seven.

[thraxios]

Welcome back to Hogwarts. I hope your summer holidays were productive, perhaps even enjoyable.

For those first-years who are unaware, I am Professor Thraxios, and I will be teaching your History of Magic classes. Your older siblings may have told you about Professor Binns' classes, which were primarily lecture-based and focused on the memorization of dates. This is not the case for my classes. You are expected to be both literate and thoughtful, and ideally rather talkative. Short lectures will be given through use of a chalkboard, but class discussion will make up much of the class. Participation is expected; it is hoped that through the exchange of ideas, your understanding of how history affects the present is improved.

All students enrolled in my courses should have the first two chapters of their textbook read in preparation for the first class. Please also prepare six-inch essay responses to specific discussion questions for your year, listed below:

First years: Describe one event in magical history that has previously interested you. For Muggle-born students, please select one of the events mentioned in the first two chapters of the textbook or an example from Muggle history that involves mention of magic. Please send me an owl if you have difficulty completing this assignment; I am always willing to assist Muggle-born students with the adjustment to wizarding history.

Second years: At the end of your first year, you were asked to visit or read about a specific location from the history we studied last year. Please report on what you learned about the location you chose.

Third years: History is as much a narrative as a collection of facts. Choose a controversial event in magical history and explain some of the opposing opinions about it.

Fourth years: The private sale of magical artifacts is an ongoing controversy among historians within the wizarding world. Write an opinion-based essay with supporting evidence.

Fifth years: Examine a short primary-source document relating to Muggle interaction, such as a diary entry, letter, short treatise, or bill of sale. (A list of appropriate choices and where they can be found was enclosed with your school book list.) Explain how Muggle-wizard relations of the time period affected the document.

Sixth years: Consider a recent event or issue within the wizarding world. Explain your chosen subject and provide an opinion regarding one or more aspects of it. Note that the Quidditch World Cup is not an acceptable subject.

Seventh years: Write a short explanation of the event or events you are interested in studying as part of your dissertation and their appeal for you.

O.W.L. students are reminded that their History of Magic coursework will incorporate an international view of magical philosophy in addition to an examination of the historical record. During the first few weeks of class, beginning research into a culture's approach to magic usage is recommended. For those without a specific cultural interest, I recommend investigating the basics of Greek, Roman, Chinese, or Egyptian magical philosophy. Note that British approaches to magic are not an appropriate selection. We will be using the lessons we take from other magical philosophies to better understand the philosophy that drives your lessons here at Hogwarts.

N.E.W.T. students should already be aware that the bulk of their work this year will be in service of a short dissertation on a specific period in magical history or historical event. Please come to class with some ideas in mind. In the coming weeks, we will meet privately to decide upon your official topic and plan your research for the coming months.

As always, I look forward to seeing you in class, and I wish the Ravenclaw quidditch team luck in their first match of the year.

Comments

[deductiongeek]

[History... of magic? Conan really hoped that there was some other explanation for this than the obvious.]

What, exactly, does history have to do with magic?

[thraxios]

Wizards have recorded events for thousands of years. Magic exists in relation to history just as food or clothing might.

Are you one of my first-years?

Slytherin | N.E.W.T.

[putuporshutup]

Professor, are there any topics you would suggest that relate closely to the history and use of Ancient Runes? I'm just fascinated with the subject and I'd love to tie it in with my dissertation if possible.

[thraxios]

You will find a fair number of interesting occurrences relating to ancient runes and the various Viking outposts in Europe, Miss Masters. Perhaps you might start with the subject of Viking wizards' exploits in a particular country? England, Germany, and France would all be excellent starting points.

Otherwise, ancient runes' place within medieval alchemy as practiced by both Muggles and wizards could provide you with some ideas to investigate. Pernilla Tilbury's On Runes and Alchymy is an excellent source, if rather dry.

Professor Castiel might also have some ideas for you.

[findatree]

Uh, wait a second. What? But I wasn't here last year!

[thraxios]

Weren't you? Hogwarts doesn't often accept students in the middle of their studies; what school did you attend previously?

[the_effect_she_has]

[Let's play this by ear, shall we?]

So ... Professor. You know me best. Where do you think I should focus my dissertation? [That she will fail, as she has no idea what the hell magical history is she needs to find Hermione.]

