History of Magic
First Years & Second Years
Thursday, September 22^nd @ 11:00am

Attendance
☑ Harri Dursley
☑ Aiode Shacklebolt
☑ Wesley Wold
☑ Akira Hericho
☑ Feliks Spectre
☑ Sulwen Reid
☑ Nicola Bagnold

"Five minutes!"

The Headmaster of Hogwarts and Professor of History's booming baritone was just loud enough to carry over the productive din of the first and second years, who were hard at the work of History.

"The curtain will open in five minutes and the show must go on!"

Professor Greyfriar himself, swept grandly down the stepped aisle of the tiered classroom down towards the dais. A heavy red velvet curtain had been suspended a few feet from the chalkboards to create an impromptu proscenium.

"Directors, gather your actors! Dramaturges, I expect dramatic turging!"

Professor Greyfriar had arranged a slight shuffling in the schedule for the second year students for these two weeks. The first years were just getting their feet wet with History and Greyfriar was hoping to impress upon them the idea of different perspectives when tales are told. And after a week or so with the second years, it had become clear to him they'd benefit from a practical application of bias as well.

The last class, he'd had them in groups choosing a tale from British Magical history and charged them to put together a short bit of theatre with at least two characters, something period appropriate as prop, costume or setting. Some students were directors, others actors, others craftors and dramaturges. (Not every witch or wizard ached to perform in front of peers.)

And so the last minute chaos filled the room. The sound of learning. And arguing. And why was there a smell?

---

For more background, see the History of Magic Curriculum.

Aoide poured over the hastily written script on the table, depicting the events of 1707 in wizarding Britain. It was one story she’d been told by her parents who both worked at the Ministry. She’d asked ‘but why do we have a Ministry? Is it really, really old?’ to her mother, and had the full tale.

“So Ulrick Gamp should be wearing a W like me at the start, because he’s chief of the Wizengamot, you know the court,” she instructed one of her team, who was playing the first Minister for Magic, pressing a hand to the parchment w spellotaped to her school uniform, “but when he becomes Minister, he needs to have taken it off.” Aoide pointed to someone else, “and you’re one of the newly formed Department of Magical Law Enforcement, and you’ve got to arrest them for using the unforgiveable curses, cos they’re not allowed now.” She scrabbled through the paper, “ooh, and where’s the picture frame? We need that for the end when he's a portrait for the Prime Minister.”

“Professor Greyfriar?” Aoide asked, putting her hand up, “does everyone have to say a line? Some people don’t want to?”[1]

1.	Totally can be your characters in her group or NPCs

Knox Greyfriar looked over to fields a question from the young Shacklebolt.

"Ah, good reminder for all Aoide."  He again raised his voice over the room. "Not everyone need be on stage! If your contributions are to costumery, script writing, directing, or dramaturgy you're playing an important part!"

He hadn't told him yet, but the follow up assignment would be six inches on how they helped the group and what they'd learned from it.

"Three minutes!"

Feliks did not know much about British magical history. There had not been many books on the subject where he grew up - only the odd ones about Triwizard Tournaments, Quidditch, and world geography. His knowledge was not a comprehensive mix. But he had read his papa's loved copy of Hogwarts: A History before being sent to school so that was the one thing that Feliks knew he could do very well. It was also an important part of their history.

So he decided that his group was going to perform the founding of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.[1]

Feliks was handing over a copy of their lines to Rowena Ravenclaw when he heard Aoide asking Professor Greyfriar a question from the next table over.

            "Not everyone need be on stage! If your contributions are.... you're playing an important part!"

Because he suggested the idea and had written the lines, Feliks wasn't going to be a founder. He was going to pretend to be the basilisk that Salazar Slytherin left behind. That didn't require him to speak at all - it just needed him to give himself snake eyes and scaly skin. It was fun!

"Are we ready?" Feliks turned back to his group at the three minute warning, grinning.

1.	Feel free to join Feliks' group to play the founder of your house, and to NPC missing roles.

History of Magic, for the most part, was boring. Harri had a hard time paying attention in class the previous year and only really got involved anytime the conversation or subject matter veered toward the Second Wizarding War. Learning about her namesake had been much more interesting to her. It was something she knew was important but information that her father couldn't really tell her about.

