About a year ago a couple of fellow Harry Potter fans who respected the detail pickiness of my brain and my writing (poor sods) asked me to create an American school of magic. I gave it some thought and had a few ideas but nothing really came of it. Interest was lost in the subject and it lingered in the back of my mind, pretty much useless. The other day after coming back from watch Chamber of Secrets onscreen, my brain kicked in and out came White Mountain School of Magic. I have also come to the realization that I will never understand the workings of my brain and I should not even bother trying to comprehend it anymore. So for those who want an American magic school to play with, here it is. This is basically just a school manual, with a history, class curriculum, teachers to work with and whatnot. Feel free to play until your heart is content. Free reign allowed by all, just be sure to send me what you've done because I'd love to see it. A few things I should mention were in my mind when I created this school:
1) American wizards and witches live in a Muggle-like world and often live Muggle-like existences. Some have Muggle businesses, marry into Muggle families etc. For the most part there is no distinction between pure bloods and non-pure bloods, though of course, there are those that hold to that destinction. The world of Muggles is not completely alien to them but its not completely familiar either. I also make note here that early in colonial history wizards and witches set up their own colonies so many towns or communities around the USA are magical in nature, similar to Hogsmeade, or have Muggles living in them that aren't bothered by a primarily magical population.
2) American magic users have their own government called the United States Magical Congress and it serves the same function as the Ministry of Magic in Rowling's books but following the pattern of our own government and its structurization.
3) Other than that, anything goes. Its up to you to fill in any blanks or whatever. Make whoever you want evil, good, the grey in-between. I have no backgrounds for the teachers other than what classes they teach; I just slapped a name to the class.
4) Students begin attendance at White Mountain at age 13 or 14 and go until they have completed all five years (around age 18). I realize this seems odd but I wanted to avoid the seven years of Rowling's Hogwarts and still maintain a semblence of American educational systems. So I kinda mixed around the concept of high school, middle school, and college preparatory, keeping in mind that most students attending White Mountain would go on into magical lives and not Muggle lives, no matter their background and origins. (shrug)
For easy reference, you can either continue to scroll down to read or use the links to jump around. Have fun and again let me know what you do and how you interpret things, as its open season and I'd love to know how others view this.
The History of White Mountain School
of Magic
The Houses of White Mountain
House and School Shields
Class Curriculum at White Mountain
Course Descriptions by Year
Extracurricular Activities
Familiars and Pets
Uniforms and Robes, Medical Records, and Supplies
White Mountain Staff
Campus Map
The History of White Mountain School of Magic
Lewis and Clark Corps of Discovery may have found their camp at
the foot of the Glacier Mountains on the Marias River a disappointment and so
named their camp Camp Disappointment, but magical explorers Ananias Jameson and
Ivan Sorovosky were not in the least disappointed. Enchanted by the fantastic
scenery and obvious magical potency of the area, Jameson and Sorovosky thought
it the perfect, out of the way place to educate the young magical minds of the
newly created United States of America. Following in the footsteps of the famous
Muggle explorers only a scant five years later, Jameson and Sorovosky spent much
time ascertaining the exact location to build a school equal to the schools of
magic to be found in Europe. Ananias Jameson, a Yorkshire-born Englishman had
attended Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry before leaving to make his
fortune in the Americas. Like many before him who were born in England and moved
to America to seek his fortune, he embraced the ideals of the Colonies and, when
war broke out between his motherland and his adopted land, he chose the side of
the Americans, fighting with fellow Carolinians in the War for Independence. During
this time he met Ivan Sorovosky, a Russian-born immigrant wizard who had attended
The Durmstrang Institute, and the two became fast friends. When the reports coming
from the Corps of Discovery were brought back to the United States and the two
men read them, they contrived to speak with members of the Corps. After ascertaining
particularly quiet and uninhabited areas even by native populations, the two men
set out to explore on their own, determined to find a place far removed from civilization
to create a school to teach American wizards and witches.
