Hogwarts Year 5
Chapter 12
Alana and Grimstead's meeting with the staff of Hogwarts to pass on their impressions had just started. They both knew that the Hogwarts staff would not be pleased with their findings, Alana opened the discussion, "Headmistress, and Professors, over the past week my companion and I have sat in on all the classes offered here at Hogwarts. Now I must admit that I have visited here before but it has been a long time ago. There doesn't seem to have been much change since my last visit, except you finally got rid of that ghost Binns in History of Magic. Neither Mr. Grimstead or myself want to step on anyone's toes here, but we have come up with a few observations that we would like to voice on a course-by-course basis:
Divination – I personally would remove the course completely, you are either a seer or you aren't. But, I understand that some student like it as I've heard it is an easy way to increase your OWL or NEWT scores.
Herbology – We both like the way Prof. Sprout uses students to help out the ones who have a difficult time and since this is what we consider a core course it is very important that the students learn the basics. We were both impressed with Mr. Longbottom and feel he might just be someone who can gain his Mastery in that subject. As to suggestions, well use more up to date plants and information and focus on the most usual plants in the first two years.
Charms – Another core course that has a very knowledgeable instructor, it might help if you added a senior student to assist with the slower students. Both Mr. Potter and Ms. Granger seem to be well ahead of their class or year and provide excellent help when they are in class and have been observed helping others frequently. We both thought it a shame that prof. Flitwick hasn't attempted to gain his Mastery.
Potions – This is the one class where the most help is needed as this is another core curriculum course. After talking to several students from all the houses we have heard that the instructor you had the past two years was well liked and very knowledgeable, her classes were described as fun and educational. The current instructor is knowledgeable but spends too much time 'collecting' students for their usefulness to himself and trying to gain more wealth for himself than actually teaching. This lack of teaching was especially noticed in first year classes. Once again we would suggest that advanced students be used to assist the instructor.
Defense – A very critical core course on level with Charms, since Charms can be very useful in defending yourself or family. Both of us are acquainted with Mr. Black from the time he spent in the States working for the MBI and he even taught a few classes at my school. Once again we would suggest that the primary instructor be Mastery certified. We both like the way Mr. Potter works with this class and you could use a few more like him to help out in classes so the instructor can focus on teaching more in depth and more modern techniques.
Runes – This course is also behind the times as far as the curriculum goes, part of that is that your ministry hasn't allowed the country to move up to modern technology level and you don't have the use of computers to help the students to work with Runes. The addition of computers and having a Mastery Certification is the only suggestion we offer here.
Arithmancy - This course is also behind the times as far as the curriculum goes, part of that is that your ministry hasn't allowed the country to move up to modern technology level and you don't have the use of computers to help the students do calculations. The addition of computers and having a Mastery Certification is the only suggestion we offer here.
Transfiguration – The fifth core course and again a critical one for Defense. Here we again find that the instructor should have a Mastery Certification and can't understand why you haven't sought that certification yet Headmistress. You would be someone who would sail through that process, you seem to have forgotten more about Transfiguration than I ever learned, and I just got my own Mastery last summer. This was another class where we saw students helping students, and again it was Mr. Potter and Ms. Granger. This school should be proud to have such students here, I wish I had more like them at my school.
Care of Magical Creatures – This course should focus on the more common creatures and not so much on the dangerous ones. Prof. Hagrid knows so much about so many creatures that it is a shame he hasn't been afforded the chance to complete his education. The only drawback to his teaching is his lack of public speaking skills and that can be remedied by his taking a few speech courses and maybe a few writing courses.
History of Magic – A necessary course but grossly out of date. We would suggest more modern knowledge and less focus on eons ago. The students need to know how magic came to be but they don't need to focus on all the wars in yours and our past. The course should mention the witch trials from the States as that was important to all magical history. We feel that the course should include some overview of different types of magic also.
Mental Arts – This course isn't even offered here and should be as Occlumency is a vital part of Defense, if you can't hide what spell you are thinking of casting then your opponent has the advantage. Every student should have learned basic Occlumency as it helps organize the mind of the individual and makes the retention of knowledge easier.
Silent and Wand-less Spell casting – This should be encouraged as this is how we all start to show our magic. In the youth it is called 'Accidental Magic' and it should be built upon that natural ability.
