i'll throw it to you, laika, if you'll chase it
Banner by Prat Pass
threading as Johannes Sauer
dated June 30, 2025. Evening.
If one thing was true, Johannes rarely exposed the Pack's almost-recruits to non-members. He lacked trust in owls and preferred face-to-face information sharing, if only to avoid detection from his expansive network of Hounds. If questioned further, the Pack's "messenger boys" (as he dismissively referred to them) were barely Hounds at all, but the principle of group secrecy still remained intact. Today, however, was an exception.
Wherever they were, each listed Horntail would be briefly approached by a blond underclassman with cunning blue eyes and a stack of plainly decorated envelopes. On the front, read their name in Johannes' handwriting. Obviously added at the last minute in glittery blue ink, the end of each letter also includes the following message:
Unfortunately for everyone involved, I’m not dead yet, so don’t panic.
HAGS! (Have a great summer, you heathens).
For @Valentin Schnell:
Reducio
My Champion, Kapitän and friend,
How will you cope without a dedicated keeper to fill the roster? Thank you for putting up with me for so long and for working so hard towards a better place for us all.
Sorry, I've dodged so many of your well-meaning questions over the years, and for never really being around near the end either. Even with so much on your plate, you meant well and tried your best considering the circumstances. Sometimes, that's all that matters. You didn't have to care, and yet you did so with your entire heart anyway— I've never fully understood it, but I've always respected you for it. And yes, I've teased you for being such a soft, romantic heart before, but it's this wonderful compassion that really defines everything. It's the trail behind a comet.
My fellow thrill-seeker, I hope the future holds nothing but Arthurian-worthy conflicts for you to revel in and succeed. I know it’s not exactly the 'forging through fire' that you've always liked, but I hope you and your precious people get all you’ve ever wanted out of life, and that you stay safe doing so. Don't forget that, for all of your connections, resources and self-sacrifice, you're still someone that people want to keep alive and well. So many people and all of it earned by just being yourself. The impact of your endless support is indescribable. On others, on myself and our little section of Durmstrang as a whole. You're a one-in-a-million, truly. Without you, I don't think any of this could have happened the way that it did. I don't want it to have turned out different, as sometimes dark as these endless skies seem.
I admire you so, so much, Kapitän, and I'm so grateful to have been considered your friend and teammate.
If we ever meet again, you better not become a little pile of ash from burning yourself out. I'll fight all your honour guard into putting you back together again like a real dragon-phoenix if you do, and any injuries (physically or emotionally) will be your fault. The kids that you've saved from themselves won't know what's coming to them! You deserve only the best life has to offer, and I'm sure the path ahead is paved with great things.
If only to save me some face, feel free to ignore this letter... It's already embarrassing enough to write out, let alone discuss. Take care of yourself, Valya.
Your #5,
Johannes
How will you cope without a dedicated keeper to fill the roster? Thank you for putting up with me for so long and for working so hard towards a better place for us all.
Sorry, I've dodged so many of your well-meaning questions over the years, and for never really being around near the end either. Even with so much on your plate, you meant well and tried your best considering the circumstances. Sometimes, that's all that matters. You didn't have to care, and yet you did so with your entire heart anyway— I've never fully understood it, but I've always respected you for it. And yes, I've teased you for being such a soft, romantic heart before, but it's this wonderful compassion that really defines everything. It's the trail behind a comet.
My fellow thrill-seeker, I hope the future holds nothing but Arthurian-worthy conflicts for you to revel in and succeed. I know it’s not exactly the 'forging through fire' that you've always liked, but I hope you and your precious people get all you’ve ever wanted out of life, and that you stay safe doing so. Don't forget that, for all of your connections, resources and self-sacrifice, you're still someone that people want to keep alive and well. So many people and all of it earned by just being yourself. The impact of your endless support is indescribable. On others, on myself and our little section of Durmstrang as a whole. You're a one-in-a-million, truly. Without you, I don't think any of this could have happened the way that it did. I don't want it to have turned out different, as sometimes dark as these endless skies seem.
I admire you so, so much, Kapitän, and I'm so grateful to have been considered your friend and teammate.
If we ever meet again, you better not become a little pile of ash from burning yourself out. I'll fight all your honour guard into putting you back together again like a real dragon-phoenix if you do, and any injuries (physically or emotionally) will be your fault. The kids that you've saved from themselves won't know what's coming to them! You deserve only the best life has to offer, and I'm sure the path ahead is paved with great things.
