Chapter Eight: Muggle Studies

Blythe looked from Remus to Professor Dumbledore with curiosity. "Similar to what?"

"After breakfast I'd like to speak with you both in my office.", answered the Headmaster with a smile and a glimmer in his eyes.

"Okay.", responded Blythe.

"Yes, of course, Professor.", Remus replied.

When the Headmaster finally announced that breakfast was over, everyone started filtering out of the Hall. Blythe and Remus held back with him in order to go to his office. They walked up a few flights of stairs until they reached what looked like a solid wall. Professor Dumbledore did something Blythe couldn't see and said something she couldn't hear, then suddenly a section of the wall was gone, revealing a spiral staircase. The three of them walked up the stairs and into his office. The Headmaster sat down behind his desk while Blythe and Remus took chairs in front of him.

"Now, Remus has asked me if you could stay a little longer, Miss Farrah, in order to see the entire castle and grounds. I've agreed, but I have something to add to that."

Blythe looked Professor Dumbledore over carefully and nodded.

"I want to know if you'd be interested in teaching here." He smiled brightly at her, his youthful eyes dancing. "I'd like you to be the new Professor of Muggle Studies. After all, who better to teach that subject than a Muggle?" He winked at her then and she beamed at him.

"Oh, I'd love to! But are you sure it'd be alright with the rest of your staff?"

"I'll speak to them myself. I'm certain there won't be a problem. You're already well-liked here by students and teachers alike."

"In that case, I accept your generous offer, Sir."

"Just call me Albus, dear. You don't need to be so formal around me." He smiled warmly again and Blythe found much reassurance in his aged face.

"I'm glad you'll be staying, Blythe. The current Professor of Muggle Studies doesn't seem to quite know what he's talking about. He hasn't mentioned a single fairy tail, and I'm sure the students would love to hear them.", Remus told her quietly.

"What's this about fairy's tails?", Albus asked with a quizzical expression.

Blythe giggled. "Fairy tales are fantastical stories with excellent moral values to them, Albus."

"Well then, there's no time like the present to get started working out the details, Blythe. I'll begin the arrangements immediately. I'll have to send an owl to the Ministry to let them know we'll have a Muggle working here. I'm sure they won't mind too much. Then we'll have to find an office for you, and a room."

"I won't be keeping the one I have?"

"If you like it so much, then you can stay there. I just thought you'd prefer something further from the dungeons."

"Oh, well, yes that'd be alright. I like the room very much, but being placed further from Professor Snape might not be such a bad idea. He and I don't seem to get along very well."

"It's not just you, Blythe. Severus doesn't get along with many people at all.", Remus reassured her.

"I'll speak with Severus personally and sort everything out. Don't worry, he'll understand.", Albus told her with a smile. "Now, I believe that's everything then. By tonight you'll have your office and your new room. The rest of the faculty and I will decide when you can start teaching the lessons. Do you have any questions before we go?"

"Just one. Uh, what does Muggle Studies consist of?", ventured Blythe cautiously.

Albus chuckled softly. "Just teach them about you and others like you."

"There aren't any like me, or so I've been told." Blythe giggled. "People always tell me I'm one of a kind."

All three of them laughed at this, then Albus Dumbledore spoke again. "Well, just teach them about normal Muggles then. And if you feel like adding a little 'colour' to the stories, then you can tell them a bit about yourself."

"I guess I'll be teaching them a lot about me then. Normal people are so boring I'm afraid my students would sleep through half the lessons."

Again the three laughed jovially before they stood and exited the room. They walked down the stairs and parted company at the bottom, but not before Albus told Blythe one last thing. "I'll have Hermione Granger escort you to your class on the first day. She takes Muggle Studies and I'm sure she'd be delighted to help the new Professor."

"Thank you very much, Albus. I just hope I reach the standards of most teachers here.", answered Blythe with a smile.

Remus left for his class and Albus walked in the other direction to begin preparations. Blythe stood alone in the hallway for awhile, then ventured off towards the Hall. She decided to sit there and wait until lunch. There were only two hours left to kill. She couldn't believe time had flown by so quickly in Albus' office.