Harry Potter Hogwarts: A Reimagining

[zerohour]

Somewhat in line with the Alternate Teacher's thread. What if instead of just switching teachers, we rebuilt Hogwarts from the ground up? What should be changed to make Hogwarts a good school?


Couple of thoughts:

New Classes:
Magical Relations: Similar to History of Magic, but focusing more on current events between Wizards and other races.

International Relations:Similar to History of Magic, but focusing on relations between the various Ministries.

Culture Class: This class would focus on the differnt schoolls of magic that are praticed in other countires (Shamanism, Voodoo, etc.) Students don't learn how to cast their spells/rituals/whatever, but are given some basic knowledge on how it works.


New Policies:
TAs: NEWT level students are required to assist with teaching the lower level classes (First and Second Years, possibly Third year as well) The Professor only needs to teach one or two classes a month, mainly to make sure the TAs are doing a good job and not falling behind.

Delayed Sorting: Don't sort students until second year, to encourage interhouse cooperation.

"Trial" Classes: Instead of signing up for classes, the second semester of the Second year requires students to try each of the various electives. This allows them to see what each class in about rather than just picking them at random or choosing the "Easy" class.

Field Trips: Visiting the Forbidden Forest, going on an ingredient hunt, or something in line with this. I'm sure that we could come up with a few possible trips for each of the classes if we tried.



So, what do you guys think? Any other policies/changes you think ought to be added?

 

[Prince Charon]

Well, its interesting.

Perhaps a class on crafting magic items?

 

[Black's Phoenix]

You could condense the two relations classes to one called politics which will cover both subjects over the course of seven years. It would be best to try not to over complicate things to begin with.

 

[wingthesword]

English: Basically a literature class.

Foreigh Languages: Diifferent Languge classes for whenever you know?

Sex Ed: If you don't know why or what then you need this class as welll.

Physical Education: Sqquishy wizards are Squishy.

Natural science: Bssically how magic interacts with Nature. Animals, plants, weather, stuff like that.

 

[pillz]

Mandatory Internship between 6th and 7th year.

Open Magical Lab, an area to practice and experiment with magic and have a responsible teacher supervise

Only Mandatory Classes: Transfiguration, Charms, Potions, Defense. All others could be subbed out for electives.

A nearby "Muggle" town filled mostly with muggle-born parents, relatives, squibs, muggle government liaisons/researchers ect. Everyone in town is aware of magic, frequent destination for muggle studies.

Now for the list of electives:

1st Year Electives, choose 3

Astro., Herb., Hist., Basic Magical Theory, Politics (All 101's)

2nd year electives, minimum of 4 Max 6

101's, (102's of the 101's), The following 102's Enchanting (Req. O in Charms), Alchemy(Req. O in Potions), Transformations(Req. O in Transfiguration), Dueling (Req. O in DaDa)

3rd year electives, minimum 4 Max 6

101's, 102's(minus any req's), (201's of the 102's), The follow 201's Runes, Magical Creatures, Arithmancy, Divination, Muggle Studies

4th and 5th year remain the same with increasing difficulty levels.

6th Year: NEWT level 1 for all previously mentioned electives. New Electives in Healing, Abnormal Magics, Blood Based Magics, and Student Research Project

7th Year: NEWT level 2, Wandless Magic( Req O in Transfiguration, Charms, Potions, DaDa, Enchanting, Alchemy, Transformations, and Dueling)

101's 102's and additionally 201's

 

[Andrew Joshua Talon]

Hmmm... Reimagine Hogwarts from the ground up, you say?

All right, here's my Curriculum: To every class I will add sixth or seventh year students with a particular aptitude for the subject in question as student teachers. Each subject will get one student from every house at least. If there aren't enough I can hire on graduates.

The Core Subjects will be retained, but many of them are getting revamps:

Charms

Essentially unchanged-Flitwick is a good teacher, he only requires additional help.

