Fianna Grey Gryffindor │ Fifth Year │ Fifteen Years Old │ Single
Fianna chuckled softly at the professor's little joke; like it was remotely possible she could forget her own Head of House, but it was a nice icebreaker before getting into the study of ... well, one couldn't exactly call the Chamber of Secrets mythology. But then if they didn't study this the knowledge of what ought not to be forgotten could be lost, and history becomes legend and then myth.
When the professor opened the class to discussion, Fianna raised her hand, waited to be acknowledged and then asked, "Professor Harlowe, is it true Salazar Slytherin built the Chamber himself, or did he have it built by others for him? How was it constructed, and how did he manage to hide its construction from the other Founders?"
OOC:
Username
Turn your magic on, to me she'd say "Everything you wants a dream away We are legends, every day" That's what she told me
Turn your magic on, to me she'd say "Everything you wants a dream away Under this pressure, under this weight We are diamonds"
Posted: Mon Feb 20, 2017 3:55 pm
╓xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx xx» wнere «xx xxxMythology Classroom xxxxxxxx» wιтн «xx xxxxxxxxxFifth Year Students xxxxxxxxxxxxxx» ғeelιng «xx xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxCalm xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx╜
spaceAmata sat, perched as ever on her desk, and watched as her students came in and took their seats. She waited a moment for them to get situated and to take out their things before beginning the lecture."Alright, class, today we're going to be learning about and discussing the founders of Hogwarts, their various contributions to the school, and the myths and rumors and controversies surrounding them. If you'll all copy down the notes on the board, we can begin."She paused to give them time to write down the notes, knowing that it was hard to pay attention to copying words from the board and listening to words being spoken at the same time. When the scratching of quills had come to an almost halt, she smiled, launching into the lecture.
space"Now, obviously you all know the basics about the founders. Godric Gryffindor, known for being a brave warrior, valued feats of strength and integrity above all else. He was an expert duelist and believed in chivalry and in courage. Rowena Ravenclaw, the cleverest witch of her time, considered wit and wisdom to be the most important traits for a person to possess. She was known for her intelligence and cleverness. Salazar Slytherin, an ambitious man known for doing whatever he believed necessary to achieve his end goal, believed in the importance of cunning and determination. Obviously there is a lot of controversy regarding the man and his beliefs, but it can't be denied that he was one of the greatest wizards of his time. And, Helga Hufflepuff, the final founder, was a warm, welcoming woman, and believed in hard work, not being afraid to get your hands dirty, and above all, fairness and loyalty. Unlike the other founders, she didn't cherry-pick the students who would enter her house, but rather took any who were willing to learn."Amata felt like, thus far, she'd paid an inordinate amount of attention to two of the founders over the others, but then, it was probably only fair. Everyone knew and generally admired Gryffindor and Ravenclaw. Hufflepuff and Slytherin tended to get the short end of the stick, for being viewed as the worthless house of leftovers, and the starting point of dark wizards, respectively. Society had progressed beyond these thoughts for the most part, she thought, but that didn't make up for the years of lost knowledge that resulted from no one paying attention to anything but Slytherin's misdeeds, or paying attention to Hufflepuff, period. There was a reason no one knew what her goblet had done, after all; no one cared. Pity.
spaceOnce she thought she'd left a reasonable amount of time for the students to copy down anything relevant from her previous statements, she continued."Now, because I'm sure it's going to be a sticking point, we may was well get Slytherin out of the way first. Obviously, he can be an uncomfortable subject, with his exclusionary views and the horrors that have resulted from them. But, it's important to put things in perspective. At the time Slytherin and the others were alive, the fear of muggles was very real among the magical community. It's been speculated that Slytherin didn't so much think himself 'better' than muggles as much as he thought they could not be trusted. Humankind has a very distinct history of 'othering' groups outside their own, anyone different from them, and being hostile towards these groups. Muggleborns, then, would suffer from divided loyalty, or so the speculation says."She frowned faintly. Once the discussion got started, this was going to get interesting, she just knew it. Hopefully she wouldn't end up screaming to cut off arguments."While his tactics may seem harsh in the modern era, you must recall, this happened in medieval times. Back then, people were as likely to kill you as smile at you, all because you had something they wanted. While not a warrior like Gryffindor, Slytherin still held a duty to protect the school from what he perceived as threats, and at the time, the way to handle threats was to kill them. His chosen method seems insidious, but Slytherin was a man of resourceful cunning. He wasn't going to run up to someone and challenge them to a duel he might lose when the alternative left less room for failure, even if it was less than noble. Nobility, to him, was something that could be sacrificed in the name of success. Now, none of this is to say that I agree with him, or am excusing his actions. I am simply putting them in perspective, so that you can form your own opinions."Her eyes flashed dangerously."That said, when discussing this subject, I'll advise you to be careful not to incite an argument that will result in disciplinary action."
