Chapter 611: Umbridge's Ignored Announcement
Chapter 611: Umbridge's Ignored Announcement
Sirius has been taken away by the Ministry?
When Kyle first heard this news, he thought it was a joke, but soon realized it was unlikely that all the fifth-year students were joking.
Not only the Hufflepuffs, but also the Gryffindor fifth-years were talking about this, including Harry, Ron, and Hermione, who hadn't even come to the Great Hall for the feast.
Kyle turned to a fifth-year student and asked, "Susan, did you just say that Professor Black has been taken away by the Ministry?"
"Yes," Susan Bones replied. "Our last class this morning was Defense Against the Dark Arts. Just before the end of class, a few people arrived, led by someone who said that a complaint had been filed with the Ministry about Professor Black. They claimed he wasn't fulfilling his duties as a professor and that several students had been injured during his class."
"Oh, and Headmaster Dumbledore was there too."
Kyle frowned, about to say something, but the doors of the Great Hall suddenly opened.
Dumbledore entered with a solemn expression, accompanied by a witch wearing a pink, fluffy cardigan.
Behind them, Ron and Hermione pulled an agitated Harry to the Gryffindor table, one on each side.
However, not many people noticed this scene; everyone's gaze was fixed on the two figures at the front, whispering and discussing something.
Dumbledore reached the front of the teacher's table, turned around, and spoke in a calm tone.
"I'm sorry, please quiet down. Before you enjoy your meal, I need to take up some of your time to announce two things."
The Great Hall immediately fell silent.
Dumbledore said, "First, regarding Professor Black of Defense Against the Dark Arts. Due to his need to cooperate with the Ministry's investigation, he won't be able to teach you for a while."
"However..." Dumbledore pointed to the witch beside him, "...during this time, Professor Umbridge will take his place and teach you Defense Against the Dark Arts."
The Great Hall fell silent for a moment, followed by a sparse round of applause.
The clapping was faint, and it mostly came from the Slytherin side.
"They're talking nonsense!" Harry stood up angrily, standing out in the crowd.
He seemed to want to say more, but the next moment, 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 and glanced at Harry, then flashed a fake smile.
"Thank you, Headmaster," she said, turning around and taking a couple of steps forward.
Dumbledore smiled and stepped aside.
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 irritating," Cedric frowned, rubbing his arm. "Why does she have to talk like that, and why is she wearing that fluffy pink cardigan? It really doesn't suit her."
"Personal preference, I guess," Kyle said. "When I met her at the Ministry before, she was like this."
"You've met her?" Cedric asked. "What's she like? Will she be a good professor?"
Kyle thought for a moment and gave a fair assessment, "I'd say even Professor Quirrell and Professor Lockhart were better than her."
"Oh..." Cedric groaned.
He couldn't imagine anyone worse than those two... If there was, it would probably be a giant who had gotten their head stuck in a door.
Kyle sighed.
He had thought Sirius might not last until the end of the year, but he didn't expect it to 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 has always believed that educating young witches and wizards is of utmost importance. It requires careful nurturing and training to develop the precious innate talents you possess..."
Gradually, some students began to lose focus.
"I feel like I'm in a History of Magic class," Mikael covered his mouth and yawned discreetly. "And when can we continue eating? Today's lunch is fried pork chops; what if they get cold?"
No one answered him.
Ryan was nodding off, his head bobbing up and down, while Macmilian, sitting beside him, stared at Umbridge with an intense yet vacant gaze, clearly lost in his own thoughts.
Umbridge continued her lengthy speech at a leisurely pace.
The students around them had already started chatting among themselves, and only a small number of students and professors remained attentive, their expressions intriguing.
Professor McGonagall's eyebrows were tightly knitted together, and Professor Flitwick seemed to have developed a keen interest in his fork. Even Snape, despite Sirius being taken away, didn't show any signs of happiness.
Conna felt something was amiss as she listened. She tugged at Kyle's arm and whispered, "I have a feeling the Ministry of Magic is planning to interfere with Hogwarts."
"They're not just planning; they're determined to do it," Kyle replied. "Look at what she said... some decisions are outdated and must be discarded? If this were a few years ago, or even last year, the Ministry wouldn't have dared to second-guess Hogwarts' decisions."
At that moment, Kyle noticed Umbridge's head turning slightly in their direction.
Although it was only for a brief moment, he caught the unconcealed resentment in her eyes.
Well, it seemed that not only Dumbledore but he had also become a target.
This was... fascinating.
Kyle smiled and picked up his fork, casually putting a piece of roast pork into his mouth as if no one else was there.
Cedric stared at him in surprise, his mouth agape. This action completely disregarded Umbridge.
After noticing this, some people subconsciously looked towards Dumbledore.
But the headmaster didn't seem to notice what was happening below, his attention focused on Umbridge.
At this, some of the bolder students who hadn't eaten yet, like Fred and George, couldn't help but join in.
They didn't care about Kyle's unusual behavior; they just started eating and laughing loudly, chatting with others as if Umbridge didn't exist.
More and more students followed suit.
In the hall, Umbridge's voice grew shriller, but no matter how hard she tried, she couldn't drown out the clinking sounds of the students eating.
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 just for the sake of change; a new era requires a new order, and I completely agree with that."
"You've given me great inspiration and made me realize that perhaps I'm not as competent as a headmaster as I thought."
But just then, he noticed the students eating.
"Oh, have you finished your speech?" Dumbledore asked in surprise. "I'm sorry, I was so engrossed that I didn't even notice... 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 sat down.
She had intended to continue speaking after everyone quieted down, but she changed her mind just then.
Umbridge turned her gaze back towards Hufflepuff, where Kyle was chatting with others. His eyes flashed with resentment and ill intent.
Dumbledore began to clap, and the other professors followed suit, clapping a few times. Professor McGonagall looked at Umbridge and then at Kyle, her eyebrows furrowing even more tightly).
Although she didn't know why Kyle did that, Dumbledore didn't seem to object. So she held back, allowing more and more students to start eating during Umbridge's speech.
However, this matter wouldn't end here today.
She had some idea of Umbridge's character, and calling her petty would be an understatement.
The fact that she didn't explode on the spot meant she had a bigger plot in mind, and coincidentally, she was also the substitute professor for Defense Against the Dark Arts, making it all too easy 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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