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Post by Nicholas Gawain Lannsman on Nov 26, 2007 20:04:56 GMT -5
Nicholas sat at his desk, flipping through the book Confronting the Faceless as he waited for students to arrive. They began trickling through soon enough as he read, looking up on occassion to say hello until he finally placed a bookmark and stood up.
There was a large chest on the floor beside his desk which was kept shut by a large lock on it. It looked large enough that only a man with Nicholas' size and strange could possible lift it. Close to the staircase was something draped over completely, appearing to be roughly 5 1/2, to 6 feet tall.
His green eyed gaze wandered about, looking to the students entering with a comforting smile.
"Hello everyone. I trust you've read the first chapter and have been throughly intrigued by the subject matter at hand enough. We'll be continuing last weeks discussion on the Knights of Walpurgis and their connection to today's Dark Arts."
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Post by Dónall Kennedy on Nov 26, 2007 23:17:42 GMT -5
Donall leisurely walked into class, he was in no rush to return to the class that had started his House Mates in verbal disputes, nor was he interested in a repeat of last class.
However, he was ready to do it all over again. He wasn't sure why, but he knew that if he was able to answer a question, and it meant getting the class going and finishing up sooner, he was ready and willing to do what it would take. If that was such a crime, then so be it.
He dropped into his seat, placing his bag in his lap so he could fish out his materials. Then, letting his bag hit the floor with a tiny clunk, he settled himself into his chair, ready to pay attention for the time being.
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Post by Nicholas Gawain Lannsman on Nov 27, 2007 0:48:43 GMT -5
"So, your thoughts on chapter one." Nicholas said, looking around for anyone to speak their mind. Rudy was the first to raise his hand.
"Well, like I was talking about last class, Sir, I found that the similarities between the Knights of Walpurgis and the Death Eaters too disturbingly similar to be coincidence. Also, with the information that Grindenwald was the next leader of the Knights of Walpurgis kind of points in the same direction, since he was considered very much a Voldemort-like Dark Lord before Voldemort himself came along. Their methods, the core of their beliefs, it really is just too uncanny." Rudy said as he leaned forward in his chair, eager to state his findings.
Angelina Warwick soon piped in. "Also, Professor, much like the things you've already taught us before, their intentions were that of the greatest for wizard kind. They were trying their best to keep us protected in a time of war, and would do anything to keep us secret, keep us safe. War can bring out the worst in any kind of person, especially the ones who think they're right."
Alexander Perkin quickly jumped in. "They created the Unforgivables that was of utmost importance in that time of fighting, and look at what they degenerated to, and what the public thought of them in times of peace. They were also disbanded when the Statute of 1692 was established for a reason; the public and the Ministry deemed their 'services' no longer required. That's because muggles and wizards began having families much more often and the social norms were changing, since the war was resolved between both peoples."
NIcholas smiled, surprised at the level of eagerness and depth the students went into. "Well...I don't know what to say, I'm really surprised."
Some students laughed. "You could give us some points." Gavin Woodward chimed in. Some more students laughed, making Nicholas smile.
"We'll see, Master Woodward. Anybody else?" he asked, looking about before continuing.
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Post by Dónall Kennedy on Nov 27, 2007 16:13:09 GMT -5
Donall had indeed read the first chapter of the textbook for homework, but he had no new thoughts on the subject of the Knights of Walpurgis. The other three students had summed up his readings in entirety.
He shifted in his seat, waiting for something interesting to come out of the class. If it were to be as happening as the last one, Don knew he was in for a ride.
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Post by Nicholas Gawain Lannsman on Nov 27, 2007 16:44:21 GMT -5
"No? Alright then. Let's hop to it."
He began to walk about the class, looking in to students as he started his lecture. "The Knights of Walpurgis. Wizards, under the banner of a pureblooded alliance, waged the war against muggle kind for countless years under the guise of protecting the wizarding world from outside invasion. Secrets. Those were the things that were to be kept, from the muggles and other wizards themselves."
