Disclaimer: The school of Hogwarts, the character of Professor Binns, and
any other canonical Harry Potter characters belong to J.K. Rowling. This
story is not for sale, it is for pure enjoyment, and I do not intend to
profit financially from this story in any manner. The character of Kestrel
Hawkins is my own.
The First Day
Professor Kestrel Hawkins looked around her new classroom with her hooded dark eyes in a manner vaguely reminiscent of a hawk. She pulled on her long, white braid with her slim right hand in irritation. Her students were late to class on her very first day as their long-term substitute for History of Magic. 'Shadda,' she thought, 'They're so used to Binns that they don't even bother to show up on time anymore.'
Adjunct Professor Kestrel paced across the front of the classroom. While doing so, she pushed the ancient podium to a corner of the room. The young professor pushed a small table from the sides of the room to the front. Just as she finished, the door creaked open.
The slender professor straightened her navy blue robes as members of the first year class of Hogwarts trickled into the classroom. She said nothing as they entered, merely arching a wispy white-eye brow at the students' expression of shock at not finding the ghostly professor Binns in the room.
Suppressing a wry grin from her long, pale face, Keys waited for the whole class to arrive. She silently stood up and walked toward the door with her navy shoes clacking across the tiled floor. After closing the door, she slowly turned around and looked at her class.
"My name is Professor Kestrel Hawkins. I will be your adjunct professor for at least the remaining length of the term. Professor Binns was suddenly called away to present at the esteemed convention of Professors Post Humus in the Swiss Alps."
Still watching the class like Hawk for which her family had been named, Kestrel glided over to the table and much to the student's astonishment, sat down on the table swinging her legs.
Clearing her throat, the witch began to speak in her rich, alto voice again. "In this class, I understand, you've pretty much been receiving history as a list of facts and dates. You've also primarily stuck to the wizarding versions of these events. Well that's how Binns taught me when I was here."
She paused for emphasis. "Well, that is not what is going to happen for the rest of the term, not while you are under my watch. From now on we are going to look at why history happened and you are going to have to think in this class. We are going to look at Muggle versions of events as well...and don't complain to me that that should only be discussed in Muggle Studies. You need to know about the whole world...not just our little niche in it. So who can tell me why history is important in the first place?"
The First Day
Professor Kestrel Hawkins looked around her new classroom with her hooded dark eyes in a manner vaguely reminiscent of a hawk. She pulled on her long, white braid with her slim right hand in irritation. Her students were late to class on her very first day as their long-term substitute for History of Magic. 'Shadda,' she thought, 'They're so used to Binns that they don't even bother to show up on time anymore.'
Adjunct Professor Kestrel paced across the front of the classroom. While doing so, she pushed the ancient podium to a corner of the room. The young professor pushed a small table from the sides of the room to the front. Just as she finished, the door creaked open.
The slender professor straightened her navy blue robes as members of the first year class of Hogwarts trickled into the classroom. She said nothing as they entered, merely arching a wispy white-eye brow at the students' expression of shock at not finding the ghostly professor Binns in the room.
Suppressing a wry grin from her long, pale face, Keys waited for the whole class to arrive. She silently stood up and walked toward the door with her navy shoes clacking across the tiled floor. After closing the door, she slowly turned around and looked at her class.
"My name is Professor Kestrel Hawkins. I will be your adjunct professor for at least the remaining length of the term. Professor Binns was suddenly called away to present at the esteemed convention of Professors Post Humus in the Swiss Alps."
Still watching the class like Hawk for which her family had been named, Kestrel glided over to the table and much to the student's astonishment, sat down on the table swinging her legs.
Clearing her throat, the witch began to speak in her rich, alto voice again. "In this class, I understand, you've pretty much been receiving history as a list of facts and dates. You've also primarily stuck to the wizarding versions of these events. Well that's how Binns taught me when I was here."
She paused for emphasis. "Well, that is not what is going to happen for the rest of the term, not while you are under my watch. From now on we are going to look at why history happened and you are going to have to think in this class. We are going to look at Muggle versions of events as well...and don't complain to me that that should only be discussed in Muggle Studies. You need to know about the whole world...not just our little niche in it. So who can tell me why history is important in the first place?"
