Sorry this isn't a brand new chapter for those of you who were hoping it was, I had just changed and updated some things that have been bugging me and hindering my ability to carry on with the story. If you glance back at the chapter, you will notice that it now says 4th year, which means that yes, I will be incorporating the Tournament and everything that it entails. I have also mentioned that the cells are called "mobiles" instead of just "cells." Thank you, Belizi, for pointing that out!
Darcy's first class of the day, year, at Hogwarts overall, is with a group of 4th years from all Houses since apparently they're grouped together and stuff after 3rd year because not enough students from each House had signed up for her class, which is apparantly an elective. Oh well, sucks for them! They'll be missing out on her awesomeness. Thankfully, she's pretty sure Draco is in it, so awesomeshit right there. Good thing, good things. As the students pile in, she watches as they segregate themselves by House, which she can tell by the little badges pinned to their robes. See, Dumbles? Bullshit, she thinks at the sight. And you wonder how that Voldy Moldy dude gained power.
Once everyone is settled into their seats, she tries to talk. "Hello, I'm Professor Lewis, but you can-" Except for Draco and his little gang, who she's pretty sure he made hush up and listen, everyone else is too busy talking to each other to hear her. She rolls her eyes. Sure, she doesn't have the commanding presence of her husband, magic on her side, or experience as a teacher here, but she will sooner pledge allegiance to the assholes of hydra before she lets anyone ignore her in her own classroom. She swiftly puts two fingers in her mouth and lets out an earpiercing whistle that makes everyone freeze in fear. She crosses her arms across her chest and beams a satisfied smirk. Ha! The Whistle of Lewis works on both students, cranky government peoples, scientists, superheros...etc. It is totally all inclusive.
"I have your attention? Good. Now, before anything else, I want you all to know that I will not tolerate bullying, prejudice, or general assholery in this classroom. I see anything of the sort, and guess what? I automatically deduct 50 points from your House and your overall grade goes down 5%. I was informed that as this is an elective, you all chose this class, which means you are here voluntarily. I expect you to show that. Over 50% of your grade for this class is participation, so that doesn't mean you get to sit down and then zone out. If you chose this class for an easy grade, I suggest you get out and choose something else. Participate, and this could be really fun, okay?" Thankfully, no one gets up. "Now, ready for some fun?" At the hesitant nods, she smiles brightly. "Awesome! For those who don't know me, which, actually, I think is everyone but Drake, I'm Darcy Lewis. Technically, you're supposed to call me Professor Lewis, but what Dumbles doesn't know won't kill him, at least in this case, so within the classroom, call me Darcy. Outside of it, you can call me Ms. Darcy or Ms Lewis to placate the old man. No Mrs. or Miss cuz that's just reflects traditional gender roles that reveals sexist roles and a whole lot of other fucked up shit, so just don't do it. Also, no, I didn't take Severus' name, so Snape is out too. All right? All right, cool. Now, I'm totally fine with a little friendly competition between students and Houses, but like I said, I'm not going to tolerate prejudice based on House or anything really, so everyone get up."
With confused glances, they all do as she says. "I've made a list and grouped you all into groups of four, one from each house. Don't like the people in your group? Well sorry, but get over it or get out of my classroom. Now, when I call your name, come up to the front." And so it really begins, the beginning of her first Muggle Studies class ever. She goes down the list until she finally sees Drake's name, which brings another smile to her face. She's put him in with Terry Boot, Neville Longbottom, and Hannah Abbott. Only one more group, and then everyone has been given a list. Then she has them all sit down at a table together.
"So, I've never actually taught this before, so please just bear with me this year. I'm usually pretty good at remembering names, so just give me a bit please. Thanks. Now." She pulls out her Stark phone and an iPhone. (Sorry, Tony, but since your shit isn't actually that common, you can't be the only example.) "Who knows what this is?" Only a handful of students hold their hands up, almost all of them hesitantly too. "Cool. Drake, what is this?"
"It's a Stark phone and an iPhone, both of them versions of a cellular device," he says proudly.
"5 points to Slytherin. Yep, these are both versions of a cellular device, or just plain old cell phones or 'cells' if you prefer." At the still confused looks, she adds, "You might be more be more familiar with the word 'telephone' or 'mobile' as you Brits prefer to call them." And they are, if the understanding in their eyes is anything to go by. "Mobiles are just a type of telephone, and as of today until the last day of the year, you all have one. Drake, mind coming up here and passing them out?" Her platinum blonde godson gets and goes to the box of 6th generation iPhones. Then he starts handing one out to each student until everyone has one. Despite the fact that he already has a Stark Phone, he grabs one for himself too, which Darcy approves of because she highly doubts it would be a good idea to let others know about his phone since that would lead to questions about why he even has one in the first place, and neither of them want to answers those types of question just yet. "Now, as he does that, everyone else pay close attention because I'm going to explain the phones to you. Don't be ashamed if you need to take notes. It's a lot of information to take in."