Gavin Woodward raised a hand. "Sir, why would the Knights keep secrets from wizards? They were there to keep them safe, why leave them in the dark?"
Nicholas smiled somewhat. "Of course they would, if people disagreed with them. Salazar Slytherin himself had kept something a secret from all of Hogwarts itself, to ensure that muggle born wizards would be dealt with and something could continue his 'noble work' from beyond the grave. Any ideas on what I'm talking about, or am I just crazy?"
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Post by Dónall Kennedy on Nov 27, 2007 16:56:20 GMT -5
A fellow Slytherin, Anthony Corenthos, sat ahead of him. At the professor's question, he turned around in his seat to snicker and whisper to Dónall, "Oi Donnie, I reckon he's starkers!"
Dónall, however, didn't take the bait and simply kicked the back of his House Mate's chair. Hard.
He stared at the front of the classroom, a smirk very similar to a smile trying to make it's way out. He knew the answer, of course, most students did these days. He was a little surprised that no one raised their hands to answer the obvious question.
Shrugging, he lifted his hand and spoke. "He hid a Basilisk within the school walls, Professor." He completely ignored the other part of the knight's question; normally he would have made a nasty comment at the professor's expense, considering he really was asking for it.
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Post by Nicholas Gawain Lannsman on Nov 27, 2007 17:14:27 GMT -5
"Partially correct, Master Kennedy but enough of the answer to jar somebody's memory." he said, smirking in his direction. He gave Anthony Corenthos a raised eyebrow. "
Angelina Warwick raised her hand. "Right! The Chamber of Secrets."
The class gave a bit of a collective groan of "Of course, duh!" as she said the response. Nicholas smiled, shaking his head slightly.
"That is correct. The Chamber of Secrets was built by Salazar Slytherin to continue the noble work of the Knights of Walpurgis even after his demise. This was but one of their ideal methods upon which to remove the muggle 'threat' from existence, to have not only wizards but powerful creatures loosed upon them. Dragons, acromantulas, basilisks, manticores, Dementors, and Inferi are but examples of the creatures employed by them." he said as he walked back over to his desk.
He bent over, lifting up the large chest and dropping it onto his desk with a large thundering thud. Some students gasped in surprise, some laughed. Nicholas fished into his pocket for a large brass key and opened the lock.
The chest was groaned and creaked open ominously as he lifted the cover. No one could see what was inside as he leaned forward and fished inside it with his hand.
His body gave a quick jerk for an instant as his hand was inside. He tried to pull it out quickly but he let out a loud scream of pain and terror as something inside seemed to attack his trapped hand.
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Post by Dónall Kennedy on Nov 27, 2007 17:30:08 GMT -5
Don's eyes followed the professor as he picked up the large chest from the floor. He had wondered what it was and why it was there, and he guessed now that it was time for the chest's meaning to be revealed.
He watched as Sir Lannsmann opened it with a large brass key, and flinched as the professor screamed.
He jumped out of his chair a little, but quickly sat back down before his House Mates could gauge why he had reacted that way. It was only a human reaction to jump to someone's aid when they were in trouble. Wasn't it?
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Post by Nicholas Gawain Lannsman on Nov 27, 2007 17:41:52 GMT -5
"Professor!"
"Nicholas!"
"Sir!"
Students all about the room reacted differently; some screaming in terror along with him, some yelling in surprise, others leaping out of chairs and some brandishing wands.
The large mans screams continued for a few more moments until they began to diminish into hearty chuckling and soon enough, laughter as he turned to face his students, holding something wrapped in a cloth in both hands.
"Ah, the old man eating chest trick. Never gets old." he said, smiling broadly as he continued to laugh. Some students fixed him with scowls, others laughing along with him. Soon enough, once the class calmed down, he looked around. "The Knights of Walpurgis had many weapons and tools to aid them in the war against muggle kind. All of you know the conventional weapons; wands, magic, creatures, muggle weapons. Why did I do that, just now?"
He fixed Anthony Corenthos with a knowing smirk. "Besides the fact I'm starkers."