spaceHer lips pursed, and she paused a moment to eye her students for confirmation that they understood, and to give them time to copy down anything they deemed important."Talking about the remaining three founders, of course, is significantly less troublesome. Historically, there isn't much controversy surrounding them. So, the remainder of the lesson will be focused on the speculation regarding the school itself, and how it was designed and how all four founders collaborated on it. As I'm sure you all know, credit for the moving stairs and confusing floor plan can be given to Rowena Ravenclaw, so be sure to thank her next time you're late because a staircase moved."Amata snickered faintly."As best as anyone can guess, this was designed to keep students on their toes, so that they were always thinking critically. Either that, or she and the others had a terrible sense of humor. Your guess is as good as any."
spaceShe waited, wondering if any of the students actually had any ideas as to the why of the stairs. She certainly didn't, but then, she tended to be more annoyed at them than anything else."Helga Hufflepuff was famous for food-related charms, and for being an excellent cook. She came up with a great many excellent recipes, most of which are still used to this day by the House-Elves that ran the kitchens. It's also been speculated that Hogwarts' openness to taking in freed elves to work the kitchens was her idea, as a way to give them a place to work comfortably, and to ensure that there was always enough manpower to feed the students and staff. Meanwhile, much of the school's defenses were the idea of Godric Gryffindor. As a warrior, protecting the school from sieges was very important to him. The school's location was agreed upon by all the founders, of course, but it was Gryffindor who insisted that it being easily defensible was important, hence the proximity to the Black Lake and Forbidden Forest. It's been speculated that some of the more aggressive creatures dwelling in each were introduced by Gryffindor, as a means to further defend the school. Likewise, as best anyone can tell, the various animated suits of armor and the stone guardians were likely Gryffindor's idea."
spaceGlancing at the clock, Amata realized she needed to wrap it up if she wanted there to be any discussion regarding the lesson. There was always more to say, of course, but then, that's what the reading was for, she supposed. So, she gave the students another chance to jot down notes, then announced,"And now, I'm opening the floor to discussion. Questions and comments are welcome, and worth house points."She waited patiently; hopefully, she hadn't bored them to death with her little lecture/rant. She knew she tended to ramble, and exposure to Grayson had only made it worse over the years. Having someone who listened so intently, and who responded just as enthusiastically, tended to make you forget that some people found this sort of thing dull.
- Founder of Gryffindor House, known for bravery, valor, determination, and strength of heart. - Famed warrior, known for his prowess both with a wand against fellow wizards, and a sword when fighting on the battlefield alongside muggles. - Far from being a simple brute, as some would describe him, Gryffindor was a master strategist on the battlefield, and exceptionally clever. - The creation of the sorting hat, in fact, was his idea, though all four founders worked together on the magic to enchant it.
Helga Hufflepuff:
- Founder of Hufflepuff House, known for acceptance, hard work, and loyalty. - Famed cook, known for creating and perfecting many food-related charms and many of the recipes still used by Hogwarts House-Elves for meals. - Not as much is known about Hufflepuff, possibly due to many of her accomplishments having been her influence on her students, rather than feats of bravery in battle or stunning magic. - However, her legacy is one that cannot be questioned, one of acceptance and patience. In allowing students into her house regardless of their background and apparent skills, she paved the way for open-mindedness and kindness among the wizarding world.
Rowena Ravenclaw:
- Founder of Ravenclaw House, known for cleverness, creativity, and wit. - Famed for her sharp mind, Ravenclaw is credited with the creation of many powerful spells and the inventive protective measures for Hogwarts. - Perhaps her most famous and interesting accomplishment was the creation of her Diadem, an object said to grant her wisdom to the wearer. However, the truth of these claims cannot be verified, as the Diadem was destroyed in the Second Wizarding War. - Ravenclaw was known for being strict and intimidating, though one could argue that she must have been loving as well, willing to forgive great injustices done against her, such as the betrayal she suffered at the hands of her daughter.
