Questions plural. Nigel would have been more than fine answering one of the two. But what do you know. He had to answer both. Nigel did not really know the right answer for either. so guessing would have to do.

"I guess people have always wanted the stone if they knew about it. But i guess the evil in the world at that time was too greater that it made Flamel want to destroy the stone." That sounded pretty good for the first question. Now the easy one. "They were rubbish if a couple of first years got through them. " Nigel just thought they were extremely lucky. "Should have been a dragon, nundu, or something dangerous guarding it if you really wanted it safe."

Who in there right mind would want to attack a nundu by themselves?

Hmm, those were some really good questions. Caleb tapped his chin and bit his lip as he tried to figure out what he wanted to say. Eventually he thought he had some good answers and was able to contribute to the conversation, so he raised his hand.

"Well, I think the biggest reason it was destroyed was because there was a very immediate threat that wanted the stone. Voldemort obviously wanted it to try and come back to life, and it doesn't seem like any other dark wizard before him even knew it existed. Therefore, in the best interest of the wizarding world, it made sense to destroy it. Plus after hundreds of years, I think Flammel was just ready to let go, you know?" he said. That was the most delicate way of putting it, in his opinion.

"As for the tasks - they should have had something wayyyy more hardcore in place, in my opinion. I mean the trio was smart, but not THAT smart, and the fact that they got past all those tasks without any serious injury or death? Weak," he said with a huff. Not that he had wanted them to die or anything but - seriously. That was pathetic. "I don't know what else they should have put in there, but maybe some dark magic? I mean, you're trying to protect something that could literally be used by a dark wizard to take over the world. Stoop to his level. No judging!"

The questions. Tag tried to pick out which of the two he felt more comfortable with, or understood slightly better. An for him that was the first question. "I think before the 1990's it hadn't been destroyed because things were probably more quiet and calm. I mean, that's a powerful object, and it shouldn't go into the wrong hands. So people probably started to worry that it could get into the wrong hands. That's why it probably was destroyed. People could start abusing it for their own purposes. And that's obviously not a good sign." And that there was Tag's little take on the question.

Alex listened as her classmates gave their thoughts on the Professor's questions. She agreed with those who thought that Voldemort's attempted return to power posed a threat and ultimately led to the stone bring destroyed. Feeling that she didn't have anything new to add, Alex decided to remain silent during this round of questions. She continued to scribble notes as the students talked.

Those were good questions, and Mo mused over them as his classmates answered. It was hard to think critically when he was still feeling a bit winded from the climb down to the classroom, but he was almost back at equilibrium. Certainly he could jump into the conversation.

"For your first question, Professor, while I don't think that the Dark Lord was the first Dark wizard to seek immortality, I do believe that most Dark wizards seek power, money, and influence primarily. Flamel's work doesn't seem to be widely known, considering how hard it was for students in the 1990's to learn anything about him, and it certainly isn't the quick and easy way to get power or influence. Even in his first rising, the Dark Lord sought immortality through crazy spells and horcruxes... it wasn't until those had been exhausted that he fell back on the Philosopher's Stone. I just can't imagine anyone had ever pursued it as hard or as long as he did, and it was only when he got very close that the decision was made to take it completely out of his reach. Forever." Everyone knew Voldemort wanted to live forever even during his first rising, but it wasn't like they went around destroying the stone then, even if it would have been very attractive to the wizard.

Now what was that second question? Mo's forehead wrinkled as he tried to recall. "Oh, and for your second question... it seems like almost anyone clever enough and patient enough could have made it past those obstacles. If you really want to protect something, you hide it and make it so that only you know where it is and how to get at it, rather than making it something that everyone has a hand in protecting. My theory is that Dumbledore, knowing someone was coming after the Philosopher's Stone, was setting a trap. He was trying to draw out the thief, and what better way than through an elaborate ruse?" It just so happened that several students were caught in that trap too.

