SnitchSeeker.com - HoM ADVANCED Lesson 1 (5th-7th years)

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- Term 23: September - December 2009 (https://www.snitchseeker.com/term-23-september-december-2009/)

- - HoM ADVANCED Lesson 1 (5th-7th years) (https://www.snitchseeker.com/term-23-september-december-2009/hom-advanced-lesson-1-5th-7th-years-68305/)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Truebridge

"This lesson is going to be about Dark Wizards and we will touch on pureblood elitism too. I ask for all of you, regardless of your opinions on such things, to keep an open mind and be respectful of what others have to say."

Fascinating--except not really. Wrinkling her nose, Daphne smiled weakly for Plymouth's amusement. Almost as fascinating as Morgan's newly acquired stunna shades.

Because, Plymouth needed the confidence boost. In her tense silence, Daphne's hands found each other and held each other tightly and almost painfully.

This class should have probably been skipped despite the consequences on falling behind. Heaving a careful sigh, Daphne avoided looking at any Slytherins in the classroom as she raised her hand. "There's a general misconception about Slytherins being pureblooded elitist who want nothing but to get rid of muggleborns and clean up the blood or something like that," spoke the blond and shook her head a little doubtfully. The facts were a little shady. "I guess that comes a lot from having Salazar Slytherin as its founder."

And. She'd leave it at that. For now. This way everyone was allowed to have their say and she could try to fade into the background a bit.

And...she was repeating people like a muggle record. "Err...Most people think that because they are ambitious, they have no moral or ethical code. In fact, I find that they do. Honor and pride, for example."

Nikki raised her hand, a bit hesitantly, but still she wanted to answer something. "Slytherins in some peoples minds are thought to be selfish people who mainly care for just themselves."

Abby raises her hand. "Slytherins are generally cunning and believe strongly in self preservation. Not necessarily bad traits to have. For the record my mother was a Slytherin."

Quote:

Originally Posted by NicoT (Post 8648816)

"First of all, I would like to tell you all, that I myself am a halfblood, my parents were both halfbloods, each of them had a muggle parent. I was also sorted, when I attended Hogwarts as a student, as a Slytherin. Things have changed over the years, but there are still certain ideas and prejudiced opinion about Slytherin house and from many different angles. Anyone care to share some associations about Slytherins and the topic of this lesson? It doesn't have to be something you yourself believe."

LouAnn thought carefully about her mum, a former Slytherin, before trying to come up with some sort of response to the discussion. Lavender Purple had talked to her daughter about most of the things that were being brought up in class, and LouAnn had even heard a story about the heir of Slytherin and some sort of Chamber of Secrets. That might be something interesting to bring up. "I've heard about the Chamber of Secrets," she said, her hand raised in the hair. She lowered it and continued he discussion. "Once, it was written on the walls of this school for enemies of the heir to beware. By the heir, they meant the heir of Slytherin. Supposedly the Chamber of Secrets housed some sort of beast that was supposed to rid the school of all muggleborns." She shivered, thinking how creepy seeing those messages on the wall must have been. "I think there's been some misconception over the years that all Slytherins despise muggles and muggleborns and think poorly of them. My mum's a Slytherin, though, and she's not like that towards muggleborns at all."

Um. Okay.

Awkwardly, the girl raised her hand. OOHWOW. "There have been theories that Slytherins are more likely to do more wrong than do more good for their history of using dark arts. Not only of their history but of also due to the belief Pure-blood Slytherins used to believe that they were superior to all the other houses. Most people believe that their cunning ways and dark history will end up with all Slytherin students turning up to involve themselves in the dark arts," she answered, dropping her hand down moments ago.

She drummed her fingers against her leg gently, as she thought about it so more. Now that you actually thought about it, it seemed rather stupid. Not ALL Slytherins were horrible, mean, scary, and evil.

Quote:

Originally Posted by NicoT (Post 8648816)

Everyone seemed to be much more alert than he was in class today, seeing as they'd already shared many of the same opinions he had about Slytherins and the prejudices they live with. Truthfully he probably should have known more about them than he did, but Dominic really didn't care much on the subject.

