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History of Magic : TBA Apologies students but there was nothing out of the ordinary for today’s lesson and the classroom stood as it usually did, rows of desks and chairs facing the front where a large blackboard stood behind Professor Fergersnout’s own desk.
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Stifling a yawn, Sloane strolled in, completely ignoring whatever it was that was underneath he cloth on the spare table by the door. It wasn’t that she wasn’t interested in whatever it was, it was just…that she wasn’t interested. As a muggleborn, magical history was something that she wanted to like. When it came down to remembering a load of dates however, she simply didn’t have the temperament for it. It also didn’t help that she was extremely tired, the cause of which was completely innocent |
Ary made it to the HoM classroom well before the lesson was due to start. For some reason, he was looking forward to today’s lesson though he wasn’t sure why. Perhaps he was simply in the mood for some academics more than anything at the moment. The cloth covering whatever was under there intrigued him but not enough to go poking around. Though… that wouldn’t have been allowed by Fergersnout, he was sure. The fourth year offered the woman a bright smile and a brief finger wiggle-wave then bounded off in Sloane’s direction. “Pssst. Wake up, Sloane.’’ Ary whispered as he slid into the seat beside his friend. Resisting the urge to playfully prod her in the side, he retrieved his books, quill and ink while eyeing the markers and gel pens. |
Gillyweed approached the History of Magic classroom with her usual calm demeanour, though her eyes immediately darted toward the cloth-draped mystery by the door. Curiosity tugged at the corners of her mind, but she quietly offered Professor Fergersnout a warm smile before quietly slipping into a seat near Aryan and Sloane. As she unpacked her textbook, quill, ink, and a piece of parchment, her fingers paused mid-motion at the sight of the coloured markers and gel pens sitting on her desk. She tilted her head, mildly intrigued, though she didn't pick them up—assuming they were for some later creative activity. For now, she stuck with the familiar comfort of her quill. Her brown eyes drifted back to the table by the door, narrowing as she examined the way the cloth sagged. Whatever was beneath, she concluded that it wasn't just one thing. That only made the cogs in her mind churn more. "What do you think's under there?" she whispered to Aryan and Sloane, leaning in just slightly, though her gaze never left the table. |
The Slytherin could not be bothered for classes today. All he wanted to do was retire to the grounds, hunting for ingredients for his endeavours. The months were growing colder and it was just his favourite. It took him a good minute to notice the large cloth that was covering something. He put two and two together that it was something to do with today’s lesson, but he couldn’t possibly hazard any guesses. His head was 100% elsewhere, though that wasn’t out of the ordinary. “Hi, Professor Fergersnout.” Solomon said after sitting himself at a desk. |
While History of Magic wasn't exactly the most hands-on class at Hogwarts, Sydney generally enjoyed the subject. History was full of interesting secrets! The blonde arrived at the appointed time, alert and ready to learn. As she stepped into the classroom, a faint flicker of curiosity crossed her stoic face. Her eyes darted from the large cloth-covered object to the markers and gel pens on the desks and back again. Whatever they were doing today, it looked like an art project was on the agenda. Hmm… art project, large object? Sydney tried to think of a historical event that could connect the two, but she had no idea! ”Hello, Professor Fergersnout,” she greeted politely on the way to her seat. She set out her supplies neatly on the desk in front of her, and as she looked around the room, she noticed several of her housemates present… and nobody else. Odd… did the other three houses not get the notice about today's lesson? Not that it mattered. All the easier for Slytherin to dominate the House Cup if no one else showed up! |
History of Magic (ironically, given the subject matter and usual way of teaching) had become one of the few classes at Hogwarts that Rowan always arrived to with trepidation. Perhaps she was boring, but she liked classes where there was no chance of having to run around dressed in foam and recreating a battle, or being turned so ridiculously tall that you became a bat wielding clumsy clown. She entered the classroom, greeted by the cloth covered whatever it was and a load of pens on the desks. The classroom was set out like a normal classroom. It was a relief to be honest. Rowan's artistic talent might have amounted to stick figures (if they were getting creative this lesson), but at least she wouldn't, fingers crossed, have to reach inside herself to bring out her non-existent extrovert. “Good morning, Professor.” She greeted the colourful personality. She did actually admire gregarious types like Professor Fergersnout and wished she could be more like them. Her apprehension of the class was a deep seated flaw of her own, she knew, and nothing to do with the teaching methods. She took a seat by Solly, giving him a tight smile and a “Hi.” He looked bored.. or was it just uninterested? |
