History Of Magic ((All Houses))

[Sapphire Phoenix R7]

Sapphire smiled as Lenora Byers, who she knew vaguely as a Gryffindor fourth year, although she had never spoken to her much at all, joined her. "Good morning to you," she replied, not in an unfriendly way at all, before turning her attention fully back to Professor Binns. She frowned, though, as two people were successively very rude, one a third year, and one she recognised as a Graas. Probably a Slytherin, then. Not that she had anything much against Slytherins, although many of them had attitudes that she would not exactly call pleasant, but he was evidently one of the ones who thought rather too much of himself. But the Professor ignored them, and she smiled as he pointed at her. Now she just had to compile the most important points about what made him so important. She didn't believe the different names he took on to be so important. What mattered most in answering the Professor's question was his legacy.

Having considered her answer, she gave it to the Professor loudly and clearly - she had always believed he was a little deaf. "Merlin is one of the most famous wizards, renowned in both the magical and Muggle worlds. He is most often associated with Arthurian legend. He was an advisor to Arthur, and also a prophet. He helped bring Arthur to power, stating that only the rightful king would be able to draw the sword from the stone. He advised Arthur on many occasions, and is credited with the creation of King Arthur's famous Round table. He is even reputed to have been responsible for the construction of Stonehenge.
"But Merlin is also important because although having made an impact on both magical and Muggle world, he also had a fatal weakness. This weakness was women, or a particular woman, Viviane, or the Lady of the Lake. He recognised this, calling himself 'the greatest fool'. His greatest mistake is perhaps only that he loved the wrong woman. Many people would give everything for the person they love, as he claimed, more than they love themself. He just had slightly more to give than other people, and once he had taught the Lady of the Lake everything he knew, she was able to use his own knowledge to sap his power and bind him in stone. He may have been a genius, but he had his faults, and he was only a man."

She hoped that the brief summary would suffice. It certainly wasn't the whole story, by far. His life was so complicated that she could go on for the entire lesson and still not have said everything about him. So she stopped, not wanting to bore other people entirely, and also only wanting to say things that she believed to be relevant to the question. She took out a piece of parchment on which she could begin scribbling rough notes as soon as the Professor or anyone else started talking.

[jaspar]

From the little Colin had heard, History of Magic was not the most of exciting of classes. He was very eager to take his first class though as he had heard it was given by a ghost! That certainly sounded very exciting! He was sure there was a lot he had to learn in this class and he was earnest to find out more about magical history as he had almost no knowledge of it. He was early for class and sat down behind some third years he did not know but were the people closest to his age. The class began about ten minutes later, after which a lot of students informed him about Merlin. He was a very interesting character from what Colin could hear – and apparently just one mistake had lead to his downfall, the mistake having to do, as it almost always did, with a woman. "How very dramatic," thought young Colin listening to the story quite enthralled. A girl with black hair had been called upon to answer the question as the people who had been talking before had not raised their hands and Colin listened, thinking about her last sentence. "He was only a man," he thought, and it had just taken a clever woman to lead to the downfall of such a great charcater.

[Charles Driscoll H7]

Charles didn’t mind History of Magic as a subject, it was very interesting to read about and the books about the subject always contained the loveliest and most vivid pictures he had seen. Battles and wars and treaties and rebellions, how could they be boring? Professor Binns was the answer to that question. He had proved to Charles that the most interesting of topics could be made to seem dull and uninteresting when explained by a boring person with a monotonous voice such as the Professor. Charles didn’t fall asleep in his classes as a lot of the students did, he just let his attention wander to other more important topics – such as what he was going to do with the rest of his class once the day ended.

Charles entered the class and looked for a familiar face, finding that Jordan was the only person who he did know. He sat down beside her and flashed her his friendly smile, then pulled out his textbook and parchment and other items required for the class. He started taking notes in the margin of his textbook as he listened to the information everybody was volunteering about the famous Merlin, some which he knew, and most of which he did not. He had read about him before, but did not recall much about his history. Charles preferred stories in history which were not just about one person and a little more exciting – with rebellions and wars thrown in to make them all the more interesting.

[Nasser Salah G6]

Nasser smiled at Maria Fleming, the Gryffindor Beater sitting beside him, and drummed his fingers on the top his parchment, the fatigue from his previous classes begging beginning to get to him. Some time later Nasser's closed eyelids opened up in surprise as he started in his seat. This was so silly… he was so silly. It wasn't even Professor Binns who was talking, it was another girl, a Ravenclaw, she was speaking in a loud clear voice and her answer was much more to the point than the few that been drifting in and out of his head as he half-heard and half-slept through the answers some people had not even had the courtesy to raise their hands before blurting out. It appeared that Professor Binns had completely ignored them, and Nasser tried to write down what he remembered from what the girl had just said. He was going to have to pull himself together, if not because he needed to learn something from the class, he could at least try to keep his image of the good student and prefect. Sleeping in class was not prefect-like behaviour at all.

