Audrey looked up at the professor and waited, because she had already taken her notebook out at the beginning of the class.

ooc: There may be inadvertant spoilers for book 7 in this class discussion, so if you haven't read the book, tread carefully.

"Ok, lets start out with the very begginning. We a peaceful co-existance between Muggles and Wizards. When who came about, when we deviated from this co-existance... all these dates are still unknown by wizards, as it was more of the gradual process than anything. But there was a point where Muggles and wizard could live next door... Muggles could drive a wizard to a shop, or wizards could start a fire for a Muggle with their wand in plain sight of 20 Muggles. Although... Muggles often got jealous. Small Witches might get beat up for performing accidental magic that upset an older Muggle bully. Some wizards used their magic to their advantage in terms of achievement, such as memory and love potions... " Professor Light paused and a slight smile appeared on her face.

"Alright, here is discussion question #1 of the lesson. Just raise you hand, there is NO right or wrong answer." Professor Light tapped the board, and it erase itself. She picked up a piece of regular chalk on the ledge, and began to write...

"Do YOU think this sort of co-existance should have continued?"... weigh the positives and negatives of this type of existance before you give you answer. Well thought out answers might earn extra points!!

"Who'd like to go first... don't be afraid to volunteer!" she smiled warmly. She didn't want anyone to feel uncomfortable voicing their opinion.

Torie listened eagerly as Professor Light began to give some background information in regards to today's lesson. Absentmindedly, she tapped the tip of her fountain pen against the desk, its green casing flashing in the light. She had already taken out her notebook, especially reserved for this class. She always felt a small thrill at being able to use such familiar objects again after being convinced to change to the wizarding world's parchment and quill at the start of her first year. She had a keen interest in the way the wizarding world saw her homelife, making Muggle Studies easily one of her favourite classes.

Lauren tentatively raised her hand. "Personally, I wonder at times if co-existing in the peaceful, open manner that you described would be completely possible ever again. As you said, Muggles would easily become jealous that others happily have and use what they can never obtain and, naturally, wizards and witches could get pompous knowing that they have that one thing that Muggle money cannot buy and Muggle might cannot create. There is a resentment on both sides that I do not feel will ever truly go away: Muggles, when they know about wizards, feel as if they are missing out or feel that our magic is clouding the world of certainty and logic that they have created, and some foolish wizards think that Muggles, as they are without any magical ability, simply "take up space" in the world better used by purer wizards. I don't share this opinion though, and I would love for us to be able to live together without secrets - I have friends in both worlds as I am half-Muggle, and wish nothing more than to show my Muggle friends certain spells that I know they would love to see." She hesitated, the regret over keeping such secrets from her friends overcoming her for a moment. But she coughed to clear her throat, licked her lips quickly, and continued, "Anyway, in conclusion, I don't think that this coexistance is possible. As it is now, we have a huge wall between us because we cannot speak about our abilities. If we were to openly coexist, however, we would still have a huge wall between our kinds, mostly because the type of tolerance needed to accept other kinds of human beings doesn't seem to exist today."

Audrey hesitated, and then raised her hand.

"No, professor, I don't think that this should have continued. In my own personal experience, I have found that many wizards look down upon muggles. While you mentioned the point that muggles may be jealous of wizards, many wizards often tortured muggles as well. I..."

Audrey paused a moment and blinked a few times. She was thinking about someone, but she didn't want to share her very personal story with the class.

"Yes, I think it's best that we stay in seperate worlds. We're both just far too different to be able to coexist peacefully. Of course, most of us are civilized humans, and can get along with anyone, whether they're magical or not. Unfortunately, there are still some sick, cruel people who just...who just can't do that." She coughed.

"And while I think that we can certainly teach eachother a lot of valuable things, it's just...too difficult to live side-by-side. People are often too close minded to accept that some people are...different. Um, yes, that's all..."

She finished lamely, but she didn't want to start bawling in the middle of class.

Emeralda raised her shaking arm and said "Well I think that muggles and wizards should co-exist peacefully because if they do, there will be less fighting. This world would become more peaceful and there will be less hatred. Even in the muggle world and the wizarding world. Hatred causes things that are truly horrible and mostly the innocent suffers. After all, muggles, wizards, we are all human beings and we live on the same planet. Why shouldn't we be able to co-exist peacefully? We seem to be the only species that cannot seem to co-exist peacefully. Magic can do a lot of things. I just wish magic could fix the relationship between us, wizards and muggles." She felt relieved and happy.

Jill raised her hand. "I think that that type of co-existence should not have continued. Like you just mentioned, there were some problems concerning that. Even with the bright sides, with the wizards helping muggles with fires and such...the muggles grew jealous. That really isn't a fun society to live in. Those small girls got beat up on by muggle bullys for something they did by accident. It wasn't their fault but still. At that time, it sounds as though wizards went to take advantage of muggles...the love potions...if they did use them on muggles of course. If a wizard/witch wants to be with a muggle, then fine. You can't force someone to fall in love with you. It's just wrong."

