"Well," said Barrow, "I've heard the Sorting Hat warn several times before, always when it senses that the school is in great danger. Of course, its advice is the same every time: stick together and maintain internal stability. ”

Melinda asked, puzzled, "It's just a hat, how can you know that the school is in danger?"

"I don't know. "Of course, it's in Dumbledore's office, so I'm sure it's there." ”

"It wants the people from the four houses to be friends?" Phoenix said, glancing at Draco and them, "It's very unlikely." At least overall. ”

"You shouldn't have that attitude. Barrow said reproachfully, "If you don't try to get along with others, you'll never be friends." The various houses compete with each other to make you better at learning magic, but we should stick together when there is danger. ”

Phoenix shrugged and began to enjoy his sumptuous dinner.

The students had eaten and drunk their fill, and the voices in the Great Hall grew noisy as Dumbledore stood up again. The voices immediately stopped, and everyone turned their faces to the headmaster. At this point, many people are already feeling a little drowsy.

"Well, now that we are digesting yet another sumptuous meal, I ask you to be quiet for a moment and listen as I speak as usual about the do's and don'ts of the new semester. Dumbledore said, "First-year students should know that the Forbidden Forest in the hunting grounds is not allowed for students to enter—and a few of our seniors should know that by now, too." ”

"Mr. Filch, the Administrator, begged me, and he told me that this was the forty-twenty-sixth time, and begged me to remind you all that no magic was allowed in the hallway, and many other rules, were listed on that long slip on the door of Mr. Filch's office.

"This year, we have made two changes to our teaching staff. We are delighted that she welcomes back Professor Graplan, who will teach you a lesson on the protection of magical creatures. We are equally pleased to introduce Professor Umbridge, our new teacher in Defence Against the Dark Arts class. ”

There was a polite, but not very enthusiastic, applause in the Great Hall, and Dumbledore didn't say how long Graplan would teach. To everyone's disappointment, everyone hoped that Hagrid had better not come back.

Dumbledore continued, "The selection for the House Quidditch team will be—"

He paused abruptly and looked inquiringly at Professor Umbridge. Since she was not much taller when she stood up than when she was sitting, no one could understand why Dumbledore had suddenly stopped talking, and Professor Umbridge cleared his throat

"Ahem, ahem. Then everyone realized that she had stood up and was about to speak.

Dumbledore only looked surprised for a moment, and then he sat down smartly, looking intently at Professor Umbridge, as if he couldn't wait to hear her. Other teachers did not hide their surprise so skillfully. Professor Sprout's eyebrows were almost in her fluttering hair, and Professor McGonagall pursed her mouth so tightly. No new teacher had ever interrupted Dumbledore before. Many of the students were secretly laughing: this woman clearly didn't understand the rules of Hogwarts.

"Thank you, Headmaster," Professor Umbridge said with a smirk, "thank you for such a warm welcome. ”

Her voice was high, high, and breathy, like that of a little girl, and she cleared her throat with a few more gentle coughs (cough, cough), and continued, "Well, I must say, it's great to be back at Hogwarts!" She grinned, showing her sharp teeth in her mouth, "It's great to see these happy little faces looking up at me!"

Phoenix looked around, and none of the faces he saw were pleasant. On the contrary, they all seemed surprised that someone had taken them for five-year-olds.

"I can't wait to get to know all of you soon, and I'm sure we'll be very good friends!"

Professor Umbridge cleared her throat again (cough, cough), but as she continued to speak, some of the breath in her voice was inaudible. Now her voice was much more serious, and her words were dry, as if they had been memorized by heart.

"The Ministry of Magic has always believed that educating young wizards is a very important thing. Some of your innate and valuable talents may be fruitless if they are not nurtured and exercised under careful and meticulous guidance. Ancient skills unique to the wizarding world must be passed down from generation to generation, or they will be lost. The precious repositories of magical knowledge accumulated by our ancestors must be protected, supplemented and perfected by those who have had the privilege of pursuing a noble profession of education. ”

At this point, Professor Umbridge stopped talking and bowed slightly to the other teachers, none of whom returned the salute. Professor McGonagall's two dark eyebrows were tightly twisted together, making her look like an eagle.

"The headmasters of Hogwarts have been innovative in their responsibilities to run this historic school, and it is entirely right, because if there is no progress, it will stagnate and it will decay. At the same time, however, progress for the sake of progress should never be encouraged, and our traditions are tempered and often do not need to be poorly revised. To strike a balance, between the old and the new, between permanence and change, between tradition and innovation—"

It's basically nonsense, but it hints at a lot of things, but it's not something that students can understand. Umbridge's real audience was the professors in the back, so she didn't care at all when she saw the students fidgeting.

After a few more minutes, she sat down. Dumbledore began to applaud, and the other teachers followed suit, but Phoenix noticed that some of them had only slapped once or twice before putting their hands down. Several of the students applauded, but most of them deserted after only two or three sentences, not realizing that the speech was over, and before they could begin to applaud properly, Dumbledore stood up again.

"Thank you very much, Professor Umbridge, for your very enlightening remarks. As he spoke, he owed her a debt, "Well, as I said, the Quidditch selection will be—"

What the hell did she mean, how did she go around. Draco said in a low voice.

"It means that the Ministry of Magic is going to interfere in the teaching of Hogwarts. There was a hint of sarcasm in Phoenix's tone. However, they did not say any more, and Dumbledore's speech was never long, and he soon announced that the whole school was disbanded.

"First-year freshman!" said Daphne, majestically, "please go this way." ”

A group of freshmen shyly walked down the aisle between the Slytherin and Ravenclaw tables, all shrunk back as far as they could. Phoenix and Daphne, as prefects, take them to the Slytherin common room to inform them of the password and discipline.

As is customary, Phoenix presides over the first grade battles. The trembling-looking freshmen stood in the circle, pulling out their wands and making a crackling flash. Phoenix and the others were talking in whispers on the side.

"It's going to be a big problem for Dumbledore. Daphne said she didn't understand the metaphors in Umbridge's speech. But women's natural sensitivity still made her feel that this new professor was not a good person.

"Yes, I'm afraid Fudge will slowly empty Dumbledore's rights. But it's the year of OWL, and I've heard it's going to be scary. Phoenix said.

"That stupid big guy isn't here, good start, isn't it?" said Draco triumphantly, looking for an opportunity to kick Hagrid out since his third year.

"If Dumbledore does step down, who will be the new Headmaster?" quickly shifted the conversation to the Headmaster's position, and in their eyes Dumbledore was lost. Phoenix didn't think Dumbledore was doing that, he knew what Fudge was trying to do.

But this time he had to do Fudge a hand. (To be continued.) )