Ah, yes, the Philosopher's Stone. Really a fascinating subject. Adrienne had never been as entranced by Alchemy as she was by many other subjects, but the theory behind it was really incomparably interesting. And given that the Stone was often considered the pinnacle of an alchemist's achievement, she'd obviously come across it many times while idly reading, though she may never have researched it in specific. As for the subject of its destruction, though, she actually didn't know as much as one might expect. The Second Wizarding War was a subject she'd never really wanted to learn about, for many reasons. Still, she figured she might as well pitch in any insights she had about it while the class was discussing.

"Well, the Elixir of Life or whatever it was that the Stone produced was the only thing that was keeping what's-his-face, the creator, alive, yeah? So anyone other than him who wanted to destroy it would have to face loads of complicated morals and stuff because someone's life hung in the balance." Adrienne paused for a moment, looking around her, and then continued. "Besides, why would anyone want to destroy it? I mean, before the whole fiasco, all it was doing was peacefully keeping this one guy and his wife alive and making gold. It's innocent in and of itself, it's only what people might do to try and get it that's the problem."

There were too many points to hit and too many things to say and too many words swirling around in her head, so Alice chose only one question to answer. The one about what she'd protect the Stone with instead tickled her fancy, so that one it was.

"I think," she started, raising her hand, "that they shoulda used an Acromantula or a Sphinx. They're used to guard treasure, you know? Or at least some sort of protective spell. Couldn't they have put it in a secluded place and then cast a Fidelius Charm or something?" But it was an utterly ridiculous idea to try and hide something in a school full of nosy children. Of course a plan like that would fail.

All this talk of a stone they got rid of before she could get one for herself and you'd think Flamel wouldn't have been so selfish with his knowledge too you know, but no, dude had to go and die with the secret, making sure no one could duplicate it. Selfish, just plain selfish. Because of him people like her wouldn't live without cures. Wasn't he ever taught to think about the future???

There was no way she was touching on the first point. Half falling asleep already, she didn't think she quite understood it to begin with but she did have things to contribute to the second question.

"I think they didn't think those traps through well enough. Anyone who knows enough about plants would have pegged the Devil Snare and passing your NEWTs would be enough to get you through the other stuff. I have to agree with Alice. A Sphinx. Who in their right mind would try anything with a Sphinx? There's a point in time when everyone just has to step away silently and try blasting another way inside. Maybe even dragons like they've got down in Gringotts." Those would prove just as useful and she didn't know many people willing to get by those much less Firsties.

"Cursing the stone could work too, engraving it with runes and concealing them too."

Laura looked at the Professor and raised her hand. "For the first question I think it is because in the 1900's people were starting to act a lot more selfish then anytime before. I know scientists were experimenting more with a lot of dangerous stuff after world war one and two and then the cold war and so people were panicking and having something like the Philosopher’s Stone would be tempting, plus theft was on the rise in 1990." Laura finished there she didn't know what the second question meant so didn't answer it.

Oh, right. Sophie had been thinking about the Resurrection Stone, hadn't she? Meh. At least she was still talking about a STONE. She was on some form of the right track. She thought about the questions the professor asked, and then she raised her hand. "I think it caused issues back in the nineties, because it was then that a group of people started trying to use it for evil means," she said. Group of people, because she knew Voldemort had others helping him.

Then...

"I don't think it matters that first years rather than more advanced casters defeated the obstacle course," she added. "I think it all depends on your talents, your attitude, and your ability to think logically. The first years who defeated the course had all three." Now if a few adults didn't share those same characteristics, then that was on them, age being of no matter.

So they weren’t making a stone, well that was a shame the entire school could use a stone right now. He wasn’t sure there was ever going to be a cure at this point. His eyes shifted off as he half listened again. He wasn’t feeling right and he just couldn’t put his finger on why. Something was wrong though he knew that much, but since he was feeling fed up with all this old and just chocked it up to what’s going on. Blinking a few times his mind was going fuzzy with his thoughts.

