Very sad to report that former NFL wide receiver Demaryius Thomas, a 5 time Pro Bowler and Super Bowl 50 Champion with the Denver Broncos, was found dead in his home this evening at the age of 33. R.I.P. Demaryius Thomas. 33 is way too young to go. :(
On the morning of Monday, September 27th, 2021, Devon, Hugo, James, Albus, Fred, Gordon, Aaron, Pamela, Rose, Roxanne, Penny, Courtney, Stephanie, Samantha, and Lily had just finished a delicious breakfast of pancakes and sausage patties with orange juice to wash it down with when Headmistress Kirke called out from the staff table "Everybody remain seated!"
They all did, and they were all curious why Headmistress Kirke had kept them in Friendship Hall after breakfast.
"So, " announced Headmistress Kirke happily, "It is my immense pleasure to announce that this week Hogwarts is playing host to a guest teacher. "
Next nanosecond, Luna Lovegood was removing an invisibility cloak from herself at the staff table.
"Hello, Hogwarts," Luna dreamily, staring up the ceiling, "As most of you know, I'm a wizarding naturalist who travels the world in search in discovering no species."
"But, " said Rose disapprovingly, "The 1965 Ban on Experimental Breeding made the creation of new species ILLEGAL."
"I'm not creating new species you retard, " replied Luna matter of factly, "As a wizarding naturalist, I travel the world in search of species that exist in nature that mankind hasn't discovered yet. That's why I'm here at Hogwarts. I'm here to introduce the students to some of the magical creatures that I newly discovered on my travels this summer"
"it's too bad Ainsley isn't still here," said Lily sadly, "She loves animals, and she would have been on cloud nine to be able to learn about newly discovered species."
At this, Luna actually smiled.
"She'll get her chance, " said Luna happily, "I'm making a visit as a guest teacher to the Ultimate University of Wizarding Healing next week."
"Awesome," grinned Lily.
"So?" asked Samantha in a businesslike voice, "Are you replacing Hagrid this week then?"
"Sort of, " said Luna calmly, "I'm going to be doing the teaching, but Hagrid's still going to be there. I guess I'd say he's going to be a student in Care of Magical Creatures this week. He can learn right along with the rest of the class. Being knowledge about Care of Magical Creatures himself, he might even think of some good questions to ask about the newly unearthed creatures that will make light bulbs go off in my head about things to explain about them, thus benefiting the whole class."
"I'm surprised to hear Luna praise Hagrid, " said James crisply, "She's always been a bit critical of him."
"I've never had any issues with Hagrid as a person," said Luna fiercely, "My criticisms of Hagrid were always that I thought was too careless as a teacher, bringing dangerous creatures like chimeras to class. In the New Era of Hogwarts, this is impossible for any Care of Magical Creatures teacher to do because of the screening process for which magical creatures are allowed to be brought to class. Even as a guest teacher, I am obligated to get the creatures I bring to class pre-approved by either the Minister of Magic or the Head of Hogwarts. "
"I have pre-approved the creatures myself, " added Headmistress Kirke, "Miss Lovegood actually wrote to me a week ago and requested a week at Hogwarts as a guest teacher. I replied to Miss Lovegood's owl by asking her to meet in private in my office and to bring along the creatures she wanted to show and teach about. After she showed me the creatures and explained what they were, I granted her request. I can confirm that these creatures are tame, safe, and beautiful."
"Where do you get an invisibility cloak, Luna?" asked James curiously.
"I made it myself, " said Luna proudly, puffing out her chest.
"I'm in your Tuesday and Thursday lessons, " Lily told Luna, "Looking forward to tomorrow afternoon."
"I'm going to be at Hogwarts this Monday through Thursday then move on The Ultimate University of Wizarding Healing next week and The Wizarding Academy for Dramatic Arts the week after that."
"Congratulations!' cried loads of voices at once.
Luna beamed at everyone.
Luna left to go to the first Care of Magical Creatures lesson of that days. Class time for everyone was only a few minutes and a few nanoseconds away but they all stayed in their seats.
Everybody in Friendship Hall felt his or her mind flooded with curiosity.
Having a guest teacher, not a substitute, but a true guest teacher, was going to be an interesting experience for all of them.
And each and every student, not just the animal and creature lovers, but each and every student, was looking forward to Luna's lessons.
To learn about newly discovered creatures that were beautiful and existed in nature was as pure a lesson as one could have.