leafed through his book for a few moments, listening to her speak, laughing at 'shocked and appalled'.
"He tried to play the sympathy card, mentioning his 'dead mother'," Lars wanted to spit in disgust, but he was indoors and that wasn't something he did, "Can't even face the consequences of his actions like a man," the boy continued grumbling. "What is with these Averies being...Like that? Do they have nothing better to do with their lives than give everyone else head aches?"
"Anyhow, less of that. Can you explain to me why there is some weird shit written on the tables in that section, over there?" he pointed towards the front of the library, "It's about you. It's not very nice, so I won't repeat, but... Should I punch someone else? I don't care about the consequences, I'm outta here after the OWL's."
Post by LYDIA LLEWELLYN on Jan 11, 2020 11:53:18 GMT
"That's our Ancient Runes textbook, isn't it?" Lydia said, eyeing the tome before letting out a low whistle because yeah, okay. Definitely walloped Greyson's arse then. It was impressive, although... fairly violent. "Belanger's - I don't know anything about the guy, actually. I can't join in on the bitching there." He was just doing his job as a prefect and... didn't that send a wave of jealously through her? Merlin, she wished she got that title. Although given her popularity with her peers, it was maybe best she hadn't. "A bloody pulp - you realise he'd probably like that, right? I've seen him tell people to 'punch me' - not me, by the way, that's him speaking - before."
Lydia grimaced at the 'dead mother' card Lars mentioned because she just knew that would get brought up at a later event, probably in class. "What's that saying... can dish it out but can't take it? That's the Avery's to a T," she said, before falling silent. "If I were to write a list on the Avery's and what's wrong with the two of them, it would be as long as my mam's shopping list - and she takes up at least five feet of parchment." Okay, maybe it was a wee bit of an exaggeration but the list they had pinned to the fridge was massive.
If Lydia's grimace had been big before about the dead mother ordeal, it was massive when Lars brought up the writing on the desk. "That's what happens when you decide to be a 'grand old slag' - paraphrasing, by the way - and shag someone else's boyfriend in an unspecified section of the library," she said, eyes averting to the nail polish remaining on her fingers as she bit her lip. "It's... warranted. You don't have to punch somebody - well, you could punch me for being a dickhead, but I've already been slapped once over this so maybe a punch would be a bit much."
"The same one," Lars confirmed. When Lydia asked about Rodrik -- the 6th year Gryffindor prefect, Lars rolled his eyes and shrugged. "Eh, he's nothing special. All he ever does is stare at Lyubov as if she's killed his entire family or something, though I heard he had the hoots for her, so... Think of that what you will."
When Lydia mentioned that Greyson might like being made into minced meat, Lars gagged. "Ugh, the mere thought of making Greyson feel good is making me feel like I want to stick my own head down the toilet for a couple of hours. I suppose someone else must have hit him with something far worse than a textbook during his lifetime." He hummed for a moment, considering his theory. Indeed, that would explain a lot. Several nods of agreement followed as his friend continued talking, and there wasn't much Lars could add to that. "They're an affront to humanity, aren't they?"
"Bloody hell, Lydia!" Lars' eyes went wide as he hissed in surprise, "You did what? The f- Wha-," he put the book down once more before turning his whole body towards the girl, "Okay, okay, okay, Viola showed- er, told me why people find kissing so enjoyable, but personally I don't think it's good enough to do crap like this!" And after a moment of silence, a quiet and curious "Was it though?"
Post by LYDIA LLEWELLYN on Jan 11, 2020 13:09:42 GMT
"Oh, how romantic," Lydia said dryly. She supposed, in a way, it was... somewhat similar to her and Thomas. She'd once upon a time - okay, only a month ago - snuck daring glances at him from where she sat in the Great Hall, and now those looks had been replaced with ones of... discontent, annoyance that she was the one getting written about on bloody tables and bathroom stalls and shelves when he wasn't getting any heat for the part he played in all of this. There was a certain sadness to the looks too, a quiet heartbreak, and in the back of her mind she wondered... was there an edge like that to Rodrik's death glares too or was it just pure anger? "Perhaps we'd get on well."
Lydia's lips twitched into a smirk. "He'd probably like that too, you giving yourself a dip in the toilet bowl," she said, before nodding agreeably. It certainly wouldn't have surprised her if he'd been smacked with... a belt or something twisted, and she'd be a lot less shocked if he'd been the one to ask for it. "You know that my roommate is dating Gabriel? It's beyond me why she'd fall for such an arse. She's such a sweetheart... and she really does deserve better." She shook her head, before adding, "And Josh rooms with him. I'll be surprised if he and Josh don't have a punch up before the year is out. Maybe you'll have to lend him one of your tomes."
