The Hogwarts Lake, it was her favorite place in Hogwarts. And Professor Scabior asked them about the lake. Raven didn't know actually about the function, perhaps?

She tried to answer

"Professor, Maybe They made the lake as home of magical creatures which live in water such as merpeople?" she answered

What a bizarre question. Max, overwhelmed with theories, figured he'd just throw all his ideas out there.

"Well," he began, his hand already in the air and unsure where to begin, "um, it adds variety to the scenery? It's a nice place to spend an afternoon reading? It can be used for transportation... and boat races? Swimming and such recreational purposes?" He was counting them off on his fingers, rambling the list as they came to him.

"A place for magical creatures to live, both for their sake and ours, in terms of education and learning respect for them? Protection? A good place to hide? Because the creatures are our friends and we like living alongside them? Because a founder needed somewhere to keep their best friend, the giant squid?!" He threw his hands up in the air, exasperated. How long had Bartholomew Henry been there? He didn't even know. He could've been a thousand years old. Or maybe not. But it had to come from somewhere originally, right? Maybe Mr. Henry came from a long line of giant squids. Max decided he needed to get on that research as soon as possible. He was very curious now.

"Honestly, the better question is, why wouldn't they want a lake nearby? The opportunities involved are endless."

Ah, the lake. By now every student present had some experience with it, even if it was just coming over it by boat the first night of term. Keefer liked to take walks around it in the fall and spring, so it was one of his favorite places on the grounds. I wonder how much the lake has changed in the thousand years Hogwarts has been here. Because in that much time, natural processes were bound to shape it in some way.

Keefer listened as Scabior pontificated talked. Upon hearing the questions, Keefer raised both hands into the air. Yes, both hands. Don't judge.

"Professor, it seems to me that the Founders would have built a castle by the lake for the same reason as many ancient or medieval civilizations sprung up by major bodies of water. They didn't exactly have plumbing back then." He grimaced at the thought. "Having such a large body of water this close would allow the castle to house hundreds of students without fear of not having water. The Aguamenti charm would be impractical for such a large amount of people." He paused and thought for a second. "I suppose there's also defense to consider. Any Muggles or enemy wizards would have a hard time approaching the grounds via water without being noticed. So I guess that leaves less terrain to keep track of."

As for the other half of his question... "I suppose they used the lake for much the same things we do today. Beauty, studying, recreation. Maybe they even used it to power mechanisms like Muggles used to, though I bet they could think of a magical means for that. Obviously the water supply aspect I already mentioned." Yup. That about summed it up.

"ELLIE! I'm so glad you're here! I need a friend with me. I seem to have difficulty with rules. But I never HAD rules before.... " Her life was a circus literally...And now class had started.

Ellie seemed to know the answer to the first question and Laci gave her a fire-headed nod. but OOOOOOH! The second one was hers..

Fire-head's hand shot right up like the human canon ball that was her cousin. "OH because the founders wanted to educate their students beyond land animals and include ALL magical creatures! They ALSO wanted to use as many creatures to train for star performances!" Or... At least that's what Laci wanted.

Jayden raised her hand slowly. "Professor, maybe it was used for all kinds of different things.... safety, leisure, teaching students about underwater magical beings, and other things?" She half answered, half asked. It seemed reasonable enough to her.

August had been listening to Professor Scabior, a smirk on his lips the whole time. He was pretty sure they could all make a run for it and he would lose all of the students just like he had his son in Diagon Alley....and then maybe Professor Schrimer could come down and yell at him again. He would have to talk to the man after class and...thank him for the Galleons and letting him hang out with Kyroh.

Professor Williamson seemed to be enjoying allowing Professor Scabior to teach the lesson, August watched him with interest as he stood off to the side.

Now they were discussing the Hogwarts Lake. The Gryffindor didn't know that the lake was created by the Hogwarts Founders, it looked pretty natural to him--he was no lake expert though.

"Well perhaps the Founders created it as a sort of extra protection from outsiders until full ground protection by spells and charms was intact? Or perhaps just for looks. Many buildings are made to over look waterfalls, lakes or other things of the sort." he nodded at the History of Magic Professor. He paused for a minute to think about the second question.

"Well I heard that a few terms ago, the Merpeople in there used the Lake to flood the castle and then tried to take it over." Yeah super scary. He guessed that was a feature...he didn't know.

Sammy just stared up at the professor as he introduced himself. Scabior and Williamson. He would try and remember that. He was shocked by how fast the other students answered questions...and how fast they moved onto a new one.

The lake? Introduce yourself? Sammy eyed the man like he was crazy. He looked over at Williamson. Was he going to say anything...or even try to control the crazy person? He let his gaze fall over to the lake. "Maybe because they wanted students to meet underwater creatures or be familiar with them. Like mermaids and such." Sammy said as he raised his hand.

