Disclaimer: I do not own these characters, brilliantly created by J.K.
Rowling. Most situations are based on those created by J.K. Rowling.
Chapter Fifteen: Dumbledore's Announcement
"Once again, I must give a hearty welcome to you all," Dumbledore said. "It is always wonderful to see Hogwarts filled with students, though I realize it has been many years since any of you have been avoiding doing your homework." This was met with a few chuckles from the crowd. "I'd like to take the time now to talk to announce some of the wonderful accomplishments of the graduates of this class."
Dumbledore cleared his throat. "First, let me call attention to Hannah Abbott, who has spent the last couple of years working on wizard-creature relations. It is because of her that the centaurs have become one of our greatest allies."
The crowd clapped, some of them looking around for Hannah Abbott, who was standing near the doorway, blushing. Dumbledore smiled. "Well done, Hannah. Well done," he said. "And our own Neville Longbottom, who had made great strides in the field of Herbology." Now it was Neville's turn to blush as the crowd clapped for him. "Can we expect you to come back and share some of your knowledge one of these days?" Dumbledore called out, but Neville just blushed further.
Dumbledore continued. "Let's see, let's see. ah, yes! Dean Thomas, who had become a fabulous artist, often helping to design and plan new buildings for witches and wizards. He recently designed the office of the new minister of magic!" Dean relished the attention, and he raised his hands in the air as the crowd clapped for him. Dumbledore smiled at him as well. "And on to Miss. Lavender Brown, who has made great strides with Unicorn Breeding, once thought a lost art." Lavender smiled and waved as she received her own applause.
"So many wonderful tales to tell about all our graduates," said Dumbledore, and he looked genuinely proud. He continued to talk about many of the students, touching upon their achievements. He soon got to Hermione, "And I have to speak of Hermione Weasley, nee Granger, who has, along with Ginny Potter, opened a very successful Mind Reading practice in London." Dumbledore looked towards them. "So if you are in need of a mind cleansing, please make an appointment with Mrs. Weasley or Mrs. Potter. Not tonight, of course!" Dumbledore smiled again. "I would also like to mention that Mrs. Weasley and Mrs. Potter have recently received the Rilka Riggelo Award for Research for their recent efforts."
The crowd clapped again, and some laughed at Dumbledore's last comment. He seemed to be coming to the end. "I couldn't possibly leave out Mr. Ron Weasley, who is now working as a Healer at St. Mungo's!" Ron was another blusher, and he shied away when the crowd clapped for him.
It seemed Dumbledore had come to the final announcement. "Where would be today without the amazing efforts put forth by Mr. Harry Potter. As you all know, he helped rid the world of Lord Voldemort, and he is now playing Quidditch for the Chudley Canons, always taking them to the championship!" The crowd applauded its loudest, and Harry looked down at his shoes, uncomfortable.
"Now, I suspect you must be wondering what has been going on at Hogwarts these many years," Dumbledore went on. "And I must say that the school, for the most part, is the same. Of course, we have a new crop of students and that always seems to change things. However, we haven't seen any trouble like that of Fred and George Weasley in their day." Dumbledore seemed to go off on a train of thought. "I only wish I could have seen it when the two of them walked out of Hogwarts. Those were strange days, they were." People in the crowd nodded. They had all been present for that event.
"But," said Dumbledore, "tonight is not a night to dwell on regrets. Tonight is a night to remember the past fondly! With that said, I must make a very important announcement."
"Do you know what it is?" Ron asked Harry.
"No idea," Harry said with a shrug. "He hasn't mentioned anything important lately."
Dumbledore was ready to make the announcement. "I want to announce that I am stepping down as the headmaster of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry." This was met by gasps in the crowd. The four friends stared at Dumbledore in disbelief.
Dumbledore went on, "I realize that this come as a shock for most of you. It is true that I have not told many about this decision of mine, wanting to save the announcement for tonight." He smiled at the crowd. "But let me assure you that this stepping down was entirely my decision. I'd like to relax and enjoy myself for a bit."
"I can't believe it," Hermione said. "I mean, we all knew this would happen someday, but still."
"I know," Ron agreed, nodding.
"I don't think he's done," said Ginny, and she nodded towards the staff table, where Dumbledore was still speaking.
"So do not be sad," said Dumbeldore. "Hogwarts will be in capable hands, I assure you. It is with great pride that I announce that the new Headmistress of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry is... Dolores Umbride."
The entire crowd gasped, and there was a murmur of angry talking among the crowds. "WHAT?!" Ron exclaimed. "How can he put that woman in charge of Hogwarts. Everything's going to go to hell again!"