Their own journals and notes can be found within the school's library and are
a fascinating revelation into the exploration of the American West from a magical
point of view. However, it is clear that both Jameson and Sorovosky both agreed
that along the Marias River in what is now Glacier National Park would be the
ideal location for a magical school. In 1813 the first buildings of the school
were built and the spells of shielding and magical maintainence were cast. The
school started as several huge log cabins and two log long house dormitories,
Virtus and Destiny. The cold climate mixed with short days and long nights made
for difficult ways of instruction, yet the school persevered. The population
of the school remained quite low, no more than two hundred students even beyond
the late 1860s, but following the Civil War, the students began to flood into
the school. Muggle-born students were allowed in, as well as minorities such
as African-Americans, Latin-Americans, and Native Americans by the 1880s and
1890s. With such an expansion, new facilities were built of stone and steel
and new dormitories were added to accomodate not only the increased student
body but also the simplistic form of dividing the students as artists or logics
was no longer viable. By the 1920s Asian-Americans were also allowed into the
school. Also by this time the European curriculum of magic was no longer sufficient
as it was obvious that many of the students practiced their own magic based
off their own heritage. A broader base of magic was taught, taking into account
the varying forms of magic and belief structure, reflecting the "Melting Pot"
that typified America in general as well.
More buildings and more protective spells were placed upon the school by the
1950s. The fact that White Mountain now sits in the midst of a popular national
park amazingly seems to have no effect on the school's inhabitants or Muggle
tourist coming to view the marvelous scenery created by Mother Nature. The facilities
are a mix of the modern and the traditional with care toward comfort, safety,
and encouragement to learn.
White Mountain School of Magic is now considered world-wide to have the most
comprehensive and broad-based curriculum. Many older and more traditional schools
from Europe or Asia might consider White Mountain too liberal in its educational
tenets, yet the school reflects the basic principles of which the United States
itself was founded: equality and the ability to fullfill one's complete potential
regardless of race, background or class.
Parents and guardians of potential students are welcome to visit White Mountain
to ascertain for themselves the quality of education that White Mountain School
of Magic devotes to its students and has done since the first pioneer-spirited
students stepped into a large log cabin classroom in 1813. Visitors are also
encouraged to visit these well-preserved buildings that now serve as museum
and guest facilities on campus.
White Mountain School of Magic welcomes all potential and returning students
to America's number one magical school.
The modern school currently has five dormitories, or houses, in which students
are placed at the beginning of their educational life at White Mountain. The
first two houses were created with the school. The Board of Directors in 1813
generously asked Ananias Jameson and Ivan Sorovosky to name the houses. Jameson,
the dreamer of the two, fervently believed in the concept of "Manifest Destiny",
or the belief that a nation or even a person could not exist without a sense
of destiny or purpose, named his house "Destiny", feeling that those who entered
there would be the drive and energy of the magical community within the growing
country of America. Sorovosky was less of an idealist and more of a practical
nature. He was a man of reason, born in an age of reason and embraced the philosophies
of the ancients such as Seneca and Cicero. He believed in natural order and
logical thinking. Duty and getting things accomplished were more important than
grandiose dreams that could not be realized without action. He named his house
"Virtus" after the Roman concept of duty.
As time passed and the student body and curriculum expanded, three more houses
sprang into existance. Two were based off physical magic to balance the originating
houses start with mental disciplines of imagination and logic. Medicine, shapeshifting,
channeling and physical control were emphasized in these two houses. The first,
founded in 1837, was influenced heavily by Michael Willowbrook, a former merchant
who had traveled much of the world not only for business but also to study other
disciplines of magic. He was deeply interested in the Asian magic arts and had
been deeply affected by the idealism of Toaism and Chi. When Willowbrook became
principle of White Mountain in 1837, he formed a new house that he called Chi
and the curriculum expanded into the Oriental magical arts. Those in House Chi
tended to internalize magic, focusing on personal ability rather than group
ability. Later in the 1850s, he brought a second house to the school by utilizing
the other end of the Chi form, the external. With the influence of witch Marie
Laveau of New Orleans, who was famous for her powers within the realm of voodoo,
a different physical type of magic was introduced. Channeling and the influence
of the environment around the magic user was central to the new house and House
Loa, named for the Voudon pantheon in Laveau's honor, came into being.