Turning his eyes back to the professor as he talked and asked questions Bart just blinked at him a bit. “Well professor it caused such a fussssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssss.” Why did his words just slur. He shook his head a bit, “Pofessa te tone” He stopped again his mind going blank. What were they talking about? Why wasn’t his words coming to him? His lips fell a bit as he was lost in his own head not sure what he was doing.

“I fink e istory of Uelicisimportant” he stopped again knowing he wasn’t at Urelic, but not being able to remember where he was at. He was super confused right now.

Of course notes were being scribbled here. Because she'd forgotten most of this part once her semester of European History was over back home. And because some good points had been brought up. Then a couple of questions were asked that, yep, they'd gone more in depth on at her old school. "Well, Voldemort was after the stone back then, and no one had really gone after it like he did before. And as for the obstacles, maybe Dumbledore wanted to teach Harry and his friends something? Like maybe that they should stick together or something?" Or maybe Dumbledore was just that incompetent. Who knew?

Also, why was the Gryffindor boy (Bart, from what she could see from his name tag) slurring? Then again, he was one of the ones affected by whatever was making people old, wasn't he? And she'd heard what that........but surely......? "Professor, I think Bart's having a stroke........" It's what it seemed like, anyway.

Braith turned his eyes next on Mr. Maroon as he began speaking without being called on. But McCormack simply listened, his brow soon furrowing as the boy began acting oddly. He simply stared at him for a moment as he tried to make sense of his slurred and mumbled words, a sort of anxious feeling rising in his chest. “Mr. Maroon, are you alright?” He didn’t want to jump to any conclusions just yet but something was really off.

Eyes still focused on the Gryffindor, he heard Miss Channing-Sands speaking, though her words didn’t really register, so unfortunately he did not add her answer to the discussion. But his eyes drifted back to her as she continued. Stroke? He supposed that thought briefly fleeted through his mind.. but surely.. not.. ? Maybe get the class started on their game, then he’d tend to Bart. He appeared to be outwardly alright, but he wasn’t completely sure.


“Alright, class.. I’m going to quickly get you started on our game today, then you can all be dismissed once we’re finished. Great discussion by the way.” Yeah, he was a little bit distracted now and he wasn’t going to continue talking much more about it. They were taking notes anyway, right? “As we discussed, there were several obstacles placed in front of the Sorcerer’s Stone when it was located in this castle. We didn’t go much in depth with that today, but one of the obstacles was a life-sized Wizarding Chess board. We are going to try to play a little game of that today.” He waved his wand and undid the Disillusionment Charm on the floor, showing the room-sized chess board there. “If everyone could get up and push their desks against the wall.. or you know, use a banishing charm.” He gave several of them concerning looks, wondering if this old age thing would hinder them in their movement before he banished his own desk against the wall. Good thing he had put Bart in the front corner. He wouldn’t have to worry about that just yet and he could go over to assist him in just a moment.

He looked out at all of them again, squinting a bit and wondering how best to divide them up. There seemed to be such a small number of Ravenclaws here, obviously they’d be best suited to the house that held the most presence today. “Alright, let’s have Ravenclaws and Hufflepuffs on one side (white) and Slytherins and Gryffindors on the other (black). Those are our teams. Step on a square at each side and assume the piece that would normally go there. If you’re not sure how to play, ask an older student, I’m sure one can help you.. and I’ll be here as well to offer my assistance.” Once he saw to Mr. Maroon that is.

Once he gave the basic instructions, he stepped quickly over to Bart. “Mr. Maroon.. how are we doing? I think maybe you should get to the Healer to check you out.” And was there someone willing to escort him there?



