The next morning Harry and Ron headed for their morning classes. By now Harry had forgotten about the muggle-like teacher he had seen last night. He was more worried about getting to class on time. As he and Ron were making their way down the hall, Harry spotted the new teacher. She was quickly making her way down the hall carrying a rather large pile of books which were partially blocking her view.

She turned the corner only to crash right into Professor Snape and she, along with her many books tumbled onto the floor.

"Watch it half-breed!" Snape hissed at her and walked away without looking twice. The young woman let out a sad sigh and started to pick up her books.

"Why doesn't she just use a levitation spell to pick them up," Ron asked.

"I don't know, but I'm going to help her," said Harry. Usually he wouldn't stop to help a teacher he didn't even know, but there was something about her. He headed over to her and started picking up the books.

"Thank you," she said. Harry looked up at her and she gasped. "Harry Potter? Is that you?"

"Yes," Harry replied. "I am. How do you know my name?"

She paused for a moment as if not sure what to say. "Well...I mean everyone knows about Harry Potter, the boy who lived."

"Oh yeah," said Harry. "I haven't seen you here before. Is this your first time at Hogwarts?"

"Well, yes," she said. "I'm Kristen Sims. I teach Muggle Studies."

"Oh, then you'll know my friend Hermonie. She has that class."

Harry picked up the last of the books and handed them to Kristen as she stood back up. "Well, thank you, Harry, for helping me, but you better be getting to your class. I don't want your house to lose points because you stopped to help me."

Miss Sims continued down the hall and Harry watched her walk off. The name sounded so familiar and he couldn't shake the feeling as if he'd known her before. Then he heard Ron speak.

"Her name," he said. "Doesn't sound like a wizard name does it?"

"I know," said Harry. "But there's something familiar about her. Like I knew her a long time ago."

Lunch time came as it always does. Ron and Harry met up with Hermonie who had just gotten out of Muggle Studies.

"You want to know about the new teacher?" she asked.

"Yeah," said Ron. "We saw her in the hall. Snape called her a 'half-breed.'"

"Well, that's the slang name, for her kind," Hermonie said.

"What? Is she muggle-born?" Harry asked.

"Not exactly. She is a muggle."

"What?" said Ron and Harry. "But how...?"

"I'll explain," Hermonie began. "Most muggles have no concept of our world and those who do, like my parents, don't really get too involved in it. However there are actually muggles who have sort of become honorary wizards and witches."

"What are you talking about?" said Ron.

"Shut up and I'll finish," Hermonie continued. "There are these cases where a muggle who, perhaps, had a family member or a close friend who was a wizard. The muggle learns about our world and culture and embraces it. They know no magic and can't do magic but they are interested in our way of living. Many live among us. Some work in shops. Others live among the muggles and do 'fake magic.' They learn little tricks. One very famous muggle who embraces our wizard culture is David Copperfield. He does muggle magic to entertain."

"So what you're saying is this new teacher is a muggle who lives like a wizard?" Harry asked.

"Yes," said Hermonie. "Her name is Kristen Sims. When she was growing up, she had a close friend. They were pals all through elementary school. However when her friend turned eleven. She found out she was a witch and she left for Hogwarts. Miss Sims, said her friend would return for holidays and share stories with her. She's read all the books and knows as much about our world as any teacher here does."

"But isn't that against the Ministry of Magic?" Ron asked.

"Your dad works for the Ministry of Magic," said Hermonie. "I figured you knew this. 'Wizard Muggles' as they are called, sign an agreement with the Ministry vowing that as long as they do not abuse their privileges or share what they know with other muggles, they are allowed to live among wizards and share in the culture. If they do break the contract then they are shunned by all wizards."

"Did she say who her friend was?" asked Harry.

"No," Hermonie said. "All Miss Sims said was her friend was a victim of 'You-know-Who' and after she was killed she moved to New York where she got her muggle teaching degree. She lived in America for ten years and then decided to come back. You know Dumbledore. He's open-minded to hiring teachers. He let a werewolf teach Defense of the Dark Arts....."

"And he's letting a half-breed teach here now!" said a rough voice from behind.

The three turned to see Draco Malfoy with his two goons, Crabbe and Goyle. "Half-breeds are just muggles who couldn't cut it in their own world so they butt into ours!!"

"Why don't you go kiss Professor Snape's butt," snapped Harry. "You're good at that!"

"Whatever," said Draco. "Just watch out. You can't trust half-breeds. As soon as they learn our tricks, they turn on us."

Draco and his friends turned and walked away. As Harry started to eat his lunch, he found himself wondering about Kristen again and what Hermonie had told him about her. Her good friend had been a witch and been killed by Voldemort. Perhaps she knew his parents. He decided he would go ask Sirus about her.