SnitchSeeker.com - View Single Post - DADA Lesson One

sweetpinkpixie · 10-04-2016, 05:40 AM

SPOILER!!: Angelooooooooooo

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tegz

Angelo stayed silent as Hirsch introduced him. The students would see soon enough that his status as a YATI trainee wasn't the sole reason, or even the main reason he was here. He nodded a few greetings at those he could recognize but otherwise stayed silent as the lesson began.

It would be interesting to see who made what with their clay. Hopefully there'd be at least a few creations based on living creatures of some sort. Two legged or four.

SPOILER!!: individual replies

So first of all:
"Those of you who are using the clay, no need to concern yourself with taking notes. You can copy them down off the blackboard later if you wish." He paused and then began addressing the topic at hand.

"The Dark Arts is also known as Maleficium, or Black Magic. It includes spells, creatures, potions, Dark items and artifacts. Most of you have likely been brought up to believe that its always bad. Sometimes even 'evil'. If you take a step back from the textbook definition and think about it, you may realize that despite being indoctrinated with that opinion, you yourself may have employed a magic that is inherently 'dark' in nature. Those Curses, Hexes, and Jinxes you learn to hurt or harm others in a duel? Those are all dark magic. Potions which can be used to control someone? Arguably dark.

Likely you can think of examples in other subjects, if you think creatively- and often that is what dark artists do: think creatively. Think outside the box. The Dark Arts are said to be unfixed, mutating, and indestructible. This is interesting because it is historically said that Wizardkind in particular are resistant to change and innovation. People are often afraid of what they don’t understand, which is why some schools include the Dark Arts in their curriculum, and not simply Defense Against the Dark Arts like you have here at Hogwarts. I myself went to the Durmstrang Institute, where Dark Arts is a required class throughout our schooling." Angelo said. It was just different, that was all. And if you understood something and were educated in it, you were better equipped to deal with it.

"Dark doesn't mean evil. A weapon itself isn't evil on its own, the intent of its wielder and how it is used is what is most important. There is a difference between a criminal and a Dark Artist.

Some dark spells are legal, some dark magic is socially acceptable in some countries but not others. One of you mentioned the International Confederation of Wizards. The Unforgivable spells are deemed such by that particular organization, and the legal repercussions, IE imprisonment in Azkaban, is enforced by most -but not all- Ministries for Magic, in the case of Wizarding Britain, by the Department of Magical Law Enforcement. In Britain only Aurors can legally use all dark magic if necessary." Angelo said, going over some of the answers and adding a few extra points on the matter.

"So, I'm here today because I'm more than just a YATI - which is the Youth Auror Training Initiative for those of you who are unfamiliar- I'm a dark practitioner myself. Other than my time at Durmstrang, I've been brought up with the Dark Arts, and by that I don't just mean spells that might be cast with a wand. I trust you aren't all completely worried about my soul." Did he look corrupted by his magic? Wasn't scaly. Didn't have a funny nose. Hmm? No. "I'm not here today to encourage all of you to employ the dark arts, or break any laws, or be hauled off to Azkaban for any reason." So... don't go asking, for that, kids.

"For now lets go over what is required for dark spells to work. As with any spell, you need a wand movement, and an incantation. We also know that the intent is important. But when it comes to dark magic, there is a fourth factor to successfully cast a dark spell without it backfiring in some way. Can anyone guess what that fourth factor might be and why that fourth factor is necessary?"

ooc: Feel free to think creatively! You're not going to find an answer spelled out for you anywhere

Make sure any suggested fourth factor also comes with a reason for it! Also feel free to have your charrie ask questions if they are inclined. And keep going with the clay. HINT: While you can make anything you like and inanimate objects are totally fine (within SS rules) something based on a living creature miiiiight be useful.

Paige was...pleasantly surprised to find that a lot of her thoughts overlapped with those of Angelo's. Um...Mr. Toussaint...um...how was she supposed to refer to their guest speaker? Admittedly, the Hufflepuff had been a bit too consumed by her thoughts revolving this rather grey area of magic that this little snippet of information had slipped from her mind. Regardless, Paige not only found the YATI intriguing because of his insight...but also a tad alluring in that he was a living representation of a grey area of magic. It was hard not to find that alluring, you know? Especially coming from a background where she was so used to labeling things as this or that. Black or white. Good or bad.

Needless to say, her clay was entirely forgotten now as her hand clutched her red ink quill to scribble down notes in addition to her own thoughts - pausing every now and then to reflect on something especially profound Angelo - she was just going to call him that in her head at least - had said. His question, while heard, went unanswered as the seventh year was too busy with her notes and reflecting upon a few specific quotes she had jotted down. Particularly the bit about a weapon itself isn't evil on its own. That resonated quite strongly with her...

SPOILER!!: Professah!

Quote:

Originally Posted by hermionesclone

Text Cut: Blaise and Bentley

Text Cut: You guys ^^

Well this was an interesting development, wasn't it?

Hirsch had paused in his walking around the classroom to see what Miss Tyler was making with her lump of clay. He wasn't about to mention it but the man was slightly glad that she hadn't gone with the previous idea she had, whatever it was.

