In the limited impressions of most young wizards, aside from Snape, that dark bat, there probably wasn't another professor who would dare stand up in public and openly challenge Dumbledore.
Yet now, the Hogwarts High Inquisitor seemed to have taken over Snape's role entirely, charging straight in without the slightest hesitation...
Umbridge appeared thoroughly pleased with the scene she had created. The shocked expressions around her filled her with a delicious sense of being the center of attention.
Once everyone's eyes were on her, she cleared her throat lightly. "According to Educational Decree Number Twenty-Six, no one is permitted to provide others with incorrect ideas or information unrelated to learning. This applies to you as well, Albus Percival Wulfric Brian Dumbledore... sir!"
Ordinarily, a wizard's full name was only spoken on the most formal occasions. Umbridge's deliberate choice to do so clearly carried a deeper meaning.
That said, her memory really was impressive. She rattled off that long, unwieldy name with remarkable fluency. Whether it was talent or prior preparation was anyone's guess.
"...."
"...."
Her words plunged the already quiet Great Hall into an even heavier silence.
At some point, the tired smile had disappeared from Dumbledore's face. Behind the half-moon spectacles perched on his nose, a faint cold glint flickered, making it impossible to see what emotions were hidden in his eyes.
Dumbledore didn't respond right away. He simply adjusted his glasses and turned slightly to look down at Umbridge, whose height barely reached his chest.
It was as though he were calmly examining the woman before him. The former Senior Undersecretary of Magic... no, now the Defence Against the Dark Arts Professor, Umbridge.
...
Eyes widened.
A small hand was clenched tightly.
No one had expected to witness such a "spectacular" scene during the Sorting Ceremony. If Rita Skeeter had been present, she probably would have written an entire article about it...
Just as the tension grew so thick it felt hard to breathe, a smile suddenly returned to Dumbledore's face. He gave a small nod. "Of course. It was merely a minor reminder. I don't believe that violates any Educational Decree, does it? As for the Sorting Hat, please trust an old man who's been diligently doing his job for many years. There's absolutely nothing wrong with it."
Smiling, Dumbledore met Umbridge's equally pleasant gaze.
Both of them were smiling, yet the sight made the young wizards afraid to even breathe too loudly.
Just when everyone thought the two were about to clash head-on, the first to back down was Umbridge, the very one who had provoked the confrontation. She nodded once and calmly sat back down.
Her posture was perfectly proper, as though the witch who had just stood up to oppose Dumbledore hadn't been her at all.
And that satisfied expression on her face.
It was as if she wanted everyone to know that she had just won the most important step.
At that moment, every wizard who had witnessed the exchange finally let out a breath, then looked at one another in disbelief.
Who would have imagined seeing something like this at a Sorting Ceremony?
Watching the outcome, Draco shifted his gaze away from Dumbledore's still-smiling face. "Very interesting. I wonder whether this was a deliberate move to let the Ministry step into Hogwarts... or the start of another unknown deal."
He could only hope that Dumbledore's decision wouldn't end up being a case of lifting a stone just to drop it on his own foot...
...
Although Dumbledore's wand brought forth fragrant, beautifully presented dinners on each house table, for most wizards, no matter how tempting the food looked, it couldn't wipe away what they had just witnessed.
That scene itself had become the most fitting appetizer of all.
Especially for Hermione. She had a whole list of questions she was itching to ask Draco...
"How well do you actually know that witch, Umbridge?"
Hermione hadn't forgotten how Draco and the others had reacted when they saw that witch last year. They had clearly been far more familiar with her than she'd expected.
"Weren't you the one who didn't think much of her before? So why now—"
"Don't look at me like that, Parkinson. It's rude."
Draco cut in calmly. "Back then, I had no idea she wouldn't even give Dumbledore the courtesy of basic respect. I don't think her confidence comes solely from Ministry backing."
"Mmm... you're right," Pansy said slowly. "That witch isn't as 'simple' as she looks. What she did wasn't reckless at all."
It was the first time Hermione had ever seen both disgust and wariness on Pansy's face, which only made her more curious.
Catching Hermione's questioning look, Draco hesitated for a moment before setting down his knife and fork.
Strictly speaking, noble etiquette forbade discussing serious matters at the dining table, but when it came to bending the rules for small things, Draco was never unwilling to indulge Hermione...
"Acromantula."
"Acro—why a spider?" Hermione echoed blankly, completely unprepared for that answer.
Beside her, Pansy bit lightly against the edge of her fork, as if she already knew what Draco was about to say.
Draco gently turned the goblet Hermione had pushed toward him in an attempt to curry favor. "In the wizarding world, that Senior Undersecretary is quite well-known. What she's most famous for is how she clawed her way up from the very bottom."
"Isn't that impressive?"
Climbing from nothing to the position of Senior Undersecretary of Magic wasn't something flattery alone could accomplish, even if the current Minister of Magic had been completely blinded by power...
"Yes, it is impressive," Draco replied. "And that's exactly why she earned the nickname 'a human Acromantula.'"
"That nickname sounds..." Hermione hesitated.
"Unpleasant," Draco finished. "To put it bluntly, it's about the worst label a witch could possibly have."
Hearing Draco speak with a trace of dry humor wrapped in a serious tone, Hermione subconsciously glanced toward the pink figure up on the staff table.
Just what had that witch done for the wizarding world to saddle her with such an ugly name?
The thought made a chill creep up Hermione's spine...