Salazar Slytherin:
- Founder of Slytherin House, known for ambition, cunning, and resourcefulness. - Famed for his ruthlessness and determination to accomplish his goals and follow his beliefs, even going so far as to build the Chamber of Secrets below Hogwarts Castle before departing, to ensure that his desire to keep out muggleborns would be fulfilled even in his absence. - Fraught with controversy, Slytherin is a figure that is hard to understand. It is hard to say if history's version of him, a villain who believed muggles to be unworthy, is reality, or merely something that has been assumed of him. - However, he remains one of the 'four most brilliant' wizards of his time, and was at some point or another friends with the other three founders. From what we understand, it's hard to believe that they could be taken in by someone as nefarious as Slytherin is thought to've been, implying that there is more to his story than we know.
Homework:Choose the founder for any house but your own. Write a short essay about what we know about them, comparing and contrasting known fact with legend and rumor.
xxxx× × ×xxxxSTUDENTSxxxx× × ×xxxx Any registered student who fails to post at least once this year will have their house docked ten points at the end of the term. Exceptions can be made provided you contact Cara MiaKitty and are able to provide a reasonable excuse.
Replies for Previous Lesson
"Unfortunately, no one knows the answer to any of those questions. There was a legend, which means that there were, at one point, rumors. So, it's safe to say that he didn't keep it a secret exactly, only that he kept it enough of one that its location was never discovered. If no one had discovered his intentions, no one would have ever known about it at all, at least not until it was opened. And that's assuming that the heir of Slytherin opened it with knowledge that had been passed down by his family, not information he'd gleaned from the legends and a lucky guess or two. As to who actually did the building, there's no way to know. Magic is a powerful thing, after all; were this a case of a muggle, it would be rather improbably, though still not impossible, to assume he'd built it himself. With magic, he was likely more than capable of doing so."
5 points to Fianna Grey of Gryffindor House for Class Participation
spaceAmata entered the classroom with a gentle smile, eager to start the new term. She assumed her typical stance, sitting on the edge of her desk, back straight, and looked over the classroom a moment before beginning."Hello, everyone, in case you've forgotten over the Summer holiday, I'm Professor Harlowe, and this is Fifth year Mythology. If you're in the wrong class, feel free to quietly exit while everyone is watching me and won't notice."She grinned impishly at her students."Now then, you should all remember the rules and such from last year, so I'll only go over the most important ones very quickly: You come in, you copy the notes, then we open the floor for discussion. Contributions will earn you house points. However, it should be noted that a lot of what is covered in this class can be somewhat controversial. That said, I will not tolerate anyone who is rude or belittling to their classmates, no matter what subject you might disagree with them on. Respect is key to an enlightening and stimulating conversation, so keep your minds open."
spaceAmata paused, giving them a moment to let that sink in. Not that she expected problems from any of them, but one could never be too sure, after all. After a decent pause, she gave an introduction."Now then, we'll be starting this year off with something that is both myth, and history, and which you should all be at least marginally familiar with; the story of The Chamber of Secrets. If you'll copy down the notes on the board, we can begin."As her students settled in, she watched them, somewhat eager to start the lesson. Today's subject was of a rather gruesome nature, but it fell handily in under the header of mythology thanks to misinformation and whispered rumors, and she found the whole thing rather fascinating. As such, it was one of her favorite lessons, regardless of how morbid it might be, or how recent its history was."Now, you must recall, there was a time when no one knew of the Chamber; it was a rumor, whispered through the halls of Hogwarts, passing from ear to ear, without any real confirmation. The three remaining founders tried for many years to locate the Chamber, but it was never found. So, it was believed to be a myth. As years passed, it became an obscure legend, its story stretched and edited and altered. A few brave souls attempted to locate the Chamber, spent years trying to find it, but to no avail. Then, one day, the message appeared, written in blood; "The Chamber of Secrets has been opened." The blood was barely dry before the first victim was claimed, and suddenly, students were dropping left and right, being found paralyzed by their housemates, their professors. Eventually, a culprit was caught, and expelled, but not before the death of a young student. Fifty years passed in silence, and the monster rumored to live in the Chamber lay dormant. Then, again on the wall, the same message, written in blood. Again, students began to be found paralyzed. This time, though, there was a savior; Harry Potter and his friend Ronald Weasley located and braved the dangers of the Chamber to end the terror. They slew the monster, and the castle was saved... or so the stories say."She gave her students a gentle smile and waited a moment so that the lecture could sink in, and then asked,"Anyone have any thoughts? Questions?"She waited patiently. This lesson differed from her usual ones in that much of what had previously been legend was now mostly confirmed; it also had a happier ending. But, there was always the chance that something could happen... and besides, what good horror story ended with 'and they all lived happily ever after'?
