fandomhigh | DADA for Muggles [Wednesday, October 7, 5th period]

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dada for muggles

DADA for Muggles [Wednesday, October 7, 5th period]

Today's session was back in the usual classroom, though space had been cleared in the center of the room. The sky overhead was enchanted a bright blue, possibly to counteract the glare on Sirius's face.

"In our world, there are three spells that are known as the Unforgivable Curses," Sirius began, not looking at Remus as he took a spider from a glass jar and placed it on the desk in front of him. There had been Words about this particular lesson plan. "Using them on an another human being guarantees you a lifetime spent in Azkaban Prison. Since today's lesson is about mind control, and you are all mature students it seems appropriate to show you an example of the Imperius Curse." Sirius pointed his wand at the spider, murmuring, "Engorgio," and the spider tripled in size, so that all of the students could see it clearly. "Under the spell of Imperius, the victim is completely under the control of the witch or wizard who cast it. The very strong-willed can shake off the Imperius Curse," Sirius continued as the spider wiggled its legs around, "but it is a very difficult thing to learn." He waved his wand again and muttered, "Imperio." The spider stopped moving. Without looking at Remus, Sirius commanded the spider quietly, "Dance."

It was really excellent that he wasn't looking at Remus, as the man in question looked absolutely furious at the use of the curse in class. That was not in the lesson plan, which Remus had carefully written out and Sirius had undoubtedly not read at all. The spider, as it happened, did dance, its legs flailing out in a sick little tapdance. "The Imperius is one of the three Unforgivable Curses in our world," he said, glaring daggers at Sirius, "which are called that for a reason. Mind control is not something to experiment with. Outside of the experience of myself and Professor Black, I understand that there are a number of you who know of practices like this in your own home worlds. Even in the Muggle world, brainwashing is not a horribly-unheard-of practice. There are few things more terrifying than not being in control of your own actions." And if anyone would know, he would. "So, why does this sort of mind-control seem to be so common across universes? Is it simply that inherent desire to control that which you can't?"

"And after you've answered those questions, we'd like you to participate in an exercise," Sirius said, returning the spider to its normal size, popping it back into its jar, and then shooting Remus the sort of insolent look that had sent Snape into a fury when they were all students together. "We're going to pair you up to play Simon Says." After a very brief explanation of the game, Sirius reached for a sheet of parchment. "The following people are Simons. The rest of you must follow their instructions."

SIMON:
Blysse Norwood
Sam Winchester
Alex Karev
Alice Liddell
Eleanor Robinson
George Sands
Andy Gallagher
Priestly
Didi
Edmund Pevensie
Griffin O'Conner

SIMONEES:
Jo Harvelle
Momoko Akatsutsumi
Jenny Sparks
Diana Hansen
George Cooper
Francine Peters
Merlin
Annja Creed
Elizabeth Stonem
Jack Burton
Dinah Lance

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Simons: Blysse Norwood, Sam Winchester, Alex Karev, Alice Liddell, Eleanor Robinson, George Sands, Andy Gallagher, Priestly, Didi, Edmund Pevensie, and Griffin O'Conner.

Simonees: Jo Harvelle, Momoko Akatsutsumi, Jenny Sparks, Diana Hansen, George Cooper, Francine Peters, Merlin, Annja Creed, Elizabeth Stonem, Jack Burton, and Dinah Lance.

Jenny was good at giving orders, but not so good at following them. So she basically planned to be horrible at this, and possibly annoy the pants off her Simon in the process.

She would've gotten low marks in 'plays well with others' at nursery school, yes.

"Touch your toes twelve times," Alice said, brusquely. "In quick succession."

Jenny was tempted to do it just because she hadn't said 'Simon Says,' but doubted she could touch her toes if she tried. So she did nothing.

"Very good," Alice said. "Now. Simon says ..."

She frowned. "Shouldn't it be Alice Says? I'm not Simon."

Jenny shrugged. "I have to be completely honest, I'm not planning to do anything either way. I do wonder why it's always Simon, though."

Re: Play Simon Says! [DADA 10/7]

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Re: Play Simon Says! [DADA 10/7]

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Re: Play Simon Says! [DADA 10/7]

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Re: Play Simon Says! [DADA 10/7]

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Priestly didn't much like this exercise. From either side of the divide.

"Simon says . . . do whatever the hell you feel like."

Jack quirked a grin at Priestly and followed those orders to a T.

Effy wasn't about to walk over there and ask someone to order her around. If they wanted that, they were just going to have to come to her, weren't they?

Much as she approved of control games under the right circumstances, you could say the real life mind control aspect from earlier in the class creeped her out a little, yeah.

"Ready to be bossed around?" Didi said, voice amused and resigned to the concept. She planned for her orders to amount to asking Effy to do what she was going to do, anyhow.

"I suppose," Effy allowed after a moment, and actually sat up a little more. "Although, really depends what you're telling me to do."

"It usually would," Didi shrugged. "What were you going to do for the rest of class if nobody came up to you?"

"Watch other people make fools of themselves following dumb instructions," Effy replied easily.

You could be sure someone in a class like this would be telling people to stick pencils up their nose or trying to lick their elbow.

Re: Play Simon Says! [DADA 10/7]

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Re: Play Simon Says! [DADA 10/7]

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Re: Play Simon Says! [DADA 10/7]

pastmewrong.livejournal.com - 2009-10-07 20:12 (UTC) - Expand

Eleanor ... really didn't want to do this exercise. She wondered if there was some way she could get out of it.

Then it occurred to her, she simply wouldn't give orders. Period.

"This is not one of those games I have ever been good at," Annja said. "Me and taking orders... well..."

"Then you have nothing to worry about from me. I don't intend to give you any orders."

Annja gave her a small smile. "That's a big relief," she said with a nod.

"Oh good," she smiled lightly. "I just can't agree with making someone do something against their will. Even if it's supposed to be a game."

She had a good reason for feeling that way.

Re: Play Simon Says! [DADA 10/7]

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Re: Play Simon Says! [DADA 10/7]

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Re: Play Simon Says! [DADA 10/7]

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Re: Play Simon Says! [DADA 10/7]

heartflames.livejournal.com - 2009-10-07 13:06 (UTC) - Expand

Francine wasn't a big fan of Simon Says either, but not because of the following orders thing. You followed the other person's orders voluntarily. You could always quit if they told you something you didn't want to do. It was just that the whole thing made her nervous about doing it right, and fast enough, and getting laughed at if she screwed up.

Firekeeper gave Francine a tiny smile. "You wish to play?" she asked.

Well, Firekeeper at least wouldn't laugh. "I guess? It's not my favorite game, but I trust you not to tell me to... stand on my head and sing the Banana Boat Song."

Very funny, Benjamin. Very funny. Little sisters have loooong memories.

"Am not even knowing what that is," Firekeeper pointed out. "So, yes, can trust me not to ask this of you."

Ever helpful, Francine sang "Come mister tally-man, tally me banana... daylight come and me wan' go hoooooome." Sort of correctly.

Re: Play Simon Says! [DADA 10/7]

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Re: Play Simon Says! [DADA 10/7]

thatsamilkshake - 2009-10-08 02:38 (UTC) - Expand

Diana was very, very glad that she wasn't playing a Simon. Everyone doing what she said whether they wanted to or not would be very hard to explain to her classmates and teachers.

Momoko rolled her eyes. She was totally not used to being the one taking orders and wasn't sure how much fun this game could possibly be. But it was a class exercise, so she waited for her 'Simon'.

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