Greer really loved History of Magic, it had quickly become one of her favorite subjects at school. As a muggle born learning about all the Hogwarts history was very informative to her. Plus it was inside, which made her happier to. Less risk of running into magical creatures in the class room. She smiled and took her seat, nodding toward the professor as she pulled out her parchment and quill getting ready for some learning. |
The cloth covering something on a table was the first thing to catch Ezra's eye when he entered the classroom. Wonder what that was? Something to do with the lesson, certainly, but what specifically? He couldn't deny that he felt the urge to peek, but he did resist it. "Hello, Professor." He smiled at Professor Fergersnout before scanning the rest of the room for a place to sit. He would rather sit with others around his year, so he decided to head towards Solomon and Rowan, even deciding to take the other seat next to Solomon. Since their little adventure last term looking for that girl's pet rat, he had decided that Solomon Duck was...in fact...okay. "Hey," he greeted, offering both Slytherins a smile. "Either of you like to draw?" Or any other kind of art. Based on the colorful markers and pens on all the desks, it seemed like there would be some kind of artsy activity going on today. |
Anna had overslept. In fact, she had overslept in the worst sort of way and missed an entire block or two of morning lessons as well as breakfast. She hadn't been feeling particularly well around dinner either, settling on a roll with some butter dipped in a little bit of gravy every couple of bites for her meal, and gone to bed early. In spite of heading to bed so much earlier than usual, the seventh year's sleep was plagued by invasive thoughts and nightmares that were so viceral that she woke up certain the looming figure in her dreams was still looming over her bed with their wand drawn. She had been educated that these things were likely to happen but... All that to say that Anna was positively dragging herself to History of Magic today, her features waxy and freckles faded and hair a mop of frizz, and plopped herself into the nearest vacant seat without a second thought - which really was a right shame because some of her closest people were now just out of reach. "H-h-h-hiiiiiiiii," she yawned with a drowsy wave to Professor Fergersnout and propped her head up with her hands, her elbows on top of the desk for support. Maybe the pot full of delightful art supplies could serve as an emergency pillow... The seventh year did offer all the artistic implements a smile because she did love to doodle and distract herself accordingly. Anna rubbed her eyes and yawned once more, her balled up fists rubbing away the residual tears from her latest interrupted nightmarish sleep, and began patting her cheeks in a familiar rhythm to all Hufflepuffles to try and assist in finishing her waking process. |
Solomon relaxed into a smile when his friend, Rowan, joined him. She would be the perfect study buddy for today’s class, though he wondered if she would allow him to copy her answers without doing any of the work. Probably not, since he would never want to manipulate someone like her into agreeing. “Hey,” he replied, though before he could say anything else, Ezra situated himself beside him. Well, that was new. The Slytherin wasn’t exactly smiling, his heart rate quickening very slightly. Damn, that was supposed to be a thing of the past. Solomon sat up a little straighter, worrying that Ezra would hear the thudding from his chest. “Hi,” he replied calmly enough that hopefully Ezra would think nothing out of the ordinady of him. “I’m not the worst drawer in the world,” his lips curled into a small smile, “you have both picked a wonderful partner.” Terrible choice of words. His voice lowering a little in case Fergersnout got annoyed. |
Rowan relaxed a little sitting next to Solomon – nice to have the support of a friend in class, even if he was unaware of her tension or that he was, in fact, being supportive. She liked to believe she hid behind a mask of indifference at all times. Her gaze then settled on Ezra as he joined them, grateful too that she wouldn't be alone during the class with the two fellow seventh years with her. If they had to make fools of themselves today, she would have two.. um.. strapping lads to hide behind. And at least Solly had some artistic capability. As for herself, “Art is subjective." She too lowered her voice. "So if you count stick men as art, then I'm an artistic genius.” She smiled at the Gryffindor. “Sorry.” She added. Because if there was group work involved and they all teamed up, she would undoubtedly be the weakest link. "Can you draw?" |