And her answer? Even more interesting. "Eye contact is crucial, yes," Probably not the answer he was going for but it was a good one. "So you're saying that the intention to cast the dark magic depends on the person and why they have the intention of casting it?" Another good point, he had to admit.

This answer to his previous question was like music to the man's ears. In fact, most of the answers had been. "I'm glad you mentioned something about creatures as well as spellwork." Because those were also Dark Arts. "But you're very right: without the intention to cast a Dark spell, you're not going to succeed, no matter how much you try. Well done."

Focus? Hm. "You're very right about that since without focus, you're not going to be able to cast your spell properly and it could go wrong. That's not the answer I'm looking for but good guess."

Oh, this answer. This was an answer that earned the biggest smile from the Defence Professor. "You are very close, Miss Evans. I like your mention of corruption with this as well." She would probably find out why soon enough. "Excellent thinking."

And onto her next part which, luckily, the man could answer seeing as he'd been at Durmstrang himself. "Depends on the countries and their laws. While we may be united by a force and as a nation, who's to say that every country has a clear and united idea of right and wrong? A spell that one country might consider to be okay might not be somewhere else."

"But to answer your question: Durmstrang prefers a more combative approach to magical education. At Durmstrang, you're taught darker arts because they believe that young students should be taught these things at a young age so that they don't have a rosy-eyed vision of the world and the dark arts. This is partly due to early influences in the curriculum, especially by Harfang Munter, an ex-Durmstrang leader. Hogwarts is different because the laws here are different. You're taught to recognise the Dark Arts and to fight them, yes," And he tried his best to do just that. "but with a much softer approach. Does that help?"

Soon enough, Hirsch found himself moving over towards a certain Miss Summers, and looking over her work as well. He wouldn't have usually but the words 'dark moments/thoughts' caught his eye and he found himself frowning in thought. He silently wished she had elaborated on this answer but, as it was, there was nothing else to go off of. "Close," he said quietly, tapping her notes. That was all.

Oh, this answer. This answer made him very happy, a fact that probably showed on his face. "You have potential, you know." Make of that what you will, Botros.

As for her answer, "You, and Miss Evans, are probably the closest to the correct answer. You can't attack or defend yourself properly if you let your emotions get in the way so having control over them is crucial. It's probably why people who practice the dark arts to cause harm are often seen as being heartless. Excellent thinking."

The sailor snowman was what caught Hirsch's attention and he took a moment to look at the lump of clay with an amused expression on his face. Oh, how he wanted to see what the young Gryffindor would make of the rest of the lesson.

Willpower? Interesting word choice. "That comes very close to intent, Tenacius, but you're still right. If you don't truly want to cast the spell, you won't be able to. Simple as that."

Jace was being very precise with his moulding, something Hirsch noticed when he walked past the young Ravenclaw. It was almost as if the boy was in his element. Huh.

Determination was another interesting answer. "Well, yes, I guess. You need determination, or a certain level of confidence, to carry out the spell. Without it, your attempts will be futile." A spell casting fact. "It's...... not quite the answer I'm looking for but it's a good guess, Jace. Well done."

Why was Rooney Bronwyn acting so weird? Because this, surely, wasn't what he was usually like.

Hirsch was very much confused.

So, for the time being, he was going to concentrate on something he did understand: the Ravenclaw's answer. "It's always the innocent ones that prove to be the most surprising." Just something to remember. "Understanding is a good answer. If you don't truly understand what it is you're doing or trying to cast, you're not going to be very successful in your spell-casting," Probably why they taught the meaning behind the spells. "Not exactly the answer I'm looking for but it's a very good and unique guess."

Another understanding answer? Well that was something. "Understanding is key, yes. Without it, you won't know exactly what it is you're trying to do. And it's probably why we teach you about the dark arts so that you can understand them and know how to effectively defend yourselves against them." Still key. "Not the answer I'm looking for but a very good guess."

A quiet person? Not bad, not bad. Especially considering the fact that she was taking notes, from the looks of it. Hirsch didn't have anything to say and didn't look at her notes as he swept past.

And what was she going to make out of that clay, hm?

Unfortunately for the boy, Hirsch had swept past him just after he'd finished muttering so he couldn't catch whatever it was he was muttering to himself. And, frankly, he wasn't going to pretend as though he had heard. Not when he had other things to concentrate on.

Like the boy's answer, for example.

Desire? "You're very right in your thinking, Mr Winchester. Without the desire, you can wave your wand all you like but you won't be able to cast the spell properly." Funny mental image there. "That ties in with intent, actually. Not the answer I'm looking for but good guess."

Focus? Well, it was a good thing that his students knew that they needed to concentrate if they wanted to cast a spell properly. "Focus is correct, yes, and it's an important part of spell casting but not the fourth factor we're looking for."

As for her question, specifically about the Dueling Club, Hirsch stopped in his tracks and turned to peer at her. "Miss Valentine, you're not a dark witch and I have faith that you won't end up being one." Surely, she wouldn't upset him so by taking that career path. "But no. No one in Dueling Club is intending to cause severe harm, so much that they kill their opponent. Remember that these spells you use are only considered dark or not depending on how you use them. If you want to tickle someone just to get them to laugh or to out-duel them, that's fine. If you tickle someone to death, that's not."

Pause.

"And I oversee every single duel. I wouldn't let people use these spells in a dark way." Did that reassure her?

