Chapter 611: Umbridge Being Ignored
Chapter 611: Umbridge Being Ignored
Sirius Black was taken away by the Ministry of Magic?
When Kyle first heard this news, he thought they were joking, but soon he realized that it was unlikely that all the fifth-year students were joking.
In addition to Hufflepuff, the Gryffindor fifth-years were also talking about this, and Harry, Ron, and Hermione were also absent from the Great Hall for the meal.
Kyle turned to the nearest fifth-year student and asked, "Susan, did you just say that Professor Black was taken away by the Ministry of Magic?"
"Yes," Susan Bones confirmed. "Our last class this morning was Defense Against the Dark Arts. Just before the class ended, a few people showed up, led by someone who claimed that there had been complaints to the Ministry of Magic about Professor Black neglecting his duties as a professor, resulting in several students getting injured during class."
"Oh, and Headmaster Dumbledore was there as well," she added.
Kyle furrowed his brows, about to say something, when the door of the Great Hall suddenly opened.
Dumbledore walked in looking grave, accompanied by a witch wearing a pink cardigan.
Behind them, Ron and Hermione were pulling a furious Harry toward the Gryffindor table, forcing him to sit down.
However, not many people noticed this scene as everyone's attention was focused on the two people walking in front. They whispered to each other, discussing something.
Dumbledore reached the front of the teacher's table and turned to face the students. In a calm tone, he said, "I apologize for the interruption, but before you enjoy your delicious meal, I need to take up a little of your time to announce two things."
The Great Hall immediately fell silent.
"First, regarding Professor Black of Defense Against the Dark Arts," Dumbledore began, "due to his need to cooperate with the Ministry of Magic's investigation into certain matters, he will not be able to teach you during this period."
"However..." Dumbledore raised his finger and gestured to the witch beside him, "...during this time, Professor Umbridge will be taking his place to teach you Defense Against the Dark Arts."
There was a moment of silence in the Great Hall before scattered applause broke out.
The applause was soft and mostly came from the Slytherin table.
"They're talking rubbish!" Harry exclaimed angrily, standing out in the crowd.
He seemed to want to say more, but the next second, he was pulled back into his seat by those around him.
At the teacher's table, Dumbledore acted as if he hadn't noticed, but Umbridge turned her head to look at Harry and then offered a fake smile.
"Thank you, Headmaster," she said, stepping forward.
Dumbledore smiled and gave way.
Umbridge cleared her throat and said in a shrill voice, "I must say, it's wonderful to be back at Hogwarts."
"Oh, her voice is so grating," Cedric frowned, rubbing his arms. "Why does she have to speak like that, and why is she wearing that furry pink cardigan? It really doesn't suit her."
"Personal preference, I suppose," Kyle replied. "She looked like that when I saw her at the Ministry of Magic."
"You've met her?" Cedric asked, "What's she like? Will she be a good professor?"
Kyle thought for a moment and gave a fairly objective answer, "Let's just say that even Professors Quirrell and Lockhart were better than her."
"Oh..." Cedric groaned.
He couldn't imagine anyone worse than those two... If there was, it would probably be the giant who had been hit on the head by a door.
Kyle also sighed.
He had expected that Sirius might not stay until the end of the school year, but he hadn't thought it would happen so soon.
It had been less than two weeks since the start of the term.
At the teacher's table, Umbridge was speaking in a dry, emotionless tone, "The Ministry of Magic has always considered the education of young witches and wizards to be of utmost importance. It is essential to nurture and develop your innate talents carefully..."
Gradually, some students began to lose focus.
"I feel like I'm back in History of Magic class," Mikkel mumbled, covering his mouth as he yawned. "Also, when are we going to be able to eat again? Today's lunch is fried pork chops. What if they get cold?"
Umbridge continued her slow and drawn-out speech.
The students around them had started chatting amongst themselves, and only a handful of people, along with the professors, were still listening. However, their expressions were all intriguing.
Professor McGonagall's eyebrows were knitted together, Professor Flitwick seemed to have developed a keen interest in his fork, and even Snape didn't seem overly pleased about Sirius Black being taken away.
The more Connor listened, the more he felt that something was amiss. He tugged at Kyle's arm and whispered, "I feel like the Ministry of Magic is about to interfere with Hogwarts."
"It's not a feeling, they definitely are," Kyle said. "Look at what she's saying... some decisions are outdated and need to be discarded? In previous years or even last year, the Ministry of Magic wouldn't have interfered with Hogwarts' resolutions like this."
At that moment, Kyle noticed Umbridge's head turn slightly in their direction.
Although it was only for a moment, he caught the unconcealed resentment in her eyes.
Well, it seemed that not only Dumbledore but he himself had also become a target of hers.
This was... intriguing.
Kyle smiled and picked up his fork, nonchalantly popping a piece of fried pork chop into his mouth, blatantly ignoring Umbridge.
Cedric gaped at him, surprised by his bold action.
Noticing this, some students glanced at Dumbledore, but the headmaster's attention seemed solely focused on Umbridge, as if he hadn't noticed what was happening below.
Now, some of the bolder students who hadn't eaten their fill yet, like Fred and George, couldn't hold back. They didn't care about Kyle's reason for his unusual behavior; they started eating and chatting loudly, as if Umbridge didn't exist.
More and more students joined in.
Umbridge's voice became increasingly shrill, but no matter how hard she tried, she couldn't drown out the clinking and clattering of the students eating their meal.
Finally, she finished her last few words and turned to Dumbledore.
"Please continue, Professor Umbridge," Dumbledore said earnestly. "I believe what you said is correct. We shouldn't change for the sake of change, and the new era does require a new order. I completely agree.
"You've given me a lot to think about, and I realize that perhaps I haven't been the best headmaster."
But just then, he seemed to notice the students who were eating.
"Oh, have you finished your speech already?" Dumbledore asked in surprise. "I apologize, I was so engrossed in your words that I didn't even realize... Professor Umbridge, you should have reminded me."
Umbridge's face darkened, and she forced a fake smile.
"Yes, I have finished," she said sharply, and then sat down.
She had originally intended to wait for everyone to quiet down before continuing, but just now, she changed her mind.
Umbridge turned her gaze toward the Hufflepuff table again, and Kyle, who was chatting with others, shot her a glance filled with malice and ill-intent.
Dumbledore started clapping, and the other professors followed suit, though Professor McGonagall's eyebrows were furrowed even deeper as she glanced between Umbridge and Kyle.
Although she didn't understand why Kyle had done that, Dumbledore didn't seem to oppose it. So she held back, allowing more and more students to start eating during Umbridge's lecture.
However, this matter wouldn't end here.
She had some understanding of Umbridge, and calling her petty would be putting it mildly.
For someone like her to not explode on the spot meant that she had bigger plans, and what a coincidence that she was the substitute professor for Defense Against the Dark Arts. It would be child's play for her to target a student.
Professor McGonagall was worried and considered whether she should find an opportunity to remind Kyle.
...
(End of Chapter)
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