The N.E.W.T. class is currently divided into two groups.  Please refer to the info page here for a complete list of posting groups.

Sipping his coffee, Isaac watched the students file into the class room. It was nearly the weekend, and he was sure the students were looking forward to it.  He was still trying to adjust to not being on the Hogwarts grounds on a normal weekend.  Although he was starting to enjoy being at the cottage more.  Since buying the home he hadn’t truly spent much more then a summer there for various reasons...usually work related.

“Please find your seats so we can get started with this morning’s class,” he said to the last few stragglers.

He gathered his notes as they all settled in.  Taking a quick moment to scan the room, noting attendance.  He wasn’t a particularly strict teacher, and he didn’t often hand out detentions, but grades tended to reflect tardiness and poor attendance.

“Today I thought we might spend a little time talking about traditions, specifically those related to Halloween since we’re now beginning the month of October,” he began.  “Traditions tend to be very personal.  Muggle and Wizarding families alike may practice the cultural traditions of their region, but there may also be some that are completely unique to that family.”

He hoped it would be an interesting topic, and one that would perhaps help start Friday off on a bit of a lighter note.  The students in his class were from various backgrounds, hopefully the topic of traditions would be something they could all relate to.  He had thought that perhaps if he could demonstrate that perhaps there were differences even among the students in the class, then it might be more interesting then simply droning on about traditions that were purely Muggle.

“So, I’d like to start by hearing from some of you,” he continued.  “As young children what was Halloween like in your families’ homes?”

(I will be posting again around May 7th)

It was a wonder that there were enough students to constitute a Muggle Studies class, considering its placement on the NEWT schedule. Raine was up every morning for her jogs or swims but even she hadn't quite left breakfast in the Great Hall with any level of enthusiasm this early in the day.

The prefect stifled a yawn as she strolled into the classroom, nodding tersely at their professor before sinking into her usual seat second row from the front, next to the aisle. As soon as she dropped her satchel to the floor, Maurice peeked and climbed out of the bag-- the cat curled into a fuzzy black ball of fur underneath the chair while Raine retrieved her parchment.

She sat back, tapping the tip of her quill against the desk and wishing it was her wand; her main quibble with reading subjects. No spell casting, nothing practical. Professor Frasier was going easy on them this morning however and it was easy to forget about trivialities in the face of Halloween.

Raine adored Halloween.

"We went trick-or-treating with the muggle children," she raised her hand slightly to volunteer a response: "At least before we were old enough to attend functions in the city. There isn't much of a magical community in Woodstock." Most of her classmates were already familiar with the fact that her mother was a muggle-born, having studied together for years now.

"And after trick-or-treat, proper horror stories until midnight," Raine added: "Wizarding ones." Nothing set the mood like a good horror story.

Peyton entered the Muggle Studies classroom with a large smile on his face. Now that he had conquered the hurtle of being of Age and was doing good so far as Quidditch Captain (The first match would tell just how much his hard work would pay off) he felt more confident walking through the halls. He was glad to be taking this particular elective into the NEWT level and was even more pleased to see that the rumours weren't true about Professor Frasier leaving Hogwarts all together. Not to mention the fact that now he was comfortable with himself the horrible stomach aches he used to get around the older man were gone, now he could simple agree Frasier was a very attractive older man and get on with class.

Peyton took his place on the right side of Raine and took out his own supplies for the class. While he thoroughly enjoyed Halloween he had completely forgot the holiday would be taking place at the end of the month. He had been completely consumed by the fact that the first Quidditch match of the season - Gryffindor vs Ravenclaw - was only seven days away. At least after they won, he could put focus back on enjoying the festivities.

"My Mom's a muggle from Australia, growing up me and my sister Helena would be whisked back to my mom's hometown to go trick or treating with our cousins there, since none of the family knew we were wizards we could just enjoy it."

Sasha was as relieved as the rest of them to see Professor Frasier return for the year.  While Professor Trishna was right about Muggle Studies being the least applicable of his classes, it had always been one of his favorites.  The classes tended to be small and only those that really wanted to be there were there.  Even back in the days when Sasha still kept his muggle life and wizarding life completely separated, this class had always been a safe zone. 

Aptly enough, given the month, the day's topic was Halloween.  Sitting in his usual spot in the front row by the window, Sasha pivoted to look at his classmates as they offered answers.  Despite both of them being raised in heavily wizarding households, by the sounds of it, they'd both experienced pretty typical Halloween celebrations. 

"My family doesn't- didn't celebrate Halloween, really.  It's getting more popular in Germany now but it used to be seen more as an American holiday.  Especially since they were Catholic, they didn't really grow up celebrating it.  Fasching - our Carnival is more of our Halloween.  We wear costumes and such for Fasching, more so than Halloween." 

Halloween was rarely celebrated at home but that didn't mean he never got to do the whole Halloween thing.  Luckily, he hadn't been home for the holiday since he was five.  "I was usually away at school during Halloween," Sasha offered.  "And, at Queen Etheburga's, we usually had little costume parties or the teachers and hall staff would bring us candy.  Nothing big, though - especially if we had classes the next day." 

Cassie had settled in her seat, the same seat she sat in since the first day of class. She disliked it when others took the seat she had designated as hers for the year. Cassie was particularly set in the fact she felt most comfortable knowing that when she wandered into class she knew where she was sitting. Cassie had arrived on time to class so she had enough time to settle in and pull out of the five sheets of parchment and set up her desk in the order of quills she wanted and the ink pot in the right spot. She placed her backpack on the floor in the spot she always did, so if she moved her foot slightly she would kick it. Everything was perfect, which allowed her to relax some and move her feet into a more natural position as she crossed her ankles and bent her knees to tuck them under the chair. She then focused on listening to the Professor as he had started to talk.

Halloween, fabulous Halloween. It was easy to say the traditions her family had because really it was the same as any other holiday or event to celebrate. As she listened to the other input of the students she decided it was her turn to perk up and add to the conversation. "The Flickwicks got together for Halloween with decorations, good food, great music, and I am sure drink for those of age." Cassie just remembered running around with Sophie and Peony having fun, and munching on desserts and sweets until she was so stuffed she felt like she could roll down the road to get home. "It was a family event and not really sure if it was very Halloween oriented, though we had some themed food at least well my mother tended to make it."

Sometimes Cassie felt weird talking about the family and the things they did, as if she should run it passed her cousins as to whether it was acceptable for her to disclose the information. No it was not embarrassing or anything bad, but really Cassie didn't want to embarrass her cousins and perhaps they could be by something she said no thinking how it might have affected them.