durmstrang institute (written in cyrillic as дурмстранг) is one of the three great wizarding schools of europe, and it is the one most shrouded in secrecy. the requirements of students and staff in attendance placed on them by the school are known only to other durmstrang staff and student, both current and former. they do not share their experiences with other wixen from other magical schools, as there is a superstition among alumni that to do so would only damage the skills they learned there. tucked in the ural mountains of russia, pushed up against the arctic circle, the four-story tall castle is unplottable and cannot be found on any maps. it is known for its emphasis on the dark arts in its curriculum and in recent times has developed a reputation for producing dark wixen, most famously the dark wizard gellert grindelwald.
acceptance
durmstrang accepts students from around europe aged eleven up, including those as far west as iceland and as far south as bulgaria. as long as a student seeking acceptance to the school does not live in an area covered by the other two wizarding schools of europe, hogwarts and beauxbatons, there is a possibility durmstrang would offer them acceptance. it is never a certainty, however, as despite this wide geographic region, the school is rather selective in who is allowed to attend. first and perhaps most infamously, the student must not be a muggleborn. they must come from a family that has not spoken against the dark arts nor acted to limit education on the dark arts. the path to admittance can and has been smoothed by generous donations from the family members of those seeking acceptance, though such students have been known to get teased relentlessly at school upon arrival.
education
unlike many other magical schools, including hogwarts and ilvermorny, it is not the lighter magics such as charms and transfiguration at the core of the curriculum of durmstrang. while such subjects are indeed taught, their importance and standing in lessons is strongly undercut by the pervasive flow of the dark arts through the various programs offered. a student of durmstrang is far more likely to know how to transfigure another wixen than an object and can likely think of several… unconventional applications for a well-cast aguamenti.
as a nod to their founder, all durmstrang classes are offered in bulgarian, however the true lingua franca of this school is russian. for those unfamiliar with these languages upon their arrival at durmstrang, an eight-week intensive course in the cyrillic alphabet, as well as the russian and bulgarian languages is required for any first-year or transfer not demonstrating adequate levels of language proficiency. however, because durmstrang accepts students from an incredibly broad geographic area, professors also offer classes in their home languages, resulting in lessons being conducted in polish, romanian, and other languages. this has resulted in nearly every durmstrang student speaking a minimum of four languages, depending on their professors, their courses, as well as the origins of their fellow pupils. translation spells do not work on campus and no class is taught in english.
core classes
core subjects are mandatory up until fourth year with the exception of dark arts, which is mandatory through the student's entire time at durmstrang.
the dark arts
the core that runs through durmstrang. to any durmstrang professor or alumni worth their magic, there is no “dark” and “light” magic, it is all simply magic and like a tool, it matters only in how it is used. durmstrang has chosen to focus on what other schools would refer to as the dark arts, which is defined by the administration as: “the interaction and manipulation of organic matter through magical means via internal manipulation of magical pathways”. this seven-year course grounds students in the basics of such an approach, moving into simple spells and manipulation, both with and without a conduit such as a wand or a staff. unusual applications of more conventional “light” magic is discussed, as well as dark spell development, the definition of a curse and how to create a cursed object, and applications of jinxes, hexes and curses in practical, applicable settings.
zagovory
the study of verbal enchantments. students learn the precise pronunciations and necessary circumstances this method of magic requires and begin practice with a set of knives. as they advance through their lessons, they will eventually be required to gather a full set of teeth through their own, non-magical means in order to fuel the enchantments. the strength of the enchantment, as well as how long it lasts, depends on how much power the caster can produce, which is why a full set of teeth is crucial to actually advance in this style of magic, making the collection of those teeth what distinguishes advanced students from beginners.
magic of the body
“it is from the body that your spell must originate. the wand, if you choose to use it, is nothing more than the way it escapes. it all comes from within you.” - durmstrang headmaster katayeva leonidovna. this seven-year course examines how energy moves through the body, how circumstances can hinder that flow, and where magical energy and various kinds of magic originate within the wixen’s body. one of the slower courses offered at durmstrang, it is a basic building block in how durmstrang students and teachers understand magic. as the course continues, it builds on itself until nonverbal, wandless magic can be produced by any graduating student purely by the manipulation of the magical energies inside of them.
