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!
Sometimes it could be a little secluded to live on Hogwarts grounds with only students and a few colleagues around. But it wasn't as if Runa minded much. Not at all actually. She'd been much more secluded at other times in her life with not a single other human being nearby and she had definitely enjoyed it very much. But she would sacrifice the seclusion when it meant helping out some creature or other. Her friends in Sweden had put a dragon breeder in contact with her for some tincture or other, she wasn't entirely sure. So in order to try and find out what was needed, she had arranged for a meeting in Hogsmeade, choosing the Hog's Head in favour of the diversity of clientele here. People would not turn their heads quickly at talks about dragons in here as they would in the Three Broomsticks. Runa had put on quite a few layers of a linnen dress, a cardigan and a wide shawl under a cloak along with arm warmers, leg warmers and she had actually bothered to put on boots for once. She always went barefoot wherever she went, but she knew that she would eventually be walking on stone tiles today and that was rather uncomfortable in winter even for her. A little bag attached to her belt contained a notebook and some coins as well as one or the other oddity.
Breathing the winter air, Runa walked through the empty village street towards the pub. Once she had gotten herself some mulled wine she sat down at a table near the window and waited for the dragon breeder.
Erik had gotten a notification about how he was to meet someone about his line of work, he didn't mind since he was in England anyway for not only work but to visit his family. Family, he was glad that he had gotten a chance to be a family with the one he has, if not adopted by his adoptive parents he has no idea what he'd be. As he walked into the Inn, he got himself a beer before he began to scope out to see if the woman was here yet. His eyes passed over a woman and it looked like her but he wasn't sure. Erik walked over and gave a polite smile.
"Hi are you Runa?" he asked before he went looking for who he was supposed to meet that day.
"Yes, I am," she agreed when a young man came over to her. There couldn't be that many people in Hogsmeade looking for someone they had never met before, so it had to be the dragon breeder. "What was your name again?" she asked unabashed and waited for him to sit down.
If Runa was being honest, she was actually quite looking forward to doing some different work again for once and dragons was something she could definitely enjoy. "So you're a dragon breeder?" she asked, just to make sure. "What do you need? How can I help you?" she asked straight out before taking a sip of her wine, which warmed her all the way down to her imprisoned toes. The Herbology teacher took out the note book from her small bag, putting it on the table, ready to note down what she might need.
When she confirmed who she was, Erik was glad as he took a seat across from her with his beer in hand. He was quite shocked that she was into dragons but then again looks could be deceiving when it came down to it.
When she asked who he was again he couldn't help but chuckle a bit. "My name is Erik Jones, I must say that I am kind of shocked you're interested in dragons but I am glad I can nerd out with someone with the same interest" and he meant that.
"Yes I am a dragon breeder, a young one but if you have the passion for it then its a good passion. Well Runa, can you tell me what kind of experience you have with dragons before I tell you how you can help and what not?" Erik asked.
One of Runa's eyebrows rose in confusion when the dragon breeder confessed himself shocked that she was interested in dragons. What was that supposed to mean? Didn't she look enough out of place to be considered part of the more secluded community taking care of dragons? It had been Almir who had gotten her in touch with the first dragon handlers she had known. Those nights she had spent with that group of odd people sitting around a big bonfire had been some of the few she had actually enjoyed in the company of several people. She thought back fondly to those weeks she had spent with them. "I believe some of my friends in Sweden helped you find me." Probably with 5 other people in between, but they had sent her a letter telling her that someone was looking for her help. "They're a small community taking care of a dragon enclosure. I've helped them out now and then with rare tinctures and potions." She shrugged. Dragons could be rather difficult to treat as there weren't so many mad people studying them to know what they needed. And that what they needed wasn't always readily available in the average store.
"However, to 'nerd out' you should probably speak to my friend Almir. He's the one for creatures. I'm mostly interested in the plants and potions," she informed him, wondering if he knew Al by any chance.
Erik couldn't tell if he offended her or not, he really hoped that he didn't because that would totally suck and would be a terrible first impression when it came down to them potentially working together when it came to dragons. "Yes, I know a few of your friends said that you were very talented and that was enough for me to know. I need someone with smarts and know what they're doing when it comes to this line of business. I really hope I didn't offend you before, usually females I encounter they're scared to even go near one of those dragons I breed" Erik tried to clear this up. When it came to her talking about her friend, the name did sound familiar.
"The name sounds familiar to me yes, if I see his face then I might know better when it comes to that more then a name" Erik replied.
For society's sake Runa could've said that she was flattered that her friends had called her talented and that Erik was ready to believe them. But Runa knew her strengths and weaknesses well enough to not feel uncomfortable receiving the compliment. It was true. Runa knew her potions pretty well and didn't shy away from a task when it wasn't according to the textbook but required her to find new solutions. It was what made her perfect in heping the dragon keepers and an ideal partner for Almir and all of his different and rare creatures. Runa smirked about the comment that her attitude towards dragons was not what the other had expected of a woman. "I'm not afraid of creatues," she informed him matter-of-factly. She'd seen enough creatures to be confident in her statement.
