Saturday, November 30, 2019
Timothy Brown Essays (1093 words) - Military, United States Army
Timothy Brown Prof. Julian Rierson Compensation/ Benefits April 23, 2017 My Career Path Army officers are some of the best leaders in the world . Being an officer gives you an opportunity to grow professionally and personally. Education is a major key in the army. Since the beginning of my army career 3 years ago, my leaders always pushed me to learn new things. Being an officer , you need to well educated in a variety of topics. I believe with having a management degree it will help me lead other better. Officers take care of their subordinates, unlike some leaders I've encountered in the civilian world. Being an officer I plan on taking care of and motivating my subordinates to be the best at their full potential. Becoming an officer would be a great feeling. Being in the ROTC program gives me the opportunity to grow into the leader I want to be. Leading by example is something all officers should display. From watching officers throughout my military career they exemplify self-discipline, confidence, present military and professional bear ing. Those are some characteristics I wish to build while becoming an officer. Living by he army values are stepping stone to becoming a great military leader. Resilience is one of the biggest thing I've learned how to show since I've joined the army. No matter how hard things get I will continue to try and keep pushing. When a leader exemplifies resilience it will motivate their followers to do the same. The military has plenty of ways benefiting me financially, academically, and personally. For my career choice I was limited on some of the information . I specifically want to be an aviation officer. The SOC code for an aviation officer is 55-1011. An aviation officer is responsible for coordination of aviation operations from maintenance to controlling tower operations to tactical field operations. CITATION Uni1 \l 1033 (United State Army) The salary for an army officer varies depending on rank and years served. CITATION Uni \l 1033 (United States Army) Starting out as a Second Lieutenant with 2 or less years of service is $36,417.60. The amounts represented above is just base salary, which doesn't include bonuses, allowances and other benefits. The total compensation amount would be way more than the above amount. Most of the information for salary about an army officer was found on the actual army website. The bas e pay is the same in all states so I couldn't find certain pay for only the Columbus, Ga area. The army is constantly growing everyday. An article from USA today states that this year the Army is spending $300 million on bonuses and ads to get an additional 6,000 recruits than normal. By Oct. 1, the Army is going for a target of 476,000 active duty soldiers, up from the previous goal of 460,000. President Trump has said he wants an even larger force as many as 60,000 more soldiers. CITATION Chr \l 1033 (Chantrill) CITATION Bur \l 1033 (Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Dep artment of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook,) The army will double bonuses for new recruits in the hard to fill positions. Advertisement plays a big role in the growth of the army. The army is planning to spend $100 million on marketing to reach new recruits, which will reference the increase in the bonus amount. With this increase in bonuses this will motivate more people to join. The army now offer a two-year enlistment, which is lower than the normal three, four or more years. CITATION Tom17 \l 1033 (Brook) CITATION Chr \l 1033 (Chantrill) Above is a chart showing how much the US spend on its defenses. If you look at 2017 the amount is more than other years, because the target the military make increasing the amount of recruits entering the army. Opportunities should be good for qualified individuals in the military, plenty of the services that the military offer help fill entry-level and professional positions as current members move through the ranks, leave the service, or even retire. When the economy is thriving and civilian employment opportunities are generally more favorable, it is more difficult for the military to meet its recruitment quotas.
Monday, November 25, 2019
Spottswood W. Robinson III essays
Spottswood W. Robinson III essays Spottswood William Robinson, III was born in Richmond, Virginia on July 26, 1916. As a young man, Spottswood Robinson had two heroes, his father and his grandfather. Actually, he idolized his grandfather, who had been born into slavery, yet persevered and later became a successful businessman. He has said that his grandfather and father were strong influences in his life. He went to Virginia Union University when he was the age of 17. When he finished his studies there he then attended Howard University School of Law. His professors became his new heroes because they helped him to see the law as a means of solving the basic problems of American society. For Robinson, these new things became a challenge that gave his life purpose. In 1939 he graduated first in his class. According to Harry T. Edwards, Judge of the U.S. Court of Appeals, "Robinson graduated from Howard Law School with what is still reputed to be the highest scholastic average in the school's history." The men who taught and inspired him were great lawyers of the time. Their names were William Hastie, George E.C. Hayes, Charles Houston, Bernard S. Jefferson, W. R. Ming, James M. Nabrit, Jr. and Leon A. Ransom. After graduation Robinson became a faculty member of the Howard University School of Law from 1939 until 1947.Ã He also, along with his mentors and another group of Howard-trained Attorneys Thurgood Marshall, Oliver Hill, Arthur Shores and C. Wolden met at Howard or in nearby cities to assist each other in preparing civil rights cases. They were a marvelous group of men who unselfishly gave time and knowledge to the cause of civil rights. At various times, Robinson was an instructor, professor and also a partner in the law firm of Hill, Martin and Robinson in Richmond. Robinson was one of the core attorneys of the NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund from 1948 to 1960. Through the NAACP Robinson worked on important civil rights cases including ...
Friday, November 22, 2019
Chapter 12 The Patronus
As far as he was concerned, the stripping-down of a brand-new Firebolt was nothing less than criminal damage. Hermione, who remained convinced that she had acted for the best, started avoiding the common room. Harry and Ron supposed she had taken refuge in the library and didnââ¬â¢t try to persuade her to come back. All in all, they were glad when the rest of the school returned shortly after New Year, and Gryffindor Tower became crowded and noisy again. Wood sought Harry out on the night before term started. ââ¬Å"Had a good Christmas?â⬠he said, and then, without waiting for an answer, he sat down, lowered his voice, and said, ââ¬Å"Iââ¬â¢ve been, doing some thinking over Christmas, Harry. After last match, you know. If the Dementors come to the next oneâ⬠¦I meanâ⬠¦we canââ¬â¢t afford you to ââ¬â well ââ¬âââ¬Å" Wood broke off, looking awkward. ââ¬Å"Iââ¬â¢m working on it,â⬠said Harry quickly. ââ¬Å"Professor Lupin said heââ¬â¢d train me to ward off the Dementors. We should be starting this week. He said heââ¬â¢d have time after Christmas.â⬠ââ¬Å"Ah,â⬠said Wood, his expression clearing. ââ¬Å"Well, in that case ââ¬â I really didnââ¬â¢t want to lose you as Seeker, Harry. And have you ordered a new broom yet?â⬠ââ¬Å"No,â⬠said Harry. ââ¬Å"What! Youââ¬â¢d better get a move on, you know ââ¬â you canââ¬â¢t ride that Shooting Star against Ravenclaw!â⬠ââ¬Å"He got a Firebolt for Christmas,â⬠said Ron. ââ¬Å"A Firebolt? No! Seriously? A ââ¬â a real Firebolt?â⬠ââ¬Å"Donââ¬â¢t get excited, Oliver,â⬠said Harry gloomily. ââ¬Å"I havenââ¬â¢t got it anymore. It was confiscated.â⬠And he explained all about how the Firebolt was now being checked for jinxes. ââ¬Å"Jinxed? How could it be jinxed?â⬠ââ¬Å"Sirius Black,â⬠Harry said wearily. ââ¬Å"Heââ¬â¢s supposed to be after me. So McGonagall reckons he might have sent it.â⬠Waving aside the information that a famous murderer was after his Seeker, Wood said, ââ¬Å"But Black couldnââ¬â¢t have bought a Firebolt! Heââ¬â¢s on the run! The whole countryââ¬â¢s on the lookout for him! How could he just walk into Quality Quidditch Supplies and buy a broomstick?â⬠ââ¬Å"I know,â⬠said Harry, ââ¬Å"but McGonagall still wants to strip it down ââ¬âââ¬Å" Wood went pale. ââ¬Å"Iââ¬â¢ll go and talk to her, Harry,â⬠he promised. ââ¬Å"Iââ¬â¢ll make her see reasonâ⬠¦A Fireboltâ⬠¦a real Firebolt, on our team â⬠¦She wants Gryffindor to win as much as we doâ⬠¦Iââ¬â¢ll make her see sense. A Fireboltâ⬠¦.â⬠Classes started again the next day. The last thing anyone felt like doing was spending two hours on the grounds on a raw January morning, but Hagrid had provided a bonfire full of salamanders for their enjoyment, and they spent an unusually good lesson collecting dry wood and leaves to keep the fire blazing while the flame-loving lizards scampered up and down the crumbling, white-hot logs. The first Divination lesson of the new term was much less fun; Professor Trelawney was now teaching them palmistry, and she lost no time in informing Harry that he had the shortest life line she had ever seen. It was Defense Against the Dark Arts that Harry was keen to get to; after his conversation with Wood, he wanted to get started on his anti-Dementor lessons as soon as possible. ââ¬Å"Ah yes,â⬠said Lupin, when Harry reminded him of his promise at the end of class. ââ¬Å"Let me seeâ⬠¦how about eight oââ¬â¢clock on Thursday evening? The History of Magic classroom should be large enoughâ⬠¦Iââ¬â¢ll have to think carefully about how weââ¬â¢re going to do thisâ⬠¦We canââ¬â¢t bring a real Dementor into the castle to practice onâ⬠¦.â⬠ââ¬Å"Still looks ill, doesnââ¬â¢t he?â⬠said Ron as they walked down the corridor, heading to dinner. ââ¬Å"What dââ¬â¢you reckonââ¬â¢s the matter with him?â⬠There was a loud and impatient ââ¬Å"tuhâ⬠from behind them. It was Hermione, who had been sitting at the feet of a suit of armor, repacking her bag, which was so full of books it wouldnââ¬â¢t close. ââ¬Å"And what are you tutting at us for?â⬠said Ron irritably. ââ¬Å"Nothing,â⬠said Hermione in a lofty voice, heaving her bag back over her shoulder. ââ¬Å"Yes, you were,â⬠said Ron. ââ¬Å"I said I wonder whatââ¬â¢s wrong with Lupin, and you ââ¬âââ¬Å" ââ¬Å"Well, isnââ¬â¢t it obvious?â⬠said Hermione, with a look of maddening superiority. ââ¬Å"If you donââ¬â¢t want to tell us, donââ¬â¢t,â⬠snapped Ron. ââ¬Å"Fine,â⬠said Hermione haughtily, and she marched off. ââ¬Å"She doesnââ¬â¢t know,â⬠said Ron, staring resentfully after Hermione. ââ¬Å"Sheââ¬â¢s just trying to get us to talk to her again.