When the Muggle Studies teacher asked for suggestions for their next lesson, which was covering Muggle Pop Culture, she did not expect an enthusiastic hand to be raised by the only student in the class who was attending her classes under duress.
As punishment for using racial slurs against a fellow student, Draco Malfoy was forced to attend Muggle Studies classes for the duration of this school year. The teacher wasn’t overly impressed that Headmaster Dumbledore used her classes as punishment, but if her classes could contribute to better relations between students from different houses, she was happy to assist.
‘Yes, Draco, do you have any suggestions for our Pop Culture class next week?’
‘Could we maybe cover ABBA songs, Professor?’ Draco asked in his most innocent voice, batting his long eyelashes for good measure.
‘ABBA? Sure why not,’ the teacher replied, somewhat surprised at the source of the suggestion, especially when she detected a certain look of glee in the face of the Slytherin.
What the Muggle Studies Professor did not know was that the one thing that was explicitly forbidden by the Slytherin Head of House was this particular topic. He did not allow any mention of this group in the Dungeons.
Even Severus Snape’s own godson did not know the reason behind this peculiar aversion, but he had always been keen to find out and since he was stuck in this class for the remainder of the year, he might as well make the most of this unique resource to get an insight into his godfather’s most hated pop group.
~ ~ ~ ~
‘The Swedish group ABBA rose to fame when they won the Eurovision Song Contest in 1974… ‘ the teacher began their lesson on Muggle Pop Culture.
Soon a considerable number of eyes started to glaze over, only to perk up when a voice from the back of the class asked ‘Do you think we could listen to some of their music to get an idea as to what made them so famous, Professor?’
The teacher looked up in surprise at this suggestion, but when this was met with considerable support from Draco’s fellow students, the teacher gave in.
Before long every student in the class was humming along to their favourite ABBA tune.
Ron was staring longingly into space as he was humming
Money, money, money
Must be funny
In the rich man's world
Money, money, money
Always sunny
In the rich man's world
Aha-ahaaa
All the things I could do
If I had a little money
It's a rich man's world
Harry, who did not usually attend this class, but was dragged along for the occasion, was tapping along to the music, while playing with his snitch
The winner takes it all
The loser has to fall
It's simple and it's plain
Why should I complain
Draco stared at Harry from across the room. As always his thoughts were fully occupied by the Boy Who Lived
Take a chance on me
If you need me, let me know, gonna be around
If you've got no place to go, if you're feeling down
If you're all alone when the pretty birds have flown
Honey I'm still free
Take a chance on me
Hannah Abbott could not keep her eyes off the teaching assistant, who was kept busy changing the records
Everybody screamed when I kissed the teacher
And they must have thought they dreamed when I kissed the teacher
All my friends at school
They had never seen the teacher blush, he looked like a fool
Nearly petrified 'cos he was taken by surprise
When I kissed the teacher
Even Hermione was not entirely immune to the powerful lyrics of this Muggle group, even though she was more familiar with them than most, as both her parents were big ABBA fans. She looked over at Ron, who was clearly enjoying himself today
What's the name of the game?
Does it mean anything to you?
What's the name of the game?
Can you feel it the way I do?
Tell me please, 'cause I have to know
I'm a bashful child, beginning to grow
The Muggle Studies teacher was quite pleased to see such an interest in her Pop Culture class and was mentally patting herself on the back for putting together such a successful lesson plan, completely ignoring the fact that both the subject and the execution of the lesson plan were instigated by her least favourite student.
When the students left her classroom, she could not shake the feeling that she had been played somehow, met her Waterloo so to speak, as the smile on Draco Malfoy’s face was just a bit too smug for her liking.
‘Thank you for the music,’ he winked, as he followed his fellow students to the dungeons for their Potions class, still humming their favourite ABBA songs.
~ ~ ~
A record number of points were taken from Gryffindor that day and even 10 points from Slytherin, before their class had even started, much to the bewilderment of the Gryffindor students and the satisfaction of one sly Slytherin, who thought it had been well worth losing 10 points to see his godfather’s reaction, even though he was no nearer to discovering the reason for his hatred of ABBA.