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 HOPE GRIMBLEHAWK on May 3, 2020 15:25:14 GMT
With wide eyes, still trembling from shock as the patronus delivered the news that the Cursebreaker had been indicted and put behind bars for his crimes related to the Trossachs for life, relief flooded Hope's entire being. It had all been worth it, the work she had put behind chasing after this monster for nine years now, ever since he'd murdered her families - both of them - in cold blood. He was locked up with no chance of ever seeing the light of day again. It had all been worth it.
For once, Hope didn't bother to hide the tears that started pouring, clumping her dark eyelashes together as she stood from her desk. "I'm going to take my break now," she told Potter who just nodded, giving her an understanding smile as she left the floor. She wasn't going to grab a bite to eat though... no, she was going to go and share the news with the most important person in her life. The person who would understand the most of what the Cursebreaker's imprisonment meant to her.
Forgoing her usual professionalism, Hope broke into an almost run as she approached the intended office, swinging it open without a thought. "Ivan," she breathed, stepping inside and closing the door behind her. "It happened - they did it. Wizengamot put the Cursebreaker into Azkaban for life this time. He's never... Ivan, he's never getting out again." Hope's hand flew to her mouth after she spoke, a small sob escaping her. It seemed even more real as she said the words aloud, and she couldn't help but think of how proud Osian would be to see this moment, to know that she'd helped to put the killer of Arwen and himself behind bars. Finally, there was justice had been served.
Ivan had been taking a moment to strech and rest his hands from all the writing he'd been doing that morning, standing by only window of his office, an almost empty tea cup in his hands, when the door flung open and shut with a loud noise, startling the man and probably giving him a few more white hairs in the process. He turned around on his heel, and was taken by surprise.
It was Hope Grimblehawk, her face a little flushed, she herself a little breathless, as she spoke to him, and Ivan needed a second to process what she was saying. Cursebreaker? Azkaban? For life? What...?
And then it clicked.
He almost tossed the tea cup down on the windowsill, with two quick steps being right next to Hope, one arm around her waist, the other laying softly on the back of her head, pulling her into a gentle hug.
"Господи!"1 he sighed out, a face-splitting smile appearing as he held Hope close, paying no mind to the wet spot he could feel forming on his shirt, "You did it! You got him, Hope!"
The man, who'd destroyed her family twice over, who'd caused her more grief and pain than Ivan could even fathom, the man she'd spent almost a decade chasing after, she'd put him behind bars where he truly belonged. The older man could feel a fire raging in his chest as his heart swelled up with pride and he couldn't help but to shed a tear himself.
"You did it," he kept muttering over and over, stroking Hope's hair, "Now your family can rest. Now you can rest, Hope."
Post by HOPE GRIMBLEHAWK on May 4, 2020 8:40:51 GMT
Hope wasn't sure what reaction she had been expecting, but the one Ivan gave her, drawing into a soft hug was more than appreciated. It wasn't often people dared to touch her, not that Hope particularly wanted them to, but it was nice having a friend draw her close like this.
Winding her arms around Ivan's middle, Hope's body became pliant as she buried her face against Ivan's warm cloth-covered chest, letting herself lean into the embrace as she squeezed him lightly around the middle middle. "I... it's finally over. He's not going to hurt anymore people, kill any more loved ones," Hope said, words muffled against Ivan's shirt. It was a comfortable, safe place to burrow, but realising it made it hard to be heard, she only allowed herself a few more seconds to indulge before reluctantly drawing back and raising her head.
Wiping at the back of her eyes, a small laugh of relief escaping her, Hope gave Ivan a teary smile before saying, "I don't think I've seen you much since the hospital, have I?" The hospital where he'd ended up hugging her as well... well, cuddling technically. Hope wondered if this was going to become a theme for them - next time they met, would they embrace as well? She wasn't opposed to the idea. "How are you and your girl's doing?"
Her arms were wrapped around his middle, and he could feel their weight shift a little as Hope relaxed into his embrace, letting him hold her close without any protest. His fingers tangled into her soft hair a little as he listened to her speak, her relief soaking through his soul. It was such a light feeling...
