Disclaimer: Do not own JK's fab characters, Will Shakespeare Works or Nyaan Cat. Not that the latter is relevant.
Hey guys! This is my new story, Of Shakespeare And Beyond. It is a gay title but, hey, potayto-potarto.
The name is in my official writing note-book (where all my stories I'm positively writing are stored with little notes and all that jazz) This is part of my Muggle-Appreciation series (if you don't know what it is, explained in the last chapter of my story "The Muggle Studies Test") hence the lesson Muggle Literature.
Right, I should stop rambling now. Keep calm and READ ON! Please!
Chapter One: Shaky Speer
The Welcome Feast at the start of the year was as noisy as ever. Some teachers (Snape in particular) loved it when the first years came cowering up to the sorting hat, just so there was some peace. For about ten seconds in-between each new student.
After the last first year was seated into Ravenclaw, Dumbledore stood up and the Great Hall fell to silence.
"To new students, welcome." He announced. "And to old ones, welcome back!" Making everyone cheer again. "I have a couple of announcements before we eat. Can I remind that, to everyone from 4th year to 7th year, that they have a new subject on their timetable. It's called Muggle Literature." making people all over the hall groan but Hermione Granger, Gryffindor, squeal quite excitedly. "Let me introduce the new subject teacher, Miss Anastasia Kingsley." And a young pretty woman, around the age of 20 blushed rather red and wave to the students.
"Now." Dumbledore announced, once again, as everyone finished applauding the teacher. "Let's tuck in." And the food magically appeared as usual.
"Hermione, what kinds of books are there in Muggle Literature?" Ron asked his Muggle-born friend.
"It could be anything from William Shakespeare's plays to -" Hermione began before she was cut off.
"Who the bloody hell is William Shaky Speer?" Her red-head friend announced, making her sigh irritably.
"Shakespeare." She said, sounding strained. "Ron, didn't you ever learn it's rude to cut someone off when they're speaking?" She snapped, before inhaling and exhaling deeply. "As I was saying," Her suddenly calm voice was shaky, as if it were hard to stay polite before she'd explode. "We could be learning from the classic works of William Shakespeare - who was an English playwright in the early 1600's - or even some modern works today. I can't give many examples since all I've been reading are school books." Hermione shrugged as if it was nothing.
"I can't believe we have to learn it." Ron complained. "Why?"
"I'm sure there is a good reason, Ronald." Hermione said, impatiently. "We'll find out in class."
"And when's that?" He inquired.
"When we get our schedules in the morning!" She almost shouted at him, knocking over a bit of her pumpkin juice.
After dessert, Dumbledore stood up again. "I forgot to add this earlier, but, because of Muggle Literature, the following subjects have been cancelled: Divination, Care of Magical Creatures and Ancient Runes. If you take two of these subjects, please inform your Head of House after dinner. And with that, goodnight." He called, setting the Great Hall into a loud ruckus again.
Ron, Hermione and Harry went straight to McGonagall's office and picked new subjects for them before heading back.
"I'm quite looking forward to the Shaky Speer class tomorrow." Ron said as they walked back to the Common Room. This deserved a light slap on the arm from Hermione.
The next day, was their first Muggle Literature class. Ron, surprisingly, was bouncing with excitement – despite the fact they didn't have the lesson until 4th period.
"Ron, calm down." Hermione snapped at her red-headed friend.
"Hermione, you're acting like it isn't exciting!" He complained.
"We don't even know what the class is like." She tried to tell him but, he ignored her.
On their way to Transfiguration that morning, after Potions, they bumped into Fred and George.
"Hey little bro and friends!" They cried together.
"Seriously? Little bro and friends?" Hermione asked sceptically.
"Oh, little 'Mione, always a grumpy pants in the morning." George said, ruffling up her hair.
Flattening it out, she scowled at the twins. "You know I hate that nickname. And when you do that to my hair."
"But, that's why we keep doing it!" They cried. They noticed their brother bouncing away like a loon.
"What's wrong with him?" Fred asked.
"Been like that since last night." Harry shrugged.
The identical boys looked at each other, back at their brother and raised their right eyebrows in a confused manner at the same time.
"Ronniekins, have you gone off your rocker?" They asked.
"Don't call me Ronniekins." He said in a tone that could match Tonk's when someone called her "Nymphadora". "I'm just excited." He said in a lighter tone.
"Here that, Fred. He's excited." George teased.
"Like a little girl." Fred replied, making fun of his younger brother.
"What are you so excited about?" They asked in a "girl" voice.
"Shove off." Ron muttered in an angry tone but, Harry took the time to tease him too.
"He's excited about Muggle Literature." The black-haired boy replied.
"Oh, we just had that." The twins, who were in seventh year, replied. "That new teacher is FIT!"
Ron and Harry both raised an eyebrow at this, earning a scowl from Hermione.
"Mr. Weasley's, Miss Granger and Mr. Potter." It was McGonagall, standing outside of her classroom door. "You three," She pointed to the Fifth Years, "Are supposed to be in here learning, not conversing in the corridors. And you two," She pointed to the troublesome twins, "Need to get to class before I take away 10 points from Gryffindor."
They all sighed, the three younger students stepping into the Transfiguration classroom as the twins linked arms.
"Come on Gred."
"Come on Forge." And they skipped off together.
McGonagall rolled her eyes at this. "They haven't matured since the day they got here. At all." She muttered.
Hope you all enjoyed it. There first Muggle Literature lesson is next chapter.