[Chelle]

Kari finally realized all the good that reading muggle books had done for her. She knew the answer to the question, but Professor Binns had asked Sapphire Phoenix to answer. Kari sat up straighter and shrugged off her robes, her uniform being more comfortable then the heavy robes.

Hmmm.... she thought, reading her textbook. Merlin was a great wizard in both the muggle and wizarding world. He is most remembered for advising the mighty King Arthur. Kari paused. What else? She knew a lot about Merlin and King Arthur. She had a small copy of King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table by Howard Pyle stuffed into her back pocket. She thought of pulling it out as a reference, but decided against it, in case she was accused of reading in class. She looked at the black board as words began to appear on it. It was pretty much everything she already knew, along with a few things she didn't.

[anderson]

As the class began, Jasmine took out her piece of parchment and writing materials and set it down on the table. Turning her head towards Maria she smiled and looked up at the professor as he asked a question on Merlin. Of course Jasmine knew the answer but all the kids around her seemed to blurt it out. Each of them seemed to be quite rude and did not understand the knowledge that needed to be learned. Jasmine took her school work very seriously and was always studyied. Vanessa would talk her out of it, sometimes, but it didn’t always work. It really wasn’t her fault. Growing up around books and such an achieved father made her strong. Professor Binns ignored all the students and asked Sapphire to answer the question. Crossing her legs she looked at her friend with her hands on her lap and eyes of curiosity. Sapphire was a friend she met on the winter holiday trip. Jasmine thought of the girl like her. Both very serious on their studies but still tried to find the time for fun. Nodding her head in approval she waited to see what the professor had to say.

[Mia]

Mia looked at Jasmine as she sat down. A smile formed on her face and she nodded her head making sure her friend knew it was alright to sit down. Looking from Jasmine to the Professor as everyone blurted out answers. Looking all around her she smiled and rested her elbow on the table and her check in her palm. Mia had her quill in hand but didn’t seem interested in what was going on. This wasn’t like her but her mind had been else where in the past few days. A smile was formed on her face as she seemed to doodle on her paper. Some pictures were of stars and others were just swirling circles. This was nothing like Maria and normally she would pay attention. Humming a tone in her throught quietly to make sure she wasn’t disturbing Jasmine or Nasser. Writing down some notes from one girl who was speaking she was waiting for Professor Binns to continue on.

[AmeliaBlack]

Amelia rested her head on her chin and her eyes started to droop as the boring voice of Proffesor Binns started to bore into her. She felt her eyes close and her breath become shallow. Her head rolled foward and she snapped back up in surprise. Don't fall asleep Ames! she told herself. She took a deep breath and mistakingly laid her head down on her desk, doodling on a piece of parchment. Her eyes got heavy again and she started to doze off again. But Proffesor Binns' voice got louder as he drifted near to her. She snapped up and rubbed her eyes.

[Vincent Crabbe Jr.]

Vincent woke fairly late that morning. He cursed himself for having overslept. Gregory was still slumbering, though. Vincent smirked and dressed himself, surprised that his heavy lumbering did not wake his 'friend'. Behind schedule, he went down to breakfast and took his time about it. Vincent needed an enormous amount of energy just to keep going. Limited brain power took even more energy, and energy meant food. Lots of it. Vincent tucked in to a large breakfast of scrambled egg on toast and sausages, the usual strawberries and a Danish pastry. He wiped his mouth once he had finished, and went back to the Slytherin dormitories to wash his face and get the things he would need for the school day.

He arrived for the History of Magic lesson just under five minutes late, and took a seat quietly, not disturbing the lesson much, except for the heavy thuds of his steps across the classroom floor. He was vaguely aware that nearly every eye turned upon him, finding the spectacle of the wooden chair holding his weight more fascinating than Professor Binns. Vincent took out his rough notebook and dipped his quill in his ink, ready to scribble incessantly. Vincent found the teacher's voice rather soporonic, and he needed all the occupation he could get to stop himself falling asleep in this lesson, especially as it was so early in the morning. He wanted to get a pass in this subject, so as not to disappoint his father, even though the reason Vincent's father had asked him to take this lesson was never taught.

[liz]

Liz rushed through the hallways towards the History of Magic class. She had slept in after deciding to lay down for a moment after here every morning jogging tour and was now late. And horrible hungry, but she could wait until lunch do get something more to eat besides that chocolate frog she was eating now.
Glancing at her clock Liz saw that she was late, but since it was Binns lesson, then the professor would luckily not notice her absence. And if she was quiet, she might even be able to slip quietly into some back seat.

