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!
But music is reflection of self, we just explain it, and then we get our checks in the mail
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It was turbulent times like these that Elias' father liked to laud his inclination to send Elias to attend Beauxbatons. The Durmstrang student received a long letter detailing his mother's relief to see him safe and sound, a package of his favourite French sweets and of course, details on the current discourse in the Luthi family. Elias had been a little put off when they were all shuffled to Scotland for school but so far, it hadn't been so bad. The teachers weren't as strict but they demanded just as much work and he very much enjoyed exploring the portraits that were more like hidden corridors. He'd informed his mother of such with and with the last few florishes of his quill, he signed his name. He rolled the parchment carefully, collecting his things in a neat pile and stood up, purposefully ignoring the voice that called out about it being near curfew.
He slipped out of the common room, smiling politely at the Fat Lady who chastised him for leaving it to the last minute to send off his mail, which was clutched in his hand. "Sorry ma'am, but you know how mothers are. I don't want to receive a howler in the morning for not getting back to her in time." Sure, he was stretching the truth a little, but he would need to get back into the common room after having a smoke and sending off Montgomery off with his letter.
With very little care, he took off towards the stairs. He'd found them tricky but soon caught on to their ways. It was almost like a bit of game, trying to figure out what floor they would take you too next! Perhaps a little unhelpful, he was uncertain of how the Hogwarts students ever got to class on time. Seeing as there were very few students around, the stairs seemed to behave, and his trip to the owlery did not take as long as it could have. He'd greeted portraits on the way, poking and prodding and inquiring about a shortcut but so far he'd hadn't come up with an accessible route from the Gryffindor dorms to the owlery.
He poked his head in the owlery, before stepping in and calling his bay owl to his side. Montgomery came immediately, claw outstretched for the letter. "Du bist eine ungeduldige kleine eule." He murmured fondly, attaching it to Montgomery's leg and then running the back of his hand against the owl's head. The owl seemed to peer into his soul for a moment before using his arm to launch into the air. Elias followed his flight to the window, watching with a fond smile.
He then slid his hand into his pocket, withdrawing a cigarette from the container he'd brought and the lighter too. Sure, he could light it with his wand but he didn't have enough confidence in himself to not set himself aflame. He turned to lean against the window, taking a drag and then raising an eyebrow as he noticed someone else had entered the owlery. "Oh, sorry. I'll be gone soon.
Post by AGNES CLEARWATER on May 13, 2020 6:11:53 GMT
It had been a long, long day and for the last three hours, Aggy had been pouring over her Ancient Runes homework. It was challenging, sure, but she was anything if persistent and when she'd worked through the very last task, she'd gotten the satisfaction of yelling 'AHA!' like some poor man's version of Sherlock Holmes. Sure, she hadn't solved a murder or anything, but really, her powers of deduction were unparalleled. It was just a shame she didn't have a John Watson-esque figure to hype her up.
Advancing towards the owlery, Aggy fully planned on celebrating her success with her worst habit, already reaching into her flannel pockets for her handy carton of smokes. But as she entered the owlery, she realised that she wasn't going to be alone this evening - apparently a Durmstrang boy was unknowingly going to be acknowledging her achievements too with a cigarette he was lighting via a muggle lighter.
Merlin beard, she grumbled to herself. Alex was about to be proven right, wasn't he? Then she'd have to apologise to the little - okay, not-so-little when compared to her - kangaroo. Damn it. "Revolting against the stereotype, are we?" she said, nodding towards the lighter he'd pocketed before shoving a cigarette into her own mouth. Then, taking her own lighter, she brushed the flame across the tip until smoke flooded her mouth. "Should I start calling you James Dean - rebel without a cause, for those playing at home - or will you hex my mudblood arse for making a reference to muggle things?"
