ancient runes
Professor Hawthorne is the kind of woman I expect you wouldn’t want to be on the bad side of. She is tall, beautiful and has a commanding presence inside and outside of the classroom, a trait commendable in both a teacher and a Headmistress. Runes is a fascinating subject, with much of the hard work behind it being done in theory and research, but the lessons true appeal (in my opinion) is in the presence of Hawthorne herself. Hogwarts has seen many Headmasters and Headmistresses within the past decade but none were as polarizing a character as Regina Hawthorne. Love her or hate her, you had to admit- she has style, and grace and a resolve which can be as frustrating to the student body as learning the difference between þorn and rād.
February is not a time I enjoy, least of all when I have the displeasure of attending classes outside. They tend to be shorter, certainly, but I and I believe many others would prefer a long lesson warm and indoors over a short one by the entrance gate in the dead middle of winter.
If you didn’t come to class prepared for the cold, warming charms were not only allowed but encouraged, something Professor Hawthorne in her beautiful winter white attire surely had no need for. After general greetings, questions and some quick note-taking the first question was posed. What are Runic Wards and why would anyone use them? Many hands shot into the air, the first of which being Jessa Cambridge, who had some experience in the art, spouted out that it was a powerful bit of magic one could create by drawing lines or runes to anchor magic, a statement many of our peers echoed, meanwhile Natalie McKinley wondered if Runes could be used on people to protect them (no, they could not, but the item they used could certainly be), a question brought on perhaps by Amanda Dixon’s story of ‘Guardian Stones gifted by No-maj vendors to ward off evil spirits. Scarlett Reynolds asked if Runic Wards were something used to increase the power of wands (true) and Daehyun Yoon noted that Runic Wards made for incredible shields due to the difficulty which came with deactivating them and Rylee Prichard was quite succinct for a first year when she said that Wards were used to protect one’s home.
Once the questions and answers had died down, Professor Hawthorne carried us on into the next portion of the lesson as smooth as the surface of the black lake. She explained that Runic Wards as many of the class had said was a line of power or a spell anchored to a solid surface, object or place by, you guessed it, runes. Wards are created by drawing two runes or rune lines, made up ether of three or more runes and uniting the space between. It sounds relatively easy but can be a very tricky bit of magic to master. It takes patience, grace and luck- but most of all, it takes an in-depth knowledge of rune shapes and the magical properties governing each. Rapt attention the Headmistress drew from us scattered students as she drew her wand and revealed across the frosted iron gate - spoiler alert - runes, and apparently the beginning focus of our lesson proper. We were asked to look carefully and guess about the runes used in the ward. What purpose they served in the ward. Natalie McKinley saw Thurisaz, pointing out the p shaped rune as she explained the rune’s connection to defense, conflict and force. A fitting rune for the iron gate separating Hogwarts from the rest of the world. Tenacius Salander (the head boy with more hair than he seems to know what to do with) pointed out (after a very obvious comment I won’t dignify by writing) Algiz. Another rune for defense but this time with an emphasis on protection. Meanwhile, fourth year Juniper Primeaux responded with a decisive mention of the rune Ehwaz. A Symbol resembling an M. Apparently it means partnership and teamwork, and although Hogwarts could use a bit of both I admit I was sort’ve puzzled by the appearance of the symbol in ward on the iron gate - until Professor Hawthorne expanded on it. It’s not, actually about inter-being teamwork. It’s actually there to encourage the runes to work together and form a deeper bond. It was, in my opinion, a highlight of the lesson.
Though others would probably scream and shout over the practical bit, Which was good, don’t get me wrong but there’s something really wonderful about the way Professor Hawthorne teaches. The headmistress catches you off guard with just how capable she is.
Where was I? Right, the practical. Tables. Hawthorne instructed the class to pick a table heavy with objects based on our comfort levels. The first table was set for Simple Wards: Matroska Dolls, Indian Spice Boxes, and Antique Music Boxes. The second held: Golden Lockets, Jars of Potion Ingredients, and Leather Suitcases. The third and most advanced table was for Complex Wards and as such the items laid out were the most intriguing of all: Egyptian Amulets (the Botros family could surely tell you more about these were you interested), Locked Jewelry Boxes, and some very simple looking Money Pouches. We were meant to reveal the Wards on our chosen item using Specialis Revelio, and then we were to write down what different runes we saw making up the ward and then explain why each individual rune was present in the Ward. We were to do this twice, going from one table to the next unless we were already working on the more advanced items. It was interesting work to be sure, and no sooner had the Professor finished her speech then the class was off and waving their wands, in some cases revealing the runes easily and in others… Not so much. I won’t outright name names but the ones not doing so well aren’t exactly hard to guess. Rinse and Repeat, soon enough the class settled into note-taking, light-hearted discussion and some well-intentioned spell casting beneath the winter sun before Professor Hawthorne dismissed us with a promise of more at a later day.
February is not a time I enjoy, least of all when I have the displeasure of attending classes outside. They tend to be shorter, certainly, but I and I believe many others would prefer a long lesson warm and indoors over a short one by the entrance gate in the dead middle of winter.
