A suffocating gloom hung over the Great Hall. Even the clinking of cutlery against porcelain plates sounded unusually harsh.
Most students kept their heads down, mechanically shovelling food into their mouths, while only a few curious or scrutinising glances occasionally drifted towards Harry Potter at the Gryffindor table.
Ever since Harry had returned last term bearing his scars and that shocking news, his situation at Hogwarts had become increasingly delicate.
He had told anyone willing to listen exactly what had happened: Voldemort had returned, only to be completely defeated by Professor Greengrass, who had since gone missing.
Some chose to believe him, especially those classmates who had witnessed him being abducted by the fake Moody and then miraculously returning, as well as his closest friends.
But many more had been filled with doubt by the Ministry of Magic's overwhelming propaganda and The Daily Prophet's relentless reporting.
The Ministry's official position not only flatly denied Voldemort's return, but also prominently displayed Sagres's wanted notice on the front page of the newspaper.
At the same time, Harry's account was portrayed as the ramblings of a frightened boy who had fabricated a story to attract attention.
This manipulation of public opinion had made many uninformed students and parents sceptical of Harry's words, and strange looks were often directed his way.
Harry felt a deep sense of helplessness.
On one hand, his own experiences were being dismissed as lies.
On the other, he felt both anger and pain for the professor who had saved his life, only to be slandered after disappearing.
Nearly a year had passed.
They had already entered their fifth year, yet there was still no trace of Professor Greengrass.
The certainty they had once felt was gradually being eroded by doubt.
Even Harry, Ron, and Hermione could not help wondering whether Professor Greengrass was truly still alive.
Would he really never come back?
Just then, Seamus Finnigan, sitting opposite Harry, chewed on a piece of bread and asked indistinctly, "Harry... those things you said last term... were they all true?"
Harry looked up.
His emerald-green eyes showed both exhaustion and a trace of hurt.
"Of course they were true. Why are you asking?"
Seamus put down his food, sounding hesitant.
"But my mum told me... The Daily Prophet said..."
"If you believe what The Daily Prophet says, why are you asking me?"
Harry cut him off sharply, his voice rising with agitation.
"Just do what your mum does and read the newspaper every day. Then you'll know everything, won't you?"
"That's right. I'm the attention-seeking clown who even cut off one of his own fingers just to make the story more convincing!"
As he spoke, Harry thrust out his left hand.
The missing index finger, severed at the base, was starkly visible, like a silent and brutal piece of evidence.
Harry's words immediately struck a nerve with Seamus.
He shot to his feet, his face flushing red.
"Don't you dare talk about my mum like that!"
Harry stood as well, refusing to back down. He even drew his wand as his long-suppressed emotions finally erupted.
"Anyone who believes those lies in the newspaper, anyone who doubts what I said, I'll criticise them! Even Minister for Magic Fudge isn't exempt!"
The commotion immediately drew the attention of the surrounding students.
The noise along the long tables grew louder, and nearly every eye turned towards the two boys facing off against one another.
Just then, Ron and Hermione approached, their Prefect badges glinting faintly beneath the Great Hall's lights.
Ron looked at the two of them, clearly on the verge of a fight, and frowned.
"Hey, what's going on? I thought I heard you two arguing."
"He was insulting my mum!" Seamus said, clenching his fists.
"What?" Ron looked genuinely baffled. "No, Seamus. Harry wouldn't do that. We've met your mum, and we all like her."
"That was before she started believing every bit of rubbish The Daily Prophet prints about me!" Harry said coldly.
"Oh." Understanding dawned on Ron's freckled face. "Right. I see."
Seamus immediately turned on him, his tone aggressive.
"You don't seriously believe all the nonsense he's been making up, do you?"
Ron's expression immediately turned serious.
He stood firmly beside Harry and said without hesitation, "Yes, I believe him. And I'm telling you, it isn't nonsense."
Seamus was momentarily speechless at Ron's certainty, then blurted out in frustration, "Then you're truly beyond stupid!"
Ron's face flushed as well, but he took a deep breath and pointed at the Prefect badges on his and Hermione's chests.
"Finnigan, if you don't want detention for insulting a Prefect, you'd better watch what you say."
He paused, his voice taking on a sarcastic edge.
"And if you and your mum really believe everything The Daily Prophet prints, why don't you go help the Ministry of Magic hunt down Professor Greengrass? I hear there's a hefty reward. Enough to buy plenty of newspapers!"
The remark was like a bucket of cold water.
Seamus immediately fell silent, and several nearby students who had been egging them on also shut their mouths.
Hermione said nothing, but she pressed her lips together and swept a stern gaze around them, silently making her support for Harry and Ron clear.
The three of them quickly left the Great Hall amid the tense silence and countless uncertain stares.
The stone corridors of Hogwarts seemed colder than usual, silently absorbing the foul mood the three Gryffindors carried with them from the Great Hall.
The gazes following them felt almost tangible, making their backs prickle.
"Today is just awful," Ron grumbled, tugging at the strap of his satchel. "First boring History of Magic, then double Potions, then two periods of... Umbridge's Defence Against the Dark Arts."
He shuddered dramatically when he said her name.
"And finally, we have to sit through Trelawney's rubbish. Merlin, it's like they deliberately put all our worst classes on the same day!"
This miserable timetable was largely "thanks" to Dumbledore.
At the start-of-term feast, the Headmaster had announced that Umbridge would serve as Professor of Advanced Charms Theory and Practice this academic year while also taking over Defence Against the Dark Arts.
Even more unsettlingly, after making the announcement, the Headmaster had seemingly vanished into thin air.
Hagrid was nowhere to be found either.
Nearly a week had passed since the start of term, yet they had not seen either of the two teachers they trusted most.
Even Care of Magical Creatures was temporarily being taught by an unfamiliar witch named Professor Grubbly-Plank, which only deepened the trio's unease.
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