Open Wolves in the news

[Linden Kinnek]

It was breakfast time and linden was sitting at the hufflepuff table. there was nothing special about the day he looked around as he put bacon onto his plate. a rustle above him indicated the arrival of the post. he looked up and saw a flurry of owls arriving against a lightly clouded sky. it was a normal post some with newspapers and some with letters. what he didn't expect was that an owl with a ministry tag on him would land in front of him. or that the owl would be holding a paper. "Hey pretty. thank you for the paper" he said taking the paper before pulling some of the bacon from his plate and feeding the bird before it soundlessly flew away.
the prophet was tied in a roll with a note attached. dear lin, I hope that you are having a good day, I thought you may want to read this just in case anyone says anything," it said in his mum's messy scrawl.
he put the note aside glanced across at his friends. it didn't take him two moments to see what his mum had intended him to read the words WEREWOLVES IN OUR WORLD was plastered across the page with a small picture of his mum in the corner. "it looks like my mum has made it into the paper" he said starting to read the article as he ate the toast. he didn't get far before he stopped chewing his eyebrows raising no way. that couldn't be right. "there has been a werewolf attack' he said in shock.

 

[Leda Layton]

Asides from Mervyn and Zennon, Leda didn't really bother to sit with the people her own age these days. Since Wendall had joined the school, and since the events at the beginning of the year she'd been looking out for her cousin too more now anyway, sitting with him if there was a spare space. She'd been graduating soon anyway, so it wouldn't be long until the second year was clear of her too. Lysander was there too, but he was cool, she mostly just let him ramble on about the next animal or movie he'd seen, nodding along when it felt appropriate. She was munching on her cereal when a newspaper of her own landed in front of her although it was Linden that actually moved to open it first, and she looked across the table to gauge his reaction, slowly down her eating as she realised something wasn't right. She hadn't really spoken to Willow properly since they fell out but she wanted to before the year was through, and this Hufflepuff seemed to be unbiased to his relative anyway so he was easy to sit with. "What is it?" she asked, lowering her spoon and taking her own newspaper, pulling off the strings to read it properly. Linden spoke about a werewolf attack and her heart quickened, although it wasn't because of the nature of the attack. It was her sisters name, right there at the top of the article. She glanced between Wendall and Linden, too shocked to say anything as she felt like she'd instantly eaten too much for breakfast. "It was a werewolf that killed Olive," she said quietly, eyes returning back to the page to scan the words. They still had to live in this house during the holidays. She was the one who was meant to look after Wendall now. And why would a werewolf have gone after her sister?​

 

[Wendall Layton]

Wendall was quite happy to be sat surrounded by people, and he was trying to see how much juice he could get into his goblet before it split over when the two students next to him started talking about werewolves. In all honesty it barely even registered to the second year. Werewolves were normal. They were part of their world, there were some around them all the time, and they were in horror movies which kind of seemed a bit unfair now that he knew what they were properly, but they weren't actually that scary. He grinned to Lysander, wondering if he would be impressed that the tension of the juice was holding it all in place when he heard Leda say Olive's name. "Huh?" he turned to face his cousin, before looking over the table to the other Hufflepuff, both of whom had their heads in their newspapers. "What.. why?" Wendall was too confused to really know what to ask properly. How would a werewolf have even gotten into the house? He looked back at Lysander who he knew would be the best person to know about animals, "I didn't think werewolves attacked people?"​

 

[Lysander Summers]

Lysander seemed to spend more time at the Hufflepuff table these days than he did with all his fellow Gryffindors, bar Emma occasionally. From Wendall to his sister, it just seemed to be the easiest place to find out where they were and spend time with them. The boy rested his chin on the table, watching the juice his friend was pouring to see if it would spill over, while Fuzzfeathers picked at what was left of his breakfast. His owl had already flown in to deliver a letter from home, but he'd set it aside until he was on his own to read. It seemed as if other people were getting their own deliveries too, and at the mention of a werewolf attack, he sat bolt upright, his knee bumping into the table and spilling some of the juice from the goblet. "A werewolf attack?" He repeated, rubbing at his knee. He was unsure he'd heard Linden correctly until Leda repeated it. He'd never actually heard of any attacks before. "I don't know. I don't think Alistair ever attacked anyone, but my dad always said he had to be kept safe in case he got hurt." He shrugged at his friend. His parents never let him know too much about what went on, but he couldn't imagine someone like his cousin hurting someone else, and he was the only werewolf he knew. "Maybe it's wrong? Why would a werewolf do that?" He asked. Especially Olive. It didn't make any sense.​

 

[Linden Kinnek]

Linden felt the table knock spilling juice onto the back of his copy. not that he cared about the sport. that was more willows section. "yes a werewolf attack. It looks like a lady was killed" he said. scanning gown the article. a lady called olive had died. the young hufflepuff had forgotten that Leda was sitting with them as she was sitting the other side of wendall and was as much older than he was as you could be other than the professors it wasnt until she too spoke out repeating what he had read in the paper that he turned to look at her. "Who's olive?" he asked. wondering if he should know who this person was. it sure sounded like it was someone important. before he had heard ledas answer Wendall had asked a question. "they don't usually. i mean they can but most can track the moon enough to take wolfsbane or find somewhere secure. but that doesn't mean it can't happen. if they forget to take the potion or the secure place isn't as safe as they thought. that is were new werewolves come from, they don't breed like normal he said. he said before realising he just denied his own existence. "I mean their children aren't wereolves he corrected.