OOC – Alright, let’s attempt to play Wizarding Chess. Please claim one of the pieces. Remember that Ravenclaws and Hufflepuffs are the white pieces and Gryffindors and Slytherins are the black pieces. This will work much like the Virtual Quidditch game here on SS. In your post, please state what piece you are and your move, also commenting on/determining the move of the person posting before you. You cannot automatically capture the opposing team’s piece in your post, unless someone on your team posts after you confirming this (if someone on the opposing team posts next, they can post that their piece moved out of the way). Also, please make your move eye-catching and obvious in your post so the next person can determine the outcome if necessary - underline, different color, etc.

For example:
Player 1 (white team) – White Knight moves towards the black bishop
Player 2 (black team) – black bishop moves away from the white knight and towards a white pawn
Player 3 (black tea) – black bishop captures the white pawn

I hope this makes some sort of sense. I will be in and out to answer any questions, but most of all just try to have fun with it. Make at least 3 decent-sized RP posts for full credit for the activity (more than what I gave you for the examples ) Here’s an easy chess site for moves and rules reference if you need it.

Oh no, not Wizard's chess! Alex knew verrry little about playing chess. Why couldn't they play Wizard's checkers? She could handle that. Alex stood up and pushed her desk against the wall. Then she shuffled over to the side of the room where the other Ravenclaws and Hufflepuffs had begun to gather. Looking rather panicked, she said"Can anyone help me?" "I'm really lousy at chess." She needed all the help that she could get, but was determined that she would not let her teammates down. If someone could give her the "Chess for Dummies" lesson in about five minutes, that would be great.

Alex thought that she wanted to be the white bishop. Why? Not sure, but she did know where that chess piece belonged. So Alex walked over to the corresponding square and stepped on it. She wasn't sure if this was a good choice or not, but she'd be willing to switch with another classmate if need be. Oh, this was not going to be fun.

Bay spotted Alex.. "Hey I'll help you out!!" he said while smiling even though they were on opposite teams.. "okay your going to be the same piece as me okay.. we will be the "Rook" so go and stand directly across from me in the same spot…. now for this game we can only go forward, backward, and to the sides" he told her.. hoping that it would help her out..

"do you think you can do that for now?" he said with a smile.. right now he guessed that everyone just needed to pick their place and then they would start.

Oh. NO. Chess. Adi had no idea how to play that game. Not that he hadn't tried but he just didn't get it. Ugh! He was going to screw this up. Getting to his feet, he slowly and with some degree of difficulty pushed his desk against the wall.

So Hufflepuff were white pieces. Okay. Cool. But first... "Uhhh, guys?'' he said aloud and randomly to the Puffers. "I'll need help, please.'' He did know the board's set up, however, so he chose a square where a Bishop would normally be.

Oh yay, her wish had been granted. Someone had taken pity on her and offfered to help. And it was.......Bay. "Thanks so much Bay. You are sooo sweet for agreeing to help me." Her knight in shining armor had come to the rescue, again. "I don't know much about chess at all, so this should be very interesting."

Bay suggested that Alex should be the rook and take the position opposite him on the board. Then he gave her a quick explanation of how the piece could move. "Forward, backward and sideways, got it." Alex left her square and moved to the square directly opposite Bay. OK, she was the white rook now. Addressing Bay she said, "Any other words of wisdom?"

Wizarding chess?

Lux had no idea how to play chess as it was, and now she was supposed to play a game of it? Erm, she was so lost, because she had no idea how to even play the game.

Heading over to where she was supposed to go, she studied the board. Okay. So she was supposed to go on a white square? Or was it black? She had no idea about even that.

"Can someone help me? I don't know how to play chess."

Sander did a blink and double blink and then rubbed the back of his head. The one thing...well maybe there was more...but for now...the one thing he was bad in was chess. He never learned how to play it. Well it wasn't that he didn't know, he just never had time to learn being that he rather be outdoors playing hockey or other outdoorsy games.

So he watched as Alex and Bay played and hoped that he was a fast learner. So he stood where the smallest looking thing used to be on the board. The last pawn on the board. H2

"I need help here too," Sander told his team mates. He was supposed to move forward but they captured only the piece diagonally from them.