If only to save me some face, feel free to ignore this letter... It's already embarrassing enough to write out, let alone discuss. Take care of yourself, Valya.
Your #5,
Johannes
For @Romeo Marchonné:
Reducio
Romeo,
As much of a hard-ass as you can be sometimes, that's never the part that I remember first. Of course, I'll never forget Boot Camp. There's no way I could, not after getting put through the wringer so many times. I'm just asking you to terrorise our new recruits too... And every time there's a thunderstorm, I can't help but think of you and Valentin screaming like fucking madmen about Stribog's favour, as if anyone else but our own team could understand Russian in such terrible Quidditch conditions.
I can't promise not to get into any more trouble out of Durmstrang, but at least you won't go prematurely grey because of Slava and me. Sorry to leave the keeper's seat empty so soon before the summer games. Though I've heard that you're not participating this year...? A real pity. You know, for all of Valentin's frequent stowaways, you've always been the anchor to our ship in my eyes.
It's so weird to be writing this out and realising that things won't ever be the same. Somehow, whether on the Quidditch pitch or in those terrible Hogwarts balls, it was as if you always knew how to navigate conflict and take care of everyone afterwards, too. You'd be paranoid and expectant, if not outright resigned to all of our shenanigans, but still marched bravely forward with everyone accounted for. I didn't get into healing because of you, but I definitely admired your talent for it. The situation always felt... safer, somehow, if you were there. Even practices felt more successful with both you and Valentin present. I know now that this is a silly, exceedingly selfish way to think of someone, especially someone younger than me, but it was true for a long time. I’m not quite sure if it still is, but I'm sorry to have put such a great burden on you, even if subconsciously. I also realise that crazy things are happening behind the scenes for you and I’m doubly sorry that we never got to discuss it as we should have.
It's never just been about beater bats, emergency healing and literal decapitation (yeah, I'm never letting that one go). Thank you for being there as much as you were. Thank you for putting up with us, and with me, for as long as you have. I wish you'd reach out for help more often, but I suppose even constant pestering won't change much. We’re both quite familiar with Valentin's insistence, at least.
Stand tall, Hercules, for you've still got several labours left. You do have a good head on your shoulders, though, so I trust that you'll make it through somehow or another. And, if we meet again after this, don't bring this up. Owl me back if you want, but don't mention it in person. It's already awkward enough to imagine our conversation about it.
Take care,
Johannes
As much of a hard-ass as you can be sometimes, that's never the part that I remember first. Of course, I'll never forget Boot Camp. There's no way I could, not after getting put through the wringer so many times. I'm just asking you to terrorise our new recruits too... And every time there's a thunderstorm, I can't help but think of you and Valentin screaming like fucking madmen about Stribog's favour, as if anyone else but our own team could understand Russian in such terrible Quidditch conditions.
I can't promise not to get into any more trouble out of Durmstrang, but at least you won't go prematurely grey because of Slava and me. Sorry to leave the keeper's seat empty so soon before the summer games. Though I've heard that you're not participating this year...? A real pity. You know, for all of Valentin's frequent stowaways, you've always been the anchor to our ship in my eyes.
It's so weird to be writing this out and realising that things won't ever be the same. Somehow, whether on the Quidditch pitch or in those terrible Hogwarts balls, it was as if you always knew how to navigate conflict and take care of everyone afterwards, too. You'd be paranoid and expectant, if not outright resigned to all of our shenanigans, but still marched bravely forward with everyone accounted for. I didn't get into healing because of you, but I definitely admired your talent for it. The situation always felt... safer, somehow, if you were there. Even practices felt more successful with both you and Valentin present. I know now that this is a silly, exceedingly selfish way to think of someone, especially someone younger than me, but it was true for a long time. I’m not quite sure if it still is, but I'm sorry to have put such a great burden on you, even if subconsciously. I also realise that crazy things are happening behind the scenes for you and I’m doubly sorry that we never got to discuss it as we should have.
It's never just been about beater bats, emergency healing and literal decapitation (yeah, I'm never letting that one go). Thank you for being there as much as you were. Thank you for putting up with us, and with me, for as long as you have. I wish you'd reach out for help more often, but I suppose even constant pestering won't change much. We’re both quite familiar with Valentin's insistence, at least.
