||𝚃𝚑𝚎 𝙷𝚞𝚏𝚏𝚕𝚎𝚙𝚞𝚏𝚏 𝚆𝚒𝚝𝚌𝚑||

// P I N K //

Kathy huffed as she leaned against the table alone, she glanced around at where the other tables were chatting away with friends, and she couldn't help but feel lonely.

She missed Penny and Cedric, but she knew she had to get over it.

Besides, she only had to stay at this table for this meal, any other day she can sit with others.

She caught eyes with Fred, who noticed her sitting glumly, so he began to make silly faces at her which caused her to giggle and gain looks from other pupils nearby.

McGonagal clinks her glass with her fork, and everyone's attention spins around to where Dumbledore stands ahead of the hall, waiting for his annual speech to start up the school year.

"I beg a few moments of your attention, as I have a few stray of terms announcements. Right off, our caretaker, the good Mr Filch, has reminded me for what he says is the four-hundred and sixty-second time that he had an annually updated list of various banned items, usually introduced by our humour experts, Fred and George Weasley.."

Fred and George stand up from their places and bow, as many other tables begin to applaud for them and their products, Kathy has taken notice of the loud whistles that spread throughout the whole hall, despite McGonagal's glares.

"...which are posted in an extensive list on the door to Mr.Filch's door" Dumbledore continues on, his eyes sparkling as he glanced around the hall, "Also, we have two staffing changes this year. Professor Grubby-Plank will be taking the post of Care of Magical Creatures as Professor Hagrid is on...extended leave."

Kathy furrowed her eyebrows at that, it seemed unusual that Hagrid would stay away for longer, he loved taking care of the magical creatures.

"Additionally, we have Professor Umbridge, who has kindly agreed to fill the post of Defense Against The Dark Arts—"

Dumbledore was cut off by an high pitch coughing, or at least that's what Kathy thought it was, a short budgy lady stood up and the students watched as she rose her eyebrows with a fake smile.

Kathy couldn't help but take notice of the amount of pink, and bows, she was wearing...

"Hem, hem. Headmaster, if I could address the school?" The short and pink lady spoke up from her place, she had received a glare from McGonagal that Rosie had picked up on, whilst the rest of the school watched her in shock.

Dumbledore quickly shook of his surprise and took a seat whilst inviting her forward, and so she did with her small pink pumps, that clicked every painful step to the front.

"Thank you, Headmaster. Now, how are we all doing tonight? I thought I would just say a few words. I am here at the Ministry of Magic's bequest, under Educational Degree twenty-two, which states that if the Headmaster of Hogwarts is unable to fill any teaching post the Ministry shall select one for the position"

Dumbledore inclines his head as many murmurs began to surround the hall, something didn't settle right and everyone could feel it.

"The Ministry has always considered the magical education of our children to be of vital importance, and the passing down of this ancient and noble art must be given to the next generation, lest it be lost forever..." she room a pause as she had walked from one side of the teachers stage to the other, and then she turned to the other way.

"Without progress, stagnation. But progress of progress's sake is to be discouraged, for our arts require no tinkering." And then there was that pause again, "a balance must be attained, the new and the old, permanence and change, tradition and innovation, order and chaos"

Kathy slumped into her palm, she had no idea what this woman was on about, but she guessed that it was the Ministry trying to cover something up, or they wanted a spy.

"There are large changes coming soon, changes walking the fine line between order and chaos. Know only that these changes are for the best, and to prevent the destruction of our civilisation from its own decay. Thank you."

With that, she walked over to her seat with a proud and fake smile painted onto her face as she looked around the hall.

Kathy clenched in of her fist, they were trying to cover up what happened with Cedric in the tournament, they were trying to interfere with Hogwarts.