Chapter Thirty-Three - Allison

                                    

                                          
After all of the students have finished eating and the noise of chatter starts to grow, Dumbledore gets to his feet once more. The talking ceases immediately.
                          
"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, Dumbledore says. "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. 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 the 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 teacher." There's a round of polite but fairly unenthusiastic applause.
                          
Dumbledore continues, "Tryouts for the house Quidditch teams will take place on the -" he breaks off, looking inquiringly at Professor Umbridge. Professor Umbridge clears her throat with a "Hem, hem."
                          
Dumbledore appears taken aback for a moment, but then he sits back down, allowing Umbridge to start speaking. "Thank you, Headmaster, for those kind words of welcome." She clears her throat with another "Hem, hem" and continues. "Well, it is lovely to be back at Hogwarts, I must say!" she smiles. "And to see such happy little faces looking up at me!" No one is smiling.
                          
"I am very much looking forward to getting to know you all and I'm sure we'll be very good friends!" She clears her throat, yet again, in the same fashion as before, and then continues on. "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 to 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."
                          
She pauses, bows to the teachers at the staff table, clears her throat once more, and then continues. "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. Then 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..."
                          
People's interest in what Umbridge is saying starts to drift away, including my own. I start whispering to Michael about Quidditch tryouts and Luna starts reading an edition of The Quibbler.
                          
"...because some changes will be for the better, while others will come, in the fullness of time, to be recognised as errors of judgement. 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." She sits down and Dumbledore claps, the teachers following his lead, albeit unenthusiastically, and only a few students mimicking them.
                          
Dumbledore stands up again. "Thank you very much, Professor Umbridge, that was most illuminating," he says, bowing to her. "Now, as I was saying, Quidditch tryouts will be held on Friday September 6 and Saturday September 7. Times for each house tryouts will be posted in your house common room."
                          
After Dumbledore makes his final announcements, he sends us all off to bed. Michael, Mandy, and I leave the Great Hall together. Padma has to stay behind because she has to help Anthony guide the first years to the common room.
                          
I admit I was disappointed to find out I wasn't made a Prefect, but I was much happier when I found it was Padma. She's one of my best friends, after all, and I'm proud of her. She deserves it.
                          
Mandy and I say goodbye to Michael and climb the stairs to the girl's dormitory. I'm completely exhausted as I change into my pyjamas and climb into bed.