Transfiguration

Same for McGonnagal-Despite being Dumbledore's woman through and through, she's good at what she does.

Potions

Get someone other than Snape to teach and provide some 21st century protection for the students. Not to mention moving it the hell out of the dungeons-Somewhere with better ventilation.

Defense Against the Dark Arts

Find two teachers to trade off each year, hopefully eliminating the curse. Alternate classes with theory and practical usage. Focus on real spells for defense and offense, as in Shield Charms, Stunners, and the Reductor Curse. Focus on counter-spells for stuff dark wizards and creatures would actually use.

Herbology

Also essentially unchanged, though I'd add protective eye wear to the gear utilized in the greenhouse.

History of Magic

This is one class I'd heavily revamp. Exorcise Binns and set the class up to focus on a big picture view of history (How We Started and How We Got Here). Have students do essays on particular historical events or persons of note, and use strategies to help them figure out where it all came together.

Astronomy

I get the feeling this class should have been called "Astrology" because Astronomy is an actual science-Astrology is studying the motions of the planets in relationship to Divination, which is wooly at best. Astronomy for the purposes of specific rituals and potions makes a lot more sense. This is probably where I'd bring in a heavy dose of science and math as it relates to the motions of the planets and stars, their compositions, and other things like that. Why would I be teaching basic science to wizards and witches? Well, so the wizards and witches can know what they're actually looking at and thus they can appreciate the Muggle world much more than they otherwise could.

Physical Education

A fit and strong wizard or witch is a powerful wizard or witch, after all. Plus, here House Divisions don't exist-Everyone is part of the group, everybody gets a partner or group to work out with that's assigned randomly.

And now, electives.

Divination

Offered from Third Year on. I'd keep it how it was set up by Firenze, but kindly ask him to include prophecy's influence on history and have him discuss cold reading and how to tell the real deal from a fake. I think he'd enjoy learning that.

Flying

Offered from First Year on. Very much a practical course-You learn to fly well. Then you learn to fly better. And then things get interesting-Especially for those students that think they can handle Bludgers on their tail as part of finals.

Care of Magical Creatures

Offered from Third Year on. Give Hagrid a little supervision, but overall he's a pretty good teacher so there wouldn't be too many changes. Maybe some more protective clothing, and the student teachers would help Hagrid keep an eye on the students so they wouldn't do anything stupid.

Muggle Studies

Offered from Third Year on. I'd add on a few classes to this:

Muggle Technology, Muggle History, and Muggle Culture. And get actual Muggles to teach them. Set several Muggles in the know up in Hogsmeade to provide an "embassy" of sorts.

Household Charms

Offered from Third Year on. Kind of a Domestics Class, but anyone who wants to know how to cook, clean and tidy their home would be encouraged to take it. Also, sewing is always a good skill to have.

Alchemy

Offered from Fourth Year on. Would link to science being taught in Astronomy and Muggle Studies courses, and with China's considerable contribution to the field it would include a bit of Eastern studies. Full Metal Alchemist would definitely be shown, heheh.

Dueling

Offered from Fourth Year on. Hey, if Fake!Moody showed them the Unforgiveables in this year, then Dueling should be offered. Current and former Aurors would be called up to instruct the students, and Flitwick would definitely be brought in too. Silent casting would be among the first lessons.

Arithmancy

Offered from Third Year on. Don't know much about it but it doesn't seem to be a bad class, so keep it as is plus student teachers.

Thaumaturgy

Offered from Third Year on. I'd put Ancient Runes in with Enchantment and Ritualistic Magic as Thaumaturgy is magic that relates to physical effects and items. Plus it sounds cool.

Latin

Offered from Third Year on. Always useful to know for spell creators.

Economics

Offered from Third Year on. Always a good thing to learn.

Political Science

Offered from Third Year on. A pretty basic course for figuring out how the government works. Also doubles as a bit of a history class.