xxxxxProfessor Salazar Slytherin was a pure-blood wizard of medieval times. He was a Parselmouth (a wizard with the rare ability to speak with snakes) and skilled at Legilimency. He was one of the four founders of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry and the former best friend of Godric Gryffindor, a fellow founder. Slytherin didn't trust Muggle-born students, and he expressed his opinion not to accept them at Hogwarts. However, when the other Hogwarts founders didn't agree, Slytherin created the Chamber of Secrets, concealing a basilisk inside. Afterwards he left the school, never to return. He died sometime in the Middle Ages.
The Chamber:
xxxxxHogwarts founder Salazar Slytherin was famous for his belief that magical learning should be kept within the realms of magical families, and that any child born to muggle should remain a muggle, regardless of whether or not they showcased any magical talent. When he failed to convince the other founders of this ideal, he decided to create a safeguard, so that whenever the school became overrun with those he deemed unworthy, his lineage could purge the school of their presence. He created the Chamber of Secrets, which was said to be hidden away, so that only the Heir of Slytherin could ever find it, and house a monster which only the heir could control. As no one was ever able to locate the Chamber, it was dismissed as a myth. However, in the 1940’s, there was a series of attacks, leading to the paralysis of several muggle born students, culminating in the death of student Myrtle, who now haunts the girl’s bathroom on the second floor, known better to students as Moaning Myrtle. Then student Rubeus Hagrid was blamed for the attacks and expelled, but remained at the school as gamekeeper. Later, in the 1990’s while Harry Potter attended Hogwarts, the Chamber was opened again, and Hagrid was briefly taken to Azkaban prison. It was later proven that the culprit, in both instances of the Chamber being opened, was none other than Tom Riddle, known later in life as Lord Voldemort. The first time, Riddle was a student in attendance at Hogwarts, and was in fact the one who turned Hagrid in. The second time, he was acting through use of a Horcrux and student Ginny Weasley.
Homework:Explain your thoughts on the beliefs of Salazar Slytherin and his contemporaries.
xxxx× × ×xxxxSTUDENTSxxxx× × ×xxxx Any registered student who fails to post at least once this year will have their house docked ten points at the end of the term. Exceptions can be made provided you contact Cara MiaKitty and are able to provide a reasonable excuse.
Saio entered her mythology and took a seat ready for another year and preparation for OWLs. The rules were pretty much ingrained in her head so she didn’t need to really worry about that. She’d never broken them before. As they got started into the year’s topics Saio started writing the notes down. She recalled the Chamber of Secrets in history back in first year. It was definitely a topic her sister would be all over.
As Saio listened to the story things started coming back. It had been a while but she recalled quite a bit of the story. The chamber was built by Salazar Slytherin but no one knew where it was located. It had since then been open two times and it was a miracle only one girl ended up dead. “The monster was a snake if memory serves and not just any snake but a Basilisk. It’s the largest snake according to stories.” Saio spoke. “What I don’t get is how a snake as large as that one could even get around the school without at least getting noticed.”She added. It was a mystery that still had her stumped.
spaceAmata sat, perched as ever on her desk, and watched as her students came in and took their seats. She waited a moment for them to get situated and to take out their things before beginning the lecture."Alright, class, today we're going to be learning about and discussing the founders of Hogwarts, their various contributions to the school, and the myths and rumors and controversies surrounding them. If you'll all copy down the notes on the board, we can begin."She paused to give them time to write down the notes, knowing that it was hard to pay attention to copying words from the board and listening to words being spoken at the same time. When the scratching of quills had come to an almost halt, she smiled, launching into the lecture.