If you didn’t come to class prepared for the cold, warming charms were not only allowed but encouraged, something Professor Hawthorne in her beautiful winter white attire surely had no need for. After general greetings, questions and some quick note-taking the first question was posed. What are Runic Wards and why would anyone use them? Many hands shot into the air, the first of which being Jessa Cambridge, who had some experience in the art, spouted out that it was a powerful bit of magic one could create by drawing lines or runes to anchor magic, a statement many of our peers echoed, meanwhile Natalie McKinley wondered if Runes could be used on people to protect them (no, they could not, but the item they used could certainly be), a question brought on perhaps by Amanda Dixon’s story of ‘Guardian Stones gifted by No-maj vendors to ward off evil spirits. Scarlett Reynolds asked if Runic Wards were something used to increase the power of wands (true) and Daehyun Yoon noted that Runic Wards made for incredible shields due to the difficulty which came with deactivating them and Rylee Prichard was quite succinct for a first year when she said that Wards were used to protect one’s home.
Once the questions and answers had died down, Professor Hawthorne carried us on into the next portion of the lesson as smooth as the surface of the black lake. She explained that Runic Wards as many of the class had said was a line of power or a spell anchored to a solid surface, object or place by, you guessed it, runes. Wards are created by drawing two runes or rune lines, made up ether of three or more runes and uniting the space between. It sounds relatively easy but can be a very tricky bit of magic to master. It takes patience, grace and luck- but most of all, it takes an in-depth knowledge of rune shapes and the magical properties governing each. Rapt attention the Headmistress drew from us scattered students as she drew her wand and revealed across the frosted iron gate - spoiler alert - runes, and apparently the beginning focus of our lesson proper. We were asked to look carefully and guess about the runes used in the ward. What purpose they served in the ward. Natalie McKinley saw Thurisaz, pointing out the p shaped rune as she explained the rune’s connection to defense, conflict and force. A fitting rune for the iron gate separating Hogwarts from the rest of the world. Tenacius Salander (the head boy with more hair than he seems to know what to do with) pointed out (after a very obvious comment I won’t dignify by writing) Algiz. Another rune for defense but this time with an emphasis on protection. Meanwhile, fourth year Juniper Primeaux responded with a decisive mention of the rune Ehwaz. A Symbol resembling an M. Apparently it means partnership and teamwork, and although Hogwarts could use a bit of both I admit I was sort’ve puzzled by the appearance of the symbol in ward on the iron gate - until Professor Hawthorne expanded on it. It’s not, actually about inter-being teamwork. It’s actually there to encourage the runes to work together and form a deeper bond. It was, in my opinion, a highlight of the lesson.
Though others would probably scream and shout over the practical bit, Which was good, don’t get me wrong but there’s something really wonderful about the way Professor Hawthorne teaches. The headmistress catches you off guard with just how capable she is.
Where was I? Right, the practical. Tables. Hawthorne instructed the class to pick a table heavy with objects based on our comfort levels. The first table was set for Simple Wards: Matroska Dolls, Indian Spice Boxes, and Antique Music Boxes. The second held: Golden Lockets, Jars of Potion Ingredients, and Leather Suitcases. The third and most advanced table was for Complex Wards and as such the items laid out were the most intriguing of all: Egyptian Amulets (the Botros family could surely tell you more about these were you interested), Locked Jewelry Boxes, and some very simple looking Money Pouches. We were meant to reveal the Wards on our chosen item using Specialis Revelio, and then we were to write down what different runes we saw making up the ward and then explain why each individual rune was present in the Ward. We were to do this twice, going from one table to the next unless we were already working on the more advanced items. It was interesting work to be sure, and no sooner had the Professor finished her speech then the class was off and waving their wands, in some cases revealing the runes easily and in others… Not so much. I won’t outright name names but the ones not doing so well aren’t exactly hard to guess. Rinse and Repeat, soon enough the class settled into note-taking, light-hearted discussion and some well-intentioned spell casting beneath the winter sun before Professor Hawthorne dismissed us with a promise of more at a later day.
astronomy
Which important lessons about Astronomy did we learn over this past year you might ask? Here are three: 1) The infamous Black Family clearly spent a lot of time looking up at the night sky. 2) Owls aren’t necessarily the friendliest of tour guides. And 3) If you don’t particularly like animals, get yourself a best friend who does. For those of you who are now sitting there with a big question mark over your head, perhaps we should start from the beginning, though. During one of his earlier lessons in December, Professor Kennedy seemingly walked right through the wall of his own classroom and many asked themselves, Had he died and come back as a ghost without telling anyone? Stranger things have happened at Hogwarts, after all. As it turns out, however, Kalen Kennedy was very much alive and ready to share his wisdom on stars and planets and...uhm...stars (?) with his students. One of the central themes of this term’s Astronomy lessons was Celestial Navigation. The reasons behind this specific emphasis remain unclear but there ARE rumors that Professor Kennedy had gotten very very lost in the middle of the ocean without his wand during the previous summer and didn’t want the same thing to happen to his students.
As some of you might have guessed, Celestial Navigation, unfortunately, has nothing to do with Celestina Warbeck (sorry, Zoryn) but much rather with what Gryffindor First Year Daehyun Yoon suggested: it's what pirates did (or perhaps still do). As the name suggests, when using Celestial Navigation one looks at the stars, sun, moon and other planets in relation to the horizon and can thus determine where you are or where you need to go. Sounds easy enough, doesn’t it? Believe me, it is not. First, you need to actually FIND at least one - preferably more than one - of the 57 Navigational Stars, amongst which popular names such as Capella or Sirius, Regulus and Bellatrix (sound familiar?) can be found. While Polaris might not be the brightest star in the sky - no shade, Polaris, just a scientific fact - he is amongst the easiest to find, even without a telescope. As long as you can locate the Big Dipper, that is. Once you’ve found that, it’s really just drawing a horizontal line from two of the stars in the Big Dipper...and then there’s the North Star! And what better way to practice your newly learned skills than by finding your way through a maze? The first to reach the center would find a golden cup which, upon touching it, will automatically transport you……...no, not to a graveyard, don’t worry. Just back to the classroom. Although surely some wouldn’t have minded if Zita Valla (who was among the first to make it through the maze) had been transported to somewhere outside the castle walls. Ahem.
