Ledesma School of Magic

From Absit Omen Lexicon

“La llama es un quadrupedo y mas grande que una rana.”


Ledesma School of Magic is a wizarding school located on the Caribbean coast of Colombia. The current headmistress is Señora Herlita Carvalho. Though most students come from the immediate area (given the presence of several other schools within relatively close proximity), the school accepts students from as far as Uruguay, Nicaragua, and the Dominican Republic. The school mascot is a manatee.

Unlike their North American and European counterparts, Ledesma enjoys a much friendlier relationship with the other South American schools despite said proximity (and a fierce but healthy rivalry when it comes to Quidditch). Every year they participate in the many cultural festivals and holidays they share, as well as what academic competitions that have become international events.

Structure

The school is located in a lagoon, which defines school boundaries. Within it are beaches and caverns that may or may not be used, depending on the tides, and are protected from ocean swell. There are buildings on the beach, but they aren’t regularly used.

It is near a Wizarding community, so many students live at home.

Neighboring forests are shrouded in dangerous, impermeable mist, and visitors who arrive by ship must pass a barrier that is more easily observed underwater. Ghosts and other spirits are also employed to keep Muggles and malevolent forces away.

Architecture

Buildings and construct take on rather organic shapes, out of respect for the environment. As such, buildings appear almost “nest-like”, since they typically adhere to the natural formations of their cavernous foundations, rather than overtake them.
For some courses, cabins and similar structures have been built directly over the water. They are connected by a network of piers, one of which leads to the school quay.

La Percha

In South America, toucans are the messengers of choice. Here, staff and students alike may keep their toucans, or use one of the many the school keeps on hand. The hangar appears as a treehouse atop a giant tree (though the birds roost in the tree itself).

The Catacombs

Beneath the school are a network of tunnels and caverns. The largest of them – the “main hall” – is used as a sort of memorial for past headmasters, mistresses, and alumni who have performed a great service for the school or the country. Another has been long been converted into a vault where the school’s oldest archives are kept, heavily warded against the effects of water damage and time.
Ghosts patrol these areas. Due to the great sacrifice one must make to stay, those who have pledged their services to the school after death are regarded with great respect.

Academics

At Ledesma, staff and students alike enjoy a rich, diverse curriculum that emphasizes points of contact between subjects as one grows older and focus on wandless magics, such as dance magic and somnilency. Senior students are expected to participate in at least one exposition. Learning a second language is compulsory.

But perhaps more remarkable is its traditional acceptance of Squibs, who can attend as fully recognized students and study inherently magical topics from an observational standpoint.

Overall the course/grade structure differs from those of (North) American and European schools. Schooling begins as early as 9 or 10, with regular graduation at 17 and secondary graduation (extended studies) at 19. There are no Halls or Houses; instead, any division perceived are loosely defined by majors, which are overseen by small but self-sufficient departments. Graduates are welcome to continue their studies.

La Encantología, las Runas Antiguas, & el Baile Mágico

Regarded as a broad field of study in relation to other topics, the subject has been mapped into a tree of specialisations. Charms, jinxes, hexes and curses are primarily classified by purpose (method – incantation versus inscription – secondary), but all are ultimately considered charms.

  • Because of the amount of material and various fields it encompasses, the Study of Ancient Runes is still treated as a separate class. A full linguistic course is available for Squibs and others who wish to take it.
  • At Ledesma, dance magic is both a full-time course and major to pursue, or a popular extracurricular activity for those whose passions lay elsewhere. Majors and non-majors may participate in the yearly tournament.

Dream Magic (“Somnilency”)

In learning dream magic (or somnilency), students learn to lucidly dream, how to turn their dreams into malleable environments and develop them as a means of communication. Competitions and exercises focus on creativity, control, and interpretation.
  • Legilimency and Occlumency – a separate course – are strongly recommended, but aren’t necessary.

La Magizoología & la Herbología

With the abundance of diversity to be found in the ocean and nearby forests, specialised courses are available in addition to a more general education. Proximity to the ocean offers ample opportunity to study the many creatures that inhabit its waters, and a long history of dealings with malevolent spirits and demons have made such studies a necessity.
  • Related disciplines include Potions, Somnilency, Healing and Divination.

Sports

Sports are compulsory. Students must participate in at least one during the course of their academic careers.

Quidditch

Quidditch, of course, is the most popular (though a wide variety of other sports are available as well). Ledesma has only one team, but competition is provided by an international quidditch tournament in which other schools of South America participate.

Reputation

Ledesma is known for nurturing individualism, a respectful approach towards spirits, and complete acceptance of Squibs into its ranks. Compared to other schools (particularly European ones), they are considerably more easygoing, but to mistake it for a lack of discipline would be, well. A mistake.

Alumni

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