Chapter 27: Feast

September 1, 2002 – Sunday

Great Hall

"Did everyone see that Grubbly-Plank woman?" asked Ginny, her eyes narrowing with suspicion. "What's she doing back here? Hagrid can't have left, can he?"

Dawn shook her head, her brow furrowed in uncertainty. "I'm sure Buffy would have heard something if he was."

"I'll be quite glad if he has," said Luna, her dreamy voice carrying a touch of indifference, "he isn't a very good teacher, is he?"

"Yes, he is!" retorted Harry, his voice laced with frustration. Dawn, Ron, and Ginny nodded in agreement, their expressions mirroring the sentiment.

Dawn shot a reproachful look at Hermione, who shifted uncomfortably under the gaze. Clearing her throat, Hermione quickly said, "Erm... yes... he's very good."

"Well, we in Ravenclaw think he's a bit of a joke," Luna remarked, unfazed by the collective defense of Hagrid.

"You've got a rubbish sense of humor then," Ron snapped, his frustration evident in the sharpness of his tone.

Rattling and swaying, the carriages moved in convoy up the road. When they passed between the tall stone pillars topped with winged boars on either side of the gates to the school grounds, Harry leaned forward to try and see whether there were any lights on in Hagrid's cabin by the Forbidden Forest, but the grounds were in complete darkness.

"Is he there, can you tell?" Dawn asked, her voice laced with a hint of concern, her eyes searching the shadows.

"I can't," Harry admitted, his gaze fixed on the spot he knew Hagrid's cabin to be.

Hogwarts Castle loomed ever closer: a towering mass of turrets, jet-black against the dark sky, here and there a window blazing fiery bright above them.

The carriages jingled to a halt near the stone steps leading up to the oak front doors, and Harry got out of the carriage first, followed by Hermione, Dawn, Ron, Ginny, and Luna. Dawn turned to look for lit windows down by the forest, but there was definitely no sign of life within Hagrid's cabin.

"He's not there," Dawn said, a note of disappointment tinging her words, her eyes scanning the empty space where Hagrid's presence should have been. Harry, who was standing next to her, nodded in agreement.

Dawn turned to follow Hermione into the castle when Ron's voice drew her attention. "Are you coming or what?" said Ron, his impatience palpable. Dawn turned and saw Harry gazing at the horse-like creatures.

"Oh… yeah," said Harry quickly, and they joined the crowd hurrying up the stone steps into the castle.

The entrance hall was ablaze with torches and echoing with footsteps as the students crossed the flagged stone floor for the double doors to the right, leading to the Great Hall and the start-of-term feast.

The four long House tables in the Great Hall were filling up under the starless black ceiling, which was just like the sky they could glimpse through the high windows. Candles floated in midair all along the tables, illuminating the silvery ghosts who were dotted about the Hall and the faces of the students talking eagerly to one another, exchanging summer news, shouting greetings at friends from other Houses, eyeing one another's new haircuts and robes.

Luna drifted away from them at the Ravenclaw table. The moment they reached Gryffindor's, Ginny was hailed by some fellow fourth years and left to sit with them; Harry, Ron, Dawn, Hermione, and Neville found seats together about halfway down the table between Nearly Headless Nick and Parvati Patil and Lavender Brown.

Harry looked over the students' heads to the staff table that ran along the top wall of the Hall. "He's not there," Harry said, his voice carrying a note of concern, his eyes searching for the familiar half-giant friend.

Ron, Dawn, and Hermione scanned the staff table too, their eyes darting in search of the familiar giant figure. The absence of Hagrid fueled the unease settling over them, a palpable tension that lingered in the air like a storm about to break.

"He can't have left," said Ron, sounding slightly anxious, his brow furrowed with worry.

"Of course he hasn't," said Harry firmly, though his attempt to reassure himself and his friends was evident in his tone.

"You don't think he's . . . hurt, or anything, do you?" said Hermione uneasily, her worry casting a shadow over the conversation.

"No," said Harry at once, his response quick and resolute, though a flicker of doubt lingered in his eyes.

"But where is he, then?" Dawn asked, a touch of worry in her voice. She noticed Buffy waving at them, a momentary distraction from the growing concern. She nudged Hermione, and they waved back, trying to push away the uneasy thoughts.

