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!
The Dark Arts theory class had been absolutely brilliant, and Lars couldn't think of anything else for the rest of the day. O'Connors DADA class felt like a joke to the Gryffindor now, and, as soon as class was out for the day, the boy was hurrying back to the fourth floor, hoping to catch the professor, before she left to wherever her lodgings were.
Thankfully, it looked like she'd held the previous class a little bit longer, as students were still pouring out of the room when Lars dashed into the corridor. He had to stifle a triumphant grin -- he didn't want to look like a fool before the professor. This was his chance!
As the last student hurried away, Lars knocked on the large wooden door and stepped inside, his back straight and face neutral, looking like he was here for a parade.
"Pani Dąbrowska?" he spoke, "I just wanted to say that your lesson was absolutely brilliant. In my years here I've not encountered even one professor who would be so professional and passionate for their subject. I didn't ever think I'd get a chance to be in one of your classes again, but... I'm so glad I can."
Post by KATARZYNA DĄBROWSKA on May 9, 2020 18:02:28 GMT
darkest before the dawn
After class, most students wanted to get away as soon as possible. Katarzyna supposed she couldn't blame them, even if her own experiences at Durmstrang told her that classes were one of the best parts of the school. She had never been one for Quidditch and all the fuss that went along with sports, although she did remember being quite put out that first-years were not to be brought along during the year of the Triwizard Tournament.
Well, she had ended up at Hogwarts anyway, she supposed, although not in the circumstances she would have wished. She began to pack away her books, stacking them neatly in her bag, carefully setting the egg she had used with the younger students' class on top so it wouldn't break--she did, in fact, intend to eat it herself.
She had expected silence after the last of her students disappeared out the door, but her eyebrows lifted as the door creaked open one last time. "Good afternoon, Mr. Sundby." It had been such a surprise to see him in one of her desks again, if much taller and broader than he had been before. She had only gotten to teach him for one year before he'd been pulled out of school, which she had always thought was a shame--the boy had quite a bit of potential. "I appreciate the compliments," she continued. "I hope you can gain something valuable from them this year. I have to ask, though--" because when did anyone ever give such praise without a motivation underneath? "--what you are looking for from me? It's only the first day; I would be surprised if you already needed help with the material."
"I've already done a thorough reading of our textbook over the summer, professor. I've been ordering the respective tome each year, trying to catch up on lost time," he spoke, thinking of the stack of books he hid in the furthest corner of the attic as they were a bit too large to be kept in his trunk all the time. Plus, his mother liked to stick her nose in his room, always complaining that he left his clothes everywhere, so his own room wasn't a secure place.
"Of course I would have benefited from them much more if I could have used them in class alongside your lectures. This is the exact reason why I am here."
He swallowed hard before resuming his speech. If she would say no, Lars would feel devastated.
"Being sent off to Hogwarts was the worst thing to happen to me. I've... Been to the Restricted section of the library, and it's... It's laughable, really! The books they keep there would be accessible to first years at Durmstrang! Everyone here is afraid of using magic to its fullest potential, covering their fear with talk about magic being 'Dark' and dangerous... My potential is wasted at this school," he was getting fired up, his knuckles turning white as he clenched his fists.
"So I am here to ask if you would give me extra lessons. I want to develop my skills and broaden my horizons beyond this 'safe' box Hogwarts is afraid to step out of. Not only theoretical lessons, but practical, if it can be arranged."
Post by KATARZYNA DĄBROWSKA on Jun 12, 2020 18:04:08 GMT
darkest before the dawn
Katarzyna's arms were crossed as she listened to her student speak. It was true that he had been so enthusiastic in class today already--sitting in the front row, looking as if there was nothing he would rather do than talk about Inferi. It was a level of dedication she didn't see from everyone--or truly, from most students. But it was the attitude she always hoped she would be able to cultivate in them: curiosity, exploration, a scientific mind.
"There's nothing wrong with studying on your own, you know. It's something I've done many a time." It was, after all, what occupied all of her summers, back in her cabin, running experiments with curses and Dark potions. "But I'm glad to hear that you're enjoying the class. Truly, I had been worried that Hogwarts would interfere with my teaching." They had told her to stick to theory only, even more than Durmstrang had required; it wasn't one of their subjects; she'd been relegated to a classroom and office that appeared as if it hadn't been used for at least a century, but there had been quite a few Hogwarts students who had decided to join. Katarzyna hoped they would gain something that their own school refused to teach them.
"I'm happy to write you permission slips to visit the Restricted section. Certainly, there's much that could be useful there. I know I'll have to write for everyone in this class to visit it at some point." That, she knew, would be easy enough.
"Practical lessons, though--I'd love to offer them, but I'm unsure if I would be permitted, officially." Katarzyna did not care much if she offended McGonagall--the Durmstrang Institute had the right to teach as it saw fit--but she would feel rather uncertain about causing trouble for Dascălu. After all, if she wanted his position someday, it was unlikely that angering him would help her ambitions. "Perhaps we can make an arrangement. I will think about how best to protect us."
He listened to the professor speak, his entire body taut as a bow string, begging to all gods in the universe that she wouldn't say no, that she wouldn't send him away. And, when she said that she'd gladly teach him, Lars had to stifle a victorious grin -- though his giddiness was still showing.
"Thank you, Pani Dąbrowska," he answered, "For giving me this chance. I can promise you that nobody will find out about any practical lessons -- I'm not the kind to brag about it. I'm not sure what kind of magic this school has in place to detect 'dark' magic, " he grimaced at the word. There was nothing truly dark about this magic, it was just a word cowards called it to justify avoiding it, "The History of Hogwarts is outdated, they might have added something after the War," it seemed the kind of thing these Brits would do -- it was a wonder they still allowed hexes and jinxes in class.
"I'm allowed to go to Hogsmeade on certain days, so, maybe it is better if we had practical lessons off school grounds?" That was the only suggestion he could come up with. He trusted the professor to figure something out, some way to get away with it right underneath everyone's noses.
"I suppose you'll need time to prepare that, so I would like to know what you'd be willing to teach me? Like I said before, I'm caught up with the theoretical curriculum of Durmstrang since my second year, but I'm not sure what beyond books I've been missing out on."
Post by KATARZYNA DĄBROWSKA on Jun 28, 2020 17:24:26 GMT
darkest before the dawn
Hogsmeade. Katarzyna had not yet been there, having only arrived a few days previous, but she knew the village was within walking distance down the road, and she intended to visit before long. She doubted that anyone there could prepare coffee in the Turkish way like she drank it, but she was sure there would be at least one place where she could have a proper drink.
"Yes, that could work, indeed," she mused, a hand on her chin. "Let me visit myself first, before I can tell you if there is a good space to hold lessons." If the town was sleepy and small, the kind where there was nothing better to do than ask why the Durmstrang foreigners were going off in private, then the large drafty castle might be better after all.
"In the meantime, I'll find you some books. I have everything that I could pack from my regular office--it's not as much as I would like, but if you come to my office, you can look through and find what you might be interested in learning. I can prepare lessons based on that." Not everything from her trunk was organized yet, but she was sure that with a few levitation charms, it wouldn't be too difficult to sort the books. Perhaps Sundby would even help her put them away. "Over here--don't mind the cobwebs, I've tried to sweep them up, but they seem to have given me an office that hasn't been aired out in at least a hundred years."