potioneering
students examine what a potion is, how one is made, brewing a potion with proper safety precautions, as well as the development of a potion recipe and the history of potioneering. a strong believer in the hands-on approach, durmstrang students are given access to a cauldron almost immediately and are allowed to access it whenever they wish, as long as they prove they can be responsible and follow all guidelines. as a student advances, potions will become more complex with more and more complicated effects on the body. the class is divided in half, with the first half being a lesson and the latter half being an opportunity to discuss what was applied in class. exams are given at the end of each week.
organic transfiguration
a study on the history of transfiguration, the dangers and benefits of organic transfiguration, as well as in-depth practical study of the subject. students may use plants, non-sentient magical beings, or themselves as subjects for practice. the idea behind organic transfiguration, as they teach it at durmstrang, is a simple one: you must reshape the internal magical paths of a living being to resemble something else. this results in students needing a good basic knowledge of anatomy, both human, plant, and animal, which is also offered in this course.
greenskeeping
the durmstrang version of herbology. this is the study of keeping plants alive and healthy in order to be able to harvest needed materials from them. students will interact with both magical and mundane plants, both poisonous and safe and learn how to best look after them all, as well as how to monitor their health and how to produce the best yield when needed. repotting strategies, health issues, and applications of all plants for a variety of measures and situations will be discussed. students are strongly advised to have thick gloves and warm clothing for this course.
ancient and modern runes
a study of runic meanings and their history, alongside potential divination techniques and uses for runes in academic, professional, and personal settings. runic linkings and charging will also be discussed at higher levels of the course. translation of runic texts and artifacts will also make up a portion of this course in order to gain a greater appreciation for the history of runic magic. fluency in runes, both in divination and as a form of writing, is a must in order to succeed in this course and will be taught but not elaborated on. students are strongly encouraged to seek out additional help if they are having problems reaching consistent divination successes or having problems reading the runes.
lower division electives
magical law
a study of magical law across many wizarding countries in europe and asia. laws involving regulation and condemnation of the dark arts will be examined closely and broken down to further facilitate student understanding. other laws, including travel laws, artifact laws, and laws regulating interactions with non-magical populations will also be covered in this class. students will be expected to familiarize themself with one law covering dark magic regulation from their home country and present it, arguing either for or against it.
use of magical creatures
the examination of magical creatures, including their diets, mating habits, and life stages as well as how these creatures can be used by wixen kind. proper care for these creatures will be emphasized, as well as examining unconventional uses that may not have been obvious upon first examination. students will be trained to find these atypical uses and capitalize on them as well. laws around magical creature care, movement, and reproduction will also be examined.
non-magical studies
the study of the non-magical world, including what the americans would refer to as “no-majs” and their societies, cultures, and laws. also present will be lessons on the development of the nature world, the existence and categorization of non-magical creatures, and non-magical ways of understanding internal processes and systems.. this class is only available upon request of ten or more students. to make this request, please contact the auxiliary headmaster.
homeopathy
the study of medicinal plants and animals, the development of modern medical practice, and introductions to modern healthcare with the opportunity for limited practical applications. medical spells and plants will be at the center of this course with lecture material supplemented by field excursions and guest speakers. for a student gleaned to have a great aptitude for this field, medical texts as well as great opportunities for practical applications may be available. not recommended for those below third year.
whisperings
similar to the hogwarts study of charms, whisperings is the opportunity for students to expand into a field similar to zagovory with a return to spoken magic designed to produce an effect. unlike zagovory, whisperings are used to accomplish a task, whether that be extinguishing a fire, moving an object, or polishing a shoe. students will learn both the traditional method of whisperings, which does not use a wand, staff, or other conduit, as well as the more modern method, which combines limited conduit movements with shortened words to produce a similar effect to the traditional method.
inorganic transfiguration
a study of the more popular part of transfiguration in schools such as ilvermorny and hogwarts, this class examines how to turn inorganic objects into other inorganic objects, as well as how to turn inorganic things into organic ones. durmstrang considers this a more difficult form of transfiguration as there is no flow of magic in the starting object and, in some cases, a student must imbue it with magic in order to bring about the change into an organic object. as such, this course can only be attended by those recommended for it via a letter of recommendation.
conjuration
one accio can bring an object flying across the room. conjuration teaches that but at a far greater level. as this course serves as the foundation for future studies in conjuration, it is primarily theoretical, with examination of several texts written about the subject, including an introduction to the subject, an examination of how conjuration works, traditional methods of conjuring, before moving into more modern ways of taking a great many things from there and moving them to here. towards the end of the course, students will have the ability to put their learning into practice with limited conjurations from around the castle.
