Defence Against the Dark Arts: OWL & NEWT[8]

[Priscilla Medusa Chimaera]

Priscilla walked into class and the first sentence on the board slapped her in the face like cold water. She stopped for a mili-second, and her eyes narrowed before she continued walking. Sitting down her hair felt restless around her shoulders, announcing to her that her unusual and unsettling trait was, once again displaying itself in the corners of everyones eyes. For those able to sense it, her aura, had a dangerous vibe to it, and her ash-coloured eyes were dark as pitch as they stared at the board.

[Professor Giles]

*Feeling the temperature drop slightly, turned to the Miss Chimaera*

Is there anything wrong? Are you excited about today's lesson?

[Priscilla Medusa Chimaera]

A predator-like smirk spread on Priscilla's face, and with head slightly lowered over her hunched shoulders, she lifted her gaze to the professor, almost giving the physical impression that she was some wild animal about to attack him, only she sat perfectly still.

"well, sir, 'Serpent Demon', is one way to put it, others might interpret that myth differently. The way I see it, the Serpent brought the gift of knowledge and the courage to rebel against a power-sick and self-absorbed tyrant. In some version, Lilithu the Serpent is the symbol of the strong feminine force, but because the male sex felt threatened by this feminine power, they demonized it and contorted it into something that would fit their propaganda for male domination and the oppression of the female sex. Sir." Not for a second did those pitch-dark eyes break their piercing stare at the professor, not once did they blink. They just stared, as though that gaze could eat through human flesh if it wanted to.

[Professor Giles]

*feeling hot flames reach out and brush his tan face, he was shocked by the power of this girl in front of him*

Well spoken. You have sucessfully argued the most fundemental argument of Ritualism....that that which history....and mankind....has deemed demonic, evil, dark....is often the opposite. You see, to inhibit evil, to bring about a large benefical force such as the Fruit of Knowledge, the balance must be broken. It is this disruption that brings chaos, war, doubt, division....*looks to Miss Chimaera*.....Two points to Slytherin. Well argued indeed.

[Elena Elias]

Wow, that just went way over my head.

*Shrugs nad begins to doodle an apple and snake in the margins of her notes*

[Professor Giles]

*Returns to his desk to get some more tea. He feels slightly off color today*

Yes, well now let me see what everyone found for their homework.

[Elena Elias]

*Raises hand, but then begins speaking anyway*

My family has this candle that never melts down all the way. And our cat has a collar so it can't wander off our property. My sister got a quill that corrects spelling as you write. She won in a competition through Witch Weekly. Oh...let's see *can't read her own writing*, I also found a random skull on the mantle and some large gold coins from some place foreign.

*looks up*

[Priscilla Medusa Chimaera]

Priscilla almost felt disappointed over the lack of retaliation, but the two points earned for her house weighed up for it and she turned to fish out the items she had gathered from her house, the ones she, and the rest of the family, did not so much mind showing the world. With her father being a collector of sorts, there were plenty of things in their possession that, spite their disturbing nature, strictly speaking were not categorized as Dark Objects by the Ministry of Magic.

The first item was her potions boline, a small herb-knife with a handle in gold shaped as a chimaera standing on it's hind legs. The second, a finger-trap (an antique children's joke-toy) sporting two chimaeras standing hind-to-hind with mouths open wide into which the fingers went. The third was a pebble a certain Elena Elias quickly would find familiar, and it was also the only item not to bear any obvious Chimaera insignias. The fourth, and last item was a small painted picture in a heavy, thick, gold-layered wooden frame, chimaeras cut out of the wood-work.

[Professor Giles]

*amazed by the assortment of objects*

These are amazing. Good work, both of you. Miss Elias, many of your items are what we called charmed. For example, the quill and collar are simply items with spells on them. Miss Chimaera, well you certainly make me think. I assume many of these are family heirlooms, I have never seem such...work.

*steps back*
Now I wanted you to see the difference between what may seem a ritualized item,*points to the peeble that he assumed was more than such* and something that is really unbalanced. Now, Miss Chimaera....what does that peeble do? Would you deem it unbalanced towards light or dark? Would you deem it ritualized at all?

Can anyone then tell me what items are most commonly used in rituals?

[Priscilla Medusa Chimaera]

Pris looked up at the professor.

"This is a pact pebble. It ensures that when a contract has been made (by the shaking of hands), both parties keep their end of the deal. I would deem it neutral, although some might find it a bit of a shock the first time they experience the use of it," she added, getting the feeling that a certain girl behind her was feeling a little uncomfortable in her seat.

"It is most certainly ritualized. The ritual was performed by my grandmother, Druscilla Chimaera, at the promt of my father. My grandmother is highly skilled at rituals, sir. Even the Ministry acknowledges that," she had to control her self from sniggering at her last comment, for anyone working in the Ministry were painfully aware of Druscilla Chimaera's notoriously frightening talent at enchanting things (or indeed, people...), and managing to fit anything dodgy about it into a loophole in the wizarding law, thus deeming it legit.

[Professor Giles]

*smiling, remembering the name of Miss Chimaera's grandmother from his days at the MoM."

Yes, loopholes are always there and are always taken advantage of. But as you said, there is nothing the Ministry can do. Well, then I do believe you will recieve high marks in this class, Priscilla.

*gives her a quick wink*

*leans on his desk and takes up his mug. He has something very important to do in his office after class.*

Next Class is on Protection. Please read up on it and prepare to discuss. Class dismissed. That's right, Miss Elias. No Homework.

*continues to think of what Miss Chimaera said....about finding loopholes...making even Class B rituals legit....but what about Class C?*

[Elena Elias]

*wipes the shocked looked from her face*

Ok. Cool. Protections next class. Got it.


*leaves...totally creeped that Priss used that ritualized stone on her.....eww......must take shower.....*

[Professor Giles]

*walks in, ready for a new class. In the back of his mind is the owl he sent to his old friend from the Ministry...but now all his attention was about teaching these students as protection spells and amulets...*

Oh, yea..

Takes out his planner at his desk and scowls at the report due to the headmistress in a day about his classes so far. He slams the planner shut, takes his mug from his desk and starts a small fire below the kettle.*

Today feels like a Jasmine tea day...

*From out of his briefcase he takes out several necklaces with small and large as well as very odd shaped talismans on them. He puts them side to side on the edge of his desk and then faces the board and begins to write...*

Lesson Two: Protection From Rituals
DADA, Professor S. Giles

Orbs and Amulets
Common Enchantments (long-term)
Common Spells (short-term)
Deep Magic Protection

*frowns for a second, then writes below*
Please find an example of each.

[Noelle Cheever]

*Walks in and places bag on the desk before approaching the teacher*

I apologize for not showing after class, it slipped my mind, I didn't mean to seem rude.

*Smiles weakly*

May I observe them still, or is the offer up? And I seem to have forgotten to give you my items...

*Returns to the desk and pulls out a rusty silver locket, an old silver coin, a shot glass, a small teddy bear that makes her smile, and a silver spoon. She holds the spoon up and laughs*

I've brought the spoon!

[Priscilla Medusa Chimaera]

Priscilla strolled into class and sat down by a desk. She quickly produced a piece of parchment, ink and a quill, and got to work.