Once everything is in order and everyone has a phone, she begins instructions on how to use it. Each phone is already programmed with a number, data, some restrictions, and apps. Next, she tells them how to begin personalizing it. After the bare basics have been gone through and thoroughly explained, she lets them spend the rest of the class period exchanging numbers and just plain old exploring their new electronic device. She does make sure, though, that everyone at the very least has the numbers of each person in their own group in their contacts before letting them mingle with the rest of the class. She also makes sure that they know that they'll need to recharge the battery once it hits 5% or lower, which is just a simple spell that she tells them to look up as part of homework.
A girl with bushy brown hair with a Gryffindor badge comes up to her. "Ms, how can these even work? It says in 'Hogwarts: A History' that muggle electronics can't work here because of all the wards and spells placed on the castle."
"Well, Ms...?"
"Granger. I'm Hermione Granger."
"Well, Ms Granger, Severus and a couple friends of ours have been working on this for years. Just recently, about a year ago actually, they made a breakthrough, and the rest is history. 10 points to Gryffindor for an excellent question."
"Oh, how fascinating! Thank you, Ms Darcy." Then Hermione returns to her friends.
"Aunt D, do you think this will work to call mum or dad?" Drake asks as he walks up to her, referring to the iPhone in his hand.
"Oh! Thanks for bringing that up, Drake. 10 points to Slytherin. No, they only work with other phones in my Muggle Studies class." Another whistle, this one a bit kinder on the ears, and everyone once again pauses to listen. "Hey, Drake just brought up an excellent point. These phones will only work with other phones that I'll be giving to my other years, so they won't work say, to call your parents if they have a phone. In fact, I think they might only work on the Hogwarts grounds and maybe that town, Hogsmeade, but they for sure only work with other phones that I'm giving out for the purpose of this class."
The rest of the class goes by with ease. The only homework she assigns is that they have to be able to show her that they can successfully send and receive a text message, make and receive a phone call, and that they need to figure out the spell to recharge their phones, which she had given them the hint that it involved electricity. She also gives them a heads up that they're expected to be able to recite from memory their own phone number by the end of September so that they can start working on it. Just before letting them loose, she makes them all form a line in front of her so that she can make a list that'll tell her each students' name and phone number. Then she tells them to not be afraid to come find her with any questions they may have about their new devices before releasing them.
All in all, Darcy considers her class a success. Now, for the rest of the day. Whew, no sweat. Right?
By the end of the day, Darcy is pretty exhausted, but also pretty satisfied with how each class had gone. Despite the various ages and years, she ended up keeping the stuff she taught about the same across the board since she figured that they're all pretty even in their knowledge of muggle stuff, which actually proved to be true. It became seriously obvious to her that whoever the last professor was, they definitely hadn't spent much time in the muggle part of the world recently since nearly none of the students knew what the common iPhone was when she asked. The Stark phone, she understood that it wouldn't be something even most muggles knew. However, iPhones are everywhere, so she highly doubts that the last Muggle Studies professor had been outside of the magical world recently, if ever. Ergo, it means that despite the difference in age and year, each student is pretty much about the same level in muggle knowledge, the only exception being a couple of the muggle-borns and Drake.
Darcy collapses next to her husband on their couch in their quarters with a contented huff. She curls right up next to him with her head on his shoulder, to which he responds by wrapping an arm around her waist absentmindedly and not as a show of superiority or stupid male possessiveness. "How did it go?" he asks as he looks over the rest of September's schedule for one of his classes.
"I think it went just fine. Actually, I kinda had some fun! I might not suck at this as much as I thought I would!"
His body rumbles as he lets out a chuckle. "I knew it would be an experience for you, but I never once thought you would 'suck' as you so eloquently put it, darling. I'm glad you're enjoying it."
"Aw, thanks, love. So, I've been thinking, and I think that I need to head back to the Tower and sort out some shit before dinner tonight. Then, I'll just stay here tomorrow and get to know the students, grounds, and I guess maybe other teachers tomorrow. Also, I need you to show me that recharging spell for the phones since that was part of their homework, and I have no idea how to do it." She may not have magic to actually complete the spell, but at least she'll be able to discern if her students are doing it correctly, and if they aren't, point out what they're doing wrong.
"I'm nearly finished writing up this month's schedule, then I can go with you since I'm also done with classes for the day. I think exploring the grounds and getting to know people is an excellent plan for tomorrow. As for the spell, I will show you tonight after dinner." She beams up at him.
She's totally a muggle through and through, not even a bit of Squib, but he's never minded. In fact, even though they both know she doesn't have a smidge of magiciness in her veins, he always agrees to showing her various movements required for different spells. He also never lords it over her like he's some superior being or treats her like an accessory for being unable to use magic like him. The way he treats her as an equal, even with their very different abilities, is one of the things that she loves about him.
Thanks for reading! Please let me know what you think!