space"Now, obviously you all know the basics about the founders. Godric Gryffindor, known for being a brave warrior, valued feats of strength and integrity above all else. He was an expert duelist and believed in chivalry and in courage. Rowena Ravenclaw, the cleverest witch of her time, considered wit and wisdom to be the most important traits for a person to possess. She was known for her intelligence and cleverness. Salazar Slytherin, an ambitious man known for doing whatever he believed necessary to achieve his end goal, believed in the importance of cunning and determination. Obviously there is a lot of controversy regarding the man and his beliefs, but it can't be denied that he was one of the greatest wizards of his time. And, Helga Hufflepuff, the final founder, was a warm, welcoming woman, and believed in hard work, not being afraid to get your hands dirty, and above all, fairness and loyalty. Unlike the other founders, she didn't cherry-pick the students who would enter her house, but rather took any who were willing to learn."Amata felt like, thus far, she'd paid an inordinate amount of attention to two of the founders over the others, but then, it was probably only fair. Everyone knew and generally admired Gryffindor and Ravenclaw. Hufflepuff and Slytherin tended to get the short end of the stick, for being viewed as the worthless house of leftovers, and the starting point of dark wizards, respectively. Society had progressed beyond these thoughts for the most part, she thought, but that didn't make up for the years of lost knowledge that resulted from no one paying attention to anything but Slytherin's misdeeds, or paying attention to Hufflepuff, period. There was a reason no one knew what her goblet had done, after all; no one cared. Pity.
spaceOnce she thought she'd left a reasonable amount of time for the students to copy down anything relevant from her previous statements, she continued."Now, because I'm sure it's going to be a sticking point, we may was well get Slytherin out of the way first. Obviously, he can be an uncomfortable subject, with his exclusionary views and the horrors that have resulted from them. But, it's important to put things in perspective. At the time Slytherin and the others were alive, the fear of muggles was very real among the magical community. It's been speculated that Slytherin didn't so much think himself 'better' than muggles as much as he thought they could not be trusted. Humankind has a very distinct history of 'othering' groups outside their own, anyone different from them, and being hostile towards these groups. Muggleborns, then, would suffer from divided loyalty, or so the speculation says."She frowned faintly. Once the discussion got started, this was going to get interesting, she just knew it. Hopefully she wouldn't end up screaming to cut off arguments."While his tactics may seem harsh in the modern era, you must recall, this happened in medieval times. Back then, people were as likely to kill you as smile at you, all because you had something they wanted. While not a warrior like Gryffindor, Slytherin still held a duty to protect the school from what he perceived as threats, and at the time, the way to handle threats was to kill them. His chosen method seems insidious, but Slytherin was a man of resourceful cunning. He wasn't going to run up to someone and challenge them to a duel he might lose when the alternative left less room for failure, even if it was less than noble. Nobility, to him, was something that could be sacrificed in the name of success. Now, none of this is to say that I agree with him, or am excusing his actions. I am simply putting them in perspective, so that you can form your own opinions."Her eyes flashed dangerously."That said, when discussing this subject, I'll advise you to be careful not to incite an argument that will result in disciplinary action."
spaceHer lips pursed, and she paused a moment to eye her students for confirmation that they understood, and to give them time to copy down anything they deemed important."Talking about the remaining three founders, of course, is significantly less troublesome. Historically, there isn't much controversy surrounding them. So, the remainder of the lesson will be focused on the speculation regarding the school itself, and how it was designed and how all four founders collaborated on it. As I'm sure you all know, credit for the moving stairs and confusing floor plan can be given to Rowena Ravenclaw, so be sure to thank her next time you're late because a staircase moved."Amata snickered faintly."As best as anyone can guess, this was designed to keep students on their toes, so that they were always thinking critically. Either that, or she and the others had a terrible sense of humor. Your guess is as good as any."
spaceShe waited, wondering if any of the students actually had any ideas as to the why of the stairs. She certainly didn't, but then, she tended to be more annoyed at them than anything else."Helga Hufflepuff was famous for food-related charms, and for being an excellent cook. She came up with a great many excellent recipes, most of which are still used to this day by the House-Elves that ran the kitchens. It's also been speculated that Hogwarts' openness to taking in freed elves to work the kitchens was her idea, as a way to give them a place to work comfortably, and to ensure that there was always enough manpower to feed the students and staff. Meanwhile, much of the school's defenses were the idea of Godric Gryffindor. As a warrior, protecting the school from sieges was very important to him. The school's location was agreed upon by all the founders, of course, but it was Gryffindor who insisted that it being easily defensible was important, hence the proximity to the Black Lake and Forbidden Forest. It's been speculated that some of the more aggressive creatures dwelling in each were introduced by Gryffindor, as a means to further defend the school. Likewise, as best anyone can tell, the various animated suits of armor and the stone guardians were likely Gryffindor's idea."
spaceGlancing at the clock, Amata realized she needed to wrap it up if she wanted there to be any discussion regarding the lesson. There was always more to say, of course, but then, that's what the reading was for, she supposed. So, she gave the students another chance to jot down notes, then announced,"And now, I'm opening the floor to discussion. Questions and comments are welcome, and worth house points."She waited patiently; hopefully, she hadn't bored them to death with her little lecture/rant. She knew she tended to ramble, and exposure to Grayson had only made it worse over the years. Having someone who listened so intently, and who responded just as enthusiastically, tended to make you forget that some people found this sort of thing dull.
