Ruby Dellamark arrived at Hogwarts in year three. There, she met the arrogant, but also torn Slytherin Prince, Draco Malfoy. She learns a few things about Draco, and also herself, as Hogwarts prepares itself for the return of the Dark Lord.
*I...
There in deed was pudding at the banquet, and Ruby, Cho, and Luna ate happily amongst their friends. Meanwhile, there was immense tension at the Gryffindor table. Ruby looked over, and saw Seamus, Nigel, and many of the others keeping their distance from Harry. She felt slightly guilty, but didn't let it bother her.
"Good evening, children!" Dumbledore took his rightful place as the front of the hall, his voice boistering and bouncing off the walls.
"Now, we have two changes in starting this year. We're pleased to welcome back Professor Grubbly-Plankton, who'll be taking care of magical creatures while Professor Hagrid is on temporary leave," hardly anybody to that, except for Harry.
"We'd also like to welcome our new defense against the dark-arts teacher, Professor Dolores Umbridge," Ruby craned her neck up to look at the end of the table. She didn't exactly see a person, she saw what looked more to be a pink ball of fluff or yarn, something that Biscuit would jump at the chance to play with.
"I'm sure you'll all join me in wishing the Professor 'good luck'. As usual, our care-taker, Mr. Filch, has asked me to remind you–" Dumbledore was suddenly cut short by Professor Umbridge, as she giggled slightly and stood up. She came to the front and addressed the children.
"Thank you, Headmaster, for those kind words of welcome. And how lovely to see all your bright, happy faces smiling up at me," she said. Ruby definitely wasn't smiling, she didn't like this woman already.
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"I'm sure we're all going to be very good friends," she said.
"As if," Ruby muttered.
"The Ministry of Magic has always considered the education of young witches and wizards to be of vital importance. Although each headmaster has brought something new to this historic school, progress for the sake of progress must be discouraged," she said.
"What does that even mean?" Ruby whispered to Cho.
"No idea," she replied.
"Let us preserve, what must be preserved. Perfect what can be perfected, and prohibit practices that ought to be prohibited!" she whispered at the end. As she took her seat, Dumbledore started up the rounds of applause. Ruby wasn't clapping for her speech though, she was clapping to act 1 of Dolores Umbridge's long list of greatest fails.
Fail 1: trying exceedingly to be friendly with kids on her first day
Fail 2: coming to school dressed as a giant pom-pom
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The next day started out as odd as the welcoing ceremonies began. It started in the first DADA class of the year. The Patil sisters were making their paper crane fly across the classroom. Meanwhile, Ruby was only twenty seconds late to her class, and already, a majority of the seats were filled. Except for two. She had a choice: sit behind Vincent Crabbe and breathe in his stenchful body odor, or next to Draco Malfoy, and possibly turn him into something worse then a ferret. Although, there was also the possibility that sitting with Draco wouldn't have to be as unpleasant as usual.
