Jason had no use for that uppity Slytherin. Woodson -ehh- the sound of the name bothered him.
" So Professor DuMont when are we going to do self-defense in the classroom" Jason asked him.

Sloane raised her hand, "Umm...is it oleoresin capsicum?" She had to make an attempt to earn some points for the house cup. Even if she must study about Muggles.

"Right. Four points to Slytherin," Antonio acknowledged. Slytherin was quick today. They seemed ready to win, at least in this class. Most everyone in his family was a Slytherin, he had been the lone Gryffindor, so he was secretly pleased for them. Even though it might be nice to have a better showing from Gryffindor, he thought again as he glared around the room.

"Let's talk a little about the Pyramid of Personal Safety that is referred to in the textbook. If you will go to that page, you will notice that the base of the pyramid is knowledge and understanding. Why do you think this is so important in preventing an attack of violence? And what else do you find interesting about his pyramid?"

Evan looked at the pyramid for some time before answering. He had never seen anything like this before, so it drew his attention. He slowly raised his hand, unsure. "Understanding, because we have to hold ourselves not to kill our attacker, or at least, not go far too much, we have to anticipate. And knowledge, because we have to know how to defend ourselves smoothly, only aiming to defend..?" Certainly uncertain.

Chris raised his hand. "Well in the best case senario, you should use knowledge to observe and calculate the danger and understanding to interprut if you need to protect yourself. And what i find iteresting about this pyramid is the part that is called Awareness. I believe that this section will be very important because you need to be as aware as possible to try and avoid places and situations that you will need to defend yourself." He finished with a nod.

Fallon was glad to recieve points for her house. She raised her hand yet again. "I believe this is at the bottom because to prevent violence, you have to have knowledge and understanding that it is out there." She then looked back at the pyramid. "I find it interesting that Physical Self-Defense is at the top because a lot of time, it just resorts to that right away." She was very proud of her answer.

Copernicus raised his hand. "Professor, I think this pyramid pertains a lot to what we learn in Defense Against the Dark Arts too... that the best way to protect yourself is to be aware of those around you and what they are capable of. If you can avoid a dangerous setting, then you survive and won't need to use any skills, magical or mundane. If you don't, you can walk right into a scenario that will bring you harm or cause you to harm someone else in defending yourself."

"Do not make yourself a target or a victim for crime" J ason told Professor DuMomt." Personal Safety is like pyramid." Jason continued. First, Physical self-defense, second-verbal boundary enforcement, third-Knoeledge of self- worth and boundries, fourth- manevering and position- fifth -awareness, and last but not least- walk-aways" Jason told the professor.sixth-habits " I find that all these methods would work in self-defense would work and that is why the pymarid is interesting" Jason told Professor Du Mont.

"I think that Knowledge and understanding play a role in self defence because one must know the correct steps to take and how to defend oneself properly. If one is a victim one must know how to take care of oneself." Alexandra said. She wasn't really sure if any of that had made sense, but she gave it a try. "|I think the bit about walk aways is interesting."

"All of you have done well in your answers," Antonio nodded in satisfaction. "Evan, understanding is the most important element, because that is the thing which keeps us in control, keeps us from using extraordinary force. Four points to Slytherin for that answer. And another two points to Slytherin for the point which Fallon has added, which is very well taken. Copernicus, your answer is right on target! Four points to Ravenclaw for that very astute observation. Chris and Jason, you are both quite sharp, and have earned four points for Gryffindor." Finally, Gryffindor was coming around, Antonio thought with an inward sigh.

"Would you all like to try something fun? I hope you are all ready for some practice," he said. "You never know when a situation will arise when you need to defend yourself, so I am going to give you all a chance to do a little practice. But there are rules here. I want you all to partner up, and I don't want anyone to get hurt. You will take turns playing the attacker and the victim. Pretend that you are muggles, and that one of you is sneaking up on the other to rob you in the park. Without using force, what do you do? What have you learned in this class about self defense? Let's see some common sense as you put your ideas to work. And remember that I will be watching, and that I will not tolerate any violence."

