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 ROMAN DI ANGELO on Apr 26, 2020 11:37:27 GMT
It was that time again! Time for another year. Honestly, it didn't bother him. In fact, he was pretty well ready to return and get some normalcy in his life. The summer been a bit erratic and honestly while had a blast... He was so wasted he forgot half the shit he even did. At least he couldn't boast being bored! The Slytherin decided his second night he'd send one of his favorite people a note to hang out-- the incomparable and entertaining spitfire, Agnes Clearwater.
To be honest, he liked hanging out with one of the few people he could actually be himself around. She was challenging and unflinchingly honest where it counted-- and if the fact he was a parselmouth managed to stay quiet this long, obviously she could keep important secrets. He may have even found himself with a bit of a crush on the redhead, but to be honest, preferred to just flirt with her. It wasn't that he hadn't thought a time or two of making a move or asking her out, but he knew if it was going to happen it'd happen at the time it was meant to. Either way, he had a badass friend to hang out with.
He chilled out on a couch eating some snacks he'd nicked from the kitchens, waiting on her. When he finally heard the door opening he looked up to offer a wave, " What's up, Red?" He acclaimed from the couch, " Is this a huggable moment getting to see your favorite parselmouth, or should I brace myself for impact trying?" He smirked a bit, standing up and opening his arm, " Bring it in-- or I can bring the hug to you, but I'll consider that free game to also twirl you and make it really fucking cheesy, " He chuckled.
When Aggy had received the note, asking her to hang out, she'd debated writing one back saying 'I don't feel like it,' but ultimately decided against it. Truth be told, she was feeling rather... isolated, mostly due to her own making. She wasn't talking to Evan at the moment, not since he'd touched her in the Great Hall, and she'd been avoiding Alexander too as a result because she didn't feel like answering the prodding questions he'd have. So she'd agreed to meet Roman because since he wasn't in their class... he wouldn't know what was happening between her and her other friends. He wouldn't ask questions and that's what she needed.
Winding her way through the castle and towards the Room of Requirement, Aggy grimaced as she caught sight of herself in the reflection of a gleaming statue. Apparently she was doing her best impression of Chucky today with the way dark circles lined her eyes and her vibrant ginger hair frizzed. It was certainly one way to make an impression on Roman - she hoped he appreciated the substantial effort she'd obviously gone to in order to make herself presentable for the male gaze.
Arriving at the Room of Requirement, Aggy returned Roman's wave half-heartedly before he asked if it was a huggable moment and she just... seized up, frozen on the spot as though she'd been caught in a blizzard. Then, much to her dismay, he offered to bring the hug to her. "Why does everyone want to - can't people just..." Not want to fucking touch me. Shuffling backwards until her back hit the door, Aggy shook her head adamantly. "I don't want a hug. I don't... I'm -" She was getting too worked up, her breath quickening, and she wondered if it was too late to just run away from the room and pretend like this never happened.
Post by ROMAN DI ANGELO on May 8, 2020 8:18:26 GMT
He Meadow rely froze as she began to get flustered going from excited to see on of his good friends to, well, feeling like a total dick, " Uhh.." He mustered at first as his brain tried to catch up with the whole situation. He'd seen her panic on a few occasions, and honestly? He couldn't muster the strength for a minute to do anything but slowly and rather awkwardly move his arms down. He had only meant to greet her, but the greeting suddenly turned into something way more heavy.
"Ag.." He said simply, his eyes searching hers a minute. He walked over moving the snacks from the couch, offering her a seat. "Just... Breathe slowly. You could pass out if you panic too much, " And the last thing he figured she would want was the nurse poking and prodding at her on top of her moment she was having now. Better him at least and not someone she was even less comfortable with. He got her a bottle of water before sitting down on the couch arm, his feet on the cushion as he leaned onto his lap with elbows rested and his hands clasped.
"I really try not to pry too much. Your business is your business, Aggy..." He paused a moment, almost waiting in case he just... Should stop, but honestly? This was right up there with calling out that dickhead Dio for being a dickhead to one of his friends. Maybe it wasn't his place, but fuck all if he'd let someone he gave a shit about deal with bullshit alone. It was an ironic reaction for a guy who generally kept the things that bother him or happened to him a secret.
"Aggy. What's going on?" he said simply, " I realise you probably don't want to talk but.. I'm here for you. No hugs or touching required in any way, shape, or form, " He insisted.
The sight of Roman lowering his hands, even though he acted like she was the one being weird for not acting like Hug-Me-Elmo, was relieving and as she watched him then back the hell up, her breathing finally started to return to normal. "I know how to breathe," she said finally, even though evidence pointed to the contrary.
Carefully, she watched him move to the snacks before taking the seat he'd gestured at, planting her feet on lounge cushion and drawing her knees to her chest. Roman sitting on the side of the lounge was comforting - she didn't want him squished right next to her, his thigh pressing up against hers, and this was a safe distance away for now. "Your future called and said you're destiny is to be a crisis support person, handing out waters to those in need," she said dryly, accepting the bottle and twisting off the lid. It had been an attempt at a joke to make the mood lighter but it fell flat entirely, perhaps due to the lack of effort behind her tone.
