black and white ✰ g.w.

CHAPTER FOURTEEN

The group of six sat down together at the Gryffindor table in the Great Hall as usual. They listened as the Sorting Hat sang its song (which happened to be very unnerving that year) and watched the first years be Sorted. Then, the start-of-term feast began.

As she ate, Olivia's eyes scanned the staff table and saw that Professor Grubbly-Plank, who had briefly taken over Care of Magical Creatures classes the previous year when Hagrid was too distraught to teach, had returned and was sitting in Hagrid's usual seat.

"Guess Hagrid still hasn't returned from his mission, then," Olivia whispered to George, remembering overhearing a conversation about the large man while staying at 12 Grimmauld Place.

George looked up to the staff table and came to the same conclusion. "Must be some mission," he said. "But look at the end. That woman is the complete opposite of Snape."

Olivia looked where George was pointing and saw what he meant. Next to Professor Snape, who wore his usual black robes, sat a short woman dressed head to toe in bright pink.

"That must be the new Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher," she observed, noting that besides Grubbly-Plank, there were no other changes to the staff. "Oh, yeah. She totally looks like the type to assign a defensive theory book. Don't you agree?"

"I do. I bet Snape is just thrilled."

"Ugh, that woman is dreadful already," Alicia said, also looking up at the pink woman. "I don't even know who she is or why she's here, but I don't like her. What sane person wears that much pink? It's hideous. She's hideous."

"Well, don't sugarcoat it, Alicia," Olivia joked.

"If she teaches any of my classes, I am going to scream," Angelina said.

"Might as well start now, then," Fred told her, "because she's definitely the new Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher."

Angelina pushed her plate away from herself. "Suddenly I have lost my appetite."

"Good evening, children," said Professor Dumbledore, standing at the podium to give his yearly speech. "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 temporary leave. We also wish to welcome our new Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher, Professor Dolores Umbridge. And I'm sure you'll all join me in wishing the professor good luck. Now, as usual, our caretaker, Mr. Filch, has asked me to remind you-"

Professor Umbridge gave a "hem, hem," interrupting Dumbledore and causing him to look back at her. The Great Hall fell silent; no one interrupted Dumbledore. They watched as Umbridge rose from her seat and made her way to stand next to the headmaster in front of them all.

"Thank you, Headmaster, for those kind words of welcome," she said in a very girlish, high-pitched voice, smiling around at them all. No one returned this smile. "And how lovely to see all your bright, happy faces smiling up at me. I'm sure we're all going to be very good friends."

"That's likely," George and Fred said.

"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. Let us preserve what must be preserved, perfect what can be perfected, and prune practices that ought to be prohibited." And then she giggled before heading back to her chair at the staff table.