â⬠At eight oââ¬â¢clock on Thursday evening, Harry left Gryffindor Tower for the History of Magic classroom. It was dark and empty when he arrived, but he lit the lamps with his wand and had waited only five minutes when Professor Lupin turned up, carrying a large packing case, which he heaved onto Professor Binnââ¬â¢s desk. ââ¬Å"Whatââ¬â¢s that?â⬠said Harry. ââ¬Å"Another Boggart,â⬠said Lupin, stripping off his cloak. ââ¬Å"Iââ¬â¢ve been combing the castle ever since Tuesday, and very luckily, I found this one lurking inside Mr. Filchââ¬â¢s filing cabinet. Itââ¬â¢s the nearest weââ¬â¢ll get to a real Dementor. The Boggart will turn into a Dementor when he sees you, so weââ¬â¢ll be able to practice on him. I can store him in my office when weââ¬â¢re not using him; thereââ¬â¢s a cupboard under my desk heââ¬â¢ll like.â⬠ââ¬Å"Okay,â⬠said Harry, trying to sound as though he wasnââ¬â¢t apprehensive at all and merely glad that Lupin had found such a good substitute for a real Dementor. ââ¬Å"Soâ⬠¦Ã¢â¬ Professor Lupin had taken out his own wand, and indicated that Harry should do the same. ââ¬Å"The spell I am going to try and teach you is highly advanced magic, Harry ââ¬â well beyond Ordinary Wizarding Level. It is called the Patronus Charm.â⬠ââ¬Å"How does it work?â⬠said Harry nervously. ââ¬Å"Well, when it works correctly, It conjures up a Patronus,â⬠said Lupin, ââ¬Å"which is a kind of anti-Dementor ââ¬â a guardian that acts as a shield between you and the Dementor.â⬠Harry had a sudden vision of himself crouching behind a Hagrid-sized figure holding a large club. Professor Lupin continued, ââ¬Å"The Patronus is a kind of positive force, a projection of the very things that the Dementor feeds upon ââ¬â hope, happiness, the desire to survive ââ¬â but it cannot feel despair, as real humans can, so the Dementors canââ¬â¢t hurt it. But I must warn you, Harry, that the charm might be too advanced for you. Many qualified wizards have difficulty with it.â⬠ââ¬Å"What does a Patronus look like?â⬠said Harry curiously. ââ¬Å"Each one is unique to the wizard who conjures it.â⬠ââ¬Å"And how do you conjure it?â⬠ââ¬Å"With an incantation, which will work only if you are concentrating, with all your might, on a single, very happy memory.â⬠Harry cast his mind about for a happy memory. Certainly, nothing that had happened to him at the Dursleysââ¬â¢ was going to do. Finally, he settled on the moment when he had first ridden a broomstick. ââ¬Å"Right,â⬠he said, trying to recall as exactly as possible the wonderful, soaring sensation of his stomach. ââ¬Å"The incantation is this ââ¬ââ⬠Lupin cleared his throat. ââ¬Å"Expecto patronum!â⬠ââ¬Å"Expecto patronum,â⬠Harry repeated under his breath, ââ¬Å"expecto patronum.â⬠ââ¬Å"Concentrating hard on your happy memory?â⬠ââ¬Å"Oh ââ¬â yeah ââ¬ââ⬠said Harry, quickly forcing his thoughts back to that first broom ride. ââ¬Å"Expecto patrono ââ¬â no, patronum ââ¬â sorry ââ¬â expecto patronum, expecto patronumâ⬠Something whooshed suddenly out of the end of his wand; it looked like a wisp of silvery gas. ââ¬Å"Did you see that?â⬠said Harry excitedly. ââ¬Å"Something happened!â⬠ââ¬Å"Very good,â⬠said Lupin, smiling. ââ¬Å"Right, then ââ¬â ready to try it on a Dementor?â⬠ââ¬Å"Yes,â⬠Harry said, gripping his wand very tightly, and moving into the middle of the deserted classroom. He tried to keep his mind on flying, but something else kept intrudingâ⬠¦Any second now, he might hear his mother againâ⬠¦but he shouldnââ¬â¢t think that, or he would hear her again, and he didnââ¬â¢t want toâ⬠¦or did he? Lupin grasped the lid of the packing case and pulled. A Dementor rose slowly from the box, its hooded face turned toward Harry, one glistening, scabbed hand gripping its cloak. The lamps around the classroom flickered and went out. The Dementor stepped from the box and started to sweep silently toward Harry, drawing a deep, rattling breath. A wave of piercing cold broke over him ââ¬â ââ¬Å"Expecto patronum!â⬠Harry yelled. ââ¬Å"Expecto patronum! Expecto ââ¬âââ¬Å" But the classroom and the Dementor were dissolvingâ⬠¦Harry was falling again through thick white fog, and his motherââ¬â¢s voice was louder than ever, echoing inside his head ââ¬â ââ¬Å"Not Harry! Not Harry! Please ââ¬â Iââ¬â¢ll do anything ââ¬âââ¬Å" ââ¬Å"Stand aside ââ¬â stand aside, girl ââ¬âââ¬Å" ââ¬Å"Harry!â⬠Harry jerked back to life. He was lying flat on his back on the floor. The classroom lamps were alight again. He didnââ¬â¢t have to ask what had happened. ââ¬Å"Sorry,â⬠he muttered, sitting up and feeling cold sweat trickling down behind his glasses. ââ¬Å"Are you all right?â⬠said Lupin. ââ¬Å"Yesâ⬠¦Ã¢â¬ Harry pulled himself up on one of the desks and leaned against it. ââ¬Å"Here ââ¬ââ⬠Lupin handed him a Chocolate Frog. ââ¬Å"Eat this before we try again. I didnââ¬â¢t expect you to do it your first time; in fact, I would have been astounded if you had.â⬠ââ¬Å"Itââ¬â¢s getting worse,â⬠Harry muttered, biting off the Frogââ¬â¢s head. ââ¬Å"I could hear her louder that time ââ¬â and him ââ¬â Voldemort ââ¬âââ¬Å" Lupin looked paler than usual. ââ¬Å"Harry, if you donââ¬â¢t want to continue, I will more than understand ââ¬âââ¬Å" ââ¬Å"I do!â⬠said Harry fiercely, stuffing the rest of the Chocolate Frog into his mouth. ââ¬Å"Iââ¬â¢ve got to! What if the Dementors turn up at our match against Ravenclaw? I canââ¬â¢t afford to fall off again. If we lose this game weââ¬â¢ve lost the Quidditch Cup!â⬠ââ¬Å"All right thenâ⬠¦Ã¢â¬ said Lupin. ââ¬Å"You might want to select another memory, a happy memory, I mean, to concentrate onâ⬠¦That one doesnââ¬â¢t seem to have been strong enoughâ⬠¦Ã¢â¬ Harry thought hard and decided his feelings when Gryffindor had won the House Championship last year had definitely qualified as very happy. He gripped his wand tightly again and took up his position in the middle of the classroom. ââ¬Å"Ready?â⬠said Lupin, gripping the box lid. ââ¬Å"Ready,â⬠said Harry; trying hard to fill his head with happy thoughts about Gryffindor winning, and not dark thoughts about what was going to happen when the box opened. ââ¬Å"Go!â⬠said Lupin, pulling off the lid. The room went icily cold and dark once more. The Dementor glided forward, drawing its breath; one rotting hand was extending toward Harry ââ¬â ââ¬Å"Expecto patronum!â⬠Harry yelled. ââ¬Å"Expecto patronum! Expecto Pat ââ¬âââ¬Å" White fog obscured his sensesâ⬠¦big, blurred shapes were moving around himâ⬠¦then came a new voice, a manââ¬â¢s voice, shouting, panicking ââ¬â ââ¬Å"Lily, take Harry and go! Itââ¬â¢s him! Go! Run! Iââ¬â¢ll hold him off ââ¬âââ¬Å" The sounds of someone stumbling from a room ââ¬â a door bursting open ââ¬â a cackle of high- pitched laughter ââ¬â ââ¬Å"Harry! Harryâ⬠¦wake upâ⬠¦Ã¢â¬ Lupin was tapping Harry hard on the face. This time it was a minute before Harry understood why he was lying on a dusty classroom floor. ââ¬Å"I heard my dad,â⬠Harry mumbled. ââ¬Å"Thatââ¬â¢s the first time Iââ¬â¢ve ever heard him ââ¬â he tried to take on Voldemort himself, to give my mum time to run for itâ⬠¦Ã¢â¬ Harry suddenly realized that there were tears on his face mingling with the sweat. He bent his face as low as possible, wiping them off on his robes, pretending to do up his shoelace, so that Lupin wouldnââ¬â¢t see. ââ¬Å"You heard James?â⬠said Lupin in a strange voice. ââ¬Å"Yeahâ⬠¦Ã¢â¬ Face dry, Harry looked up. ââ¬Å"Why ââ¬â you didnââ¬â¢t know my dad, did you?â⬠ââ¬Å"I ââ¬â I did, as a matter of fact,â⬠said Lupin. ââ¬Å"We were friends at Hogwarts. Listen, Harry ââ¬â perhaps we should leave it here for tonight. This charm is ridiculously advancedâ⬠¦I shouldnââ¬â¢t have suggested putting you through thisâ⬠¦Ã¢â¬ ââ¬Å"No!â⬠said Harry. He got up again. ââ¬Å"Iââ¬â¢ll have one more go! Iââ¬â¢m not thinking of happy enough things, thatââ¬â¢s what it isâ⬠¦hang onâ⬠¦Ã¢â¬ He racked his brains. A really, really happy memoryâ⬠¦one that he could turn into a good, strong Patronusâ⬠¦. The moment when heââ¬â¢d first found out he was a wizard, and would be leaving the Dursleys for Hogwarts! If that wasnââ¬â¢t a happy memory, he didnââ¬â¢t know what wasâ⬠¦Concentrating very hard on how he had felt when heââ¬â¢d realized heââ¬â¢d be leaving Privet Drive, Harry got to his feet and faced the packing case once more. ââ¬Å"Ready?â⬠said Lupin, who looked as though he were doing this against his better judgment. ââ¬Å"Concentrating hard? All right ââ¬â go!â⬠He pulled off the lid of the case for the third time, and the Dementor rose out of it; the room fell cold and dark ââ¬â ââ¬Å"EXPECTO PATRONUM!â⬠Harry bellowed. ââ¬Å"EXPECTO PATRONUM! EXPECTO PATRONUM!â⬠The screaming inside Harryââ¬â¢s head had started again ââ¬â except this time, it sounded as though it were coming from a badly tuned radio ââ¬â softer and louder and softer againâ⬠¦and he could still see the Dementorâ⬠¦it had haltedâ⬠¦and then a huge, silver shadow came bursting out of the end of Harryââ¬â¢s wand, to hover between him and the Dementor, and though Harryââ¬â¢s legs felt like water, he was still on his feet ââ¬â though for how much longer, he wasnââ¬â¢t sureâ⬠¦ ââ¬Å"Riddikulus!â⬠roared Lupin, springing forward. There was a loud crack, and Harryââ¬â¢s cloudy Patronus vanished along with the Dementor; he sank into a chair, feeling as exhausted as if heââ¬â¢d just run a mile, and felt his legs shaking. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw Professor Lupin forcing the Boggart back into the packing case with his wand; it had turned into a silvery orb again. ââ¬Å"Excellent!â⬠Lupin said, striding over to where Harry sat. ââ¬Å"Excellent, Harry! That was definitely a start!â⬠ââ¬Å"Can we have another go? Just one more go?â⬠ââ¬Å"Not now,â⬠said Lupin firmly. ââ¬Å"Youââ¬â¢ve had enough for one night. Here ââ¬âââ¬Å" He handed Harry a large bar of Honeydukesââ¬â¢ best chocolate. ââ¬Å"Eat the lot, or Madam Pomfrey will be after my blood. Same time next week?â⬠ââ¬Å"Okay,â⬠said Harry. He took a bite of the chocolate and watched Lupin extinguishing the lamps that had rekindled with the disappearance of the Dementor. A thought had just occurred to him. ââ¬Å"Professor Lupin?â⬠he said. ââ¬Å"If you knew my dad, you mustââ¬â¢ve known Sirius Black as well.â⬠Lupin turned very quickly. ââ¬Å"What gives you that idea?â⬠he said sharply. ââ¬Å"Nothing ââ¬â I mean, I just knew they were friends at Hogwarts tooâ⬠¦Ã¢â¬ Lupinââ¬â¢s face relaxed. ââ¬Å"Yes, I knew him,â⬠he said shortly. ââ¬Å"Or I thought I did. Youââ¬â¢d better be off, Harry, itââ¬â¢s getting late.