The reaction that Lydia elicited from Lars was enough to have her face twisting up because it was... not great. Better than most though, she had to say. At least he wasn't disowning her as a friend. "I... Thomas and I..." she started, before her eyebrows raised. "Showed you? Are you telling me you and Viola snogged?" But then they were back on track with the whole library shagging ordeal and Lydia softly shook her head. "It wasn't - I mean, it was my first... time. I liked him for ages and I got so caught up in the fact that I was able to have him that forgot all about Lexie." She was sounding more than just mildly pathetic at this point and she swallowed. Hard. "Even though I was happy at the time, it was uncomfortable, and it hurt, and I... I think it meant more to me, then it did to him, which makes me feel abundantly stupid."
"Ja, if you like bagpipes," Lars said, snorting, "If you see Belanger with his bagpipes, he's morbidly sad. Though if I have to pick, I'd rather listen to the wailing of the instrument rather than him." Lars didn't get what the older Gryffindor's deal was -- sometimes he thought Rodrik walked around looking more like a wet rag than someone deserving the title of prefect. But, as long as Belanger left him be and got Greyson to piss off, he was alright in the boy's book.
Speaking of that thorn in his lower back... "Ugh," his face twisted once more, "Okay, abort that plan. And...And how can anyone finding him even mildly, uh, tolerable? What, is his dick so good that your roommate tossed her brains out?" What was this about feelings and dating and being together that made most people lose any shred of common sense?
"It'll be my pleasure to lend your brother my books," he added, giving her a cheeky grin. It was fun, talking crap about the most annoying pair of imbeciles in the entire school.
His earlier sentiment about dicks and brains came right back as he listened to Lydia, his jaw ajar. He ignored Lydia's inquiry about Viola, because what she had to say was actually worth discussing. Lars' and Viola was just for science, but this... "You've landed yourself into a problem the size of the manure piles back at your farm, Lydia," he said, shaking his head. "And now everyone is on your back about it, hm? And he's getting away scot-free?"
Post by LYDIA LLEWELLYN on Jan 12, 2020 7:03:16 GMT
"Bagpipes aren't high up on my favourite instrument list, believe it or not. Half the time, they sound like a dying cat - although, I guess... maybe that's fitting if Belanger feels like a dying cat inside," Lydia mused out loud, before shrugging. She wasn't the musically inclined one in her family, that was Dani. She much preferred pouring her time and energy into writing short stories and articles on people around the school than learning the guitar or whatever had you.
Lars' words elicited a laugh from Lydia because, "Well, from what I hear she wouldn't know what it's like... and I have a sneaking suspicion that there's not much in his pants because all the dick went into his personality instead." Was it mean to be saying that? Yeah, probably, but the guy was intolerable and Lydia wasn't above complaining about somebody she disliked so bloody much. "Sometimes I think he's mad that us three got sorted into the same house and hang out in his room when his brother is all the way in the other end of the castle."
He wasn't wrong. Her problem was bloody huge, and all she could do was nod in agreement. The worst part was she'd gotten herself into this mess. "Everyone... they see me as a homewrecker of sorts, and I don't see much aimed his way. I..." It was so stupid. "I thought maybe... we'd, um... Merlin, I sound - but I thought maybe there was a chance in hell we'd be together but... he's still with her. He hasn't said a word to me since. Every time I happen to catch his eye, he looks away like I'm some hideous sort of hag."
All Lars could do in this situation was sigh and shake his head in disappointment. He was one of those people who didn't seem to get this whole 'feelings' thing -- he'd never felt 'butterflies' or whatever strange bowel movements others spoke of while looking at someone else like they've drank an entire cauldron of Amortentia. It seemed to be a waste of time and energy to him -- Lydia and her problems just further enforced his opinion that "romance" and whatnot was stupid.
Be as it may, Lydia was his friend and if there was something Lars couldn't stand, it was double standards like this. They both had screwed, hadn't they? It's not like she'd detached Wood's billet against his own will and used it?
"As stupid as you were to do ... All that, his ass should be set on flames too! I think I shall go have a word or three with him for dragging your name through the mud. And maybe I should go have a talk with his 'bird' too, what do you think?" And if Wood wouldn't want to talk, Lars would challenge him to a duel. He'd been aching to try out all those super secret jinxes he and Mia-Rose had found in the Restricted Section, and if someone deserved to taste some "dark magic", then it was that prick on a stick.
Post by LYDIA LLEWELLYN on Jan 12, 2020 11:43:16 GMT
Lydia had been stupid, and she wasn't about to argue with Lars about that. What she had done was... well, she'd wished several times since that she lived in a world where you could take back your past mistakes, and that spoke for itself. "It'll make things worse, if you say something. Trust me, I'll likely end up with a palm print on my cheek again," Lydia told him, before firmly shaking her head. "I don't want you to talk to them. I just want to wallow in self-pity and self-hatred for a bit, then it'll all blow over and they... they can just carry on being themselves. After this, it's only a year left and they're gone anyway." There was also the fact that Lydia didn't want to damage her... past friendship with Evan any more, but she didn't mention that.
