Second Year

Chapter 3

   Welcome back to Hogwarts!

(Never mind that if you’ve only graduated yesterday, or only came for 201 courses.)

            If you’ve managed to make it to your Second Year (either formally or informally), you’ve already made it past approximately 73% of the student body*! It probably means you are determined to make it through all 7 years** and know how to put in the work to get it! Don’t worry about how long it took you to get here; take it at your own pace.

*This percentage has been sifted out of a selection of active students since April 2020 who officially made it to Y2. Many students start their education with 1 to 5 assignments and do not move forward. This would not include students with uncompleted Y1 courses but completed Y2 courses, though.

**If you haven't already found it, or if I haven't completed a Seventh Year chapter, there are currently no courses published for Y7. There are many variables for this, and they will be touched on later. 

         Starting Again

            This year is even more exciting with FOUR new courses to take. With all the same core courses as First Year they have added Alchemy, Ancient Ruins, Care of Magical Creatures, and Divination to the mix. These four courses are electives. Starting this year, you will need to complete and pass the 7 original courses along with 2 electives. You should also know that most of the Year Two core classes now require at least two essay submissions, and they will count for your overall grade, so make sure you put in your best work! The professors will explain which essays are necessary, as they differ for each class.

            Also, minimum word counts have gone up. Next to Year One’s 150 - 300 minimum word count, Year Two’s 300 – 600 minimum word count sounds daunting, and you also have to cover more information within the essays. Don’t fret yet! Some of them are actually really fun, too.

         Becoming a Professor’s Assistant

            If you feel like the grading queue is so slow, or you simply want to give back to the courses you loved the most, maybe becoming a PA is best for you!

            Now, while you technically do not have to be in Second Year to apply to be a PA, there are a few qualifications to apply:

•  You must have finished all assignments for the first year in the specific course. Yes, that includes the extra credits. You’ll need to have them under your cap so that you know the material and how to grade them. You do not need to have all 8 courses complete, just the one you want to apply for.

•  You’ll want to have at least an 85% in the class (this may vary based on professor’s opinions). Again, this makes sense; you can’t help grade others’ assignments in a course you completely bombed.

• You must be personable. If you’ve spent your time being an [Rated R content], no one will want you in a role model position. They check for these kinds of things!

Because of these qualifications, I’ve noted becoming a PA in this chapter. Hopefully, you’ve spent your time in the first year taking solid notes, passing assignments, making friends, and being kind. And now, you can set your sights on becoming a PA!

Professors will not be actively looking for assistants all the time. If they do, they will add the link to the applications under the Newsroom. There will be an article about Becoming a PA, here will list all the classes actively looking for PAs. If you think you’ve done exceptional work in the class, and/or think the class could use some extra help, you can always Owl the Professor. The application is easy to manage (through Google Docs) and will require information like your profile ID (that string of numbers from your profile page), how much time you can devote to PA duties, and why you think you would make a good PA. In about two weeks’ time, a Professor may Owl you back with an answer. If they choose you, they will walk you through the next steps! Congrats!

Becoming a Head Student is a higher honor that goes to those who not only complete more years of the Course, but also put in exemplary work in assignments and PA duties! If you are already a PA, and are interested in becoming a HS, reach out to the Professor of the course. If none of these interest you, just remember that connecting with the HS of the course is your next stop in asking about the lessons. They can look up your assignment specifically with the ID and can answer any and all questions before taking it to the Course Professor.

         Your Courses

            Again, this is not the place you will find answers or notes from each class. This is the place where I will set my notes about the course and homework difficulties. It should give a brief overview on what each course looks like before getting too far into the lessons, including the new elective courses.

So far this year has a total of 120 required assignments and 70 extra credit assignments. In total, that’s 1900 House Points (give or take missed answers, extra credit points, or skipped EC assignments) to earn for your transcript in the year. 

         Alchemy (11/11)

            The first year in Alchemy with Professor Rosenquist covers the history of alchemy, popular elements, and transmuting metals, but only theoretically. Much like Potions, this course is chemistry-related. There are a few tables to memorize (or have on hand), but the quiz answers are mostly multiple choice and easy to find from the lessons. Unless you are already familiar with alchemy, you might find the amount of information a bit daunting (lessons are long with many topics), or even confusing as some of the information seems to be counterintuitive (Moon is represented with silver under the Harmony of Elements and Organs, but is represented by copper during the Transitional Phase). Because of this, I have rated Alchemy highest on the scale. While there are no required essays for this course, there is an assignment in Lesson 5 that involves watching two videos and answering a few easy short answers; this feels essay-adjacent.