â⬠Harry left the classroom, walking along the corridor and around a corner, then took a detour behind a suit of armor and sank down on its plinth to finish his chocolate, wishing he hadnââ¬â¢t mentioned Black, as Lupin was obviously not keen on the subject. Then Harryââ¬â¢s thoughts wandered back to his mother and father â⬠¦ He felt drained and strangely empty, even though he was so full of chocolate. Terrible though it was to hear his parentsââ¬â¢ last moments replayed inside his head, these were the only times Harry had heard their voices since he was a very small child. But heââ¬â¢d never be able to produce a proper Patronus if he half wanted to hear his parents again â⬠¦ ââ¬Å"Theyââ¬â¢re dead,â⬠he told himself sternly. ââ¬Å"Theyââ¬â¢re dead and listening to echoes of them wonââ¬â¢t bring them back. Youââ¬â¢d better get a grip on yourself if you want that Quidditch Cup.â⬠He stood up, crammed the last bit of chocolate into his mouth, and headed back to Gryffindor Tower. Ravenclaw played Slytherin a week after the start of term. Slytherin won, though narrowly. According to Wood, this was good news for Gryffindor, who would take second place if they beat Ravenclaw too. He therefore increased the number of team practices to five a week. This meant that with Lupinââ¬â¢s anti-Dementor classes, which in themselves were more draining than six Quidditch practices, Harry had just one night a week to do all his homework. Even so, he was not showing the strain nearly as much as Hermione, whose immense workload finally seemed to be getting to her. Every night, without fail, Hermione was to be seen in a corner of the common room, several tables spread with books, Arithmancy charts, rune dictionaries, diagrams of Muggles lifting heavy objects, and file upon file of extensive notes; she barely spoke to anybody and snapped when she was interrupted. ââ¬Å"Howââ¬â¢s she doing it?â⬠Ron muttered to Harry one evening as Harry sat finishing a nasty essay on Undetectable Poisons for Snape. Harry looked up. Hermione was barely visible behind a tottering pile of books. ââ¬Å"Doing what?â⬠ââ¬Å"Getting to all her classes!â⬠Ron said. ââ¬Å"I heard her talking to Professor Vector, that Arithmancy witch, this morning. They were going on about yesterdayââ¬â¢s lesson, but Hermione canââ¬â¢tââ¬â¢ve been there, because she was with us in Care of Magical Creatures! And Ernie McMillan told me sheââ¬â¢s never missed a Muggle Studies class, but half of them are at the same time as Divination, and sheââ¬â¢s never missed one of them either!â⬠Harry didnââ¬â¢t have time to fathom the mystery of Hermioneââ¬â¢s impossible schedule at the moment; he really needed to get on with Snapeââ¬â¢s essay. Two seconds later, however, he was interrupted again, this time by Wood. ââ¬Å"Bad news, Harry. Iââ¬â¢ve just been to see Professor McGonagall about the Firebolt. She ââ¬â er ââ¬â got a bit shirty with me. Told me Iââ¬â¢d got my priorities wrong. Seemed to think I cared more about winning the Cup than I do about you staying alive. Just because I told her I didnââ¬â¢t care if it threw you off, as long as you caught the Snitch first.â⬠Wood shook his head in disbelief. ââ¬Å"Honestly, the way she was yelling at meâ⬠¦youââ¬â¢d think Iââ¬â¢d said something terrible. Then I asked her how much longer she was going to keep itâ⬠¦Ã¢â¬ He screwed up his face and imitated Professor McGonagallââ¬â¢s severe voice. ââ¬Å"As long as necessary, Woodâ⬠â⬠¦I reckon itââ¬â¢s time you ordered a new broom, Harry. Thereââ¬â¢s an order form at the back of Which Broomstickâ⬠¦you could get a Nimbus Two Thousand and One, like Malfoyââ¬â¢s got.â⬠ââ¬Å"Iââ¬â¢m not buying anything Malfoy thinks is good,â⬠said Harry flatly. January faded imperceptibly into February, with no change in the bitterly cold weather. The match against Ravenclaw was drawing nearer and nearer, but Harry still hadnââ¬â¢t ordered a new broom. He was now asking Professor McGonagall for news of the Firebolt after every Transfiguration lesson, Ron standing hopefully at his shoulder, Hermione rushing past with her face averted. ââ¬Å"No, Potter, you canââ¬â¢t have it back yet,â⬠Professor McGonagall told him the twelfth time this happened, before heââ¬â¢d even opened his mouth. ââ¬Å"Weââ¬â¢ve checked for most of the usual curses, but Professor Flitwick believes the broom might be carrying a Hurling Hex. I shall tell you once weââ¬â¢ve finished checking it. Now, please stop badgering me.â⬠To make matters even worse, Harryââ¬â¢s anti-Dementor lessons were not going nearly as well as he had hoped. Several sessions on, he was able to produce an indistinct, silvery shadow every time the Boggart-Dementor approached him, but his Patronus was too feeble to drive the Dementor away. All it did was hover, like a semitransparent cloud, draining Harry of energy as he fought to keep it there. Harry felt angry with himself, guilty about his secret desire to hear his parentsââ¬â¢ voices again. ââ¬Å"Youââ¬â¢re expecting too much of yourself,â⬠said Professor Lupin, sternly in their fourth week of practice. ââ¬Å"For a thirteen-year-old wizard, even an indistinct Patronus is a huge achievement. You arenââ¬â¢t passing out anymore, are you?â⬠ââ¬Å"I thought a Patronus would ââ¬â charge the Dementors down or something,â⬠said Harry dispiritedly. ââ¬Å"Make them disappear ââ¬âââ¬Å" ââ¬Å"The true Patronus does do that,â⬠said Lupin. ââ¬Å"But youââ¬â¢ve achieved a great deal in a very short space of time. If the Dementors put in an appearance at your next Quidditch match, You will be able to keep them at bay long enough to get back to the ground.â⬠ââ¬Å"You said itââ¬â¢s harder if there are loads of them,â⬠said Harry. ââ¬Å"I have complete confidence in you,â⬠said Lupin, smiling. ââ¬Å"Here ââ¬â youââ¬â¢ve earned a drink. Something from the Three Broomsticks. You wonââ¬â¢t have tried it before ââ¬âââ¬Å" He pulled two bottles out of his briefcase. ââ¬Å"Butterbeer!â⬠said Harry, without thinking. ââ¬Å"Yeah, I like that stuff!â⬠Lupin raised an eyebrow. ââ¬Å"Oh ââ¬â Ron and Hermione brought me some back from Hogsmeade,â⬠Harry lied quickly. ââ¬Å"I see,â⬠said Lupin, though he still looked slightly suspicious. ââ¬Å"Well ââ¬â letââ¬â¢s drink to a Gryffindor victory against Ravenclaw! Not that Iââ¬â¢m supposed to take sides, as a teacherâ⬠¦Ã¢â¬ he added hastily. They drank the butterbeer in silence, until Harry voiced something heââ¬â¢d been wondering for a while. ââ¬Å"Whatââ¬â¢s under a Dementorââ¬â¢s hood?â⬠Professor Lupin lowered his bottle thoughtfully. ââ¬Å"Hmmm â⬠¦ well, the only people who really know are in no condition to tell us. You see, the Dementor lowers its hood only to use its last and worst weapon.â⬠ââ¬Å"Whatââ¬â¢s that?â⬠ââ¬Å"They call it the Dementorââ¬â¢s Kiss,â⬠said Lupin, with a slightly twisted smile. ââ¬Å"Itââ¬â¢s what Dementors do to those they wish to destroy utterly. I suppose there must be some kind of mouth under there, because they clamp their jaws upon the mouth of the victim and ââ¬â and suck out his soul.â⬠Harry accidentally spat out a bit of butterbeer. ââ¬Å"What ââ¬â they kill ââ¬â?â⬠ââ¬Å"Oh no,â⬠said Lupin. ââ¬Å"Much worse than that. You can exist without your soul, you know, as long as your brain and heart are still working. But youââ¬â¢ll have no sense of self anymore, no memory, noâ⬠¦anything. Thereââ¬â¢s no chance at all of recovery. Youââ¬â¢ll just exist. As an empty shell. And your soul is gone foreverâ⬠¦lost.â⬠Lupin drank a little more butterbeer, then said, ââ¬Å"Itââ¬â¢s the fate that awaits Sirius Black. It was in the Daily Prophet this morning. The Ministry have given the Dementors permission to perform it if they find him.â⬠Harry sat stunned for a moment at the idea of someone having their soul sucked out through their mouth. But then he thought of Black. ââ¬Å"He deserves it,â⬠he said suddenly. ââ¬Å"You think so?â⬠said Lupin lightly. ââ¬Å"Do you really think anyone deserves that?â⬠ââ¬Å"Yes,â⬠said Harry defiantly. ââ¬Å"Forâ⬠¦for some thingsâ⬠¦Ã¢â¬ He would have liked to have told Lupin about the conversation heââ¬â¢d overheard about Black in the Three Broomsticks, about Black betraying his mother and father, but it would have involved revealing that heââ¬â¢d gone to Hogsmeade without permission, and he knew Lupin wouldnââ¬â¢t be very impressed by that. So he finished his butterbeer, thanked Lupin, and left the History of Magic classroom. Harry half wished that he hadnââ¬â¢t asked what was under a Dementorââ¬â¢s hood, the answer had been so horrible, and he was so lost in unpleasant thoughts of what it would feel like to have your soul sucked out of you that he walked headlong into Professor McGonagall halfway up the stairs. ââ¬Å"Do watch where youââ¬â¢re going, Potter!â⬠ââ¬Å"Sorry, Professor ââ¬âââ¬Å" ââ¬Å"Iââ¬â¢ve just been looking for you in the Gryffindor common room, Well, here it is, weââ¬â¢ve done everything we could think of, and there doesnââ¬â¢t seem to be anything wrong with it at all ââ¬â youââ¬â¢ve got a very good friend somewhere, Potterâ⬠¦Ã¢â¬ Harryââ¬â¢s jaw dropped. She was holding out his Firebolt, and it looked as magnificent as ever. ââ¬Å"I can have it back?â⬠Harry said weakly. ââ¬Å"Seriously?â⬠ââ¬Å"Seriously,â⬠said Professor McGonagall, and she was actually smiling. ââ¬Å"I daresay youââ¬â¢ll need to get the feel of it before Saturdayââ¬â¢s match, wonââ¬â¢t you? And Potter ââ¬â do try and win, wonââ¬â¢t you? Or weââ¬â¢ll be out of the running for the eighth year in a row, as Professor Snape was kind enough to remind me only last nightâ⬠¦Ã¢â¬ Speechless, Harry carried the Firebolt back upstairs toward Gryffindor Tower. As he turned a corner, he saw Ron dashing toward him, grinning from ear to ear. ââ¬Å"She gave it to you? Excellent! Listen, can I still have a go on it? Tomorrow?â⬠ââ¬Å"Yeahâ⬠¦anythingâ⬠¦Ã¢â¬ said Harry, his heart lighter than it had been in a month. ââ¬Å"You know what ââ¬â we should make up with Hermioneâ⬠¦She was only trying to helpâ⬠¦Ã¢â¬ ââ¬Å"Yeah, all right,â⬠said Ron. ââ¬Å"Sheââ¬â¢s in the common room now working ââ¬â for a change.â⬠They turned into the corridor to Gryffindor Tower and saw Neville Longbottom, pleading with Sir Cadogan, who seemed to be refusing him entrance. ââ¬Å"I wrote them down!â⬠Neville was saying tearfully. ââ¬Å"But I mustââ¬â¢ve dropped them somewhere!â⬠ââ¬Å"A likely tale!â⬠roared Sir Cadogan. Then, spotting Harry and Ron: ââ¬Å"Good even, my fine young yeomen! Come clap this loon in irons. He is trying to force entry to the chambers within!â⬠ââ¬Å"Oh, shut up,â⬠said Ron as he and Harry drew level with Neville. ââ¬Å"Iââ¬â¢ve lost the passwords!â⬠Neville told them miserably. ââ¬Å"I made him tell me what passwords he was going to use this week, because he keeps changing them, and now I donââ¬â¢t know what Iââ¬â¢ve done with them!â⬠ââ¬Å"Oddsbodkins,â⬠said Harry to Sir Cadogan, who looked extremely disappointed and reluctantly swung forward to let them into the common room. There was a sudden, excited murmur as every head turned and the next moment, Harry was surrounded by people exclaiming over his Firebolt. ââ¬Å"Whereââ¬â¢d you get it, Harry?