No new changes to the house dormitories would come until the late 1920s when
Principle Alicia Montgomery decided that a balance between the physical and
the mental should be utilized. Also the lack of the teachings of nature magic
disturbed her greatly and she introduced the aspects of shamanism into the curriculum.
With this, came more Native American, Asian and immigrant students from Celtic
and Russia backgrounds. A new house was born in 1929, House Ekstatsis, the Greek
word for ecstasy, which is one of the bases of shamanistic magic.
Thus the house dormitories at White Mountain stand thus:
House Virtus - house symbol is a scroll in laurel wreath As many previous students know, White Mountain places its student within their
house dormitories by way of The Throne. The Throne, carved from ancient black
granite found deep within the bedrock of the nearby Glacier Mountains, has been
enchanted to reveal a student's house dormitory when the student sits upon its
seat. Above the student a magical engraving appears briefly dictating which
dormitory the student will be assigned. For almost two centuries now The Throne
has been infallible and White Mountain continually thanks its fellow magic school,
Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, for aiding in the creation of this
fantastic enchanted monument. As always it holds a place of special importance
in the main dining hall of Terget Hall where students gather daily and for all
occasions of the year.
The Houses of White Mountain
House Destiny - house symbol is a single star resting on a bank of clouds
House Chi - house symbol is the Chinese characters for the five elements
House Loa - house symbol is representations of the four elements
House Ekstatsis - house symbol is two feathers crossed
White Mountain School of Magic coat of arms - shield with stripes of red, white
and blue with a scroll and quill. The words running around the top of the shield's
borders are Scientia Libertas Est (Knowledge is Freedom)
House Virtus Crest
House Destiny Crest
House Chi Crest
House Loa Crest
House Ekstatsis Crest
Year One Year Two Year Three Year Four Year Five
Class Curriculum at White Mountain
Charms I
Potions I
Dark Arts Study I
Arithmancy I
Astrology and Astronomy I
Transfigurations I
History of Magic I
Magical Creatures I
Herbology I
Charms II
Potions II
Dark Arts Study II
Arithmancy II
Astrology and Astronomy II
Transfigurations II
History of Magic II
Magical Creatures II
Herbology II
Charms III
Potions III
Dark Arts Study III
Divinations I
Muggle Studies I
Transfigurations III
History of Magic III
Magical Creatures III
Herbology III
Charms IV
Potions IV
Dark Arts Study IV
Divinations II
Muggle Studies II
Transfigurations IV
History of Magic IV
Magical Creatures IV
Herbology IV
Charms V
Potions V
Transfiguration V
Herbology V
Magical Creatures V
plus up to four (4) specializations in the following subjects:
Charms
Potions
Transfiguration
Herbology
Magical Creatures
History of Magic
Dark Arts Studies
Divinations
Astrology and Astronomy
Arithmancy
Year One
Arithmancy I Astrology and Astronomy I Charms I Dark Arts Study I Herbology I History of Magic I Magical Creatures I Potions I Transfiguration I Arithmancy II Astrology and Astronomy II Charms II Dark Arts Study II Herbology II History of Magic II Magical Creatures II Potions II Transfiguration II Charms III Dark Arts Study III Divinations I Herbology III History of Magic III Magical Creatures III Muggle Studies I Potions III Transfiguration III Charms IV Dark Arts Study IV Divinations II Herbology IV History of Magic IV Magical Creatures IV Muggle Studies II Potions IV Transfiguration IV Charms V Herbology V Magical Creatures V Potions V Transfiguration V Students in fifth year are required at least one and no more than four specialization(s)
in one of the following disciplines:
Arithmancy Astrology and Astronomybr> -minor or major emphasis in astrology goes hand
in hand with Divining and Portends in Divinations specializationbr> -scientific
observations of the cosmos using Muggle and Magical science techniques and advancements
Charms Dark Arts Study Divinations Herbology History of Magic Magical Creatures Potions Transfiguration
Course Descriptions by Year
elementary introduction of mathematics, geometry and formulas in everyday magic
study of history of stars and development of astrology - includes weekly night
lab session
elementary charms
introduces the Dark Arts mainly through a history of the arts with emphasis
on the infamous people, legends and tall tales
cultivation and use of common everyday herbs and plants in the magical world
used for cooking, incense and brews
begins with the Mediterranean societies such as Sumer, Egypt, and Greece as
well as early Nordic and Celtic peoples
introduces familiars, spirit guides and other personalized bonds with creatures
as well as common magical creatures encountered in the magical everyday world
elementary potions making consisting of mild poisons and antidotes, serums and
common household potions
basic principles of transfiguring objects, starting small and simple
Year Two
advanced study of mathematics and science in dealing with magic - advanced formulas
studied
advanced study of stars and how they affect magic through ley lines, moon shifts
and destinal charts - includes weekly night lab session
charms regarding the mind and physical person are explored, such as levitation,
memory modification and summoning
defense against the dark arts in blocking, disarming, means of escaping Muggle
fanatics without injury-end of the semester deals primarily with dueling pairs
study continues with medicinal plants and household plants
a study of magic in the Americas starting with pre-Columbian societies in North,
Central and South Americas, the development of voodoo and progress of magic
in modern times
emphasis on creatures in wild such as unicorns, kappas, were-creatures, etc.