Hmm, so we're outside the classroom to learn about the Lake. Did this mean we would be going to swim in it? Err, Kimalia didn't bring a bathing suit to class and-oh wait he asked a question.. Well, a Lake does make a place look nice.. Raising her hand, "Other than it's beauty qualities, it serves as a home and service to other creatures, and completes the image of Hogwarts as a real home."

It was so nice and bright outside! Ira happily skipped down to the grounds where the joint lesson was going to be held. Quite a few students had arrived but at least she wasn't the last! She greeted both the professors, "Good Morning, professors!"




Ira really didn't understand how History of Magic and CoMC could be combined! The only reason she could think of that creature couldn't be brought into the classroom. But why was History of Magic outside?

So it was better if she just kept quite and let others answer. She listened to others giving answers and jotted down all the notes she could.



Our focus is on Hogwarts Lake? Ira thought. She loved the lake! Then surely this lesson was going to be interesting!

And as to why the founders had included a lake within Hogwarts? Ira's mind began churning out theories.. She raised her hand and answered, "Professor, maybe the lake was included to beautify the place" which it most certainly did, "and also to house many of the aquatic creatures." What other reasons could there be? Oh yeah! The most basic reason ofcourse! Ira continued, "Also about 1000 years ago, there would have necessity of a water body nearby for use of water for our daily purposes. There wouldn't have been taps and pipes and all that system.."

Then she remembered this was a CoMC lesson as well. So she added, "Also studying of aquatic creatures is necessary as part of CoMC" With that, she finished her answer and went back to listening others.

Alex did NOT want to introduce himself to the lake. He wanted to stay as humanly far away from it as possible. He didn't like swimming, he didn't like water and he DEFINITELY didn't like squids, so he was going to stay right here on this nice little grassy patch unless the professor DUNKED him in the water. Yes. That was the plan.

He raised his hand. "Well, they probably wanted the students to learn about Grindylows and Merpeople and stuff in their natural habitat. It's almost like a nature preserve in some ways, because the Ministry doesn't come in here and try to mess things up. Usually..." he added, his voice trailing off.

"Maybe they used the lake for recreational stuff too...like water skiing!" he added.

Quentin hesitantly raised her hand, she had never been good at speaking in front of people but she'd better get involved, "I think there are quite a few reasons to have a lake in school grounds. Like, recreational or leisurely activities. Maybe it's here to make the school more appealing to students, it is a nice place to come relax and hang out with friends. Some find it easier to study outside as well. Then there's the educational side of things, many magical and non-magical creatures live under, or near water."

She paused and remembered that this was History of Magic too, "1000 years ago there was often the fear of attack, so I suppose with the mountains behind the castle and the lake in front it would have been pretty hard for muggles or magic folk to form a surprise attack- meaning the students would be safer."

Included a lake? What? Wasn't the lake already there way before the founders decided that they wanted to build Hogwarts there? - Ok, well, apparently it wasn't. Huh, go figure.

"Well, maybe because they wanted the students to be exposed to other forms of life, like the giant squid and the merpeople that lived in there." She guessed "It would be a good source of learning for the students, not everything magical revolves around casting spells and brewing potions after all."

Then she thought for a while, instances that the lake was used in the past? Well, that was fairly easy, wasn't it? "One of the challenges during the Triwizard tournament of 1994 took place there, as well as it served as a dock for Dumstrang's ship during the same year." Yep, old Harry Potter's time. "and there was this pirate ship there before, uh. a couple of years ago?" She added, almost uncertainly, she didn't really know whatever happened to the ship...or why it ended up there for that matter.

Amelia really wasn't sure as to why the founders had made the lake, but she had a few guesses about it. She raised her hand now. "It could have been in order to serve as a home from creatures such as Merpeople and Grindylows. And also as a way for students to learn about them." That way it would both please the creatures who had a place to live without Ministry interference, and she school with more learning opportunities.

"Also lakes are pretty and nice for things such as swimming." As long as the Great Giant Squid didn't get you of course.

Nicki walked up to the professors and said nicely "hello professors, how are you this fine day."

Desiree had arrived at the start of the class, confused about the joint lesson, but content to just wait and see where it led. There was a lot of history behind magical creatures anyway, and if there were going to be creatures they needed to be outside, so it made sense. It was such a nice day out she was feeling a little lazy, daydreaming a bit, simply enjoying the sun and the view..



of the lake. Which is what they were learning about apparently..? She stared at Professor Scabior for a moment still deciding what she thought about him, she didn't really think she liked him.. wasn't sure why though.. maybe it was just his class. History wasn't her thing.

She snapped out of it though and decided to answer the question, raising her hand, "Like people have said I'm sure they were partly thinking about looks when they put it in" it was very pretty, wait.. put it in? This was a man made lake? It seemed so natural.. "But there was also the practical part of it, it provided them with a fresh water supply, which is why most ancient civilizations were built by lakes and rivers. Like cities in Egypt were built along the Nile.." she continued, but wasn't done yet, this wasn't just a History lesson.. "They also used it to house magical creatures, maybe so students could study them in their natural habitat" it sounded like a good reason, maybe they would be doing that today. She'd never seen a merperson, or a giant squid.. not that she wanted to, not up close anyway.

