SALEM ᵈ ᵐᵃˡᶠᵒʸ

x. Mythbusters

IT'S been days since we had the meeting at Hog's Head and there was still no decision of a location to practice in.

We shared History of Magic with the Gryffindors; a class that I probably thought to be the most interesting, despite having Professor Binns as a teacher — who was a ghost, by the way — because he probably spoke more monotonously than Snape did.

Out of everyone seated in the room, it was only Hermione, Ruby, and I who were wholeheartedly listening.

Glancing around, I saw a couple of people struggling to keep their eyes open. A few of the others were already lulling their head to the side and I counted a couple kids snoozing on their desk.

I snickered when I saw Ernie heavily passed out on the desk he shared with a fascinated Ruby.

I always thought that maybe one of the reasons why she and Hermione loved History of Magic so much was because they were muggle-borns. Learning about a whole other world and it's history was sure to be an eye-opener for them, yet I also found it funny that other muggle-borns I knew would rather feed themselves to the Giant Squid than sit an hour in Binns' class.

As for myself, I loved history. Whether it be Muggle or Magic, I loved learning about the great heroes, dates of war and death and how people shaped history. To others it might seem like a pain, but to me it was a good challenge.

I also took pride in the fact that I stored all this random knowledge about history, like legends and myths that probably won't be important for me in the future.

I shifted in my seat, turning all my attention back to professor Binns talking about the Salem Witch Trials. Before class started, I decided to share a desk with Ron who was currently also passed out beside me.

"If you all even bothered to listen during my class two years ago, maybe one of you can remember what the Salem Witch Trials were about," Binns drawled, his transparent figure staring at the class expectantly, sighing at the sight of those who were asleep.

A couple of students jumped awake at his voice, groggily rubbing their eyes and straightening up to pretend they were listening. My hand along with Hermione's and Ruby's shot up in the air.

Professor Binns looked at us and shook his head slightly. "Why is it always you three?"

"Please, sir," Hermione spoke up, "the Salem Witch Trials were a series of hearings and prosecutions of people accused of witchcraft that occurred in Massachusetts, North America from 1692 to 1693."

"Yes, Miss Granger," he replied dryly, "ten points to Gryffindor. Indeed, the trials did hang and burn people accused of magic. The people however, which the Muggles nowadays realize, were not actually witches. Only the Wizarding World knew that a majority of them were."

I knew all about this, of course. It was the reason why a lot of wizards and witches fled from North America during that time and chose to settle in the UK or somewhere else. Also the reason why our existence is sworn to secrecy. I shuddered even thinking about it.

"This part of your syllabus is extremely important for your OWL's because the executions affected the Wizarding Community greatly. If you could turn to page two hundred-and-six in your textbooks and read all about it, I will guarantee you all an Outstanding in your OWL's," Professor Binns droned continuously.

There was the sound of pages turning that filled the room, accompanied by stifled yawns from a handful of students. I gently shook Ron to wake him, which I realized was not going to work out.

"Ron. Ronald," I whispered to him, only to be met with no response and his drooling face.

I rolled my eyes and shook him a bit harder than before. When I was met with nothing again, I took measures into my own hands and jabbed a finger into his side.