NEWT students: discussion

[alt_savitha]

So, my dears. I thought that first session of Salazar's Rules went rather well. I'd like each of you to think about your performance today, and the performance of your friends and classmates, and share an observation or two.

What could you have done better?
What could those around you have done better?
What mistakes did you see?

You may share your observations by journal, or by scroll if you must (turned into my office sometime before our next meeting on Friday).

Speaking of Friday -- sixth years, on Friday you'll have your first session with Salazar's Rules. I would encourage you to read what the seventh years have to say about their experience and LEARN from it.

Comments

[alt_justin]

Professor,

My timing was a touch slow, as well. I've been working on non-verbal spells and it felt suddenly odd to cast aloud, besides the fact that--well, one doesn't like to interrupt. I know that sounds well daft.

Also, I allowed Zabini to land his shot when I was engaged with Crabbe and Finnigan. Obviously, I failed to block your counter-hex. Likely I could have waited until closer to the end of the lesson period for my first attempt, since the last ten minutes were more chaotic than I'd expected. Lastly, I ought to have made additional attempts after your defence held.

Our classmates who never made any attempt clearly need to trust that the lesson is worth potential failure. Or find their courage.

Other than Jones, whose misstep one need not revisit, Bulstrode and Bundy ought to have protected their wands; MacDougal should have chosen a spell she could cast without requiring multiple attempts; and Capper needs to work on his aim.

I'm sure there are other observations but those are the ones that jump straight to mind.

-Finch-Fletchley

[alt_savitha]

One doesn't like to interrupt?

Gracious, Mr Finch-Fletchley, we'll need to work on your oversupply of courtesy.

And you are absolutely correct that you were not limited to a single attempt. Having made yourself fair game, you really had nothing to lose, and unlike some of your classmates, you'd managed to keep hold of your wand. Why didn't you?

[alt_justin]

Professor,

I've been thinking about your question. In fact, during our lesson this morning I was able to reconstruct the progress of Wednesday's lesson. The only reason I can conclude is that, having countered my hex once, you were no longer the most immediate threat. There's a logic to continuing on the chance that one might succeed and thus no longer become a valid target for others, but the likelihood of that occurring before being disabled by someone else was remote--and, one might add, the onslaught of spells from other quarters was much more pressing, if you follow me.

Simply put: Had I remained fixed on targetting you, what, one or more of the other students would have done much more damage to me in the interim.

Rest assured I shall devise methods to protect myself in future, so that I may remain fixed on the primary goal.

-Finch-Fletchley

Order Only

[alt_justin]

Ron,

Remember that technique you were telling me about this summer? That shielding spell for times when partners aren't available. Deflecto-something, wasn't it? We ought to practise that, what.

I say, though, there's no reason not to brush up on our timing exercises for partner work in the field. Perhaps we ought to all approach the Salazar's Rules lessons as if it's a field battle, what, and each of us plan to partner one or more of the others to defend whilst the other strikes.

-Justin