         Ancient Runes (7/11)

            Ancient Runes (currently being managed by Headmistress Oshiro as it is in-between professors) is such an interesting course to take. But there is the nuance that it’s practically a class on learning a new language. This year only covers the Elder Futhark runes, but almost all runes here have multiple types of translations and meanings. As long as you have your Rune Handout, the translation assignments will be manageable. Most test questions are MC and many answers can be found in the lessons or on the handout, but you will have to understand some cultural and translation aspects for the four required transcription assignments. You will also cover a few spells used in enchanting the runes. While this course is rated pretty high, you can pass with well-made notes and the handout.

         Astronomy (8/11)

            This year covers the Moon and its related topics. Tides, and phases, and werewolves, oh my! Great news for all who found themselves dragging through ASTRO101, this year is significantly easier. Sure, Professor Plumb leans further towards short answers in his assignments, but most of the answers can be found in the lessons. And, the math is fewer and easier. Almost half of the year is covering Beasts, Beings, and plants affected by the Moon’s energy. Some lessons that lean more towards the science part of the topic can be dense and tricky to understand, like our Moon’s geography, other moons in our solar system, tides, and eclipses. But good notes for those lessons will be very helpful when taking assignments. Required essays are the introduction essay (hope you picked a favorite planet from last year) and in Lesson 6 (how the Moon affects any of the topics previously discussed in the course). All in all, you should have a great time completing another year of Astronomy!

         Care of Magical Creatures (1/11)

            A highly anticipated elective course taught by Professor Montclam is everything a Second Year interested in magizoology could hope for. This year goes over some very interesting creatures, some you may have visited before in Herbology or DADA, but also many others you have not. After learning about the intricacies of the department in the Ministry, the rest of the year is spent learning simple creatures (rated X or XX). Towards the end of the year, you can meet Professor Montclam’s Fwooper, Lavender, and write a required essay on it. There is only one other required essay, which is in Lesson 1 (about your expectations of the course). Many answers are found from the lessons, and often are more MC than short answers. This course is entirely fun and easy, which makes it a solid choice for a required elective for the Year.

         Charms (5/11)

            This year of Charms, you will learning about magical items and the Forms used in the production of such items. Lesson 1 reviews the entirety of Year 1, so make sure you have those notes handy too. Surprisingly, this year is mostly theory, though you do have 4 Charms to learn. Professor Laurel leans a bit further into short answers this year, and while there are quite a bit of Forms to learn, you will need to fully grasp the concepts to answer some assignments. This year is a significant step up from Year One. The required essays are the Introduction essay (choosing a magical item) and Lesson 3 (describing the Forms that go into making a magical item).

         DADA (4/11)

            Dueling! This year introduces the rules of engagement, common jinxes and curses, and even counter-curses (very important!). Again, Professor Kwan has an easy mix of multiple-choice and short answers in the quizzes. Most of the answers can be found in the Lessons, but some of them will be tricky. The required essays for the year coincide with the major tests, midterm (where you are under the effects of the Jelly-Legs Jinx) and final (like any good final practical for a Second Year, you are thrown into the Forbidden Forest at night and told to work under the pressure of an unidentifiable creature chasing you, good luck!).

         Divination (6/11)

            The course Professor Fayge discusses the different means of divination and connecting with your Inner Eye. This year specifically looks at Tarot. If you don’t have your own deck or enough previous experience, this course might be tricky. The class develops a lot of answers based on the 27 cards you will have to read in the course. With proper notes, you might not even need your Inner Eye to answer test questions, yet a handful of questions will rely on some further thinking. Which is why I’m rating the course as medium. If you have your own deck (or two), you will have enough experience to pass this course as easily as Care of Magical Creatures, and maybe learn something new. There is only one required essay for the course (you must research five other minor arcana Tarot cards not discussed in the course).