“Good morning” Professor Fergersnout greeted each student as they arrived concurrently, watching as they took their seats and allowing the general chit chat to occur for the time being. The seventh years (Ezra, Solomon & Rowan) formulated their own group on one side of the classroom whilst the fourth years (Sloanne, Gillyweed & Aryan) accumulated on the other and the second years (Greer & Sydney) floated somewhere in the middle. There were however some outliers to which Professor Fergersnout’s greetings might not have been so warm. The first of which was Hufflepuff student Anna who although her arrival was innocent (and on time) enough, the sleepy expression was enough to warrant some concern from the Head of House. “I do hope that your tiredness is a result of a late night homework session Miss Walles and not an out-of-hours gathering in the common room I should be aware of.” Not that she would be particularly concerned of such matters from this student but it was possible. As for the other student.. Closing the door the minute the clock struck eleven, the professor took a few long strides of the classroom to bang her wand on the desk in front of Miss Knott. “Eyes up! It’s not even that early,” she warned the fourth year before making the final few steps to the front and waiting for a hush to fall over the students. “For those Billywigs who ARE awake this morning, thank you for your promptness to lesson. If you could refrain from touching the marker pens for the time being, I’d thoroughly appreciate it.” As for what was under the cloth, unfortunately for all the speculation it really wasn’t all that exciting, she just didn’t want to give much away for the time being. “A very simple question to start off with and one that is hopefully rather factual and not subjective, name me a family included in the “sacred twenty-eight”” She asked, physical air quotes included for the perhaps touchy topic. OOC: Thank you for your patience whilst I have been battling an illness. Lesson has now started and any latecomers will be dealt with IC. Plenty of time to join in still but understand there will be consequences if you post arrivals. You have around 24 hours for this question. |
Greer sat up a little straighter in her chair once the lesson commenced. A fourth year got a rather verbal lashing for looking tired. She wouldn't want that, no ma'am. Today's lesson was going to be a good one right. She waited and listened to the first of hopefully many questions (a good scholar always liked questions). Greer raised her hand. "The Weasley's professor" She was rather happy to pick of the good families on the list. Others had a much more dark history, good history to know .. but dark none the less. |
Solomon hadn’t even noticed Anna walk in, thanks to Ezra being the perfect distraction, but instead of offering her a smile, he gave a concerned look. There was being tired, and then there was that. He hadn’t ever seen her like that in class before and hoped she was okay. Weird. ANYWAY… The Slytherin let out a chuckle at Rowan’s admission of her lack of art skills. He would have told her that art was in the eye of the beholder, but he wasn’t a weirdo, and class had already started. Instead he muttered, ”I’m sure you’re not that bad,” before tuning into Fergersnouts first question. He cringed a bit when she scolded Anna and her tiredness. OH! Solomon had to know at least one of the sacred twenty-eight. There were twenty-eight to choose from, after all. His hand lifted graciously before answering, “Black.” A family he found particularly fascinating. |
Professor Fergersnout was obviously right: it wasn’t that early. Then again Ary decided as he glanced over at Sloane once more, he couldn’t judge her for being tired - especially since he didn’t know the reason behind it. But he did hope his friend would sit up and focus soon; he wouldn’t like to see her in detention. This Billywig was quite awake and luckily had not done anything other than to eye those pens. As for that question, it was a fairly simple one even if he was not familiar with the complete list of names that formed The Sacred Twenty Eight. “The Malfoy family,’’ he volunteered after raising his hand and being called upon. |