Advanced Core classes would also be offered as electives-Each student must have a minimum of two elective courses with a maximum of six.

 

[MHahn1976]

Physical Education

A fit and strong wizard or witch is a powerful wizard or witch, after all. Plus, here House Divisions don't exist-Everyone is part of the group, everybody gets a partner or group to work out with that's assigned randomly.

Flying

Offered from First Year on. Very much a practical course-You learn to fly well. Then you learn to fly better. And then things get interesting-Especially for those students that think they can handle Bludgers on their tail as part of finals.

Just one question - why is flying broken out from Phys Ed? Unless you're really talented (and thus a possible player for Quidditch) practical flying is not that important to most Witches and Wizards.

One class that I'd add is Magical Orientation for Muggleborns and Muggleraised people. There's just too much that people take for granted that are wizard raised to not have something like this.

 

[Andrew Joshua Talon]

Physical Education

A fit and strong wizard or witch is a powerful wizard or witch, after all. Plus, here House Divisions don't exist-Everyone is part of the group, everybody gets a partner or group to work out with that's assigned randomly.

Flying

Offered from First Year on. Very much a practical course-You learn to fly well. Then you learn to fly better. And then things get interesting-Especially for those students that think they can handle Bludgers on their tail as part of finals.

Just one question - why is flying broken out from Phys Ed? Unless you're really talented (and thus a possible player for Quidditch) practical flying is not that important to most Witches and Wizards.

One class that I'd add is Magical Orientation for Muggleborns and Muggleraised people. There's just too much that people take for granted that are wizard raised to not have something like this.

Flying is an elective offered from First Year. You don't have to take it after First year if you don't want to. And yeah, totally throw in the magical orientation class. We're good!

 

[wingthesword]

One of the things that always bugged me about Harry Potter is that there seems to be so few teachers.

I mean in Elementary/Primary/Whatever the hell you want to call it, there's 1 teacher per ever 20-30 students. The evidence we've gotten seems to indicate that's there's only about40 students per year, so that's fourteen teachers, and yet we only see about about six the rest are elective teachers which the students don't meet until third year. That's less than half what they need.

Flitwick
Mcgonagall
Sprout
Snape
Binns
DADA Teacher for the year

 

[shakeval]

all good ideas, but some seem to have not touched on another point.

while shown in the book, barely, if 'rebuilt' from the ground up i'd have to put in a much more sentient hogwarts, massive amounts of magical energy are constantly being pumped into hogwarts on a regular basis, from what the movies showed hogwarts looked like a dusty old castle and from the books you at least get the idea that it's sometimes cold and dark with fricken torches and candles. hogwarts would be much more.....mutable, constantly changing to the needs required of it, fully heated and air conditioned, we know they have the spells, the light would come from lots of 'growths' along the walls and ceiling of all corridors. while stone makes up lots of the castle, it neither needs to be dusty and dirty now does it need to be cold. Filch is out, there is no reason he should be there anyways, house elves do the cleaning anyways and if the castle leeches the magic completely from a spill it becomes innert and just liquid, easily cleaned up. Another thing i noticed is that not much about the castle is really....'magical' there are a couple things here and there.
but overall it's not really that out there... i'm sure others have other ideas though

 

[bissek]

Destroy the Sorting Hat and the House Cup.

The Hat divides people by personality traits, which serves to exaggerate those traits for no real purpose - making people into caricatures rather than well-rounded individuals. The Cup divides the school against each other for a pointless goal - bragging rights for a teacher and the right to select the decorations in the great hall for one evening.

Grudge matches in the muggle world are common, but the thing there is that you can go through your entire academic career without knowingly meeting someone from your rival school outside of the grudge matches, and then never knowingly meet someone from your rival school ever again after graduating. With Hogwarts, you see your rivals every single day for seven years, and then will have to interact with them on a regular basis for the rest of your life after graduating. It's almost as if the Hogwarts staff is trying to get their society to self-destruct.