â⬠ââ¬Å"Will you let me have a go?â⬠ââ¬Å"Have you ridden it yet, Harry?â⬠ââ¬Å"Ravenclawââ¬â¢ll have no chance, theyââ¬â¢re all on Cleansweep Sevens!â⬠ââ¬Å"Can I just hold it, Harry?â⬠After ten minutes or so, during which the Firebolt was Passed around and admired from every angle, the crowd dispersed and Harry and Ron had a clear view of Hermione, the only person who hadnââ¬â¢t rushed over to them, bent over her work and carefully avoiding their eyes. Harry and Ron approached her table and at last, she looked up. ââ¬Å"I got it back,â⬠said Harry, grinning at her and holding up the Firebolt. ââ¬Å"See, Hermione? There wasnââ¬â¢t anything wrong with it!â⬠said Ron. ââ¬Å"Well ââ¬â there might have been!â⬠said Hermione. ââ¬Å"I mean, at least you know now that itââ¬â¢s safe!â⬠ââ¬Å"Yeah, I suppose so,â⬠said Harry. ââ¬Å"Iââ¬â¢d better put it upstairs.â⬠ââ¬Å"Iââ¬â¢ll take it!â⬠said Ron eagerly. ââ¬Å"Iââ¬â¢ve got to give Scabbers his rat tonic.â⬠He took the Firebolt and, holding it as if it were made of glass, carried it away up the boysââ¬â¢ staircase. ââ¬Å"Can I sit down, then?â⬠Harry asked Hermione. ââ¬Å"I suppose so,â⬠said Hermione, moving a great stack of parchment off a chair. Harry looked around at the cluttered table, at the long Arithmancy essay on which the ink was still glistening, at the even longer Muggle Studies essay (ââ¬ËExplain Why Muggles Need Electricityââ¬â¢) and at the rune translation Hermione was now poring over. ââ¬Å"How are you getting through all this stuff?â⬠Harry asked her. ââ¬Å"Oh, well ââ¬â you know ââ¬â working hard,â⬠said Hermione. Close-up, Harry saw that she looked almost as tired as Lupin. ââ¬Å"Why donââ¬â¢t you just drop a couple of subjects?â⬠Harry asked, watching her lifting books as she searched for her rune dictionary. ââ¬Å"I couldnââ¬â¢t do that!â⬠said Hermione, looking scandalized. ââ¬Å"Arithmancy looks terrible,â⬠said Harry, picking up a very complicated-looking number chart. ââ¬Å"Oh no, itââ¬â¢s wonderful!â⬠said Hermione earnestly. ââ¬Å"Itââ¬â¢s my favorite subject! Itââ¬â¢s ââ¬âââ¬Å" But exactly what was wonderful about Arithmancy, Harry never found out. At that precise moment, a strangled yell echoed down the boysââ¬â¢ staircase. The whole common room fell silent, staring, petrified, at the entrance. Then came hurried footsteps, growing louder and louder ââ¬â and then Ron came leaping into view, dragging with him a bedsheet. ââ¬Å"LOOK!â⬠he bellowed, striding over to Hermioneââ¬â¢s table. ââ¬Å"LOOK!â⬠he yelled, shaking the sheets in her face. ââ¬Å"Ron, what ââ¬â?â⬠ââ¬Å"SCABBERS! LOOK! SCABBERS!â⬠Hermione was leaning away from Ron, looking utterly bewildered. Harry looked down at the sheet Ron was holding. There was something red on it. Something that looked horribly like ââ¬â ââ¬Å"BLOOD!â⬠Ron yelled into the stunned silence. ââ¬Å"HEââ¬â¢S GONE! AND YOU KNOW WHAT WAS ON THE FLOOR?â⬠ââ¬Å"N ââ¬â no,â⬠said Hermione in a trembling voice. Ron threw something down onto Hermioneââ¬â¢s rune translation. Hermione and Harry leaned forward. Lying on top of the weird, spiky shapes were several long, ginger cat hairs. Chapter 12 The Patronus As far as he was concerned, the stripping-down of a brand-new Firebolt was nothing less than criminal damage. Hermione, who remained convinced that she had acted for the best, started avoiding the common room. Harry and Ron supposed she had taken refuge in the library and didnââ¬â¢t try to persuade her to come back. All in all, they were glad when the rest of the school returned shortly after New Year, and Gryffindor Tower became crowded and noisy again. Wood sought Harry out on the night before term started. ââ¬Å"Had a good Christmas?â⬠he said, and then, without waiting for an answer, he sat down, lowered his voice, and said, ââ¬Å"Iââ¬â¢ve been, doing some thinking over Christmas, Harry. After last match, you know. If the Dementors come to the next oneâ⬠¦I meanâ⬠¦we canââ¬â¢t afford you to ââ¬â well ââ¬âââ¬Å" Wood broke off, looking awkward. ââ¬Å"Iââ¬â¢m working on it,â⬠said Harry quickly. ââ¬Å"Professor Lupin said heââ¬â¢d train me to ward off the Dementors. We should be starting this week. He said heââ¬â¢d have time after Christmas.â⬠ââ¬Å"Ah,â⬠said Wood, his expression clearing. ââ¬Å"Well, in that case ââ¬â I really didnââ¬â¢t want to lose you as Seeker, Harry. And have you ordered a new broom yet?â⬠ââ¬Å"No,â⬠said Harry. ââ¬Å"What! Youââ¬â¢d better get a move on, you know ââ¬â you canââ¬â¢t ride that Shooting Star against Ravenclaw!â⬠ââ¬Å"He got a Firebolt for Christmas,â⬠said Ron. ââ¬Å"A Firebolt? No! Seriously? A ââ¬â a real Firebolt?â⬠ââ¬Å"Donââ¬â¢t get excited, Oliver,â⬠said Harry gloomily. ââ¬Å"I havenââ¬â¢t got it anymore. It was confiscated.â⬠And he explained all about how the Firebolt was now being checked for jinxes. ââ¬Å"Jinxed? How could it be jinxed?â⬠ââ¬Å"Sirius Black,â⬠Harry said wearily. ââ¬Å"Heââ¬â¢s supposed to be after me. So McGonagall reckons he might have sent it.â⬠Waving aside the information that a famous murderer was after his Seeker, Wood said, ââ¬Å"But Black couldnââ¬â¢t have bought a Firebolt! Heââ¬â¢s on the run! The whole countryââ¬â¢s on the lookout for him! How could he just walk into Quality Quidditch Supplies and buy a broomstick?â⬠ââ¬Å"I know,â⬠said Harry, ââ¬Å"but McGonagall still wants to strip it down ââ¬âââ¬Å" Wood went pale. ââ¬Å"Iââ¬â¢ll go and talk to her, Harry,â⬠he promised. ââ¬Å"Iââ¬â¢ll make her see reasonâ⬠¦A Fireboltâ⬠¦a real Firebolt, on our team â⬠¦She wants Gryffindor to win as much as we doâ⬠¦Iââ¬â¢ll make her see sense. A Fireboltâ⬠¦.â⬠Classes started again the next day. The last thing anyone felt like doing was spending two hours on the grounds on a raw January morning, but Hagrid had provided a bonfire full of salamanders for their enjoyment, and they spent an unusually good lesson collecting dry wood and leaves to keep the fire blazing while the flame-loving lizards scampered up and down the crumbling, white-hot logs. The first Divination lesson of the new term was much less fun; Professor Trelawney was now teaching them palmistry, and she lost no time in informing Harry that he had the shortest life line she had ever seen. It was Defense Against the Dark Arts that Harry was keen to get to; after his conversation with Wood, he wanted to get started on his anti-Dementor lessons as soon as possible. ââ¬Å"Ah yes,â⬠said Lupin, when Harry reminded him of his promise at the end of class. ââ¬Å"Let me seeâ⬠¦how about eight oââ¬â¢clock on Thursday evening? The History of Magic classroom should be large enoughâ⬠¦Iââ¬â¢ll have to think carefully about how weââ¬â¢re going to do thisâ⬠¦We canââ¬â¢t bring a real Dementor into the castle to practice onâ⬠¦.â⬠ââ¬Å"Still looks ill, doesnââ¬â¢t he?â⬠said Ron as they walked down the corridor, heading to dinner. ââ¬Å"What dââ¬â¢you reckonââ¬â¢s the matter with him?â⬠There was a loud and impatient ââ¬Å"tuhâ⬠from behind them. It was Hermione, who had been sitting at the feet of a suit of armor, repacking her bag, which was so full of books it wouldnââ¬â¢t close. ââ¬Å"And what are you tutting at us for?â⬠said Ron irritably. ââ¬Å"Nothing,â⬠said Hermione in a lofty voice, heaving her bag back over her shoulder. ââ¬Å"Yes, you were,â⬠said Ron. ââ¬Å"I said I wonder whatââ¬â¢s wrong with Lupin, and you ââ¬âââ¬Å" ââ¬Å"Well, isnââ¬â¢t it obvious?â⬠said Hermione, with a look of maddening superiority. ââ¬Å"If you donââ¬â¢t want to tell us, donââ¬â¢t,â⬠snapped Ron. ââ¬Å"Fine,â⬠said Hermione haughtily, and she marched off. ââ¬Å"She doesnââ¬â¢t know,â⬠said Ron, staring resentfully after Hermione. ââ¬Å"Sheââ¬â¢s just trying to get us to talk to her again.â⬠At eight oââ¬â¢clock on Thursday evening, Harry left Gryffindor Tower for the History of Magic classroom. It was dark and empty when he arrived, but he lit the lamps with his wand and had waited only five minutes when Professor Lupin turned up, carrying a large packing case, which he heaved onto Professor Binnââ¬â¢s desk. ââ¬Å"Whatââ¬â¢s that?â⬠said Harry. ââ¬Å"Another Boggart,â⬠said Lupin, stripping off his cloak. ââ¬Å"Iââ¬â¢ve been combing the castle ever since Tuesday, and very luckily, I found this one lurking inside Mr. Filchââ¬â¢s filing cabinet. Itââ¬â¢s the nearest weââ¬â¢ll get to a real Dementor. The Boggart will turn into a Dementor when he sees you, so weââ¬â¢ll be able to practice on him. I can store him in my office when weââ¬â¢re not using him; thereââ¬â¢s a cupboard under my desk heââ¬â¢ll like.â⬠ââ¬Å"Okay,â⬠said Harry, trying to sound as though he wasnââ¬â¢t apprehensive at all and merely glad that Lupin had found such a good substitute for a real Dementor. ââ¬Å"Soâ⬠¦Ã¢â¬ Professor Lupin had taken out his own wand, and indicated that Harry should do the same. ââ¬Å"The spell I am going to try and teach you is highly advanced magic, Harry ââ¬â well beyond Ordinary Wizarding Level. It is called the Patronus Charm.â⬠ââ¬Å"How does it work?â⬠said Harry nervously. ââ¬Å"Well, when it works correctly, It conjures up a Patronus,â⬠said Lupin, ââ¬Å"which is a kind of anti-Dementor ââ¬â a guardian that acts as a shield between you and the Dementor.â⬠Harry had a sudden vision of himself crouching behind a Hagrid-sized figure holding a large club. Professor Lupin continued, ââ¬Å"The Patronus is a kind of positive force, a projection of the very things that the Dementor feeds upon ââ¬â hope, happiness, the desire to survive ââ¬â but it cannot feel despair, as real humans can, so the Dementors canââ¬â¢t hurt it. But I must warn you, Harry, that the charm might be too advanced for you. Many qualified wizards have difficulty with it.â⬠ââ¬Å"What does a Patronus look like?â⬠said Harry curiously. ââ¬Å"Each one is unique to the wizard who conjures it.â⬠ââ¬Å"And how do you conjure it?â⬠ââ¬Å"With an incantation, which will work only if you are concentrating, with all your might, on a single, very happy memory.â⬠Harry cast his mind about for a happy memory. Certainly, nothing that had happened to him at the Dursleysââ¬â¢ was going to do. Finally, he settled on the moment when he had first ridden a broomstick. ââ¬Å"Right,â⬠he said, trying to recall as exactly as possible the wonderful, soaring sensation of his stomach. ââ¬Å"The incantation is this ââ¬ââ⬠Lupin cleared his throat. ââ¬Å"Expecto patronum!â⬠ââ¬Å"Expecto patronum,â⬠Harry repeated under his breath, ââ¬Å"expecto patronum.â⬠ââ¬Å"Concentrating hard on your happy memory?â⬠ââ¬Å"Oh ââ¬â yeah ââ¬ââ⬠said Harry, quickly forcing his thoughts back to that first broom ride. ââ¬Å"Expecto patrono ââ¬â no, patronum ââ¬â sorry ââ¬â expecto patronum, expecto patronumâ⬠Something whooshed suddenly out of the end of his wand; it looked like a wisp of silvery gas. ââ¬Å"Did you see that?