Originally Posted by Saz Hale

Arabella-Marie raised her hand and said "The battle of the department of mysteries was important to me as it showed the courage that 5 hogwarts students had in battling the dark forces"

Originally Posted by feltbeatslover22

The battle of the Department of Mysteries? She'd heard a fair amount about this particular event. But to whether she had any thoughts on the battle was a different story. There wasn't much TOO think about really. "It was a simple matter of what many considered Good Verses evil" Trixie stated after raising her hand. Just forget the small matter that one fighting would have been one of her relatives. Not direct admittingly and rather luckily really, didn't want to be considered evil at all. "Defending what you believe is right" the Blonde smiled slightly. "Because that's why we had conflict isn't it? Differing opinions. Showing the courage you can have when you all join together..." or at least that was what she thought. Some of those opinions were more just then others. Some meant defending the innocent. Others meant just making sure you yourself have a better life.

Originally Posted by Macavity

Originally Posted by Mad Eye Touz

Originally Posted by Roselyn

The Department of Mysteries battle? All in all, Evelyn actually found it ridiculous, no matter how important or famous it was. All mighty powerful-ish guy, luring KIDS into this place, and setting death eaters on them. Really?

She supposed though, that Kingston had the right idea about that. It was rather brave of the students to go there, not knowing what was in store for them. Having almost cringed when the professor said Flores-Shepard, Evelyn glanced to Destiny for a moment before keeping her focus to the front of the room. Just, focus on the discussion. And what everyone else was saying. "I think we should also notice why Harry Potter and his friends went down there in the first place." she said after raising her hand, before fiddling with the marker. "I mean, yea it shows about good vs. evil, people for standing up what they believe in and courage, but they really went down there to save Harry Potter's godfather. And his friends went with him because they cared about him even though there had been the thought in the back of their minds that this mission or whatever they were on, was not safe."

Was there anything someone wouldn't do for the people they cared about? "Really, i have to admit, the whole battle itself was a bit ridiculous, but it not only shows how much courage they had, it also shows what people would actually do for the ones they care about, and how they can trust one another since, a few of those people on Harry Potter's side hadn't known eachother for all that long I think. Which, I believe we don't see enough of in history actually. We should remember that." Was she hinting something there at that last sentence?

*cough*maybe. Who knows!

Originally Posted by MugglesStink!

Department of mysteries battle. Ahhhh. She remembered her uncle talking about how muggleborns and children were useless when it cam to fighting. "Well, I think that it is AMAZING how only 5th years can do that. I mean, a bunch of kids vs an army of death eaters, you would say the kids would have no chance!" thats all she had to say, considering that was the only thing she knew.

Originally Posted by hpluvr037

Keefer had been quiet til now, but this time he raised his hands (yes, hands) into the air. "Professor, it seems like if you come from a family that had someone who worked for the Ministry at the time, they would be far more likely to have a negative view of it. After all, to me it just sounds like an epic struggle for your life, a battle between two determined sides over a small orb of glass."

Like those Muggle video games, except those are usually with guns and soldiers, not wands and wizards.

"But if, say, my grandmother used to be an Unspeakable at the time and I had grown up hearing about the battle, I probably would have heard a different spin of the story. Like, maybe she would talk about how terrible it was that no one was punished or made to pay for all the damages that were done and that the Ministry just had to eat the losses."

He imagined a short, pompous man in a plush office, irate over the problem of not being able to balance the budget.

"Her story and opinions would bias my opinion of the events, which might in turn bias anyone I discussed it with."

Originally Posted by Danny Boy

Originally Posted by Magical Soul

Louisa's mind raced fast. The Department of Mysteries Battle wasn't mentioned in details in the book she was reciting from. But she could do with some participation.

She raised her hand, "It was the first encounter between the survivor of the killing curse and the dark wizard that casted that spell. I think it was the first encounter that took place in public in front of other wizards and witches." She paused trying to remember whether or not this battle actually triggered the final war or not. Better leave this detail.

"It was the battle that destroyed the time-turners for good too." She was sure of this one. She wanted to have one and found out that they were gone. Forever. Pity.