AS Liz turned around the corner, she saw some big guy enter the History of Magic class. Grinning to herself, Liz decided she wasn’t he last one who was late. Even when the other person being late was some bulky and rather ugly Slytherin guy.
Taking a deep breath in front of the classroom door, Liz pulled the door open and slipped in quietly, looking and down and blushing as she felt people glancing at her, as she quietly sat down in some back bench.
Some girl had just finished answering to what was probably Binns’s question about… Liz glanced at the black-board, grimacing as the letters were a bit transformed, as she saw them through the professor. But it seemed as if today’s topic was Merlin.
On the whole – an interesting topic, so Liz wondered briefly how monotone and boring Binns was able to turn the lesson. liz just glanced around the room from under her eye-lashes as she brought out her book, some paper and a pencil and waited to see someone's reaction, which would show her how far the class was already.

[ChellaBelle]

James munched on a piece of toast on his way to History of Magic class. He had heard from one of his friends that they would be learning about Merlin.

James didn't have to attend this class, but he thought it might be helpful to know when he took his O.W.L.'s at the end of the year. Plus, his girlfriend Kari took this class and he didn't get to spend much time with her as is with her participating in just about every class you could at Hogwarts. James thought back to when Kari had told him everything she had signed up for.

There was History of Magic, Arithmancy, Transfiguration, and she had wanted to take Care of Magical Creatures, Astronomy, Herbology, and Divination. She had also signed up for Potions. No one voluntarily signed up for Potions! She was crazy, trying to be an over-achiever like that. Nobody's perfect, he thought, but I'm not sure Kari knows that.

James finally walked into History of Magic class and took a seat next to Kari. He smiled at her and pulled out his ink, quill, and a small stack of parchment. James noticed the fact that Kari had performed a spell to keep her awake in Binns' class so she wouldn't miss anything. It was actually a good idea.

James watched as Binns' called on several students to answer questions about Merlin, and James copied down all the words as they appeared on the blackboard.

*****************
The Great Merlin

Merlin was a well-known seer and magician in the times of King Arthur. He advised Arthur on many things, and was the creator of Stonehenge and the Round Table.

Eventually, however, he was bewitched to fall in love with Vivian by Morgan Le Fay, Arthur's step-sister. Viviane learned all that Merlin knew, or she did supposedly, and used her newly gained powers to trap him deep underground beneath a rock, where he was left to perish.

If Merlin knew any magic that he did not teach Vivian, then the wizarding world suffered a great loss, as Merlin knew many great things.

*****************

James looked up. If an essay was assigned, he already had an idea of what he would write. He dipped his quill in ink and began to doodle on his notes.

[Professor Binns]

The room continued to shuffle around them as the girl answered his question; but most people seemed to at least try and take it in. He nodded as she made each correct point; Merlin advised Arthur, created the Round Table along with Stonehenge, and yet he had his fatal weaknesses like any other. She had hit the key points and Professor Binns hoped the others had been listening; Sapphire explained it well enough he did not have too. “Perfect Miss… you got it exactly right as to why he is so important to muggles and why he is seen as a “good wizard” to them. Now does anybody have an idea as to why this makes him important in our world?” He questioned.

[kris]

Kris moved over as Dana entered the class and slipped into a seat next to him. ”Well, honey, if you hang around us, Slytherins, long enough, then maybe you still have some hope for you,” Kris whispered back with a sly wink before turning out as some girl answered Binns’s question and half fell asleep.
Suddenly Binns asked why Merlin was so important for the wizards. Kris almost smirked at the comment that appeared in his mind. It was a bit raw, but something even Binns couldn’t ignore. Kris was in mood for some trouble today. Besides the comment was as Slytherin as it came, so Kris opened his eyes and locked them with Binns’s ghostly ones.

Kris didn’t bother to raise his head from the pillow, that was placed on the back of the seat, but Kris raised his arm: “I think I might have an idea about that one, professor.”<br>Kris smirked, being surprisingly polite to the professor – to anyone who knew him well enough, his tone of voice would clearly tell that trouble was heading that way. If Binns asked him, Kris would ask his question politely. Hell, he might even answer Binns’s question. If not – Kris smirked, knowing fully well that if he added just only a little more venom to the comment, then non-Slytherins would gladly lynch him for it and Binns would have to react and react quickly if he didn’t want an uproar in his class. Kris wondered briefly whether the old ghost was still able to think or did he just always drowned on the subject by heart, never changing a word.

[Mary Evans]

Mary raised her eyebrow at Kris when he raised his hand; she knew him well enough to tell he was up to no good. Hesitatingly she raised her hand as well for a couple of reason; first was if Kris said something too bad she could do damage control and save Slytherin from loosing points, plus she had an answer though she was uncertain as to whether or not it was what Binns was looking for. Mary simply rolled her eyes and smirked at Kris with her hand in the air before turning back to Professor Binns waiting to see what Kris would say.