Runa chuckled when Erik said that he'd have to see a face to be able to tell if he knew Almir or not. "He's a quarter-giant. Big, muscly guy with a beard. You'd know if you've seen him before." Everyone remembered Al. And if not, for whatever reason, not for his size, then for his gentle nature. He was often boisterous but always kind hearted.
Erik could see that she was very ready and prepared to help him with whatever he needed when it came to his line of work, it was good for him since he needed all the help he could get when it came to his pride and joy. "Well I am glad you're not afraid, dragons may be known for being dangerous but they're really understood beasts that want to be noticed as such. They deserve to not be frowned upon" Erik loved his job and those gorgeous creatures.
When she began to explain Al he chuckled and nodded. "Yes I know exactly who that is, he is a treat to be around that is definitely for sure" Erik liked Al for sure. When Runa began to ask what she could do that could help him he sighed and got down to business. Taking a sip of his beer before he spoke. "I need medicine, I know sometimes the dragons get into fights with one another and that is totally normal when it comes down to their nature but sometimes they get really scratched up and I was hoping that since you're a Herbology expert you could come up with something natural and unharming. Maybe even some medicine for if and when they fall ill, that would definitely help me out in the long run" Erik explained what he needed.
Runa inclided her head when Erik defended the dragons. It sounded so much like something Almir would say and she'd heard it a thousand times before. But apparently other people hadn't. Especially those who needed to hear it, like those blighters at the Ministry. But Runa wouldn't get worked up about that now.
She had to smile finding out how far Almir's circle of friends stretched. Sometimes she was a bit envious of how he made friends so easily and how everyone seemed to like him, at least in their field of work. "I live with Almir on Hogwarts grounds. If you want, you can join us for dinner later and say hi," she offered, knowing Almir would love to have a guest over.
Scratches and wounds she could deal with easily, Runa decided at the description of the problem the man had. However she couldn't produce some kind of miracle tinkture against the beasts coming down sick. "I can provide you with potions and salves to help heal wounds, but if there's one sick, I'm afraid you'll have to send an owl describing the symptoms, or I can't help you much or might even do damage. I can then provide you with what you need," she offered and quickly scribbled down a few ingredients she knew she was running low on for what she needed to make.
Erik and his line of work were a package deal and he was glad that he had people who understood him and that was good for him. When Runa suggested that he should join her and Al for dinner he smiled politely and nodded to her. "If you nor Al mind I would love to join you. I hardly ever got a social life since I am usually working and if I'm not I'm stuck inside my home ordering take-out food" Erik explained to her. He hardly had friends since they had their own lives and families and it caused him to be stuck alone.
Runa began to jot things down and he had to admit it was a good idea for when one needed to remember. Usually he just tried to remember. "Thank you Runa, I do appreciate you helping me out with the wounds and I will definitely let you know when they're ill, I guess it would be helpful to know more instead of just going off of a whim and all" it did make sense to him.
Runa could definitely agree with the statement of not having a social life. But it wasn't as if it bothered her. Not anymore. At school she had been bullied for her lack of friends, but now there was nobody anymore who bothered. She had Al, her very best friend, she had her occupation and she, along with Almir, had loads of creatures for company. And sometimes Al even brought friends, or even random strangers over for dinner, but that was no more, since security measures had been taken to ensure the safety of the school.... oh... "Oh, I just remembered, since the last attack in Hogsmeade, no outsiders are allowed on Hogwarts grounds," she informed the dragon breeder, shrugging apologetically. "Maybe you can come by another time once the bans have been lifted," she suggesting, hoping it didn't sound like a cheap excuse. Erik wasn't too hard to be around, even for her and she wouldn't actually mind another meeting.
"You're welcome," she replied to the man's words of thanks. "How much longer are you in the country? I'll send you the salve by owl as soon as it's ready."
Erik totally forgot when it came to Hogwarts that there were certain bans on the school and it did make total sense since the attack had left people dead and injured, it was absolutely horrible and his heart definitely went out to the families that had lost someone in the attacks. "Oh I totally understand that law, there is no harm done Runa, if anything we can always meet up another time and just meet somewhere in the middle. Maybe if the two of you would like I could talk to my job into maybe letting you both come see where the dragons are trained and what not?" Erik would try but he is definitely making no promises.
When she asked how long he was going to be around he thought about it before answering. "Well I try to stay for about a month but sometimes it never lasts that long due to the fact we get new dragons in and it requires me to go back a little earlier, but as of right now it's a month" Erik explained.