â⬠said Harry excitedly. ââ¬Å"Something happened!â⬠ââ¬Å"Very good,â⬠said Lupin, smiling. ââ¬Å"Right, then ââ¬â ready to try it on a Dementor?â⬠ââ¬Å"Yes,â⬠Harry said, gripping his wand very tightly, and moving into the middle of the deserted classroom. He tried to keep his mind on flying, but something else kept intrudingâ⬠¦Any second now, he might hear his mother againâ⬠¦but he shouldnââ¬â¢t think that, or he would hear her again, and he didnââ¬â¢t want toâ⬠¦or did he? Lupin grasped the lid of the packing case and pulled. A Dementor rose slowly from the box, its hooded face turned toward Harry, one glistening, scabbed hand gripping its cloak. The lamps around the classroom flickered and went out. The Dementor stepped from the box and started to sweep silently toward Harry, drawing a deep, rattling breath. A wave of piercing cold broke over him ââ¬â ââ¬Å"Expecto patronum!â⬠Harry yelled. ââ¬Å"Expecto patronum! Expecto ââ¬âââ¬Å" But the classroom and the Dementor were dissolvingâ⬠¦Harry was falling again through thick white fog, and his motherââ¬â¢s voice was louder than ever, echoing inside his head ââ¬â ââ¬Å"Not Harry! Not Harry! Please ââ¬â Iââ¬â¢ll do anything ââ¬âââ¬Å" ââ¬Å"Stand aside ââ¬â stand aside, girl ââ¬âââ¬Å" ââ¬Å"Harry!â⬠Harry jerked back to life. He was lying flat on his back on the floor. The classroom lamps were alight again. He didnââ¬â¢t have to ask what had happened. ââ¬Å"Sorry,â⬠he muttered, sitting up and feeling cold sweat trickling down behind his glasses. ââ¬Å"Are you all right?â⬠said Lupin. ââ¬Å"Yesâ⬠¦Ã¢â¬ Harry pulled himself up on one of the desks and leaned against it. ââ¬Å"Here ââ¬ââ⬠Lupin handed him a Chocolate Frog. ââ¬Å"Eat this before we try again. I didnââ¬â¢t expect you to do it your first time; in fact, I would have been astounded if you had.â⬠ââ¬Å"Itââ¬â¢s getting worse,â⬠Harry muttered, biting off the Frogââ¬â¢s head. ââ¬Å"I could hear her louder that time ââ¬â and him ââ¬â Voldemort ââ¬âââ¬Å" Lupin looked paler than usual. ââ¬Å"Harry, if you donââ¬â¢t want to continue, I will more than understand ââ¬âââ¬Å" ââ¬Å"I do!â⬠said Harry fiercely, stuffing the rest of the Chocolate Frog into his mouth. ââ¬Å"Iââ¬â¢ve got to! What if the Dementors turn up at our match against Ravenclaw? I canââ¬â¢t afford to fall off again. If we lose this game weââ¬â¢ve lost the Quidditch Cup!â⬠ââ¬Å"All right thenâ⬠¦Ã¢â¬ said Lupin. ââ¬Å"You might want to select another memory, a happy memory, I mean, to concentrate onâ⬠¦That one doesnââ¬â¢t seem to have been strong enoughâ⬠¦Ã¢â¬ Harry thought hard and decided his feelings when Gryffindor had won the House Championship last year had definitely qualified as very happy. He gripped his wand tightly again and took up his position in the middle of the classroom. ââ¬Å"Ready?â⬠said Lupin, gripping the box lid. ââ¬Å"Ready,â⬠said Harry; trying hard to fill his head with happy thoughts about Gryffindor winning, and not dark thoughts about what was going to happen when the box opened. ââ¬Å"Go!â⬠said Lupin, pulling off the lid. The room went icily cold and dark once more. The Dementor glided forward, drawing its breath; one rotting hand was extending toward Harry ââ¬â ââ¬Å"Expecto patronum!â⬠Harry yelled. ââ¬Å"Expecto patronum! Expecto Pat ââ¬âââ¬Å" White fog obscured his sensesâ⬠¦big, blurred shapes were moving around himâ⬠¦then came a new voice, a manââ¬â¢s voice, shouting, panicking ââ¬â ââ¬Å"Lily, take Harry and go! Itââ¬â¢s him! Go! Run! Iââ¬â¢ll hold him off ââ¬âââ¬Å" The sounds of someone stumbling from a room ââ¬â a door bursting open ââ¬â a cackle of high- pitched laughter ââ¬â ââ¬Å"Harry! Harryâ⬠¦wake upâ⬠¦Ã¢â¬ Lupin was tapping Harry hard on the face. This time it was a minute before Harry understood why he was lying on a dusty classroom floor. ââ¬Å"I heard my dad,â⬠Harry mumbled. ââ¬Å"Thatââ¬â¢s the first time Iââ¬â¢ve ever heard him ââ¬â he tried to take on Voldemort himself, to give my mum time to run for itâ⬠¦Ã¢â¬ Harry suddenly realized that there were tears on his face mingling with the sweat. He bent his face as low as possible, wiping them off on his robes, pretending to do up his shoelace, so that Lupin wouldnââ¬â¢t see. ââ¬Å"You heard James?â⬠said Lupin in a strange voice. ââ¬Å"Yeahâ⬠¦Ã¢â¬ Face dry, Harry looked up. ââ¬Å"Why ââ¬â you didnââ¬â¢t know my dad, did you?â⬠ââ¬Å"I ââ¬â I did, as a matter of fact,â⬠said Lupin. ââ¬Å"We were friends at Hogwarts. Listen, Harry ââ¬â perhaps we should leave it here for tonight. This charm is ridiculously advancedâ⬠¦I shouldnââ¬â¢t have suggested putting you through thisâ⬠¦Ã¢â¬ ââ¬Å"No!â⬠said Harry. He got up again. ââ¬Å"Iââ¬â¢ll have one more go! Iââ¬â¢m not thinking of happy enough things, thatââ¬â¢s what it isâ⬠¦hang onâ⬠¦Ã¢â¬ He racked his brains. A really, really happy memoryâ⬠¦one that he could turn into a good, strong Patronusâ⬠¦. The moment when heââ¬â¢d first found out he was a wizard, and would be leaving the Dursleys for Hogwarts! If that wasnââ¬â¢t a happy memory, he didnââ¬â¢t know what wasâ⬠¦Concentrating very hard on how he had felt when heââ¬â¢d realized heââ¬â¢d be leaving Privet Drive, Harry got to his feet and faced the packing case once more. ââ¬Å"Ready?â⬠said Lupin, who looked as though he were doing this against his better judgment. ââ¬Å"Concentrating hard? All right ââ¬â go!â⬠He pulled off the lid of the case for the third time, and the Dementor rose out of it; the room fell cold and dark ââ¬â ââ¬Å"EXPECTO PATRONUM!â⬠Harry bellowed. ââ¬Å"EXPECTO PATRONUM! EXPECTO PATRONUM!â⬠The screaming inside Harryââ¬â¢s head had started again ââ¬â except this time, it sounded as though it were coming from a badly tuned radio ââ¬â softer and louder and softer againâ⬠¦and he could still see the Dementorâ⬠¦it had haltedâ⬠¦and then a huge, silver shadow came bursting out of the end of Harryââ¬â¢s wand, to hover between him and the Dementor, and though Harryââ¬â¢s legs felt like water, he was still on his feet ââ¬â though for how much longer, he wasnââ¬â¢t sureâ⬠¦ ââ¬Å"Riddikulus!â⬠roared Lupin, springing forward. There was a loud crack, and Harryââ¬â¢s cloudy Patronus vanished along with the Dementor; he sank into a chair, feeling as exhausted as if heââ¬â¢d just run a mile, and felt his legs shaking. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw Professor Lupin forcing the Boggart back into the packing case with his wand; it had turned into a silvery orb again. ââ¬Å"Excellent!â⬠Lupin said, striding over to where Harry sat. ââ¬Å"Excellent, Harry! That was definitely a start!â⬠ââ¬Å"Can we have another go? Just one more go?â⬠ââ¬Å"Not now,â⬠said Lupin firmly. ââ¬Å"Youââ¬â¢ve had enough for one night. Here ââ¬âââ¬Å" He handed Harry a large bar of Honeydukesââ¬â¢ best chocolate. ââ¬Å"Eat the lot, or Madam Pomfrey will be after my blood. Same time next week?â⬠ââ¬Å"Okay,â⬠said Harry. He took a bite of the chocolate and watched Lupin extinguishing the lamps that had rekindled with the disappearance of the Dementor. A thought had just occurred to him. ââ¬Å"Professor Lupin?â⬠he said. ââ¬Å"If you knew my dad, you mustââ¬â¢ve known Sirius Black as well.â⬠Lupin turned very quickly. ââ¬Å"What gives you that idea?â⬠he said sharply. ââ¬Å"Nothing ââ¬â I mean, I just knew they were friends at Hogwarts tooâ⬠¦Ã¢â¬ Lupinââ¬â¢s face relaxed. ââ¬Å"Yes, I knew him,â⬠he said shortly. ââ¬Å"Or I thought I did. Youââ¬â¢d better be off, Harry, itââ¬â¢s getting late.â⬠Harry left the classroom, walking along the corridor and around a corner, then took a detour behind a suit of armor and sank down on its plinth to finish his chocolate, wishing he hadnââ¬â¢t mentioned Black, as Lupin was obviously not keen on the subject. Then Harryââ¬â¢s thoughts wandered back to his mother and father â⬠¦ He felt drained and strangely empty, even though he was so full of chocolate. Terrible though it was to hear his parentsââ¬â¢ last moments replayed inside his head, these were the only times Harry had heard their voices since he was a very small child. But heââ¬â¢d never be able to produce a proper Patronus if he half wanted to hear his parents again â⬠¦ ââ¬Å"Theyââ¬â¢re dead,â⬠he told himself sternly. ââ¬Å"Theyââ¬â¢re dead and listening to echoes of them wonââ¬â¢t bring them back. Youââ¬â¢d better get a grip on yourself if you want that Quidditch Cup.â⬠He stood up, crammed the last bit of chocolate into his mouth, and headed back to Gryffindor Tower. Ravenclaw played Slytherin a week after the start of term. Slytherin won, though narrowly. According to Wood, this was good news for Gryffindor, who would take second place if they beat Ravenclaw too. He therefore increased the number of team practices to five a week. This meant that with Lupinââ¬â¢s anti-Dementor classes, which in themselves were more draining than six Quidditch practices, Harry had just one night a week to do all his homework. Even so, he was not showing the strain nearly as much as Hermione, whose immense workload finally seemed to be getting to her. Every night, without fail, Hermione was to be seen in a corner of the common room, several tables spread with books, Arithmancy charts, rune dictionaries, diagrams of Muggles lifting heavy objects, and file upon file of extensive notes; she barely spoke to anybody and snapped when she was interrupted. ââ¬Å"Howââ¬â¢s she doing it?â⬠Ron muttered to Harry one evening as Harry sat finishing a nasty essay on Undetectable Poisons for Snape. Harry looked up. Hermione was barely visible behind a tottering pile of books. ââ¬Å"Doing what?â⬠ââ¬Å"Getting to all her classes!â⬠Ron said. ââ¬Å"I heard her talking to Professor Vector, that Arithmancy witch, this morning. They were going on about yesterdayââ¬â¢s lesson, but Hermione canââ¬â¢tââ¬â¢ve been there, because she was with us in Care of Magical Creatures! And Ernie McMillan told me sheââ¬â¢s never missed a Muggle Studies class, but half of them are at the same time as Divination, and sheââ¬â¢s never missed one of them either!â⬠Harry didnââ¬â¢t have time to fathom the mystery of Hermioneââ¬â¢s impossible schedule at the moment; he really needed to get on with Snapeââ¬â¢s essay. Two seconds later, however, he was interrupted again, this time by Wood. ââ¬Å"Bad news, Harry. Iââ¬â¢ve just been to see Professor McGonagall about the Firebolt. She ââ¬â er ââ¬â got a bit shirty with me. Told me Iââ¬â¢d got my priorities wrong. Seemed to think I cared more about winning the Cup than I do about you staying alive. Just because I told her I didnââ¬â¢t care if it threw you off, as long as you caught the Snitch first.â⬠Wood shook his head in disbelief. ââ¬Å"Honestly, the way she was yelling at meâ⬠¦youââ¬â¢d think Iââ¬â¢d said something terrible. Then I asked her how much longer she was going to keep itâ⬠¦Ã¢â¬ He screwed up his face and imitated Professor McGonagallââ¬â¢s severe voice. ââ¬Å"As long as necessary, Woodâ⬠â⬠¦I reckon itââ¬â¢s time you ordered a new broom, Harry. Thereââ¬â¢s an order form at the back of Which Broomstickâ⬠¦you could get a Nimbus Two Thousand and One, like Malfoyââ¬â¢s got.