Unless you’re one of those people who are wholeheartedly oblivious to what is going on around them, you would know that Professor Kennedy and our very own Professor Wayland are seen together A LOT. It was therefore hardly surprising that in spring of this term there was a joint Astronomy and Care of Magical Creatures lesson, held down by the barn. Acting like they were kings of their own little farm kingdom, the two professors could be found seated on thrones made out of hay, casually sipping tea while the students arrived for their lesson. Those who had paid attention during Professor Kennedy’s earlier lessons on celestial navigation surely remember that Polaris (no, not Polaroid, Emmalyn) - also known as the North Star - is amongst the most prominent navigational stars used when trying to find your way at night. Animals, too, use the direction of the sun and stars to their advantage, particularly birds as they often migrate at night. Anything beyond this particular piece of information had to be elaborated on by Professor Wayland, however, as animals - as well as magical creatures - is clearly NOT Professor Kennedy’s forte. (Don’t worry, professor, I can very much relate.) After some basic introduction to the lesson’s topic, a swarm (or is it group? school? herd?) of owls suddenly swooped in, leaving one of the professors slightly anxious. Quickly, everyone had to find an owl, befriend it and then feed it – or befriend it BY feeding it: the way to an owl’s heart is through its stomach after all, as we all know. Equipped with your new owly friend, a compass and a star map, the next step was easy (or so certain professors CLAIMED): follow the map to six locations around the Hogwarts grounds with the help of your nice and loyal guide, your new friend, the owl. Not everyone made it back to the courtyard without any scratches from your owl’s friendly nudges - read: HARD PECKS WITH THEIR BEAKS - if you went into the wrong direction, however. Certain students (such as this author) would prefer NOT to have any more joint lessons, Professor Kennedy. Please?
Focusing so extensively on his Astronomy lessons, some might forget that Professor Kennedy is also responsible for another major area of the school: the Library. While preparing for lessons surely takes up a lot of time and energy, Kennedy still dedicates his resources to encouraging others to read and broaden their horizon. When asked about his affections for books, the Librarian explained that, "books have always been an important part of my life, they’ve helped me go to places I would never be able to go and learn many things". With regard to his Bookworms, he then went on to elaborate on why the book club in particular was important to him: "If I can help just one person discover a love of reading, then I’m doing my job right".
As some of you might have guessed, Celestial Navigation, unfortunately, has nothing to do with Celestina Warbeck (sorry, Zoryn) but much rather with what Gryffindor First Year Daehyun Yoon suggested: it's what pirates did (or perhaps still do). As the name suggests, when using Celestial Navigation one looks at the stars, sun, moon and other planets in relation to the horizon and can thus determine where you are or where you need to go. Sounds easy enough, doesn’t it? Believe me, it is not. First, you need to actually FIND at least one - preferably more than one - of the 57 Navigational Stars, amongst which popular names such as Capella or Sirius, Regulus and Bellatrix (sound familiar?) can be found. While Polaris might not be the brightest star in the sky - no shade, Polaris, just a scientific fact - he is amongst the easiest to find, even without a telescope. As long as you can locate the Big Dipper, that is. Once you’ve found that, it’s really just drawing a horizontal line from two of the stars in the Big Dipper...and then there’s the North Star! And what better way to practice your newly learned skills than by finding your way through a maze? The first to reach the center would find a golden cup which, upon touching it, will automatically transport you……...no, not to a graveyard, don’t worry. Just back to the classroom. Although surely some wouldn’t have minded if Zita Valla (who was among the first to make it through the maze) had been transported to somewhere outside the castle walls. Ahem.
Unless you’re one of those people who are wholeheartedly oblivious to what is going on around them, you would know that Professor Kennedy and our very own Professor Wayland are seen together A LOT. It was therefore hardly surprising that in spring of this term there was a joint Astronomy and Care of Magical Creatures lesson, held down by the barn. Acting like they were kings of their own little farm kingdom, the two professors could be found seated on thrones made out of hay, casually sipping tea while the students arrived for their lesson. Those who had paid attention during Professor Kennedy’s earlier lessons on celestial navigation surely remember that Polaris (no, not Polaroid, Emmalyn) - also known as the North Star - is amongst the most prominent navigational stars used when trying to find your way at night. Animals, too, use the direction of the sun and stars to their advantage, particularly birds as they often migrate at night. Anything beyond this particular piece of information had to be elaborated on by Professor Wayland, however, as animals - as well as magical creatures - is clearly NOT Professor Kennedy’s forte. (Don’t worry, professor, I can very much relate.) After some basic introduction to the lesson’s topic, a swarm (or is it group? school? herd?) of owls suddenly swooped in, leaving one of the professors slightly anxious. Quickly, everyone had to find an owl, befriend it and then feed it – or befriend it BY feeding it: the way to an owl’s heart is through its stomach after all, as we all know. Equipped with your new owly friend, a compass and a star map, the next step was easy (or so certain professors CLAIMED): follow the map to six locations around the Hogwarts grounds with the help of your nice and loyal guide, your new friend, the owl. Not everyone made it back to the courtyard without any scratches from your owl’s friendly nudges - read: HARD PECKS WITH THEIR BEAKS - if you went into the wrong direction, however. Certain students (such as this author) would prefer NOT to have any more joint lessons, Professor Kennedy. Please?
