It was hard to say goodbye to everyone, especially Uncle Remus and dad. We all went in stages, me going first with Harry, Molly and Tonks since one of the Order hadn't shown up on time for the security detail, so I went instead. Molly tried to protest, but then I pointed out I could do magic and that I was a fair hand at battling, since I'd been in the tournament last year. She begrudgingly agreed, not having much more choice and to make things better, dad tagged along with us. He seemed especially happy to be outside, racing around to stretch his legs and making both Harry and me laugh. We all got to the train just in time, whereby I flung my arms around Remus, giving him a hug and a kiss before doing the same for dad even though he was hidden as a dog. "See you soon, love you dad." I whispered to him and he responded by licking my cheek, making me laugh and immediately use my sleeve to wipe it. "Ew gross!" He barked and wagged his tail, so with a final goodbye I jumped on the train.
We didn't all stay together for long, since I had to head to the top of the train with the rest of the prefects in order to give instructions with the Head Boy, who was none other than Cedric Diggory. He greeted me with a broad smile, practically lighting up as he recognised me. "Hey! I thought you'd be made Head Girl. Guess it's you and me huh?"
"Seems like it, though I can warn you now I won't be a conventional rule abider. I have my own way of doing things." He laughed at that before telling me he knew very well my method of maintaining order, having seen and heard me on numerous accounts last year yelling at students and even other prefects with threats to hex them. I really need to tone it down, otherwise I really will be seen as a completely dangerous nutter. In any case, I was surprised that Cedric was being so relaxed with me. I was sure that I'd be boycotted by most of the other students because of what was in the Daily Prophet, but then Cedric happened to mention it as he chattered away to me and told me he didn't believe a word they were printing.
"I mean, I know you, and I've seen Harry about. You're not dangerous. Maybe a bit boisterous, but nothing like what they've been saying about you, and you're the ones who competed in the Triwizard Tournament last year. Anyone who knows you should be able to tell that they're lying…I mean, my dad believes it, but I don't. I think you're telling the truth, about You-Know-Who and all…" He started rambling so I clapped Cedric on the shoulder and gave him a firm look.
"As much as I appreciate your faith in me, Cedric, just a simple 'you're not demented, Mia' will do. Now, let's whip these snotty nosed prefects into shape, shall we?" Blinking for a moment, Cedric then laughed and nodded his head in agreement. When the newest prefects all arrived, I couldn't help but smirk slightly when Malfoy walked in and stopped dead when he saw me. His hand immediately jumped to his nose, but I merely clicked my tongue and ordered him to fall in line. I'm really going to enjoy making his life a living hell for last year…and just for my own selfish pleasure too.
At Hogwarts, the Sorting Hat made a rather ominous opening song warning us that danger was lurking and that we needed to solidify the bonds between our houses if we were to stand strong, which made me snort lightly as Fred and George rolled their eyes in agreement, all of us glancing over to the Slytherin table. It would be unlikely that relations between us and them will ever improve, and I wasn't certain I ever wanted them to. Never trust a snake, slimy as they are. The feast was excellent as always, then Dumbledore made note of two new staffing changes, one of which was Professor Grubbly-Plank who would be taking over Care of Magical Creatures in Hagrid's absence, and the other being the new Defence teacher, Professor Umbridge. She was a squat, girlish looking woman with an excessively powdery face and wearing far too much pink for my liking.
She interrupted Dumbledore in order to make a speech of her own to us all, giving a girlish cough in a pretentious manner which immediately made me dislike her. Toad. More to the point, how dare she interrupt Dumbledore in the middle of his welcome back speech? I don't think any teacher had ever dared to do so before, and I felt it was incredibly rude of her not to wait. Who even cared about anything she had to say anyway? She was clearly a Ministry lackey. "Thank you, headmaster, for those kind words of welcome." She began as I arched an eyebrow, leaning on my hand with my elbow resting against the table as everyone stared at her. "Well, it is lovely to be back at Hogwarts, I must say! And to see such happy little faces looking up at me." Ugh, someone needs to shut her up. Too bad it'll be too obvious if I charm a dungbomb across the room at her from here. "I am very much looking forward to getting to know you all and I'm sure we'll be very good friends!"
"That's likely." Fred and George both muttered sarcastically as I sniggered. The woman clearly didn't have a clue. By the end of her long, extensive speech, however, I was actually paying attention and when it was over, I looked to the twins and Lee who were all frowning. "Did that mean what I think it means?" Fred asked so I nodded my head.
"It did. We'd better watch ourselves with her boys. I have a feeling that she's not the cutesy little girl she likes to pretend to be." All of us agreeing on that fact, we went off to bed with quiet murmurs about Umbridge, but soon put her to the back of our minds. After all.
How bad could she be?