SnitchSeeker.com - View Single Post - History of Magic lesson 2

Goblinfrog · 03-16-2018, 07:28 PM

"You are all right, each and every one of you. Defense Against the Dark Arts was jinxed by Tom Marvolo Riddle, aka Voldemort - and it was jinxed because he wanted the job and couldn't get it. The first Wizarding War had not yet begun, but whispers of Voldemort's heinous deeds were trickling their way throughout Britain. It was in this time period that Voldemort paid a visit to then headmaster Albus Dumbledore to request a teaching position at Hogwarts. He was turned down rather quickly and left in a rage. Voldemort never actually specified which position he wanted, but a study of both later events and previous events prove beyond a shadow of a doubt that defense against the dark arts was the job he wanted. He had requested the job previously upon graduating from Hogwarts, but was turned down due to his age. As Rylee pointed out." Because whoever heard about a student becoming Hogwarts professor at eighteen? Grading people who he/she had been friends with or quarreled with but a year ago? Preposterous! "We can only guess how he would have twisted a generation's mind if Dumbledore hadn't seen through him. Would he have taught them to love the dark arts rather than defend against them? Or would he have simply used his closeness to Hogwarts ancient artifacts to pillage the castle and secure powerful Hocruxes, as many historians believe was his goal? And Ms. Toussaint is absolutely right: I believe this episode is an excellent example of the real petty nature of Voldemort. yes, it may have been a good strategy for depriving future students of valuable knowledge, or of making sure that eventually only dark wizards would take the job, but it also backfired several times as his own agents were not spared by the jinx anymore than his enemies were."

Ironically, it was around this part of the discussion that the dark clouds started lighting up and the lightning became distant. Obviously he didn't make that happen. The ceiling merely reflected the real weather outside.

"For many years after this second rejection," he contined. [B]"This school was unable to maintain a defense against the dark arts professor for longer than one year. Something bad would happen to each and every one of them which would prevent them from carrying on teaching for another year. It ended in 1998, after Voldemort's final defeat during the Battle of Hogwarts. Well done Skylar on knowing that." An approving nod to Skylar.

"That's a good question, Valkyrie," Charles said to the sixth year Slytherin. "Unfortunately, not even Dumbledore fully understood the jinx, and so was unable to reverse it. We can be sure he would have done everything he could have to end it if he had only known how. As it was, the existence of the jinx was not known until after several professors were unable to stay longer than a year."

And Skyler Queen had an interesting question too. "That's a very good question, Ms. Queen. We actually do not know how exactly the jinx worked, or if there was another way to break it other than killing Voldemort. It seems the jinx operated through finding weaknesses in the professors personal lives or of circumstances surrounding them, and then exploiting those weaknesses to cause tragedy. For example, one such professor was Professor Remus Lupin, who taught when Harry Potter was in his third year at Hogwarts. Incidentally, Remus was a werewolf at a time when werewolves were discriminated against by society at large. You may remember a previous we had where we discussed Dolores Umbridge and her anti-werewolf legislation. Anyway, it was revealed by one of Remus's fellow professors that he was a werewolf, and he resigned. Incidentally, the professor who betrayed his secret would go on to get the defense against the dark arts post a few years later, and the jinx worked its magic on him too. His name was Severus Snape and you can find his portrait in the headmistress's office. If Voldemort hadn't jinxed the job, would Snape still have betrayed his co-workers secret? We can't be sure where exactly the jinx worked its magic."

Now they were getting close to the activity portion of the lesson. "Now. You will be needing your writing materials for the next part of the lesson." No one thought he was about to break his pattern with a physical activity like so many others did, right? Nope! Charles was all about debating and writing.

"There are two parts to this assignment. For part one, I want to see how many of you know at least one defense against the dark arts teacher who was forced out of his/her post because of the jinx. Mr. Carter did a very good job listing several professors. I hope you were listening to his answer. Once you've selected your professor, I want you to think of all you know about their tenure at Hogwarts and try to determine where exactly the jinx took them down. Do you believe the professor you have chosen would have lasted if not for the jinx? Write your conclusions down."

The sky was definitely lighting up now. That didn't mean the weather was completely clear - a heavy drizzle had just started coming down a few moments ago. Of course it couldn't affect them in here - though it was still nice to look at.

"Some of you may not know enough details about these past professors in order to write a compelling essay. I encourage you to read up on this period after class if that is the case as we will be studying this subject in greater depths on a future date. But in the meantime, I have another assignment for you, and this one is for everyone. Do you believe that this jinx against the defense against the dark arts position was the only time a jinx like that had ever been used on this school? A great number of frightening things have taken place within these walls over the past several years, often completely disconnected to each other - or so it seems. And we all know what's been happening this year. Do you believe it's all coincidence that it happens at Hogwarts, part of the trade of living in a magic school, or do you believe Hogwarts may have a secret enemy connecting all the recent dangers that have taken place over the past several years?"

OOC: Sorry for the delay in writing this...I had much of it typed down yesterday but our electricity was knocked out.

You are free to have your characters do one or both of these assignments.