"Slytherins are ruthless and egotistical, thinking they are better than everyone else." the seventh year shrugged indifferently. That was true though, wasn't it? Stealing a glance over at Evolette McKenna, Dominic had little doubts about it.

Plymouth sat quietly and thought about his answer before raising his hand. "Slytherin has an unfair reputation. You don't necessarily have to be a Slytherin to be a pureblood elitist." Plymouth shrugged and raised his stunna shades to seek out Evolette McKenna. "Slytherins are hot. I like them. I wouldn't if they were pureblood elitists." He slid his glasses back on and raised his hand again, "Or maybe they're all so cunning they have me fooled."

Quote:

Originally Posted by Celandine (Post 8648827)

"Slytherins are associated more with the dark arts." Cela answered, listlessly putting her hand up.

"True." Ethan agreed with a little nod.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hermione_loves_Ron (Post 8648833)

Raising her hand, Issy began. Such an easy question.

"Many associate Slytherin, as a snake, with deception, cunning, and often, evil. They think of Slytherins as dark and almost predatory. Conniving, manipulative, and cold. Selfish. People think that Slytherins do only for themself and the betterment of themselves."

"I was always told that you should help yourself before you help anyone else. It's a different way of looking at it perhaps. Good answer." Truebridge nodded.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cassirin (Post 8648845)

Copernicus raised his hand. "Most believe that since Salazar Slytherin was strongly in favor of maintaining pure bloodlines at Hogwarts and specifically in his house that only purebloods are welcome in that house. Obviously that isn't true." He shrugged, but his gaze drifted to the top of Cela's head.

"It was once the case though. Those that were not pureblooded were given a hard time and muggleborns were once upon a time, not welcome at all by Slytherin house."

Quote:

Originally Posted by Colley ♥ (Post 8648850)

Evolette raised her hand. "There's one, that Purebloods are simply better than others because their bloodline has not been deluded by Muggles and the such, therefore, they are more important to the Wizarding world, and should be held in a higher regard. Which would be one of the reasons why Slytherin house, years ago, was only interested in having Purebloods. Only the best for the best."

And just as the Professor had said, it wasn't her line of thinking exactly, but it was what she'd heard, and what she knew.

"Thank you, Evolette." Truebridge answered and looked around the room.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Oesed (Post 8648861)

Did she have any questions? Yes, Willow Kovac had one question, to be presice.

Why was she surrounded by people? You'd think that because she was frowning and purposely located far away from the rest of the people, her classmates would instantly figure out that she preferred to be left alone.

But she doubted Truebridge would want to hear that question simply because it had nothing to do with his class - which was about dark wizards and pureblood elitism.

Trying to fight the smile that was appearing on her lips at the sight of Plymouth Morgan wearing shades and shrugging at Issy, for Willow had noticed the glance the short girl had given her, the seventh year turned to look at the professor again with an expression that could be interpreted as utterly bored or just plain indifferent, as she waited for the class to actually start. She doubted, however, that Truebridge would say something that she was NOT familiar with when it came to Pureblood Elitism.

Oh. Question time. "As you pointed out, Professor, things have changed through the years when it comes to the Slytherin house. Certain people, however, still believe that only Purebloods belong in Slytherin, and that, therefore, Muggleborns are not welcome there.." Like her grandfather, yes. "That's clearly, though, not true." There WERE plenty of Muggleborns in Slytherin, after all. Right?

Willow was sure of this. Too bad ... she didn't actually KNOW for certain seeing that the seventeen year old didn't know many people from that house. Or any other house, for that matter.

"Right. Thank you Willow."

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ama (Post 8648865)

"Honour and Pride are very important Slytherin traits, even if we might define it somewhat differently to everyone else." Ethan agreed quietly.

Quote:

Originally Posted by hermione9495 (Post 8648870)

Nikki raised her hand, a bit hesitantly, but still she wanted to answer something. "Slytherins in some peoples minds are thought to be selfish people who mainly care for just themselves."

