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 KATARZYNA DĄBROWSKA on May 3, 2020 2:43:20 GMT
darkest before the dawn
Every year, the third-years seemed to get smaller. Perhaps, Katarzyna thought, it was some sort of optical illusion, or perhaps she was just getting old enough to need glasses. Well, either way, a new group of them were in her desks this year, even if they were not the desks she was used to teaching in front of. She had struggled to figure out where she should start with the younger students this time--after all, there would be Hogwarts students among them, and she had yet to figure out how much they already knew.
“Good afternoon.” Katarzyna began the class right on the hour, voice sharp to catch the students’ attention. “I'm Professor Dąbrowska, and you’ve found yourselves in O.W.L. level Dark Arts class; I hope that’s the one you were meant to be in--if not, I’d advise you to get to the lesson you were meant to attend.” There was the barest hint of a smile on the serious professor’s face, a sign that perhaps some of the students who were familiar with her might catch. “I’d like to get to the material right away, so I’ll have you introduce yourselves as you answer questions, alright?” She leaned backwards against her desk, arms crossed.
“For those third-years and those who are joining our class from Hogwarts, we’re going to start with a definition of the Dark Arts. I always like to clear up misconceptions about exactly what it is we’re going to study here,” she said, observing the group. Here was the chance for her to get to know them, to see what there was for her to teach them. “I know that won’t take too long, so once that’s over, we’ll be starting on the origins of Dark creatures today, with the basilisk up first.” That was one she could tell stories from her own family history about--there had once been a basilisk in Warsaw. “But first, as I said, I’ll have you define the Dark Arts before I give the answer--raise your hands, please, we’ll speak in turn.”
Post by NICOLAS DELGADO on May 3, 2020 10:21:25 GMT
Sometimes curiosity killed the cat. In Nicolas’ case his curiosity definitely got the better hand of him when he decided to take on the subject of Dark Arts. Even if it terrified him, he wanted to know how it worked and why certain people were drawn to it. He wanted to understand the world he lived in and to do that he had to face the things that made him uncomfortable.
querido Deus, he did hate sharing class with fourth and third years who were his height if not taller. It wouldn’t be the first time someone mistook him for a year younger than he was. Hopefully his prefect badge would save his life here. Another round of having to speak up in class, no thanks. Nicolas would wait until his vocal cords were finished trying to decide what they wanted to sound like. He stayed very quiet and took notes where needed.
| 5'1 | awkward geek cinnamonroll | single | bisexual siggy by the wonderful AUBREE
Ileana hummed as she sauntered into the Dark Arts classroom, her skirt yet again hitting inches above where the Durmstrang uniform was meant to sit. If one were to look under her shirt - and yes, that an invitation - they'd see that Ileana had rolled the waistband several times over. When she figured out the right spell, she was planning on making more... permanent alterations to her uniform, undoubtedly to her grandfather's and father's delight. She already had her best excuse in mind for when they pulled her up on it: 'I'm just trying to integrate. These British girls, they don't like it when you wear your skirt like a nun. Don't you want me to make friends?' It was a winner, she was sure, especially when it was accompanied with her self-coined 'award-winning innocent little lamb look.'
Taking a seat besides a blue-wearing curly-haired boy, Ileana twisted strands of golden hair around her finger. He looked positively corruptible, a type of boy she was particularly enjoyed getting acquainted with. "Oh, you're a prefect too, are you? Wonderful. Maybe you can show me where this famed bathroom is?" she said, leaning over to speak in a hushed tone in his ear. She was not, in fact, a prefect but if he asked for proof, she was just some silly little girl who'd accidentally left her badge up in the dormitories.
Crossing her legs as Katarzyna spoke, Ileana didn't bother listening to her little speech, at least not to begin with. No, instead she was gleefully taking in some of the more intimidated-looking students and the way they appeared to gulp at the suggestion they go elsewhere if they didn't intend to be in O.W.L. level Dark Arts class. It was absolutely fantastic to see them squirm, and it gave her a good indicator on who to approach later when she wanted to have some fun of her own.
Normally, Ileana wasn't so compliant in class, but she was going to be for this one... until she inevitably got bored, then she'd do Katarzyna a favour and spice things up a little. Raising her hand, smiling beatifically at the dark-haired woman, she answered her question, "People describe Dark Arts as being purely evil but I think that's rather dramatic, don't you? Sure, it can be used to harm others but every witch and wizard have likely used 'Dark Arts' spells to some degree - I mean, flipendo? That's a jinx that can harm people but most of the time, it's used in self-defense situations like dueling."
Post by KATARZYNA DĄBROWSKA on May 9, 2020 17:23:54 GMT
darkest before the dawn
"Thank you, Miss Dascălu." The Headmaster's granddaughter was not always the most serious of students, but at least she had clearly been paying attention in class the past few years. "Despite their unfortunate reputation, the Dark Arts are not necessarily about evil. It is simply the branch of magic that focuses on causing harm, which, as Miss Dascălu pointed out, is often necessary. Many of the spells that Aurors use are technically Dark spells. The truth is that the Dark Arts are all around us."