"Maybe he's not back yet. You know — from his mission — the thing he was doing over the summer for Dumbledore," Harry suggested, attempting to rationalize Hagrid's absence.

"Yeah . . . yeah, that'll be it," said Ron, a hint of uncertainty still lingering in his expression.

Hermione bit her lip, her gaze shifting up and down the staff table, as if hoping to catch a glimpse of the familiar half-giant.

Dawn looked at Hermione, her eyes reflecting shared concern. "We'll ask Buffy after the feast."

Hermione nodded in agreement, her expression mirroring the determination to find out more.

"Who's that?" Ron said sharply, pointing towards the middle of the staff table at Umbridge, his suspicion evident in his tone.

Dawn nodded, her eyes narrowing slightly. "That's Moody's replacement. There was a change of plans. Buffy's not teaching solo this year."

Professor Grubbly-Plank, who had just appeared behind the staff table, worked her way along to the very end and took the seat that was normally Hagrid's. That meant that the first years had crossed the lake and reached the castle, and sure enough, a few seconds later, the doors from the entrance hall opened. A long line of scared-looking first years entered, led by Professor McGonagall, who was carrying a stool on which sat the Sorting Hat.

The buzz of talk in the Great Hall faded away. The first years lined up in front of the staff table facing the rest of the students, and Professor McGonagall placed the stool carefully in front of them, then stood back.

The first years' faces glowed palely in the candlelight. The whole school waited with bated breath. Then the rip near the hat's brim opened wide like a mouth, and the Sorting Hat burst into song.

The enchanting melody filled the hall, echoing off the stone walls, and for a moment, the worries about Hagrid's absence were momentarily forgotten. The Great Hall listened in rapt attention, the flickering candlelight casting dancing shadows on the eager faces of students and the expectant eyes of the first years.

0 – 0 – 0 – 0 – 0

Slowly, the long line of first years thinned; in the pauses between the names and the Sorting Hat's decisions, Dawn could hear Ron's stomach rumbling loudly. Finally, "Zeller, Rose," was sorted into Hufflepuff, and Professor McGonagall picked up the hat and stool and marched them away as Professor Dumbledore rose to his feet.

"To our newcomers," said Dumbledore in a ringing voice, his arms stretched wide and a beaming smile on his lips, "welcome! To our old hands—welcome back! There is a time for speech-making, but this is not it. Tuck in!"

There was an appreciative laugh and an outbreak of applause as Dumbledore sat down neatly, and threw his long beard over his shoulder so as to keep it out of the way of his plate—for food had appeared out of nowhere, so that the five long tables were groaning under joints and pies and dishes of vegetables, bread, sauces, and flagons of pumpkin juice.

"Excellent," said Ron, with a kind of groan of longing, and he seized the nearest plate of chops and began piling them onto his plate, watched wistfully by Nearly Headless Nick.

0 – 0 – 0 – 0 – 0

When all the students had finished eating and the noise level in the hall was starting to creep upward again, Dumbledore got to his feet once more. Talking ceased immediately as all turned to face the headmaster.

"Well, now that we are all digesting another magnificent feast, I beg a few moments of your attention for the usual start-of-term notices," said Dumbledore. "First years ought to know that the forest in the grounds is out of bounds to students—and a few of our older students ought to know by now too."

Harry, Ron, and Hermione exchanged smirks, memories of their own adventures in the Forbidden Forest surfacing.

Dawn rolled her eyes, her disbelief evident. "Don't tell me you guys have gone in the Forest?"

Harry, Ron, and Hermione nodded, a shared sense of mischief and camaraderie passing between them.

"Mr. Filch, the caretaker, has asked me, for what he tells me is the four hundred and sixty-second time, to remind you all that magic is not permitted in corridors between classes, nor are a number of other things, all of which can be checked on the extensive list now fastened to Mr. Filch's office door."

"Mr Filch, the caretaker, has asked me, for what he tells me is the four-hundred-and-sixty-second time, to remind you all that magic is not permitted in corridors between classes, nor are a number of other things, all of which can be checked on the extensive list now fastened to Mr Filch's office door."

"We have had two changes in staffing this year. 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 Defence Against the Dark Arts co-teacher. She will be sharing the duty with Professor Summers this year." Dumbledore continued.

