Hermione was rather distubed after the full report on the new teacher. Both Ron and her decided to do some research and not say a word about it to Harry.
They were drifting apart. Harry was absorbed in his own thoughts, was dizzy or sleepy most of the time and just sat in the common room or wonder around, not caring much about the classes coming up, or the quidditch games or his future outside the school.
None of them could wait to the new Defense Against the Dark Arts, who wouldnt take place until that afternoon. 5 full hours of Defense. Even Draco was intrigued. He kept mentioning outloud that his dad couldn't believe what a Salem teen witch could teach his son. Still, he wondered whether she'd use a mini skirt to class.
She didn't. Every male student turned their eyes to the door when she came in. Harry's face lightened up: she was wearing his tie as a belt. She looked pretty muggle like. Jeans, normal t-shirt, glasses. He couldn't help smiling when he saw his tie over her hips, at the same time Minerva and Dumbledore wanted to kill her.
Albus was suddenly turning red.
She sat at the table, next to Minerva as usual. She had a bandage on her arm. "Attention please" Minerva's voice filled in the room. Dumbledore got up and announced a minor change in the houses' co-heads.
"We've decided the best way to decide the co-heads that will suit better for each house was by using the Sorting Hat. Last night out co-heads tried on the Hat and some changes occured. Prof. Sprout will be the co-head of Hupplepuff, while Hagrid will be the co-head of Ravenclaw, Miss Mooney Penny will be in Slytherin and Prof. Matthews will be a Gryffindor. Now, do go on with lunch". He sat back down. Snape wasnt pleased at all and it was showing, but he wouldn't say anything.
Minerva however, wouldn't shut up. "May I ask when this "sorting" took place Albus?" Marie smiled at her and she smiled back "Not that I'm not pleased of course, having little Marie with me, no offense...". Prof. Sprout smiled at her from behind her huge hat "Non taken, I thought it was quite funny seeing Hagrid wearing the hat. Though darling, when did you got sorted?".
Marie was speechless. Think something fast, anything at all she thought. "Errr, last night, really late, I was reading school reports and Dumbledore paged me and well, got a tie!!". She waved the tie in a funny way.
They were all rejoicing with the new co-heads, all but Snape and Hermione, who couldn't stop staring at her. "I can't believe she pulled that off, you see what she's doing? They are all under a curse or something!".
Harry was more than please to annoy her with the news. He whispered to his friend "Look at the bright side, you get to work with her, you'll find out if she's as bad as you think she is". He kept on smiling until the class started.
***
When they entered the classroom, it was hard to recognise it. Prof. Matthews was writing words on the blackboard, using a chock and there was no ink on the desks. Instead, normal muggle pens and a handbook for each student, with either the gold lion or the silver snake on the front. Harry sat on the front desk with Neville, and next to them Ron and Hermione.
"What is this? Muggle things? This is Hogwarts!" Those were Draco's first words directed to his new teacher. Marie turned around and took of her glasses placed them on her desk, next to the chock. "Good morning to you too Malfoy. Now, if you please, SIT". Her expression changed, they all suddenly hushed. Harry tried to look at her eyes, but she would avoid eye contact. Of course she would, she is a teacher Harry thought. Harry felt cold inside, he had the quartz stone that she gave him around his neck, it felt heavier every day, but it was warmer at different times, like when he felt like drinking.
The teacher got up and started talking, walking around. "Hi, well, as you probably know by now I'm your new professor, my name is Marie Matthews and I'll be teaching you guys pretty much everything I know". Hermione raised her hand. "One minute and I'll let you talk allright?" and she winked at Hermione, who was pretty upset by that sign of sisterhood from the new professor. Harry giggled when he saw Hermione's disgusted face. He was amused by how obsessive his best friend could get.
"Well, this class is different from what you've seen before. To start, we dont use quills, nor ink here, you are 21st century wizards and WILL have to get along with muggles, at one point or the other, so, you better get acquinted with their stuff, hence the pen and handbook".
Draco was cursing slowly "Wanna share that with the rest of us Malfoy?" Draco gave her a piercing look. In these seven years Draco hadnt learnt quite yet that he wasn't his father and that Lucius couldn't save him from his own lack of sense.