But music is reflection of self, we just explain it, and then we get our checks in the mail
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The red emblem on the girl's robes indicated that she was a Gryffindor, it was the first colour he noticed before he saw her shock of curly red hair. He took another drag, considering his next words as she lit her own cigarette. A smile curled his lips as he breathed out, and removed the smoke from his mouth. It wasn't hard to figure out that she was implying his use of a muggle lighter as going against the grain. It was a bit of a stretch to think that because he was using one invention that he wasn't a muggle-hating snob, because he was definitely was one. He wasn't going to outright tell her things like that as it would be in bad taste but felt a little left-footed as he didn't quite understand the terms she flung around. "My name is Elias Luthi, I'd prefer that to a muggle name." He murmured, his eyes pulling from her small frame to his long fingers that twisted the smoke around.
His nose crinkled at her crude words, and he shook his head, taking another breath of nicotine. "Do you have to use that word? I get reclamation and all but it's not fun." He answered sweetly, a glint of amusement in his eyes. He didn't know a lot of muggle-borns, but the ones he did know were less...prominent about their muggle relatives. It was the way of his world that muggle-borns tried to appear as half-bloods and half-bloods appeared like stereotypical children of muggles. He was intrigued as to who he was being compared to and to her quick jump into the defence after he'd said but six words to her. He calmly looked back at her, eyes catching the smouldering cigarette. A realisation that she had come up for the same reason washed over him and he rolled his shoulders, uncertain how to feel with this new information.
Post by AGNES CLEARWATER on May 14, 2020 10:37:03 GMT
"I'm sure there's people in the muggle world that share the same name anyway so really... I guess your preferences aren't all that relevant," Aggy said, voice bright as she moved past him and towards a window, leaning against the brick beside it. Tilting her head back, Aggy took a long drag of her cigarette before breathing the smoke into the cold night air. "If we're sharing full names, I'm Agnes - Aggy - Clearwater." It was rare that anybody actually addressed her by her full first name, however, and that's usually because the name Agnes reminded people of a sweet old nanna, knitting in a rocking chair. Something Aggy was not and never would be.
As Aggy was all but chided for the use of the slur she'd had thrown her way plenty of times over the last few years, her eyebrows raised and she assessed the boy, taking in his appearance. He was tall - not giantesque, like Evan was - but certainly larger than her goblin-size arse, and his honey blonde hair swept across his eyes. He didn't look particularly snobbish, but he sounded so as he started making demands regarding her language. "My apologies. I didn't mean to make a slur that I'm reclaiming sound un-fun. How rude of me. Tell me... what would you rather I refer to myself as? I mean, I'm just here to please you, after all. It's what's expected of me, as a lowly mudblood woman," she said, voice dripping of sarcasm as she flicked some ash towards the ground.
But music is reflection of self, we just explain it, and then we get our checks in the mail
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Elias clicked his tongue, the smile on his face slipping as he frowned at the rather snappy redhead. "Well met Aggy Clearwater." His voice was still smooth as honey as he watched her walk to the window. She seemed tense, aggressive even. He could name a few Durmstrang students off the top of his head that resembled her demeanour, but he knew all their stories, he wondered what hers was. He tapped his smoke on the edge of the window, the ash floating down out of the castle. The breeze picked it up and sent it scattering into the stone below.
He should have noticed sooner with the prickly way that she spoke, that his attempt at a light-hearted dismissal of her assumptions would be fighting words to this Gryffindor. Elias knew that they held claim to many passionate individuals, which was honestly a little draining to be around 24/7. "Sorry." He hedged, not clarifying if it was for the words or just her reaction. His frown deepened as she reused that same slur, and paired it with the word women. He refused to budge from the slouched position against the wall but his eyes narrowed. "I'm glad you've pegged me so well. Within a few seconds, you've decided my characters my values and views. Quite a talent." He replied dryly, the nicotine taste almost as bitter as his words. He, himself, was quite judgemental and he knew this of himself but he didn't like assumptions being made about him. Call him a hypocrite if you'd like, he wouldn't be too bothered.