Medical Magic – I understand that this is a new course this session and it is limited to just a few students for now. When you council your students about what they want to do after school, any who show an interest should have lessons in basic medical magic. That will give them a head start on their future studies. I personally think you should have a basic first-aid course as an elective starting second year.
Muggle Studies – This should be a required course of study for all first and second years who were raised in the magical realm. Your muggle born and muggle raised already know most of this, but your magical raised know nothing about the outside world or the technology in use. This course should also be brought more up to date and taught by someone that actually has extended experience in the muggle world.
Magical Devices – This is a course that is very close to the heart of my companion since he is a wand and staff creator. He comes to my school at least once a year and does seminars on this just to show that there are more devices than wands out there to help us use our magic better. I am sure most of you heard about the duel in Defense; one of the reasons Mr. Black lost was he couldn't match the power of Grimstead's staff, another reason was the use of silent casting and multiple spells at once.
Astronomy – While the instructor appears to very knowledgeable this is another of those subjects that is stressed too much. I asked this question when I took this course and ask it again, 'What use is it and how does it effect magic?'. No instructor has ever been able to answer that question. I can see it being required first year as a broad knowledge subject but after that make it an elective.
Like I said Mr. Grimstead and I do not mean to step on anyone's toes but thought that our observations might help your school reach the level it used to be, as far as a leading educational institute."
The staff of Hogwarts sat there stunned at some of the observations and suggestions. It was Flitwick who spoke first, "You mentioned that several courses were what you call 'core courses', why did you refer to them in that manner?"
"A core course is a course that is relevant to almost everyone and every day life. Those courses, Charms, Defense, Herbology, Potions, and Transfiguration are used by witches and wizards every day. Think of all the magic we do in a day's time, also Defense is the only area that uses all of the other core courses. These are the basics of magic, the very foundations of what magic is and does" Alana answered.
"You keep mentioning our having a Mastery Certification in these core subjects. Just how hard is it to get that certification and how long does it take?" McGonagall asked.
"Some take a whole year to acquire and Potions takes at least two to three years to acquire. That is if you have little life experience to apply. Defense is the most difficult as it requires three Masters to do the certification in the practical exam. The practical exam that was held this past summer for the single applicant was three hours long and not only was the applicant exhausted but the Masters were also, both magically and physically. The reason that potions takes so long is the time to brew some of the potions and the fact that the applicant must also show how to gather all types of ingredients and you can't do that in a single year or over the course of a regular session. I would say that the Headmistress could have her Mastery by the start of July this year if she took the written exam while your students took their OWL or NEWT exams. The practical only requires one Master to certify so that wouldn't be a problem. In fact, with some luck, a Charms or Herbology Mastery could be taken also and completed in the same time as I know a couple of Masters that might be willing to do the practical exams." Grimstead said in answer to McGonagall's question. This was the first time he had said much during the whole meeting.
"In fact I could certify the Headmistress right now if she had completed the written exam since I have observed her teach, and that is a requirement that a master watch you teach the subject to students to see how well you relay the information to students." Alana added.
The meeting lasted for another 20 to 30 minutes and then was ended. After all the others had left Grimstead asked if he could examine McGonagall's wand to see if it was as good as he thought, it was. The three talked for a few minutes more and then the two visitors left to return to their rooms and pack for their trip tomorrow.
~X~X~X~
Meanwhile, down in the chamber Harry and Hermione were enjoying a little "private" time, as were Neville and Susan. Ron and Daphne were in the library studying for a test that was due Monday in potions. Since it was close to the first of the month Hermione gathered up all her courage and suggested she and Harry do the skin ritual together that afternoon. Harry was surprised but agreed; he was even more surprised when Hermione dropped her robe and was wearing a very small thong and nothing else. "You may look but no touching, and we need to do something about your clothing – it is way too much" was all that Hermione said as she handed Harry a thong that was just as small as her's. Harry said the guys usually did the ritual totally nude but he had opted for the trunks due to Hermione being there, then Hermione made an offer, she would do the ritual totally nude if Harry would. When the ritual ended it was two slightly sore people who walked to the hot tub only to pass Neville and Susan going toward the ritual room, Harry suggested that they wait at least an hour to allow the room to cool down. It was later learned that Luna joined Neville and Susan in the ritual and they all did it all natural.