[thraxios]

I think there are several subjects you would be well-suited to research, Miss Everdeen. Your essay last year on the historical basis of the Muggle legends of the Wild Hunt was very strong; you could easily expand your subject to the ways magic history has influenced other aspects of Muggle lore. I could also see you enjoying writing about the resistance groups that were formed while Grindelwald held power.

Did you think about your options over the summer at all?

[bro_codebreaker]

[one particular Slytherin slouches into class like the coolkid he is, not giving a care, flops down in a seat at the back, and raises a hand]

Professor Thraxios?

I think the fourth-years need a field trip to a purveyor of magical artifacts. For research purposes.

[thraxios]

[The response appears on the chalkboard, as promised, in a smooth, large script. Gideon's rigged it so that what he writes on parchment appears for the class to see.]

Did you have a 'purveyor' in mind, Mister Stinson?

[heirofficium]

[ bloody hell.

how are we supposed to get any pranks together now

excuse Sirius, he's just sitting in class and trying not to look like he just lost a limb ]

What happened to Binns?

[thraxios]

[Gideon writes out the answer, as promised. Silent and expecting so much more of his students, that's Professor Thraxios.]

As I understand it, he found his way to the other side, Mister Black.

Ravenclaw, Sixth Year

[cyan_maid]

Goodness, Professor! Did someone ever try to pass off the World Cup for a subject?

[thraxios]

In his defense, it was a recent event and had been the subject of controversy among fans of the sport. But it wasn't quite the response I had in mind when I gave the assignment.

[not_mafia]

Six... inches? [oh my god that better have been a slip of the tongue]

[thraxios]

Do you have a problem with the essay length?

[molotov]

Would you consider the Ministry Reformation of 1811 to be an appropriate NEWT topic, Professor Thraxios? Grogan Stump was so interesting, with such revolutionary opinions for the time.

[But most importantly, it's a well-hashed topic, and thus research won't be such a strain, which leaves more study time for more important NEWTS.]

[thraxios]

I think it could be. How do you plan to approach the subject?

[mal_addict]

[Alternatively, Maladict can sit and make origami horses out of her parchment. With a flick of her wand, they gallop happily around her desk.

This is totally taking notes, see how attentive she is and how much she cares about current events]

[thraxios]

[Oh, Gideon does not approve. In the middle of his lecture for that class period, he pauses in his writing, stands, and walks over to Maladict's desk. Setting one hand atop the desk's surface, he looks at her and waits.]

(Gryffindor, first year)

[therealrisette]

[Wait, there's a magical history class? Rise's starting to regret sort of agreeing to play along with this school thing. Not that anyone asked her to in the first place.]

Um... that's the History of Magic book, right? We just have to find an event in the first two chapters we're interested in?

[And write an essay, apparently. But other than that, the first-year assignment sounds pretty easy by comparison... maybe she should thank the castle for making her younger this time?]

[thraxios]

Correct. If you would find it easier to write about something you learned about magic and Muggle history, you may also complete the assignment that way. Muggle-born students have previously written about witch burnings, Merlin, and the Witch of Endor.

May I also ask your name?

Hufflepuff, third year

[tinyslider]

[History is not Wade's best subject, and she could probably use all the help she can get]

I was thinking about doing something about the merpeople's decision to refuse Being status. Would that work?

[thraxios]

I think that would be an excellent subject, Miss Welles. There are a number of excellent texts on the subject that you can consult.

How were your summer holidays this year?

[little_shit]

[Can't you just HEAR the eye roll?]

For the record I still don't believe the Quiddich World Cup is an unacceptable subject. There are loads of scandals and other important world issues related to it. Not to mention the fact that it's one of the most important events of the year. One single argument on the pitch nearly caused an international incident a few years back.

[thraxios]

An admirable defense of the subject, Mister Bond. If you look a bit further up, you'll find that Miss Crocker came to a similar conclusion. With that in mind, however, essays on important quidditch matches have historically focused on minutiae primarily related to sports rather than to general history. As such, I have chosen to disallow it as a subject for this particular assignment.

I should, however, be very interested in reading a dissertation on the subject next year, should you choose to try for a N.E.W.T. in the class.

[heloise]

On the subject of whether the Supreme Mugwump requires a council of mugwumps to ensure that he is himself a mugwump.

[thraxios]

An excellent choice, Miss Borgia.

[anytime]

ive got to write an essay
what the shit

[thraxios]

You've also got to watch your language, unless you'd like to lose points.