Gummy Vance ignored the tapping at the window. It was for the best. He was a professor now. Hogwarts and the students were his concerns. The Hexbreakers in Egypt could handle themselves without his assistance – just as they had done for centuries before he’d first set foot in Cairo. The tall, broad-shouldered man straightened his robes before leaving his office and the annoying tapping of the barn owl behind.
As he had hoped, the first quiz had gone exceptionally well. He tried to focus on that as he strode through the hallways, smiling and nodding at teachers and students alike. Arriving at the classroom just as the last of his students trailed in, Gummy shut the door behind him and cast a quick glance at the windows. No Egyptian barn owls. No tapping. The History of Magic Professor rubbed his hands together and turned his attention to the class.
“History is littered with battles and bloodshed, and Egypt certainly had its fair share. As you may have noticed from earlier lessons, Ancient Egyptian wizards were a diverse group, but the potential for large-scale conflict was growing. Ra and others who wanted to profit from or subjugate Muggles weren’t at all pleased with Isis and other witches and wizards like her. Sounds like a familiar division, doesn’t it? Well, times change, but people are people regardless of the era." Gummy leaned back against the desk and waited for the students to catch up on their note taking.
“So," he continued, "very near the end of Ra’s reign, the magical community had become a powder keg. All it required was a spark to set it off. At this time there was a powerful set of brothers: Seth, Osiris and Horus. The three were very different. Horus wanted the peace than came through order, law, and fair treatment for all. Osiris played both sides of the fence, so to speak. He was married to Isis, but was also a favorite of the aged wizard-king, Ra.
"Seth, on the other hand," and here the Professor's voice took on a tone of clear disapproval, "was a dangerous, violent radical. He didn’t just want to rule over Muggles as a god – that wasn’t enough! He wanted them all in abject fear of him. Terrible stories of his blood-soaked rule had been coming out of Nubia on a regular basis. Then, out of jealousy and greed, Seth killed his brother Osiris. And that proved to be just the spark needed for the Egyptian magical community to explode into open warfare.
"Between naps, 363 year old Ra became enraged at the murder. Osiris was to have been Ra’s successor, so killing Osiris was basically an attack on Ra. Consequently, Ra wanted Seth’s head – literally. Horus, consumed by grief and fury, readily accepted Ra’s request to lead an army against Seth. Isis, understandably angry and grieving herself, gave Horus her blessing and he grimly began making preparations for war. Meanwhile, nearly all the Ancient Egyptian wizards chose a side: Horus and justice or Seth and domination.”
Gummy paused reflectively. “Interestingly enough, Bastet was one of the few who did not choose a side. Instead, she built her great home in Bubastis -- that fortress the Hexbreakers have been having such a difficult time with. It’s said that she gathered her followers there to keep them safe while Egypt exploded in violence.”
TAP, TAP, TAP.
Professor Vance turned slowly to look out the classroom window. A large, sleek white bird with a smooth black head, neck and wing tips was perched on the window sill. Its long black beak again struck the glass.
TAP, TAP, TAP.
After a moment’s hesitation, Gummy turned back to the class and continued. “So, anyway, there you have it. Egypt was divided and going to war. The army led by Horus included some extremely bright and talented witches and wizards. Even amongst this venerable collection, the wisest and most respected was Thoth. Thoth was famous for his extensive knowledge, respect for truth and justice, and his writing and magical abilities. So when Horus’ army approached Seth’s, they came armed with a plan. First, Thoth turned Horus into a winged orb, as bright as the sun.” With a flick of his wand, the Professor made an image appear at the top of the chalkboard. It was a golden disk with long wings stretching out to the left and right.
TAP, TAP, TAP. Every click of the bird's beak against the glass drew the students' attention away from the lesson. He knew he really ought to do something about it, but Gummy still hoped there was a chance the ibis would give up and go away if he just ignored it for long enough.
“Sir”, asked one of the students seated near the windows, “what kind of bird is that? Would you like me to let it in?”
“Thank you very much for the offer, Owen, but I think we’ll leave it where it is for now. It is a bird native to Africa and was once found all over Egypt. The sacred ibis was symbolic of Thoth, as it happens. But we’re not learning about Thoth today. We’re learning about Horus and Seth and we’re running short on time.
“So, where were we? Ah, yes! Thoth had just turned Horus into a winged solar disk. The wizard soared high up into the air over the army of his enemy like a second sun. He, and two witches who accompanied him, then cast a massive Befuddlement Charm over Seth’s supporters. This unexpected attack was devastatingly effective. The army of Seth, unable to distinguish friend from foe, attacked each other. Soon, nearly all of Horus’ foes appeared to be dead or had fled into the desert in fear. “
TAP, TAP, TAP.
Gummy glanced again in irritation at the Ibis at the window. It held up a long, black leg to which a scroll had been attached. The Hogwarts Professor rolled his eyes. Obviously it had a message. How stupid did the bird think he was?
Turning back to the class, he twirled his wand and pointed it at the wall opposite the windows. An image appeared that depicted Horus and Seth in their final battle. Seth was on the ground and Horus loomed over him with one foot planted in the middle of Seth’s chest, about to strike the killing blow.
“Elements of the Seth’s army reassembled and there were a number of battles here and there before Seth was finally captured and executed. Or perhaps not. That is where stories diverge. Historians love to bicker over how they think events actually played out. Some think Horus executed Seth. Others say Isis did the beheading. Still others claim that Seth was never captured, that the person who was executed was an imposter, possibly having been given a Polyjuice Potion. In this last theory, Seth actually escaped by turning himself into a serpent and slithered away to plot his revenge."
TAP, TAP, TAP. The ibis turned its head and pressed one eye up against the window as if to say it saw the Professor and it had a job to do. The scroll on its leg was going to be delivered.
“Right,” Gummy said distractedly, “so, that’s it. If no one has any questions, you can pick up your homework on the way out. Have a wonderful rest of the day. Owl me if you have any questions.” With that, he turned and approached the window with resignation.
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