This year however Harri was trying a little harder. Mostly because she wanted to learn more about their werewolf teacher but also because he made learning more interesting. Their current project was a perfect example of that. They were acting out history instead of reading about it. Harri had joined Feliks' group and leaped at the chance to play Godrick Gryffindor. (Sure, he was the founder of her own house but it was mostly because she got to wear a beard and hold a Sword)

As Feliks asked if they were ready, Harri was busy swinging her sword, "Good to go, snake boy."

Akira gave a warm grin at having done her work for History of Magic all set out for her, she was incredibly nervous yes. But she hoped that she made the right choice. She had barely been able to think about the History of Magic presentation and had to do something last minute, of course she went by herself for the group. Despite having a couple of friends now in Hogwarts she still wasn't that sociable, she only really tried hanging out with Tim as the other people she knew were in other houses and seeing them outside of lesson was difficult. With a stifled yawn she ate a marshmallow and then started to move towards the Professor and headmaster.

"Sir, can I please go last? I have mine all sorted. However I think it would be best if I did go last..." She said in a timid tone. Not unusual for her in lessons however it also sounded rather sleepy. "I have some special stuff planned for my presentation and I don't want to make others unable to go if mine messes up." She gave a warm smile and puppy dog eyes, hoping she got what she wanted. Her eyes also had signs of bags under them, like she didn't sleep much or at all,  she kept a higher year History of Magic book hugged to her body tightly like she was eager to read it again, although given that the Headmaster is that, it could be she is eager to read it or she is trying to trick him into thinking that to excuse her poor sleeping habits.

"Merlin, save us," said Greyfriar gazing into the distance as he put a hand on Akira Hericho's narrow shoulder.

"Let's live dangerously," he said in the affirmative to her request to go last. He was a wizard who had been well-suited by destiny to be an educator. He had taken a tumbling, winding road to be here - having been a Healer as a very young man, self-exiling from the profession, submerged himself as a history scholar, and only after five decades did he venture into a classroom as a teacher. First second year students were bundles of chaos and jumping beans. To stifle that flame, even at risk of life and limb, seemed a pity. In the coming years that fire began to wane, so best use it while it was hot.

Wesley smiled back at Feliks, then Harri, who made an excellent Godric Gryffindor. He looked forward to witnessing Feliks turning into a basilisk, a very creepy snake. How brill was it that one of his peers could sprout scales on a whim?

"I remember most of the lines," he nodded, glancing at the ink on the palm of his hand. "If not, I'll improvise!"

He spun the golden cup in his hands by the handles, dropped it, then picked it up.

Was he really doing this? The only other Hufflepuff in the group hated performing, and Aoide had formed a different group (smart Aoide), and though Wesley sent her several long-suffering glances throughout the class, for some reason she hadn't skipped on over to volunteer as Helga for them. Even the amiable Headmaster had missed his conundrum, stating several times that it was alright if someone didn't want to perform.

Wes really wanted to perform!

So, what he lacked in costume, he'd make up for in spirit. He'd be the best damn Helga that Hogwarts had ever seen.

Sulwen stood on the outskirts of Aoide's group with her arms crossed, shooting annoyed glances back at the professor whenever he gleefully called out the time. Five minutes! Three minutes until their doom!

Thank Salazar that Aoide had taken charge of this mess. She was organized, she was nice, and though perhaps she listened a little too well to every suggestion, even the ridiculous ones, it meant that Sulwen didn't have to. She didn't have to perform[1]. She was simply going to stand back and let her stomach flip-flop as the group fumbled the lines that she'd helped create.

"Here's the frame," she reached behind her and held it to her face, arching a brow and looking rather serious and unintentionally political.

She'd painted it gold with a charm. She'd also copied the W's for their group, and tried to make one of the desks look like a podium before realizing the spell was beyond her.

Sulwen ignored the smoky smell of her failed attempts, hoping no one realized the stink had come from her wand.

1.	I'm very willing to make Sulwen have to participate! Perhaps one of the NPC's chickens out and she has to step up

Above the little heads of two dozen magical adolescents and their excited buzzing, waded Professor Greyfriar like a great ship.  He looked over shoulders, made comments, undid a particularly tangled knot, and - honestly, what smelled?

