The most important person in Link's plan to seize control of the Hogwarts students was Umbridge.
Because she was the one Link intended to set up as the common enemy of everyone.
Only when Umbridge became utterly detested could Link achieve twice the result with half the effort.
And right now, Umbridge was doing an excellent job.
From what Link knew about his classmates, they probably couldn't hold back any longer.
"Professor Umbridge, this is the N.E.W.T.-level Defense Against the Dark Arts class. We're all sixth-year students now. Is it really appropriate for you to be teaching us such basic, low-level theoretical material?"
Just as Link expected, the moment Umbridge's chalkboard notes appeared, a Gryffindor boy in the front row immediately started talking back.
And that was only the beginning. A series of agreeing voices followed, bursting out among the students like mushrooms after rain, and the whole classroom quickly descended into chaos.
But they weren't doing this just to get back at Umbridge.
It wouldn't be worth it to challenge her head-on just for that little speech incident, they weren't that stupid.
What truly drove the students to turn against her was her dreadful teaching content.
As students qualified to enroll in the advanced N.E.W.T.-level Defense Against the Dark Arts course with excellent grades, doing the reading beforehand was a given.
So they already had a solid understanding of this term's textbook, The Theory of Defensive Magic, and knew it was nothing but empty, impractical theory.
Now Umbridge was telling them about a "new course based mainly on theory"? It was obvious that her teaching over the years had almost no practical component, or none at all.
But the N.E.W.T. Defense Against the Dark Arts exam included a practical section.
If a group of N.E.W.T. candidates were to study pure theory for an entire year, of course they'd revolt.
Link and Emily sat in the back, watching the show.
He was curious what Umbridge would do next.
Right now, the students were the ones who had reason on their side. Even if the situation escalated all the way to Dumbledore and Fudge, Umbridge would still be the one in the wrong.
After all, what she was doing directly harmed the students' core interests.
At the podium, Umbridge still wore her usual calm, unruffled expression, letting the students make all the noise they wanted.
Only when their shouting tired out and the room gradually quieted did she finally rise and speak with a smile, "Perhaps we haven't known each other long enough for you to truly understand me. So please, allow me to introduce myself once again."
She turned toward the blackboard, and the room erupted with even louder protests, everyone thought she was about to give another long, pompous speech like the one last night.
But she ignored them and tapped the board again with her wand.
As pink dust swirled, large letters appeared on the board, Dolores Jane Umbridge.
"As you can see," she said.
"My name is Dolores Jane Umbridge. I am your Defense Against the Dark Arts professor this year. But at the same time, I am also Senior Undersecretary to the Minister of Magic, Minister Fudge's most trusted aide. Do you know what that means?"
"It means that I represent the Ministry of Magic itself. It also means I can directly influence the scope of N.E.W.T. exam content, the Ministry's recruitment plans, including quotas, job descriptions, and pay."
"As I mentioned last night and just now, the Ministry has been very dissatisfied with the inconsistent teaching outcomes caused by the constant change of Defense Against the Dark Arts professors. That is why I am here."
"I am not your enemy, students, quite the opposite. I am your ally, your opportunity."
"Even before coming to Hogwarts, I proposed to Minister Fudge that we expand the Ministry's campus recruitment at Hogwarts, to replace the Ministry's current decayed and inefficient staff. And this very morning, I finally received the official document from the Ministry!"
Umbridge pulled from her pocket a letter stamped with the Ministry's wax seal and waved it in the air. "In this document, Minister Fudge formally approved a fivefold increase in the recruitment quota for Aurors and Hit Wizards over the next two years."
"In addition, new campus recruitment opportunities have opened for the Misuse of Muggle Artifacts Office, the Accidental Magic Reversal Squad, and the International Magical Trade Standards Body, with an initial total of twenty positions available."
"What's more, to help you better understand the Ministry's work and get familiar with your future careers, Minister Fudge has established a special Ministry Internship Program for Hogwarts sixth- and seventh-year students, held during winter and summer breaks."
"The tentative quota is fifty students per grade. Those selected will directly enter the Ministry and take part in its operations."
"It's worth mentioning that this internship program will also serve as an evaluation, your performance will be graded, and those scores will influence your future Ministry interview results."
"I must say, Minister Fudge is being far too generous to you, I'm almost jealous. When I graduated, there were no such benefits."
"But this also shows how desperate the Ministry is for capable people. You, students, are the future of the wizarding world. Waiting for you is a glorious life ahead. Your future is bright, your potential limitless…"
As Umbridge spoke, the protests and murmuring in the crowd gradually died down until silence filled the room.
That fake smile on her face grew even brighter.
Standing once again behind the lectern, she said sweetly, "Now then, please take out The Theory of Defensive Magic by Wilbert Slinkhard, turn to page five, and read 'Chapter One, Basic Foundational Principles.' No whispering."
There was a stir among the students again, but unlike before, it didn't escalate into another riot. It faded almost instantly.
What replaced it were the sounds of pages turning and a uniform chorus of recitations, soft but serious.
Watching all this, Link frowned slightly. He was not pleased.