Focusing so extensively on his Astronomy lessons, some might forget that Professor Kennedy is also responsible for another major area of the school: the Library. While preparing for lessons surely takes up a lot of time and energy, Kennedy still dedicates his resources to encouraging others to read and broaden their horizon. When asked about his affections for books, the Librarian explained that, "books have always been an important part of my life, they’ve helped me go to places I would never be able to go and learn many things". With regard to his Bookworms, he then went on to elaborate on why the book club in particular was important to him: "If I can help just one person discover a love of reading, then I’m doing my job right".
care of magical creatures
Professor Wayland's lessons are always educational, eventful, and unpredictable, as many situations involving creatures usually are. This term, the former Hufflepuff brought students face-to-face with a variety of winged creatures and some were a little less unnerving than others. An evening in October found the Hogwartians venturing to a cave where they learned about the different species of bats, magical and non-magical. Then, after discussing how to make the world a little less dangerous for the creatures, the class got to enter the cave and feed the bats fruit before helping them over to a branch for a nice, long, snooze. In the spring, students enjoyed a joint lesson where best friends Professor Kennedy and Professor Wayland teamed up to teach about owls and their use of sun and star compasses to navigate them through their lives. Those in the lesson got to bond closely with an owl of their choice before using the creature, a compass, and a star map to do some navigating of their own. The experience showed things from the owls point of view for sure.
Slytherin Natalie McKinley was one student with lots to say about her experiences in creatures this term. Here are her thoughts on the lessons and the creatures being worked with.
Professor Wayland is definitely a hands-on type professor, letting students experience creatures as up close and personal as he can without putting them in danger. Do you enjoy this type of learning environment?
Well... I appreciate it because I do get to learn more, but it kind of depends on the creature. I don’t much fancy the smelly ones. Or the furry ones. Or the slimy ones...
Heading into the darkness of a bat infested cave seemed frightening for some classmates. What was the most challenging part of being around the different types of bats for you?
My fear of flying creatures with fangs does encompasses all “types” of bats. So, uh... everything. They’re just kinda, creepy, you know?
Professor Wayland is good about allowing students to work together during his lessons. Do you think working in a group is beneficial when you're dealing with magical creatures?
Yeah, I think so. I don’t always like group work, but I appreciate it when it’s with a creature I’m unfamiliar with... which is like, all of them. As long as I pick the right partner, it can be quite helpful.
Joint lessons can be great when the right professors combine forces in the name of knowledge. Do you think Professor Wayland and Professor Kennedy did a good job of combining care of magical creatures with astronomy during the lesson on owls?
I mean, it makes sense. It was kind of cool when the two really intertwine like that. I hate it when it’s like, Charms and Potions. Unless it’s a potion to make my charms skills better.
Did you find befriending an owl so that you could work with it closely during the lesson a difficult task?
Uh, definitely. My owl didn’t like me. I don’t think I got full points for that lesson.
Slytherin Natalie McKinley was one student with lots to say about her experiences in creatures this term. Here are her thoughts on the lessons and the creatures being worked with.
Professor Wayland is definitely a hands-on type professor, letting students experience creatures as up close and personal as he can without putting them in danger. Do you enjoy this type of learning environment?
Well... I appreciate it because I do get to learn more, but it kind of depends on the creature. I don’t much fancy the smelly ones. Or the furry ones. Or the slimy ones...
Heading into the darkness of a bat infested cave seemed frightening for some classmates. What was the most challenging part of being around the different types of bats for you?
My fear of flying creatures with fangs does encompasses all “types” of bats. So, uh... everything. They’re just kinda, creepy, you know?
Professor Wayland is good about allowing students to work together during his lessons. Do you think working in a group is beneficial when you're dealing with magical creatures?
Yeah, I think so. I don’t always like group work, but I appreciate it when it’s with a creature I’m unfamiliar with... which is like, all of them. As long as I pick the right partner, it can be quite helpful.
Joint lessons can be great when the right professors combine forces in the name of knowledge. Do you think Professor Wayland and Professor Kennedy did a good job of combining care of magical creatures with astronomy during the lesson on owls?
I mean, it makes sense. It was kind of cool when the two really intertwine like that. I hate it when it’s like, Charms and Potions. Unless it’s a potion to make my charms skills better.
Did you find befriending an owl so that you could work with it closely during the lesson a difficult task?
Uh, definitely. My owl didn’t like me. I don’t think I got full points for that lesson.
charms
“If you’re stressed, it’s fine dining we suggest. Be our gueeeeest.”
Perhaps Professor Marchand had this song in mind when he decorated the Bistro in one of the empty rooms near the Charms classroom. Many have wondered if this is “Gaston’s Tavern” as the plaque in the professor’s office suggests but surely they don’t serve fresh macarons in taverns, do they? Or maybe in France they do? Naturally, Gaston Marchand is the expert here. Whenever you have cravings for traditional French cuisine, this is the place to eat an eclair (or five) or some freshly made chocolate mousse. Filled to the brim with typical French items, starting from the chandelier, moving on to the nicely decorated chairs and tables and especially the offered food, the Bistro has even more to offer, however. If you’re feeling creative, and are in need of some spell practice, you may also take the opportunity to try your hand at making those delicious pastries yourself in the adjacent kitchen. And if you just happen to make more than you can eat, surely you can think of someone - a friendly Yearbook scribe perhaps? - to share them with.