She took a deep breath before swallowing. Her mouth felt dry.

"Muggles and wizards at least could do their own thing seperately." She hoped it was an okay answer. She herself was half-and-half...but there were some little petty stuff that got in the way. Many muggles would welcome you, like her mother...other people out there would ridicule you, if they ever found out.

Torie gave this question some careful thought, weighing out the pros and cons on a scrap of paper before formulating her answer. Cautiously she raised her hand.

"Professor, I believe this is a highly controversial question. There are many arguments both for and against Muggle/Wizard co-habitation, but in my opinion, the two worlds simply could not be combined. As a Muggleborn myself, I can understand how wonderful it would be to be able to use my magic in front of my parents, or better yet, my friends, but this simply isn’t possible. Even though I love my friends dearly, human nature is suspicious and often jealous of people and things that are different. People with magic are seen as having power over those without, and this causes malcontent. It may be apparent immediately, or it may take many years of this malcontent chafing inside someone before they act. I’m not saying that magic is a bad thing...goodness knows that life would be a lot easier for Muggles and Wizards if we could help each other, but the risk for dissatisfaction on behalf of Muggles is too great.
As well, not all Wizards would be willing to use their magic. They may grow to resent a perceived obligation to help Muggles. This also would breed malcontent.
And, of course, we have those Wizards who no matter what, would use their magic for evil deeds. If they were allowed to openly use magic, Muggles would constantly be fearful for their lives. Imagine being afraid of meeting a stranger, just in case they can use magic and do you harm. I believe that this kind of life could just not exist for long. Too soon malcontent would rear its ugly head and battles would ensure. In my opinion, it is better that our worlds are kept as separate as they are.”

Ariana sat there thinking about what Light had just said. It was a good thing to have co-exsistance, yet there were major drawbacks also. Picking up her quill she suddenly thought of something; could this lesson have anything to do with those posters she saw in Hogsmead? Clearing her mind she carefully began to think of postive and negative concenquences of a co-exsistance and shakily raised her hand.

"I think that the co-exsistance should have continued. However, there would have to be some serious changes. Mainly in the way Muggle learned about us. My fathers brothers wife is a Muggle and had to learn the hard way about us. She found out on her wedding day. But anyway." she paused, getting back on track.

"Muggles would have to be taught at their schools about us, from an early age, this way they'd know who we were and what we did. No longer would they ask us to help them with their menial tasks. If the young children knew about us from schooling I think they wouldn't be afriad of us and nothing like that poor incident a long time ago would happen." she finished off her first point, and went on her Ravenclaw smarts coming out in full as a smile appeared on her face.

"There would be those who wouldn't want a Muggle-Wizard life however, and they would rise up, like the one..." she couldn't say his name. "Did awhile ago. He thought that by murdering all those innocent people he'd be doing the world a favor. If Wizards were taught about Muggles, other than thiss one class they'd how similair e are, how we both live for our lives, how we all love the same way. I think there would be less violence in this world if people knew about eachother.

"Though as I said before there would be those troublemakers." she stopped, getting her thoughts back. This was harder than she thought. Yet, she still continued, hoping she wasn't driving the professor batty with her ramblings. "I have a lot of Muggle friends, and even though they don't know I'm a witch we're stronger together. They have a feeling there's something more than just them in the world, they've seen some strange stuff, Wizarding stuff and love it. I guess the point I'm trying to make is if everyone was educated then the world would be better for both Muggles and Wizards." she finished and sat back.

Qaz raised her hand and spoke. ‘I wish that they could co-exist, because the benefits are enormous. Just in medicine alone. Think of all the Muggle suffering and death that could be avoided, if Muggles were able to use Magical Healers.'

Ali thought for a moment, then raised her hand and spoke when the professor called on her. " i think this co-existence should have continued because wizards and muggles are all human beings and they should be united with each other. The only thing that is different between them is that Wizards have the ability to do magic, but their magical ability could also help muggles with things that muggles can't do on their own, such as protecting themselves. Wizards are able to cast protective charms and i beleve that this ability could help to protect muggles from danger." Then she took a breath and hoped that her answer was satisfactory

Qaz thought some more and added. 'I come from a Muggle town. It's sad to say, but they are often against somebody for the most superficial differences. Religon, Race, things like that. I don't see how we could meld the two when they can't even get along between themselves.'

Professor Light sat non-judgingly, hearing each persons comment, before she spoke.

"So, even within this small classroom, full of people who obviously don't hate Muggles or ele they probably would not have subjected themselves to sitting through this subject, we have disagreement. All of the points you guys brought up are excellent. Although I noticed a greater number of negatives in your arguements than positives, I would like to point out one thing no one seems to have really mentioned fully... living together would give us the ability to help each other. Qaz touched on it with the idea of Muggle Medocine. Imagine the wonders of Muggle Medicine combined with the ease of the wizarding equivalent to surgery (bone regrowth). Imagine the inventions that Muggles have that with a little magic, could send us to places undreamed of."