 

[Wendall Layton]

Wendall lowered his gaze, listening to Sanders talk about someone he presumably knew. The Hufflepuff didn't know why a werewolf would actually go out and attack someone, especially if they had the potions to stop it. Linden asked who Olive was and it was as though Leda wasn't even listening anymore, lost in her own thoughts. "Um, Olive was er. Olive was Leda's older sister. My cousin. She used to be a professor here when Leda was like.. my age I think," he said, looking nervously between Linden and the Slytherin who wasn't moving. Wendall couldn't even tell what she was looking at, it was though her gaze had gone straight through the article completely. Wendall listened to Linden talk about the potions, "she used to teach Potions here. She had loads of clients that she made potions for at home," he added, thinking it might be helpful. Maybe the werewolf had wanted her potions? The second year peered over the Head Girl's arm, trying to figure out whether it said anything about a robbery too.​

 

[Leda Layton]

It was like all the blood had drained out of Leda's head the moment she heard Lysander talk about his cousin. Her mind flashing back to that day in the common room, how she'd spoken to her friend, helped him even, by pointing him in the direction of her sister. Surely that couldn't have been the case? Leda knew he was struggling, that's why she'd done what she had. The Slytherin could barely hear the boys talking as her mind raced, trying not to panic as the realisation set in that she was a lot more responsible for what had happened that she'd originally anticipated. She couldn't speak her mind though, not until she was sure, and especially not to some of the youngest students in the school. She brought her head back into the room, clearing her throat the best she could and nodded at Wendall's description. What could she say though when she had no words? This was something she had to keep to herself. It took all of her effort not to let her muscles shake and she daren't look anyone in the eye. ​

 

[Lysander Summers]

Lysander listened to Linden explain werewolves in more detail. It still didn't make a lot of sense to him. If they were at risk of hurting or killing someone if they didn't take their medicine, then taking it wasn't something Sander thought he could just forget about if it were him. "So do you think it was an accident?" He asked Linden. If one had gotten out of its safe place without meaning to, and didn't know what it was doing, then it sounded kind of sad. He didn't know of many animals that killed people just because it wanted to, and that was the only base of reference he had for when people turned into wolves without being able to control it. He knew they weren't quite like animagi, as he'd used to think. His dad had explained that much. The atmosphere around the table was beginning to get uncomfortable. Leda was like a statue, and he knew what it had been like for Wendall right after Olive died, and hearing about it again wasn't going to help. He'd avoided bringing Olive up as much as possible. "Are you guys okay?" He asked with a small frown of concern. He still couldn't imagine what it was like to lose someone like that. Even though he'd known Olive too, and he'd been sad about her dying, he knew it wasn't the same for him as it was for them.​

 

[Linden Kinnek]

Linden nodded as wendall described who Olive was. "Oh. I'm sorry" was all he could say. what else could be said. he knew werewolf attached happened. both of his parents had been attacked long before he had been born, before they had even met. but all the attacks he had heard of hadn't been fatal. as Lysander spoke up he finished skimming the article. his mum's voice playing in his head as he read her interview. it sounded so much like her. "The paper seems to think it was. my mum does too" he said referring to her interview. He glanced at leda but she wasn't looking at anyone just looking at the paper. no looking through the paper at nothing. "leda, are you okay?" he asked

 

[Wendall Layton]

Wendall wasn't sure what to think. If it was an accident then it wouldn't have been a murder, would it? "Olive probably had loads of potions anyway. It couldn't have been because a wolf didn't get that." he said, glancing across to Lysander and Leda, the latter still didn't look very good. "They say they're still investigating it." he stated, hoping that they would be able to figure out sooner or later who had done this. Wendall was unsure about the upcoming holidays, whether or not the wolf would come back for them, but if Olive had been killed maybe they'd gotten what they needed. The second year was a bit glum and confused as he looked between the trio, not really sure on what to think himself. "Do you.. do you think there's any werewolves in the school right now?" he asked, lowering his voice in case anyone overheard him. He wanted to know but he felt like it would be a big secret to let out. ​

 

[Leda Layton]