advanced teaching of poisons and antidotes, creating medicinal potions of minor
nature (healing cuts, abrasions, bruises and acne)
emphasis on transfiguring large objects such as size reduction or increasement,
mass reduction or increasement, minor modifications to large objects such as
buildings, automobiles or natural rock formations
Year Three
Study on minor glamours begin - changing physical features or affecting mental
or emotional moods
advanced dueling and defense techniques at first half of year - second half
discusses curses, hexes and their negative and positive conotations, cursed
objects explored
tea leaves, palm reading and star sign explored as well as numerology
study of geographiccal flora and fauna begins and students are required to successfully
maintain a magical plant for the duration of the school year
Asian magic history explored, including China, Korea, Vietnam, Thailand, Japan,
Cambodia, Tibet, Russia and India as well as some Middle Easter cultures (post-Mohammed)
how to care for wounded magical creatures as well as exploration of extinct
creatures
everyday objects and their use from colonial to modern times explored and explained
- fashion, language, and music emphasized
study of antidotes for curses, as well as medicines and serums from Native American,
African and Asian origins specifically
living matter to inanimate objects transformed
Year Four
charms developed to affect Muggle living as well as advanced glamours such as
full physical glamours, invisibility, silencing and incapacitation
continuation of cursing and charming objects and performing curses explored
- Unforgivable, their history and use explored at length - all but Killing Curse
used in class - Cruciatus and Imperius curses used only on volunteers of strong
physical persons or volunteer instructors
crystal balls, premonitions and types of Extra-Sensory Perception studied
water plants and their care and cultivation explored
magical history of Africa, Australia, New Zealand and the oceanic islands worldwide
as well as the influences of European magic on native peoples worldwide through
colonialization
creature of the oceans, lakes, rivers, etc. explored and studied
rural and city life comparisoned in America, study of modern technology such
as computers, automobiles, telephones and other Muggle gadgets - students at
end of semester must successfully type on a computer, drive an automobile and
know proper everyday etiquette in Muggle business and public environments
potions regarding transformations, shrinking and growing, curing fatal ailments
(such as cancers or tumors), controlling or curing mental ailments (such as
depression, ennui, and other mental instabilities) and physical ailments (such
as skin conditions, bone or muscle problems) studied
organic objects of all sizes and types are transformed into other organic objects
Year Five
full scale glamours explored, such as large illusions, complex protection spells
and magical maintainence of objects like homes, schools, tombs, treasuries etc
students are required to grow and maintain an individual full garden plot of
plants throughout the school year - proper environment magically provided
students are required to care and maintain a chosen and approved magical creature
throughout the school year - proper environments magically provided
advanced potion-making such as Wolfsbane, Veritaserum, immortality and glory
potions explored
creating objects from transfiguration taught - tree homes, creating underground
tunnels, or creating objects from base element molecules
advanced formula study from ancient texts
-Glamours
-Bewitchments
All students who specialize in Defense Against the Dark Arts must pass United
States Magical Congress' exam for Auror or Ranger Corps with the intent to enter
one of the defense academies in Europe, Asia or the Americas.