There was a round of polite but fairly unenthusiastic applause during which Dawn, Harry, Ron, and Hermione exchanged looks; Dumbledore had not said for how long Grubbly-Plank would be teaching.

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

He broke off, looking inquiringly at Professor Umbridge. As she was not much taller standing than sitting, there was a moment when nobody understood why Dumbledore had stopped talking, but then Professor Umbridge said, "Hem, hem," and it became clear that she had got to her feet and was intending to make a speech.

Dumbledore only looked taken aback for a moment, then he sat back down smartly and looked alertly at Professor Umbridge as though he desired nothing better than to listen to her talk. Other members of staff were not as adept at hiding their surprise. No new teacher had ever interrupted Dumbledore before.

"Thank you, Headmaster," Professor Umbridge simpered, "for those kind words of welcome." Her voice was high-pitched, breathy, and little-girlish and again, She gave another little throat-clearing cough ("Hem, hem") and continued: "Well, it is lovely to be back at Hogwarts, I must say!" She smiled, revealing very pointed teeth. "And to see such happy little faces looking back at me!"

Buffy looked at Hermione and Dawn, her eyes rolling in shared exasperation.

Hermione and Dawn nodded, their agreement with Buffy's unspoken sentiment evident.

"I am very much looking forward to getting to know you all, and I'm sure we'll be very good friends!" Umbridge cooed, her voice dripping with artificial sweetness that sent an unsettling chill down the spines of many students. Her words, though seemingly warm, carried an undercurrent of calculated insincerity that set an uneasy tone in the room.

"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 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."

Professor Umbridge paused, allowing her words to linger in the air. With a self-satisfied smile, she made a little bow to her fellow staff members, none of whom, except Buffy, reciprocated the gesture. Harry couldn't help but notice Buffy's deferential nod to Umbridge and whispered to Dawn and Hermione, "Why's your sister kissing up to her?"

Dawn and Hermione exchanged puzzled glances. "We don't know. But we're going to find out," Hermione declared with a determined gleam in her eyes.

"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..." Umbridge continued, her words fading into a distant murmur for Dawn as her thoughts drifted off. It seemed at that point Hermione might be the only one still listening, her focused expression unwavering.

"...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," Umbridge finished finally and sank into her chair.

Dumbledore clapped, and the staff followed his lead, though their applause lacked the genuine enthusiasm one might expect. Dumbledore stood up again. "Thank you very much, Professor Umbridge; that was most illuminating. Now, as I was saying, Quidditch tryouts will be held..."

"Yes, it certainly was illuminating," Hermione remarked in a low voice, her words carrying a weight of thought.

"You're not telling me you enjoyed it?" Dawn said quietly, a skeptical look on her face. "If you did, you're not my sister."

Ron, with a glazed expression, nodded in agreement, turning to Hermione. "That was about the dullest speech I've ever heard, and I grew up with Percy."

"I said illuminating, not enjoyable, Dawnie," Hermione clarified. "It explained a lot."

"Did it?" Harry asked in surprise, raising an eyebrow. "Sounded like a load of waffle to me."

"There was some important stuff hidden in the waffle," Hermione said grimly, her eyes narrowing in thought. "And I think I understand why Buffy is kissing up to her."

"Was there?" said Ron blankly, his confusion evident.

"How about: 'progress for progress's sake must be discouraged'? How about: 'pruning wherever we find practices that ought to be prohibited'?" Hermione explained, her voice carrying a tone of urgency.

Dawn shook her head, her brow furrowed in confusion. "What does that mean? And what does that have to do with Buffy?"

"I'll tell you what it means," said Hermione through gritted teeth, her frustration palpable. "It means the Ministry's interfering at Hogwarts. And what it has to do with Buffy... I think she's been asked by the Order to keep watch on Umbridge. She can do that better if she stays on Umbridge's good side."

The revelation hung in the air, a heavy silence settling among the trio as they absorbed the implications. The mere idea of the Ministry meddling in Hogwarts affairs brought an unsettling reality to the forefront of their minds.

There was a great clattering and banging all around them; Dumbledore had obviously just dismissed the school, because everyone was standing up, ready to leave the Hall. The cacophony of chairs scraping against the stone floor echoed as students prepared to exit.

Hermione jumped up, her expression flustered with a sense of responsibility. "Ron, we're supposed to show the first-years where to go!"

