Falling Star

A Study in Pink

The air in the Great Hall feels different. There's a heaviness that hangs over everything, despite the grand decorations and general enthusiasm that signal the start of a new term. My mind can't help but wander to the person who would never see the beginning of a new term again. Would never feel the excitement of the Welcome Feast again. Would never get to enjoy his final year at Hogwarts.

I chance a peek at the Ravenclaw table and instantly regret it. Cho is there, quiet and frowning as the rest of her friends talk around her. I'm sure she's thinking the same things as me, only magnified much more. I quickly look back down at the table.

Fred bumps my shoulder with his, breaking me out of my thoughts. He leans in close and nods his head toward the table where all the professors sit.

"New Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher looks interesting," he whispers.

I follow his gaze to a woman, dressed in head to toe pink, sitting very straight and examining the crowd of students before her. Something in her gaze chills me. This must be the woman who works with Father at the Ministry.

"She's very...pink," I reply.

I don't like the mischievous glint that appears in Fred's eyes.

"Don't mess with her, Fred. My father warned me about her. Said she doesn't put up with anything," I warn him.

He scoffs. "It's going to take a lot more than her to scare me."

I cut him a sideways glance. "Maybe she should sc-"

I'm cut off by Dumbledore beginning his speech. We all listen with rapt attention as usual, cheering in the normal parts. He then introduces the lady in pink as Dolores Umbridge. Instead of sitting back down after acknowledging the introduction like everyone else has done in the past, she slides herself in front of Dumbledore.

"Thank you so much for the warm introduction. I am so happy to see everyone's smiling faces here tonight." Everyone in the crowd looks at each other uneasily. "I am just sure we are all going to be great friends this year." Her unnerving smile never leaves her face.

"Not likely," Fred mumbles beside me. I nod my agreement.

Umbridge then continues on about "Ministry approved curriculum" and "preserving what needs to be preserved." I have no clue what she is talking about, but I already don't like it.

She finally takes her seat, and all of us students sit in silence for a moment looking a bit bewildered. That doesn't last long, though, because platters of food instantly appear before us, and we are encouraged by Dumbledore to eat.

After we have all filled our plates, Harry leans in. "She was at my hearing. Voted against me, too," he explains.

My heart beats faster. She already knows and dislikes Harry. This can't mean good things for him in her class.

"Brilliant," Ron mutters around a bite of ham.

"She works with my father. I'm already not a fan," I say.

"If Dumbledore hired her...she can't be that bad right?" Hermione chimes in hopefully.

I cock an eyebrow at her. She sighs as her optimism deflates.

"Well, it should definitely be an interesting term," George announces.

***

"Good morning students," Umbridge greets everyone in an annoying sing-song voice.

A few students mumble a response.

She smiles. "Oh now that just won't do. Let's try again, shall we? Good morning, students!"

"Good morning, Professor," we say in unison.

"Much better. Now. Get out your textbooks please," she instructs.

We all shuffle through our bags for our textbook, then pull our wands out of our robes.

"Ah ah. Wands aways please. No need for those in this class."

Harry, in the seat beside me, and I exchange confused glances. As do several other students.

"What do you mean no wands? We've always had practical application in this class," Seamus explains.

"Yes, I am very aware of the...unregulated practices that have been done here for quite some time. The Ministry and I are in agreement that you would benefit much more from a more theoretical approach to this class. It will be much safer I assure you," Umbridge retorts.

I can't help myself; I scoff. "Theory isn't going to help us at all outside of here. What good is knowing a spell if we can't cast it properly?"

Umbridge's mouth turns into a thin line. "Miss Malfoy, students will raise their hands in my classroom, and you would do well to mind your tone. Now, we will be doing no spell casting in this class. That is final."

"But how are we supposed to protect ourselves? We need to be able to cast these spells properly," Harry speaks up.

"Protect yourselves, Mr. Potter? From what? Hogwarts is the most secure school around. And who would go around attacking children?" Umbridge questions, as if we are being ridiculous kids.

"Oh I don't know, Lord Voldemort for one," Harry fumes.

"Mr. Potter you will not spread such lies in my classroom!" Umbridge shouts.

"So you think Cedric Diggory just dropped dead of his own accord? Harry is not lying," I say, coming to his defense, anger boiling inside my chest. I know some people don't believe the Dark Lord is back; the Ministry has been working overtime to keep everyone calm and deny this fact.

"Detention! Both of you!" Umbridge nearly screams. She takes a moment to compose herself. "Mr. Diggory's death was a tragic accident. No more. Now, not another word out of either of you for the rest of this class, is that clear?"

Harry and I stare daggers at her but say nothing. She drones on for the rest of the class about the importance of our O.W.Ls. I tune her out and focus on calming my breathing and not lunging at her. I don't look over at Harry because I know he's a mirror image of myself, and I would get angry for him all over again.