Which subsided when she pulled away from him, even if it was just as much to look up at him. He pulled his hand out of her hair, suddenly aware of just how close they were, and that he'd hugged her without invitation. But, she wasn't protesting, so... She needed this. So it was alright, right?
He looked down at her, considering the bright smile she gave him as she spoke, even if her eyes were in a wet place. She mentioned the hospital -- Ivan could feel a sharp pang in his heart, remembering how poorly she'd looked after all that battering and bruising.
"Ah, the girls?" he started, his smile faltering, "Well, it's a bit uneasy, I'd say. Lyuba seems eager to get back to school, but I think getting away from the house might do her some good. She claims she's so eager only because I told her I was planning to grow out a mustache. I think I'm in for an image change," he chuckled. Just that morning he'd shaved his stubble, except for the hairs under his nose. If his own brother was any indication, Ivan could very well grow out a nice, thick mustache. But they'd see that in a couple of weeks.
"Life goes on, in any case. I'm sure, in time, they'll be alright. Vera wants to follow in my footsteps and be a diplomat -- she's been applying for a job at the Ministry, I'm sure she'll be fine. Nadya... Nadya's working at St.Mungos, at their tea shop. They keep themselves busy."
A few months ago Ivan would have stopped at that, avoiding talking about his feelings. But back at the hospital Hope had reminded him that he needed to take care of himself, too. And... She could be trusted with his feelings, right? She didn't seem like the type that would up and disappear after he'd put his trust in her. That wasn't what friends did.
"I..." his words got stuck in his throat and he released Hope from his grip, walking over to the window where he'd left the tea cup. He used the moment of silence while he drank to look out the window and get his thoughts in order.
"I've letters I used to write to... her. Never send, though, just as a tool to get things off my chest. I've been trying to get myself to burn them all these weeks." The pile of light blue envelopes flashed right in front of his eyes. "I might have to ask Nikolai to, how to say, push my hand."
"But I don't want to depress you with that right now," he said, putting on a brave face even as he wanted to slip into quiet contemplation, which would eventually lead to a rather grim mood, at least from what he'd experienced in the last few weeks. "What's next for Hope Grimblehawk, then?"
Post by HOPE GRIMBLEHAWK on May 6, 2020 2:10:23 GMT
The sensation of Ivan's gentle fingers carding through her hair made Hope melt a little further in relaxation, if that was even possible. It was nice and... if she were being truthful, she could imagine and even want him to do the same again - but of course, she'd probably have to wait a while for such an occasion to arise again. "Feels nice," she murmured softly.
When she pulled away, the absence of both his body warmth and soft touch were sorely missed, but he was answering her question and that was more important right now. She wanted to know how the girls were going, how he was going, now that his wife... ex-wife, now? Had been quite thoroughly booted our of their lives, and deservedly so. Maybe she was a cow for thinking that but... Hope held no positive feelings towards this woman who'd just up and abandoned her children because it was 'too much.' She didn't understand it - when Arwen was still with her, she would have stuck by her side, no matter how hard things got. That's what motherhood was and she never would have just quit.
As Hope listened to what Ivan was saying, she nodded, letting out a laugh as he mentioned Lyuba mostly looking forward to see Ivan's new mustache. "I understand where she'd coming from - I'd like to see you grow one too. In fact, if I squint, I think I can see some very short stubble on your lip," she said. She wasn't sure if a mustache would quite suit him, but... she supposed she'd find out, and it was his appearance anyway.
"Vera sounds like she's full of aspirations - it's nice she's trying to follow your lead. Do you think she'll do well as a diplomat?" She hadn't met the eldest Karev daughter yet, Vera had already graduated when Hope took up the position as Ministry Liaison at Hogwarts. Nadya, however... she definitely had met and she got the impression that the girl didn't like her. But she was used to being disliked by others - it came with the job and Hope didn't exactly expect students to appreciate her 'invading their privacy.' Perhaps when they were older, they'd realise it was for their safety - to try and ensure that nothing like the Winter Ball or Hogwarts Attack incident occurred ever again. "Is Nadezhda enjoying work at the tea shop?"