The Swiss student ran a languid hand through his hair, fluffing it up a little. "You come on a little strong, you know? Those are certainly fighting words." Yet, Elias could not muster too much more than slight irritation and just wanted to roll his eyes. It was almost boring, the constant posturing that these Hogwarts students amounted in the sight of a Durmstrang student. Couldn't they see that Elias and his school mates wanted to go back to their own school just as much, if not more, than the Hogwarts students?
Post by AGNES CLEARWATER on May 14, 2020 12:01:30 GMT
I'm glad you've pegged me so well. Within a few seconds, you've decided my characters my values and views. Quite a talent. Immediately, the words had Aggy bristling. Was she judging a book by it's cover? Yes, possibly, but sometimes you just needed to glance at a book to know the contents weren't worth reading - and look at that, she'd become philosophical. Just call her Aristotle, or maybe not because she didn't fancy being referenced to a misogynistic old man in this lifetime, thank you very much. But... begrudgingly, Aggy had to admit that maybe he had a point - maybe she was being too quick to judge. Clearing her throat, she pursed her lips briefly before saying, "Are you not a purist then? You use a muggle lighter, yet have an objection to being called a muggle name. It may come as a shock, but I'm not a mind reader. I can't just tell which of the Durmstrangs are and aren't purist on sight."
It wasn't the first time she'd been told she came on strong but to be fair, it had been her intention to come across as such. She'd rather have that being the opinion about her than being seen as some sort of weakling, one practically begging people to trample all over her. She'd played that role before, back in second year, she wasn't looking to do so again. Instead of objecting to the accusation, Aggy shrugged one shoulder. "Is that your way of saying you're looking for a fight? Because, I have to tell you..." she began, taking a thoughtful drag of her cigarette and the tiniest hint of dry humour creeping into her voice, "If it's a physical one, I would lose miserably because you're the size of a half-grown troll, and I barely come half-way up your chest."
But music is reflection of self, we just explain it, and then we get our checks in the mail
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He gave a shrug, considering his answer to her question. She'd seen through his vague responses, and it obviously didn't settle her. He breathed out another gust of smoke and replies slowly, "Blood purity..." Tapping his fingers on his lips, he tilted his head. "I don't like muggles; I'll make that clear. I understand there is a clear difference between muggles and their magical offspring. New blood is vital, so we continue to exist, and since muggle-borns don't have an intrinsical class within our society- most muggle-borns work harder than most purebloods. At least that's what I've observed." He sighed softly, taking another drag before putting it out with the cold stone wall.
He didn't like to share his political leanings, especially after such a small amount of time between meeting and sharing. Elias had a feeling it would either ease this girl's fears, or she'd flip out on him. If she had another nasty comment, he was considering just slinking out now that he'd finished his cigarette. He rolled his eyes with a smirk as she called him a half-grown troll. "I'd make a similar comment about your height, but I don't want you to bruise my stomach, which is where you'd reach. I don't fight so you might have a chance, but I dance so I might be able to dodge." He mused, hand slipping into his pocket to procure two small french lollies."Want one?" He offered, popping on into his mouth.
Post by AGNES CLEARWATER on May 16, 2020 8:15:07 GMT
Elias' response reminded Aggy of that one Christmas when she was ten and really wanted a book about palentology, more than anything in the world. When she'd unwrapped her presents, steadily ignoring the little argument her parents were having at the time, she'd be disappointed to find that there was no such book - but instead, there was a book all about archaeology. The Christmas had been okay, not a complete write-off, but it hadn't been amazing either, much like Elias' answer. "I... so what you're saying is you'd hate my parents with a passion - and, I mean, same - but you don't hate me just because I'm a muggleborn?" Aggy said, her tone moving into more neutral territory. She could... somewhat begrudgingly understand his opinions of muggles, even though she didn't accept them and would likely wind up arguing about it with him at some point. Muggles had a long history of Bad ReactionsTM to wizardfolk, so naturally a lot of purebloods weren't always going to be gung ho about them, much like muggles weren't going to ever going to embrace magic with open arms.