sailing
a traditional and dearly beloved pastime of durmstrang students, this course teaches students how to sail without the use of magic. one of only two recreational classes offered at durmstrang, this course will discuss how to plot a course, navigate using the stars, operate rigging, steer a ship, and cast an anchor. hopefully, students will become proficient before the annual great sailing competition, a time when mastery of the water and of offensive magicks come together to prove just who is the best student at durmstrang.
flight
a popular mode of transportation among the greater european magical community, this course teaches students how to fly, including how to summon and maintain a broom, get off the ground, hover, move up and down, and how to land. after several accidents in the past, students are expressly forbidden from using magic on brooms until they have demonstrated sufficient mastery of how to control one via completion of a mastery course.
upper division electives
advanced whisperings
students interested in furthering their studies into whisperings at last have an opportunity with the addition of the advanced whisperings class, added less than a decade ago. there is a greater focus on non-traditional methods of whispering and students are encouraged to examine and explore how different conduits impact their success in whispering. traditional whispering methods will be further expanded upon by examining how many words and sounds are needed to properly whisper without it failing entirely. lessons will be supplemented with historical sources and lectures from experts in the field.
advanced conjuration
letter of recommendation required for entry into this course. after a firm grasp of the history and methods have been proven, alongside an ability to successfully conjure objects from around the castle, students now have the ability to experiment further with practical, hands-on work in conjuring. students are expected to demonstrate mastery of both traditional conjuring methods via a summoning circle as well as more modern means that do away with the ritual. the final portion of this course will involve the conjuring of organic material with a human subject capping off the class.
resurrection studies
a class focused on the history, legends, and practical potentials of the resurrection of the dead. students will begin by examining popular stories and traditional tales of wixen returning from the dead, analyzing similarities between these stories to see what, if anything, is the truth. from these individual observations, students will then present them to the class and as a group, the class will pick a few options and attempt to succeed in this most elusive of goals via experiments conducted on plant life and deceased magical creatures. durmstrang would like to remind its student body there has not been a success in this course yet and there is no reward for succeeding.
alchemical studies
a magical field as old as magic itself, students will be instructed and taught in this ancient form of transfiguration and the traditional study of the elements of nature (earth, fire, water, and air). students will learn the history of this subject, the successes and the many, many failures that have plagued this study, before trying their own hand at it, turning ore into a refined metal, conducting the elements to obey one’s whim, as well as attempting the impossible: turning lead into gold.
advanced flight
once one has mastered the basics of broom flight, that is when the fun can truly begin. this course teaches advanced techniques on a broom, including offensive and defensive moves for airborne combat. popular trick moves, including those most commonly found in quidditch matches are also taught in this course. at the end, there will be a demonstration of learning presented to student peers and faculty of durmstrang.
experimental potions
letter of recommendation required for entry into this course. for those interested in going beyond what the books teach about potions, this is the perfect course. students will learn how individual ingredients affect the outcome of a potion, how to make a potion reliably explode, and what boundaries are currently being pushed in the field of potioneering today. students will be required to attempt to create their own potions and their own recipes, as well as modify existing potion recipes to produce an entirely different effect. several course will take place with the students blindfolded, in order to teach them how to brew a potion from touch, smell, and sound alone.
advanced homeopathy
letter of recommendation required for entry into this course. for those students that demonstrated exception skill and talent in the field of homeopathy, this course is the next logical step for them and serves much more as an apprenticeship to a working mediwix than an actual class. students gain extensive hands-on experience in this subject, as well as an above average knowledge of the theoreticals behind it. students are almost guaranteed a place alongside the healthcare workers they have worked under upon successful completion of this course and upon graduation from durmstrang.
examinations
at the end of each year exams are sat in every subject with the exams that that determine placement and job opportunities coming fourth and seventh year. fourth rank oral guidance exams, or f.r.o.g's, are sat in forth year with the seventh year exams known simply as crowns, as they crown off the student's time and determine what jobs they can perform. certifications and final exams all in one.
grading
much like the non-magical russian academic grading system, grades for durmstrang are on a scale from one to five, with five being the highest and one being the lowest.
5 (“excellent”) - shows highest distinction and excellent knowledge of the subject. equivalent to an outstanding and is a passing grade.
4 (“good”) - shows good knowledge of a subject. equivalent to an exceeds expectations and is a passing grade.
3 (“satisfactory”) - shows a credible or passing grade. equivalent to an acceptable and is a passing grade.