Katarzyna reached backwards onto her desk, picking up the egg that was resting there. "Now, not all Dark Arts are legal, but that does not mean that there is no worth in studying what they are. After all, the breeding of many Dark creatures is far easier than one might expect. This egg--" she held it up-- "if it contained an actual chick instead of tomorrow's breakfast, I could easily create one of the most fearsome creatures in the world. And if any of you have a toad, as I know you may have as pets, you already possess the other side of the equation. As I said, it is only too easy to get around the law. The question is--who would want to?"
She walked down the center aisle of the classroom, glancing at each student, wondering which one to call on. The Hogwarts students might know plenty about this subject, she thought, considering that one had lived in this very castle not so long ago--at least she hoped their history teachers had enlightened them. It was something that had intrigued her deeply as a child. As it was, Katarzyna figured that it might be better to ask one of her own. "Mr. Dascălu," she said, stopping at his desk. "You already know, of course, that I'm talking about the Basilisk, the king of snakes, that can kill with its gaze. What kind of person has little to fear from breeding one of these creatures?"
Post by NICOLAS DELGADO on May 10, 2020 7:06:20 GMT
Nicolas was busy taking notes. This class was fairly new and thus far he had not done much research on dark arts before. He was relieved to hear they wouldn’t be doing evil things. So he could probably still sleep at night. Being caught up in his education, Nicolas spent no attention to who was sitting next to him. Until a velvet female voice caused the baby hairs in his neck to stand up. Nico could just contain a little squeak or he would’ve looked like a fool already. By now he could handle the presence of his friends but this voice was unfamiliar to him.
Nervously he looked to the side and spotted a beautiful girl dressed in Durmstrang clothes. “Oh, ehm… Durmstrang has prefects too?” He asked in a curious voice, suspecting nothing. The Ravenclaw didn’t know enough about Durmstrang to figure it out. Even if he had, he was way too distracted with the fact a pretty girl from another school talked to him to think in logic. Imagine the different knowledge she had due to different education. Woah, he could learn so much. “T-they didn’t show you? Um,, I-I guess I could show you after class,” he muttered with a pink colour on his cheeks. But for now he had to focus on the lecture, so much valuable new information was making him very excited.
Post by CONSTANTIN DASCĂLU on May 10, 2020 17:31:24 GMT
Dark arts was just like any other class for Stan. He didn't understand the controversy behind it. They weren't actually going preform the things they studied. It was just an insight of the bigger world. Hogwarts tended to baby their students and shield them from the truth. Colour Constantin curious. It would be greatly amusing to see their reactions to this class. As Hogwarts students were joining for whatever reason, Quincey feared they would be getting a beginner's level class.
Stan sat back in his seat, lounging in the chair. Uniform opened around the chest and sleeves rolled up , inviting Hogwarts students to check out his muscles. While he was still young, puberty had hit him early. No doubt he was more mature than some seventh years in this baby school. Stan took pride in his mature masculine looks. They were features showing he could now protect and provide if needed.
His sister was well ahead with being a good perfect student for once. Whatever, Stan didn't pay more attention than needed. He never had to study hard to get his grades where his family wanted them to be. There was time to flirt around.
He was just about to make a move on a Slytherin girl from his year when Professor Kitty Kat stopped by him. Stan leaned with one arm on the back of his chair and tapped his quill with the other. "That'd be a blind person," he said, resting a yawn that threatened to escape him.
Post by KATARZYNA DĄBROWSKA on Jun 7, 2020 17:24:39 GMT
darkest before the dawn
"Not the answer I was expecting, Mr. Dascălu, but a correct one nonetheless. Five points to your house--I believe it was Slytherin?" The system they used here in Britain was so odd, dividing children up as soon as they walked through the doors, and although Katarzyna did find herself incredibly curious to know just how the Sorting Hat was charmed, she was sure it did nothing for school unity. How were the students supposed to be encouraged to educate themselves if they were told from the start that they weren't smart or clever?
In her class there would be no such stereotypes. They would prove themselves by their merits, and earn points accordingly. If they wanted to slack off, they would face the consequences.
"I was, of course, going to say that a Parselmouth who breeds a basilisk may be able to control it, if they raise it themselves. The first person to breed a basilisk was a Parselmouth himself. Parseltongue, as you may know, is not a dark art in itself, but it can certainly help one in this branch of the Dark Arts." All her life Katarzyna had been told that the skill was inherited, that it was impossible to learn, but that had not stopped her from wanting to unlock its secrets. Perhaps some day she would know the language herself.
"But if one were to lose control of a basilisk they have created, it would be a very grave danger indeed." A warning not to try it, no matter how simple the task was, unless they accepted the risk of death involved. "A basilisk has several weaknesses--we know of three animals and a plant. Would someone list those for me, please, or tell me how a basilisk can be subdued if you cannot speak to it?"
