Rude

Sept 1, 1995
7th year

"We have had two changes in staffing this year," Dumbledore continued his post-feast speech. "We are very pleased to welcome back Professor Grubbly-Plank, who will be taking Care of Magical Creatures lessons; we are also delighted to introduce Professor Umbridge, our new Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher."

There was a round of polite but fairly unenthusiastic applause during which three Gryffindors exchanged slightly panicked looks; Dumbledore had not said for how long Grubbly-Plank would be teaching or where Hagrid had gone.

Dumbledore continued, "Tryouts for the House Quidditch teams will take place on the—"

Hem hem. The new professor coughed—if you could call that a cough.

Everything stopped as Dumbledore slowly turned to look at the ministry imposed teacher.

"Yes, Delores?" He intoned.

"I just want to thank you for that warm welcome!" Her voice was high pitched and breathy.

One sentence and half the populace already had a headache. Dumbledore sat down again and gave her his full and rapt attention. The other teachers gave her their attention too, though they were far more visibly shocked by this behavior. No one interrupted the Headmaster without it being life or death.

"Thank you, Headmaster," Professor Umbridge simpered, "for those kind words of welcome." Hem hem "Well, it is lovely to be back at Hogwarts, I must say!" She smiled pointily. "And to see such happy little faces looking back at me!"

Bothe Leili and Jo snorted. Looking around, no one looked happy to see her. Most were bored or shocked. Some were looking very grumpy, Leili could only assume it was due to being addressed like they were, well, children. But no one looked happy

"I am very much looking forward to getting to know you all, and I'm sure we'll be very good friends! The Ministry of Magic has always considered the education of young witches and wizards to be of vital importance. The rare gifts with which you were born may come to nothing if not nurtured and honed by careful instruction. The ancient skills unique to the Wizarding community must be passed down through the generations lest we lose them forever. The treasure trove of magical knowledge amassed by our ancestors must be guarded, replenished, and polished by those who have been called to the noble profession of teaching."

"'Rare skills, ancient wisdom, treasure trove,' what a load of hooey," Jo muttered to herself.

Professor Umbridge paused here and made a little bow to her fellow staff members, none of who bowed back.

Professor McGonagall's dark eyebrows had contracted so far that Leili wondered if she was going to transfigure herself into a hawk and make a dive for Umbridge's eyes. She satisfied herself with that fantasy for a minute, wishing—not for the first time—that she could draw better.

"Every headmaster and headmistress of Hogwarts has brought something new to the weighty task of governing this historic school, and that is as it should be, for without progress there will be stagnation and decay. There again, progress for progress's sake must be discouraged, for our tried and tested traditions often require no tinkering. A balance, then, between old and new, between permanence and change, between tradition and innovation . . ."

"Gods, she just doesn't stop, does she?" Jo whispered in Leili's ear, Leili repressed a snicker.

". . . because some changes will be for the better, while others will come, in the fullness of time, to be recognized as errors of judgment. Meanwhile, some old habits will be retained, and rightly so, whereas others, outmoded and outworn, must be abandoned. Let us move forward, then, into a new era of openness, effectiveness, and accountability, intent on preserving what ought to be preserved, perfecting what needs to be perfected, and pruning wherever we find practices that ought to be prohibited."

Finally, finally she sat down. The staff clapped. Sort of.

Dumbledore stood and continued with his speech. Mercifully, he kept it short.

"I don't like her," Jo said as they made their way to their common room.

"I'll grant you, she is annoying." Leili stopped, a thought occurring to her, and put a hand on Jo's arm, "did you get a vibe from her?"

"No. I just don't like her. I don't have to get a vibe about someone just to dislike them, y'know."

"I know! I was just wondering, that's all."

"No, no vibage. Just good old fashioned dislike."

Leili grinned as they kept walking.

"What? You saw how she interrupted Dumbledore, rude."