Defence classes

[alt_savitha]

My dear students.

Having had a week to evaluate your preparation and abilities, I've decided that my NEWT classes this week will run under what we used to refer to as 'Salazar's rules.' This means that you have the right to -- and in fact are expected to -- cast offensive spells at me during class from the moment class begins until the moment class is dismissed.

However, once you have made this attempt, you become fair game. A legitimate target for both me and every other student in the class. You are, naturally, allowed to block, counteract, and otherwise defend yourself. Spells that cause permanent damage may not be used -- I'll post a list of curses I don't want to see outside my classroom door, be sure to take a look before you come in to class.

House points will be granted for style; taken for stupidity. Naturally, should you succeed in landing a curse on me, House points will be generous -- also, you're then exempt from becoming fair game.

We may play this little game in some future class sessions throughout the year -- probably not every time, it's far too distracting.

Some of my OWL classes MAY be allowed to have a Salazar's Rules session later in the year; we will just have to see how it goes. This is a privilege earned through skill and dedication. Persuade me that you might actually have a chance at not making a fool of yourselves!

Comments

Private message to Antosha

[alt_savitha]

It's so very odd, being back here. Has it really been only eight years? So many memories! Seeing that glint in the eyes of children destined to serve Our Lord -- inviting them to battle at our side.

Though possibly the sweetest memory is the one of that wretched little goblin's innards spread across the walls outside the Great Hall.

Would you care to meet for tea some evening?

Re: Private message to Antosha

[alt_antonin]

I am so grateful you were willing to come back and teach for a few years, my dear. I know you have many other things to be doing. Yes, tea would be lovely -- tomorrow afternoon, perhaps? (Evenings, alas, are spoken for; my apprentice has never taught before, and so these first few weeks I am being most exacting in supervising the lessons she will teach in addition to delivering the lessons she has bargained for.)

I do regret I had already left the country by the time Hogwarts was taken; it would have been most satisfying to see.

And the use of Salazar's rules -- most suitable. I have been meaning to use them in my own classes for the past two years, but then discovered the little darlings' education in the Arts had been so deficient I had entirely too much ground to make up. Shall I let you know which ones to watch out for, or would you rather be pleasantly surprised?

Re: Private message to Antosha

[alt_savitha]

Oh, do share. I have infinite faith in the power of youth to surprise me, regardless of how much I know going in.

Re: Private message to Antosha

[alt_savitha]

And tomorrow afternoon would suit, as soon as I'm done with my classes.

Re: Private message to Antosha

[alt_antonin]

Come on up whenever you're free, then. I'll have the elves put together some treats and I'll give you the gossip.

Re: Private message to Antosha

[alt_antonin]

We ought to know by now that any plan involving you and me getting through a discussion with anything approaching alacrity is doomed to failure. By which I mean: I believe we made it through discussing most of the sixth-years -- or, at least, I cannot think of anyone I did not cover -- but I suppose I ought give you the rundown of the seventh-years.

Having consulted the records to see who is taking NEWT Defence: you met many of them through CCF last summer, but in case last summer is as far away for you as it is for me, I shall simply go through them all. Finnigan and Patil you've met through Our Lord's service, of course. Finnigan is as solid as one might expect from Stephen's foster-son, though he can be too diffident at times. Patil is quite intelligent, although more than a touch politically naive and convinced the world turns around her -- more so than teenagers usually are, that is. Crabbe and Goyle are very much their fathers' sons. Parkinson is clever when she sees enough reason to be clever, but Lyoushka despairs of her sense of her loyalty to her friends is almost Hufflepuffian, and she places more value in her associations than in her connections for her future -- to truly engage her, you must engage the remainder of her confederates.

Our Lord's son, meanwhile, truly shines in Defence; he was Razzer's prodigy, and I believe you will find him one of your best.

Of those who are not Council or Council families: Zabini can be promising when he forgets that he is allergic to anything resembling effort, which makes it a pity that he does not often forget. Weasley has quite the knack for Defence and the Noble Arts both, and I'm certain you haven't forgotten his head for strategy; he's the one who spent the summer interning with the Aurors. Greengrass is the sort who always knows the right thing to say and is always looking to smooth over difficulties; if you are planning group or team work, she is a good choice to place in a group that cannot seem to get along. Bones is quietly capable; she will never be a frequent contributor in class, but when she does have something to add, it is usually insightful. Smith thinks more of himself than is warranted, but there are glimmers of hope in there, underneath the self-importance. I am certain Dunstan and Bundy must have some talents in Defence, having continued to NEWT study, but when I last taught them they both seemed frightened of their own shadows in my classroom. Bulstrode had promise in the Arts early in her OWL year, but it faded quickly.

Of the ones I most have my eye upon: Perks is all intellectual curiosity, about just about any topic you might imagine; I am encouraging her along the path to Healer study, as she's an interest in the topic and you know as well as I how much we could use one. Finch-Fletchley is on my very short list for apprenticeship, once S-P has finished her Mastery or I've the time to supervise two. Moon, meanwhile, is in frequent and desperate need of a reminder of reality, but the boy can make numbers sit up and dance: he ought not be trusted in public unsupervised, but he has the uncanny ability to sift through a mound of data and identify the patterns -- or the pieces that do not fit the patterns.

Oh, and this year was far more split by Umbridge's interference than the sixth-years: Patil, Finnigan, Macmillan, and Jones all had a tendency to lord their status over their fellows, for instance. They have all seemed to arrive at an unspoken agreement that they will not mention that year again, but the fault-lines are still visible if you know what you are looking for.

I'm certain I'll forget six things I meant to say as soon as I close my journal, but if you've any more questions about the lot, do let me know.

Re: Private message to Antosha

[alt_savitha]

You passed over a few. Neville Longbottom, for one. He's the son of two Aurors -- treasonous Aurors, but neither was any slouch in a fight. Defence ought to be in his blood. Is it?

Re: Private message to Antosha

[alt_antonin]

I always forget about Longbottom; he likes to encourage it. He is the poster child for keeping his head down and his mouth shut.

He took my Theoretical class, and was careful to give the answers I was looking for, but never quite seemed to believe them -- well, that's due to the sort of stubborn scruples we are slowly stamping out. Raised by his grandmother, though, so he got quite the dose of it. Razzer used to say he was decent enough in Defence, but of course that was more than a bit awkward.

I would characterise him as stubborn and a bit thick -- though not as thick as he likes to be viewed as -- and lacking motivation to do much more than grubbing in dirt.