Daxton being quiet in his lesson was hardly a surprise to the man but it didn't stop him from walking past his desk, mostly to check that he was still paying attention. It was the sight of the fingers rhythmically drumming the table that caught his attention and gave him some kind of indication that he was, probably, listening. Even if the gesture looked as though he was a little bored of the discussion.

The man raised his eyebrows at the young Ravenclaw but said nothing else. This won't be a boring lesson, Daxton, don't worry.

There were a lot of focus answers popping up, weren't there? Again, the man was glad that they knew how much concentration they needed in their spell casting but they probably didn't realise just how close they were to the actual answer. It did tie in well with the fourth factor but for now........

"You're right about needing to focus to cast your spells, Miss Darcy, but that's not the fourth factor. But I do like your mention of sharp instincts as well." Constant vigilance, remember?

Another quiet one? No matter. This didn't bother the man in the slightest and, in fact, he actually expected it. Though, this was a little surprising considering how great of an answer her - he was going to take a stab in the dark - sister had managed to produce and how good this Botros was at this subject.

Oh, this was a new answer, wasn't it? The man stopped to look at the young girl, a little impressed with this. "Well, you're certainly right about that, Miss Toussaint," he started, "They say that practice makes perfect and you need a certain level of skill to cast the right spells. Well done." Again, not exactly the answer but a logical answer nonetheless.

Practice? Hm. "You're certainly right about needing practice to cast the spell. Practice does make perfect." And some needed more than others, which was fine. "It's not the fourth element, however, but well done."

Willingness. He hadn't had that word come up before. "Willingness is a good way of putting it, in fact," he said, nodding his head slowly, "If you're not willing to cast the spell, you won't be able to. Simple as that. But that ties in very closely with intent so no, it's not the fourth factor. Good guess, though."

Hirsch had been blissfully ignoring whatever it was that was going on between Miss Tate and Miss Toussaint. That was, until, something flew out from Miss Tate's direction and straight towards........

............ SMACK!

....................... What was that about constant vigilance?

Hirsch, who'd jumped when the small lump of clay slapped his arm, found himself readjusting his askew glasses and frowning down at the clay on the floor and then towards the Gryffindor. "Miss Tate, when I said that you can make whatever you wish with your clay, I didn't mean for a clayball to be one of them." Again, teenagers.

"But you're right: you need a level of capability with these spells. Most of them are going to be advanced. The intention you need to muster up is advanced."

............

Well well well.

"That's a very interesting answer, Miss Traulton. They say that the Dark Arts consume you if you become too connected to it and that ties in with what you mentioned about being emotionally invested into that area of magic. That could be a branch off of intent but you are right about needing to be connected with it to perform it." At least, that was his understanding of it.

And no, that wasn't the fourth factor.

Another quiet student? Hirsch didn't mind this, not at all. Instead, when he reached her table, he paused to take a look at whatever it was she was making before moving onwards. It would be interesting to see what they made of these clay figures later.

What was surprising was that Zeke Browne hadn't offered an answer. The Defence Professor half expected the boy to come out with something unique and different but not this time. Maybe he had a different tactic, instead.

Whatever it was, the boy was bound to excel so he wasn't too worried.

Emotion was a very interesting answer and, in fact, it was one that got the man smiling. And what was more was that she had mentioned a little something that he was looking for. "That's a very unique answer, Miss Phillips," he said, pushing his glasses further up his nose, "People do say that you need to be tough and emotion-less when dealing with this form of magic but if you have your emotions in check, you could still be an exceptional witch or wizard. Well done."

This was concerning. Very concerning.

Hirsch had arrived close enough to Miss Franks-Mundie in time to see the slightly distressed pulling of the clay and the small pieces that sat on her desk. Hm. He didn't know what the problem was but what he did know was that this wasn't the sign of a happy student.

Unless ripping clay made the girl happy.

He tilted his head at her and gave her a thumbs up coupled with a questioning look on his face, as if he was trying to ask a question with a simple look.

Hirsch had no idea what it was that Haddie was trying to make with her lump of clay and he wasn't about to question it. Though, he had to hand it to her, she did seem to like getting the detailing right.

Want to hurt someone? "Yes, very much so. Some people use emotion to do that, others visualisation. But, this need, this intent to hurt someone needs to be there otherwise it can't work. You're very right." Except, not what he was looking for.

As a whole, Hirsch was incredibly impressed with the answers the class had come out with. No one had mentioned exactly what he was thinking, but there were some creative answers here. Some that he hadn't even thought of, actually. And a few of them had managed to get very close to the answer he was looking for. Closer than, probably, even they knew.

"Really excellent suggestions, everyone, but Miss Evans, Miss Botros and Miss Phillips have nearly hit the nail with their answers." A pause to smile in their directions before he moved on. "The fourth factor that's important is control. You can have the wand movement and incantation nailed down and have all the intention to cast the spell in the world but without control, you're likely to fail."

Should he elaborate? He was going to. "The reason why some Dark wizards fail is because of their lack of control. Without it, the dark magic could very easily backfire on you, causing you harm in turn. It could cause some permanent damage, which is why some say that these wizards tend to look corrupted. They can be too focused on the intent, the desire to cause harm, that some don't bother learning to control it. It could change their entire look, making them look more and more twisted. This could also be because they let their malicious intent get the better of them." All consuming, wasn't it?

