Hope you enjoy the book!

Just so you know I'll be taking inspiration from both the movie and book. Because there are just some scenes that I wish had been included in the movie.

Chapter 4

- Ministry at Hogwarts -

Arkie let out a sigh beside Teddy. "So good to be back." He grinned, looking around the familiar corridor where the paintings were welcoming back each at every student as they all headed to the Great Hall. As usual Teddy said goodbye to his friends and went to sit at the Ravenclaw table, next to Luna. Arkie walked to sit opposite him at the Hufflepuff table, when she was called over by her friends. She glanced at Teddy and he gave her an encouraging nod.

Hesitantly, she went to join them. The sorting ceremony passed quickly and soon they were all digging into the feast that appeared before them. Teddy loaded his plate with delicious steaming pasta. "Oh, sorry." He said, when his elbow accidentally knocked into a sixth year's.

"It's fine." He said and Teddy returned to his plate, then paused. He looked back at the sixth year, who was casually sitting right next to him. He glanced to his left, to find another Ravenclaw at his side. People were sitting near him! He continued looking left to right, as usual there were kids whispering. But as he listened in, he realized they weren't talking about him.

"Little liar if you ask me. Have you read the Daily Prophet?"

"I have. Can you believe it? The Dark Lord's returned, as if."

"Potter's lost his mind."

Teddy leaned back, glancing over his shoulder towards the Gryffindor table. Harry was sitting beside Ron, but there was a large gap between him and Seamus who was constantly glancing at him. Teddy returned to looking back at his plate, and then at the people sitting beside him. They paid no attention to him, but they were sitting there!

It was weird and felt almost unnatural.

Later, when all the students had finished their seconds, the dinner dissipated and was replaced by wondrous deserts. Luna dug straight into the chocolate pudding whilst Teddy took a bite out of a custard-filled eclair, his favourite desert.

"Good evening, children." Dumbledore began. "Now, we have two changes in staffing this year. We're pleased to welcome back Professor Grubbly-Plank... who'll be taking Care of Magical Creatures while Professor Hagrid is on temporary leave."

"Temporary leave?" Teddy muttered his mouth still full of eclair.

"We also wish to welcome our new Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher, Professor Dolores Umbridge." He motioned to a short toad-like woman sitting beside Professor Snape, dressed in a bright pink cardigan and skirt, along with a matching beret that sat upon her dark curled hair. She was smiling sweetly, her dark eyes twinkling in the candle light. Teddy instantly got a bad feeling. Maybe it was the way she sat, her hands resting gently on her lap, her back straight and poised and her head held high.

"I'm sure you'll all join me in wishing the Professor, good luck. Now, as usual, our caretaker, Mr. Filch, has asked me to remind you..."

He was cut off by a very high pitched, "hem hem". Dumbledore turned around in surprise and the students whispering ceased. Professor Umbridge had stood up and was walking towards the front of the teachers' table. That's when Teddy recognised her. He'd seen her in the Daily Prophet. "Doesn't she work for Fudge?" He asked Luna.

"Thank you, headmaster, for those kind words of welcome." Her voice was girly and sweet, too sweet. "And how lovely to see all your bright... happy faces smiling up at me."

No one was smiling.

"I'm sure we're all going to be very good friends." She said, emphasising the word 'very'.

'Yeah, right.' Teddy thought, rolling his eyes.

There was an air around that woman that didn't seem to agree with him. He took another bite of his pastry. Umbridge continued, looking at each student like they were five. "The Ministry of Magic has always considered the education of young witches and wizards to be of vital importance. Although each Headmaster has brought something new to this historic school," she glanced at Dumbledore who gave a polite nod. "Progress for the sake of progress must be discouraged."

Teddy raised his head at this. "What'd she just say?'

He wasn't the only one that looked confused, students had begun to whisper among each other. Umbridge barely noticed. "Let us preserve what must be preserved... perfect what can be perfected... and prune practices that ought to be prohibited." She said, as if she was talking to a bunch kindergartners. Everyone was still confused, befuddled, and slightly offended. The applause that followed afterwards was slow and half-hearted.

Professor Umbridge gave a small giggle, taking her seat again. Dumbledore shook his head before looking out at the students again. "Thank you, Professor Umbridge. That really was most illuminating."

'That's one word for it.' Teddy looked at Umbridge who was still watching each and every student. When her gaze passed over him she continued staring in his direction. Her eyes, darkening, yet she continued to smile sweetly and innocently.

"What do you think that was all about?" Teddy asked Arkie as they left the hall.

"I don't know, but it can't be good."

"I recognised her, from the Daily Prophet. She works for Fudge."

Arkie paused before speaking again. "Then it's defiantly not good."