I don't want you to bruise my stomach. Just like that, with one savage burn, Aggy's entire demeanour changed and she let out a loud snort. "Well met, Elias Luthi," she said, mirroring his words from earlier, the corners of her mouth twitching. Her shoulders, previously tense, loosened a notch. At least now she knew he wasn't about to hex her for existing and hell, he was even up for some banter. He had become... tolerable. "I don't fight either, though... and this will probably come as a shock to you... there are people in Hogwarts who would probably like to throw a punch my way." It was a side effect of always having something to say, and not holding back when it came to opinions.
"If I keel over and die because you've poisoned me, I'll come back and haunt your arse," she warned as she took forward, taking the sweet from his fingers and popping into her own mouth. "Which did the professors, in all of their infinite wisdom, place you in? I heard that just... shoved people wherever there was room. I feel sorry for whoever wound up in the ever-delightful company of the Avery twins."
But music is reflection of self, we just explain it, and then we get our checks in the mail
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He gave a non-committal hum in response to her question before explaining further, "I don't hate you. I don't even know you." He admitted, watching with a wary eye as she seemed to relax just a little, and sucked on the sweet lolly in his mouth. His smile returned as she repeated his greeting, grateful that she'd begun to loosen up a little. Elias snorted as she spoke about people who might wish her harm, and all he was hearing was that she liked to pick fights. "I couldn't imagine why." He mused sarcastically, his smile growing wider. He was toeing the line between banter and outright rudeness, but he didn't want to tread on thin ice- or was it walk on eggshells?
"It's a good risk to take; they're called Bêtises de Cambrai. I'd tell you they're my favourite, but I fear you'd tell me they are horrible just to hurt my feelings." He flicked his hair out of his eyes and scrunched his face up, gesturing to her robes. "Gryffindor. I think Slytherin would have suited me fine. I've got Greyson Avery in my dorm. It's an interesting group, that's for sure." Greyson was quite vulgar, but Elias hadn't been exposed to him enough to make a full judgement. "What'd they do to you? Must be a story behind your dislike, for you to mention them to me?"
Post by AGNES CLEARWATER on May 22, 2020 9:52:59 GMT
"Yeah, because it's not like people hate people they don't know all the time," Aggy said dryly, although there was no venom behind her words. As Elias shot a sarcastic jab at her, saying, 'I couldn't imagine why,' in regards to some people wanting to throw a punch at her, Aggy's lips twitched again because, "No, neither. I'm an angel, sent from above. Who, in their right mind, would want to smack a messenger in the face? Monsters, that's who." She could only keep up what she was saying for so long before she was huffing out a small laugh, shaking her head.
"If they were just straight up mint, I'd tell you they suck and I don't want to eat toothpaste, but I guess you got lucky. I won't have to hurt your feelings today." There was a hint of... what was it? Caramel? Vanilla? Which luckily outweighed the toothpastey flavouring of the the sweet. She nodded as the boy declared Slytherin would have suited him just fine, unperturbed. She didn't have an issue with Slytherins, only when they started spewing our pureblood rhetoric and hatred. Roman was a Slytherin and one of her closest friends... although maybe not lately, since she'd snapped at him so thoroughly the other day.
"What's wrong with the Averys? Let me get all Shakespeare on you and count the ways," Aggy said, adopting a posh British voice before just as quickly dropping it. "They're both just... insufferable. Greyson has this bad boy schtick, like some bad impersonation of John Bender, but he's not nearly as cool as he thinks he is. He's just a twat who likes to rag on people for fun. When I was in first year -" Aggy cut herself off, shaking her head. It wasn't a fun memory, and she wasn't in the mood for sharing. "Then Gabriel is meant to be the nice guy, right? Or he tries to play that part. His girlfriend falls for it hook, line and sinker. But he can be just as cruel. You just have to keep an ear out." She knew that she could be prickly at times, standoffish and even mean to those she didn't like, but cruel? Taunting? Mocking? She liked to think those traits weren't in her nature and she didn't generally kick people when they were down, not like the Averys did.