         Herbology (10/11)

            Another year with Professor Aspen in the Greenhouse, but this year is a more in-depth look at the growing process and a bunch of new plants. The lessons are long and packed with topics and plants to learn. There are a significant number of questions that require further thought or are tricky to answer. While the assignments have an even amount of MC and short answer, it does have a required practical aspect, where you evaluate pictures of plants for three required assignments (Lesson 2, Midterm, and Final). You will need detailed notes and a comprehensive understanding of the curriculum to pass the exams. This course is rated high, but you will still have a great time getting your hands dirty (or wet with water plants) learning how to care for specific plants. Sigh some relief in knowing there is only one required essay in Lesson 2 (a practical, over three plant images).

         History of Magic (2/11)

            Year Two of History covers Europe’s wizarding history, wizarding villages, and other topics. You also learn about the creation of the British Ministry of Magic, European witch trials, a solid overview of Merlin and King Arthur, and a list of notable wizards with important contributions to wizard society. Even if you are unfamiliar with these topics, you will find that despite the long lessons, everything is explained easily and the answers are easy to find. The two required essays for this course are interesting and simple. For Lesson One, you will need to write a breezy 75 words on your yearly goal for the course. Then, in the Final week, you’ll need to reflect on your goal and write another breezy 100 words about it after finishing the course.

         Potions (9/11)

            This year of Potions is a bit more difficult than last year. This year, you are learning about the ethics of related topics of potion making (like gathering ingredients, experimenting, and administration), as well as two new potions and a bunch of ingredients. The lessons are long and cover a variety of topics. The assignments have an equal amount of MC and short answers, with a few of them requiring further thought to answer. This year is vital for any future healers or potioneers, but will also become important in future years of this course. This course does not offer any required essays, so you can breathe a sigh of relief if you are not an aspiring healer or potioneer. There is a running assignment called the Potioneer’s Log, which is a journal of your time during the course. It asks for 1000 or more words on your reflection of the lessons and practical aspect, but they are currently extra credit, should you wish to complete them.

         Transfiguration (3/11)

            This year of Transfiguration covers animate to inanimate transformations. Because of the use of living creatures, we touch on the topics of ethics and overcoming their willpower for successful transformations. There is also a switch up in the process, since students can no longer rely on sense observations for the animate targets (you can’t taste them this time, and scent isn’t appropriate either). There are almost double the number of spells to learn this year, and there are a fair number of questions that require more thought. With thorough notes, you’ll be able to breeze by this year. There are no required essays, but the extra credit essays are open to a lot of fun and creativity if you choose to do them.

         Courses, in Review

            If you are planning on taking some courses in groups or are still deciding which electives to take, this is the section for you!

• Alchemy and Ancient Runes are the two hardest electives, but they are rewarding if you are interested in either topic. Alchemy pairs well with Potions and Transfiguration as they both cover chemistry and molecular topics. Runes, in general, can be used in tandem with a lot of other topics like Potions, DADA, Charms, and Divination.
• Care of Magical Creatures is easy and exciting for anyone interested in magizoology or related subjects. It’s a popular course for a reason. The lessons are also short, so it could be paired with harder or longer courses.
• As stated before, Divination differs for individuals based on their previous experience with Tarot. If you have any experience, you’ll pass it pretty easily. If you have no experience or no interest in divinatory studies, it might be harder.
• Astronomy is not only easier than Year 1, but also not even the hardest course this year. There are covered topics that intersect with CoMC, Herbology/ Potions, and DADA.
• History of Magic has another easy and interesting year, but the lessons are long. Keep those in mind when pairing with other courses.
• While Transfiguration starts tough, the last half is simple and short (the lessons are just covering the objects and spells). It would pair well with harder classes that continue to have long lessons in the latter half, like Potions and Alchemy or even History of Magic.
• Charms has some long lessons and involved topics, but the assignments are simple. But the fact that the class deals this year with more theory and less practical work of spells might make it easier to pair with courses like Astronomy, Ancient Runes, and perhaps Divination.
• DADA has some short and easy lessons (most are of defensive spells and creatures), but the assignments are harder.
• If you find you need some extra help with the lessons or are looking for extra material to prepare for the exams, you can always check out the collection of course guides from Lily Lavender. You can find her books under the Book tab on her profile. Currently, she has all Year 2 courses that go over terms and key points from each lesson. They will not be used for plagiarism on tests and assignments, but can help you write your own notes and essays. Happy studying!