Diggory Is Still A Loser (book 2)

4- Welcome Back

Although Celia was glad to be back at Hogwarts and away from her parents and memories of Cedric. She wasn't sure that being back at school, surrounded by her fellow students, was good for her.
As Celia walked through the school grounds, she felt everyone stare at her as she passed, which made her want to disappear.
However, the moment Harry arrived, the students began staring at him instead of her.
Despite being grateful for this, Celia felt sorry for Harry, who was being treated like a criminal, even though he had done nothing wrong.

Celia had to leave her friends behind and join her fellow 6th year Ravenclaw's at their table.
This meant sitting near Cho and the rest of their roommates, which was something she was not looking forward to doing. And it was at times like this, that she wished she could be a Gryffindor, like her mates.
The minute she sat down, her classmates went quiet and began to look at her.
"How was your summer?" Arabella asked awkwardly.
"Crap, how was yours?" Questioned Celia.
"It was alright" answered Arabella.

"I did send you some letters during the holidays" informed Cho.
Celia was aware of this, but she had decided not to respond to any of them. And she didn't even bothered to read any except for the first one.
Cho wanted to talk to her about Cedric, because they were both grieving. But talking about her brother, was something she wasn't willing to do, with anyone but Harry.
"I'm sorry, I had so many owls this summer, yours must have slipped through the cracks" lied Celia.
"Who else have you been corresponding with?" Quizzed Marietta.
"Benjamin, Fleur, Viktor, Fred and George, Hermione, Harry-" started Celia.
"You've been talking to Harry Potter?" Interrupted Marietta.

"Of course I have. We are friends, so I sent many owls to him during the holidays" admitted Celia.
"I wasn't sure that you'd want to talk to him, or even be friends with the person who got your brother killed" replied Marietta.
Celia could tell that everyone near them on their table was now listening intently to their conversation, because everyone wanted to know more about what had really happened in the 3rd task.
"Let me make things very clear to you all. My brother was murdered by Lord Voldemort" announced Celia, saying the dark lord's name out loud for the first time.
This action caused all those around her to gasp loudly in terror.

"Cedric was murdered on the 24th of June, by Voldemort, who is a cold blooded killer. It was not Harry's fault. In fact, he risked his life to return my brother's body to me" continued Celia.
"She's right" Cho said quietly.
"So, you believe the story that Harry made up last year?" Questioned Marietta.
"Harry didn't make anything up! Ask yourself why the most famous boy in the world, would feel the need to bring more attention to himself. He's already super popular, so he doesn't need anymore glory. Despite what the Daily Prophet has said, Harry is not dangerous, nor is Dumbledore an old fool. And you're an idiot if you believe a politician, who wants nothing more than to stay in power, over a wise headmaster, who will do anything for his students" snapped Celia.

Marietta would have replied, if Dumbledore hadn't stood to his feet, silencing the room.
"Well, while we are all digesting another magnificent feast, I have a few start of term notices. First years ought to know that the Forbidden Forest is out of bounds to all. And some of our older students ought to know that by now, too" began Dumbledore, with a gleam in his eye.
Celia looked over at the Gryffindor table and caught Harry's eye, for the pair of them had been in there before. They had also broken numerous other rules together, like breaking into Snape's office, and sneaking Celia into the Gryffindor tower.

"Mr Filch has asked me to remind you, for what he says is the 462nd time, that magic is not permitted in the corridors inbetween classes. We also have 2 changes in staff this year. We are pleased to welcome back Professor Grubbly-Plank who will be taking over Care of Magical Creatures. And I'm delighted to introduce Professor Umbridge, our knew Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher.
Now, tryouts for house Quidditch teams will take place..." Dumbledore faltered as Professor Umbridge stood to her feet, clearly wanting to give her own speech.

As Celia looked closer at the teacher, whom she had ignored until then, she noticed that the teacher was dressed in bright pink, with a matching hat.
She was rather short and plump, as well as very ugly and toad-like in appearance.
"Thank you headmaster, for those kind words of welcome. It is lovely to be back at Hogwarts, and to see such happy faces smiling back at me" grinned Umbridge, in a silly high pitch voice.

Celia gazed around the room and she couldn't see any faces that were smiling at Umbridge.
Most seemed confused and offended by her, as she was talking to them as if they were 5 years old.
"I am very much looking forward to getting to know you all, and I'm sure that we are all going to be such good friends" continued Umbridge.
Celia highly doubted that she was going to become friends with the Ministry official, who they were now stuck with, as no one else wanted the post of Defense Against the Dark Arts.

Dolores Umbridge continued to droan on, losing everyone in the rooms attention.
Her speech was even duller than Professor Binns' lectures on goblin wars.
Although Celia tried to focus, all of Umbridge's words began blending into one.
Celia hadn't taken anything, since first thing that morning, as she had been stuck on the train surrounded by other people. And now she was starting to wish she was alone in her room with her drugs.

Cho had began talking to the rest of their roommates about the latest witch fashion, so Celia was having to drown them out, in order to pay attention to Umbridge.
Eventually the dull speech finished, and Dumbledore dismissed the room.
As everyone began making their way towards their common rooms, Celia did her best to decipher all of of Umbridge's waffle.
In the end, she realised that Umbridge was here to keep tabs on them all and report back her findings to the Minister. So Hogwarts was no longer solely under Dumbledore's control. Which meant that those who often broke the rules, like her and her friends, were now in big trouble.