As Ivan finally moved to talk about himself, it was obvious that he wasn't okay, with the way he shot across the room and spoke with emotion pushed behind ever word. Slowly, Hope approached him, placing a soothing hand on his back. "Ivan... it's okay if it takes you a while to be able to move on, to burn letters. Nobody's expecting you to get rid of every reminder of her overnight," she said softly, her hand gently rubbing up and down as she spoke. "I don't know if it's my place to offer this but... if you need any help, with anything at all, I'm always here. Even if... you just need an ear, for somebody to listen."
What's next for Hope Grimblehawk? The question had Hope take a pause for a moment before she shrugged lightly, a small smile gracing her lips once more. "Well, I think I'm going to keep at being an Auror. I joined the trainee program mostly for Arwen and Osian and to help myself get peace of mind, to feel like I was being proactive in seeking out the people who hurt them, but... I've actually grown to enjoy the job a lot. It keeps me on my feet," she admitted, withdrawing her hand from Ivan to tuck a few strands of hair behind her ear. "I think my post in Hogwarts will wrap up by the end of the year, so... maybe once I get back, I'll start trying to work myself up the rungs a little more. I wouldn't mind taking more of a leadership role."
"Yes, indeed, I shaved the rest of it off this morning. I'll be sure to give you daily updates on my face," he chuckled, smiling at Hope. He had no clue how it would look himself, he'd always preferred being clean shaven, because it cut a few years off his face, but somehow he felt it was time to embrace that he was a middle-aged man, and...That the last month had been a crisis.
"Oh, I have no doubt Vera will go on to do great things. I see a lot of myself in her," Ivan said, pride letting out another lion's roar in his chest, as he thought of his eldest daughter. "I've no worries about her capabilities. In fact, I think she'll make a better diplomat than I ever did. I'll be there to help her, if she ever needs it."
"As for Nadya," the smile on his face faltered a little, "I... In truth, no. She'd wanted to be a healer, but her exam results weren't enough by a single mark. She was quite upset, as you can imagine, but we'll figure something out. Maybe find some additional education program she can take somewhere, or perhaps Nikolai can help out. I admire her choice of career, truly." Nadya wanted to make the world a better place, and Ivan couldn't have imagined a better way for her to do so. He himself was way too squeamish to even consider such a profession, and the pride he felt for Nadya was something very much akin what he'd felt for his little brother all those years ago.
Ivan listened to Hope's words intently. As she comforted him, Ivan couldn't help but to notice how gentle her voice was. He was used to it being professional, sometimes even a little cold, when she didn't have the patience to deal with someone's nonsense, but this... Warm tones of a setting summer. And her hand on his back -- it sent pleasant shivers down his spine. It was okay to hesitate.
And when she withdrew her hand, leaving an uncomfortable void, the corners of Ivan's lips moved downwards for a mere moment.
"Justice never sleeps, huh?" he asked, giving her a big smile, and then a bit quieter, "Who needs Potter when we've got Grimblehawk?" accompanied with a brief laugh that quickly grew into a thoughtful expression.
He had an idea. An idea he needed to act on now, before he hesitated too long.
"Actually, Hope, can you wait here for a moment? I think you can help me, right now. I'll be right back." he said, and walked over to the fireplace in his office, grabbing a handful of Floo Powder and saying the address of the family apartment.
He was back barely a minute later, hands clutching a shoe box without a lid on it, filled with light blue envelopes.
"Nikolai would never understand why I hesitate, so he'd just... He'd do it with force. And, maybe that is the right way to do it, but I don't think it is the best for me. Would you mind spending some more of your lunch break with me? To...To burn these."