"I think this whole thing is stupid! Why do we have to learn about muggles? It's stupid, we're pure bloods, we'll work at the Ministry-" Marie cut in "But right now you're at Hogwarts, in MY class, and these are Dumbledore's orders, if you DONT like it, that's your problem. Anything else?" Draco was speechless. He'd normally get a different sort of response towards his inquiries.
"So, as I was saying, this is Defense against the dark arts & we're gonna get in touch with normal muggle things, many of you that come from muggle families or who took muggle studies are gonna know some of this things, plus I'll try to teach you to apply what you've learnt so far and what I've learnt all these years. And there's one more thing". She looked right into Hermione's eyes and then looked away.
"Some of you might not like these 2 things I'm gonna say, but here they go: First, you won't know when the practical midterms will take place and the second one is we won't be using books nor wands in this class". She turned around and went towards the blackboard. She could hear them whispering around. Finally, Hermione spoke even though she wasnt authorized.
"Excuse me, Prof. Matthews, but I think that's farfetched. We HAVE to have supporting books! And know when the tests are gonna be, it's always been like that!". She was up and Ron was trying to make her sit down and hush but couldn't accomplish it.
"You are right Miss Granger, It's been like that forever, but Hogwarts is changing. Things are not the same. Though most of the threats are gone thanks to Mr. Potter here and all of you, there is still evil out there. It is my duty to teach you to apply the knowledge you've adquired in these last 6 years. You won't be able to grab a book when a shapeshifter comes your way, you'll have to think fast. I am aware that you're capable of it and you won't have any problems regarding that". She sat down and so did Hermione.
She did read the reports allright, plus Remus had told her everything about Hermione and Ron and Neville and Harry.
"Now, about the wands, you can use them if you want to, but there're other ways to perform magick, and no wands are needed. I'm gonna teach you those things". She smiled a tender smile towards Neville, who was shaking a little bit. He had improved, figured out the auror he had within but still he needed some reinforcement.
Marie started the class. She started explaining how it was gonna be, the different topics they'll go through and how she'll surprised them with the midterms. She also told them to copy the list of topic she wrote down in the blackboard. That's when the first question came out, from a Gryffindor of course.
"Excuse me Prof Matthews"- "Sure, hun, what is it?" He looked down embarrased. "You'll see, I've never been around muggles, How exactly do we use this?" He was holding the pen upside down. Draco laughed at him, saying how dumb he was for not knowing how to use it. Marie picked it up and felt as if it was a personal insult. "Now, Malfoy, if you're so smart, why dont you explain him how to use it? Come on, get here."
Draco looked at her in rage. He wouldn't get up. "I said get up and explain Malfoy" He still wouldnt get up and was even redder than before. "Allright, 20 points from Slytherin. Hermione, would you be so kind to explain?" and she smiled at her and kept writing down some notes. "Why should I explain? You're the teacher".
Marie looked at her over her glasses, in a very Dumbledore-like way. "Allright Hermione, sit down. Seamus, would you do me the honours?" Seamus explained to the class how to use the muggle pen. Gryffindors were excited and Slytherins were in rage.
It was pretty clear for Harry that Marie had a fixation on Malfoy. She was doing to him the same thing Severus did to Neville. He felt things were getting even, though he missed her, missed the idea, the hope of knowing her. He remembered how good he felt the first time he saw her smile and how much she seemed to know him.
"So, well guys, get up, we're going out". She smiled all excited. "You can put away your wands if you'd like, we won't need them". Just a few of them save them, the rest were holding them still. She turned around "I forgot something else guys, those of you who dont feel that comfortable with their knowledge and those in auror training can ask for personal tutoring, all you gotta to do is tell your house Head or Co-Head and they'll approve". Neville felt relief.
They were coming out of the classroom. Marie looked like one more of them, Harry wanted to say something, just a word, anything at all. But words failed him.
Nobody knew where they were heading to, but they got a hint when they bumped into Severus at the stairs "Hello Marie, Dumbledore sent me to help you with the Fake Vampires" and smiled. He was more creepy smiling than just having his usual abusive attitude. "Oh, well, help me, you're ten years too late. Come on class, this way, change of plans"
Marie was upset but wouldnt show it, still, somehow, Harry knew she was. Her eyes had a shadow casted over them. Finally, he decided to talk "Excuse me professor, are you allright?" Marie smiled at him "Been better, you can call me Marie, Harry" and she kept walking.
Harry & Hermione, for different reasons started wondering what Marie had meant with "you're ten years too late". Hermione had a place to start her search. Harry was more puzzled than ever. He just needed a quick drink.
