Chapter 15

Third year.

After the sorting ceremony, in which, Astoria was sorted in the Slytherin house, Dumbledore told everyone about the dementors. It was certainly a disastrous decision taken by the ministry to have soul suckers fly around a castle full of children.

Remus Lupin was introduced as the Defence against the Dark Arts teacher and Hagrid was chosen to be the new Care for Magical Creatures teacher.

Gentle as he was, Hagrid was not a good choice. The half-giant was a walking disaster. But, Dumbledore was never known to make good choices. Letting Tommy roam around freely, allowing the death eaters to remain free with just a slap on their wrists, choosing Lockhart to be the Defense teacher... The list goes on.

*Sigh* 'I just hope for another quiet year.'

(AWU)

First class on the first day..

History of Magic.

Unlike others, I actually liked the subject. So, I was always attentive.

"Today we will be studying about the 'Witch trials of the 14th century. It is written in our history that Prosecutions for the 'crime' of witchcraft reached a highpoint from 1580 to 1630 during which the 'Counter-Reformation' and the Europian wars of religion, whwn an estimated 50,000 people were burned at the stake, of whom roughly 33% were magicals, and most over the age of 40."

My brows rose to my hairline at the genocide.

'Well, it wasn't the last.'

"Inquisitions against witchcraft have been recorded to have begun as early as the early 11th century in Southern France, as a result of mainstream Christian doctorine that denied our existance, condemning us to be nothing but pagan superstition. It is argued that the work of the Dominican Thomas Aquinas in 13th century helped lay the groundwork for a shift in the doctorine, which led to the belief of our existance being as a result of collaboration with the devil."

'Religious leaders used to have too much power. And boy did it corrupt them.'

The lesson was an amazing reminder to what power and superstition does to a person. If only the students payed more attention in the class.

(AWU)

"How could you possibly enjoy the History of magic class?" Daphne asked as we were sitting in the library.

I shrugged and replied, "It's history! You learn about the lives of our ancestors, the kind of beliefs they had, the decisions they made and their impact that you still see in the society. Take today's lecture for example. The witch trials in Europe and USA was the reason behind the establishment of the Statute of Secrecy and the isolation of us magicals from the muggles. Knowing how and why the Statute was agreed upon helps us understand the danger our exposure to the world poses us. Even back in those days, the magicals chose to hide than fight the muggles. After hundreds of years, muggles have advanced in warfare and the danger they pose has only increased. Radical groups like the Death Eaters are a risk to our very existance. History helps us understand why... Sometimes, I think if Binns was a better teacher, the Wizzarding war would never have happened."

By the time I finished speaking, I had gained the attention of the entire area in the library and it was possible that they had heard everything I had said... If their expressions were any indication.

Suffice to say that word of what I had said was spread all over the castle.

For the first time since the sorting ceremony, I had gained the attention of everyone at Hogwarts.

(AWU)

Fear.

It is a basic emotion of every sentient living being and a necessary one. It helps in survival of the being. In fact, it was fear of death and want of survival that aided in evolution!

But, fear can affect us in such a way that we act against our very nature.

It was fear of the unknown that led the religious men of the old to orchestrate the witch trials. It was fear of losing power and civil uprising that led to the 'Jalianwala Bagh Massacre' in India. It was fear that allowed various politicians and religious extremists to create wars.

It was fear of death that caused Voldemort to create horcruxes.

I always wondered what I feared the most. Was it death? No. I had already died and seen the afterlife. Was it pain? No. Pain is not something that scared me. It was an inconvenience that also caused great discomfort. But, it did not induce fear.

Or was is loss?

As the boggart tried to take shape of my fear, It transformed into my family.

I knew that I feared I would be the cause of their pain. But, the moment the boggart took their shape, I suppressed that emotion. Yes, I feared being the cause of pain to others. But, my will was strong enough for me to 'know' that I was capable of preventing it.

The boggart tried to take another form bit to no avail.

No matter what made me afraid, I was confident that I could face it and overcome it.

I was not afraid of failing my trials... For I had an unbreakable will.

In that class of Defense against the Dark Arts, I was the only one who stood fearless.