To respond to the looks that were appearing on many people's face, she quickly reprised, "I actually believe that type of co-existance should not have continued as well, back then.... however., nowadays, IF the coexistance had continued, I think we all might be better off. Jealously, as many of you mentioned, plays a role in any world... people kill whether Muggle or Wizard. A lot fo the problems caused by us living together do not outweigh the benefits, and whatever your view is, don't forget that."

Professor Light paused, "We aren't going to drop this point completely, but we are going to poise a new discussion question now. I'll give you all a moment to catch up in your notes."

Jill grabbed her pencil and jotted some of the points of other and Pr. Light. She wrote down her opinion as well. She underlined some case points that might come in handy in the future.

Qaz decided she'd better speak louder, because the Professor must not have heard her comment on Medicine.

Sorry, love, I was typing my post while you made your reply so I did not see it, I hope you understand. I have editted my post

Ariana listened to the professor, writing furiously as she did, not wanting to miss anything. She knew she had forgotten something, she seriously needed to concentrate, this was an important lesson afterall. She looked over at Amelia and thought she was thinking the same thing and went back to writing.

Qaz was really glad that she could use her gel pen in this class. With the amount of notes she was taking, her hand would probably cramp up using a quill. She hadn't had that much practice with one yet.

Ali scribbled some notes down on her parchment, then waited for the professor to talk again

Esmeralda listened closely to the professor and continued taking notes.

"Alright, well, no matter what our views, what happened was the establishment of The International Statute of Wizarding Secrecy(ISWS), also called the International Code of Wizarding Secrecy or the International Confederation of Wizards' Statute of Secrecy. It was established fully, although it had been happening for years, in 1692. It said that EVERY magical item, spell, pet, anything at all magical had to be kept hidden from Muggles. This Law, which is still in place today, leads us to our... next discussion question..." Professor Light wrote it next to the original one.

2. The ISWS decreed that Muggles know nothing at all about Wizards and Magic. We Wizards know plenty about Muggles. However, most Muggles are left to wonder whether wizards actually exist. Should Muggles be made aware of the pressence of wizards, as Muggles are? Could the ISWS still work if they were?

"And... I just want to note, I have a feelings we'll get a whole lot of "NO... they'd be jealous" responces, which are perfectly acceptable, but do remember... muggle parents of witches and wizards almost 100% know about the wizarding world and are perfectly happy for their children and really, overwise, don't interfere with our world. We aren't very jealous, persay, of the Muggle world... so given that thought, what do you think?"

Ali raised her hand and then spoke again when the professor called on her. "Well, professor. I think that it would only be fair to them to know more about us, since we know so much about them. It would only be right. How would people in the Ministry feel if they were muggles and they were left to wonder if Wizards or Giants or any magical creature really existed or if they were just myths. How would they feel if something happened that they were sure was the act of a magical being but they were told something else or they were forced to believe something else. Personally i think that the ISWS should be abolished." She sat back in ehr chair after she voiced her opinions

Excelsior raised his hand slowly, after giving it some thought. "No, I don't think muggles need to know about our existence," he said. "It's really for their own good more than it is ours. They don't have magic of their own, even though they do have technology, and so they are so much more helpless than we are. I don't think they would understand about magic and much more than being jealous, they could actually get hurt by magic, even inadvertently. So I would say the less exposure they have to us the better, for their own good."

Esmeralda thought about this for a while and raised her hand. She said "I guess muggles should be aware of the wizarding world because I don't see what the difference it would make. Some muggles are jealous of wizards and they long to be one whether they know it exists or not. Muggles will continue to fantasize about the wizarding world. The only problem is that if they do find out the existance of the wizarding world, would they appreciate it or would they be really jealous and try to take over or something... Nonetheless, it is quite not fair for us to know a lot about muggles and have muggles not knowing much about us... All in all, I think muggles should be aware of our presence and well the ISWS wouldn't work if the muggles find out about us..." She realized that she hasn't made any sense but that didn't really matter to her anymore.

Caitlin raised her hand. "To an extent, I think they should know, but at the same time ... wouldn't they want us to do everything for them?"

She was hoping it wouldn't be true; after all, it was a common myth ... but still.

Ariana listened as the professor asked the next discusssion question. Writing it down on her notebook she put her pencil to her lips and chewed the end thinking hard. She thought that Muggles should know about Wizards. But why though, just because it would be fair for them to know? She could imagine the reprecussions of that action, knowing that the Muggles knew about them.

Raising her hand shyly, and feeling a headache come on she replied "Well I personally think they should. They have the right to know as much as we do. Sure they can't know everythign about us but they should know we exisit. It's like half the world believing aliens exsist and the other half not knowing. If I were a believer I'd want to know the truth." she said, with a sharp nod.