It's Really You (Newt Scamander x Reader)

Chapter 5: Astrology and History of Magic

The Natural Astrology Chart

The natural astrology chart, or flat chart, always start at 0.00 degree of Aries (the natural Ascendant of the Zodiac) and works its way counter-clockwise until it ends at 29.59.59 degrees Pisces. This is because the Western Tropical Zodiac aligns with the ecliptic and begins at the moment of the vernal (spring) equinox.

The yearly cycle is likened to a circle and just like the circle it has 360 degrees. There are 12 Zodiac Signs and each sign is precisely 30 degrees of arc.

Below is the picture of the natural astrology chart. Study it carefully.

"For homework, practice putting planets and Zodiac signs on the empty chart below exactly like the picture above in your book. Don't worry if you don't quite understand everything just yet. The important thing right now is for you to learn the symbols and their correct placement on the natural astrology chart. Have a nice day."

All first years started to gather their belongings and heading to the next lesson.

"We have History of Magic next right?" I asked Y/n while going down the stairs of the Astronomy Tower.

"Yes. It is on the first floor." She said and we headed there.

"You know, my older brother told me that the History of Magic professor is a ghost."

"Really?" Y/n asked curiously.

"I don't know that for sure but we can find out."

As soon as we reached the Classroom 4F and took our seats a ghost flew from behind the board. So my brother Theseus wasn't lying to me.

"Your brother told you the truth." Y/n whispered to me.

"Yes, he did."

"Hello, Class. I'm professor Binns. Today we are going to talk about gargoyles. Open your books on page 10, please."

And so we did. Professor was saying everything exactly as was written in the book. His voice wasn't the most pleasant thing to hear so I decided to read myself.

The term 'gargoyle' is used in several different ways in our language. It is used as an interjection ("Gulpin' Gargoyles!") And as a disparaging nickname for someone who is mean and unbending (e. g. "Yeh don' know them gargoyles at the Committee fer the Disposal o' Dangerous Creatures!"), rather stupid ("You gargoyles will buy anything."), or even completely despicable ("That foul, lying, twisting old gargoyle!"). But what is a gargoyle and why are the important in the Wizarding World?

Gargoyle refers to a carved stone or statue with an ugly monstrous design. Since medieval times, Gargoyle statues have been commonly seen in many structures and buildings, including the Hogwarts Castle.

Architecturally, two distinctions are made between gargoyles: functional ones, whose purpose is to direct water away the sides of a building through their spouts; and aesthetic gargoyles, whose appeareance is said by the superstitious to add to their ability to ward off evil.

It should be noted that, whilst some gargoyles, do seem to have some degree of sentience, this is not known to be an innate ability and any noted animation is likely due to magic, such as charm. Therefore all gargoyles are are considered semi-sentied.

The word gargoyle comes from the French word 'gargoullie', meaning "throat" or "gullet". In Latin gurgulio, gula, and similar words derived from the root gar, meaning "to swallow", which represented the gurgling sound of water.

For many centuries, gargoyles have been used to guard large buildings for wizards. Their semi-sentience allows the gargoyle to speak and sometimes move by itself. This makes them an excellent candidate to be an 'alarm' in since for the wizards within the buildings. The gargoyles themselves are not used to fight off intruders but rather used to block entries to specific passages unless given the right password. The wizards of the Windilow Castle were the reason the Ministry of Magic declared to use gargoyles only as 'alarms' or barriers to block passage.

The Gargoyle Strike in 1811 is one of the most noted strikes within the Wizarding Community. It was a wildcat strike of gargoyles that occurred in 1811. These gargoyles enchanted to hold almost pure sentience to allow them to attack intruders that dared try to enter without their permission.

The gargoyles of Windilow Castle had collective decided they were no longer going to guard the castle from intruders because the inmates of the castle treated them with such disrespect. It is said that wizards in this castle were constantly harassing these gargoyles with demeaning comments as well as defacing many of them that "weren't scary looking enough" in their minds to ward off their enemies. The wizards were also said to have smashed several gargoyles that they believed weren't scary looking enough in front of these semi-sentient creatures.

The gargoyles at this castle begin to commutatively rebel by refusing to warn if intruders were to come and refusing to stand on post until the wizards would treat them with higher respect. The gargoyles were winning at some point during the strike when something noteworthy happened.

A group of wizards in the castle that were not yet swayed to treat these creatures better, decided to destroy the gargoyles. They set out and begin dismantling many. This caused the gargoyles to turn on the entire castle and a bloody battle begun between the stoned creatures and wizards. Several wizards were killed and in the end the Ministry of Magic was summoned to short the issue. The Ministry destroyed all gargoyles at the castle and then passed a law in 1813 that no wizard can creature objects to become sentient without the Ministry's approval.

"For homework, find five sentient/talking gargoyles in Hogwarts and have a small conversation with them. 抖阴社区 down this conversation with them. Make sure it includes gargoyles's name and three facts they have told you about themselves. Good luck!"

Y/n and I collected our things and walked out of the classroom.

"Maybe we can go look for gargoyles now?" I asked.

I didn't want to go on my own. It's not like I'm afraid, I just don't want to go alone. And Y/n is my only friend.

"Yes, we can. I really want to talk to some gargoyles. Just let me drop my books in my dorm."

"Alright. Let's meet at the bottom of the stairs."

"Okay."

And so we went the separate ways. And after we met again we had an adventure all around the castle, looking for gargoyles and just enjoying each others company.