The olfactory enigma would have to wait. "Curtain's calling!"

He waved his wand, and the curtains came sliding closed.

"First group, get yourselves back stage and get set! Everyone else, have a set. Be attentive! This is culture!"

He waved his hands as to emphasize his point. Most of the chatter subsided.

"Okay! Begin!"

---

Anyone can have volunteered or have been voluntold to go first!

            "Okay! Begin!"

Feliks' group was first to perform. He had volunteered because he was nervous and wanted to get it over with, but also because he thought that the founding of Hogwarts was a good place to start the lesson. He directed his group mates[1] to stand on the small stage before taking the centre with a bit of parchment in his hand.

"Wizards, witches, wixes!" Feliks announced, his odd accent glaringly obvious at this volume. "It is the year 990 AD.... approximately. I present The Hogwarts Four! The most brilliant of their era." He waved his hand to the four students behind him and another person from his group lit their wand to cast better light on their faces.

Quickly, and with the same grinning dramatics, he introduced the founders by name one-by-one. Godric with her Sorting Hat and sword. Helga with his golden cup. Rowena wore a diadem and Salazar wore a locket with a snake on it.

Feliks stepped out of the stage light so that the four founders could bicker,[2] and he snuck over to Salazar's side, ready to pretend to be the basilisk.

1.	Harri (Godric) Wesley (Helga) NPC (Rowena) Anyone/NPC (Salazar)
2.	Say whatever you'd like

While other students had volunteered to represent their own house within their small group Cole had volunteered to take up the role of Rowena Ravenclaw, a personal idol of hers. As the curtain call was made she stepped on stage alongside Wesley, the older Harri, Felix and the Salazar of their group.

She stepped forward, the diadem sparkling on top her short curly hair, "My friends, we shouldn't bicker amongst us. We all believe that magical children should be taught but we all have our own view about how to do it. Perhaps we can figure a way for all of us to do as we wish."

Wesley grinned nervously, clutching the golden cup in one hand. Alright, he could do this. He'd put on silly shows with his younger siblings in front of guests at the inn. His cousin Wendy had directed, but this was basically the same!

He glanced at Nicola beside him, happy to chime in after her.

"Precisely, Rowena!" Wesley said in an obnoxious welsh accent, butchering it terribly.

"There should be a fair way to teach all magical children." He lifted a finger in the air.
 
"We value different things. Rowena, you care about intelligence. Godric, you have fighting spirit."

He shot an impish look at Salazar.

"Some of us value snobbery.[1] Me, I just like a good meal! Ha ha ha!" Wes clutched his belly and let out a silly laugh.

1.	No, the snobbery line was not in the script.

The class giggled and snorted at Nicola and Wesley's depictions of the founders, who were depicted in books as far more stately, stuffy, and mythical. Knox himself knew he should not go in for Wesley, eh, analysis of the origins of Slytherin, but well, the Slytherins had thick skins didn't they?

He let the scene continue to play out. They had worked diligently and it was paying off. He did take a moment to account for the next group to perform; he didn't want to have go to tracking down any loose lambs.

Feliks covered his mouth, stifling a laugh as Wesley went off-script and started describing Salazar in a way that some of his housemates would not appreciate. He didn't mind! It was funny. History shouldn't be too serious. He focused on growing a layer of dark, scaly skin and changing his eyes to look as snake-like as possible while Bean Bum Bobbie struggled to portray a furious Slytherin.

            "Some of us value snobbery. Me, I just like a good meal! Ha ha ha!"
"Only those pure of blood should be allowed to learn!" Bobbie weakly claimed, causing the audience to giggle. "And if you disagree, I will simply leave!"

The last bit was directed at Harri, because Salazar and Godric were best friends. It was the rift between them that caused Salazar to leave. Feliks took this as his cue, and he jumped onstage with a loud HISSSSSS.

"And he will leave me behind!" he announced to the three founders and audience, "and I'll petrify the unworthy mudbloods!" Feliks flicked out his forked tongue, not realising he had just used a horrible slur for muggleborns.