Once again scratching at the nail polish on her fingers interestingly, Lydia racked her brain for a topic change before she was mulling over words that had left Lars' lips before. "Oh, also you and Viola. What's going on there? She... showed you kissing, or talked to you about it?" she questioned, eyebrows raising a little.
To Lars' great discontent, Lydia picked the path of lesser resistance, deciding to just forgive and forget. He thought it was foolish -- they'd just keep shoveling more manure on top of her head and try to break her down... Well, it was only mere two months until the school year was over and maybe, just maybe, they'd let the bad blood lie after the summer, but if he was Lydia, he wouldn't hold his breath. Plus, by next year, Hogwarts would be in his past and he'd be too busy catching up on lost time at Durmstrang, rather than worry about petty squabbles like this.
And then she asked about Viola. Lars wished he'd cut his own tongue off that very morning, because there was no reason for her, or anyone to know about it, because he wasn't a stranger to how these things worked. One person told another and before you know it, the whole school thinks you're screwing in the Astronomy tower, or something.
"I am trying to determine what the hell is it about kissing and all that touchy-feely crap that gets everyone so wound up and eager," he stated, "And I asked Viola to explain. I got a bit more than I bargained for. That's it. I don't care for her any more than I care for you, and I still don't get what the big deal about kissing is."
Post by LYDIA LLEWELLYN on Jan 12, 2020 22:22:57 GMT
I got a bit more than I bargained for. Lars' words shot a spike of concern through Lydia and she sat up ramrod straight in her seat as she asked worriedly, "She didn't, like... make you, did she? Because if she did, that's not okay." She knew Viola Rosaline by reputation only, and she didn't suspect the girl would ever force anyone, but it was always good to check. Lydia would feel awful if she didn't at least try and make sure nothing bad had happened.
"I hope you care for me a little bit, at least," Lydia half-joked. She didn't have many friends around Hogwarts, a byproduct of being seen as a weirdo who shovelled mooncalf dung with her family for a living, and it would sting greatly if Lars' answer was something along the lines of 'not one bit.' His words of not getting it had Lydia pausing for a second. She'd only really ever kissed a Welsh boy in her neighbourhood which had been as boring as watching paint dry, and she'd kissed Thomas who had definitely wound her up, obviously, otherwise she wouldn't have - but that was beside the point. "Maybe if you don't get it, you're just not kissing the right person."
"No, no," he reassured Lydia, "I came to her with a theoretical question, but she offered me a practical demonstration, to which I agreed. Nobody can make Lars Sundby do something he doesn't want to!" A cheeky grin flashed on his face briefly, even though that last part was a lie. His bullies at Durmstrang had definitely made Lars do a lot of things he had no wish for, but he liked to pretend that it had never happened.
"Oh, don't give me that. " Lars groaned. He didn't appreciate all this mushy feelings shit in the first place and didn't feel like giving her long-winded reassurances that would probably end in tears and what have you. Y'know. Girl stuff. "You're my friend, Lydia. " he simply stated, turning back to the Ancient Runes textbook and flipping over a page.
"Where is this mysterious 'right person', then? I don't like the thought of having to wait for some 'sign from above' to find them. And what if there is no right person for me? That just wouldn't be fair, would it? I want in on all the fun you're having."
Post by LYDIA LLEWELLYN on Jan 13, 2020 10:01:14 GMT
"So you willingly kissed Viola, and felt zilch? Nada? Nothing?" Lydia said, head tilting to the side. Maybe 'whacky dacky' Ravenclaws weren't Lars' type. "What type of people are you into? Like, blondes, redheads, brunettes? People who work out, or who are self-proclaimed couch potatoes?" Lydia thought plenty of people were cute but apparently the ones to get her motor absolutely roaring were of the funny, charming Quidditch player variety who would inevitably break her heart. "Or are you a personality type of person?"
"That was your cue to reassure me. You missed it. Now I'm going to worry if I'm a good friend or not," Lydia said dryly, reaching over to absentmindedly pat Lars' arm a few times as though she was the one now comforting him. "I'm glad I have a friend. Kind of mildly insulted you didn't say best friend but I'll live." A small smirk played on her lips, hinting that yes, she was pulling his leg, and it was fun doing so.
Lydia shrugged at Lars' question because she didn't know where his 'right person' was. "Maybe there's more than one person you'll enjoy kissing, you're just yet to find them," she suggested, before she nearly choked on her own spit because... "You want in on all the fun? I mean, if that's your roundabout way of asking me to give you a wee shag in the library, then I have to break it to you and say that's probably never going to happen. No offense."