After four years of teaching at Hogwarts, one can only assume that Professor Marchand knows what to expect from his students. And vice versa. Nonetheless, a disclaimer was needed for one of his Charms lessons during November of this term: no creatures were harmed during the preparations and implementation of this lesson. The fact that the box on the professor’s desk you might have spotted upon walking into the classroom was filled with toy mice apparently was not enough evidence of that. Be that as it may, the students were asked to guide their (now) animated mouse through a prepared maze by gently (!) nudging it along until it had found the mini cheesecake which had been placed inside. And yes, unfortunately, those were ONLY for the mice. No, Professor Marchand had NOT brought any for the students. Disappointing, I know. Surely, the students deserved a reward too for successfully completing the exercise, no? Apparently not. After repeating this task a couple of times – placing the cheesecake in the same spot inside the maze every time – the next step was to think of ways to make it even harder for the mouse to find the cheesecake. Slytherin Quidditch Captain Skylar Diggory was quick to suggest placing a miniature cat inside the maze but unfortunately nobody got to see whether the animated mouse would have sacrificed its life for the prospect of food - honestly, though, you would consider it, too, right?
Aside from physical obstacles and the Jelly-Leg Curse (thank you, Rylee Prichard, another thing we would have all LOVED to see in action), a number of spells that affect the mouse’s memory and perception were proposed. A particular focus was subsequently placed on Confundo and Obliviate, both of which will alter someone’s memory. While Zoryn Spinnet was of course also correct when she pointed out that one of the differences between the two spells was their incantation, it was Zita Valla who summed them up with an albeit somewhat questionable but highly accurate example: if one were to cast the Confundus Charm on Head Boy Tenacius Salander, one might be able to briefly confuse him into thinking that Skylar Diggory was his girlfriend. The Memory Charm on the other hand would make him permanently forget all about his actual girlfriend Vivian Holden altogether. Again, highly accurate but also quite...shifty. (Make sure to stay far away from Zita, Ace!) Presumably with the intention of distracting everyone (Zita, ahem) from getting any ideas about obliviating her boyfriend, Vivian Holden quickly suggested the False Memory Spell (Mismemini) with which the mouse could be convinced of having already eaten its piece of cheesecake and thus taking away the incentive of it walking through the maze. Finally, each of the discussed spells was tried on the mouse to see which was hindering its progress the most. And yes, an eye was kept on Zita Valla to make sure the mouse was the only thing she tried the spells on.
In early April Professor Marchand encouraged the students to join him on a quick field trip to the Caledonian Forest to learn more about wandlore. For all those of you who have not traveled by portkey, the item chosen for this particular trip represents the experience perfectly: a moss-covered rock. Get it? Because it’s a...rocky way of traveling. Some (not going to mention any names) even lost their balance upon arrival in the forest and landed on their bum. Or so I’ve heard. Anyway, back to the reason for this field trip: wands. In the professor’s own words, "Wands are like a wizard's bread and butter; we use them for so many spells on a daily basis. Since they're such an integral part of our lives, I thought it was important for the students to know a bit about where our wands come from and what goes into making them." After a quick hike and lunch (yay, food!), the professor had planned out a scavenger hunt to help with getting to know the different types of trees and remembering which are more and which are less suitable to be made into wands. As we all know, the wand chooses the witch or wizard, so therefore the right type of wood always depends on the personality of its future owner. So don’t be surprised if you borrow your friend’s wand to reheat your tea and instead you end up turning it into Hippogriff dung. You’ve been warned.
Perhaps Professor Marchand had this song in mind when he decorated the Bistro in one of the empty rooms near the Charms classroom. Many have wondered if this is “Gaston’s Tavern” as the plaque in the professor’s office suggests but surely they don’t serve fresh macarons in taverns, do they? Or maybe in France they do? Naturally, Gaston Marchand is the expert here. Whenever you have cravings for traditional French cuisine, this is the place to eat an eclair (or five) or some freshly made chocolate mousse. Filled to the brim with typical French items, starting from the chandelier, moving on to the nicely decorated chairs and tables and especially the offered food, the Bistro has even more to offer, however. If you’re feeling creative, and are in need of some spell practice, you may also take the opportunity to try your hand at making those delicious pastries yourself in the adjacent kitchen. And if you just happen to make more than you can eat, surely you can think of someone - a friendly Yearbook scribe perhaps? - to share them with.
After four years of teaching at Hogwarts, one can only assume that Professor Marchand knows what to expect from his students. And vice versa. Nonetheless, a disclaimer was needed for one of his Charms lessons during November of this term: no creatures were harmed during the preparations and implementation of this lesson. The fact that the box on the professor’s desk you might have spotted upon walking into the classroom was filled with toy mice apparently was not enough evidence of that. Be that as it may, the students were asked to guide their (now) animated mouse through a prepared maze by gently (!) nudging it along until it had found the mini cheesecake which had been placed inside. And yes, unfortunately, those were ONLY for the mice. No, Professor Marchand had NOT brought any for the students. Disappointing, I know. Surely, the students deserved a reward too for successfully completing the exercise, no? Apparently not. After repeating this task a couple of times – placing the cheesecake in the same spot inside the maze every time – the next step was to think of ways to make it even harder for the mouse to find the cheesecake. Slytherin Quidditch Captain Skylar Diggory was quick to suggest placing a miniature cat inside the maze but unfortunately nobody got to see whether the animated mouse would have sacrificed its life for the prospect of food - honestly, though, you would consider it, too, right?