"An example of a lack of control turning out bad for the user is in the case of Fiendfyre. Many of you would know the events of the Second Wizarding War and the incident in which one individual lost control of the cursed fire and ended up dying in it. It's the same with even the minor of spells: lose control and you might end up causing more harm than you mean to." Something to think about, wasn't it?

"So!" he said, coming to the front of the class again, "Spellwork and wand magic in general isn't the only branch of magic that is associated with the Dark Arts. Can anyone think of any other kind of magic, whether it's a subject taught here at Hogwarts or not, that could influence and be associated with the Dark Arts?"

OOC: You guys are doing SO well so far! <3 Sorry if this question is confusing! Just have your charrie name any other branch of magic that could be linked to the Dark Arts. Aaaaaanything ^^
Tegan will continue the next part of the class <3

Control.

Well...Paige honestly should have thought of that - were her thoughts able to focus on the question at hand - given how much of a lack of control she displayed with certain branches of magic.

Yeah, thinking about you, Transfiguration.

Sigh.

Which was why she wrote that particular word nice and big in her notes, perhaps more as a reminder to herself about the importance of control. Easier said than done, however...and she couldn't help but noticeably wince when Divination was associated with Dark Arts, temporarily slipping into the stereotype image of the branch of magic and for the briefest of moments finding it somewhat amusing that she, Paige Samantha Skeeter, could ever potentially be associated as a Dark Arts practitioner.

"La-language," Paige managed to squeak out after raising her hand, a rare occurrence in this particular subject. "The ability to speak certain tongues, particularly Parstletongue..." She paused here to bite down on her lower lip, trying to think of how best to phrase her inquiry. "But that feels like it is more of a trait that has gained a Dark association purely based on those historically who have been in possession of the talent..." Another pause to think.

And really she just left it at that. Thoughts a bit of a jumbled mess.