-Extra Sensory Perception
-Portends and Premonitions
-Divining through Earth Magics
-medicinal plants
-conservation of magical plants
-large scale farm techniques of magical plants
-specific cultural study of ancient or modern societies
-language studies
-study of Muggle "magic"
-specific magic study throughout history (such as potions or divination)
-veterinary practices
-magical creature conservation and environmental reintroduction
-medicinal serums and potions
-poisons and their antidotes
-alchemy
animagus training only - student must decide and study the animal they wish
to transform into first quarter - rest of year is devoted to the learning of
the animagi transformation process - ALL ANIMAGI STUDENTS MUST REGISTER WITH
THE UNITED STATES MAGICAL CONGRESS, THE EUROPEAN MINISTRY OF MAGIC AND THE ASIATIC
MAGICAL BUREAU.
Quodpot and Quidditch The following clubs and organizations are present on campus. Each group has
their own membership drives and dues. Students interested in participating in
any extracurricular activities must maintain a B average grade or they will
be dropped from non-academic activities until improvement is made.
Wizard Chess Club
Quidditch Players of America
Quodpot League of America
White Mountain Choir and Orchestra
International Magical Studies Association
Student Government
White Mountain Dusters (dueling club)
White Mountain Actors Guild White Mountain Choir and Orchestra Leisure Ware Tone Potion
Extracurricular Activities
Each dormitory maintains a Quodpot team and games are held throughout the school
year within a large enclosed stadium on campus. With the rise in popularity
of Quidditch, the Quodpot field is also used for informal Quidditch games. No
organized Quidditch teams exist on campus at this time. Wizard chess tournaments
are held twice a year. Plays and concerts are held throughout the year as well,
especially during the winter months when it is difficult to go outside due to
harsh weather conditions.
WMAC hold auditions the third week of the schoolyear and prepare for the coming
yearly programs. Members participate in set construction and stage productions
of plays and musicals throughout the year.
WMCO hold auditions the second week of the year and hold weekly practices for
two yearly concerts and one concert fo the United States Magical Congress in
mid-May. They also work with WMAC if musical productions are scheduled for the
year.
A comedy and improvisation group that performs around the campus and sometimes
for national functions. In existance since 1988, the group is still going strong
and always on the look out for new, energetic and amusing members. Open auditions
are held in the third week of the year. Material cheerfully ripped off from
anyone if we like it and victims are always sought.
On campus music group consisting of five members. Arnold Exelby, Karen Idol,
June Ruka, Phoenix Kessler, and Cali Begay are in their final academic year
and they are looking forward to sharing their talent with the students one last
time. Music is varied from jazz to punk rock to country and include many popular
songs from Muggle and Magical personalities.
Students with pets or familiars other than owls or other messenger birds are
restricted to the following:
cats Song and tropical birds are no longer allowed due to problems arising with
cold weather environment and noise factor. Students are allowed no more than
one pet (excluding fish) and must properly maintain the pet's environment and
accessories (such as amphibians and snakes within enclosed areas and litter
boxes properly cared for). Any slouching in animal care will result in the animal's
return to the student's parent or guardian and will not be allowed back for
the rest of the year. Any animal that consumes or harms another student's pet
will also be forbidden from the school for the remainder of the student's time
at White Mountain, as well as payment for damages or replacement pet provided.
Aviary with proper environment will be provided for messenger birds of all sorts.
School owls will be provided for those who do not have their own.
Familiars and Pets
dogs not over 30 lbs. (13kg)
rats
mice
ferrets
snakes (no constrictors or venomous varieties)
amphibians (no venomous varieties)
gerbils
hamsters
guineau pigs
rabbits
fish (no pirana or similar fish please)
Uniforms are not required for the student body beyond the required robes with
dormitory insignia provided at the beginning of the first school year. All students
are expected to dress sensibly, however, for the cold climate of the upper United
States. Frigid cold conditions last most of the school year. Suggested clothing
on top of other normal includes: thermal wear, one or two dress occasion outfits,
boots for cold and rainy weather, scarves, gloves or mittens, earmuffs or caps,
heavy winter coats and light jackets. Shirts, jackets and ballcaps with brand
logos and insignias are allowed within reason. Anything promoting illegal objects
such as drugs or alcohol are banned and will be confiscated immediately if discovered.
