"Sorted Too Young"

Dumbledore tells Snape, "Sometimes, Snape, I think we sort them too young."

CHAPTER 27 – History and Muggle Studies

The students slowly milled into classroom usually used for Charms. They all seemed a bit puzzled. One of the students from Ravenclaw asked why they were not having class with the ghost, Cuthbert Binns, in his classroom. Flitwick coughed to clear his throat. "I will be handling the exam for History of Magic until your new teacher arrives. The classroom and thus also Professor Binns were lost with the South Wing. Please find a seat and take a moment of silence for this loss while I distribute the exams."

History of Magic was the most boring of classes unless you asked an interesting question. Otherwise, the most interesting thing that ever happened in the classroom was the ghost entering the room through the chalkboard that he never used. Everyone hesitated as they sought seats. Two levels of students were now mixed, but there were also far too many empty seats. At 28 students, it still wasn't even a full class. Harry took initiative and sat next to Draco. It set a precedent to mix Houses even again here. No one dares speak. Scrolls were passed around with the Leviosah spell before Flitwick sat upon a stack of books to wait for the students to finish writing.

Everyone read and wrote madly through this exam, sometimes scowling in confusion. Midway through the exam, the classroom doors opened and a young man, barely older than the students entered the room. He must have been barely 20 years old, if that. His dark hair curled into a short and yet unruly mess. His dark eyes held Flitwicks as he strode purposely to where the old professor sat. They shook hands. Students looked up curiously but returned to their exams.

At the end, he collected the exams. "Hello everyone," his American accept clear and projecting easily. "My name is Jaecob Balog. I have been signed to teach you History of Magic. Some of you may remember me from my time in Slytherin House when I transferred in for the last half of my last year. I am glad to be back. I studied in the Academy of Salem in the United States and just completed an early Masters Degree in History with a minor in Educational Methods. History is so often written by the winners. No one ever wants to hear the real truth. And so many parts of history, stories of heroism and conspiracy on both sides, so often get smothered. I will hide nothing from you. I hope to enlighten you on the History of other cultures and in turn hope to learn from you the history that you are in the process of making for it will be what gets taught in the future."

Something manifested before each student, surprizing them. A card with an image. "You each have picture of someone in history. Someone who is very much like you. Someone who has done things like you have done. Or has done things you could do. All great people. When you return to the school next, some of the details will appear on the back of the card. When you rejoin the school full time, the remainder of the details will appear… unless you can figure out who the picture is beforehand. Welcome back to school." He helped Flitwick down.

"You will all remain in this room for your exam on Muggle Studies," announced Flitwick. "Those of you not taking the Muggle Studies exam may return to the Dining Hall. The Herbology exam will be held in the Greenhouse. I will see you all again later today for your Charms exam. Good luck everyone." He and Professor Balog left the room.

Pansy spoke first, "Wow, he was fucking cute!" Several students laughed. It broke the tension. Only four of the students stood and left the room Harry among them. The reporter wanting Draco's story stayed. Draco assumed it was to see what Draco took exams in. Draco decided to take all the exams just to be annoying.

Pansy left the room. Darius stayed. Blaise waffled. "I haven't taken anything in Muggle Studies."

"Neither have I," said Draco. "I want to see what I know." He was grateful that Blaise sat back down and beside him.

Ron started to get up and Hermione yanked him back down. The two argued briefly. Apparently Ron won and left the room.

Finally, their teacher entered the room. Another new face for the school. She was short, standing barely five foot two. He had red hair that reminded Draco of the Weasleys. She was slightly plump but carried herself like she could own the room. She was dressed like a muggle. "Good morning, uhm… hm… afternoon actually. My name is Prefessor Tara Clark. I will be your teacher in Muggle Studies and will be handling the management of extra-curricular activities. And no," she laughed easily, "I will not handle Quiddich. I like to keep all four paws on the ground, thanks." Everyone laughed. "I understand some of you have had classes in this course already."

"Excuse me?" called a Hufflepuff student. "Where are you from?"

"Canada. I studied with the American Black Forest Seminary and have been teaching Magical Studies to Muggles through Crescent Moon School of Magic and Paganism. I am sure you will all get great laughs at what I call some things and will have to excuse me if I laugh at some of the strange names you Brits call things. Loo, Lolly, and Lorry. I only just figured out Loo." Again laughter broke out in the class.

"Now that we have had a bit of fun, let's get down to business." She handed out her exams.

"Professor?" asked that same Hufflepuff. "Are you a Muggle?"

She gave the most mysterious smile. "I will reveal that little bit of information at Christmas. Good luck on your exam. You have 30 minutes starting… now."

Many students gasped and dug into the exam. This was the first time some of them had ever seen a multiple choice exam. Draco looked up often, trying to sort out the puzzle of the teacher before him. No wand. Maybe she was a muggle. Carried a pouch heavily covered in runic protections. Maybe she was a squib? He couldn't even guess her age. He looked back down at his baffling questions.

After their exam, they filed out of the class, heading to the Greenhouse. Draco was glad for the long sit for those exams. The stairs of the school challenged him a great deal. Blaise walked beside him at Draco's slow pace and gossiped, "I heard a rumor that we are all being mashed into a single dorm tower."

"They won't. They just named us Prefects. We have to stay without Houses and be responsible for the students of the other levels." Draco knew there was at least something to Blaise's rumor, but also held to logic.

"Then maybe the rumor that the Head Boy and Head Girl will share a room." Blaise grinned and wiggled eyebrows.

Draco rolled his eyes. "Maybe they will share a common room, but they won't put a girl and boy together, not even if they are in a solid relationship. It would set a bad example to other students. Where are you getting these rumors?"

Blaise grinned again with a slight bounce in his step. "Listening to teacher conversations. Easy to do when you are sleeping with a teacher. It's unfortunate that said teacher will still make me work for my grade though."

Draco barked a laugh. He could not believe what he heard. Then he wondered which teacher Blaise was sleeping with. As open and friendly as Blaise can be, when he held a secret, it would go to his grave before anyone discovered it.

A/N: I totally stole the name for the History teacher from the Website: Hogwarts Is Here. This is the teacher of History on this interactive Hogwarts web school. And the other school (Crescent Moon School) is a real Pagan school in Montreal, Quebec, Canada.