Stand tall, Hercules, for you've still got several labours left. You do have a good head on your shoulders, though, so I trust that you'll make it through somehow or another. And, if we meet again after this, don't bring this up. Owl me back if you want, but don't mention it in person. It's already awkward enough to imagine our conversation about it.
Take care,
Johannes
For @Vyacheslav Aleksandrovich Preobrazhensky:
Reducio
An meinen Lieblingskünstler,
So, this is it. The end of our lives at Durmstrang. Graduation. We've been at the threshold of this for a while, but I still don't feel prepared to leave everything behind. It's crazy to think we won't be able to see each other again in the hallways or at practice. This (hopefully) isn't a goodbye, but it certainly feels like it.
It’s as if we met yesterday and yet forever ago, and every day since has been a new adventure. To think this all started because of a broken mirror! Of course you’d look at such a mess and find art in it immediately. From birthday parties to Hexwizard to Quidditch and everything in between, it's been a wild ride. You’ve made life a little more colourful every day, and I can’t thank you enough for it. Even if I've resigned myself to finding glitter everywhere for the rest of my life (it's honestly insane...), I'm so fucking glad we made it through together. I hope adulthood treats you as wonderfully as you've always treated the rest of us. Thank you for being my very best friend. I don't know how Durmstrang would have been without you there.
I hope our roads in life are just starting to detour rather than split off completely. You probably don't need the invitation, but there's so much to see and do outside of Durmstrang's walls that it'd be a pity to waste the rest of our lives becoming strangers. The world's our oyster, or something like that. Just let me know in advance, and I'll try to make time for us to catch up. And I suppose your fiancé(?) can come too, as long as he doesn’t terrorise the local population by sheer presence...
Raise a glass for me at the bar when you get back home! Thank you for everything and more.
We’ll see each other on the other side, my friend.
Ever yours,
Hanya
So, this is it. The end of our lives at Durmstrang. Graduation. We've been at the threshold of this for a while, but I still don't feel prepared to leave everything behind. It's crazy to think we won't be able to see each other again in the hallways or at practice. This (hopefully) isn't a goodbye, but it certainly feels like it.
It’s as if we met yesterday and yet forever ago, and every day since has been a new adventure. To think this all started because of a broken mirror! Of course you’d look at such a mess and find art in it immediately. From birthday parties to Hexwizard to Quidditch and everything in between, it's been a wild ride. You’ve made life a little more colourful every day, and I can’t thank you enough for it. Even if I've resigned myself to finding glitter everywhere for the rest of my life (it's honestly insane...), I'm so fucking glad we made it through together. I hope adulthood treats you as wonderfully as you've always treated the rest of us. Thank you for being my very best friend. I don't know how Durmstrang would have been without you there.
I hope our roads in life are just starting to detour rather than split off completely. You probably don't need the invitation, but there's so much to see and do outside of Durmstrang's walls that it'd be a pity to waste the rest of our lives becoming strangers. The world's our oyster, or something like that. Just let me know in advance, and I'll try to make time for us to catch up. And I suppose your fiancé(?) can come too, as long as he doesn’t terrorise the local population by sheer presence...
Raise a glass for me at the bar when you get back home! Thank you for everything and more.
We’ll see each other on the other side, my friend.
Ever yours,
Hanya
For @Felix Kolbeck:
Reducio
Felix,
Sorry to leave you amid all of these brats, my fellow punk, but duty calls. Hope Durmstrang isn’t too miserable without us graduating seniors. Thanks for being a kindred soul on all things cool and judgment-worthy, seriously. I could always depend on you to dress up well and complain often, even without realising all of my pop culture references. Realising this, I'd like to take you to a concert or the theatre sometime. I think you'd get a kick out of movies. Don't let your family bleach your personality out too much with purebloodry. They're relatively nice (your father scares me still...), but a punk's got to have their spikes. It's a crazy world out here.
Would I be hypocritical to tell you to sleep well? I don't want to hear about our #15 stumbling to class like a zombie, one hand on the wall and the other in Greta's. Congratulations on that, by the way. For all of your hot-cold attitude, the two of you are super sweet for each other. I’ve also attached a dose of dreamless sleep just for you— use it responsibly, or I’ll owl your mother for baby photos to distribute them to all of our friends and Arjan. Don't test it! The goal is to cope, not to bury the whole issue.