Strictly speaking, Umbridge's speech this time still followed the same flowery, insincere, and tedious style as last night's.
But now, the students were hanging on her every word.
That was because this time, she had hit them where it mattered most, exam results and job prospects.
She had not only hinted that, as Senior Undersecretary, she had the power to influence or even alter N.E.W.T. exam content, she'd also announced that she had secured a large number of new Ministry positions for them over the next two years, plus those Ministry internship spots during the holidays.
And most importantly, she'd set the numbers just right.
Hogwarts didn't have that many students, a hundred or so per year at most.
Excluding the slackers, only seventy or eighty sixth- and seventh-years were truly qualified to compete for those expanded Ministry recruitment spots.
That just happened to be about ten or twenty more than the number of internship openings Umbridge had mentioned.
A perfect move.
Anyone interested in those benefits now had to face a "competitive selection" process.
And who would decide the standards for that competition?
Who else but Umbridge herself.
Link shook his head.
Now he finally understood why, in the original story, when Harry formed Dumbledore's Army, so many powerful upper-year students never joined.
It turned out Umbridge had already bought them off, and set up a clever incentive system.
Under the lure of personal gain, of course the older students would obey her.
"Class, that will be all for today," Umbridge announced at last. "And don't forget the homework I assigned, it's due next lesson. You are dismissed. I look forward to seeing you again soon."
Thus ended the first N.E.W.T.-level Defense Against the Dark Arts class for Hogwarts' sixth years.
Except for the initial outburst, nearly every student had been obedient and focused throughout.
Some even hurried up after class to chat with Umbridge, trying to curry favor, their earlier irritation and disgust completely gone.
Such was the power of self-interest.
Of course, Umbridge didn't bother giving them a kind face, she brushed them off perfunctorily.
After all, she no longer needed to be pleasant once she had dangled such a tempting carrot and set up a perfect system of competition.
Link leaned back in his chair, expressionless, gently rubbing his ebony wand, a habit whenever he was deep in thought. After years of doing so, the wood had developed a fine polish from his touch.
"Link…"
Emily, looking worried, took his hand.
With her intelligence, she had clearly seen through Umbridge's scheme as well.
It wasn't hard, many in the room probably had.
The real difficulty was figuring out how to counter it.
Umbridge's move was an open conspiracy, one that preyed on human desire. Even if you saw through it, there wasn't much you could do.
Link turned his head to speak, but before he could, a waft of warm air mixed with a faint scent of daisies drifted close.
It was Umbridge.
Smiling, she had quietly approached and now stood before Link and Emily.
She was the focus of every student's attention at the moment, and her movements drew many curious gazes their way.
Link didn't stand. He stayed seated, looking up at her coldly.
As the person who had nearly brought down Fudge himself, Link had already considered the possibility that Umbridge would target him after arriving at Hogwarts, to make an example of him and establish her authority.
He wasn't afraid. With his current power and influence, making Umbridge, or even Fudge, disappear without a trace would be child's play.
In fact, he almost hoped Umbridge would act rashly, maybe sentence him to detention or force him to write lines.
Then he'd have the perfect excuse to strike back and take her down.
The upper years might not react much, but the younger ones certainly would, and such a confrontation would let Link easily win them to his side.
Unfortunately, Umbridge didn't seem nearly as impulsive as he had hoped.
Now standing before them, she didn't lash out. Instead, she gave a graceful bow and said politely, "Good afternoon, my dear Mr. Flamel, and Miss Victoria."
At her words, Link raised an eyebrow and sneered.
"Dolores Umbridge, I remember you. You used to be Cornelius Fudge's secretary, right? Now you're the Senior Undersecretary, quite an impressive title. Though as far as I know, your duties still amount to running errands and organizing paperwork for the Minister."
The moment those words left his mouth, several students sneaking glances their way looked startled.
They understood exactly what Link was implying, that despite all her grand promises, Umbridge might not actually have the power to make any of it real.
It was Link's way of testing her.
But Umbridge's smile didn't falter in the slightest. She seemed completely unfazed by the skeptical looks around her, and bowed even lower, saying sweetly, "You remember me? What an honor!"
"The last time I saw you was at Harry Potter's trial, your speech that day was truly inspiring, I was deeply impressed."
"Might I have the honor of inviting you and your wife to my office for afternoon tea? I've had the best black tea prepared, along with a selection of pastries made with South American pumpkin. I'm sure..."
"I don't have time for tea with you," Link interrupted flatly.
Umbridge's smile froze for a moment, but almost instantly she recovered, bowing again and replying softly, "In that case, I'll take my leave. If you need anything, Mr. Flamel, please don't hesitate to contact me. I'll be at your service at any time."
Her voice was quiet, and the last part was even muffled by a Silencing Charm, only the three of them could hear it.
Then, still smiling, she turned and left the classroom.
She left behind a room full of students now staring at Link with a mix of awe and envy.
Until now, many of them hadn't truly understood how powerful his background was, he'd always been low-key, unlike Draco, who bragged about his family constantly.
But seeing how Umbridge treated him changed everything.
At that moment, in the eyes of many, Link Flamel had become a dazzling, untouchable figure.