Originally Posted by Erik Vinteren

Everyone was being so quiet and polite. Erik wasn't sure he had been expecting that out of the Hogwarts students. They had all seemed so...difficult....last year when he had been running for the Board of Governors. No matter, here was a badger complimenting him now.

"Thank you," he replied to the boy, with just a touch of surprise in his tone. He glanced down at his own suit and then to his watch. Nearly time to begin, then.

"Hello and velcome to History of Magic," Erik started promptly. "Before we begin, I vould like to introduce myself." He gave the students a thin smile. "My name is Vinteren, Erik Vinteren. I am not a professor, but you may address me as either 'Mister Vinteren,' or 'Professor Vinteren,' out ov respect. I am currently serving vhe Hogwarts Board of Governors and took vhis post as a favour to your Headmistress." Who was rather short-staffed and frantic at the time, though he didn't add that bit aloud.

"Since I am still new to vhe castle," Erik continued, "if you vould kindly take out a sheet of parchment and fold it in halv to make a nametag for yourself, I vould be most grateful." And it would certainly help him to address them all by the proper names. "While you are doing vhat, you may also raise your hand and answer vhe question, Vhat is History of Magic? Vhat do ve study in vhis class, and vhy?"

As soon as he said that, the questions appeared on the board beside him so that students who might have been better at reading than listening could remember what had been asked. And Erik started looking for hands, to call on people, because he was most interested in their responses.