Magical Love 2

Dolores Umbridge

We approached the school on the Hogwarts Express and it was like coming back to my home away from home. At least that is what I was expecting to feel... something didn't feel right. I met up with Cedric after the train ride and we walked together to ride in the carriage which had giant skinny dragonlike creatures. They were black with spindly wings and they had white eyes. "Blimey, check out the size of those creatures!" I exclaimed in awe. "I've never seen anything like it." Cedric agreed. Harry seemed to be in awe of the creatures as well. "There's nothing there, the carriage is pulling itself." Hermione said.

     "You're not going mad, I can see them too. You're just as sane as I am," the misty voice of a fourth year Ravenclaw replied. She had blonde hair so light that it was almost white, she had a copy of the Quibbler magazine and she was reading it upside down, and she was wearing radish earrings. We all got on the carriage and sat with her. "This is Looney... I mean Luna Lovegood." Hermione introduced the girl. I looked at Hermione confused, because she was the last person I would expect to bully anyone. "Hi," we greeted awkwardly.  The creatures began to pull the carriage and I snuggled up to Cedric because I was getting cold. He smiled and put his arm around me to help me warm up. Awkward silence followed and Hermione decided to start a new conversation, "What an interesting necklace," she said gesturing to the bottle cap necklace around Luna's neck. "It's a charm actually," Luna leaned forward as if to tell us a secret. "Keeps away the nargles," she said. The awkward silence came back again, and after a while Luna said "I'm quite hungry. I hope there's pudding." "What's a nargle?" Neville Longbottom whispered to Hermione. "I have no idea," she replied. None of us knew what to say after the bizarre comment Luna just made.

     Luna studied me and Cedric for a while as we rode in silence. "Weren't you dead?" she asked Cedric innocently. Harry, Ron, and Hermione looked at us like we had just been shot with the Killing Curse. They knew the events of last year were a touchy subject for us. "I was," Cedric replied awkwardly. "But I brought him back," I added. This is what Cedric and I would have to deal with this year, but we would be side by side. "How interesting," she said mistily. "You two probably understand death very well, that's why you can see them." she gestured to the creatures pulling the carriage. I had only known Luna Lovegood for only a few minutes and she seemed nice, but pretty eccentric.
      The powerful connection between me and Cedric was getting stronger everyday, and today was especially as strong. All the anxiety I was feeling about this year faded away. The bracelet that I rarely took off had the comforting blue glow assuring me that we would be safe. We arrived at the front doors of the castle and we were ready to see the first years be sorted into one of the four houses. None of us knew what to expect, but we all knew we would be getting a new Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher just like in years past. 
Before I sat with my fellow Gryffindors I gave Cedric a quick kiss and we agreed to meet up after the feast. While we were eating I noticed an older lady dressed from head to toe in pink and she had the fakest smile I've ever seen. The lady looked oddly familiar and I could tell Harry had the same thought. Professor Dumbledore called to our attention, and the entire student body went silent. "Students, we have a fresh face starting work at our wonderful school, and taking the position of the Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher is Dolores Umbridge." The lady stood up and made her way to the podium next to Dumbledore. She smiled at all of us, but we could tell it wasn't genuine. "Thank you all for your kind welcome. It's so wonderful to see your smiling faces gazing up at me, and I know we're all going to be great friends." she gave a short giggle and sat back down. It suddenly occurred to me who this lady was, it was one of the prosecutors from the Wizengamot! She was the Undersecretary! Why is she here?! She looked like a sweet old lady, but I wasn't buying it. "This is going to be an interesting year," I whispered to Harry. "Yeah, hopefully she won't remember me." he agreed. "I wonder why Professor Dumbledore hired someone from the Ministry to be our new teacher." I studied her attempting to socialize with the other teachers. "I don't know, and I don't want to know why," Harry replied. "There's something off about her, and it's creepy," I shuddered.