They were drifting apart. Harry was absorbed in his own thoughts, was dizzy or sleepy most of the time and just sat in the common room or wonder around, not caring much about the classes coming up, or the quidditch games or his future outside the school.
None of them could wait to the new Defense Against the Dark Arts, who wouldnt take place until that afternoon. 5 full hours of Defense. Even Draco was intrigued. He kept mentioning outloud that his dad couldn't believe what a Salem teen witch could teach his son. Still, he wondered whether she'd use a mini skirt to class.
She didn't. Every male student turned their eyes to the door when she came in. Harry's face lightened up: she was wearing his tie as a belt. She looked pretty muggle like. Jeans, normal t-shirt, glasses. He couldn't help smiling when he saw his tie over her hips, at the same time Minerva and Dumbledore wanted to kill her.
Albus was suddenly turning red.
She sat at the table, next to Minerva as usual. She had a bandage on her arm. "Attention please" Minerva's voice filled in the room. Dumbledore got up and announced a minor change in the houses' co-heads.
"We've decided the best way to decide the co-heads that will suit better for each house was by using the Sorting Hat. Last night out co-heads tried on the Hat and some changes occured. Prof. Sprout will be the co-head of Hupplepuff, while Hagrid will be the co-head of Ravenclaw, Miss Mooney Penny will be in Slytherin and Prof. Matthews will be a Gryffindor. Now, do go on with lunch". He sat back down. Snape wasnt pleased at all and it was showing, but he wouldn't say anything.
Minerva however, wouldn't shut up. "May I ask when this "sorting" took place Albus?" Marie smiled at her and she smiled back "Not that I'm not pleased of course, having little Marie with me, no offense...". Prof. Sprout smiled at her from behind her huge hat "Non taken, I thought it was quite funny seeing Hagrid wearing the hat. Though darling, when did you got sorted?".
Marie was speechless. Think something fast, anything at all she thought. "Errr, last night, really late, I was reading school reports and Dumbledore paged me and well, got a tie!!". She waved the tie in a funny way.
They were all rejoicing with the new co-heads, all but Snape and Hermione, who couldn't stop staring at her. "I can't believe she pulled that off, you see what she's doing? They are all under a curse or something!".
Harry was more than please to annoy her with the news. He whispered to his friend "Look at the bright side, you get to work with her, you'll find out if she's as bad as you think she is". He kept on smiling until the class started.
***
When they entered the classroom, it was hard to recognise it. Prof. Matthews was writing words on the blackboard, using a chock and there was no ink on the desks. Instead, normal muggle pens and a handbook for each student, with either the gold lion or the silver snake on the front. Harry sat on the front desk with Neville, and next to them Ron and Hermione.
"What is this? Muggle things? This is Hogwarts!" Those were Draco's first words directed to his new teacher. Marie turned around and took of her glasses placed them on her desk, next to the chock. "Good morning to you too Malfoy. Now, if you please, SIT". Her expression changed, they all suddenly hushed. Harry tried to look at her eyes, but she would avoid eye contact. Of course she would, she is a teacher Harry thought. Harry felt cold inside, he had the quartz stone that she gave him around his neck, it felt heavier every day, but it was warmer at different times, like when he felt like drinking.
The teacher got up and started talking, walking around. "Hi, well, as you probably know by now I'm your new professor, my name is Marie Matthews and I'll be teaching you guys pretty much everything I know". Hermione raised her hand. "One minute and I'll let you talk allright?" and she winked at Hermione, who was pretty upset by that sign of sisterhood from the new professor. Harry giggled when he saw Hermione's disgusted face. He was amused by how obsessive his best friend could get.
"Well, this class is different from what you've seen before. To start, we dont use quills, nor ink here, you are 21st century wizards and WILL have to get along with muggles, at one point or the other, so, you better get acquinted with their stuff, hence the pen and handbook".
Draco was cursing slowly "Wanna share that with the rest of us Malfoy?" Draco gave her a piercing look. In these seven years Draco hadnt learnt quite yet that he wasn't his father and that Lucius couldn't save him from his own lack of sense.
"I think this whole thing is stupid! Why do we have to learn about muggles? It's stupid, we're pure bloods, we'll work at the Ministry-" Marie cut in "But right now you're at Hogwarts, in MY class, and these are Dumbledore's orders, if you DONT like it, that's your problem. Anything else?" Draco was speechless. He'd normally get a different sort of response towards his inquiries.