SPOILER!!: parchment

10-04-2016, 05:40 AM	#100 (permalink)
sweetpinkpixie Wizarding World RPG Admin Minister for Magic Alley Proprietor Romanian Longhorn Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: The Paths Posts: 39,834 Hogwarts RPG Name: Briallen Ashburry-Hawthorne Gryffindor First Year Hogwarts RPG Name: Nyle Harden Hufflepuff Second Year Hogwarts RPG Name: Iris Harden Ravenclaw Second Year Hogwarts RPG Name: Calliope Barrington Slytherin First Year Hogwarts RPG Name: Diamond Marchbanks Gryffindor Sixth Year Ministry Department Head: Charles Hollingberry Minister's Office Ministry Department Head: Airey Flamsteed Mysteries Diagon Alley Proprietor: Zachaël Lufkin Owl Post x12 x12	waaaaaah flails with ketchup astronomizzle ♧ gryffinDORK \| & the rest is drag ♣ #badluckDerf SPOILER!!: Angelooooooooooo Quote: Originally Posted by Tegz Angelo stayed silent as Hirsch introduced him. The students would see soon enough that his status as a YATI trainee wasn't the sole reason, or even the main reason he was here. He nodded a few greetings at those he could recognize but otherwise stayed silent as the lesson began. It would be interesting to see who made what with their clay. Hopefully there'd be at least a few creations based on living creatures of some sort. Two legged or four. SPOILER!!: individual replies Yeahhh Angelo had heard about this kid. Obviously. His entire family had, in fact. "That's basically what your textbook says." Angelo agreed, looking at the Bellaire kid. It was really too bad he'd not been sent to Durmstrang. Maybe it would have toughened him up. As for the logic aspect.... *"Do keep thinking about that logic point though. You could* argue that." Why would Angelo say that? Well, that was essentially how the law-making process went when it came to what was and was not allowed. Someone decided it, argued the 'logic' behind their opinion, and managed to convince the sheep to follow along with the same 'educated' opinion. Such was life. A quiet one. Angelo briefly contemplated taking a look to see what her thought process was when she next looked his way, but decided against it. Hirsch probably wouldn't approve. Angelo listened intently as the one boy spoke, the slightest smile playing on his lips. Corrupts the practitioner, huh. Damaged soul, huh. Oh the propaganda these kids were fed. Did he look corrupt? "The British Ministry theoretically enacts the laws here, yes, but the laws differ from country to country, the International Confederation of Wizards has recommendations, but they aren't always followed to the letter." He addressed the second part of the boy's answer only. The rest would come soon enough. Another quiet one. That was fine. Angelo's gaze passed over her and moved on to the next student to speak up. "Intent." Angelo repeated and nodded. "And you can, by the way, tickle someone to death." Food for thought, and no, he wasn't elaborating on that statement. Just before Angelo had a chance to tell Katherine to go sit down, she was letting go and getting herself settled down. He said nothing about her little exchange with the junior Tate. He hadn't recognized the girl even though he'd seen her before when she was a baby, her mum being such good friends with Angelo's father. But then Katy gave her answer and Angelo's lip twitched slightly. He definitely heard his uncle Robert in that answer. "Careful, Katherine: I work at the ministry, remember." Angelo said mildly. So was he a hack to his small cousin's mind? Amusing. That was what his textbooks said. Convenient definitions for those who wanted to control what magic was or was not allowed. "Or control them." That was an important distinction and Angelo nodded at the boy. More about that corruption. "That's what your books say, yes." Angelo said, without any particular indication of his own opinion as of yet. "Good answer." Angelo said, for the first time thus far. Intent was important, but so were many other things. A spell was just a theoretical piece of magic until someone used it, for good or for ill. More silence. Fine by Angelo. He waited a moment, gaze on the quiet boy, before looking to the next student to speak. Grace's little sister. Angelo listened to her answer and nodded, though he was amused at the 'and evil' part. Indoctrination was a thing when it came to how the general populace saw dark magic users. Interesting though. "That's some good thinking." "Isn't that true of any spell? Intent? You could also point your wand at me and say the incantation for the cheering charm and nothing would happen if you didn't mean it." Angelo pointed out in a rhetorical manner after listening to the boy's considered answer. Another quiet one. Angelo looked to see what the kid was starting to make and then moved on. Genny Tate next. Someone didn't look very happy. Angelo listened to her answer, gave a nod at the first part which was important because of her mention of it not just being the bad guys. Anyone could technically cause harm. "Yes, they do." All that investigation. But someone was still dictating what would or wouldn't pass. "That's what the books say, yes." Angelo responded to the girl. And this one had nothing to say. Angelo's eyes had lingered on Magdalena when she'd come in, because of reasons mostly (but not completely) relating to his younger brother, so he saw when the boy sat down with her.... and didn't answer the question. Oh well, maybe his interest would be caught by the topic a little later. And the activities of course. Another quiet one at the back. Alright then. Angelo paid her no mind. "Yes, I agree. Its very important to learn about them." Can't efficiently deal with what you didn't understand after all. Another one of Ariana and Tyler's family members. And yes, Angelo overheard that little comment. He also didn't much mind the glare the kid was giving him. If it made him feel better, then fine by Angelo. After all, he too believed his cousin had been in the wrong in the incident. "Good thoughts." Angelo said simply. So first of all: "Those of you who are using the clay, no need to concern yourself with taking notes. You can copy them down off the blackboard later if you wish."** He paused and then began addressing the topic at hand. "The Dark Arts is also known as Maleficium, or Black Magic. It includes spells, creatures, potions, Dark items and artifacts. Most of you have likely been brought up to believe that its always bad. Sometimes even 'evil'. If you take a step back from the textbook definition and think about it, you may realize that despite being indoctrinated with that opinion, you yourself may have employed a magic that is inherently 'dark' in nature. Those Curses, Hexes, and Jinxes you learn to hurt or harm others in a duel? Those are all dark magic. Potions which can be used to control someone? Arguably dark. Likely you can think of examples in other subjects, if you think creatively- and often that is what dark artists do: think creatively. Think outside the box. The Dark Arts are said to be unfixed, mutating, and indestructible. This is interesting because it is historically said that Wizardkind in particular are resistant to change and innovation. People are often afraid of what they don’t understand, which is why some schools include the Dark Arts in their curriculum, and not simply Defense Against the Dark Arts like you have here at Hogwarts. I myself went to the Durmstrang Institute, where Dark