In the candle-lit halls of Hogwarts, where magic stirs with every whisper, Harry Potter begins his first year - unaware that fate has woven another soul into his journey.
Elsa Scamander, silent as snowfall and powerful as a storm, arrives cloaked in...
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"I-I don't know, I just feel so angry all the time"
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ELSA POV
We finally arrived at Hogwarts and took our usual seats in the Great Hall.
Dumbledore stood, delivering his yearly welcome speech—predictable and comforting in its own way—until the energy shifted.
"Good evening, children," he began. "Now we have two changes in staffing this year. We're pleased to welcome back Professor Grubbly-Plank, who'll be taking Care of Magical Creatures while Professor Hagrid is on a temporary leave."
That got some murmurs. But it was what came next that made my eyes narrow.
"We also wish to welcome our new Defence Against the Dark Arts teacher, Professor Dolores Umbridge. And I'm sure you'll all join me in wishing the professor good luck."
Cue the thunderclouds.
Dumbledore continued, but didn't get far. A high-pitched, syrupy voice cut him off mid-sentence.
We turned to the source of the interruption—an overstuffed cotton candy puff in pink.
"She was at my hearing. She works for Fudge," Harry muttered under his breath.
"Thank you, Headmaster, for those kind words of welcome," Umbridge said, standing and beaming like she hadn't just committed the social crime of interrupting Dumbledore himself. "And how lovely to see all your bright, happy, happy faces smiling up at me."
I looked around. No one was smiling. Unless dull-eyed terror counted.
"I'm sure we're all going to be very good friends," she chirped.
"That's likely," Fred and George mumbled in sync, looking both amused and vaguely alarmed.
Umbridge went on, blathering about "preserving traditions" and "discouraging progress for the sake of progress." She ended with a whispered, "...prune practices that ought to be prohibited," followed by a giggle that made my skin crawl.
"What a beautiful giggle," I muttered loud enough for Ron and Anna to hear. They stifled laughs.
"Thank you, Professor Umbridge," Dumbledore said, smiling with the strained patience of a man who'd rather be dealing with Blast-Ended Skrewts. "That really was most illuminating."
A few scattered claps echoed weakly, except for Filch, who looked like he was about to faint from excitement.
"'Illuminating'? What a load of waffle," Ron muttered.
"What does that even mean?" I asked.
"It means the Ministry is officially sticking their nose into Hogwarts," Hermione said grimly.
