Sirius tilted his head towards Beth, who was talking to Lily as they ate breakfast. "We might need to crack some heads in Muggle Studies later today," he told James in an undertone. "Some of those arseholes may try to rib her or something to see if they can fluster her. Tedison will probably fall asleep in the corner."

James grinned. "I've never seen you stick up for a teacher, Padfoot. You've turned over a new leaf." He gave Sirius a questioning look. "Or maybe you like the teacher?"

Sirius scowled looking embarrassed. "She's just too young to control a class. I don't want her to quit in frustration. We'd lose the chance to have one class a week with Tedison."

James gave him a knowing nod. "Anything you say, mate. I'll help you keep the arseholes in line."

When Sirius got to his seat in Muggle Studies later that day, Beth stood at the front of the class, waiting patiently until everyone had sat down. "I'm going to be teaching this class one day a week," she smiled at the rows of students. Some of them looked a little confused. Why was this girl teaching their class? From behind him, Sirius heard Sam Tretton comment quietly "Yeah, baby." He turned around and kicked Sam's leg under the table. "Fuck off, Sirius!" Sam glared, but he shut up when Beth looked in their direction.

The rest of the class looked towards Professor Tedison for answers. He was sitting quietly behind his desk and he absently gave them a genial wave and then went back to working on his grade book.

"I know I'm as young as you," Beth continued. "Think of me as a guest lecturer. Of course, it helps that this is Muggle Studies and I'm a muggle."

"It helps that she's a hot muggle," Ralph Welch told his seatmate Gary in front of them. Ralph was on the Gryffindor Quidditch team, and James reached over the desk to shove Ralph's back and then gave him a terse shake of his head and a cold stare. Ralph closed his mouth and turned forward to listen to Beth.

"I'm going to concentrate on muggle arts in music, film and literature during my classes with you. We'll also briefly (she looked towards Sirius as she enunciated that word and he gave her a mocking salute) discuss the technology muggles use to produce their art. The arts we study will give us insight into current muggle issues which will help you understand their society and culture." She pulled out a piece of parchment. "Until I learn your names, I'll be using this seating chart when I call on you."

Beth took out her cassette player. Sirius inwardly blanched. She wasn't going to play that sodding 'Beth' song was she? Beth smiled at the class. "We're going to talk about music today. Our first piece is called 'Welcome to the Machine' by Pink Floyd."

Sirius relaxed with a sigh of relief. He was pretty sure most of the class would love this song. "I want you to first listen to the lyrics carefully," Beth continued. "It's a very cynical look at the music industry. Pink Floyd felt the industry made artistic expression take a back seat to making money."

Sirius looked around at his fellow classmates. They were now not only quiet, they were actually listening to Beth. Beth pushed play and the music blared out. When the song finished, Beth stood up and walked up and down the aisle between the desks. "The plot of this song starts with a musician being hired. Who can tell me what 'The Machine' is?" Several excited voices started out, and Beth put up a hand. "One at a time, please. Jennifer, why don't you start?"

The discussion that followed was rapid-fire and interesting. Beth had to stop the class when the period was half over so she could play her next song. This one dealt with physical abuse starting a fierce debate that took up the rest of the class time. Sirius noticed Beth would expertly explain the commonalities between muggles and wizards as well as highlight the differences.

Before the class ended, Beth held up a stack of paperback books and started passing them out. "We're going to read a book over the next few weeks. It's called 'Carrie' by Stephen King and be forewarned, there is violence. There's also a type of magic, but it's not quite like your magic." Some of the students hooted appreciatively. "One of the themes in this book is the effects of bullying, a large topic of concern in the muggle world as well as the wizard world. Please read part one for next week's class."

Beth finished distributing the books and went back to the front of the classroom. She beamed at the class and held up her hand. "Thanks so much for your attention and participation today. I'll see you next week."

James grinned at Sirius as he stood up to leave. "That was a great class. She certainly didn't need help to keep everyone's attention." He picked up his rucksack. "Ready?"

"No, go ahead," Sirius said. "I'll be a few minutes." James gave him a curious look but left without any comment.

Sirius took his time putting away his books as the rest of the class noisily left the classroom. He walked to the front of the classroom where Beth was packing up her cassette player and notes. Tedison had already left, looking far more relaxed than he normally did at the end of class. As Beth shut her notebook, a photo fluttered to the floor. Sirius picked it up and quickly glanced at it. Beth and a blonde girl wearing matching team jackets were looking at each other laughing. Draped around Beth was a muscular sandy-haired bloke, his head close to hers and his hands holding Beth's shoulders possessively. A dark-haired bloke was behind the blonde girl, smiling down at her. Sirius felt a drop in his stomach.

"Good job, teacher." Sirius brushed aside his misgivings about the bloke mauling Beth in the photo and gave her a small smirk. He handed the photo to Beth.

"Thanks," she muttered quickly putting it back in her notebook. She looked up and grinned. "Did you like the class?"

"Most interesting Muggle Studies class I've had," Sirius said honestly.

Beth beamed, her face turning a little pink. "They must normally be boring, huh?"

"The bar in this class is pretty low," Sirius admitted. "But you really were brill. You're a natural."

"Thank you," Beth's smile was open, her face alight. Sirius felt a slight hitch in his chest at her pleased expression. She picked up her rucksack and slung it over her shoulder. "Where are you off to now?" she asked as they left the room.

Sirius gave her a sideways look. "It's lunchtime."

"Oh," Beth flushed. "I don't have my schedule down yet."

"Aren't you hungry?" Sirius asked. "Breakfast was hours ago. I'm always famished by lunchtime."

"I lose my appetite when I get nervous," Beth said. "Now that my first class is over, I'll probably be hungry in a little while."

They entered the Great Hall. Beth noticed a tall, lanky wizard with dark long hair watching Lily who was mashing a piece of bread into James' mouth and laughing. She bumped Sirius' arm. "Who is that guy who keeps staring at Lily?"

Sirius face turned hard when he saw who she indicated. "Snape," the name was spoken so disdainfully, Beth flinched. "Don't talk to James about him. They detest each other."

Beth frowned in the general direction of Snape. "Because of Lily?" she asked. "Does Snape have a thing for her?"

Sirius nodded curtly. "James thinks so. He's probably right. Too often Snape seems to be lurking when Lily is around."