Harry seemed about to make a comment, but then he looked at Dumbledore, who was smiling. "He's kidding," Harry said, with a laugh.
Dumbledore quieted the crowd again. "Sorry," he said. "Guess my little idea of a joke didn't go over so well." The crowd now let out sighs of relief, and a few of them did, in fact, start to laugh.
"Now, onto the REAL announcement of the new headmistress," said Dumbledore. "It is with great pride that I introduce you to the new Head of Hogwarts, Professor Minerva McGonagall!" This time the crowd cheered and Professor McGonagall was called up to the staff table, looking rather embarrassed. She stood to speak.
"Thank you, Professor Dumbledore," said Professor McGonagall. "I am so pleased to be the new Head of Hogwarts, thought I realize the task of following Albus Dumbledore will be huge. However, I am ready for the challenge and am looking forward to the new school year." Professor McGonagall offered the stage back to Dumbledore, and he took it.
"Well, well, well," he said. "Now that that's out of the way, what are you waiting for? Have some more fun!" Music started again and people began to dance. Harry, Ginny, Ron and Hermione, however, headed to the staff table to talk to Professor Dumbledore and Professor McGonagall.
"Why didn't you tell me?" Harry asked Professor Dumbledore.
"Didn't want it leaking out," said Dumbledore. "You know the owl post is not always stable. Besides, I thought it would be more dramatic at the reunion." This made the four friends smile.
"Congratulations Minerva," Hermione said to Professor McGonagall. "I know that Hogwarts will be in good hands with you."
"Thank you very much, Hermione," said Professor McGonagall. She was smiling more than they had ever seen her do before.
"What are you going to do now?" Ron asked Professor Dumbledore.
"Oh, I'll still be around," said Dumbledore. "Just take some vacations. See more of the world. I've missed travel."
"Sounds nice," said Ginny.
"However, I will help out around here," said Dumbledore. "Hogwarts certainly hasn't seen the last of me."
"Nor does it want to," Professor McGonagall piped in.
"Thank you, Minerva," said Professor Dumbledore. He looked behind the friends. "I believe Mr. Finnegan here would like to talk to you." The friends turned to see Seamus Finnegan standing behind them. Dumbledore and McGonagall excused themselves, and sought out more students to talk to. Harry, Ginny, Ron and Hermione focused their attention on Seamus.
Chapter Fifteen: Dumbledore's Announcement
"Once again, I must give a hearty welcome to you all," Dumbledore said. "It is always wonderful to see Hogwarts filled with students, though I realize it has been many years since any of you have been avoiding doing your homework." This was met with a few chuckles from the crowd. "I'd like to take the time now to talk to announce some of the wonderful accomplishments of the graduates of this class."
Dumbledore cleared his throat. "First, let me call attention to Hannah Abbott, who has spent the last couple of years working on wizard-creature relations. It is because of her that the centaurs have become one of our greatest allies."
The crowd clapped, some of them looking around for Hannah Abbott, who was standing near the doorway, blushing. Dumbledore smiled. "Well done, Hannah. Well done," he said. "And our own Neville Longbottom, who had made great strides in the field of Herbology." Now it was Neville's turn to blush as the crowd clapped for him. "Can we expect you to come back and share some of your knowledge one of these days?" Dumbledore called out, but Neville just blushed further.
Dumbledore continued. "Let's see, let's see. ah, yes! Dean Thomas, who had become a fabulous artist, often helping to design and plan new buildings for witches and wizards. He recently designed the office of the new minister of magic!" Dean relished the attention, and he raised his hands in the air as the crowd clapped for him. Dumbledore smiled at him as well. "And on to Miss. Lavender Brown, who has made great strides with Unicorn Breeding, once thought a lost art." Lavender smiled and waved as she received her own applause.
"So many wonderful tales to tell about all our graduates," said Dumbledore, and he looked genuinely proud. He continued to talk about many of the students, touching upon their achievements. He soon got to Hermione, "And I have to speak of Hermione Weasley, nee Granger, who has, along with Ginny Potter, opened a very successful Mind Reading practice in London." Dumbledore looked towards them. "So if you are in need of a mind cleansing, please make an appointment with Mrs. Weasley or Mrs. Potter. Not tonight, of course!" Dumbledore smiled again. "I would also like to mention that Mrs. Weasley and Mrs. Potter have recently received the Rilka Riggelo Award for Research for their recent efforts."
The crowd clapped again, and some laughed at Dumbledore's last comment. He seemed to be coming to the end. "I couldn't possibly leave out Mr. Ron Weasley, who is now working as a Healer at St. Mungo's!" Ron was another blusher, and he shied away when the crowd clapped for him.