Originally Posted by Snape'sGirlThru&Thru

Originally Posted by Zellanna

Originally Posted by CreativeAllie18

Alice had been writing down everything the students and Professor had been saying. Sadly, she felt this was going to be somewhat difficult because she only knew about muggle wars and muggle history. Not to mention she had no clue as to what the department of mysteries was...although wait. She raised her hand.

"Um, Professor? Was that the battle with Harry Potter and his friends against death eaters over a prophecy? And at some point in time didn't Albus Dumbledore a former headmaster here fight against Voldemort? I remember reading that one of them used the Reducto spell to cause the shelves to fall on the death eaters."

Alice had read about those people, and knew they were incredibly important in why the wizarding world was the way it was as she was speaking. However, she still wondered if it was bad to say Voldemort's name or not.

Originally Posted by Jason Potter Weasley

"Well, All i remember is there had been a lot of casualyies during the battle" Rex told the professor. " A lot of good people lost their lives" Rex said to the professor. " Good thing, Harry, hermoine and Ron were there or there would have been a lot more casualties" Rex explained to the professor.

Originally Posted by Steelsheen

Salander turns back to the Professor and returns her concern with a silly grin he was unaware has formed on his face "I'm okay." he responded dreamily, totally forgetting the throbbing pain on his knee.

He took the parchment and marker when instructed then paused. It may be such a simple thing for most people, but Salander always find it an embarrassing exercise to write his name. Mostly because it was ridiculously long. Learning how to write it for the first time in pre-school wasnt fun nuh-uh.

He decided to keep it simple, both for the Professor's sake and his own.

"That was a kickass battle. Its when the little guys went up against the big guys." Yeah he liked them Harry Potter stories. "I mean yeah sure in hindsight Potter and some of Dumbledore's Army were real foolish for going it alone, on largely unverified intel, but I gotta hand it to them that they didnt back down even if they knew they were way in over their heads."

Originally Posted by longanna99

Anna sat there with her name tag on with a fresh sheet of parchment and a quill in hand. She was ready. Her father had told her about this/ Her hand shot confidently into the air. "The Battle of the Department of Mysteries had a big impact on the wizarding world and opened people's eyes about Voldemort."

Originally Posted by Anais

Sapphinelle sharply raised her hand in the air.
"I think that it was an unfair loss of Sirius Black, but Professor Dumbledore fought a very good battle through the end. It was a grave battle." she said with a sad tone, putting her hand down. She loved History of Magic, but she really hated hearing about the losses.

Originally Posted by PattyH.

"The Battle of the Department of Mysteries, was a turning point in the second coming of Voldemort." Patroclus grinned at the fantastic new professor- he would have to go and see if she knew his father later -back to the lesson.

"If it had not been for the determined effort of Harry Potter and his friends, the wizarding world would have remained ingorant of Voldemort's return for quite sometime. The child exhibted outsatnding courage, but also a lack of preparation. Potter's heor complex almost allowed his friends to die, and in fact resulted in the death of his God Father. In saying that, I would have done exactly the same as he did, but the power of hindsight, and all that jazz."

Patroclus grinned, he liked this lesson.

Originally Posted by Anais

"I agree with...Patroclus?" Sapphinelle asked quizzically in her french accent while pointing at his name tag. She gave a small laugh and turned back to the Professor.
"He makes a very valid point. It would have been better with preparation, but you can't really prepare for situations like that. It was very skilled of him." she said with a small nod. Yayy, a class with fellow smarties. hehe.