 

[Memory King]

Use Pensieves for History lessons.

Add some sort of replacement for art and design, imagination and magic create endless possibilities.

Swimming Lessons.

Spell creation, healing, Enchanting.

I think that's all I can think of.

 

[That Shark Which Was Jump]

Destroy the Sorting Hat and the House Cup.

The Hat divides people by personality traits, which serves to exaggerate those traits for no real purpose - making people into caricatures rather than well-rounded individuals. The Cup divides the school against each other for a pointless goal - bragging rights for a teacher and the right to select the decorations in the great hall for one evening.

Grudge matches in the muggle world are common, but the thing there is that you can go through your entire academic career without knowingly meeting someone from your rival school outside of the grudge matches, and then never knowingly meet someone from your rival school ever again after graduating. With Hogwarts, you see your rivals every single day for seven years, and then will have to interact with them on a regular basis for the rest of your life after graduating. It's almost as if the Hogwarts staff is trying to get their society to self-destruct.

This is probably why the Wizarding World is the sugar-powdered festering cesspit it is in the books, but that topic's already been beaten into the ground.

Anyway, destroying the Sorting Hat is rather extreme, instead...

Radically manipulate the Sorting Hat's parameters to place conflicting personality types together.

This is a good idea because it encourages cooperation with others, teaches valuable lessons about dealing with people in society whom you don't like that DOESN'T involve the grudge matches in the previous scenario, and still keeps the house system around for the teacher gloating privileges inherent in the current house system.

 

[zerohour]

Cooked this up out of boredom.

--- --- ---

Time: July, 1984


"Good evening Mr. Dumbledore, or would you prefer to be called Headmaster?"

"No need for that. The school year is over, after all. Now before we get down to business, would you mind telling me your names?

"Of course Mr. Dumbledore. I am Mr. Zero, and these are my associates, Mr. Thesword, Mr. Pillz, Mr. Talon, Mr. Hahn, and Mr. Bissek."

"A pleasure to meet you, now what is it that brings you here to Hogwarts?"

Mr. Talon stepped forward, "As I'm sure you are aware, the ICW passed an international standards bill two years ago, with the purpose of coordinating and streamlining the wizarding world."

"Ah yes, I remember that session. It's always good to see leaders working together."

"Indeed. I'm sure that you recall one of the sections on the bill was in regards to education." Mr. Pillz spoke up.

"I see, so you're here to make sure Hogwarts is up to snuff? Let me assure you gentlemen, that Hogwarts is still the premier school for magical education." Dumbledore smiled.

Mr. Bissek matched his smile with smirk,"While your assurances are appreciated, they are unnecessary. We have already completed our evaluation of Hogwarts."

"Oh?" Dumbledore responded, perplexed.

"A combination of visits, interviews, and scrying was used to collect the necessary information. We also contacted several of your alumni and reviewed past records." Mr. Zero informed him.

"I... see..." Dumbledore responded, beginning to become concerned.

"Here is a copy of our report, as well as a list of mandatory and recommended changes." Mr. Hahn spoke up, handing the rather large folder to the Headmaster.

There was a brief period of silence, as Dumbledore scanned the list of changes.

"Gentlemen, while I appreciate your suggestions, there is no need for concern. I keep a close eye on everything that occurs within Hogwarts, and if I "

"I think you misunderstand Mr. Dumbledore." Mr. Pillz smiled, "These are not suggestions. They are orders."

"Now listen here Mr. Pillz..."

"NO, IT IS YOU WHO MUST LISTEN MR. DUMBLEDORE!!!" The until now silent Mr. Thesword roared, his voice booming in the office and echoing through the recently emptied halls. Even Dumbledore seemed shocked at the depth and volume of the rather short man's voice.

"My associate is correct. You are required by international law to enact the mandated changes. Rest assured, all schools are being held to the same standard we have established. While several changes are listed as recommended instead of mandated, I would strongly suggest to follow them as well." Mr. Zero stressed, looking meaningfully at the file Dumbledore had.

