Leading the way was a witch wrapped in a fluffy pink cardigan. Behind her followed a line of Ministry of Magic wizards, all dressed in suits.
Each of them wore the Ministry's insignia pinned to their chest.
They burst into everyone's line of sight without warning…
Faced with these Ministry wizards who had appeared out of nowhere, and who clearly didn't seem friendly, the young witches and wizards all looked confused.
What was the Ministry doing here?
More precisely, how did they dare to do this…
"You…"
Minerva McGonagall, who had received no prior notice whatsoever, stared at the witch walking toward the platform, her expression dark and rigid.
Behind her, the rest of the professors wore looks of displeasure and suspicion.
After all, Hogwarts, with Dumbledore presiding over it, occupied an exceptionally special position within the British wizarding world.
It might not stand above the Ministry of Magic, nor could it truly be called untouchable, but it was certainly not a place others could interfere with or enter at will.
Especially after Minerva McGonagall recognized the identity of the witch at the front, her expression grew even colder, sharper than before…
"What are you doing here with these people? How did you get in? And since when does Hogwarts have visitors today? More importantly, does Dumbledore know about this?"
She didn't wait for the other party to speak before firing off question after question, the last one laying her displeasure bare without restraint.
At the mention of Dumbledore's name, a clear flicker of apprehension and hesitation crossed the faces of the Ministry wizards. But in the very next moment, their expressions hardened once more.
The witch who was obviously in charge even showed a trace of barely concealed satisfaction in her eyes…
"McGonagall… Deputy Headmistress, is it? You'll soon understand why we're here."
The fake smile on the woman's face made Minerva McGonagall feel sick. Worse still, the confidence and smugness in her tone stirred a faint sense of unease deep in her chest.
Especially since Dumbledore… wasn't at Hogwarts right now…
…
As Minerva McGonagall spoke with the Ministry witch on the platform, another witch wearing a Ministry insignia on her chest instantly drew everyone's attention.
Her short curls were pinned with a velvet pink bow. Combined with the sharp, high-pitched voice that had just opposed the ball and the fluffy pink cardigan she wore, she stood out starkly among witches and wizards dressed in suits or long robes.
Only, this kind of attention was clearly not a good thing…
"Draco, that witch isn't from the Ministry…"
"Yeah. Other than her, I can't think of anyone who would dress like that."
It was rare to see such an odd expression cross Draco's face.
That dry remark made the three girls beside him quietly nod in agreement.
Pink hair clips, a pink bow, and a frilled skirt. If it were Pansy and the others wearing it, the look might be described as youthful and cute. But on the witch standing on the platform, it just felt wrong.
This had long gone past simply being a poor fashion choice…
"Ahem. You know the witch up there? Professor McGonagall doesn't seem to like her very much."
"If you knew everything she's done, I doubt you'd want to know her either, Granger."
"You're not imagining it, Hermione. Honestly, you definitely wouldn't like her."
Pansy and Astoria answered Hermione almost at the same time.
Still, the way they spoke, along with the subtle expressions on their faces, made Hermione hesitate.
Were they really talking about a Ministry official, and not a villain?
Instinctively, Hermione turned to Draco, who was frowning at the stage…
Noticing her gaze, Draco crossed his arms.
"That's Cornelius Fudge's right-hand woman. And not just that, she's the Undersecretary to the Minister for Magic."
"Undersecretary to the Minister for Magic?!"
Just moments ago, Hermione had thought Pansy and Astoria were describing some sort of antagonist. Now she was suddenly told the woman held the position of Undersecretary to the Minister for Magic, making her look back toward the platform in surprise.
That witch was the Undersecretary to the Minister for Magic, and one of Cornelius Fudge's most trusted subordinates.
Dolores Umbridge…
...
Draco studied the smiling Dolores Umbridge, along with the Ministry wizards standing behind her, silently guessing at their purpose.
Tap. Tap. Tap.
His fingers tapped rhythmically against the tabletop.
Seeing Draco lost in thought, the three girls beside him all quieted down.
'You can already tell what the Minister's thinking from the Daily Prophet, but I didn't expect him to move this fast.'
'Is he trying to use this chance to interfere with Hogwarts?'
'And Dumbledore? Is he really going to let this happen?'
'Looks like the Minister isn't completely incompetent. He's just using his abilities in the wrong place.'
Sorting through everything he knew, Draco gradually pieced together their intentions and Cornelius Fudge's objective.
The only thing he couldn't understand was Dumbledore's continued absence.
"A quid pro quo… or maybe he's tied up with something else?"
Draco's low mutter made the three girls exchange glances before turning their attention back to Dolores Umbridge…
And it was at that moment.
With Minerva McGonagall's expression visibly dark, Dolores Umbridge stepped forward and took the spot she had been standing in.
"My dears, please look this way."
Her shrill voice sounded like that of an overexcited little girl.
Though she kept a smile on her face while addressing Professor McGonagall and the crowd, Draco could still sense the falseness beneath it.
What she said next made even Draco raise an eyebrow.
"I am your new Defence Against the Dark Arts professor, and also Hogwarts' High Inquisitor."
"..."
"..."
Defence Against the Dark Arts professor was nothing new. That position changed hands almost every year.
But Hogwarts High Inquisitor…
What was that supposed to be?
...