Now what happens next?

After banishing her desk to the wall with a charm, Alice stepped back and surveyed the black pieces. Hm. By listening to the conversations around her, it was easy to tell that most of her classmates had no idea how to play Wizards Chess. She was fairly familiar with it, having played it a lot with Gramps when she was younger. No doubt her skills would be quite rusty now, but she still wanted a valuable piece.

The Queen. It was hers.

Stiffly shuffling over to the Gryffindor and Slytherin side of the classroom floor-gone-board, the seventh year stepped into the square just next to the King- hopefully, there would be someone clever in that spot. But the Black Queen's position had been claimed.

Brynn stared at Bart for a few minutes with a worried expression. He didn't seem like he was doing well and even the professor seemed worried. But he was taking care of him now, right? She watched a moment longer than pushed her desk to the side of the room - her banishing charm was still rubbish.

She had played wizarding chess with her aunts once in a while over the summer so she had at least a clue. But it seemed like a lot didn't know how, which was a little surprising to her being that she was younger and didn't have a whole lot of magical experience being born to a muggle and a squib. That wasn't really the point though and she stepped up next to the older Hufflepuff boy (Sander) who was asking for help.

"We're pawns," she said with a beaming smile as she looked up at him. "We move forward, one space at a time, but when we capture someone, we have to go diagonally." She bit her lip as she peered out across the board. "But you know what's special?" she began looking back at him. "On our first move, we can move two spaces instead of just one.. see?" She reached for his hand then started to move forward, prompting him to move with her. So what if they weren't taking turns.. this was just for fun, yeah?

Wizarding chess? NEAT!!!

Bloody dangerous game that could be...even if she was sure the Professor wouldn't let them hit each other. No matter, she could still pretend there were pieces breaking each other on the board and be heartily content with that--or get a heart attack, those seemed to be happening a lot too and there was nothing anyone seemed capable of doing.

Lex wasted little time in hobbling onto the board. Alice was Queen, how very fitting.

The Gryffindor walked by everyone setting up and stuff and took the spot infront of Alice. Make no mistake, Alexa knew NOTHING about Wizarding Chess, except that things got broken. She was just standing here because it seemed like the right idea at the time.

"So we're clear, I don't have to take a fall for you, do I?" That might have been her way of asking how the hell they played this game but hey chess, smashing, FUN!

"You might, you're disposable. A queen is far more important than a pawn." Alice surveyed the scene, trying to figure out exactly who on her team was where and what was going on over there. The white side of things sounded very noisy, and she could hear loads of Hufflepuffs requesting help.

The seventh year would have offered them assistance as well... if they were on her team.

But at least Lex had stood in front of her, because this basically meant she had control over two pieces. It was especially helpful because she was the Black Queen, and if the pawn in front of her moved, then she could too. "Move one square forward, Black Pawn." Yes. Go. Shoo. Alice nudged her.

Bay seemed to be safe and sound for the moment for there was no movement in front of him, he smiled.

a lot of the hufflepuffs didn't really know how to play chess.. ughhh thats so sad.. Bay wanted to help them all but he know he couldnt he already helped Alex out seeing her stand in her position.. he shouted to her "now you just have to stay there until the pawn in front of you moves" he hoped that was enough information for her, she knew which ways she could go and she could always yell at him if she needed anything else… playfully sighing he watched as Alice claimed the Black Queen and Lex was the black pawn in front of her.. seeing Alice boss Lex around was very funny to Bay he seemed to be having a great old time..

That is until someone moved from in front of him….

Okay, so no one was helping Lux, and other people were moving onto the board.

Still as lost as ever, she saw Sander step onto one of the squares, and decided to do the same thing since he was in the same House as her. Moving onto the board, she took one of the spots where a white pawn would go, though of course since she had no idea how the game was played, she had no idea what piece even belonged there.

And yes, she still needed help.