The moment Dolores Umbridge and Lucius Malfoy entered the Great Hall, the previously boisterous hall fell silent in an instant.
Every young witch and wizard's gaze followed the haughty Umbridge. Some whose parents worked at the Ministry of Magic looked faintly uneasy.
It was not Harry's first time seeing Dolores Umbridge, nor was he unaware of why she had come to Hogwarts, but he still asked through gritted teeth,
"What is she doing here?"
"Isn't it obvious?"
Hermione's face had gone pale with anger as she snapped back. Then she looked towards the Slytherin table, wanting to see how Draco Malfoy felt about his father arriving at Hogwarts alongside a senior Ministry official.
To Hermione's surprise, Draco's pale face showed not the slightest trace of delight. Instead, it was filled with deep unease and a measure of panic.
At the staff table, every professor had risen from their seats and was staring coldly at Umbridge. Some did not even bother concealing the hostility in their eyes. Only Dumbledore and Amosta remained relatively calm.
"I'm here, Dumbledore, Breen—"
At last, Umbridge stopped before the staff table. She raised her face, made somewhat grotesque by its smug smile, and her shrill voice echoed through the pin-drop silence of the Great Hall.
It was time to lay all their cards on the table. Umbridge did not bother hiding her delight.
"Though you did everything in your power to keep me out of Hogwarts, Dumbledore, Breen, I still made it here."
Malfoy desperately tried to convince himself that everything was going according to plan, but standing within Breen's line of sight still left his forehead beaded with cold sweat. As for this woman Umbridge's arrogant declaration, he was already mourning for her in his heart.
"Hogwarts has never turned away those who come with