Aside from physical obstacles and the Jelly-Leg Curse (thank you, Rylee Prichard, another thing we would have all LOVED to see in action), a number of spells that affect the mouse’s memory and perception were proposed. A particular focus was subsequently placed on Confundo and Obliviate, both of which will alter someone’s memory. While Zoryn Spinnet was of course also correct when she pointed out that one of the differences between the two spells was their incantation, it was Zita Valla who summed them up with an albeit somewhat questionable but highly accurate example: if one were to cast the Confundus Charm on Head Boy Tenacius Salander, one might be able to briefly confuse him into thinking that Skylar Diggory was his girlfriend. The Memory Charm on the other hand would make him permanently forget all about his actual girlfriend Vivian Holden altogether. Again, highly accurate but also quite...shifty. (Make sure to stay far away from Zita, Ace!) Presumably with the intention of distracting everyone (Zita, ahem) from getting any ideas about obliviating her boyfriend, Vivian Holden quickly suggested the False Memory Spell (Mismemini) with which the mouse could be convinced of having already eaten its piece of cheesecake and thus taking away the incentive of it walking through the maze. Finally, each of the discussed spells was tried on the mouse to see which was hindering its progress the most. And yes, an eye was kept on Zita Valla to make sure the mouse was the only thing she tried the spells on.
In early April Professor Marchand encouraged the students to join him on a quick field trip to the Caledonian Forest to learn more about wandlore. For all those of you who have not traveled by portkey, the item chosen for this particular trip represents the experience perfectly: a moss-covered rock. Get it? Because it’s a...rocky way of traveling. Some (not going to mention any names) even lost their balance upon arrival in the forest and landed on their bum. Or so I’ve heard. Anyway, back to the reason for this field trip: wands. In the professor’s own words, "Wands are like a wizard's bread and butter; we use them for so many spells on a daily basis. Since they're such an integral part of our lives, I thought it was important for the students to know a bit about where our wands come from and what goes into making them." After a quick hike and lunch (yay, food!), the professor had planned out a scavenger hunt to help with getting to know the different types of trees and remembering which are more and which are less suitable to be made into wands. As we all know, the wand chooses the witch or wizard, so therefore the right type of wood always depends on the personality of its future owner. So don’t be surprised if you borrow your friend’s wand to reheat your tea and instead you end up turning it into Hippogriff dung. You’ve been warned.
defense against the dark arts
Defense Against the Dark Arts.
A class even those completely uninterested in pursuing a career in law-enforcement should take. CONSTANT VIGILANCE is an old joke around Hogwarts these days but one many of us who’ve seen what the school can throw at us ascribe to. It helps, of course, that Professor Roderik Hirsch is one of the more beloved and well respected staff members. He is cool, calm and reassuring no matter what situation one might find themselves in. Which made his absence all the more vexing as the class entered a snow covered defense room. Perplexed, many stuck together for warmth, while others - emboldened by the lack of an authority figure completely ignored everything and simply played in the snow. Until, of course, when the Dummies twitched to life and began shooting all sorts of spells and hexes our way. Many ducked, others jumped to the front lines to duel and others still called out for help. It was - to put it simply - an insane time and an insane class. Although we weren’t aware of it at the time, this was part of Professor Hirsch’s lesson on the spell Protego Menio. I reached out to Bel Macindoe for her thoughts on the lesson and the subject in general.
What was your first thought when the Dummies suddenly attacked? Did you think it was a darker force at work or just a spell gone wrong?
I... honestly just thought it was part of the class. Professor Hirsch is really good at doing stuff to keep us on our toes like that! Plus I trust him so I guess I figured even if something was going wrong, he'd step in.
What’s the first thing that comes to mind when you think of DADA?
A challenge. Its one of the toughest classes for me but even though its hard, its still always interesting so that makes it more fun to try instead of being discouraging.
Have you ever had to use Defensive magic outside of class? If so, can you tell us about that experience?
No.... I've been pretty lucky and safe I guess? But at least Hirsch is helping me be prepared!
You’re from Australia, right? Do you guys get snow there, often? or .. well, ever?
Well, mate, we have mountains you know. But I grew up on the coast, right on the beach so snow was only a thing if you actually made the effort to go visit it, like for a holiday, not something you wake up to and have to suffer through for months!
Do you have a favorite hex?
I don't really know that many hexes, not that good with my wand honestly, but Professor Hirsch makes me wanna get better.
A class even those completely uninterested in pursuing a career in law-enforcement should take. CONSTANT VIGILANCE is an old joke around Hogwarts these days but one many of us who’ve seen what the school can throw at us ascribe to. It helps, of course, that Professor Roderik Hirsch is one of the more beloved and well respected staff members. He is cool, calm and reassuring no matter what situation one might find themselves in. Which made his absence all the more vexing as the class entered a snow covered defense room. Perplexed, many stuck together for warmth, while others - emboldened by the lack of an authority figure completely ignored everything and simply played in the snow. Until, of course, when the Dummies twitched to life and began shooting all sorts of spells and hexes our way. Many ducked, others jumped to the front lines to duel and others still called out for help. It was - to put it simply - an insane time and an insane class. Although we weren’t aware of it at the time, this was part of Professor Hirsch’s lesson on the spell Protego Menio. I reached out to Bel Macindoe for her thoughts on the lesson and the subject in general.
What was your first thought when the Dummies suddenly attacked? Did you think it was a darker force at work or just a spell gone wrong?
