Bloom doesn't even look at Dumbledore during his speech, instead enjoying some dessert as the man talks on - she's through listening to him. She pays enough attention to hear that Hagrid is on leave, so Professor Grubbly-Plank is back for Care of Magical Creatures, though. Though, she hears that infuriating 'hem hem' of Umbridge's - honestly, could the woman just wait until people are done speaking?!
Bloom leans over to Hermione and mutters "Let the games begin…" She catches Draco's eye and grimaces at him - he nods back, and says something to Theodore Nott and Blaise Zabini next to him. They both look at the pink-wearing woman in disgust, then nod at Bloom.
Umbridge's voice cuts through the silent planning, as she says "Thank you, Headmaster, for those words of encouragement. And, how lovely it is to see all your bright, happy faces smiling up at me. I'm sure we're going to be very good friends."
Fred and George mutter together "That's likely."
Umbridge looks around, and says "The Ministry of Magic has always considered the education of young Witches and Wizards to be of vital importance. Although each Headmaster has always brought something new to this historic school, progress for the sake of progress much be discouraged. Let us preserve what must be preserved, perfect what can be perfected, and prune practices that ought to be prohibited."
She gives a simpering, sickening grin, and Bloom mutters "Don't make me gag, lady…" It looks like just about everyone is thinking the same thing, as she can see other kids making gagging faces, grimacing, or faking puking into their hands.
Ron grimaces at Hermione, and mutters "This is going to be a long year, 'Mione. I can practically See it…and Bloom's the Seer of us three."
They get up to Gryffindor Tower, and then all the fifth-year Gryffindors almost literally pounce on Bloom - asking where she's been, is she alright, how did she disappear straight out of Hogwarts, was she hurt during the third task last year, etc.
Eventually, Bloom lets out a shrill whistle and says "Alright, everyone quiet! One at a time, please! While I appreciate the concern, I really do, I can only answer one question at a time! Now, who's first?"
Neville puts his hand up, and says "First, I think we should go with the most threatening question…is You-Know-Who really back?"
Bloom nods, and says "He is. Though, what shape he's currently in, I don't know. We dueled. And then I ended up leaving by accident."
One of the First-Years asks "Are you really Bloom Potter?"
Bloom nods, and says "That's my name."
Another of the eleven-year-olds asks "Are you gonna make him go 'way then? Like you did last time?"
Bloom nearly bites out a retort of 'why am I supposed to be the one to save everyone else's arses year after year?!' but stops when she sees the terrified looks on their faces. Right, they're eleven. And I was never a normal eleven-year-old. I never got to be a kid, I had to resign myself to fighting just to live. She kneels down in front of them, and says "Yes. Probably not exactly like I did fourteen years ago, but I will."
They sniffle and nod, looking more like very tall five-year-old's to Bloom right then. One of the second-years asks "Why would you dueling You-Know-Who make it uncertain as to what shape he's in or not? I know everyone says you're the strongest Witch our age, but…"
Half the common room starts either snickering, whispering, or outright laughing, and then one Third-year starts explaining how she made a Corporeal Patronus strong enough to drive away a hundred Dementors at once. And she talked a nesting mother dragon down last year - to this day, nobody knows how she did that. "Potter? Care to share the secret?"
Bloom just shrugs, and says "Not sure why she didn't try to roast me, honestly. And I'm just glad she didn't - I was going to fight her, knock her out, but that went smoother than I expected."
Another student says "One rumor going around the school is that she beat a troll unconscious in year one."
At nearly everyone's questioning gaze, some mixed with adoration - mainly from the pre-teens - Bloom nods and says "I did. I took control of its club, and kept hitting the thing over the head until it was unconscious." There's an awed silence, right up until Professor McGonagall walks in and tells them to go to bed for the night, as classes start tomorrow.
After the younger years are gone, the fifth-years gather together and proceed to fill Bloom in on what she might've missed during her absence - most notably, the detail that Dumbledore announced to the Wizengamot that Voldemort it back…and Fudge has been attempting to discredit him ever since. Painting him as either a senile old fool that needs to be retired because he can't even keep track of one girl, or a dangerous madman that will stop at nothing to get more power. Several articles used Bloom's disappearance as evidence for why he isn't fit to be Headmaster anymore, as well.
Most all the Slytherins are in the common room, most of them in near-total disbelief about what Draco said - that they're going to stop the rivalry with Gryffindor, at least temporarily. Unite against the common enemy that is Dolores Jane Umbridge.
Luckily, he's got enough sway in the House that most everyone follows his lead.
That doesn't mean he didn't expect a few incredulous stares or disbelieving questions.
The first of which comes from Millicent Bulstrode. "Are you serious, Draco? We're actually working with the Gryffindors? With Potter?! Gryffindor's golden girl?"
Draco gives her a level stare, and says "We are. The new Defense Teacher is one of Fudge's bootlickers, according to my father. The woman is more of a toad than a person, and she can't open her mouth without putting her foot in it. Unfortunately, the Minister wants to interfere with the school and they're using the Defense position to do so. And this woman won't care who she hurts to try and make the Wizarding World bend over backwards for Fudge and his views. She might treat us the same as she does the other Houses, or she might well hate us and persecute us just as much as she will Potter. Either way, I don't think we want to take that chance. Do we?"
There's a chorus of no's, and one First-Year kid says "I'd like to be on the winning side, but…which side is that?"
Pansy huffs and crosses her arms saying "Good question. Very good question. It's the Ministry against Potter. The strongest Witch our age…and not without some merit in that title, I'll admit. She packs a magic punch like the Hogwarts Express."
Daphne adds "And there's the little detail that the Hat couldn't decide where to put her for twenty minutes. Apparently, she has the best qualities of all the Houses."
One second-year asks "Gryffindor has some good qualities? Far as I knew, they just jump straight into danger without thinking things through."
Draco shrugs, and says "And they think we're all sneaky and willing to do whatever it takes to get what we want. And, in this case, that means working with the Gryffindors. Since this woman's apparently a sadist, and one detention with her will apparently convince anyone, I'd say working with our rival house is the lesser of two evils."
One First-Year quietly asks "What's she going to do? Is it really that bad?"
Everyone's forced to admit that they don't know - Bloom didn't give any details, and she'd have given them if she had them, but she was transparently clear on the 'don't get a detention with this woman, whatever you do' warning. And one thing Slytherins hate is not knowing what the consequences of their choices are beforehand.
AN: Hey, everyone! Happy May! Good news, I'm SO CLOSE to being done with school! Two more tests, and that's it! Bad news, one's tomorrow, so I've got to keep this short. I'll celebrate school being out by posting more chapters, though!
As to the story...Umbridge has already lost, and she doesn't even know it yet. *evil grin* No spoilers, but she's not going to have it so easy this time since the school's been getting yearly demonstrations of Bloom's power. Year one: troll she single-handedly knocked out...and not by pure luck, either. Quirrell, everyone can speculate as much as they want, and it undoubtedly went to even more fantastical heights. Year two: Basilisk, saving Ginny, etc. Year three: Dementors. Fighting off a hundred Dementors - yes, people saw that Patronus. It was kinda hard to miss, really. Year four: she talked a dragon down, made a geyser in the middle of the lake that took herself and Ron up to the surface in moments, and then just reappeared in the middle of the Quidditch field. Even if they don't know she's an all-powerful fairy, they know she's not the person you want to be on the wrong side of.
Anyway, enjoy! More chapters in production! Wish me luck on my last finals, and please review!