"Interesting that." Ethan nodded encouragingly, hoping the younger student would grow more comfortable to share her opinions and discuss things during the lesson.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mrs. Weasley (Post 8648885)

Abby raises her hand. "Slytherins are generally cunning and believe strongly in self preservation. Not necessarily bad traits to have. For the record my mother was a Slytherin."

"We tend not to think of those as bad traits either, Abby." Truebridge actually smirked.

How very Slytherinny of him.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Anna Banana (Post 8648892)

"Chamber of secrets. Excellent. Thank you... LouAnn right?" Truebridge offered an encouraging nod.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Daffy.Potter (Post 8648900)

"Not all Slytherins are particularly adept with the dark arts, so it is interesting that that particular idea still exists. Wrong and good are relative."

Quote:

Originally Posted by Orchideae (Post 8648905)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mad Eye Touz (Post 8648921)

His face serious again, Truebridge put his shades on once more.
"You are right, pureblood elitism isn't exclusive to Slytherin house. But it is defintely an association."

He shrugged.

"Ruthless, Dark Artists, Pureblooded... There is supposedly some rule about what constitutes pureblood. Your grandparents have to be witches and wizards in order to call yourself a pureblood even though you would still have some muggle blood."

Truebridge pointed at the line that curved around the floor.

"Keeping that rule in mind, I'd like all of you to choose a spot on the line in answer to the question 'how pureblooded are you?' He pointed to the left, starting here for those of you that are muggle born and ending here," he gestured to where the line ended at his right, "For those of you who have absolutely no known muggle blood in your family."

Quote:

Originally Posted by NicoT
"First of all, I would like to tell you all, that I myself am a halfblood, my parents were both halfbloods, each of them had a muggle parent. I was also sorted, when I attended Hogwarts as a student, as a Slytherin. Things have changed over the years, but there are still certain ideas and prejudiced opinion about Slytherin house and from many different angles. Anyone care to share some associations about Slytherins and the topic of this lesson? It doesn't have to be something you yourself believe."

Chris rasied his hand. "Well Professor before I say some of the things Slytherins were associated with I would like to say to you and all of my Slytherin friends, thatI have noproblem with them or," he looked aorund the room, "Any muggle-borns or half-bloods." he smiled at the people he could se around the room.

"Well Slytherins often are associated with greed and a sense of pure blood elitism. Some of this is stemmed from Salazar Slytherin's want of only teaching Pure-bloods. Others think that Slytherins are ambitious and don't care to push others out of the way for their own success." he finished.

Quote:

Originally posted by NicoT
Truebridge pointed at the line that curved around the floor.

"Keeping that rule in mind, I'd like all of you to choose a spot on the line in answer to the question 'how pureblooded are you?' He pointed to the left, starting here for those of you that are muggle born and ending here," he gestured to where the line ended at his right, "For those of you who have absolutely no known muggle blood in your family."

Chris thought for a moment before he moved toward the line. His parents were both pure blood so should he stand on the end with purebloods? But he was descended from Harry Potter who's mother was muggle-born. So he did have a very tiny amount of muggle-blood in him. So he decided to walk towards the pureblood side but stop a foot or so away from it. This is where he belonged.

Quote:

"Keeping that rule in mind, I'd like all of you to choose a spot on the line in answer to the question 'how pureblooded are you?' He pointed to the left, starting here for those of you that are muggle born and ending here," he gestured to where the line ended at his right, "For those of you who have absolutely no known muggle blood in your family."

Celandine got up and immediately walked to stand at the far end of the line, on Truebridge's right side.

Pure.

Pure.

Stupid pure.

Quote:

Originally Posted by NicoT (Post 8649002)

"We are better than everyone else." Ethan answered quietly and then he grinned.

Weird.

What was with all this smiling Truebridge business?

"Having an ego is not exclusive to Slytherin house. Interesting that it is an association with Slytherins though."