â⬠ââ¬Å"Iââ¬â¢m not buying anything Malfoy thinks is good,â⬠said Harry flatly. January faded imperceptibly into February, with no change in the bitterly cold weather. The match against Ravenclaw was drawing nearer and nearer, but Harry still hadnââ¬â¢t ordered a new broom. He was now asking Professor McGonagall for news of the Firebolt after every Transfiguration lesson, Ron standing hopefully at his shoulder, Hermione rushing past with her face averted. ââ¬Å"No, Potter, you canââ¬â¢t have it back yet,â⬠Professor McGonagall told him the twelfth time this happened, before heââ¬â¢d even opened his mouth. ââ¬Å"Weââ¬â¢ve checked for most of the usual curses, but Professor Flitwick believes the broom might be carrying a Hurling Hex. I shall tell you once weââ¬â¢ve finished checking it. Now, please stop badgering me.â⬠To make matters even worse, Harryââ¬â¢s anti-Dementor lessons were not going nearly as well as he had hoped. Several sessions on, he was able to produce an indistinct, silvery shadow every time the Boggart-Dementor approached him, but his Patronus was too feeble to drive the Dementor away. All it did was hover, like a semitransparent cloud, draining Harry of energy as he fought to keep it there. Harry felt angry with himself, guilty about his secret desire to hear his parentsââ¬â¢ voices again. ââ¬Å"Youââ¬â¢re expecting too much of yourself,â⬠said Professor Lupin, sternly in their fourth week of practice. ââ¬Å"For a thirteen-year-old wizard, even an indistinct Patronus is a huge achievement. You arenââ¬â¢t passing out anymore, are you?â⬠ââ¬Å"I thought a Patronus would ââ¬â charge the Dementors down or something,â⬠said Harry dispiritedly. ââ¬Å"Make them disappear ââ¬âââ¬Å" ââ¬Å"The true Patronus does do that,â⬠said Lupin. ââ¬Å"But youââ¬â¢ve achieved a great deal in a very short space of time. If the Dementors put in an appearance at your next Quidditch match, You will be able to keep them at bay long enough to get back to the ground.â⬠ââ¬Å"You said itââ¬â¢s harder if there are loads of them,â⬠said Harry. ââ¬Å"I have complete confidence in you,â⬠said Lupin, smiling. ââ¬Å"Here ââ¬â youââ¬â¢ve earned a drink. Something from the Three Broomsticks. You wonââ¬â¢t have tried it before ââ¬âââ¬Å" He pulled two bottles out of his briefcase. ââ¬Å"Butterbeer!â⬠said Harry, without thinking. ââ¬Å"Yeah, I like that stuff!â⬠Lupin raised an eyebrow. ââ¬Å"Oh ââ¬â Ron and Hermione brought me some back from Hogsmeade,â⬠Harry lied quickly. ââ¬Å"I see,â⬠said Lupin, though he still looked slightly suspicious. ââ¬Å"Well ââ¬â letââ¬â¢s drink to a Gryffindor victory against Ravenclaw! Not that Iââ¬â¢m supposed to take sides, as a teacherâ⬠¦Ã¢â¬ he added hastily. They drank the butterbeer in silence, until Harry voiced something heââ¬â¢d been wondering for a while. ââ¬Å"Whatââ¬â¢s under a Dementorââ¬â¢s hood?â⬠Professor Lupin lowered his bottle thoughtfully. ââ¬Å"Hmmm â⬠¦ well, the only people who really know are in no condition to tell us. You see, the Dementor lowers its hood only to use its last and worst weapon.â⬠ââ¬Å"Whatââ¬â¢s that?â⬠ââ¬Å"They call it the Dementorââ¬â¢s Kiss,â⬠said Lupin, with a slightly twisted smile. ââ¬Å"Itââ¬â¢s what Dementors do to those they wish to destroy utterly. I suppose there must be some kind of mouth under there, because they clamp their jaws upon the mouth of the victim and ââ¬â and suck out his soul.â⬠Harry accidentally spat out a bit of butterbeer. ââ¬Å"What ââ¬â they kill ââ¬â?â⬠ââ¬Å"Oh no,â⬠said Lupin. ââ¬Å"Much worse than that. You can exist without your soul, you know, as long as your brain and heart are still working. But youââ¬â¢ll have no sense of self anymore, no memory, noâ⬠¦anything. Thereââ¬â¢s no chance at all of recovery. Youââ¬â¢ll just exist. As an empty shell. And your soul is gone foreverâ⬠¦lost.â⬠Lupin drank a little more butterbeer, then said, ââ¬Å"Itââ¬â¢s the fate that awaits Sirius Black. It was in the Daily Prophet this morning. The Ministry have given the Dementors permission to perform it if they find him.â⬠Harry sat stunned for a moment at the idea of someone having their soul sucked out through their mouth. But then he thought of Black. ââ¬Å"He deserves it,â⬠he said suddenly. ââ¬Å"You think so?â⬠said Lupin lightly. ââ¬Å"Do you really think anyone deserves that?â⬠ââ¬Å"Yes,â⬠said Harry defiantly. ââ¬Å"Forâ⬠¦for some thingsâ⬠¦Ã¢â¬ He would have liked to have told Lupin about the conversation heââ¬â¢d overheard about Black in the Three Broomsticks, about Black betraying his mother and father, but it would have involved revealing that heââ¬â¢d gone to Hogsmeade without permission, and he knew Lupin wouldnââ¬â¢t be very impressed by that. So he finished his butterbeer, thanked Lupin, and left the History of Magic classroom. Harry half wished that he hadnââ¬â¢t asked what was under a Dementorââ¬â¢s hood, the answer had been so horrible, and he was so lost in unpleasant thoughts of what it would feel like to have your soul sucked out of you that he walked headlong into Professor McGonagall halfway up the stairs. ââ¬Å"Do watch where youââ¬â¢re going, Potter!â⬠ââ¬Å"Sorry, Professor ââ¬âââ¬Å" ââ¬Å"Iââ¬â¢ve just been looking for you in the Gryffindor common room, Well, here it is, weââ¬â¢ve done everything we could think of, and there doesnââ¬â¢t seem to be anything wrong with it at all ââ¬â youââ¬â¢ve got a very good friend somewhere, Potterâ⬠¦Ã¢â¬ Harryââ¬â¢s jaw dropped. She was holding out his Firebolt, and it looked as magnificent as ever. ââ¬Å"I can have it back?â⬠Harry said weakly. ââ¬Å"Seriously?â⬠ââ¬Å"Seriously,â⬠said Professor McGonagall, and she was actually smiling. ââ¬Å"I daresay youââ¬â¢ll need to get the feel of it before Saturdayââ¬â¢s match, wonââ¬â¢t you? And Potter ââ¬â do try and win, wonââ¬â¢t you? Or weââ¬â¢ll be out of the running for the eighth year in a row, as Professor Snape was kind enough to remind me only last nightâ⬠¦Ã¢â¬ Speechless, Harry carried the Firebolt back upstairs toward Gryffindor Tower. As he turned a corner, he saw Ron dashing toward him, grinning from ear to ear. ââ¬Å"She gave it to you? Excellent! Listen, can I still have a go on it? Tomorrow?â⬠ââ¬Å"Yeahâ⬠¦anythingâ⬠¦Ã¢â¬ said Harry, his heart lighter than it had been in a month. ââ¬Å"You know what ââ¬â we should make up with Hermioneâ⬠¦She was only trying to helpâ⬠¦Ã¢â¬ ââ¬Å"Yeah, all right,â⬠said Ron. ââ¬Å"Sheââ¬â¢s in the common room now working ââ¬â for a change.â⬠They turned into the corridor to Gryffindor Tower and saw Neville Longbottom, pleading with Sir Cadogan, who seemed to be refusing him entrance. ââ¬Å"I wrote them down!â⬠Neville was saying tearfully. ââ¬Å"But I mustââ¬â¢ve dropped them somewhere!â⬠ââ¬Å"A likely tale!â⬠roared Sir Cadogan. Then, spotting Harry and Ron: ââ¬Å"Good even, my fine young yeomen! Come clap this loon in irons. He is trying to force entry to the chambers within!â⬠ââ¬Å"Oh, shut up,â⬠said Ron as he and Harry drew level with Neville. ââ¬Å"Iââ¬â¢ve lost the passwords!â⬠Neville told them miserably. ââ¬Å"I made him tell me what passwords he was going to use this week, because he keeps changing them, and now I donââ¬â¢t know what Iââ¬â¢ve done with them!â⬠ââ¬Å"Oddsbodkins,â⬠said Harry to Sir Cadogan, who looked extremely disappointed and reluctantly swung forward to let them into the common room. There was a sudden, excited murmur as every head turned and the next moment, Harry was surrounded by people exclaiming over his Firebolt. ââ¬Å"Whereââ¬â¢d you get it, Harry?â⬠ââ¬Å"Will you let me have a go?â⬠ââ¬Å"Have you ridden it yet, Harry?â⬠ââ¬Å"Ravenclawââ¬â¢ll have no chance, theyââ¬â¢re all on Cleansweep Sevens!â⬠ââ¬Å"Can I just hold it, Harry?â⬠After ten minutes or so, during which the Firebolt was Passed around and admired from every angle, the crowd dispersed and Harry and Ron had a clear view of Hermione, the only person who hadnââ¬â¢t rushed over to them, bent over her work and carefully avoiding their eyes. Harry and Ron approached her table and at last, she looked up. ââ¬Å"I got it back,â⬠said Harry, grinning at her and holding up the Firebolt. ââ¬Å"See, Hermione? There wasnââ¬â¢t anything wrong with it!â⬠said Ron. ââ¬Å"Well ââ¬â there might have been!â⬠said Hermione. ââ¬Å"I mean, at least you know now that itââ¬â¢s safe!â⬠ââ¬Å"Yeah, I suppose so,â⬠said Harry. ââ¬Å"Iââ¬â¢d better put it upstairs.â⬠ââ¬Å"Iââ¬â¢ll take it!â⬠said Ron eagerly. ââ¬Å"Iââ¬â¢ve got to give Scabbers his rat tonic.â⬠He took the Firebolt and, holding it as if it were made of glass, carried it away up the boysââ¬â¢ staircase. ââ¬Å"Can I sit down, then?â⬠Harry asked Hermione. ââ¬Å"I suppose so,â⬠said Hermione, moving a great stack of parchment off a chair. Harry looked around at the cluttered table, at the long Arithmancy essay on which the ink was still glistening, at the even longer Muggle Studies essay (ââ¬ËExplain Why Muggles Need Electricityââ¬â¢) and at the rune translation Hermione was now poring over. ââ¬Å"How are you getting through all this stuff?â⬠Harry asked her. ââ¬Å"Oh, well ââ¬â you know ââ¬â working hard,â⬠said Hermione. Close-up, Harry saw that she looked almost as tired as Lupin. ââ¬Å"Why donââ¬â¢t you just drop a couple of subjects?â⬠Harry asked, watching her lifting books as she searched for her rune dictionary. ââ¬Å"I couldnââ¬â¢t do that!â⬠said Hermione, looking scandalized. ââ¬Å"Arithmancy looks terrible,â⬠said Harry, picking up a very complicated-looking number chart. ââ¬Å"Oh no, itââ¬â¢s wonderful!â⬠said Hermione earnestly. ââ¬Å"Itââ¬â¢s my favorite subject! Itââ¬â¢s ââ¬âââ¬Å" But exactly what was wonderful about Arithmancy, Harry never found out. At that precise moment, a strangled yell echoed down the boysââ¬â¢ staircase. The whole common room fell silent, staring, petrified, at the entrance. Then came hurried footsteps, growing louder and louder ââ¬â and then Ron came leaping into view, dragging with him a bedsheet. ââ¬Å"LOOK!â⬠he bellowed, striding over to Hermioneââ¬â¢s table. ââ¬Å"LOOK!â⬠he yelled, shaking the sheets in her face. ââ¬Å"Ron, what ââ¬â?â⬠ââ¬Å"SCABBERS! LOOK! SCABBERS!â⬠Hermione was leaning away from Ron, looking utterly bewildered. Harry looked down at the sheet Ron was holding. There was something red on it. Something that looked horribly like ââ¬â ââ¬Å"BLOOD!â⬠Ron yelled into the stunned silence. ââ¬Å"HEââ¬â¢S GONE! AND YOU KNOW WHAT WAS ON THE FLOOR?â⬠ââ¬Å"N ââ¬â no,â⬠said Hermione in a trembling voice. Ron threw something down onto Hermioneââ¬â¢s rune translation. Hermione and Harry leaned forward. Lying on top of the weird, spiky shapes were several long, ginger cat hairs.