- Founder of Gryffindor House, known for bravery, valor, determination, and strength of heart. - Famed warrior, known for his prowess both with a wand against fellow wizards, and a sword when fighting on the battlefield alongside muggles. - Far from being a simple brute, as some would describe him, Gryffindor was a master strategist on the battlefield, and exceptionally clever. - The creation of the sorting hat, in fact, was his idea, though all four founders worked together on the magic to enchant it.
Helga Hufflepuff:
- Founder of Hufflepuff House, known for acceptance, hard work, and loyalty. - Famed cook, known for creating and perfecting many food-related charms and many of the recipes still used by Hogwarts House-Elves for meals. - Not as much is known about Hufflepuff, possibly due to many of her accomplishments having been her influence on her students, rather than feats of bravery in battle or stunning magic. - However, her legacy is one that cannot be questioned, one of acceptance and patience. In allowing students into her house regardless of their background and apparent skills, she paved the way for open-mindedness and kindness among the wizarding world.
Rowena Ravenclaw:
- Founder of Ravenclaw House, known for cleverness, creativity, and wit. - Famed for her sharp mind, Ravenclaw is credited with the creation of many powerful spells and the inventive protective measures for Hogwarts. - Perhaps her most famous and interesting accomplishment was the creation of her Diadem, an object said to grant her wisdom to the wearer. However, the truth of these claims cannot be verified, as the Diadem was destroyed in the Second Wizarding War. - Ravenclaw was known for being strict and intimidating, though one could argue that she must have been loving as well, willing to forgive great injustices done against her, such as the betrayal she suffered at the hands of her daughter.
Salazar Slytherin:
- Founder of Slytherin House, known for ambition, cunning, and resourcefulness. - Famed for his ruthlessness and determination to accomplish his goals and follow his beliefs, even going so far as to build the Chamber of Secrets below Hogwarts Castle before departing, to ensure that his desire to keep out muggleborns would be fulfilled even in his absence. - Fraught with controversy, Slytherin is a figure that is hard to understand. It is hard to say if history's version of him, a villain who believed muggles to be unworthy, is reality, or merely something that has been assumed of him. - However, he remains one of the 'four most brilliant' wizards of his time, and was at some point or another friends with the other three founders. From what we understand, it's hard to believe that they could be taken in by someone as nefarious as Slytherin is thought to've been, implying that there is more to his story than we know.
Homework:Choose the founder for any house but your own. Write a short essay about what we know about them, comparing and contrasting known fact with legend and rumor.
xxxx× × ×xxxxSTUDENTSxxxx× × ×xxxx Any registered student who fails to post at least once this year will have their house docked ten points at the end of the term. Exceptions can be made provided you contact Cara MiaKitty and are able to provide a reasonable excuse.
Replies for Previous Lesson
"Reportedly, it traveled through the plumbing system, Miss Ukida. It traversed the school through the pipes, which is why attacks often happened near bathrooms."
5 points to Saio Ukida of Hufflepuff House for Class Participation
Posted: Mon Aug 21, 2017 9:19 pm
╓xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx xx» wнere «xx xxxMythology Classroom xxxxxxxx» wιтн «xx xxxxxxxxx# Year Students xxxxxxxxxxxxxx» ғeelιng «xx xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxCalm xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx╜
spaceAmata entered the classroom with a gentle smile, eager to start the new term. She assumed her typical stance, sitting on the edge of her desk, back straight, and looked over the classroom a moment before beginning."Hello, everyone, in case you've forgotten over the Summer holiday, I'm Professor Harlowe, and this is fourth year Mythology. If you're in the wrong class, feel free to quietly exit while everyone is watching me and won't notice."She grinned impishly at her students."Now then, you should all remember the rules and such from last year, so I'll only go over the most important ones very quickly: You come in, you copy the notes, then we open the floor for discussion. Contributions will earn you house points. However, it should be noted that a lot of what is covered in this class can be somewhat controversial. That said, I will not tolerate anyone who is rude or belittling to their classmates, no matter what subject you might disagree with them on. Respect is key to an enlightening and stimulating conversation, so keep your minds open."