"Be that as it may-"

"If you have any complaints about these changes, you will have a chance to voice them in November when the ICW reconvenes. You and any other teachers who feel the same way will have a chance to petition for changes then." Mr. Talon informed the Headmaster, not looking at all sorry at the delay.

"In the meantime, an inspector will be by one week before the start of term, and once a month thereafter to make sure that you are enacting the changes. As you know, neglecting this will result in Britain being held in contempt by the ICW, and they will be penalized as such, do you understand Mr. Dumbledore?" Mr. Hahn concluded.

",,, I understand..." Dumbledore replied, clearly put out.

"Now if you'll excuse us, we must be on our way."

"Very well, have a nice day gentlemen..." Dumbledore sighed as he glanced at the list again.

"Good day, Mr. Dumbledore."

--- --- ---

Sorry if your name wasn't used, but I didn;t want to have to many guys in the room. If the mood strikes me, I'll use the others as council members when Dumbledore tries to fight the changes.

 

[shakeval]

yes, now that is certainly more like it.
but i must then wonder.......what those changes were, a second posting would be absolutely smashing, the mandatory, the recommended, reactions from all the teachers and such.

oh i could see lots of interesting things happening.

on another note, something i neglected to place last time.
what we've seen of the library is messy.
big piles of books, one on top of another, mishmash or random stuff, a cleaner and organized library would really help.

but yeah, i can see something like that being cause for a truly massive change up in how things are done at and around hogwarts.

 

[Prince Charon]

Interesting. Wonder how he'll deal with the Snape situation. There's most likely going to be at least a few items in there that will either result in Snape getting the sack, or make him want to leave.

 

[Andrew Joshua Talon]

"Such a shame for you, Mr. Snape, but you see, it is a bit difficult to teach after you've been thrown down the stairs... And up them... Repeatedly. Even with magical medicine."

"You-You can't get away with this! You can't!"

"With what, Mr. Snape? I haven't done anything. My wand hasn't been used once. I believe it could be simply a case of bad luck on your part... Or some vengful students who may or may not have been given some... Samples of modern Japanese, American and Canadian magical pranks. But really sir, I'm only here to observe."

 

[Tentrees]

How about this. Retributive Strike. Voldies if I can't have it nobody can last attack on Hogwarts levels the castle (or damages it so much it has to be disassembled to be rebuilt even with Reparo) and the facility itself has to be abandoned because of a magical contaminate that is lethal to children and sterilizes them in the long term. :jawdrop: :blink: :wacko:

Would you still build it in Scotland? Where in the UK would you build your new school? In what style? What would you strip from the Castle (other then the potions lab and stores, the library (including the sequestered books Dumbles doesn't want anyone to have as he thinks they are to dark for children). I would strip the room of requirements hall of hidden things. The Artwork (including the stained glass if they can be decontaminated), paintings, suits of armor statuary, the furniture might go if not contaminated. Ditto any records. The greenhouses would be stripped of seeds/cuttings and burned to the ground.

What would you do? Say after Voldies first fall but before Harry gets his letter, someone's potions experiment stumbles on the formula for nitro glycerin and leaves the three gallon cauldron in a closed dorm room over the summer. In comes house elf to clean the night the kids are are off to their summer vacation. Elf tries to vanish the gooey stuf and instead it sparks, the resulting blast over cracks the slytherin dorm where the experement was being conducted and lets the lake flood the lower levels ove the next few hours. The staff doesn't see this as they are getting ripped after surviving another year or have already left the castle. This floods the furnace room and the kitchens (elves poped away) and the chamber of secrets where a basilisk drowns in its sleep and the resulting toxins released ffrom the body poison the well and the water in the lower levels of the school.

Use the Shark who Jumped idea and re-work the sorting hat to mix personality traits equally between the houses. Make the kids gwork out their differences or discover methods of coping.