Harry and Hermione only spent four hours in the tub then it was Neville, Susan, and Luna's turn in the water, and Luna dropped her robe before Harry even got out of the tub. Harry being a red-blooded male had a problem, and Hermione noticed that problem and helped cover it up. Luna didn't even spend the energy to blush. It was decided that Daphne would do the ritual for the other girls, after Hermione taught her correctly, and the three Weasley boys would do their own ritual. Harry decided that he would get Bill to lead that ritual as he still didn't have faith in the three Weasleys to not screw it up.
While Neville, Susan, and Luna soaked, Harry and Hermione talked about what had just happened. Harry apologized for his "problem" but Hermione just said if he hadn't had the problem he wouldn't be a normal male, she was just glad Neville didn't drop his robe. "Evidently, you found Luna appealing and if Susan had dropped her robe would have found her appealing too" Hermione said and laughed at Harry's expression. "All of us girls have compared ourselves to each other in our own minds and I supposed that you guys have done the same thing, knowing the twins and Ron they even compared the girls out loud and wondered what we had to show that they hadn't seen yet. Although after that swimming episode there wasn't much left to the imagination, especially about Daphne" Hermione added. Harry just nodded in response.
~X~X~X~
At what used to be Malfoy Manor, the auror recruits were settling in still even if it had been quite some time since they started time compression. The classes were murderous and the instructors were not showing them any mercy. The one thing about this training session was if you washed out you were stuck there until the time compression ended, and that wasn't nice. One room in the dungeon had been spelled so they could practice apparition to get as quiet as possible, they would also have a two to three day refresher after compression so they could go further than across the room.
This was the first time the auror trainers had a healer on site instead of just sending any injuries to St. Mungo's. Since they had a healer on-site they included first-aid classes for all the recruits, especially the ones who washed out of the regular training. Alana and Grimstead had suggested they include a "medic" in each group to deal with injuries while on assignment. What the "medics" didn't know was they would be almost qualified as med-witches when the compression ended and could apply at the hospital for jobs if they washed out of auror training. Out of fifty who started, five had washed out already due to the physical training – which most wizards and witches weren't used to doing.
~X~X~X~
In a cave somewhere close to the border between Scotland and England, a group of men and a few women were getting low on food and other supplies. Several had tried to call their house elf but only one responded and he couldn't do much. He was sent to get food and never returned, the same elf was now working at Malfoy Manor – the new auror training facility – but would not or could not reveal where his master was located. The group didn't realize that their problem was easy to solve, all they had to do was clean up and go into muggle towns and buy the food and supplies they needed, except for the magical items like potion ingredients. This thought never occurred to them so they went hungry and cold. The group had managed to "recruit" a couple of Potion makers but they weren't as good as Snape had been and had to be watched closely.
~X~X~X~
In a run-down house in northern Scotland five people in black cloaks and white masks appeared, there was a brief battle between them and the old man who stayed there, the old man lost as he was weakened. The old man was taken to a cave and there his blood was added to a large caldron sitting over a fire boiling. Out of the caldron rose a misshapen "man" with snake like facial features and no hair anywhere on his body. After someone helped him dress he asked why they had used the old man instead of Potter as ordered. He was told that Potter never left Hogwarts except at term breaks and that the ritual did call for the blood of an enemy, so they used the old man. There were several of the cave members who were rolling on the floor in pain after that.
When the "man" asked why they were in a cave instead of a house he was told that all the houses had been confiscated by the Ministry of Magic and all were now unable to be found. When a meal was served the "man" got angry again due to the poor food and nothing to drink but water, warm water at that. The man said that in two months they would attack Hogwarts students as they left to go home for the summer, many of the group shook their heads as they remembered the last attack they had tried at Hogwarts.
A/N: Old "Moldy Shorts" is back and he is very upset at the situation he finds. Hogwarts now has a second opinion of their educational situation and it isn't much better than the last evaluation. Harry and Hermione, Neville and Susan are getting closer together, but what is Luna up to?
This didn't turn out like I expected but it turned out as it turned out. I hope to do better with the next chapters.
Please be kind and comment