Arts is a required class throughout our schooling." Angelo said. It was just different, that was all. And if you understood something and were educated in it, you were better equipped to deal with it. "Dark doesn't mean evil. A weapon itself isn't evil on its own, the intent of its wielder and how it is used is what is most important. There is a difference between a criminal and a Dark Artist. Some dark spells are legal, some dark magic is socially acceptable in some countries but not others. One of you mentioned the International Confederation of Wizards. The Unforgivable spells are deemed such by that particular organization, and the legal repercussions, IE imprisonment in Azkaban, is enforced by most -but not all- Ministries for Magic, in the case of Wizarding Britain, by the Department of Magical Law Enforcement. In Britain only Aurors can legally use all dark magic if necessary." Angelo said, going over some of the answers and adding a few extra points on the matter. "So, I'm here today because I'm more than just a YATI - which is the Youth Auror Training Initiative for those of you who are unfamiliar- I'm a dark practitioner myself. Other than my time at Durmstrang, I've been brought up with the Dark Arts, and by that I don't just mean spells that might be cast with a wand. I trust you aren't all completely worried about my soul." Did he look corrupted by his magic? Wasn't scaly. Didn't have a funny nose. Hmm? No. *"I'm not* here today to encourage all of you to employ the dark arts, or break any laws, or be hauled off to Azkaban for any reason."** So... don't go asking, for that, kids. "For now lets go over what is required for dark spells to work. As with any spell, you need a wand movement, and an incantation. We also know that the intent is important. But when it comes to dark magic, there is a fourth factor to successfully cast a dark spell without it backfiring in some way. Can anyone guess what that fourth factor might be and why that fourth factor is necessary?" ooc: Feel free to think creatively! You're not going to find an answer spelled out for you anywhere Make sure any suggested fourth factor also comes with a reason for it! Also feel free to have your charrie ask questions if they are inclined. And keep going with the clay. HINT: While you can make anything you like and inanimate objects are totally fine (within SS rules) something based on a living creature miiiiight be useful. Paige was...pleasantly surprised to find that a lot of her thoughts overlapped with those of Angelo's. Um...Mr. Toussaint...um...how was she supposed to refer to their guest speaker? Admittedly, the Hufflepuff had been a bit too consumed by her thoughts revolving this rather grey area of magic that this little snippet of information had slipped from her mind. Regardless, Paige not only found the YATI intriguing because of his insight...but also a tad alluring in that he was a living representation of a grey area of magic. It was hard not to find that alluring, you know? Especially coming from a background where she was so used to labeling things as this or that. Black or white. Good or bad. Needless to say, her clay was entirely forgotten now as her hand clutched her red ink quill to scribble down notes in addition to her own thoughts - pausing every now and then to reflect on something especially profound Angelo - she was just going to call him that in her head at least - had said. His question, while heard, went unanswered as the seventh year was too busy with her notes and reflecting upon a few specific quotes she had jotted down. Particularly the bit about a weapon itself isn't evil on its own. That resonated quite strongly with her... SPOILER!!: Professah! Quote: Originally Posted by hermionesclone Text Cut: Blaise and Bentley .............. Deadpan. During his walk of the classroom, this was what reached his ears. The man hardly registered whatever it was that the two were talking about aside from the words 'restraining order' and he didn't even want to know. All he knew was that it had very little to do with his subject and so, he found himself stopping by the two Gryffindors' desk. "Is there something you want to share with the class, Mr Bellaire and Mr Moore?" he asked, hands in his pockets and a raised eyebrow expression on his face. Because he usually didn't approve of people talking while he, or Angelo in this case, was teaching. Text Cut: You guys ^^ Well this was an interesting development, wasn't it? Hirsch had paused in his walking around the classroom to see what Miss Tyler was making with her lump of clay. He wasn't about to mention it but the man was slightly glad that she hadn't gone with the previous idea she had, whatever it was. And her answer? Even more interesting. "Eye contact is crucial, yes," Probably not the answer he was going for but it was a good one. "So you're saying that the intention to cast the dark magic depends on the person and why they have the intention of casting it?" Another good point, he had to admit. This answer to his previous question was like music to the man's ears. In fact, most of the answers had been. "I'm glad you mentioned something about creatures as well as spellwork." Because those were also Dark Arts. "But you're very right: without the intention to cast a Dark spell, you're not going to succeed, no matter how much you try. Well done." Focus? Hm. "You're very right about that since without focus, you're not going to be able to cast your spell properly and it could go wrong. That's not the answer I'm looking for but good guess." Oh, this answer. This was an answer that earned the biggest smile from the Defence Professor. *"You are very* close, Miss Evans. I like your mention of corruption with this as well." She would probably find out why soon enough. "Excellent thinking."** And onto her next part which, luckily, the man could answer seeing as he'd been at Durmstrang himself. "Depends on the countries and their laws. While we may be united by a force and as a nation, who's to say that every country has a clear and united idea of right and wrong? A spell that one country might consider to be okay might not be somewhere else." "But to answer your question: Durmstrang prefers a more combative approach to magical education. At Durmstrang, you're taught darker arts because they believe that young students should be taught these things at a young age so that they don't have a rosy-eyed vision of the world and the dark arts. This is partly due to early influences in the curriculum, especially by Harfang Munter, an ex-Durmstrang leader. Hogwarts is different because the laws here are different. You're taught to recognise the Dark Arts and to fight them, yes," And he tried his best to do just that. "but with a much softer approach. Does that help?" Soon enough, Hirsch found himself moving over towards a certain Miss Summers, and looking over her work as well. He wouldn't have usually but the words 'dark moments/thoughts' caught his eye and he found himself frowning in thought. He silently wished she had elaborated on this answer but, as it was, there was nothing else to go off of. "Close," he said quietly, tapping her notes. That was all. Oh, this answer. This answer made him very happy, a fact that probably showed on his face. "You have potential, you know." Make of that what you will, Botros. As for her answer, "You, and Miss Evans, are probably the closest to the correct