I... honestly just thought it was part of the class. Professor Hirsch is really good at doing stuff to keep us on our toes like that! Plus I trust him so I guess I figured even if something was going wrong, he'd step in.
What’s the first thing that comes to mind when you think of DADA?
A challenge. Its one of the toughest classes for me but even though its hard, its still always interesting so that makes it more fun to try instead of being discouraging.
Have you ever had to use Defensive magic outside of class? If so, can you tell us about that experience?
No.... I've been pretty lucky and safe I guess? But at least Hirsch is helping me be prepared!
You’re from Australia, right? Do you guys get snow there, often? or .. well, ever?
Well, mate, we have mountains you know. But I grew up on the coast, right on the beach so snow was only a thing if you actually made the effort to go visit it, like for a holiday, not something you wake up to and have to suffer through for months!
Do you have a favorite hex?
I don't really know that many hexes, not that good with my wand honestly, but Professor Hirsch makes me wanna get better.
Divination
Words you would be familiar with had you ever opened up a copy of Unfogging The Future written by well respected seer Cassandra Vablatsky. These words, meant to protect seers from the unkind words of doubters have (in my opinion) an inverse meaning. If true seers cannot work their all-seeing-eye on demand then how can we be expected to? It was a question burning me up as I settled down in the courtyard that day in Professor Vance’s beautifully laid out, but clearly impromptu classroom. There was, as is the usual case, a buzz in the air despite the early morning as we all settled in, greeting Professor Vance in her serenity. She looked as lovely and youthful as ever, except for the outdated style of dress she chose which most certainly aged her. Now, that wasn’t exactly the reason everyone was abuzz (though it was in my case) the class reaction had much more to do with the instruments laid out for us. Hogwarts classes are no stranger to props, instruments (both musical and not), tools, and even the occasional toy, and mirrors happened to be a feature often used in magic - we’ve had scrying classes before - but scented oils? Not so much. The class busied themselves sniffing the oils, admiring their appearances or in the case of Zoryn Spinnet - taking a brief nap on the shoulder of Dorian Katharthos amid the general smattering of conversation. Slate Ryker suggested (though I, nor my sources can understand why) we learn to read chicken wings. Professor Vance, a skilled witch and an experienced professor, pulled the classroom together and soon enough the subject of the lesson was revealed to be….
Fingernails. Fingernails and all the mysterious and supposedly wonderful ways they could inform you of your failures or successes.
With time, naturally came answers to meet our curious, unsaid questions and more answers and questions followed soon after; Vivian Fairfield, for instance, asked whether the length of the person’s nails had anything to do with the practice (apparently so, for the shape and cleanliness), first year Hanna Newton raised her hand to guess that it was the lines within the nails that could lead to the future (not the case), Daisy Swann hit the bludger on the dome when she suggested it was, in fact, the spots which held the power of foretelling, but truely- what got the most attention was Mara Neves, as she added her own opinion that nails and fingers and their condition spoke volumes of the person’s personality, a fact that was obviously true but had little (in this writer’s opinion) to do with magic or fortune-telling.
Students like Max Carden wondered aloud whether this was a process possible meanwhile others sought to hide their less than pristine digitz from the sights of those around them for fear of being laughed at, and others still took to the subject like fish to water, eagerly questioning Professor Vance on the limits and possibilities of this new practice of Divination called Onychomancy. After a round of fresh questions and an explanation of how are nails and their condition could be the key to finding our future, we were instructed to give ourselves (much to my surprise) a manicure using the Cauldron of fresh water and the essential oils laid out before using the handheld mirrors to reflect light (though I’m certain a lumos could have done the same thing) on our freshly cleaned nails to reveal any spots or impurities which we were then meant to interpret. It was simple enough and the class moved together as one (very like the dwarves in a once popular muggle film) to wash their hands quietly, dutifully. Oils were dashed. Nail polish removed. Hands scrubbed, and a fair few looks of displeasure shared between Hufflepuff Derfael Ashburry-Hawthorne and Abraham Botros Jr. From the chilled wind on freshly their wet hands. It had become quiet, with each student busily readying themselves or otherwise inspecting their freshly cleaned nails for any shapes or tiny marks which could signal new love, a failing grade, illness or disaster (mine, if you’re wondering were completely devoid of any spots of any kind at all). The silence was, however, shattered quite literally as Hufflepuff Emmalyn dropped a mirror, breaking it immediately and momentarily disrupting the class (don’t worry, before the main activity was done it was all handled)
Notes were taken, but some students seemed more interested in debating the feasibility of this particular divination branch. Bel Macindoe (hufflepuff) brought up the valid point that anyone with or without gift could tell someone with rough hands did hard work - something Professor Vance did not seem to quite catch onto, Skylar Diggory (Slytherin) chimed in stating fingernail readings were unreliable as the state of someone’s nails were constantly changing (for instance, when I started penning this article mine were unpainted and freshly cleaned and as of finishing it, they are painted peruvian periwinkle).