Wednesday, November 20, 2019
Reflection paper for a dance class (2 pages) about a movie dance take Essay
Reflection paper for a dance class (2 pages) about a movie dance take the land - Essay Example The story is all about believing, about deciding to make a difference, and about creating a sense of creativeness. It is about struggling against indifferences and giving rise to recognition of innate talents and capabilities. Pierre confronted the criticisms of the school director, the students, and their parents, but he had decided to make a difference, which he did. The story teaches us the importance of determination, commitment and perseverance. We come to know that we can achieve anything in life if we have strong will power and confidence to bring a change. Pierre speaks of his determination in this dialogue with Rock- the boy who vandalized his school directorââ¬â¢s car: Another precious lesson I have learned from the movie is that students tend to develop a feeling of trust with teachers when the latter provide them with a healthy atmosphere. Pierre faced sheer conflict with his students initially, like when he said, ââ¬Å"What if I said these dances would make you look cool?â⬠To this Rock said, ââ¬Å"Id say youre full of shit.â⬠But finally, the same students got to love him. A trust worthy relationship between the teacher and his students leads to better performance outcomes. The teacher-student relationship is as important as the relationship between the parents and their kids. Teachers are spiritual parents, and it is their obligation to provide the students with all the trust they need to grow up into happy and healthy citizens. This trusting relationship helps the students to cross the barrier and be friends with their teachers. For example: This dialogue shows how Pierre tried to bring out self-confidence in his students through interacting with them one-on-one. This is how the movie cultivates new insights to the profession of teaching- that is, interacting with the students one-on-one to bring out the
Tuesday, November 19, 2019
The field of psychology addresses the constant question of whether Research Paper
The field of psychology addresses the constant question of whether humans are born hard-wired with specific characteristics and - Research Paper Example However, when it comes to understanding the causes behind severe behavior problems like addiction, anger, aggression, criminal bent of mind, sadism, depression, anti-social behavior etc., then understanding the role of nature and nurture in the development of these patterns becomes an important. Hence, people in the field of psychology and psychiatry continuously make efforts to find out what it is that makes human beings behave in certain way, nature or nurture. That is, they try to know if people are genetically programmed to behave in a certain way or if their behavior is shaped by the environment. However, studies in psychology have given a hope to human beings by showing that even though human beings are programmed through their genes to behave in certain way, the environment has the power to break the genetic programming and modify the behavior pattern of human beings in positive way by strengthening the ââ¬Ëgoodââ¬â¢ genes and weakening the ââ¬Ëbadââ¬â¢ genes. The Role Of Genes Variations In Genes Genes play an important role in the development of behavior and personality pattern of human beings. Different genes are responsible for development of different habits and behavior pattern in people. Every human being has same 20,000 genes present in the body but what makes them different is its ââ¬Ëvariantsââ¬â¢ or ââ¬Ëflavorsââ¬â¢ (Frehley, 2010, para.1). ... However, it is important to note that scientists are not 100% sure of this information as it is not a statement but a ââ¬Ëspeculationââ¬â¢ (Frehley, 2010, para.2). Also, it is interesting to know that every human being possesses all the genes but what makes them differ in behavior is the ââ¬Å"less than 1%â⬠variance in the genes (Frehley, 2010, para.5). According to Ebstein et al. (1996), the variations in ââ¬Ëspecificââ¬â¢ geneses result in different social behavior patterns in different individuals (Nicolaou & Shane, n.d., p.2). It makes one wonder if such a small amount of genetic variation is ââ¬Ëmajorââ¬â¢ enough to control the will power in human being. That is, can human being acquire skills or behavior pattern that he is not genetically programmed to acquire? Evolutionary psychology, also known as ââ¬Ëmodern Darwinismââ¬â¢, is the field that helps in answering this ââ¬Ënature or nurtureââ¬â¢ question (Nicholson, 1998, p.135). Desire For Se curity It is a natural understanding that if the circumstances and the conditions of living change, then the behavior of human beings should also change. However, according to the evolutionary psychology, human beings living in todayââ¬â¢s modern world, still display the same ââ¬Ësurvivalââ¬â¢ traits that their ancestors living in the Stone Age had displayed to survive the threats in the environment (Nicholson, 1998, p.135). This shows that even if the environment and the surrounding situations change, human beings still carry the ââ¬Ëinnateââ¬â¢ fear from surrounding and are ââ¬Ëhard wiredââ¬â¢ to behave in certain way when they sense threat. For example, people from Stone Age were genetically programmed to gather and store enough food and have
Saturday, November 16, 2019
Human Resource Management in Business Essay Example for Free
Human Resource Management in Business Essay ââ¬ËManaging Peopleââ¬â¢ Describe how your organisation obtains the co-operation of its employees through the contract of employment and employee involvement techniques. Employee Co-operation Contracts of employment An employment contract is a written legal document that lays out binding terms and conditions of employment between an employee and an employer. The employers in ZARA need to makw sure that their employees are aware of what rights and responsibilities they have as workers in ZARA. This contract also includes: The salary rate that is going to be paid to the employees. When they will be getting their salaries What deductions are going to be made from their salaries like income tax. Contractual entitlements These are outlines within the contract so the employee and employer both know what is expected of each other when working in an organization. Things like pay might include the salary amount that has to be given by the employer to the employee and when it is supposed to be paid. Holiday pays might also be included in this depending on what kind of job it is. These contractual entitlements also include the number of hours that the employee has to work, this also includes over time. Type of employment of the employee will be comprised in the entitlement. This can either be temporary or fixed employment. The employees working in ZARA also need to be aware of these contractual entitlements so that that they know what to expect from the employers and vice versa. Firms set some disciplinary rules in the place that they are going to be working in and need to be followed at all times. Employees need to make sure that they follow the rules the employers have set for them until they are working for that firm. Pension benefits are also given to the employee after they leave the organization. These pensions are paid to the employees month after month, the amount is discussed before hand and depending on the employeeââ¬â¢s income history and as well as their age and how long they have served in the firm. Employee and employer rights Employers in Zara need to make sure that they are following the laws of all employee rights in their state. There are some employee rights that need to be followed. Some of these are: All employees need to make sure that they are getting paid the equal sum of money. Employees need to make sure that they arenââ¬â¢t doing any illegal work or something that would be a subject of discrimination. Employers in the firm need to make sure that the employees are not dismissed for an unfair reason. Employees also should be provided with maternity and paternity pay. To receive redundancy pay is basically a sum of money which is given by an employer to an employee who has been made redundant. Payment is done based on the employeeââ¬â¢s rate of pay and length of service. Employees should make sure that they receive an annual leave from their employers within a yearââ¬â¢s time without consequences. Employees should be paid at least a minimum wage in the firm. Type of employment contract: Permanent: this is one of the most common types of employment contracts that businesses follow. This employment contract includes things like the amount of pay and terms and conditions which are accepted by both the employee and employer. This type of contract lasts one year and is renewed after each year on employment. Temporary-companies use this contract because it saves them a lot of money and time. This type of contact lasts for only a short period of time. Full time- This is when an employee is asked to work more than 35 hours a week, but it depends on the job description. For example: a sales man in ZARA works from day till night for a long period of time. Part time- This is when an employee works for a little amount of hours instead of the whole day. For example: there are to employees doing the same job, one works in the night shift and the other in the day shift. Casual- when a firm is in need of employees, they tend to use this kind of employment contract. This has an advantage and as well as a disadvantage forà the employees as they might have less work to do compared to the other employees but they might not know when they are getting their next job. Zara uses full time employment contracts with their staff. Disciplinary procedures Disciplinary procedures are a set way for an employer to deal with disciplinary issues. They should include a disciplinary hearing where youââ¬â¢re given a chance to explain your side of the story. Grievance procedures This is a problem that could occur between the employee and employer, it is a complaint that they could have against each other for something that either of them has done wrong. Union Membership This is when a group of staff or workers is formed into a labor union. These unions play a big role in the firm as they can talk about issues between each other. An example is when there is a problem with the staffs pay amount of even the working conditions. Codes of behavior This is basically a set of conventional principles that are considered binding on the employer/employee. This is mainly about what is acceptable behavior in the firm. Employee involvement techniques Companies might use these techniques in order to get the staff more involved in decisions being made for the organization. This may also motivate the staff as they would feel they are also part of the firm and not just ordinary staff working there. Membership of work groups Firmââ¬â¢s employers might have groups of employees where all the workers work together. This can be advantageous as the workers might have more ideas in the group. There are different types of work groups in firms, For example: Board groups and work councils Quality Circles Intra-organizational groups Suggestion schemes This helps the employeeââ¬â¢s involvement in the organization. Employers make sure that he staff feels like they are part of the firm and that their ideas and suggestions matter. Staffs ideas sometimes make big changes in the organization and benefit them in many ways. To motivate the employees more, the employers give them rewards and prizes to keep them thinking about more and more ideas to improve the company, by doing this, it will motivate employees to work better and harder. How Zara obtains Employee Corporation? The rules, regulations and rights are followed by both the employees and employers in ZARA. ZARA has also explained the disciplinary procedures to the employees and as well as their employers. Employees are involved in the decision makings of ZARA and they are taken into consideration. Working together in work groups also takes place in ZARA. Finally, suggestion schemes are mainly monitored by the firm as this gives each and every employee a chance to share their ideas for ZARA. Devolved authority and responsibility Getting the employees more involved in the firms decision making enables the employees to do better work and be motivated to do it with their maximum capabilities. But this can also be a disadvantage because: The employees would want extra pay if their ideas work and take place in the firm. Employees might get stressed out as they would have more work load on their heads. Open communications This is when there is two way communications in the firm between the employees and the employers. Formal This is when formal communication between the employers and employees happen. For example: the employers are discussing business matters by the use ofà presentations or letters or even emails. Informal This kind of communication happens in an informal way between the staff and the employers. An example of this is: when the staff are chatting with their employers when going home, does not necessarily have to be about business but can be just about other matters. Top down This happens when any information about the firm is given from the top (owners or employers) to the bottom (managers and staff). An example of this is: when an important change comes to the business and the information is carried from the owners to the managers. Bottom up This is the opposite of top down, and information is given from the staff and managers to the top owners of the firm. Lateral This is communication which is done between the employees of the business but with those who are at the same level but different sections of the company. Types of communications Communication is basically the transferring of a message from the sender to the receiver, who understands the message. There are 3 ways of communication and these are: Verbal Verbal communication can be face to face talks, telephone calls, video conferencing, meetings, etc. There are both advantages and disadvantages of verbal communication. One advantage is that information is given out quicker. There is also a high chance where the feedbacks is given immediately and not have to wait for it where as in when a meeting is happening the employers are not sure that all the employees are listening or has understood all the information. This could be of an disadvantage for both the employee and the employer. Written Written communication is a type of communication method and may include memos, letters, reports, emails, etc. When communication is written, it can become of evidence in the future if needed. For example: emails that areà sent between the employee and employer can be kept for the future if any problem occur in the future. This type of communication can also be a disadvantage because the same message can be sent to a large number of people at once and all those people might not read the message immediately and therefore a feedback or reply may be given late. Visual Visual communication can be a form of Charts, firms, posters, etc. This kind of communication can be an advantage as this might be a catch to the eye. The disadvantage of this is there might be no feedback immediately and this kind of communication is not used in all firms because the employees might not understand diagrams and charts. These types of communications are used in ZARA. The employees in ZARA would use verbal communication as it is the easiest method and since they deal in customers, it would train them to become more confident when talking face to face and on the phone. Organizational Culture (ethos, values, mission) Organizational culture refers to the values, practices and behaviors that make up a unique and social environment within an organization. This can be expressed in a number of ways, including the ethos of the firm. An ethos is a code of conduct that a firm basically has. This might be set out in a published set of values or a mission statement so that employees, customers and other stakeholder are aware of what the firm believes in and feels is important. National accreditation (Investors in People (IPP) This type of structure is mostly used in businesses so that all the employees in the firm can be involved with the schemes. Investors in people are one of the well-known awards and also known as (IIP). This can be achieved when employees are able to invest on one of the biggest assets- people . This has mainly 3 rules: 1. Plan, which basically means developing strategies to improve performance. 2. Do, which means taking action to improve the performance. 3. Review, which need to be evaluated and used to improve performance too. Charter Mark and International Standards Organization (ISO)) This is a national award which has helped public service firms, For example: publicà schools and hospitals, to keep developing and improving their quality of service for customers and this can also be done to involve employees in decision making.