With that, Antonio produced some thick, padded mats, which covered the floor of the classroom. "Just remember, common sense and absolutely no violence. Everyone partner up, and if you can't find a partner, then let me know."

" Let us be partners " Jason told Victoria.

'Wha- How do you get out of a robbery with no violence!??' Evelyn screamed in her mind, looking up at the professor. She hadn't really been paying attention in class since she was drawing people on broomsticks everywhere on her page, then charming them to fly around. 'What were we talking about? Partners for what?' she looked around, confused.

Fallon looked around. She was thinking about maybe partnering up with Evan, but then again she thought maybe she would pair up with Satine. She sighed unable to make up her mind.

K looked around for a partner she was excited about what they would be practicing in the class. "I wonder who my partner will be." She hoped to be partnering with another Slytherin. "This will be alot of fun." K went as well and then waited for a partner.

Xander stretched as he was looking around the room. Some people seemed to already be partnering up. He had seen Brody and Sylvia around here somewhere, and should have bet twenty galleons they'd be partners. Standing up, he looked around the room.

"Anyone want to be partners with the Xanderman?" he asked.

Damon saw that his fellow friends needed a partner "K lets do this" Damon walked over to her and asked "What would you like to be as we do this. Damon wondered if she thought this would be a good excercise.

LouAnn perked up a little when the professor mentioned that they were now about to practice some of the defense techniques they'd discussed in class today. Defense was very important to LouAnn, as she'd been through a huge ordeal in her younger years and could have used some of this knowledge on defense back then.

Finding a partner, though, was something she was a little worried about. Being the new kid was hard in times like these, because most people already had a best friend or a close friend that they usually partnered up with. Hoping she'd luck out and find someone who was still partnerless, LouAnn spoke up. "I need a partner, too, if there's someone in here who still needs one," she said.

Nathaniel hadn't found a partner yet. He saw a girl he thought he'd seen around before and her she didn't have a partner either. He smiled and approached her "Wanna be my partner?" he asked her. Mariel wasn't there so he figured why not.

Chris looked around the room for a partner. He was excited to start, He saw a boy stading close by who didn't have a partner yet and he walked over to him. "Hey Im Chris, do you mind if I be your partner?"

LouAnn breathed a sigh of relief when a boy she thought to be in Gryffindor house asked if she'd like to be partners. Well, finding one hadn't been too hard after all, now had it? She smiled in return and nodded in reply to his question. "Yeah, sure, that's cool with me. Thanks," she said. "I'm LouAnn Purple, a fifth year Gryffinfor, by the way. What's your name?" She glanced up at the professor, waiting to hear his instructions so they could get started.

"Oh, sure!" Xander said, looking to the boy who was speaking. OOOOH PREFECT. He had to go easy on him then. Aww, shame. "I'm Xanderrrr. And you are?"

The next victim of the Xanderman? Nahhh. They're the others practice dummies. That works for now.

Adelaide nervously looked around to find a partner not knowing anyone to even ask. She tried to envision what it might be like to be a muggle and not have a wand to defend herself.

Chris looked as the boy acepted his partner request. "Im Chris, nice to meet you Xander." he shook his hand. "So what do we start with?" he asked looking around at the others and the Professor to see if they were to start.

Chrisssss. Prefect Chris. Who was a Gryffindor. Alrighty then, he'd remember his name now.

"We're supposed to attack each other," Xander said, moving away from the desks. "But it's without using force. I thought force would be okay, but not violence..."

Hmm. Xander pondered that for a moment before he looked back at Chris. Maybe he had some ideas.

Nathaniel smiled at her "I'm Nathaniel. Fourth year Gryffie.".Well, at least it was someone in his house for a change. She must be a transfer or something he thought. He'd not seen her before this term. He ran is fingers through his black hair as we waiting on instructions.