Anna knew that Professor Fergersnout's colorful personality and compassionate spirit did not mean that she was a pushover nor people pleasing sort of professor. Not afraid of students whispering less than nice things about her, Anna had never imagined that she would be on the receiving end of any of the harsher tones of the woman - especially in the event that she was on time to a lesson and had remembered to bring all her materials. It was almost too much and she felt her eyes watering almost immediately but she was thankfully still in the middle of rubbing her face and poking at it to try and help her wake up so she was able to cover up the emotional slip. "N-N-No...um...professor...no...nothing of that sort," she promised, her posture now resembling someone who had been struck by Petrificus Totalus. Professor Fergersnout sure seemed in a right mood today and Anna hated that her behavior was contributing to it. "Sorry...professor...no...nothing of that sort," she repeated, seeming to shrink into her chair and hanging her head - which once again made her miss the presence of certain people who would very much bring comfort to her now even if just a brief meeting of the eyes. SNIFFLE. Anna was not unaccustomed to being scolded by professors and had full on slammed into a closed door in the dungeons that one time she had been late for Potions and it caused a WHOOOOOOOLE scene since Professor Hernandez had had to open the door to let her in and everything, but this moment in particular felt especially humiliating and lonely. So she was quiet, unsure if she even ought to answer this first question but deciding that she must if for no other reason than to erase the stigma off her and assure her Head of House that she was paying attention. "There is the Shacklebolt family," she offered. "A descendent from it currently plays professional quidditch, I think." |
It seemed like a good sign that Solomon hadn't told him to sit somewhere else or anything. And at least Solomon and Rowan had some level of skill in drawing, even if Rowan only credited herself with stick figures. That was still probably better than Ezra's drawing ability, which was nonexistent. Or maybe Solomon was artistic enough to carry them both to victory. Ezra was about to answer Rowan's question about his own drawing skills, but the professor was beginning the lesson, so he instead simply shook his head with a goofy sort of grimace, hopefully conveying the idea of 'alas, I am tragically terrible at drawing' to them both. He then also noticed Anna, who strangely hadn't come to sit with them and looked painfully tired. Was she okay? He wanted to ask, but the lesson had fully begun by that point, so he tried to focus on that for now. The "Sacred Twenty-Eight," hm? Ezra could name a few of those, so he raised his hand. "The Greengrass family is one," he said. |
Sydney sat up a little straighter, listening semi-intently as the lesson began. The “Sacred Twenty-eight”? Hmm… that could be an interesting lesson or a very awkward one, depending which direction it took. She wasn't sure what to think of the subject. If she recalled correctly, many of the families on that list believed in pureblood supremacy. Although she enjoyed learning about all things dark and forbidden, even she had her limits - and that was one of them. One family name immediately popped into her mind upon hearing the question, a name that she recalled seeing on a shop sign while out with her mums. Her hand went up, and when she was called on, she said, ”The Burke family.” If she recalled correctly, there was also a rather annoying portrait here at Hogwarts from that family. |
Yes, Solly, Rowan was that bad when it came to drawing. She tilted her head at Ezra and smiled, giving him a nod in understanding. They were both useless then. At least they had Solomon to carry the team of seventh years if the class went that way.. Her attention was back on Fergie. Billywigs? The pet-name for the students was both endearing and grandmotherly. Speaking of grandmothers and the question regarding the sacred twenty-eight, the first name to spring to mind, of course, was 'Malfoy'. Her grandmother on her dad's side's maiden name was Malfoy, now Broadmoor, so she knew a little of their history. A few years ago, growing up in the muggle world with her mixed heritage mother and muggle step-dad, she would never have guessed she would be studying a family tree chock full of pureblood witches and wizards. It was a massive jumbled mess and difficult to follow at times.. but fascinating nonetheless. Malfoy had already been suggested by the younger boy, Ary, but she could recall another name from the tree that was likely among the 'sacred twenty-eight'. “Rosier?” She questioned, unsure. |
