It was said that for a truly powerful wizard, even their name carried magic.
There were similar accounts in legends and folklore, and such names were known as...
True Names.
The dreaded name Voldemort that everyone avoided speaking, or the more benevolent Merlin, were classic and well-known examples.
But to Harry Potter, a half-blood wizard born among muggles, this idea seemed absurd and unreal. From the way he showed no particular reverence toward the name "Voldemort," it was obvious that he didn't really believe in such things.
Or perhaps no wizard had ever properly explained it to him. Of course, it was also possible that Umbridge's Legilimency had played a part.
Compared to Hermione, who had understood early on through Draco that wizards must treat the unknown with reverence...
Dumbledore's appearance here seemed to follow the same underlying logic.
Perhaps, just as Dumbledore himself had said, he truly had sensed someone mentioning his name and followed that thread to this place.
Even so, judging by the look on Draco's face, he didn't quite buy that explanation...
'Was it just a coincidence that he passed by? Or has he been watching this place all along?'
Compared to the idea that Dumbledore sensed his name being spoken, Draco was far more inclined to believe that Dumbledore had been observing the situation here through some unknown means.
With the power of Dumbledore, that level of subtle surveillance was entirely possible.
The real question was, who was Dumbledore watching?
And who could possibly warrant that kind of constant attention?
At that thought, Draco subtly shifted his gaze away from Umbridge. For reasons he couldn't quite explain, a sense of unease crept over him...
Pansy: "Draco?"
Hermione: "Draco?"
...
Dumbledore's arrival instantly cooled the charged atmosphere.
The young wizards, who moments ago had been burning with excitement as if they were ready to charge at any second, now belatedly looked at one another. Their confused expressions seemed to ask how they had ended up like that just now.
This obvious change didn't escape Pansy and the others...
"Gone... no, more like back to normal?"
"Looks that way. It must've been some kind of mind-affecting magic."
"But Potter... he still seems to be under some sort of spell."
Compared to the others, thanks to Draco's deliberate care, Pansy and the rest only felt mildly uncomfortable. They hadn't experienced the same intense effects or confusion as the others.
Even so, it was enough for them to realize something was wrong. The looks they cast at Draco were full of curiosity...
Still, this wasn't the time for questions. The focus clearly wasn't on them.
Meanwhile.
Ignoring the furious, panic-tinged glare Harry Potter shot her, Umbridge let out a cold sneer toward Dumbledore.
"I believe this is my class. Even if you are the Headmaster of Hogwarts, you have no right to interfere with my teaching at will. As for this matter, I will be discussing stricter regulations with the Ministry."
"Mm. Then I would also like to ask Cornelius Fudge what justification you have for using Legilimency on a student."
Dumbledore's words stunned the young wizards into silence before they all turned to look at Umbridge on the platform.
Aside from a few who didn't know what Legilimency was, the rest wore expressions of outright anger.
There was no denying it. Dumbledore's words carried weight.
"However, before that, I'll be taking Potter with me."
Though Dumbledore merely stood there smiling by the doorway, even Draco, who wasn't facing him directly, could feel the indescribable pressure radiating from the wizard. He even caught sight of cold sweat trickling down Umbridge's face...
And from Umbridge's silence, it was clear that even she, who had been riding high lately, had shrunk back under Dumbledore's gaze.
"Harry, come with me."
"Yes, Headmaster!"
Harry Potter's energetic reply was filled with relief and delight. It made Umbridge clench the hand hidden inside her robes, the smile on her face turning stiff.
No one knew at the time that this small moment would make the detention she had in store for Harry Potter far more unpleasant...
And so, under everyone's gaze, Harry Potter disappeared from the pink Defence Against the Dark Arts classroom alongside Dumbledore.
Dolores Umbridge, who moments earlier had been so imposing, now simply lowered her eyes and said nothing, as though the two of them didn't exist at all.
Yet... anyone could tell that this vindictive, control-obsessed witch was merely burying the fury raging inside her.
The incident and confrontation seemed to have come to an end.
But Draco knew better.
This was only the beginning...
Finally.
Draco and the others' first Defence Against the Dark Arts lesson came to an end, abrupt yet strangely eventful...
Only a few hours after the clash between Harry Potter and Dolores Umbridge in class, word of it had already spread throughout Hogwarts Castle. Almost no one was unaware of what had happened.
Perhaps it was Umbridge's atrocious sense of fashion, combined with her never-ending detentions and punishments, that made her deeply unpopular among the students. As a result, Harry Potter's already rather poor reputation suddenly found room for a turnaround.
At the very least, no one could deny him the label of "brave," even if it earned him several more days of detention...
"Harry said he saw Professor Moody, but it was actually a Death Eater in disguise."
"And he even fought a life-and-death duel with 'that person'..."
"Do you believe what he said?"
"I mean... do you think that article was really true?"
"Oh, spare me. Stop bringing up that person!"
The direction of public opinion seemed to be shifting once again.
Perhaps no wizard would have expected that all of this came from Harry Potter's courage, and from the way he argued his case with conviction that didn't feel like an act.
Even if it only affected a small portion of the wizarding world, it was enough to show that the winds were beginning to change.....