#severielsteachingadventures

“Let me guess, you lied about the books… again.” I chuckled. He was quite a character sometimes. Just not an evil one.

While making a face, he said: “Charity… sometimes I really wish your name would describe you better...”

I shook my head and brought a tea for him and myself: “Well, I thought I was being quite charitable. Admitting to the lie is the first step for betterment” I sipped my tea.

“Hrrmmmmmmgh.” He voiced. If there wasn’t a shred of dignity he had to preserve, I was sure he would put his head on the table. Like that, he just intently frowned and took his teacup with a sour face: “… they asked me if I killed Dumbledore”

“Well, you almost did when he cut funding to the research part of the budget,” I said, watching him making a different, more righteous face of anger.

“It was not right! I know it was only a small cut and we had exceptionally many students, but still!” He looked back at me, eyes squinting at my tea-sipping self. “… you want to distract me”

“Sev, your first day is always the worst. It’s a simple fact of life. You said you don’t mind your role in the books either way. None of us could predict how well known they would become”

“We kind of did… but yes… I lied. I told them someone dreamt the books up. Instead of my colleagues being the cruel masterminds that they are.” Finally, he took a drink from his own cup. “Oh, you used my mix. Thank you”

“You’re most welcome. So. Now you must forgive me: Did you really start implementing muggle items in your studies?” We had talked about it during the last year.

Wordless, he reached into his robes and took a ballpoint pen out and on the table.

“It’s a start” I nodded.

He stared at it for a bit, then: “They really are very useful. Same goes for the post-its they have everywhere. Measuring jugs from kitchens… electrical scales might really be a blessing, but… well…”

“… still no electricity, yes.” I sighed. “It also would make muggle studies the tinsiest bit easier”

Now it was his turn to chuckle. And sigh: “… thanks for… making me renounce the lie. Headache ebbs… and… if you have any tips for implementing more muggle-things… do tell! I’ll try”

He sat down half on the table and looked at all of us: “As for your names… I hope you will answer to them” He held the list of students we saw every lesson in his hand.

He looked up and pointed at one of my classmates, a Ravenclaw: “Please, still introduce yourselves before asking your questions, thank you. Yes?”

“Name’s Sammy Davis. And… shouldn’t you be dead?” Which… was quite an awkward question, really. But I wanted to know, too.

He looked at him for a long moment and then sighed: “Well. No.” He cleared his throat. “See, the books were written by someone who merely dreamt of the school. Likely they got memories broadcast from one of the young witches and wizards attending the school. You will learn about that later on. I hope that answered the question”

More hands shot up. He picked another: “Yes?”

“Olivia Miller! But you were very evil over all six books!” She was rather adamant about it.

He tilted his head slightly: “Well. It might help you to know that I have no childhood love I am pining after. Therefore everyone is safe?”

I raised my hand as well. And got picked: “Tracy Orwell. So, are you married, then?”

“Ah. No. Next question?” Murmurs erupted in the whole classroom.

Then: “Gene Fowler. Why do you look like Sn-…. Like the professor in the movies?”

He coughed, then: “Ah… I am flattered. But no, I am not mister Riverson, I merely hold a resemblance”

“Sarah Tungstone. Did you really murder the headmaster?”

The whole class wasn’t sure where to look.

Then he said: “You saw Professor Dumbledore during the feast on your first day. He is quite in good health, please do not worry”

“Gina. Did they really set you on fire?”

He took a deep breath. Then said: “Alright, class. If it’s going to be like that… you will all write down something you think would make a good potion ingredient, your name, and your question. And I’ll answer every question and tell you in which potion it might be used. Alright?”

I wrote: ‘Salt. How long are you already a teacher’.

…