"So, as I was saying, this is Defense against the dark arts & we're gonna get in touch with normal muggle things, many of you that come from muggle families or who took muggle studies are gonna know some of this things, plus I'll try to teach you to apply what you've learnt so far and what I've learnt all these years. And there's one more thing". She looked right into Hermione's eyes and then looked away.
"Some of you might not like these 2 things I'm gonna say, but here they go: First, you won't know when the practical midterms will take place and the second one is we won't be using books nor wands in this class". She turned around and went towards the blackboard. She could hear them whispering around. Finally, Hermione spoke even though she wasnt authorized.
"Excuse me, Prof. Matthews, but I think that's farfetched. We HAVE to have supporting books! And know when the tests are gonna be, it's always been like that!". She was up and Ron was trying to make her sit down and hush but couldn't accomplish it.
"You are right Miss Granger, It's been like that forever, but Hogwarts is changing. Things are not the same. Though most of the threats are gone thanks to Mr. Potter here and all of you, there is still evil out there. It is my duty to teach you to apply the knowledge you've adquired in these last 6 years. You won't be able to grab a book when a shapeshifter comes your way, you'll have to think fast. I am aware that you're capable of it and you won't have any problems regarding that". She sat down and so did Hermione.
She did read the reports allright, plus Remus had told her everything about Hermione and Ron and Neville and Harry.
"Now, about the wands, you can use them if you want to, but there're other ways to perform magick, and no wands are needed. I'm gonna teach you those things". She smiled a tender smile towards Neville, who was shaking a little bit. He had improved, figured out the auror he had within but still he needed some reinforcement.
Marie started the class. She started explaining how it was gonna be, the different topics they'll go through and how she'll surprised them with the midterms. She also told them to copy the list of topic she wrote down in the blackboard. That's when the first question came out, from a Gryffindor of course.
"Excuse me Prof Matthews"- "Sure, hun, what is it?" He looked down embarrased. "You'll see, I've never been around muggles, How exactly do we use this?" He was holding the pen upside down. Draco laughed at him, saying how dumb he was for not knowing how to use it. Marie picked it up and felt as if it was a personal insult. "Now, Malfoy, if you're so smart, why dont you explain him how to use it? Come on, get here."
Draco looked at her in rage. He wouldn't get up. "I said get up and explain Malfoy" He still wouldnt get up and was even redder than before. "Allright, 20 points from Slytherin. Hermione, would you be so kind to explain?" and she smiled at her and kept writing down some notes. "Why should I explain? You're the teacher".
Marie looked at her over her glasses, in a very Dumbledore-like way. "Allright Hermione, sit down. Seamus, would you do me the honours?" Seamus explained to the class how to use the muggle pen. Gryffindors were excited and Slytherins were in rage.
It was pretty clear for Harry that Marie had a fixation on Malfoy. She was doing to him the same thing Severus did to Neville. He felt things were getting even, though he missed her, missed the idea, the hope of knowing her. He remembered how good he felt the first time he saw her smile and how much she seemed to know him.
"So, well guys, get up, we're going out". She smiled all excited. "You can put away your wands if you'd like, we won't need them". Just a few of them save them, the rest were holding them still. She turned around "I forgot something else guys, those of you who dont feel that comfortable with their knowledge and those in auror training can ask for personal tutoring, all you gotta to do is tell your house Head or Co-Head and they'll approve". Neville felt relief.
They were coming out of the classroom. Marie looked like one more of them, Harry wanted to say something, just a word, anything at all. But words failed him.
Nobody knew where they were heading to, but they got a hint when they bumped into Severus at the stairs "Hello Marie, Dumbledore sent me to help you with the Fake Vampires" and smiled. He was more creepy smiling than just having his usual abusive attitude. "Oh, well, help me, you're ten years too late. Come on class, this way, change of plans"
Marie was upset but wouldnt show it, still, somehow, Harry knew she was. Her eyes had a shadow casted over them. Finally, he decided to talk "Excuse me professor, are you allright?" Marie smiled at him "Been better, you can call me Marie, Harry" and she kept walking.
Harry & Hermione, for different reasons started wondering what Marie had meant with "you're ten years too late". Hermione had a place to start her search. Harry was more puzzled than ever. He just needed a quick drink.