Medical records of all students are required by the school before attendance
begins. White Mountain asks that any changes to these medical records be immediately
reported to the school nurse, especially during holidays, breaks, and summer
hiatus. The school shall naturally reciprocate should any incidents occur to
the student while at the school so that parents and their family practioner
are also kept up-to-date. This is for the student(s) health and White Mountain
wishes to assure both students, parents and staff that proper care can be expertly
provided should incidents occur.
All books and supplies can be purchased on or off campus. Potions ingredients
are the only laboratory items not provided by the school. Quills and pens for
exams will be provided as they will have anti-cheating spells cast upon them.
Semester grades will be sent to parents or guardians on December 20 and May
25 by owl post. Mid-term grades will be supplied to students only, unless special
requests are made by parents or guardians of students. Students are, of course,
free to share their mid-term grades with parents if they so choose. The purpose
of this method is to give the students an accounting of their academic progress,
thus allowing them time to improve before final semester grades are issued.
Uniforms and Robes, Medical Records, and Supplies
Principal - Margot Deatrick 1. The Old Cabin - One of the original buildings and built as a round house
log cabin, The Old Cabin, as it is affectionately called, is now the school
museum and conference hall.
2. Long House 1 - Formerly the housing facility for House Virtus, Long House
1 is now the school library and study building for the campus.
3. Long House 2 - Formerly the housing facility for House Destiny, Long House
2 is now the only building on campus where Muggle technology can function without
the interference of magic. It houses a computer laboratory and other technological
devices needed for Muggle Studies or for recreational technology.
4. Terget Hall - Terget Hall is the dining hall and general school meeting
building. School activities such as dances are held here. The Throne resides
in a place of honor at the head of this building built in 1954.
5. Jameson Hall - classrooms
6. Sorovosky Hall - classrooms
7. Onyx Hall - classrooms
8. Corps of Discovery Courtyard - enclosed courtyard used for recreation and
relaxation
9. Franklin Hall - classrooms
10. Glacier Courtyard - created and named shortly following the creation of
Glacier National Park, where the school resides, this courtyard affords an excellent
and untethered view of the mountains forming the Continental Divide
11. Green House 1 - Herbology classrooms
12. Green House 2 - Herbology classrooms
13. Field House 1 - Herbology/Magical creatures classrooms
14. Field House 2 - Magical creatures classrooms
15. Salish Resident Hall - house dormitories - named for the local Native
American Salish tribe
16. Kootenai Visitors Center - Visitors lodging for magical folk staying to
visit campus or local area - named for the local Native American Kootenai tribe
17-19. - temporary structures magically built only when needed - at any given
point only one or all three can exist on campus
White Mountain Staff
Vice-Principal - Pakelo Haupu
Charms I & II - Rossiter Seger
Charms III & IV - Chien Hong
Charm V & Specialization coursework - Alice Crumbo
Transfiguration I, II & Specialization coursework - Thomas Brown Owl
Transfiguration III-V - Mosley Tanner
Potions I-V & Specialization coursework - Caro Burke
History of Magic I, III, V & Specialization coursework - Calvert Mather
History of Magic II, IV & Specialization coursework - Keane Douglas
Herbology I-III - Susan de Chambray
Herbology IV, V & Specialization coursework - Hosmer Prater
Magical Creatures I-IV - Edmund Braddock
Magical Creatures V & Specialization coursework - Ivory Jakes
Astrology & Astronomy I, II, & Specialization coursework - Mandy Woods
Divinations I, II & Specialization coursework - Powell Jorgensen
Dark Arts Study I-III & Specialization coursework - Shepard Donnelly
Dark Art Study IV, V & Specialization coursework - Westley Smith
Arithmancy I, II & Specialization coursework - Mathias Townley
Muggle Studies I & II - Jacob Navarro
20. Quodpot Pitch - also serves as Quidditch pitch informally and used as
avalanche breaker
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