Chapter 2

Hermione tapped Harry on the shoulder, waking him up. He looked around and noticed they were only halfway to Hogwarts. He also noticed that Ginny and Ron had left.

Sitting up, Harry asked, "Where's Ginny and Ron?"

Hermione pointed towards the door. Harry could see three figures hovering over a cart. "Lunchtime," Hermione said.

Harry stood up and went to join them. When they came back, Harry and Ginny played a game of Wizard Chess while eating their cakes and pastries.

After a game of Exploding Snap, the train came to a stop. They departed and climbed onto the carriages taking them to the castle. Harry looked out the window and spotted Luna Lovegood in the next carriage doing the same. She was looking at the horses that are only visible for those who had seen a death happen. In his 5th year, Harry was able to see them and noticed a girl in Ginny's year could too.

Once at the castle, despite the sweets they gorged in the train, Harry, Ron, Hermione, and Ginny were starving. They were among the first to enter the Great Hall and sat down hastily at the Gryffindor Table.

Once the students all arrived in the Great Hall and were seated, Professor Dumbledore stood up and his booming voice filled the room.

"Welcome to another year at Hogwarts. The usual restrictions still apply, including now magic in the corridors and staying away from the Forbidden Forest. Also, I would like to introduce our newest member of the faculty, Professor Tamari Johnson who has agreed to fill the position of Defense Against the Dark Arts class."

There was a random and unenthusiastic applause around the hall as a young and unusually tall and skinny dark haired, dark-skinned witch stood up and waved. Her robes were a velvety deep purple and she was wearing black cats- eye glasses, complete with rhinestones in the tips.

"She seems very conceded," Ron observed as the sorting ended and the food appeared.

"Ron, you don't even know her!" Hermione protested, taking a swig of pumpkin juice. "What would make you say such a thing?"

"Just look at her, Hermione," Harry answered, mouth full of chicken. "Normally, a new teacher just sits and smiles and wears regular glasses and regular robes."

"But Professor Umbridge stood up. She even gave a speech," Hermione argued, scooping potatoes onto her plate.

"Yeah and look at how much a nutter she turned out," Ginny said.

"I don't know. I think we should just give her a chance," said Hermione.

"Yeah we should," said a new first year Gryffindor, Kylee Johnson. She was the little sister of Angelina Johnson, a graduated Hogwarts student and a former Chaser on the Gryffindor Quidditch team. "Because that conceded witch is my mother."