"Ruthless, Dark Artists, Pureblooded... There is supposedly some rule about what constitutes pureblood. Your grandparents have to be witches and wizards in order to call yourself a pureblood even though you would still have some muggle blood."

Truebridge pointed at the line that curved around the floor.

"Keeping that rule in mind, I'd like all of you to choose a spot on the line in answer to the question 'how pureblooded are you?' He pointed to the left, starting here for those of you that are muggle born and ending here," he gestured to where the line ended at his right, "For those of you who have absolutely no known muggle blood in your family."

As if being Slytherin meant they were better than everyone else. Guess that was one place that Dominic would not and could not agree with Truebridge.

And true, having an ego was not exclusive to only Slytherins. It was just associated with them.

Standing up abruptly, Dominic made his way towards the right side and stood next to Celandine, giving her a small smile. Someone didn't seem too proud of her heritage.

Okay. Honestly. Not that guy... was just scary. Well... he looked scary. Talked scary. And was intense lookin'. So he was scary.

But Livvy pushed that aside and told herself that she was being ridiculous ans she should be listening to what the Professor instructed next. After listening to what the man said next, the girl stepped up to the line and stood at the middle of the line. Half-Blood. Yes she was.

Hmmm... Issy paused to debate this. Her father a wizard, her mother a muggle. Her eyes trained to the middle of the room, where she figured a pureblood and a muggle child would rest, but she knew that couldn't exactly be her spot, because her father himself was a half-blood. Magic carried on his father's side, with his mother a muggle, like her own. Pursing her lips, then, she pushed herself from the ground and made her way for the line, settling herself in between the center point of the line and left, where the muggle borns were to stand.

She glanced around her, almost self-consciously, as if someone was going to tell her that she was wrong. Had she chosen the right spot? Her mind continued to run over this, mulling. Yes. More than half of her family was muggle, therefore, she belonged past the midpoint.

Yes.

Yes. She had this.

Celandine was already up and moving, before Evolette even had time to process what the Professor had told them to do. Brushing her hair off of her shoulders and out of her eyes, the Head Girl followed the younger blonde towards the very end of the "Pureblood" side of the line.

Quote:

Originally Posted by NicoT (Post 8649002)

"Chamber of secrets. Excellent. Thank you... LouAnn right?" Truebridge offered an encouraging nod.

He shrugged.

"Ruthless, Dark Artists, Pureblooded... There is supposedly some rule about what constitutes pureblood. Your grandparents have to be witches and wizards in order to call yourself a pureblood even though you would still have some muggle blood."

Truebridge pointed at the line that curved around the floor.

"Keeping that rule in mind, I'd like all of you to choose a spot on the line in answer to the question 'how pureblooded are you?' He pointed to the left, starting here for those of you that are muggle born and ending here," he gestured to where the line ended at his right, "For those of you who have absolutely no known muggle blood in your family."

The professor...knew her name? "Impressive," LouAnn thought to herself. "LouAnn Purple, yes," she replied. As she listened to the definition of a pureblood, LouAnn thought about her own relatives---the Newcomb's and the What's-their-name's. Her mother's side of the family, the Newcomb's were all witches and wizards, and her father's side of the family...well, yes, they were, as well. By definition, LouAnn supposed that she was just as she'd always identified herself as---a pureblood witch.

LouAnn headed towards the 'no known muggle blood' section of the line and took an empty spot. It would be interesting to see how the line would look once everyone in the class had moved into position.

Daphne pondered briefly over her bloodline before allowing her legs to carry her towards Celandine, across the line and towards the far right of it.

Pureblood.

Despite Aunt Eleanor's lack of judgment.

Thankfully, Daphne was saved the conflicting thoughts about her only aunt by the presence of Evolette McKenna in her area. Smiling somewhat tensely at the Head Girl, Daphne inched towards her. "Feels a little tense in here, doesn't it?" she whispered with wrinkled brows.

Or maybe she was just assuming everyone in the room felt the same inner struggle that she did.