If I keep going on any longer, I’ll get terribly sappy and both of us would hate that. Forgive me for threatening our reputations, but I truly am grateful that we knew each other. If you ever want to bitch about Durmstrang's state of affairs, know that I'm here in spirit to share in the mood. You've got greater bark than terror's bite anyway.
Johannes
Sorry to leave you amid all of these brats, my fellow punk, but duty calls. Hope Durmstrang isn’t too miserable without us graduating seniors. Thanks for being a kindred soul on all things cool and judgment-worthy, seriously. I could always depend on you to dress up well and complain often, even without realising all of my pop culture references. Realising this, I'd like to take you to a concert or the theatre sometime. I think you'd get a kick out of movies. Don't let your family bleach your personality out too much with purebloodry. They're relatively nice (your father scares me still...), but a punk's got to have their spikes. It's a crazy world out here.
Would I be hypocritical to tell you to sleep well? I don't want to hear about our #15 stumbling to class like a zombie, one hand on the wall and the other in Greta's. Congratulations on that, by the way. For all of your hot-cold attitude, the two of you are super sweet for each other. I’ve also attached a dose of dreamless sleep just for you— use it responsibly, or I’ll owl your mother for baby photos to distribute them to all of our friends and Arjan. Don't test it! The goal is to cope, not to bury the whole issue.
If I keep going on any longer, I’ll get terribly sappy and both of us would hate that. Forgive me for threatening our reputations, but I truly am grateful that we knew each other. If you ever want to bitch about Durmstrang's state of affairs, know that I'm here in spirit to share in the mood. You've got greater bark than terror's bite anyway.
Johannes
For @Margarethe Fransson:
Reducio
To Durmstrang's heart of hearts,
Of all people, there's no one else I've ever seen more deserving of the world. You light up a whole room just by being yourself, and your enthusiasm for everything is contagious. Even if it means stepping over discarded event outfits and a million Go-Fish cards (how did you learn this game existed again??), I'd never trade knowing you for anything. Thank you for brightening up these last few years. I'm wishing you and Felix all the best! I truly hope that he and his family love you as dearly as you deserve. If they don't and the Horde finds out, all there is to do is escape before heads start rolling. Just kidding. I'm sure they're wonderful, and I'm doubly confident that you'll do great. Give those crups a few pets for me?
This was definitely a collective issue on our part, but I'm sorry if the Horde's overprotectiveness came across as overbearing. For all of our peacocking, we know you're far from a damsel in distress— I won't make any excuses knowing your blatching record on the pitch, at the very least. Between that and quaffle game, you’re such an MVP as our Valkyrie. It’s a shame we can’t play together this summer, Mausi. Either way, it has truly been a great privilege watching you grow into your own woman over the past years. I’m wishing you all the best in everything you set your mind to, and hope Slava and my absence won’t dampen the magic of things too much. I don’t think it will— I look forward to hearing good things about you in the future. You’ve got this.
Much love,
Joho
Of all people, there's no one else I've ever seen more deserving of the world. You light up a whole room just by being yourself, and your enthusiasm for everything is contagious. Even if it means stepping over discarded event outfits and a million Go-Fish cards (how did you learn this game existed again??), I'd never trade knowing you for anything. Thank you for brightening up these last few years. I'm wishing you and Felix all the best! I truly hope that he and his family love you as dearly as you deserve. If they don't and the Horde finds out, all there is to do is escape before heads start rolling. Just kidding. I'm sure they're wonderful, and I'm doubly confident that you'll do great. Give those crups a few pets for me?
This was definitely a collective issue on our part, but I'm sorry if the Horde's overprotectiveness came across as overbearing. For all of our peacocking, we know you're far from a damsel in distress— I won't make any excuses knowing your blatching record on the pitch, at the very least. Between that and quaffle game, you’re such an MVP as our Valkyrie. It’s a shame we can’t play together this summer, Mausi. Either way, it has truly been a great privilege watching you grow into your own woman over the past years. I’m wishing you all the best in everything you set your mind to, and hope Slava and my absence won’t dampen the magic of things too much. I don’t think it will— I look forward to hearing good things about you in the future. You’ve got this.
