"Ahem! Ahem!"
Umbridge stepped past Flitwick and Snape, positioning herself at the very front of the stage. She cleared her throat with two deliberate coughs, ensuring every eye in the room turned to her.
"Thank you, thank you, Filius," she said, her voice dripping with formality. "I must say, returning to Hogwarts after all these years and having the opportunity to take up a teaching post is simply wonderful!" She flashed a wide, toothy grin. "Look at all these bright, happy faces—I can't wait to get to know each and every one of you, and what better chance than in a proper classroom setting? I'm certain we'll become the very best of friends!"
"Here we go, another Lockhart," Terry muttered under his breath. But he was mistaken. Umbridge pressed on, undeterred. "During the curriculum review, I've had frank and open discussions with many professors, and Filius agrees that our courses should strike a balance between theory and practice…"
"Er, actually—" Professor Flitwick interjected, a hint of unease in his voice. But Umbridge pretended not to hear, raising her voice over his. "The Ministry of Magic has always believed that educating young witches and wizards is a matter of utmost importance. The precious treasury of magical knowledge, amassed by our ancestors, must be safeguarded, enriched, and perfected by those fortunate enough to undertake the noble profession of teaching."
With that, she gave a theatrical bow to Flitwick, Snape, and the students. Flitwick stood rooted to the spot, casting her a skeptical glance, while Snape's arms, crossed tightly over his chest, seemed to lift even higher. His face was an unreadable mask, as if he had a peculiar talent for concealing his thoughts under the flickering candlelight. No one could guess what was going through his mind.
"The Gilderoy Lockhart incident provided us with valuable lessons," Umbridge continued, and at the mention of the familiar name, the students perked up, their wandering attention snapping back into focus. "I believe that every headmaster of Hogwarts, tasked with managing this historic institution, has brought their own innovations—and rightly so. Without progress, there is stagnation, and stagnation leads to decline. However, progress for the sake of progress is never to be encouraged. When those entrusted with responsibility lack the competence to manage, resulting in chaos, external intervention becomes necessary. Fortunately, the Ministry of Magic has stepped into this role. Minister Fudge, deeply concerned, has shown remarkable resolve to reverse this decline and prevent unscrupulous individuals from once again usurping sacred teaching positions. I am confident that under Minister Fudge's leadership, those who misjudge character or misuse authority will be held accountable. And I am honored, not only to serve as your Defense Against the Dark Arts professor but also to set things right—"
Murmurs rippled through the crowd. Some students bristled at her thinly veiled accusations. "Yeah, right," Harry said loudly, his voice cutting through the hall. "As if Lockhart's fame was all Dumbledore's doing! I wonder who gave him that Order of Merlin, Third Class—such a mystery!"
A wave of laughter erupted from the students.
The Patil sisters didn't bother hiding their snickers as they pointed at Umbridge's garish pink cardigan. Luna's gaze drifted, following the laughter before fixating on Lottie Turner with an intense stare. Beside Hodge, Justin yawned, while Ernie Macmillan muttered Umbridge's words back to himself, his brow furrowed in confusion. Umbridge shot Harry a cold, piercing look before plastering her fake smile back on. "An amusing comment. But let me remind you all that the Minister of Magic is an extraordinarily busy man, overseeing every aspect of wizarding Britain. Since taking office, Minister Fudge has worked tirelessly to ensure the stability of our society… And yet, he was the first to raise questions about Gilderoy Lockhart's credibility, proving his discernment in matters of character—"
"Speaking of discernment," Hodge interrupted, his voice ringing out. He was now certain that the rift between Dumbledore and Fudge had become semi-public. Something significant must have happened behind the scenes, something that had pushed Cornelius Fudge to meddle in Hogwarts' affairs. Reinstating Umbridge was a bold move. But she was too hasty. If Dumbledore had announced her appointment, even as a temporary one, Hodge would have been powerless to act.
"I completely agree with what you just said about stopping 'those who misjudge character or misuse authority.' But perhaps you could explain why, under the Minister's very nose, his most trusted subordinate abused her power, barging into a student's home to drag them away for questioning. And why, less than a year later, that same subordinate is standing on this stage, brazenly lecturing students about the Minister's keen judgment. Most absurd of all, this law-breaking subordinate isn't in Azkaban serving a sentence or sacked and sent home to reflect on her actions. Instead, she's about to become our professor!"
The Great Hall fell deathly silent. Then, a low buzz filled the air as hundreds of whispered conversations blended into a single hum. Rumors spread like wildfire, and soon everyone seemed to know what had happened last Christmas. A cold, distant atmosphere settled over the hall.
The flush in Umbridge's cheeks faded, her fake smile vanishing with it.
She had never imagined that Hodge Blackthorn would dare expose the truth so publicly. In her mind, Hodge was still the naive first-year from last year, barely two months into Hogwarts, incapable of casting a single spell and entirely at her mercy. Sure, he might have some talent, but the Ministry rumors about him facing off against a dark wizard? She didn't believe a word of it. A student with just one year of magical training, no matter how gifted, could never hold their own against an adult wizard.
"Utter nonsense," Umbridge said, her voice dripping with disdain.
"As a former senior Ministry official, I had the authority to mobilize personnel in emergencies, especially when the safety of the wizarding world was at stake."
"And what was it that cost you your titles as Undersecretary and Wizengamot member, relegating you to the archives?" Hodge shot back icily.
"This only demonstrates the Ministry's rigorous procedures and progressive mindset—a philosophy of balance," Umbridge replied smoothly, launching into a rapid-fire spiel. "Between the old and the new, the constant and the changing, tradition and innovation, order and bold action, we maintain equilibrium to avoid extremes. Through rigorous scrutiny, we preserve delicate innovation and change. Some changes yield positive results, while others, in due time, are revealed as missteps…"
Some students' minds began to wander, while others looked visibly irritated, unable to decipher her convoluted rhetoric. At that moment, Hodge noticed Harry, Ron, and Hermione drawing closer. Having both spoken out against Umbridge, Harry and Hodge exchanged a glance of mutual understanding.
"I get what you were saying to Hermione the other day," Harry said, his voice thick with frustration. "The Ministry's trying to take control of Hogwarts, starting by tarnishing Dumbledore's reputation. She knows the Defense Against the Dark Arts job is cursed—nobody wants to apply for it…"
His mouth fell open in shock as he watched Hodge stride purposefully toward the stage, pulling out his wand as he went.
————
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