 

[DrTempo]

Snip

I LOVED this! If Iwas a Hogwarts teacher, I'd teach Muggle Studies myself.

 

[zerohour]

You know, I think this is the first time the name "Mr. Dumbledore" has been used.

If DUmbledore fights this, and you know he will, he going to hurt himself, a lot. While he can probably get some of the changes revoked, other attempts are likely to backfire and screw him over.

For example: Keeping Snape around. It's obvious that he sucks at teaching, but Dumbledore wants to keep him around. When Dumbledore fights this, the hearign panel will likely say that there is a conflict of interest between Dumbledore as Headmaster, and Dumbledore as Supreme Mugwump or head of the ICW, and as such, he must forfeit on of those positions.

Other changes, like removing Peeves, are more likely to be in DUmbledore's favor, since Peeves doesn't seem to disrupt classes or enter the Dorms, mainly keeping his chaos to the hallways.

Another possible change that will end with a compromise is the age at which a Muggleborn is told of their magic. In general, they get told at age 11, and the recommended change is before the child's first birthday. This will probably be compromised with telling the family around age 7.


The battle over Snape is probably going to be one of the first fights, since Dumbledore will lose that. That will establish that yes, they are serious about the changes. It will also force Dumbledore to be more pragmatic, an actually support his positions and protest with something other than "I'm Dumbledore, agree with me." Hamstringing his power is going to accelerate that, as he'll see that saying "I'm Dumbledore" is the fast track to losing all of his influence.




So, any ideas about additional changes that aren't directly relevant? Here's a couple that I thought up:

-Separate Dorms for Girls and Boys
-Potion ingredients must be supplied by the School
-Mandated Staff Sabbaticals (not sure on how often, but I was thinking 1 semester every 5 years)
-Teacher Evaluations at the end of the year
-No familiars permitted
-Firing of Binns

Any potential changes are good, but try to include some neutral/bad ones. We gotta let Dumbledore win few of them at least.

 

[FreedInhibition]

I always thought it strange that they teach first years to fly despite the fact that they can not have their own broom on campus. Wouldn't it be more logical for them to wait a year and have everyone learn with their own broom if they have one?

Unless the whole reason for no brooms first year is so that when being taught how to fly everyone is on an even playing field instead of people who own their own broom becoming infatuated with their superiority?

So: Repeal the no broom rule for first years. This would be a neutral change that Mr. Dumb could get overthrown.

 

[blackrosekodachi]

Now for the list of electives:

1st Year Electives, choose 3

Astro., Herb., Hist., Basic Magical Theory, Politics (All 101's)

2nd year electives, minimum of 4 Max 6

101's, (102's of the 101's), The following 102's Enchanting (Req. O in Charms), Alchemy(Req. O in Potions), Transformations(Req. O in Transfiguration), Dueling (Req. O in DaDa)

3rd year electives, minimum 4 Max 6

101's, 102's(minus any req's), (201's of the 102's), The follow 201's Runes, Magical Creatures, Arithmancy, Divination, Muggle Studies

4th and 5th year remain the same with increasing difficulty levels.

6th Year: NEWT level 1 for all previously mentioned electives. New Electives in Healing, Abnormal Magics, Blood Based Magics, and Student Research Project

7th Year: NEWT level 2, Wandless Magic( Req O in Transfiguration, Charms, Potions, DaDa, Enchanting, Alchemy, Transformations, and Dueling)

101's 102's and additionally 201's

For the electives, in keeping with the college theme I'd say students have to take at least one, preferably two terms of each of your First Year electives. This means you could churn out that requirement before Second Year -- Third Year if you say two terms -- or stick with one or more if you found you really liked it; Neville might keep Herbology. I doubt anyone is going to keep Astronomy or History if they don't have to -- one's a snoozefest, and the other is in the middle of the night

For the second year electives, at first I was bugged by the idea that you were letting twelve year old kids into such studies. Then I read a little further. I rather like the idea of getting to take the course a year early if you're good enough. This means that, to use American GPA style, an Outstanding must be 3.9-4.0, or possibly 4.0+ if you allow weighted grading due to extra credit work.