Much love,
Joho
For @Madhup Hexum:
Reducio
Stinger,
Embarrass some foreigners for me, will you? Playing Quidditch with you and the team was the highlight of my Durmstrang career. I loved speaking, racing and raving over our friends’ terrible decisions with you, even if you’ve never once stayed still while doing your eyeliner... I trust that you’ll be able to do it on your own now, you pampered princess. This is your last chance to return my studded collar before I hunt you down for it. (Not actually. Hold onto it if you want, just as long as you keep up the fine fashion to blind everyone with.)
Make us all proud up there! You’re a great sport, great at your sport (shut up, I know it’s cheesy), and I hope my replacement isn’t too droll. If you fall while standing on your broom, know that I’m laughing at you. Really wish we hung out more. Things could have been so much more interesting with your clever input. Would it be so hard to update me on you and Dee sometime?
All the best,
Johannes
Embarrass some foreigners for me, will you? Playing Quidditch with you and the team was the highlight of my Durmstrang career. I loved speaking, racing and raving over our friends’ terrible decisions with you, even if you’ve never once stayed still while doing your eyeliner... I trust that you’ll be able to do it on your own now, you pampered princess. This is your last chance to return my studded collar before I hunt you down for it. (Not actually. Hold onto it if you want, just as long as you keep up the fine fashion to blind everyone with.)
Make us all proud up there! You’re a great sport, great at your sport (shut up, I know it’s cheesy), and I hope my replacement isn’t too droll. If you fall while standing on your broom, know that I’m laughing at you. Really wish we hung out more. Things could have been so much more interesting with your clever input. Would it be so hard to update me on you and Dee sometime?
All the best,
Johannes
For @Amina Petrovic:
Reducio
My foulplay buddy,
Between you and Slava, I’ll be finding glitter everywhere forever, by the way. Knowing you, you probably find that hilarious, but the only one not laughing is a muggle vacuum cleaner when you clean it out. Sometimes, I'm not sure whether to be impressed or endlessly concerned about all the dangerous stunts you pull, but then I realise how hypocritical it'd be... The point is: Don’t lose the rest of your brain cells in the meantime. You may be tough, but no bone is stronger than stone when it comes to a concussion. I'd like to visit an amusement park with you sometime (rollercoasters are right up your alley), and I'm not sure if magical healing counts towards safety requirements...
Lecturing aside (I know, so boring), I wanted to thank you for being yourself. Despite Durmstrang's doom and gloom, you've been so unapologetically, refreshingly spontaneous and fun. That's something we all need in life sometimes. To you, as long as you come out of it safe and whole and happy, I say reach for the skies. Don't miss us too much, Amimi. Right now is the perfect time to keep steamrolling towards all your ambitions. And don't worry, I'll keep your bracelet safe too.
Stay wild (and drink water),
Johannes
Between you and Slava, I’ll be finding glitter everywhere forever, by the way. Knowing you, you probably find that hilarious, but the only one not laughing is a muggle vacuum cleaner when you clean it out. Sometimes, I'm not sure whether to be impressed or endlessly concerned about all the dangerous stunts you pull, but then I realise how hypocritical it'd be... The point is: Don’t lose the rest of your brain cells in the meantime. You may be tough, but no bone is stronger than stone when it comes to a concussion. I'd like to visit an amusement park with you sometime (rollercoasters are right up your alley), and I'm not sure if magical healing counts towards safety requirements...
Lecturing aside (I know, so boring), I wanted to thank you for being yourself. Despite Durmstrang's doom and gloom, you've been so unapologetically, refreshingly spontaneous and fun. That's something we all need in life sometimes. To you, as long as you come out of it safe and whole and happy, I say reach for the skies. Don't miss us too much, Amimi. Right now is the perfect time to keep steamrolling towards all your ambitions. And don't worry, I'll keep your bracelet safe too.
Stay wild (and drink water),
Johannes
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OOC Note: I'll miss our 1st gen adventures here, everyone. Good luck on summer Quidditch, I'm rooting for us! Feel free to write letter responses or reactions here too. Or don't, IDK. | ========== |
German Translations: Kapitän = Captain An meinen Lieblingskünstler = To my favourite artist, Mausi = Little mouse (Endearment) |
| astrea neptune . . . hogwarts wizardry. duellist | . . . johannes sauer durmstrang institute. horntail horde. |