What's going on? It was a question that asked too much and immediately, Aggy's body tightened up because no, she didn't want to talk about it. "You're right, my business is my business," she said simply in response, her lips thinning. Realising that she couldn't just leave it at that, Aggy tried to change the subject. "Since we're apparently roleplaying therapists to one another, then maybe you should tell me what's going on in your life."
Post by ROMAN DI ANGELO on May 11, 2020 0:52:52 GMT
He just shook his head, letting Aggy throw her blows, sniping at him with everything she said, " You better now? Because I'm not a damn punching bag, " He said simply, shaking his head, " I get something is going on with you. I don't have to be a fucking counsellor, but i'd be a shitty friend if I wasn't pushing to figure out why you're hot and cold-- and not just the usual Agnes trademarked hot and cold... Something is wrong and your not even hiding it well, " He rubbed his eyes a bit. He honestly hoped seeing her would've turned out better than this, but if this was going to be the conversation he was going to damn well make sure he knew what the hell was going on.
He knew he was starting to come off as a dick. He didn't want to be a dick, but what was he supposed to do? He didn't know the right way of helping someone that was so hot and cold with him. He was doing the best he could.. And wished he could do it however he mind expected, but it wasn't realistic. He was a person prone to fucking up and he accepted it as much as he accepted whatever backlash came from his reaction.
"Even if I did, what does that have to do with this moment? Im not hiding shit from you. I had a long, unattentive summer dealing with therapy, " He said simply. He would've delved deeper, but he knew it was only misdirecting the situation. Maybe she needed that? Maybe she didn't? "I don't even know how to begin handling this conversation... Just... talk to me, Ag..."
Had Aggy been speaking to Roman less than politely? Yes. Yes, she had been. But she wasn't being nasty, not overly so, she'd just been attempting to fall back on her old faithful coping mechanism - sarcastic jokes. Mainly because they distracted people enough from the topic at hand, but apparently that didn't work as he resumed asking what was wrong. "I'm not - I just... I'm not in the mood for shit this year is all. I spent all summer with my parent's fighting over me like they're toddlers and I'm some toy they both want, so I never even got to just relax and chill out at either of their houses. Then I've come back to Hogwarts and there's all these... Durmstrangs over the place, taking up room in the dormitories and probably in the library and -" Aggy cut herself off, clenching her jaw as she pull away from his gaze.
Sure, those things were irritating her immensely, but they weren't the major cause of why she was so foul-tempered and defensive and... intolerant this year. But she wasn't about to tell Roman about... about what else was happening - what had happened. He'd over-react, just like everyone else in her life would if they knew. He'd pressure her to tell an adult, to go to the police, and she wasn't - she wasn't ready to admit that she'd let someone do that to her, that she hadn't been strong enough to... it didn't matter, really, because at the end of the day, he and nobody else was never going to find out. She'd kept it a secret for three years, she could go to the grave with it. She had to.
Aggy bristled at what Roman said next, and her chin jutted stubbornly. "If I was hiding shit from you, then I'd have a right to. I'm not obligated to tell you anything." And quite frankly, the idea that he expected to know the secrets she kept firmly hidden behind lock and key, was enough to tick her off. "I didn't come here for the some twisted version of the Scottish Inquisition, so either we change the subject or I'm getting up and leaving."
Post by ROMAN DI ANGELO on May 27, 2020 13:46:35 GMT
He listened as she let go of a little of the weight, though not all of it. No, that would've been too simple to just tell him what was driving her-- upsetting her. However, he could only work with what he had. If this was as much as she was willing to share, then he'd help where it could. That was the whole point of it. He didn't want her to feel like she had to carry all of that burden on her own. It was okay to talk to him, but he knew opening wasn't always easy. Hell, he was a poster child for keeping secrets, so he got it. But that didn't mean he couldn't worry.
"I wouldn't worry about the Durmstrang students. I think we both know they wouldn't stand a chance against against your silver tongue, " He remarked, " Or my left hook if it came down to it, " He knew their reputation for being a bunch of dark purists. He honestly wasn't under any assumptions anything would happen, but he wouldn't rule it out. He'd have punched any asshat that called one of his friends anything derogatory. Aggy or otherwise.
"I understand your business is your business, but I've got to tell you it makes it hard not to worry about your business when things get like this, Aggy. Whether your want me to worry or not I do, " He said simply. He had never pressured her about her business before, in fact, he always let her have her space but he couldn't help but feel a pit in his stomach when she panicked-- he felt like there was something he wasn't seeing and he couldn't help. It was a gut-wrenching feeling. He felt helpless. He gently reached out, taking her hand as she threatened to walk out, " Ag.." He said gently, " like I said, I'm just worried," Pulling away promptly as he cleared his throat, assuming that was about as out of bounds as hugging her was.