03-16-2018, 07:28 PM	#38 (permalink)
Goblinfrog DIMC & MO Billywig Join Date: Feb 2013 Location: Riley's Brain Posts: 3,262 Hogwarts RPG Name: Lola A. Second Year	talk + activity Mischievous Niffler "You are all right, each and every one of you. Defense Against the Dark Arts was jinxed by Tom Marvolo Riddle, aka Voldemort - and it was jinxed because he wanted the job and couldn't get it. The first Wizarding War had not yet begun, but whispers of Voldemort's heinous deeds were trickling their way throughout Britain. It was in this time period that Voldemort paid a visit to then headmaster Albus Dumbledore to request a teaching position at Hogwarts. He was turned down rather quickly and left in a rage. Voldemort never actually specified which position he wanted, but a study of both later events and previous events prove beyond a shadow of a doubt that defense against the dark arts was the job he wanted. He had requested the job previously upon graduating from Hogwarts, but was turned down due to his age. As Rylee pointed out." Because whoever heard about a student becoming Hogwarts professor at eighteen? Grading people who he/she had been friends with or quarreled with but a year ago? Preposterous! "We can only guess how he would have twisted a generation's mind if Dumbledore hadn't seen through him. Would he have taught them to love the dark arts rather than defend against them? Or would he have simply used his closeness to Hogwarts ancient artifacts to pillage the castle and secure powerful Hocruxes, as many historians believe was his goal? And Ms. Toussaint is absolutely right: I believe this episode is an excellent example of the real petty nature of Voldemort. yes, it may have been a good strategy for depriving future students of valuable knowledge, or of making sure that eventually only dark wizards would take the job, but it also backfired several times as his own agents were not spared by the jinx anymore than his enemies were." Ironically, it was around this part of the discussion that the dark clouds started lighting up and the lightning became distant. Obviously he didn't make that happen. The ceiling merely reflected the real weather outside. "For many years after this second rejection," he contined. [B]"This school was unable to maintain a defense against the dark arts professor for longer than one year. Something bad would happen to each and every one of them which would prevent them from carrying on teaching for another year. It ended in 1998, after Voldemort's final defeat during the Battle of Hogwarts. Well done Skylar on knowing that." An approving nod to Skylar. "That's a good question, Valkyrie," Charles said to the sixth year Slytherin. "Unfortunately, not even Dumbledore fully understood the jinx, and so was unable to reverse it. We can be sure he would have done everything he could have to end it if he had only known how. As it was, the existence of the jinx was not known until after several professors were unable to stay longer than a year." And Skyler Queen had an interesting question too. "That's a very good question, Ms. Queen. We actually do not know how exactly the jinx worked, or if there was another way to break it other than killing Voldemort. It seems the jinx operated through finding weaknesses in the professors personal lives or of circumstances surrounding them, and then exploiting those weaknesses to cause tragedy. For example, one such professor was Professor Remus Lupin, who taught when Harry Potter was in his third year at Hogwarts. Incidentally, Remus was a werewolf at a time when werewolves were discriminated against by society at large. You may remember a previous we had where we discussed Dolores Umbridge and her anti-werewolf legislation. Anyway, it was revealed by one of Remus's fellow professors that he was a werewolf, and he resigned. Incidentally, the professor who betrayed his secret would go on to get the defense against the dark arts post a few years later, and the jinx worked its magic on him too. His name was Severus Snape and you can find his portrait in the headmistress's office. If Voldemort hadn't jinxed the job, would Snape still have betrayed his co-workers secret? We can't be sure where exactly the jinx worked its magic." Now they were getting close to the activity portion of the lesson. "Now. You will be needing your writing materials for the next part of the lesson." No one thought he was about to break his pattern with a physical activity like so many others did, right? Nope! Charles was all about debating and writing. "There are two parts to this assignment. For part one, I want to see how many of you know at least one defense against the dark arts teacher who was forced out of his/her post because of the jinx. Mr. Carter did a very good job listing several professors. I hope you were listening to his answer. Once you've selected your professor, I want you to think of all you know about their tenure at Hogwarts and try to determine where exactly the jinx took them down. Do you believe the professor you have chosen would have lasted if not for the jinx? Write your conclusions down." The sky was definitely lighting up now. That didn't mean the weather was completely clear - a heavy drizzle had just started coming down a few moments ago. Of course it couldn't affect them in here - though it was still nice to look at. "Some of you may not know enough details about these past professors in order to write a compelling essay. I encourage you to read up on this period after class if that is the case as we will be studying this subject in greater depths on a future date. But in the meantime, I have another assignment for you, and this one is for everyone. Do you believe that this jinx against the defense against the dark arts position was the only time a jinx like that had ever been used on this school? A great number of frightening things have taken place within these walls over the past several years, often completely disconnected to each other - or so it seems. And we all know what's been happening this year. Do you believe it's all coincidence that it happens at Hogwarts, part of the trade of living in a magic school, or do you believe Hogwarts may have a secret enemy connecting all the recent dangers that have taken place over the past several years?" OOC: Sorry for the delay in writing this...I had much of it typed down yesterday but our electricity was knocked out. You are free to have your characters do one or both of these assignments. Last edited by Goblinfrog; 03-29-2018 at 02:51 PM.