"Oh yeah," Ron replied nonchalantly. "Hey — hey, you lot! Midgets!"

"Ron!" Hermione admonished, shooting him a disapproving look.

"Well, they are, they're titchy…" Ron mumbled, attempting to defend himself.

"I know, but you can't call them midgets! — First-years!" Hermione called commandingly along the table. "This way, please!"

As the first-years hesitated, looking uncertain in the bustling crowd, Hermione turned to Dawn urgently. "Go see Buffy. Confirm what I just said about Umbridge, will you? Oh, and the password is Mimbuius mimbletonia."

Dawn nodded, understanding the gravity of the situation. "Got it. I'll find Buffy and get the details. Stay sharp, Hermione."

Dawn walked towards the staff table, her eyes searching for her sister among the sea of faces. Spotting Buffy at the far end of the table engaged in a conversation with a couple of professors, Dawn made her way through the lingering students. As she reached Buffy, a sense of familiarity and comfort washed over her.

"Buffy, can I walk you to your room?" Dawn asked, a genuine warmth in her voice.

Buffy looked up, a bright smile gracing her features. "Sure, Dawnie." With a graceful motion, she stood up, excusing herself from the conversation with the professors, and quickly exited the Great Hall with Dawn in tow.

As they strolled through the corridors of Hogwarts, the echoes of their footsteps mingled with the soft murmurs of students bidding each other goodnight. The castle, bathed in the warm glow of torchlight, seemed to come alive with an enchanting ambiance. Buffy glanced down at Dawn, a silent understanding passing between them.

Buffy's Suite

"Hellmouth," Buffy said, a whispered command that held a touch of secrecy and power, as she and Dawn stood outside the portrait to her suite. The magical entrance swung open, granting them access to the private sanctuary beyond.

Once the portrait closed behind them, Dawn, unable to contain her curiosity any longer, spoke up. "You're spying on Umbridge, aren't you, for the Order?"

Buffy met her sister's gaze with a knowing smile. "You got it. How'd you figure it out?"

Dawn's grin widened. "'Mione."

Buffy chuckled, a warmth in her eyes. "Our sister can sometimes be too smart for her good," she said, sharing a light moment with Dawn.

"Anyways, I assume she figured it out from Umbridge's speech?" Buffy inquired, her tone shifting to a more serious note.

Dawn nodded, her expression mirroring the gravity of the situation. "Yeah."

"There were enough clues in there for her plans that a blind person could follow them," Buffy said, her tone laced with a mix of frustration and determination as she and Dawn settled into the comfortable surroundings of Buffy's suite. The soft glow of enchanted candles cast a warm light, emphasizing the serious expression on Buffy's face.

Dawn furrowed her brow, leaning in with curiosity. "What kind of clues? What's Umbridge up to?"

Buffy sighed, her gaze fixed on a distant point as if replaying Umbridge's speech in her mind. "She's not just here for the education. The Ministry wants control. More oversight, more influence. 'Openness, effectiveness, and accountability,'" Buffy quoted with a hint of disdain. "It's a smokescreen. The real agenda is buried beneath bureaucratic jargon."

Dawn's eyes widened with understanding. "So, Hermione was right. The Ministry is meddling in Hogwarts affairs."

Buffy nodded, a steely resolve in her gaze. "Yeah. And it's not just about educational reforms; it's about tightening their grip on the magical world, starting with Hogwarts. They're pruning what they see as 'undesirable' practices, pushing their version of 'progress' onto the wizarding community."

Dawn's expression shifted to one of concern. "And you're keeping an eye on Umbridge for the Order to figure out what's really going on?"

Buffy confirmed with a nod. "Exactly. Which means while you and Hermione are not to go out of your way to make it easy for her. But at the same time, don't be perfect; leave the kissing up to her to me. Just act normally. We don't want her to become suspicious."

Dawn absorbed the instructions, her determination matching her sister's. "Okay." She turned to leave but then hesitated, a thoughtful expression crossing her face. "Oh, Buffy, are you still going to sue the Daily Prophet?"

Buffy nodded, her eyes reflecting a mix of frustration and resolve. "Eventually. With this deal with the Order and Umbridge, I can't do it now. Why?"

"Just curious. I just want to make them pay for the hell they're putting me through," Dawn admitted, a fire in her eyes.