[Professor Binns]

As the question was asked Professor Binns watched as only two hands were raised. They both belonged to Slytherin’s sitting together in the side row and the boy’s hand had gone up first. “Yes you with the black hair ((Kris)). How does the muggle’s positive opinion of Merlin make him important in our world?” He repeated the question with a glance at the clock, which told him class was almost over.

[kris]

“Kris Graas,” Kris informed the professor rather coldly. It annoyed the hell out of him, that the professor never bothered to recall names.
But as Kris was more interested in the question he dismissed the matter.
“Merlin was one of the wizards, who put a solid ground to the wizarding world as we know it now. Before him there were druids or sibyls who used a bit different type of power than Merlin and the magic we learn nowadays. Merlin also created rather many spells. Divided Transfiguration and Charms into two different categories if I recall correctly,” Kris answered the first part more or less satisfyingly, before he let his eyes take in the class once more, before he smirked, “Merlin is the strongest wizard known and a some pure-blooded wizarding families can trace their family-trees almost back as far as him. As the saying goes in Italy – ‘old blood sings’. Meaning that sometimes part of the raw power Merlin had may show in some children of those pure-bloods who descend from him, making them stronger than regular witches and wizards. Or descendants of any other extremely powerful wizard of that era may have that kind of strength as well.”<br>
Some people even said that Kris had ‘old blood singing’ in him because of how easily Kris made contact with different animals. Maybe it was a talent or just pure luck, but that didn’t really matter.
Kris’s voice was almost sweet and curious as he continued: “Isn’t that why SOME pure-bloods are better than half-bloods and muggle-borns? Thanks to the extent of raw magical power in them.” The question was rather outrageous, but Kris thought that if Binns hadn’t seen where he was heading with his answer and didn’t stop him in time, he would just have to deal with the consequences. Kris didn’t believe that muggle-borns and half-bloods were useless and he even had a couple of almost friends in them, but Kris himself was proud to be a pure-blood and never forgot that part either. But not all pure-blooded wizarding families came up to his standard either – sometimes half-bloods and muggle-borns were even stronger thanks to the pure-blooded families having blood mixed between a bit too close relatives. So Kris looked at a person’s strength before deciding of his or he’s worthiness. But he wasn’t a Slytherin for nothing so the question – and all the people he might upset with it – didn’t really bother him. Kris was rather curious how Binns would react to it.

[Professor Binns]

Professor Binns waited patiently as the boy introduced himself and correctly explained that Merlin changed the methods of magic; it wasn’t what he had asked for but it was a true statement. Binns was about to congratulate him and move on to the next person but the boy continued to speak about how Merlin is important because his blood lives on and strengthens the witches and wizards who have it running through their veins. “I am sorry but you are very much confused dear boy; I asked why the muggle’s good opinion of him was important; we already addressed why he was important himself. And as for you beliefs that his blood is making modern witches and wizards better; well that theory is unsubstantiated to say the least so we will not be addressing it.”<br>
That said Professor Binns turned to the girl sitting next to that boy who also had her hand up. “Now you with the red hair ((Mary)) why is the muggle’s positive opinion of Merlin important to the magical community?” He asked with another glance up at the clock.

[Mary Evans]

Mary struggled to quell her giggles at Kris’ impudent statement but it was to little avail; it was just too cute. She knew Kris didn’t believe what he was saying and frankly she would have laughed just the same if he had, it was hilarious how he was saying it. She had all but got herself under control when Professor Binns responded in what she considered a diplomatic way; this made her giggle more. She was forced to be calm though when Professor Binns called upon her to answer his question; why was it important the muggle’s had a good opinion of Merlin?

“It’s strawberry blond Sir, not red.” She said to him in a very formal voice; she couldn’t care less if the professor knew her name but she refused to let anyone get her hair colour wrong. “And I believe it was important that muggle’s place Merlin in high regard because it shows that they can accept magic in their lives. It is a sign that our worlds may not be so far apart; if they accept and even revere Merlin as such a large part of their history maybe they can come to accept us in time.” Mary gave her answer; not believing a word of it. She did not believe much of what he mother had taught her anymore; but she knew the world were divided forever, everyone did.

[Professor Binns]

Professor Binns watched the clock tick as the girl answered his question. She told the class that the muggle’s opinion of Merlin was important to the magical world because it showed that the two worlds may not be forever divided. The answer was what he had been looking for and Professor Binns smiled at the class. “Good job to all and times up. No homework this class and if you have any questions let me know so you will be prepared for your exam.” He said to them before rising out of his chair and drifting back out through the blackboard.

[Caiest Hamilton S5]

Caiest packed up her things and sighed this class had to be the most boring class in the history of any class she had ever attended. Walking out she shook her head thinking that she'd never again attend this class.