Gillyweed straightened in her seat when Professor Fergersnout addressed the class, her curiosity about the mysterious cloth momentarily overshadowed by the question posed. As the professor posed her question, Gillyweed's mind flickered through her studies. The Sacred Twenty-Eight—an old list of pure-blood wizarding families. She had come across that topic in previous reading. It wasn't necessarily one of her favourite historical topics considering the rather controversial backgrounds of many of those families, but she found some families and their histories fascinating for one reason or another. "One of the families included in the sacred twenty-eight is the Longbottom family," Gilly spoke up quiet but clear, her hand in the air. She could have elaborated more by mentioning particular individuals like Frank, Alice, and Neville and their significance, but kept the information inside her mind for now considering all that was asked for was a family name. |
Text Cut: Responses “Some excellent examples there and a few that have been missed are Travers, Slughorn, Gaunt..” She could continue but it was far easier to tap the board and allow the full list of names to come up. Text Cut: Blackboard “The original list of names were originally published by the Pure-Blood Directory in the 1930’s. The author was anonymous but it’s widely believed to have been Cantankerous Nott and displayed the names of the families whose Pureblood status was not in question. The list was subjective, for obvious reasons, and excluded many pureblooded families whose support of muggles was well known, namely the Potters.” “The idea of the list was probably to provide a resource for arrangements of marriage, such was the considered importance amongst some some families to keep it ‘pure’. But why do you think such a heavy importance was placed on family and status back then? And why would that be so problematic now?” More of a subjective question this time but one she was interested in knowing the answer to. OOC: I would give a rough estimate of a timeframe but my health is not co-operating so you have at least 24 hours :lol: |
Greer loved the Weasley family for speaking out. Being muggle born herself, she would have been proud to be part of the Weasley family or at least friends with them. "Well,being muggle born I don't care for it. But I wonder if they were concerned about witches and wizards dying out if they didn't continue to have children with other pure bloods." Greer wasn't sure she add what she was thinking. "But that obviously did not happen, and now days I think people just have less discrimination. All though it will never fully go away will it." But Greer was thinking, and gratefuly that she herself had not run into anything of the sort in her 2 years at Hogwarts. |
Gillyweed listened intently as Professor Fergersnout elaborated on the Sacred Twenty-Eight. Her mind churned over the professor's question, and she found herself considering the importance of blood status in historical contexts. She always thought it was strange how much weight was placed on something as simple as family lineage. After a moment's thought, she raised her hand again. "I think the importance placed on family and status was a way to maintain control and a sense of superiority," Gillyweed offered. "By keeping bloodlines 'pure,' certain families could ensure they stayed powerful within the wizarding world, limiting influence from outside groups—like Muggle-borns—who they believed threatened that power. They likely saw it as a way to protect their traditions and way of life." Her brown eyes flickered to the rest of the class as she continued, her voice steady yet passionate. "This way of thinking is problematic because it creates division in our community. By focusing on blood status, it ignores talent and character, and it pushes people apart based on something that they can't control, which only perpetuates prejudice. The idea of judging someone's worth based on their bloodline just... It's important to remember that magic comes from within, not from bloodlines." |
Text Cut: Responses “Some very insightful answers there. Although history is largely based on fact, I still think it’s important to understand the emotional response behind decisions that have led to history being shaped.” “Just because there are some negative connotations with placing heavy importance on family doesn’t mean there aren’t positives too. After all, it was a mother’s love that saved Harry Potter’s life.” Plenty of other examples too that the students were welcome to explore in their own time should they want to. “Family doesn’t have to be blood related either, it can be chosen.” “I trust that we are all in agreement that the world has shifted in a positive direction since the start of last century, even for the names mentioned on that list. Before we get onto our main activity and I let you loose on our writing utensils, I have a final question for you all. Can you name a family not already listed that has achieved something positive for the community and what it is that they have done.” There was a whole backlog of families that together have achieved greatness rather than the individual. OOC: Thank you for bearing with us here. Very happy to take canon and SS canon examples for this question. You have around 24 hours. |
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