spaceAmata paused, giving them a moment to let that sink in. Not that she expected problems from any of them, but one could never be too sure, after all. After a decent pause, she gave an introduction."Now then, we'll be starting this year off with something that is both myth, and history, and which you should all be at least marginally familiar with; the story of The Chamber of Secrets. If you'll copy down the notes on the board, we can begin."As her students settled in, she watched them, somewhat eager to start the lesson. Today's subject was of a rather gruesome nature, but it fell handily in under the header of mythology thanks to misinformation and whispered rumors, and she found the whole thing rather fascinating. As such, it was one of her favorite lessons, regardless of how morbid it might be, or how recent its history was."Now, you must recall, there was a time when no one knew of the Chamber; it was a rumor, whispered through the halls of Hogwarts, passing from ear to ear, without any real confirmation. The three remaining founders tried for many years to locate the Chamber, but it was never found. So, it was believed to be a myth. As years passed, it became an obscure legend, its story stretched and edited and altered. A few brave souls attempted to locate the Chamber, spent years trying to find it, but to no avail. Then, one day, the message appeared, written in blood; "The Chamber of Secrets has been opened." The blood was barely dry before the first victim was claimed, and suddenly, students were dropping left and right, being found paralyzed by their housemates, their professors. Eventually, a culprit was caught, and expelled, but not before the death of a young student. Fifty years passed in silence, and the monster rumored to live in the Chamber lay dormant. Then, again on the wall, the same message, written in blood. Again, students began to be found paralyzed. This time, though, there was a savior; Harry Potter and his friend Ronald Weasley located and braved the dangers of the Chamber to end the terror. They slew the monster, and the castle was saved... or so the stories say."She gave her students a gentle smile and waited a moment so that the lecture could sink in, and then asked,"Anyone have any thoughts? Questions?"She waited patiently. This lesson differed from her usual ones in that much of what had previously been legend was now mostly confirmed; it also had a happier ending. But, there was always the chance that something could happen... and besides, what good horror story ended with 'and they all lived happily ever after'?
xxxx× × ×xxxxLesson 1 - The Chamber of Secretsxxxx× × ×xxxx (( Notes Under Spoiler ))
Salazar Slytherin:
x Professor Salazar Slytherin was a pure-blood wizard of medieval times. He was a Parselmouth (a wizard with the rare ability to speak with snakes) and skilled at Legilimency. He was one of the four founders of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry and the former best friend of Godric Gryffindor, a fellow founder. Slytherin didn't trust Muggle-born students, and he expressed his opinion not to accept them at Hogwarts. However, when the other Hogwarts founders didn't agree, Slytherin created the Chamber of Secrets, concealing a basilisk inside. Afterwards he left the school, never to return. He died sometime in the Middle Ages.
The Chamber:
x Hogwarts founder Salazar Slytherin was famous for his belief that magical learning should be kept within the realms of magical families, and that any child born to muggle should remain a muggle, regardless of whether or not they showcased any magical talent. When he failed to convince the other founders of this ideal, he decided to create a safeguard, so that whenever the school became overrun with those he deemed unworthy, his lineage could purge the school of their presence. He created the Chamber of Secrets, which was said to be hidden away, so that only the Heir of Slytherin could ever find it, and house a monster which only the heir could control. As no one was ever able to locate the Chamber, it was dismissed as a myth. However, in the 1940’s, there was a series of attacks, leading to the paralysis of several muggle born students, culminating in the death of student Myrtle, who now haunts the girl’s bathroom on the second floor, known better to students as Moaning Myrtle. Then student Rubeus Hagrid was blamed for the attacks and expelled, but remained at the school as gamekeeper. Later, in the 1990’s while Harry Potter attended Hogwarts, the Chamber was opened again, and Hagrid was briefly taken to Azkaban prison. It was later proven that the culprit, in both instances of the Chamber being opened, was none other than Tom Riddle, known later in life as Lord Voldemort. The first time, Riddle was a student in attendance at Hogwarts, and was in fact the one who turned Hagrid in. The second time, he was acting through use of a Horcrux and student Ginny Weasley.
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