Post by HOPE GRIMBLEHAWK on May 7, 2020 11:38:27 GMT
At Ivan's offer to give her a daily update on his facial hair, Hope laughed. "You've just swindled yourself into writing me a letter daily, Ivan. I hope you realise that," she said. Perhaps receiving one every day... or even every few days... would brighten up her post at Hogwarts just a little bit. It could get rather isolating in that castle, especially when you worked alongside so many professors and students who despised everything you stood for. There were quite a few times when Hope had locked herself in the staff bathrooms to take a breather from all the vehemence directed her way.
"I'd offer to help Vera out myself, but you're much more suited for the role. Not just because you're her father, of course, but because I'm certain you were an excellent diplomat," Hope said with a nod of certainty. It wasn't hard to imagine Ivan in a representative role - after all, he would have been chosen for his professionalism and tendency to behave. There would have been no chances of a scandal coming out whilst he played the role of diplomat.
Hope paused as Ivan admitted to her that Nadya wasn't enjoying work at the tea shop, before saying, "School is an immense amount of pressure especially in that last year. I think she'd find quite a lot of her classmates didn't get the score they desired and will, at some point, be heading off to do an educational program to bolster their NEWTs... for now though, at least she has time to figure out if healing is what she really wants to do?" Hope, herself, hadn't started in the 'right' career path and it had taken years, on top of a tragedy, to find her true calling - being an Auror. Before that, she had been in the rather miserable job of administration work... in the very department she currently stood in, the one that Ivan was now the Head of, in fact.
Who needs Potter when we've got Grimblehawk? The words that left Ivan's mouth had warmth flooding through Hope's body instantaneously because it was nice to feel appreciated, to realise that Ivan seemed to think she'd be capable of handling such a large job. "I'll have to give it a few years. I don't think my chances of poaching the job from Harry Potter, the Boy Who Lived, would be in my favour," Hope said, returning the laugh with one of her own.
Suddenly, Hope was being asked to wait and before she could really give an answer, she watched Ivan disappear into the fireplace, flooing away to his apartment. But it wasn't long until he was returning, a shoe box filled with what looked like letters inside. Apparently Ivan didn't need a while to be able to burn them because he intended on doing that just now. "I'll be happy to stay here," she said, giving him an encouraging smile as she moved to stand beside him in front of the crackling fireplace. "Okay, let's go at your own pace, shall we? Which letter would you like to start with... the first or last one you've kept?"
There he was, standing by the fireplace of his office, a cardboard shoe box in his hands, with more light blue envelopes in it than he could count. They all were neatly stacked, dates on the front in black ink.
He looked at Hope as she spoke, asking him how he'd like to do it. Does he begin from the freshest wound -- the topmost envelope had a date from a fortnight ago -- or does he cut it right at the stem and destroy it, like a branch in a wood chipper?
What did it matter?
"Let's just... Let's just start from the top, here. There are quite a few, I don't want to pull them all out once, it would be a mess." He answered, putting the box down on the ground and grabbing the two chairs that always stood adjacent to his desk. He placed them down by the fire place and urged Hope to sit down.
Cradling the box in his lap, he slid his fingers over the top of date on the envelope. Was he doing the right thing? Maybe he should keep them? There were memories about his daughters in there, fresh as the day they happened...And yet they were all tainted by Alisa.
"Won't be wasting any more ink on you," he muttered, throwing the first envelope in the fire, his gaze pinned to the edge of it that was first to meet the flames. Inch by inch the fire swallowed the colored paper until it was nothing more than ash.
With every envelope his movements were lighter and faster, he lingered less and less, and by the time he was halfway through, he'd told Hope to take his lunch sandwiches from his desk drawer and have them -- after all, he was the Head of the Department and he didn't have to arrange his breaks with anyone, unlike Hope.
With wide eyes, still trembling from shock as the patronus delivered the news that the Cursebreaker had been indicted and put behind bars for his crimes related to the Trossachs for life, relief flooded Hope's entire being. It had all been worth it, the work she had put behind chasing after this monster for nine years now, ever since he'd murdered her families - both of them - in cold blood. He was locked up with no chance of ever seeing the light of day again. It had all been worth it.