Buffy's expression softened with understanding. "So do I, Dawn. So do I."

As Dawn left, the weight of their shared frustrations lingered in the air. Buffy sank into a chair, the soft flicker of enchanted candles casting shadows on the walls. The room felt both familiar and foreign, a sanctuary within the ever-shifting landscape of Hogwarts. As she leaned back in her chair, her thoughts turned to the undercover assignment she had taken upon herself - the delicate dance of espionage within the stone walls of the wizarding school.

The weight of her responsibility settled heavily on Buffy's shoulders. The task of spying on Umbridge for the Order brought with it a unique set of challenges. Each word, every gesture, had to be calculated, a careful blend of playing along while guarding the secrets of the resistance. The Ministry's tightening grip on Hogwarts was palpable, and Buffy found herself in the center of the storm, navigating the treacherous waters of political intrigue.

Her gaze drifted to the darkened window, and her thoughts swirled like the night sky beyond the glass. The echoes of Umbridge's speech lingered in her mind, a reminder of the veiled threats and hidden agendas woven into the fabric of her words. The Ministry's influence seeped into every corner of Hogwarts, and Buffy knew she had to tread lightly to uncover the truth.

The role of an undercover operative was not new to Buffy. She had faced formidable adversaries, infiltrated secretive organizations, and exposed hidden plots before. Yet, this assignment felt different. Hogwarts was not just a battleground; it was a symbol of hope, a place where young witches and wizards were supposed to learn and grow without the shadow of political machinations.

Buffy's eyes narrowed in determination. She couldn't afford to let sentimentality cloud her judgment. The Order needed information, and she was the key to unlocking the secrets within the hallowed halls of Hogwarts. The delicate balance between staying on Umbridge's good side and maintaining her cover demanded a level of finesse that challenged even Buffy's seasoned skills.

Gryffindor Tower

Harry was standing in front of the portrait of the Fat Lady. "Forgot to ask the password?" Dawn asked, a friendly grin on her face, as she walked up to him. Harry sighed and nodded. "What was Neville's plant?" she asked. "You know, the one that gave us all a stink bath?"

Harry's lips curved into a fond smile. "Mimbuius mimbletonia!"

"Correct," said the Fat Lady, her stern expression softening into approval as her portrait swung open towards them. They stepped through the portal hole.

"Thanks, Dawn," Harry said, gratitude shining in his eyes.

"That's what friends do," Dawn replied with a warmth that echoed the camaraderie they had developed in their time at Hogwarts. "Besides, I got your back, remember."

Harry nodded appreciatively. "And I got yours. Well, I'm heading to bed. See you in the morning, Dawn."

Dawn smiled, watching Harry depart. "I'm going to wait for Hermione. Night, Harry."

As Harry disappeared into the dimly lit corridor, Dawn settled into one of the cozy armchairs near the fireplace, glancing around the common room. The fire crackled, casting a gentle glow on the tapestries that adorned the walls.

As Dawn sat in the quiet common room, her mind couldn't help but linger on what Buffy had shared earlier. The memory of their conversation about Umbridge and the Ministry's interference echoed in her thoughts like a persistent whisper.

The weight of Buffy's responsibilities hung in the air. The Slayer, her sister, was tasked with a covert mission to spy on Umbridge, to unravel the mysteries hidden within the deceptive façade of Hogwarts. Dawn's admiration for Buffy's courage and commitment swelled within her.

Buffy had spoken of the delicate dance, the need to play along with Umbridge while safeguarding the interests of the Order. The complexity of the situation at Hogwarts was not lost on Dawn, and a mix of worry and pride stirred within her. The castle, once a refuge, had transformed into a battleground of politics and power struggles.

Her sister's words resonated in Dawn's mind – the importance of not making it easy for Umbridge but also not arousing suspicion. Buffy's guidance reflected the wisdom gained from years of navigating the treacherous paths of the supernatural world. Dawn couldn't help but marvel at the resilience and strength that defined her sister.

The thought of Buffy taking on this risky mission for the greater good stirred conflicting emotions within Dawn. Pride for her sister's selflessness, concern for the dangers she might face, and a deep-seated desire to support her in every possible way. The bond between them was unbreakable, and as Buffy faced the challenges within Hogwarts, Dawn found herself standing by her side, ready to offer whatever support was needed.