I think all students should be required to attend an abbreviated version of the course in Second Year, to give them a better understanding of the subject matter and allow them to make more informed decisions. This "decide what classes you want to take the morning of" shit is a complete joke. I can't imagine why JKR had it happen at all.

To continue the trend, I think you should be able to get into the NEWT-level electives in Fifth Year if you can prove Outstanding ability. I doubt most students would bother -- it's OWLs year, and there's a lot of revising to do.

 

[Chuckg]

My thoughts:

Well, the most obvious is 'Use the same hiring and firing practices that any remotely reputable normal school would use for selecting teachers'. That is to say, you have to have at least reasonable competence at teaching, and being caught emotionally abusing the students or grossly misusing the disciplinary system for favoritism or otherwise being Professor Snape results in you being invited to pursue exciting career opportunities in another field, i.e, the sack.

Some basic phys ed is also a great idea. Perhaps fold it into DADA, and require everyone to take basic martial arts training, or at least "wand drill". ('This year, we are going to learn how to physically dodge hexes while firing back accurately. So be prepared to sweat a lot, because we are going to go through something I understand Muggles call "the confidence course". Failure to move fast or duck enough means getting hit by my Fully Automatic Stinging Hex.')

Also, vocational courses -- not everyone is going to ace their NEWTs and go into advanced study. Spend the last couple of years taking those that won't and helping them apprentice into useful trades, or learning how to set up and operate their own small business (as opposed to having to do it all self-study, like the Weasley twins). They can't all end up driving the Knight Bus or waiting tables at the Leaky Cauldron, and I doubt Magical Britain has the dole.

As for the House system -- I actually won't burn the Sorting Hat. There is a usefulness in ensuring that your dorm, where you let down your guard, is where you are surrounded by people selected for at least basic compatibility. Remember, unlike a Muggle boarding school, every single student in this place packs a loaded weapon, and everybody but the First Years can fire at least one painful or damaging (if not lethal) spell with it. So, keep the Houses, the House dorms, and even a small basic House common room.

What I would abolish are House dining tables. Sit where you want, eat with who you bloody want. Also, I would common spaces available for socializing outside your House. In fact, I'd put all the comfy chairs and magazines there. Your House common room is simply a place to park your hips after curfew that isn't on your own bed, and maybe get some light reading done. I.e., subtly encourage people to get out of their shells and cross-pollinate, but also allow a minimal safe area to retreat back into if necessary.

And, as many fanfics have pointed out, the House Cup is really just the Suck-Up Trophy. Some kind of points system is useful, and peer pressure is also useful, but actually give out tangible prizes for winning. Such as "the points leader every month gets their House a Hogsmeade Saturday" or somesuch. Also, while day-to-day monitoring may not be necessary, at least keep an occasional eye on the points log to spot obvious abuse. When the record shows that 90% of Slytherin's +points come from one teacher, who also single-handedly assigns like 65% of the other -points for across the school (especially Gryffindor), while that same teacher assigns -0 points to Slytherin ever, well, again, its time to slap Professor Snape.

 

[Andrew Joshua Talon]

while that same teacher assigns -0 points to Slytherin ever, well, again, its time to slap Professor Snape.

But when is it not a good time to smack ol' Snivellus around?

 

[Lord of Bones]

while that same teacher assigns -0 points to Slytherin ever, well, again, its time to slap Professor Snape.

But when is it not a good time to smack ol' Snivellus around?

I eagerly await the coming of a fic where Lily and James survived Voldemort, and James finds out about Snape's role in the near-death of his son and his intentions towards Lily.

And...AJT, hows the next part of 'That Boy Is Trouble' coming along?