2 (“unsatisfactory”) - shows a limited knowledge of a subject and is below average. equivalent to a poor or dreadful and is a failing grade.
1 (“very poor”) - shows a complete failure. equivalent to a troll and is a failing grade.
extracurricular activities
while all students at durmstrang are strongly encouraged to participate and interact with their fellow students as much as possible, student involvement in extracurricular clubs is intended to advance their academics and complement their learning. therefore, most of the clubs found at durmstrang tend to be more academic in nature, or at least tangentially related. however, as is the case with many rules, there are exceptions to this.
choir
for a school with such a focus on spoken magics, is it any surprise that durmstrang is particularly proud of their choir? any student can join and will sing both modern wixen hits from around the world as well as traditional songs from russia, bulgaria, and other countries prominently represented in the student population of durmstrang. perhaps most exciting is the opportunity to learn traditional magical songs that the wixen of the past used in casting their spells. a true hit among the students, especially with the incredible contrast between their sopranos and the baritones and basses, who are the three most common vocal types in the durmstrang choir and are trained to provide a maximum amount of contrast between their voices.
conduit performance
a form of performance unique to durmstrang, conduit performance allows students the ability to become more comfortable with magical conduits outside of an academic setting. a student will choose a wand or a staff and will work with others in their performance group to learn how to use that conduit in art as an extension of their body. there are semesterly performances by this club to demonstrate what they can do, and the most popular are always routines that combine partial movement with particularly powerful use of a staff.
dark arts club
one of two school-required clubs, every student is a member of the dark arts club and as such, receives more exposure and experience with this style of magic in an informal, out-of-classroom setting among their peers. this is where students will discuss lessons, work on homework, and experiment with material learned in their lessons. however, as this is a school-required club, it meets daily for only forty-five minutes.
debate club
it is an odd idea for a school such as durmstrang, but the administration understands that there is only so far magic can take an individual and that sometimes battles must be fought in courtrooms, offices, and private buildings. this is why they offer the ability for students to practice arguing each other into submission. the topics are all chosen by the students and each debate is judged by the students as well. depending on their successes, they might advance to the next level of the club or stay to learn more about communication techniques they had not previously been aware of. there’s often a fair amount of yelling in the halls of durmstrang, but few rooms are louder than the one where the debate club meets.
duelling club
the world has entered uncertain times, but durmstrang has been expecting such an event for centuries and would even claim that this all is nothing new. any student of durmstrang is expected to hold their own in magical combat and duelling club is how this expectation is met. one of two clubs required by the school, every student in durmstrang is a member of the duelling club and as such, receives consistent, focused training in offensive and defensive dark magicks. this has led to a healthy environment of competition among students and it is believed that this school-sponsored fight club is the reason there are fewer fights between students outside of the duelling ring.
homeopathy club
a place for the truly gifted in the art of homeopathy, as well as those interested in learning more about the subject to meet, practice, and discuss their lessons in this truly crucial practice. there is almost always a steady stream of students seeking medical attention that don’t want to risk the wrath of the staff at a school like durmstrang, and this club is a place for the next generation of healers and mediwix of durmstrang to become even more familiar with healing and its many challenges. there is a joke among students of durmstrang that every friend group should have someone in homeopathy club in it as it is a near-certainty that their skills will be needed.
quidditch
a durmstrang student intends to win, in all aspects of their life, and nowhere is this more clear than among the quidditch players of their school. durmstrang has six quidditch teams, all selected from the greater student body, with the captain of each team being voted on by the team members. students are expected to have a natural aptitude towards flying, a remarkable level of fearlessness, and the willingness to win a game at all costs, which makes a durmstrang quidditch match a bloody affair, often resulting in many injuries. it is, of course, a favorite of the students and most dream of joining one of the teams.
rune reading club
one doesn’t learn an entirely new alphabet, each symbol with its own greater meaning, only to use it just in class. this is the thinking of the students in rune-reading club. these students often have a proficiency with languages or a particularly mischievous streak. students in this club are infamous for swapping their classmates’ notes for ones written solely in runes, if they don’t simply hex a student, resulting in that student seeing nothing but runes no matter what language they are attempting to read.
sailing
a classic pastime for the students of durmstrang. sailing has a long history in the school and much of this club’s time is spent preparing to win the great sailing competition, which occurs each year in the sub-arctic sea near durmstrang. students will customize their boats, practice racing, and engage in mock naval battles in preparation for the big day.