A late November afternoon saw the divination students once more trekking out onto the grounds for our lesson, something many weren’t happy about considering the wind’s absolute delight in chilling us to the bone- Something our Professor Vance and Groundskeeper Baldvinsson had seemed to plan for. They made an interesting pair, both visually and in teaching styles- Vance with her eager but controlled energy and Baldvinsson with his short, but warm (and to the point) style. We were instructed after settling in to groom our brooms (mine, if you’re curious is a Nimbus 2099) with the aid of clippers and polish something a slightly bemused Professor Vance reminded us of before explaining that the lesson would be about combining the ancient practice of anemscopy and a sport later revealed to be Shuntbumps. We were meant to discover the outcome of our game before we ever set foot off the ground. There were to be not one, but two practicals in this lesson (two too many in my opinion), the rest of the class were unfazed and happily joined in- first with answers regarding Anemscopy (in which case Zoryn and Emmalyn gave twin replies, while Diandra Salim made the closest guess to how the process worked), and then regarding updating the children’s game Baldvinsson had prepared for us (Jessa Cambridge suggested charming the brooms to change the color when we were hit and Daehyun Yoon suggested the new goal of the game be popping balloons attached to the brooms). For our Divination practical we were asked to fly up a reasonable height with a bag of sand - not an easy task - and ask a simple yes or no question. Depending on the… sand cloud you were meant to have your answer as to whether or not we would win the game- many were inconclusive. To say the least, Shuntbumps was much more happily executed by the class save for two students who chose instead to head in for a writing assignment instead. By the end, tired as we all were, many stuck around to ask more questions although, it all felt rather anti-climatic as no winner was announced. It was a whirlwind (no, the pun was not intended) of a lesson, but I left still unsure of Divination and all that came with it.
Fingernails. Fingernails and all the mysterious and supposedly wonderful ways they could inform you of your failures or successes.
With time, naturally came answers to meet our curious, unsaid questions and more answers and questions followed soon after; Vivian Fairfield, for instance, asked whether the length of the person’s nails had anything to do with the practice (apparently so, for the shape and cleanliness), first year Hanna Newton raised her hand to guess that it was the lines within the nails that could lead to the future (not the case), Daisy Swann hit the bludger on the dome when she suggested it was, in fact, the spots which held the power of foretelling, but truely- what got the most attention was Mara Neves, as she added her own opinion that nails and fingers and their condition spoke volumes of the person’s personality, a fact that was obviously true but had little (in this writer’s opinion) to do with magic or fortune-telling.
Students like Max Carden wondered aloud whether this was a process possible meanwhile others sought to hide their less than pristine digitz from the sights of those around them for fear of being laughed at, and others still took to the subject like fish to water, eagerly questioning Professor Vance on the limits and possibilities of this new practice of Divination called Onychomancy. After a round of fresh questions and an explanation of how are nails and their condition could be the key to finding our future, we were instructed to give ourselves (much to my surprise) a manicure using the Cauldron of fresh water and the essential oils laid out before using the handheld mirrors to reflect light (though I’m certain a lumos could have done the same thing) on our freshly cleaned nails to reveal any spots or impurities which we were then meant to interpret. It was simple enough and the class moved together as one (very like the dwarves in a once popular muggle film) to wash their hands quietly, dutifully. Oils were dashed. Nail polish removed. Hands scrubbed, and a fair few looks of displeasure shared between Hufflepuff Derfael Ashburry-Hawthorne and Abraham Botros Jr. From the chilled wind on freshly their wet hands. It had become quiet, with each student busily readying themselves or otherwise inspecting their freshly cleaned nails for any shapes or tiny marks which could signal new love, a failing grade, illness or disaster (mine, if you’re wondering were completely devoid of any spots of any kind at all). The silence was, however, shattered quite literally as Hufflepuff Emmalyn dropped a mirror, breaking it immediately and momentarily disrupting the class (don’t worry, before the main activity was done it was all handled)
Notes were taken, but some students seemed more interested in debating the feasibility of this particular divination branch. Bel Macindoe (hufflepuff) brought up the valid point that anyone with or without gift could tell someone with rough hands did hard work - something Professor Vance did not seem to quite catch onto, Skylar Diggory (Slytherin) chimed in stating fingernail readings were unreliable as the state of someone’s nails were constantly changing (for instance, when I started penning this article mine were unpainted and freshly cleaned and as of finishing it, they are painted peruvian periwinkle).
A late November afternoon saw the divination students once more trekking out onto the grounds for our lesson, something many weren’t happy about considering the wind’s absolute delight in chilling us to the bone- Something our Professor Vance and Groundskeeper Baldvinsson had seemed to plan for. They made an interesting pair, both visually and in teaching styles- Vance with her eager but controlled energy and Baldvinsson with his short, but warm (and to the point) style. We were instructed after settling in to groom our brooms (mine, if you’re curious is a Nimbus 2099) with the aid of clippers and polish something a slightly bemused Professor Vance reminded us of before explaining that the lesson would be about combining the ancient practice of anemscopy and a sport later revealed to be Shuntbumps. We were meant to discover the outcome of our game before we ever set foot off the ground. There were to be not one, but two practicals in this lesson (two too many in my opinion), the rest of the class were unfazed and happily joined in- first with answers regarding Anemscopy (in which case Zoryn and Emmalyn gave twin replies, while Diandra Salim made the closest guess to how the process worked), and then regarding updating the children’s game Baldvinsson had prepared for us (Jessa Cambridge suggested charming the brooms to change the color when we were hit and Daehyun Yoon suggested the new goal of the game be popping balloons attached to the brooms). For our Divination practical we were asked to fly up a reasonable height with a bag of sand - not an easy task - and ask a simple yes or no question. Depending on the… sand cloud you were meant to have your answer as to whether or not we would win the game- many were inconclusive. To say the least, Shuntbumps was much more happily executed by the class save for two students who chose instead to head in for a writing assignment instead. By the end, tired as we all were, many stuck around to ask more questions although, it all felt rather anti-climatic as no winner was announced. It was a whirlwind (no, the pun was not intended) of a lesson, but I left still unsure of Divination and all that came with it.