Surely they were right, it had to have been an accident, not a murder. No one in right mind would want to murder Olive, at least none that she knew of, so maybe it was just a case of ridiculously bad luck. Not that that did much for the rest of her thoughts in her brain. Accident or not, there was someone that stood out to her that she entirely convinced as plausible and she didn't care what their excuse was. Olive had to trust her clients, she'd worked from her home. If she'd been murdered in her home, what on earth had happened to Amortentia and Felix that night? It wasn't the first time she'd questioned whether her niece and nephew had been safe, but now they weren't just dealing with a regular witch or wizard. There had been a werewolf, in her house. "Fine." she said bluntly, not wanting to say any more to them about what she was really thinking. "I don't know, probably." She'd known a couple to attend the school since she'd been there, but they didn't usually tend to be obvious about it. ​

 

[Chante Harvelle-Ateara]

Chante yawns, entering the great hall feeling like she hadn't slept in weeks. The prefect couldn't wait until the end of the school year, all this studying and staying up all night had to be unhealthy for her. She stretched her long arms before she settle them at her side. Chante approach the small group of boys and Leda that was already at the Hufflepuff table. Chante glance around at all their faces, they seemed sad including Leda. She looked more out of it if anything. "Hey, good morning? What's up with all the glum faces? Did something happen?"

 

[Lysander Summers]

Lysander listened, not sure what to say to help lighten the mood. This was the kind of situation he'd have rather avoid at all costs, but he couldn't just leave the table when all of his friends were so down. He fed his owl a strip of his breakfast, and listened to Wendall ask if there were any werewolves in the school now. Since Alistair had graduated, Sander didn't really know. If he hadn't been told, he might have never found out. Werewolves were so normal. He lifted himself up in his seat, looking around at the other tables as if a werewolf would suddenly pop up, having its breakfast with everyone else. To no one's surprise, no one looked out of place. "Even if there were more werewolves here, and they forgot to take their potions, I think we'd be okay. Castles are pretty safe." He shrugged. Hogwarts was lacking in a drawbridge and a cool moat, but he didn't think they were in any danger. "My dads an animagus, and he says animagi are good at helping werewolves. He'd know what to do." He continued, in case there was still any worry. He looked up when Chante arrived and asked why everyone was so down. "Leda's sister was eaten by a werewolf." He told her without really thinking about it until the words had left his mouth. "Um, I mean, I don't know if she was eaten. The Prophet said she was killed by one, maybe." He finished quickly, miming a sorry to his friends. Did werewolves eat people if they escaped and didn't have their potions? He didn't know. He forked some pancake into his mouth instead, letting someone else talk.​

 

[Linden Kinnek]

linden listened. as wendall said that olive had a lot of potions. "she mad have but wolfsbane only lasts for the month it is brewed. so if she hadn't brewed that month if she didn't have it, and it is expensive to brew just for the chance of it" he said. he knew he wouldn't be learning about the potion in class for a few years but it was one of the things he knew from home. "and my mum said that when she was at school here there was a secret room she had to spend the full moon in. where she was on her own couldn't escape and no one else could access." she said. his mum hadn't let on where the room was even when he had asked stating that she didn't want him anywhere near it. As Chante came over he nodded at him. "morning chante. mum is in the paper, if you want to read" he said. offering her his copy of the paper as Lysander blurted out that ledas sister was killed by a werewolf. not considering that it made it sound like his mum had killed ledas sister.

 

[Willow Cullen]

it was a typical morning and willow was in the great hall eating her scrambled eggs on toast as the post arrived. she swallowed her mouthful as a ministry barn owl landed in front of her with a paper. she read the note and then unrolled the paper. the reason her mum had sent her the paper was clear on the front page. she read through the article as she finished her food it was interesting though she had known about it. it was the reason that she had sent leda a rose on valentines day.
once she had finished the article she looked around the hall and was surprised to see that both linden, chante and leda were all together at the Hufflepuff table. she picked up the paper and made her way over to the Hufflepuff table. she heard on of the boys asked if there were any werewolves in the school "not that i know of. there were a couple of last year but they both left" she said. thinking of her friend but also the last potions professor who she had guessed was one after one class after the full moon when he looked like hell. "are you okay lin?" she asked. before looking at leda. she said she was fine but the expression on her face was not one of fine. it reminded her of how she felt after she broke up with noelle. "hey leda, did you want to go somewhere else, get a bit of fresh air?" she said wondering if that would make her feel better before people started to stare at her.