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Post by Dónall Kennedy on Nov 27, 2007 18:00:04 GMT -5
Dónall's face flushed slightly, as the professor began to chuckle. He had been concerned for nothing, it seemed.
He did not laugh along with the rest of th students, nor did he scowl outwardly. On the inside he was disappointed in himself for showing such emotion, to the Gryffindor professor, no less!
Don did, though, let out a little snigger at the professor's use of Corenthos' comment against him. He had no answer to the question asked.
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Post by Nicholas Gawain Lannsman on Nov 27, 2007 20:42:57 GMT -5
"As a wise man once said; the only thing to fear is fear itself." he said as he drew back the cloth. Beneath it, lay a shriveled up human male head. It's condition was remarkable considering some of the torn flesh, exposed bone, gaping wholes where one cheek should be, the nose and one ear. The eyes were milky white and clumps of hair still were stuck inside it. It's bloody and decapitated features were horrid to behold. Several students gasped in surprise, some in horror and disgust.
Gavin Woodward looked thrilled. "That...is freakishly awesome Nick...What is it?"
Nicholas looked about the room placidly, his tone cool and a shade ominous. "This...is an Inferi's head. It has been kept preserved and severed from the body. Most of it's motor functions have been reduced to nothing and is relatively harmless. This head is well over three hundred years old so be careful with it. That is, unless anyone except Gavin would like a closer inspection."
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Post by Dónall Kennedy on Nov 27, 2007 20:49:03 GMT -5
Donall was, initially, disgusted by the ...thing. The Inferi's head was a grotesque sight, but after a few seconds of glancing at it, Don wasn't as sickened as he had been at first sight.
He didn't want a closer inspection, though. He wasn't a squeamish boy, but he knew his limits. Prodding a dead man's head was not his diea of a good time, and he would leave the sick idea to the Gryffindor boy who seemed very eager and willing.
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Post by Nicholas Gawain Lannsman on Nov 27, 2007 21:11:18 GMT -5
Nicholas gently brought the head down onto Gavin's desk. The young man leaned in eagerly and gave a quick shout of surprise when he spotted the milky iris' turn to stare at him. His goofy grin soon returned as he looked at it.
"That's...incredible..." he muttered in wonder.
"Yes, absolutely incredible." Nicholas replied flatly. "An Inferi's bite, or scratch can cause death upon a mortal it scratches, causing them to die within days of the infection. Conventional weapons to not generally stop them unless their head is destroyed. If one were to hack off it's legs, it would still drag itself to kill you. Destroy its arms, it would still shamble after you to devour you. Hit it with even the Unforgivables and they are not affected. Stunning spells and a variety of any other spells do not affect them because they are no longer alive."
Many of the eager smiles disappeared.
"This man was found having devoured his wife, two children, as well as a number of his livestock on his farm. He had a broken leg, a severed arm and still tried to attack the man who discovered him after he'd been cleaved in twain by a broadsword. Absolutely incredible." he said flatly.
Gavin wasn't smiling anymore and looked pale.
"Why are Inferi so terrifying?" Nicholas said as he picked up the head and began to wrap it in the cloth once more.
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Post by Dónall Kennedy on Nov 27, 2007 21:16:56 GMT -5
Dónall listened intently, still a little bothered by the head Sir Lannsmann was now wrapping back up.
'That was a human being. A wizard. Yet it was still a dark creature, a monster...'
And then it dawned on him - that was the answer the professor was probably looking for!
"The Inferi are human beings just like us, but they've been... tainted, for lack of better word. Thye just keep coming at you, only killing on their mind. It's unsettling..."
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Post by Nicholas Gawain Lannsman on Nov 27, 2007 21:27:14 GMT -5
"Your acute sense of deduction hasn't failed you yet, Master Kennedy." Nicholas said not joking in the slightest as he placed it back into the chest, fishing out another cloth wrapped object. "Inferi are what some biologists would call a superpredator. What do you think it means, Master Kennedy, being a superpredator?"
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