Nikki stood up as Professor Truebridge told them to stand in the 'How Pureblood Are You' or whatever it was called. She walked to the end where the Ravenclaw, a year older than Nikki, stood, or the 'no known muggle blood' side. Nikki was just happy that she had answered a question without being yelled at for having such an 'obscured' opinion.

But back to her purebloodness. Both of Nikki's parents were pureblood. She had no clue if her entire family (at least the people she knew about) was completely pure. After all, she had read about pureblood families hiding or doing something with the relatives who were squibs, halfblood, or married to a muggleborn. Frankly, Nikki thought it was just stupid, this whole 'purebloods are better' thing. It was just a way to make those blood importance people feel better.

Abby looks at the lines. I know my mother's family are purebloods for generations back, so that side of the family is definitely pure blood. My father's family, both of my paternal grandparents are wizards, but I know there is some muggle blood in there. I've always considered myself to be a half blood. Now Professor Truebridge has me confused. Abby walks over to the line and stands at the halfway point between purebloods and muggle born. "I know both sets of my grandparents are wizards, but I also know my father's family considers themselves halfbloods. Does that put me in the middle Professor?" Poor Abby is being as unfocused as usual.

Plymouth sighed. See? This is why he didn't come to the Astronomy tower. He always got embarrassed in one way or another. He was sooooo thankful for the sunglasses to hide behind. Plymouth preferred the line as a tightrope. "ThinkIlljustsitthisoneout," he mumbled, suddenly very interested in his shoelaces. Suppose he COULD just go stand somewhere vaguely in the middle.. Or maybe Plymouth could just pretend to be all muggleborn. It didn't matter one way or another to him... meh.

Ehh...How pure-blooded was she? Well...her mom...oh, boy. She didn't know a whole lot about her mom. Lucy's dad never got to find out much about her side of the family in relation to wizards and witches so there's no telling what type of "blood" she was. What the heeeeeck!!

Lucy stood still amidst the large group of students struggling to find their place in line. She sometimes headed towards the middle, and then towards the left, but definitely couldn't make up her mind. She knew for sure she was a half-blood. Dad was a pure muggle. No doubt about that. Mom was...a witch. Possibly with Muggle ancestry? Or...aw, man.

Frustrated, Lucy headed towards the middle, which was basically between the ACTUAL MIDDLE, and the area full of muggle-borns...and whatnot.

Rhea had been listening and jotting little things down here and there. She raised her eyebrows when the professor asked them to stand at the curve. She didn't like this game.

Frowning she got up and stood to the right. As far as she knew she was completely magical. Never had a muggle relative ever, unless her family hid the existence of one. But what was the point of this game?

"You're a Kettleburn-Morgan," Copernicus paused next to Plymouth and gave him a stubborn look. Dare you to deny it. Copernicus propelled his brother to a spot just right of center.

"What do you say, Little Brother? View is good from this spot?"

Willow blinked.

Slytherins were better?

Riiiight.

Clearly, Truebridge had hit his head with something - he was smiling a lot, after all. Yes, that was it, because Sllytherin was definitely not better.

And never mind that her father would most definitely disagree with her on that.

Following Daphne Hopton, the seventh year went to stand betweent the younger girl and Evolette in the pureblood circle, wondering how many of them were actual purebloods or just plain pretending to be. Huh.

Critically, her forest green eyes locked on half of the people standing in the 'Pureblood' area.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cassirin (Post 8649071)

Abby smiles at the boys. "Hello Copernicus, Plymouth. I see you'll are in the I'm not sure exactly what I am area too.":D

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cassirin (Post 8649071)

"Yeah. Alphabetical is best. Morgan-Kettleburn doesn't sound as good." Plymouth shrugged and let Cope lead him to the line. He pocketed his hands and hoped that they were about to start a rousing game of Red Rover. That was a fun game. Plus, there were lots of pretty girls in the class to run at... Plymouth sighed. "It's alright," he vaguely answered Copernicus. He offered a half-smile to Abby, but didn't add to her assessment.