It seemed Dumbledore had come to the final announcement. "Where would be today without the amazing efforts put forth by Mr. Harry Potter. As you all know, he helped rid the world of Lord Voldemort, and he is now playing Quidditch for the Chudley Canons, always taking them to the championship!" The crowd applauded its loudest, and Harry looked down at his shoes, uncomfortable.
"Now, I suspect you must be wondering what has been going on at Hogwarts these many years," Dumbledore went on. "And I must say that the school, for the most part, is the same. Of course, we have a new crop of students and that always seems to change things. However, we haven't seen any trouble like that of Fred and George Weasley in their day." Dumbledore seemed to go off on a train of thought. "I only wish I could have seen it when the two of them walked out of Hogwarts. Those were strange days, they were." People in the crowd nodded. They had all been present for that event.
"But," said Dumbledore, "tonight is not a night to dwell on regrets. Tonight is a night to remember the past fondly! With that said, I must make a very important announcement."
"Do you know what it is?" Ron asked Harry.
"No idea," Harry said with a shrug. "He hasn't mentioned anything important lately."
Dumbledore was ready to make the announcement. "I want to announce that I am stepping down as the headmaster of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry." This was met by gasps in the crowd. The four friends stared at Dumbledore in disbelief.
Dumbledore went on, "I realize that this come as a shock for most of you. It is true that I have not told many about this decision of mine, wanting to save the announcement for tonight." He smiled at the crowd. "But let me assure you that this stepping down was entirely my decision. I'd like to relax and enjoy myself for a bit."
"I can't believe it," Hermione said. "I mean, we all knew this would happen someday, but still."
"I know," Ron agreed, nodding.
"I don't think he's done," said Ginny, and she nodded towards the staff table, where Dumbledore was still speaking.
"So do not be sad," said Dumbeldore. "Hogwarts will be in capable hands, I assure you. It is with great pride that I announce that the new Headmistress of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry is... Dolores Umbride."
The entire crowd gasped, and there was a murmur of angry talking among the crowds. "WHAT?!" Ron exclaimed. "How can he put that woman in charge of Hogwarts. Everything's going to go to hell again!"
Harry seemed about to make a comment, but then he looked at Dumbledore, who was smiling. "He's kidding," Harry said, with a laugh.
Dumbledore quieted the crowd again. "Sorry," he said. "Guess my little idea of a joke didn't go over so well." The crowd now let out sighs of relief, and a few of them did, in fact, start to laugh.
"Now, onto the REAL announcement of the new headmistress," said Dumbledore. "It is with great pride that I introduce you to the new Head of Hogwarts, Professor Minerva McGonagall!" This time the crowd cheered and Professor McGonagall was called up to the staff table, looking rather embarrassed. She stood to speak.
"Thank you, Professor Dumbledore," said Professor McGonagall. "I am so pleased to be the new Head of Hogwarts, thought I realize the task of following Albus Dumbledore will be huge. However, I am ready for the challenge and am looking forward to the new school year." Professor McGonagall offered the stage back to Dumbledore, and he took it.
"Well, well, well," he said. "Now that that's out of the way, what are you waiting for? Have some more fun!" Music started again and people began to dance. Harry, Ginny, Ron and Hermione, however, headed to the staff table to talk to Professor Dumbledore and Professor McGonagall.
"Why didn't you tell me?" Harry asked Professor Dumbledore.
"Didn't want it leaking out," said Dumbledore. "You know the owl post is not always stable. Besides, I thought it would be more dramatic at the reunion." This made the four friends smile.
"Congratulations Minerva," Hermione said to Professor McGonagall. "I know that Hogwarts will be in good hands with you."
"Thank you very much, Hermione," said Professor McGonagall. She was smiling more than they had ever seen her do before.
"What are you going to do now?" Ron asked Professor Dumbledore.
"Oh, I'll still be around," said Dumbledore. "Just take some vacations. See more of the world. I've missed travel."
"Sounds nice," said Ginny.
"However, I will help out around here," said Dumbledore. "Hogwarts certainly hasn't seen the last of me."
"Nor does it want to," Professor McGonagall piped in.
"Thank you, Minerva," said Professor Dumbledore. He looked behind the friends. "I believe Mr. Finnegan here would like to talk to you." The friends turned to see Seamus Finnegan standing behind them. Dumbledore and McGonagall excused themselves, and sought out more students to talk to. Harry, Ginny, Ron and Hermione focused their attention on Seamus.