Sirius was taken away by the people from the Ministry of Magic?
When Kael first heard this news, he thought they were joking, but soon he realized that it couldn't be that all the fifth-year students were joking.
Apart from Hufflepuff, the Gryffindor fifth-year students were also talking about it, and Harry, Ron, and Hermione even had not come to the auditorium to eat.
Kael looked at the nearest fifth-year student and asked, "Susan, did you just say Professor Black was taken by the Ministry of Magic?"
"Yes." Susan Bones said, "Our last class in the morning was Defense Against the Dark Arts, and near the end of the class, several people suddenly came, and the leader said someone had complained to the Ministry of Magic about Professor Black, claiming he hadn't fulfilled his teaching duties, causing several students to get injured in class.
"Oh, Headmaster Dumbledore was also there at the time."
Kael frowned, just about to say something when the doors to the auditorium suddenly opened.
Dumbledore walked in with a serious expression, alongside him was a witch wearing a pink cardigan.
Behind them, Ron and Hermione were pulling the fuming Harry to the Gryffindor table.
But not many people noticed this scene; everyone's eyes were instinctively drawn to the two walking in front, whispering about something.
Dumbledore came to the front of the classroom seats, turned around, and said in a very calm voice.
"I'm sorry, please quiet down. Before you enjoy your meal, I need to take some of your time to announce two things."
The auditorium instantly quieted down.
Dumbledore said, "First, regarding Defense Against the Dark Arts, since Professor Black needs to cooperate with the Ministry of Magic in an investigation, he won't be able to teach you during this period."
"However..." Dumbledore raised his hand and pointed to the witch beside him, "During this period, Professor Umbridge will be replacing him to teach you Defense Against the Dark Arts."
After a moment of silence, sparse applause sounded.
The sound was very low, and it almost exclusively came from the Slytherin direction.
"They're talking nonsense!" Harry stood up angrily, conspicuous among the crowd.
He seemed to want to say more, but in the next second, he was pulled back to his seat by the people beside him.
On the teacher's seat, Dumbledore seemed oblivious, whereas the nearby Umbridge turned and glanced at Harry, then displayed a smile as fake as could be.
"Thank you, Headmaster." She turned around and said, stepping forward voluntarily.
Dumbledore smiled and gave up the central position.
Umbridge cleared her throat and shrillly said, "I must say, it's really great to be back at Hogwarts."
"Oh, her voice is so unpleasant." Cedric frowned, rubbing his arm, "Why does she have to speak like that, and that fluffy pink cardigan really doesn't suit her."
"Personal preference, I guess." Kael said, "I saw her like this when I was at the Ministry of Magic before."
"You've seen her?" Cedric asked, "What's she like, will she be a good professor?"
"Let's put it this way." Kael thought for a moment, giving a relatively fair answer, "Even Professor Quirrell and Professor Lockhart were far better than her."
"Oh..." Cedric groaned.
He really couldn't imagine anyone worse than those two... If there really were, it would probably be a troll with its head caught in a door.
Kael also sighed.
He thought Sirius might not make it to the end of the school year, but he didn't expect him to leave so soon.
It's only been less than two weeks since the start of term.
On the teacher's seat, Umbridge was speaking in a dry, emotionless tone:
"The Ministry of Magic has always believed that educating young wizards is a very important task, that they must be painstakingly cultivated and trained to hone some of your inherent valuable talents..."
Gradually, some students' attention began to drift.
"Why do I feel like I'm sitting in Magic History class." Mikel covered his mouth with his hand, sneaking a yawn, "Also, when can we continue eating... Today's lunch is fried pork chops, what if they get cold."
No one answered him.
Ryan's head nodded little by little, seemingly on the verge of falling asleep, while beside him, Macmillan stared at Umbridge with unwavering attention, looking very serious, but his gaze was vacant and unfocused, obviously thinking about other things.
Umbridge continued with her long speech at a leisurely pace.
Around, students were already chatting among themselves, with only a few and some professors still listening, but their expressions were all intriguing.
Professor McGonagall's eyebrows knit tightly together, Professor Flitwick seemed deeply interested in the fork in his hand, and even Snape didn't show much of a gleeful look because Sirius had been taken away.
Conna listened more and felt increasingly uncomfortable; she tugged on Kael's arm, whispering, "Why do I feel like the Ministry of Magic wants to interfere with Hogwarts."
"It's not just a feeling, they are indeed thinking that." Kael said, "Look at what she's saying... some decisions are outdated and must be discarded?
"In the past few years, even just last year, the Ministry of Magic wouldn't dare to meddle in the Hogwarts decision-making process."
Suddenly, Kael noticed Umbridge's head tilt slightly this way.
Though it was only a brief moment, he noticed the unmistakable resentment in her eyes.
Well, it seems not only Dumbledore, but he himself has also become her target.
How... interesting.
Kael smiled, then picked up a fork and nonchalantly placed a piece of fried pork chop into his mouth.
Cedric opened his mouth, watching him in surprise; this action was a complete disregard for Umbridge.
After noticing this, some people instinctively looked at Dumbledore again.
But the headmaster's attention seemed entirely focused on Umbridge, apparently unaware of what was happening below.
Then, some bold students who weren't full yet couldn't help but follow suit, like Fred and George.
They didn't care why Kael behaved so unusually, they just started eating and laughing as they chatted with others, as if Umbridge didn't exist at all.
Gradually, more and more people joined in.
On the teacher's seat, Umbridge's voice grew shriller, but no matter how hard she tried, she couldn't drown out the clinking sounds of the students dining.
Finally, she managed to utter the last few words and turned to Dumbledore.
"Please continue, Professor Umbridge, I think what you said just now was very correct." Dumbledore said earnestly, "We certainly shouldn't progress for the sake of progress; a new era needs new order, I completely agree with that.
"You really opened my eyes and made me realize I might not be that competent as a headmaster."
But at this moment, he suddenly noticed the students eating.
"Oh, you finished speaking already?" Dumbledore said in surprise, "Sorry, I was too engrossed in listening, I didn't even notice... Professor Umbridge, you should have reminded me."
Umbridge's face darkened, then she forced out a fake smile.
"Yes, I'm finished." She said in a sharp voice, then sat down.
Originally, she wanted to continue once everyone quieted down, but just now, she changed her mind.
Umbridge glanced again towards the Hufflepuff direction, where Kael was chatting with others, her eyes flashed with malice and hostility.
Dumbledore began clapping, other professors followed suit, McGonagall looked at Umbridge, then Kael, her eyebrows furrowing even more.
Although she didn't know why Kael did it, Dumbledore seemed not to object. So she held back, letting more and more students start to eat while Umbridge spoke.
But this certainly won't end here.
She knew Umbridge somewhat, using the term petty-minded to describe her would be a compliment.
A person like her not retaliating then and there only implies she has a larger scheme in mind.
Besides, how unfortunately convenient, she happens to be the substitute professor for Defense Against the Dark Arts, it would be too easy for her to target a student.
McGonagall felt a bit worried, considering whether she should find an opportunity to warn Kael.
...