 

[Wendall Layton]

Maybe Lysander was right, castles were safe, but that wouldn't mean that the house he and Leda would be staying in over the holidays would be did it. They weren't like Lysander, who came from a magical family that would be able to protect them. Wendall looked at his friend in shock when he out rightly and bluntly told an older girl that Olive was eaten by a wolf. He hadn't really thought about it like that and he had to try not to cry at the table. He had to rationalise it in his head. Of course the Gryffindor hadn't meant it that way. Wendall wasn't sure Linden was accurate either, if Olive knew her clients wouldn't she know that she needed what potions to give out? Unless it was someone she hadn't actually be expecting. Another girl joined them too, who seemed to know Linden and he sort of recognised her from the duelling club. Her hair had made her a bit memorable. At least if there were any other werewolves in the castle they should have been safe from them, but Wendall wouldn't have minded at least knowing who they were. "Your mum works for the paper?" he asked, wondering how Linden and his older sister person seemed to know so much.​

 

[Leda Layton]

Leda couldn't even bring herself to shoot Lysander a glare at his comment when Chante looked up. She was about to offer the Hufflepuff the paper but Linden got to it first, and suddenly Willow joined them too, asking if she wanted to go outside. In all honestly, yes she did. She felt like she was drowning in their conversation but she was confused about Willow. They hadn't actually spoken properly since they fell out over.. something, a few years ago and had been at each others necks for years. She'd forgotten why really, was it even important anymore? She had an inkling that the prefect had sent her a rose but she'd had get to confirm it for sure. Leda was sat quietly at the table, seemingly the only one not talking even though she knew she was meant to be the role model for them all right now. She straightened herself in her seat a little before talking, "If there's another werewolf in the school, they would be fine here. Monty.. Professor Pendleton would give them wolfbane." Wendall wasn't her only relation in the school, but thinking of Monty made her wonder how he would take this news too. It couldn't have been easy for him to hear about Olive. She looked up to the Gryffindor who'd asked her if she wanted to leave, and Leda knew she had to but not like this. "No, I er, I need to go and sort something out," she said, removing herself from the table. Her focus right now was just to not break down and show the panic on her face, looking across the room to see if she could find Mervyn. "I'll catch up with you later," she said briefly, primarily to Willow, before abandoning her position and heading out the Great Hall. ​

​

Leda's follow on topic..​

 

[Chante Harvelle-Ateara]

Chante's jaw drops horrified what was coming out of the young Gryffindor's mouth before back tracking his words. Chante considers Lysander's age, how younger students like to exaggerate the truth at times. It's possible, but he was a bit reckless retelling of the news. Thanks to Linden, she'll read the facts for herself. And even without reading the article, Chante know of two loving werewolves who weren't prone to eating human meat. She wanted to believe Lysander was exaggerating. Which he clearly was once Chante read the article. The woman was maimed not eaten by a werewolf. Possibly. What wasn't a lie is that it happen to Leda's older sister. "Oh, I'm so sorry Leda. My condolences to you and your family," Chante finally spoke. She read the article again, aunty Briar did a good job during the interview. Chante can sense her aunt's patience with the reporter by reading the way she responded to the reporter's questions. "Give her some time, give her some space," Chante tells Willow. The tall prefect went to sit down and have a bit breakfast before she headed upstairs for her lesson that day.

 

[Linden Kinnek]

Linden looked up as he heard some footsteps approaching. "Morning Will. I see you got the paper" he said referring to the bundle of pages in her hand that was very familiar to the ones he as carrying. as his sister spoke he was surprised. two? he had only heard of one. Alistair.
as Wendall asked if his mum worked for the paper. "no. she works for the ministry. but they interviewed her in the paper" he said.
the first year shrugged as willow asked if he was okay. "Why shouldn't i be? or i shuld be more so than leda and wendall. " he said. truth be told he was a bit unsure. he hadnt exactly told people what or who his mum was and some of his friends would probably not take it well like casper. as willow offered to go for a walk with leda he was a bit confused. last heh eard willow hated leda. what happened. it seemed there was a lot with his sister that he didnt know.

 

[Willow Cullen]

willow couldn't help but scoff when the younger boy asked if her mum worked for the paper. "no. her job isnt that cool. she has a boring job working at the ministry." she said though she was proud of her mum who was head of department and member of the wisenagemot, and from the stories she told it wasnt that boring a job. at least no now she had moved on from just werewolf support services, but she had always resented that she had always cared for her job and werewolves more than her. she nodded in agteement as leda said any werewolf in the school would be givenwolfsbane by the potions professor. well at least them or the hospital wing which was probably supplied by the potions professor anyway.
Willow watched as the headgirl got up and left she did feel sorry for her having to face this news over breakfast. not that there was a good time to receive the news but probably somewhere private would have been better. as her cousin told her to give leda some space she rolled her eyes. "that was what i was trying to do. give her a way out of the hall." she said. "let me grab my bag and plate and i will join you guys for breakfast, are the pancakes good sander?" she said looking at the boy who had gone very quiet with a mouth full of them chewing away. before turning back to the gryffindor table to collect her things and clear the space for a couple of fourth-years who were wondering where they could sit together.