Breaking the shadows

A day as a teacher.

1997

Monday March 10th

I wake up early, I'm so excited for today, I change into my ropes and Hermione, and I go to breakfast.

After breakfast I have two classes, potions with Snape and transfiguration with McGonagall. As the day goes on my excitement turns to nerves.

After transfiguration McGonagall comes down to my table and ask: "are you ready?"

"I'm so ready."

McGonagall: "That's good, I'm sure you will do great."

"You really think so?"

McGonagall: "Yes, I do. If you want, I can sit in the back."

"Thanks, but I don't think it will be necessary, it's just a few first years right."

McGonagall: "Yes, you are completely right. Come by my office after your lesson and tell me all about it."

"I will Professor, I will need to run now, I don't want to be late."

McGonagall: "One last thing, take off your rope, it's impossible to teach with that on."

"Thanks, professor."

---

I leave the classroom feeling confident but a little nervous. I've been told that I'm going to teach six first years, so I take seven chairs and place them in a circle in the front of the class.

Little after little the students arrive. I have taken my rope off, so I'm standing in my skirt, white button-down and my jumper. Just as McGonagall had told me.
I see that my six students are two Gryffindor's, two Hufflepuffs, a Slytherin and a Ravenclaw.

My students are Leah and Liv Autumn, Eleanora Flower (Nora) from Gryffindor, Dixie Everglade from Hufflepuff, Therese Willows from Slytherin and Quinn Juniper from Ravenclaw. As they all are seated in front of me, I say: "Hello, I'm miss Granger, and I will be your teacher for today. As you know Professor Burbage doesn't teach first years, so that is why I am here today."

Therese raises her hand and I say: "Yes, Therese."

Therese: "How come Professor Burbage doesn't want to teach first years?"

"I don't know, it has been like that for a long time. Any more questions?"

I wait a little if anyone will ask a question. But no one raises their hand, so I say: "Then let's begin. So, since spring is coming, I figured we would start by drawing flowers.

Everyone turns around and finds a table to sit with and I walk around the classroom as I say: "Draw your favourite flower, if you want to colour them, I have some coloured pencils up here, that you are welcome to use. And when you are done just place your pencil on the desk and look up here."

After a few minutes I see that everyone has placed their pencil on the desk and look up at me.

"Okay, now just come on up here and take a seat in the circle again, and then we will show each other what we have been doing." I say and they all listen and take a seat in the circle again.

We take a round telling what flower they have made and why they made that specific flower, starting with Dixie: "My favourite flower is tulips, and I decided to draw them not just in one colour because they can come in all sorts of colours."

"Very good Dixie, Leah, do you want to continue?"

Leah: "Yes, I drew a lily, as that is my birth flower."

"Very good, Therese?"

Therese: "I decided to draw a bouquet with roses and tulips because I couldn't decide on which I liked better."

"Good Therese, Quinn do you want to go next?"

Quinn: "Yes, I drew a field of sunflowers as it is both mine and Nora's favourite flower."

"Great, Eleanora, your turn."

Eleanora (Nora): "I drew sunflowers too, I drew them facing each other because when they can't find the sun, they face each other instead, and that is why they are my favourites."

"That is such a cute thought, thank you Eleanora, lastly Liv."

Liv: "I drew lillies of the valley because they are so much more fun to draw than just plain lilies."

"Okay, you all did very good job today, hopefully, this will continue next week. Have a great week nevertheless."

---

As the class had ended, I took on my rope again and walked to Professor McGonagall's office, I knocked and as she said: "Enter."
I walked into her office and she looked up delighted and said: "Harlow, how did your class go with the first years?"

"It went really well, we drew flowers, and they seemed to enjoy it, if I get another class with them, I want to teach them how the colours affect each other."

McGonagall: "That sounds brilliant Harlow, I will take this to Professor Dumbledore and I will contact you if there is any news. Nevertheless, you will come up with new ideas for new lessons. Just in case."

"Thank you professor. I need to run to my next class, I just wanted to hop by."

McGonagall: "Don't be late."

I'm nearly late to my next and last class of the day, care for magical creatures.

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Puplished: 12-06-23