answer. You can't attack or defend yourself properly if you let your emotions get in the way so having control over them is crucial. It's probably why people who practice the dark arts to cause harm are often seen as being heartless. Excellent thinking." The sailor snowman was what caught Hirsch's attention and he took a moment to look at the lump of clay with an amused expression on his face. Oh, how he wanted to see what the young Gryffindor would make of the rest of the lesson. Willpower? Interesting word choice. *"That comes very close to intent, Tenacius, but you're still right. If you don't truly want* to cast the spell, you won't be able to. Simple as that." Jace was being very precise with his moulding, something Hirsch noticed when he walked past the young Ravenclaw. It was almost as if the boy was in his element. Huh. Determination was another interesting answer. "Well, yes, I guess. You need determination, or a certain level of confidence, to carry out the spell. Without it, your attempts will be futile." A spell casting fact. "It's...... not quite the answer I'm looking for but it's a good guess, Jace. Well done."** Why was Rooney Bronwyn acting so weird? Because this, surely, wasn't what he was usually like. Hirsch was very much confused. So, for the time being, he was going to concentrate on something he did understand: the Ravenclaw's answer. "It's always the innocent ones that prove to be the most surprising." Just something to remember. "Understanding is a good answer. If you don't truly understand what it is you're doing or trying to cast, you're not going to be very successful in your spell-casting," Probably why they taught the meaning behind the spells. "Not exactly the answer I'm looking for but it's a very good and unique guess." Another understanding answer? Well that was something. "Understanding is key, yes. Without it, you won't know exactly what it is you're trying to do. And it's probably why we teach you about the dark arts so that you can understand them and know how to effectively defend yourselves against them." Still key. "Not the answer I'm looking for but a very good guess." A quiet person? Not bad, not bad. Especially considering the fact that she was taking notes, from the looks of it. Hirsch didn't have anything to say and didn't look at her notes as he swept past. And what was she going to make out of that clay, hm? Unfortunately for the boy, Hirsch had swept past him just after he'd finished muttering so he couldn't catch whatever it was he was muttering to himself. And, frankly, he wasn't going to pretend as though he had heard. Not when he had other things to concentrate on. Like the boy's answer, for example. Desire? "You're very right in your thinking, Mr Winchester. Without the desire, you can wave your wand all you like but you won't be able to cast the spell properly." Funny mental image there. "That ties in with intent, actually. Not the answer I'm looking for but good guess." Focus? Well, it was a good thing that his students knew that they needed to concentrate if they wanted to cast a spell properly. "Focus is correct, yes, and it's an important part of spell casting but not the fourth factor we're looking for." As for her question, specifically about the Dueling Club, Hirsch stopped in his tracks and turned to peer at her. "Miss Valentine, you're not a dark witch and I have faith that you won't end up being one." Surely, she wouldn't upset him so by taking that career path. "But no. No one in Dueling Club is intending to cause severe harm, so much that they kill their opponent. Remember that these spells you use are only considered dark or not depending on how you use them. If you want to tickle someone just to get them to laugh or to out-duel them, that's fine. If you tickle someone to death, that's not." Pause. "And I oversee every single duel. I wouldn't let people use these spells in a dark way." Did that reassure her? Daxton being quiet in his lesson was hardly a surprise to the man but it didn't stop him from walking past his desk, mostly to check that he was still paying attention. It was the sight of the fingers rhythmically drumming the table that caught his attention and gave him some kind of indication that he was, probably, listening. Even if the gesture looked as though he was a little bored of the discussion. The man raised his eyebrows at the young Ravenclaw but said nothing else. This won't be a boring lesson, Daxton, don't worry. There were a lot of focus answers popping up, weren't there? Again, the man was glad that they knew how much concentration they needed in their spell casting but they probably didn't realise just how close they were to the actual answer. It did tie in well with the fourth factor but for now........ "You're right about needing to focus to cast your spells, Miss Darcy, but that's not the fourth factor. But I do like your mention of sharp instincts as well." Constant vigilance, remember? Another quiet one? No matter. This didn't bother the man in the slightest and, in fact, he actually expected it. Though, this was a little surprising considering how great of an answer her - he was going to take a stab in the dark - sister had managed to produce and how good this Botros was at this subject. Oh, this was a new answer, wasn't it? The man stopped to look at the young girl, a little impressed with this. "Well, you're certainly right about that, Miss Toussaint," he started, "They say that practice makes perfect and you need a certain level of skill to cast the right spells. Well done." Again, not exactly the answer but a logical answer nonetheless. Practice? Hm. *"You're certainly right about needing practice to cast the spell. Practice does* make perfect." And some needed more than others, which was fine. "It's not the fourth element, however, but well done." Willingness. He hadn't had that word come up before. "Willingness is a good way of putting it, in fact," he said, nodding his head slowly, "If you're not willing to cast the spell, you won't be able to. Simple as that. But that ties in very closely with intent so no, it's not the fourth factor. Good guess, though."** Hirsch had been blissfully ignoring whatever it was that was going on between Miss Tate and Miss Toussaint. That was, until, something flew out from Miss Tate's direction and straight towards........ ............ SMACK! ....................... What was that about constant vigilance? Hirsch, who'd jumped when the small lump of clay slapped his arm, found himself readjusting his askew glasses and frowning down at the clay on the floor and then towards the Gryffindor. "Miss Tate, when I said that you can make whatever you wish with your clay, I didn't mean for a clayball to be one of them." Again, teenagers. "But you're right: you need a level of capability with these spells. Most of them are going to be advanced. The intention you need to muster up is advanced." ............ Well well well. "That's a very interesting answer, Miss Traulton. They say that the Dark Arts consume you if you become too connected to it and that ties in with what you mentioned about being emotionally invested into that area of magic. That could be a branch off of intent but you are right about needing to be connected with it to perform it." At least, that was his understanding of it. And no, that wasn't the fourth factor. Another quiet student? Hirsch didn't mind this, not at all. Instead, when he reached her table, he paused to take a look at whatever it was she was making before moving onwards. It would be interesting to see what they made of these clay figures later. What was surprising was that Zeke Browne hadn't offered an answer. The Defence Professor half expected the boy to come out with something unique and different but not this time. Maybe he had a different tactic, instead. Whatever it was, the boy was bound to excel so he wasn't too worried. Emotion was a very interesting answer and, in fact, it was one that got the man smiling. And what was more was that she had mentioned a little something that he was looking for. "That's a very unique answer, Miss Phillips," he said, pushing his glasses further up his nose, "People do say that you need to be tough and emotion-less when dealing with this form of magic but if you have your emotions in check, you could still be an exceptional witch or wizard. Well done." This was concerning. Very concerning. Hirsch had arrived close enough to Miss Franks-Mundie in time to see the slightly distressed pulling of the clay and the small pieces that sat on her desk. Hm. He didn't know what the problem was but what he did know was that this wasn't the sign of a happy student. Unless ripping clay made the girl happy. He tilted his head at her and gave her a thumbs up coupled with a questioning look on his face, as if he was trying to ask a question with a simple look. Hirsch had no idea what it was that Haddie was trying to make with her lump of clay and he wasn't about to question it. Though, he had to hand it to her, she did seem to like getting the detailing right. Want to hurt someone? "Yes, very much so. Some people use emotion to do that, others visualisation. But, this need, this intent to hurt someone needs to be there otherwise it can't work. You're very right." Except, not what he was looking for. As a whole, Hirsch was incredibly impressed with the answers the class had come out with. No one had mentioned exactly what he was thinking, but there were some creative answers here. Some that he hadn't even thought of, actually. And a few of them had managed to get very close to the answer he was looking for. Closer than, probably, even they knew. "Really excellent suggestions, everyone, but Miss Evans, Miss Botros and Miss Phillips have nearly hit the nail with their answers." A pause to smile in their directions before he moved on. "The fourth factor that's important is control. You can have the wand movement and incantation nailed down and have all the intention to cast the spell in the world but without control, you're likely to fail." Should he elaborate? He was going to. "The reason why some Dark wizards fail is because of their lack of control. Without it, the dark magic could very easily backfire on you, causing you harm in turn. It could cause some permanent damage, which is why some say that these wizards tend to look corrupted. They can be too focused on the intent, the desire to cause harm, that some don't bother learning to control it. It could change their entire look, making them look more and more twisted. This could also be because they let their malicious intent get the better of them." All consuming, wasn't it? "An example of a lack of control turning out bad for the user is in the case of Fiendfyre. Many of you would know the events of the Second Wizarding War and the incident in which one individual lost control of the cursed fire and ended up dying in it. It's the same with even the minor of spells: lose control and you might end up causing more harm than you mean to." Something to think about, wasn't it? "So!" he said, coming to the front of the class again, "Spellwork and wand magic in general isn't the only branch of magic that is associated with the Dark Arts. Can anyone think of any other kind of magic, whether it's a subject taught here at Hogwarts or not, that could influence and be associated with the Dark Arts?" OOC: You guys are doing SO well so far! <3 Sorry if this question is confusing! Just have your charrie name any other branch of magic that could be linked to the Dark Arts. Aaaaaanything ^^ Tegan will continue the next part of the class <3 Control. Well...Paige honestly should have thought of that - were her thoughts able to focus on the question at hand - given how much of a lack of control she displayed with certain branches of magic. Yeah, thinking about you, Transfiguration. Sigh. Which was why she wrote that particular word nice and big in her notes, perhaps more as a reminder to herself about the importance of control. Easier said than done, however...and she couldn't help but noticeably wince when Divination was associated with Dark Arts, temporarily slipping into the stereotype image of the branch of magic and for the briefest of moments finding it somewhat amusing that she, Paige Samantha Skeeter, could ever potentially be associated as a Dark Arts practitioner. "La-language," Paige managed to squeak out after raising her hand, a rare occurrence in this particular subject. "The ability to speak certain tongues, particularly Parstletongue..." She paused here to bite down on her lower lip, trying to think of how best to phrase her inquiry. "But that feels like it is more of a trait that has gained a Dark association purely based on those historically who have been in possession of the talent..." Another pause to think. And really she just left it at that. Thoughts a bit of a jumbled mess. SPOILER!!: parchment According to Paige S Skeeter: Words of wisdom from guest speaking & Dark arts practitioner, Angelo Toussaint: What exactly are the Dark Arts? Any form of magic administered with the intent to harm, control, or kill another. But not all things which fall under the branch of Dark magic are considered illegal nor evil - terms often associated with the Dark Arts. Jinxes and hexes they were encouraged to use in dueling club were considered Dark, but completely acceptable to use and none of them were labeled as evil people. Historically speaking as well there were numerous famous cases of steadfast light supporters studying AND practicing the Dark Arts extensively along with aurors and ministry officials, even Order of the Phoenix members, using them. The difference is intent and whether or not one was willing to sacrifice a degree, if not all, of their humanity for greater power. The Dark Arts is also known as Maleficium, or Black Magic emcompases spells, creatures, potions, Dark items and artifacts. Affirms that the image of all Dart Arts being bad or evil is untrue. "Dark doesn't mean evil. A weapon itself isn't evil on its own, the intent of its wielder and how it is used is what is most important." "The Dark Arts are said to be unfixed, mutating, and indestructible." Who decides that they're dark or, in some cases, illegal? The fundamental laws of magic as no person has control over what will or will not corrupt or steal humanity. What is considered illegal or not is, unfortunately, quite subjective as history has illustrated. In Britain only Aurors can legally use all dark magic if necessary. 4 Parts to making a spell work: wand movement incantation intent control __________________ When you’re stuck in a moment and your spark has been stolen .................................................. ........... this is our time to own it, so own it..................................... baby we were born with fire and gold in our eyes