Jacob Blunt
Fourth Year
Ravenclaw
Scarborough, North Yorkshire

Originally Posted by DH Vixen

"Yes, battles like this with students would have that effect on people. I remember the first time I learned of the battle and how I viewed it. But how I viewed it then is slightly different to how I view it now. But we will talk about that more later." She was was no need to get too far ahead of herself now."Another great point. Good versus Evil. It’s all in the eye of the beholder, isn’t it? Two people can have completely different views and deem there view right, when as the other deems theirs as the right reason. Conflict is all around us. Wrong and right. Good and Evil.""Any good point, Mister Bennett. Their view, be it against the majority lead them to act. Again history in action. Think about what lead them to their actions. What in their personal history directed them to take such action. ""Yes, Miss Bott. There are much simpler ways to achieve what you want, but sometimes people deem it more important to take actions into their own hands. But their actions did make quite the impact, did it now? Whether it was truly right for them to take such action is not for us to judge, but for us to look at and consider.""Yet another great point. Loyality to their friend. That can also be drawn back to perhaps loyalities to where they are from. Personal history molding people into who there are and all that jazz.""I wouldn’t say they didn’t have a choice. Everyone has a choice in their actions, but their choices do help to define them in great moments, as well as no go great moments.""EXACTLY! That is what I wanted to hear. Those that worked at the Ministry would view the events there completely different to those that didn’t work at the Ministry. The same thing goes for those in different countries. How it is taught and told will differ from place to place. For example, I attended Hogwarts for five years and was taught the same thing as you are, but what I was taught my last two years at the American Academy of Magic differs in view completely. Different locales will view history differently.""Again loyalty is called into effect. Miss Lovegood, even though she wasn’t one of Mister Potter’s best friends, she laid her loyalty to him and followed him into battle. Perhaps the bond of wanting to help and do the right think directed her to follow blindly. And I do say blindly because, it was rather blind that they just jumped in like so. Yet, we can completely judge as we were not there and we don’t truly know what was going through their minds. Again, we are here to discuss and attempt to understand history.""It is arguable one of the turning points in history during the second reign of Voldemort. Time-turners, yes many of them ever destroyed. They are rather difficult to make and I’m sure that even if there were more around, the Ministry would not tell us of their existence."
"Yes, Miss Greenwell. Both sides did lost something. That is a given as most battles, if not all, there are loses. Some are greater than others, but no less as important."
"Miss Materia, I do enjoy your use of other prevalent events in history in relation to the what we are talking about. Thinking outside of the box and finding connections with other historical event. Those in America could possibly relate more to those battles that took place during the second reign of Voldemort, if they thought about it in that manner. Yet, again different locales view history. It’s an example of viewing something from the outside as compared to viewing it whilst in the middle of it.""Yes, Miss Page. That would be the battle we are talking about. Simply put it did surround a certain prophecy but I really think there was a lot more involved with it. We won’t really get into it today, but maybe in another lesson we will touch on it again."
"Yes, there were casualities. Battles do tend to have them, but that comes with the territory. Who’s to really say what would have happened if the trio didn’t act the way they did." Yes, it was good he was okay. She didn't want to have to send anyone to see the nurse. "Yes, the universal battle between the little guy and the big guy. I really can’t completely condemn them or commend them in their actions, as I wasn’t there and I don’t know what was going through their minds, but I do think given their situation, they did what they deemed right."
"Yes, it did open eyes, didn’t it? I’m sure it caused some people to rethink their views on things and what exactly they were being told. Put yourselves in the shoes of someone during that time and given your own view, what would you have thought of it all.""Yes, it was an unfair loss, but it is rare for either side to walk away from such a battle without losing something. By no means, does that justify the loss though.""Again, a very valid point, Mister Hudson. Mister Potter and his friends were ill-prepared for what they were walking into, but again they were acting on their instincts and what they felt was right. But it is also true that one can’t really be prepared to walk into something like that can you? There are situations where you just have to enter blindly and with little to no preparation. "From the corner of her eyes, she again noticed the strange eagle that was first to arrive in class. Something didn’t seem all right about him, she would have to keep her eye on him for sure.

"You all have brought up interesting points and I do like that you all have opinions on what has happen, but perhaps we have veered a bit away from what this lesson was meant to be about. A slight tangent, if you must. " she smiled. Yes, tangents were good, but it was time to get back to what needed to be discussed.

"Miss Marius and Miss Materia, both touched briefly on just what I want to focus on. Different view points on a single point in history. Just as where you are from defines you it also defines how you view something. Your environment and those around you, affect you. On each of your desks, there was a coloured marker. They all look the same but I will be using them to divide you into groups now." she smiled as she pulled out her wand and tapped the marker atop her desk.

"Depending on which colour your marker now is, will determine what group you are in."


OCC: If you chose to have your marker write in a specific colour, here are the new colours. Blue markers are now green. The black markers now white. Red markers are now purple. If you didn't chose a colour before, feel free to chose one now. If groups appear to be uneven, I will go through and even them out before we move on.