Thursday, November 14, 2019
iraq :: essays research papers
iraq Background: Formerly part of the Ottoman Empire, Iraq was occupied by Britain during the course of World War I; in 1920, it was declared a League of Nations mandate under UK administration. In stages over the next dozen years, Iraq attained its independence as a kingdom in 1932. A "republic" was proclaimed in 1958, but in actuality a series of military strongmen ruled the country, the latest was SADDAM Hussein. Territorial disputes with Iran led to an inconclusive and costly eight-year war (1980-88). In August 1990, Iraq seized Kuwait, but was expelled by US-led, UN coalition forces during the Gulf War of January-February 1991. Following Kuwait's liberation, the UN Security Council (UNSC) required Iraq to scrap all weapons of mass destruction and long-range missiles and to allow UN verification inspections. Continued Iraqi noncompliance with UNSC resolutions over a period of 12 years resulted in the US-led invasion of Iraq in March 2003 and the ouster of the SADDAM Hussein regime. Coalition forces remain in Iraq, helping to restore degraded infrastructure and facilitating the establishment of a freely elected government, while simultaneously dealing with a robust insurgency. The Coalition Provisional Authority transferred sovereignty to the Iraqi Interim Government (IG) in June 2004 and the election of its president, Ghazi al-Ujayl al-YAWR, was held in January 2005,itââ¬â¢s capital is Baghdad. Climate: Iraq is located in the Middle East ,bordering the Persian Gulf between Iran and Kuwait ,it is mostly desert. Mild to cool winters with dry, hot, cloudless summers, the northern mountainous regions along Iranian and Turkish borders experience cold winters with occasionally heavy snows that melt in early spring, sometimes causing floods. Itââ¬â¢s national disasters consists of dust storms, sandstorms, and most likely in spring, floods.
Monday, November 11, 2019
El Tonto Del Barrio Essay
A cursory look at the conclusion of El Tonto Del Barrio would show that there are no clear winners or losers in the story. There are reasons for this perception. Romero Estrada might be a little ââ¬Å"touchedâ⬠or an oddball, but his relationship with the community of Golden Heights Centro could be considered cordial and harmonious, even mutually beneficial. As the author aptly puts it, there appears to be an agreement, albeit unwritten, between Romero and the community for him to clean the sidewalks in exchange for the people looking after most of his needs. For instance, the barber (Barelas) gives him an occasional haircut, the produce market provides him with fruit (although overripe), and the Tortilleria contributes bread and a viand called ââ¬Å"menudo. â⬠Even his occasional beer in the evenings is usually free. Both parties are clearly satisfied with the unwritten agreement as evidenced by the fact that Romero is a respected citizen of Golden Heights Centro in spite of his mental state and has in fact fitted well into the life of the community. The peace is however disturbed with the arrival of Seferino, Barelasââ¬â¢ son who has just graduated from high school and is about to enter Harvard University. Seferino raises the issue of Romeroââ¬â¢s dignity and starts paying him for his labor, an arrangement which his father opposes without success. Barelas fears that paying Romero might prove damaging to Romeroââ¬â¢s stability and unduly injure the harmonious relationship that exists between him and the community. As it turns out, Barelas has correctly read the situation. The salary that Romero receives from Seferino finally gets into his head and radically alters his outlook and consequently his behavior. He starts feeling self-important. A mere couple of weeks into his new arrangement with Seferino and Romero is already applying for credit with the grocery store. Seferino interprets his action as a sign of growing self-confidence and boasts to his father that he has done right with Romero. However, on the fourth week Romero shocks Seferino with his demand for a wage hike. When he is turned down by Seferino, the trouble in Golden Heights Centro begins and the peace is shattered, as Barelas has predicted. Romero gets mad at Seferino for turning him down and severs his arrangement with him. Very soon after, behavioral changes are observed in him. He continues to sweep the sidewalk but excludes the portion fronting the barber shop. He withdraws into himself, becomes irritable, and neglects his hygiene. He even starts disturbing the peace by the rather high volume of his television, stops traffic in the streets, and pulls at the passing womenââ¬â¢s skirts as he sits by the curbside. The Romero of old ââ¬â cheerful, helpful, and peaceable ââ¬â ceases to exist. The disturbing change in him forces the townspeople to consider having him confined in a mental facility for fear that he might harm himself. They want Barelas to initiate a petition for the purpose. However, Barelas refuses to give in to their demand. Just as he has disagreed with Seferino in altering the state of things in the community because he knows that money will corrupt Romero, he also disagrees with the plan of the townsfolk because he believes that the day will come when Romero will revert to his old cheerful and helpful self. It turns out that Barelas is again accurate in his reading. When Seferino leaves for Harvard, Romero miraculously returns to his old self. He goes back to his self-assigned task of sweeping the whole sidewalk and resumes singing with gusto. In other words, because of the departure of Seferino, the old Romero is back, peace reigns once more in the community, and the residents of Golden Heights Centro are once again secured in the company of a crazy on whom they could depend. As to the question whether there are clear winners or losers in the story, the answer is yes, there is one clear winner in the person of Barelas, the town barber. He is the only character in the story who has accurately predicted that paying Romero will corrupt him. He is also alone in his belief that Romero will revert to his old personality in due time.
Saturday, November 9, 2019
Rationalism vs Empiricism Using Descartes 2nd Meditation & Hume Essay
Q3:What are the main differences between rationalism and empiricism as approaches to knowledge? Explain the advantages and disadvantages of each, using Descartes (Second Meditation) as the example of a rationalist, and Hume or Locke as the example of an empiricist. In your view which approach better explains the common-sense knowledge of the world that we take for granted? Common-sense knowledge is information we know and understand unproblematically. It could be that a spider has six legs, your two times tables or that in answering a multiple choice test, it is a good idea to bring a rubber and fill in your answers in pencil. It is information gained from ordinary life. Epistemology is a philosophical term in reference to the nature and limitations of knowledge. It addresses firstly what is knowledge, secondly how is knowledge acquired and thirdly the limitations of knowledge. Rationalism and empiricism are two approaches which seek to provide answers to these questions (Cottingham, 1988). Empiricism perceives that the development of concepts and ideas are dependent on the senses (Markie, 2008). Alternatively rationalism ascertains that reasoning, intuition and deduction are the ultimate vehicles to acquiring knowledge, not sensory experience. These theories do not necessarily exist in opposition of each other, but can co-exist to describe how one views the acquisition of knowledge in different fields (Markie, 2008). Throughout this essay, I will discuss the advantages and disadvantages of each view using Descartesââ¬â¢ ââ¬ËSecond Meditationââ¬â¢ in contrast to Humeââ¬â¢s ââ¬ËEnquiry Concerning the Human Understandingââ¬â¢. I will then elaborate how the Empiricist perspective provides a better explanation to common sense knowledge of the world we live in. Rationalism Rationalism is a method in which the criterion of the truth is not sensory but intellectual and deductive. The rationalistic perspective survives on the assumption that firstly, there is a rational structure to the world and secondly, that people have the capacity to comprehend it. It utilises the deductive methods of logic to provide a model for all human knowledge and relies on intuition (Markie, 2008). This is not always the case, so this philosophy cannot be relied in all circumstances. Rationalism is founded on the thesis of Intuition/Deduction, thesis of Innate Knowledge or Innate Concept thesis separately or in some combination (Markie, 2008). The Intuition/Deduction thesis proposes that in a particular subject area, some information is known by intuition alone or that knowledge is gained by deduction from intuited propositions. Experiences are incapable of developing oneââ¬â¢s knowledge but can catalyse thinking causing knowledge to progress from unconsciousness to consciousness (Cottingham, 1988). The Innate Knowledge thesis asserts that some knowledge is inherent within humanity like DNA, as part of our rational nature. The Innate Concept theory is based on the assertion that some of our concepts are not gained from experience (Markie, 2008). The rational nature organically possesses an individualââ¬â¢s concepts. Sense experiences might catalyse a process by which concepts are better understood but experience does not provide the concepts or determine the information they contain, rationality does (Markie, 2008). Other minor theories which are used less significantly to endorse Rationalism are the Indispensability of Reason Thesis and the Superiority of Reason Thesis. The Indispensability of Reason theorem states that we gain knowledge in a certain area when we utilise deduction and employ intuition. The Innate concepts and instances could not have been gained through the sense experience. The second strain stems that knowledge gained ââ¬Å"a prioriâ⬠through reasoning is superior to that gained through experience (Markie, 2008). In reference to Descartesââ¬â¢ Second Meditation, he explains how rationality can be used to pick up information that is not completely provided by the senses through the example of the hats and coats (Descartes, 1984). Rationalism can provide knowledge which is otherwise unattainable ââ¬Å"Something which I thought was seeing with my eyes is in fact solely grasped by the faculty of judgement which is my mind. â⬠Empiricism Empiricism is the other branch of epistemology, where knowledge is discovered through experience and observation, modelled on natural sciences. Knowledge is ââ¬Å"a posterioriâ⬠catalysed by a sensory experience (Markie, 2008). Empiricism is not based on a definitive complete rational system of knowledge but does provide verifiable understandings and information, useful for everyday life (Hume, 1975). In David Humeââ¬â¢s piece ââ¬Å"An enquiry concerning the human understanding and concerning the principals of moralsâ⬠, Hume purports that theà ââ¬Å"â⬠¦most lively thought is still inferior to the dullest sensation. â⬠Hume interjects that thoughts and ideas are less lively perceptions in contrast to impressions where we are encouraged to feel, experience and will (Hume, 1975). He labours his point through the example of the man in a fit of rage, as opposed to someone thinking of espousing those feelings. Rationalism only recalls the information or experience. It is incomparable to the intensity from the original experience provided by empiricism. It might appear that thoughts are without the same restrictions the body possess (Hume, 1975). In reality they have ââ¬Ënarrowly confined limits with no more creative power than compounding, transposing, augmenting or diminishing the materials provided by the sensesââ¬â¢. If a person is without the capacity of one of the senses, they are devoid of the information provided by that sense and are incapable of understanding information attached to that sensation (Hume, 1975). Restoring that sense enables them to receive sensory input, enabling them to conceive the attached ideas. This proves the importance of the sensory experience and that without it understanding is impossible. Comparison In my opinion, Empiricism better explains the common-sense view of the world. This is because knowledge gained through rational thought however much you can understand it, is not engrained or integrated into your core beliefs to the same degree as that gained through tangible experience. Knowledge gained through experience is more strongly felt and can be considered to be superior to knowledge gained by reflection (Hume, 1975). Without an experience of the subject in focus, the information is detached and reflection cannot proceed to occur. Intuition and deduction, however relevant, are open to deception and can lead to inaccurate assumptions. People previously believed the earth was flat and the earth was the centre of the universe, as this ââ¬Å"informationâ⬠fit their current schemas. It made sense but lead to wrong conclusions as it lacked testing. It is through empirical observation that accurate insight was reached. Their rational thinking followed logical deduction and was believed to be correct due to their intuition, but even rational thinking can be fallible leading to wrong assumptions (Descartes, 1984). It is proven that when people possess strongly held beliefs, they perceive information in such a way to support their current understanding and deny opposing views, filtering out information that does not fit their current schemas like putting blinkers on a horse. Although they believe their thoughts to be rational, their powers of deduction are compromised and can be rationally wrong. This significantly limits their ability to gain knowledge (Descartes, 1984). Conclusion Rationalism and Empiricism are two distinctly different views relating to epistemology and the degree of input that the senses provide in the formation of knowledge. Rationalism through intuition, deduction and rational logic ascertains certain knowledge which perhaps cannot be scientifically proven through observation (Markie, 2008). On the other hand, Empiricism understands the role of sensory experience and observation in order to develop oneââ¬â¢s knowledge. In reality, both are useful and even essential to the formation of any knowledge. References Cottingham, P (1988) The Rationalists, Oxford University Press. Oxford; New York Descartes, R. (1984) Meditations. Second Meditation, ââ¬ËThe nature of the human mind, & how it is better known than the bodyââ¬â¢, translated by Cottingham, J. in The Philosophical Writings of Descartes, vol II (Cambridge U. P. , 1984) pp 16-23 Hume, D. (1975) An enquiry Concerning Human Understanding [Section 2, ââ¬ËOf the Origin of Ideasââ¬â¢ (P. H. Nidditch, ed. , Oxford: Clarendon Press, 1975), pp17-22. Markie, P (2008), ââ¬Å"Rationalism vs. Empiricismâ⬠, The Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy, viewed 2nd October 2011, http://plato. stanford. edu/entries/rationalism-empiricism/.
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