Kennedy thought of the question. If the castle was in fact 1,000 years old then the lake might of have been useful for many things other than housing merpeople and gryndylows... and possibly other creatures. He raised his hand and said, "The lake could have been included for many reasons, some may be that the founders wanted the castle to have a close water supply." You know because the pipe system wasn't invented yet 1,000 years ago...maybe.

"It could also be that there are plants growing under the lake that could be useful for Herbology," but this wasn't Herbology class, "Or maybe the lake holds creatures that aren't found on land and the founders thought they would be good for educational purposes." He was thinking this in a different way, but at least he was answering the question.

The lake.

Why would the founders include a lake? To make a prettier landscape, of course, but Nora had a feeling the professors wouldn't like that answer. "I know that the Slytherin common room is partly under the lake," she said with a hand raised in the air. She still wasn't very fond of that creepy dungeon, but it was fascinating to know that they were so close to the giant squid... if it existed. Nora surely didn't want to find out by herself.

But anyway, back to her idea. "So it has obviously been built like that for a reason." Because Salazar Slytherin probably wasn't a swimmer, was he?

Gwen looked at the lake for a moment, then raised her hand.
"People depend on water for life, so it's important to have a source of fresh water nearby. As for the magical creatures, they probably lived in the loch even before the Hogwarts founders came along and so they decided to include the lake to protect them, from Muggles and wizards alike."

So far he had made it without anything unusual happening to him. Maybe they just liked to play pranks on each other? Well, he certainly didn't want to be around for them to grow bored of doing that and realizing that there were students to play pranks on too. No, he wanted to be FAR FAR AWAY.

From what he had heard, well READ mostly, the Slytherin Common Room was below the Lake somehow or something. "Maybe in order to give the Slytherin Common Room a nice dark and slightly eerie touch?" Lewis offered with his hand raised, not looking directly at either of the two professors.

Laura raised her hands before answering the Professor. "Maybe it was used to stop muggles from coming into the school because otherwise they would be able to see the school and then they would know where the school was."

Aurora had very few ideas... she kinda sucked at history... "Well, there are a lot of ingredients and plants and stuff in lakes." she started. "But... maybe they like... liked merpeople or something." Urgh, that answer was lame... She still hadn't read Hogwarts: A History...

Salima raised her hand the replied to Professor 'Is it because of such creatures like Grindylows and Merpeople and the Giant Squid?'

This lesson was the one that Kendra had been excited for since stepping into the grounds of Hogwarts that first time. Although, to be honest, she wasn't looking forward to the aspect of History of Magic, she thought it may be interesting how they had tied the two subjects together, which, at least Kendra's mind, had no matching qualities at all. Of course, she could be wrong.

The lake. The seeingly endless expanse of water that Kendra had crossed on the boat with all the other first years on that evening. It seemed like it had no end, the dark depths of water could swallow you whole if you let them. Yet, these depths were entrancing, letting the imagination run wild of what could lie beneath such leagues.

But why had the founders had included it? Now, she had to think about this. Her mind sifted through the books she had read whilst she had been here, the same as any other ravenclaw most likely. She put her hand up slowly, still thinking, before answering. 'As well as creating an impressive view to the school for first years and other people travelling by boat, is it also a way of defense?' She asked. 'Mainly due to the fact that it is often more difficult to travel through a large expanse of water than through land. Due to the inhabitants of the lake and their alliances with the castle and it's inhabitants, would they also be another method of defense. Like the giant squid? Or the merpeople? They surely must have a defensive side. Like any animal.' She finished, feeling glad she had spoke. Even if it was wrong.

LuLu's hand raised up in the air staring at the Lake and then the Proffeser... A thought struck her mind that did not need to shared anyways back to the subject... What is the lake used for... emmmm errr life

''Well I believe there is life in the lake sir, magical creatures to be exact which could have been made for CoMC and still is great for the CoMC classes to study on the nature of the Lake possibly one of the founders had a soft spot for magical creatures... It has also great use for relaxing for the students which I would have thought takes a lot of their own minds as it does for me sir... It was also used for certain life changing events such as the tri wizard tournement once... Which of course is making a mark on magical history,'' she replied


Staring at the lake still thinking of some other answer what else was there, expecting some big logical answer that she could get if there was ten of her...

Gwen remained silent and waited for the other students to answer. She only tried to figure out why they decided to make such an odd combination. History of Magic and Care of Magical Creatures? Psh. What do these have in commom?!, the Ravenclaw asked herself.

However, when the second question came up, the third year decided to think of an answer this time. 'Some ingredients that are needed in potions can only be found in the Lake' There- is it enough?

Maybe it is also useful because the Hogwarts plumbing network drains into it?, she thought, but decided not to say that out loud. Too stupid. Something else, then... Hmm... First years sail across the lake... or... 'Transportation? Students from Durmstrang arrived here with a boat' Ship. Somewhat.