In contrast, when Dumbledore spoke, the entire Great Hall was completely silent, but now the students were whispering, talking amongst themselves, and even giggling.
At the Ravenclaw Table, Cho and Marietta were chatting excitedly, while Luna, a few seats away, pulled out "The Quibbler."
The situation at the Hufflepuff table wasn't much better. Cedric was one of the few students still staring at Umbridge, but his gaze was dull and lifeless, clearly just putting on an act.
The Slytherin table was even more lively, with Pansy sitting down next to Draco at some point, their Prefect Badge Winky.
The most amazing thing was the Gryffindor table, where Hermione, the model student, completely dropped her act and started commenting on Umbridge's attire.
"That overly saturated pink cardigan looks like a factory that's been swept away by a tornado, and with all those layers of lace and bows on it, I seriously suspect her stylist is Dementors the side. Otherwise, how could they make a middle-aged woman's workplace attire look like a kidnapped doll?"
Parvati and Lavender couldn't help but laugh out loud at her sharp comments.
"What's even more terrifying is that she was extremely obese, which made her look like a walking gift box, or rather, the kind that's been cursed with Imperius Curse."
Hermione took a deep breath and continued, "A woman in her fifties insisting on wearing girlish clothes—this serious mismatch between age and aesthetics is even more frightening than the Boggart."
James and Alfred, who were sitting opposite, joined in.
"I think her outfit would scare away Death Eaters."
"Our Minister Fudge is a real genius. He's been staring at this thing all day and he's still not gone crazy."
As soon as he finished speaking, Neville and the other two burst into laughter.
"Neville, why don't you give your opinion?"
"Uh—okay, I think my grandma dresses more fashionably than her."
"Ha ha ha ha..."
Umbridge at the staff table seemed oblivious to the restlessness of the teachers and students, and even seemed to be deaf to the laughter coming from the Gryffindor table.
She was indeed not self-satisfied, but rather lived in her own world. Even if a massive riot broke out right under her nose, she would probably continue her slow and deliberate speech.
"Let us move forward into a new era of enlightenment, efficiency and rationality, resolutely upholding what should be upheld, improving what needs improvement, and discarding what we should prohibit."
Finally, Umbridge sat back down.
Dumbledore blinked and quickly clapped his hands.
The professors clapped along, but they did so perfunctorily, especially Snape, who clapped twice before hastily withdrawing his hand.
Few students applauded, because most students only listened for two or three sentences before their attention wandered and they didn't realize that the speech was over.
Before they could even begin to applaud properly, the quick-witted Dumbledore stood up again.
"Thank you very much, Professor Umbridge. Your speech was very—well, very inspiring."
As he spoke, he bowed slightly to Umbridge. "Alright, as I just said, the Quidditch team selection will begin next week, and anyone who is interested can sign up."
After the announcement that all teachers and students were to be dismissed, the students almost all jumped up, and even the professors hurriedly left the Great Hall.
As dawn approached, the quiet kitchen came alive again.
The seven little ones were sitting in a circle, counting the trinkets Vincent had brought back from the Wizarding World of Hong Kong.
The Exam Proxy Paper Figure is a special talisman that can mimic the user's handwriting and automatically write answers. The answers are random, making it a must-have for students who are too lazy to take exams.
The Cosmos Express Charm: Write the address on the front, then place the item to be delivered on the talisman, and it will carry the item to its destination.
This Mystical Lantern can adjust its brightness and color; its blinking at night can scare people half to death.
The Fortune Incense Coils emits a large number of Gold Galleons illusions when lit, with a level of realism comparable to Magical Projection.
If you secretly stick a bad luck charm on someone's back, they will encounter a series of trivial but extremely annoying little troubles for the next two hours, such as their shoelaces always coming undone, ink always spilling, always bumping into doors that suddenly open while walking, and snacks that they want to grab always slipping from their fingers.
"What great stuff!" Fred and George each held a stack of small yellow talismans with twisted runes drawn on them, clearly delighted.
Vincent really knew them; there were only two or three of each of the other trinkets, but two whole stacks of the unlucky charms.
I glanced at the quantity, and it should be enough to keep one person unlucky for more than half a year.
Hermione continued to reach into the metal cube and pulled out a retractable back scratcher, Yin-Yang Ink, endless mustard balm, Screaming Sachet, and other gadgets.
Cedric curiously picked up a small box of bright green ointment that faintly emitted a cooling scent. "This is pretty good too. Just apply a little to the skin and it will produce a strong, pungent sensation, like eating an overdose of wasabi."
Qiu shivered involuntarily. "Let's forget it. I don't want to see Umbridge in tears."
The scene was so beautiful that everyone shivered.
Hermione counted the number; there were 23 types in total, 11 of which could be used for pranks.
"Which floor is Umbridge's office on?"
Fred straightened up immediately. "Reporting, Big Sister Head! It's on the fourth floor!"
George added with a laugh, "It's great that it's not the office Lockhart used to work in!"
Hermione felt increasingly ashamed as she recalled her naive and ignorant self from back then.
She gently fanned her burning cheeks with her small hand. "We need a detailed action plan. Umbridge is a high-ranking official in the Ministry of Magic, and we must not let her find out about us."
Everyone instinctively pulled out the bat costumes that Vincent had specially commissioned two years ago: George was Nightwing, Fred was Robin, Cedric was Son of Batman Damian, Hermione was Catwoman, and Daphne was Batwoman.
Qiu and Astoria looked at the group after they changed clothes with shining eyes.
With their stylish uniforms and cool gear, they also yearn for a matching bat outfit.
The seven children discussed it and decided to take advantage of the early hour to work together to make exclusive outfits for the two girls.
Fred and George were in charge of weapons and equipment, Daphne and Cho were in charge of tailoring and stitching uniforms, Hermione and Cedric were in charge of Alchemy and applying magical effects, and Astoria was in charge of color mixing.
More than an hour later, the female Robin outfit and the purple Huntress outfit were successfully completed.
Looking at Qiu in her disguise, George couldn't help but remark, "Aren't Helena and the Huntress the same person?"
As he spoke, he glanced at Cedric, "I remember Damian and Helena are siblings, aren't they?"
Cedric smirked. "There have been several Huntress, and besides, this is just the Batsuit set; it doesn't mean we are the characters themselves."
George looked enlightened. "Oh, it's just a little romantic gesture between lovers."
Everyone turned to look at Hermione.
Speaking of romantic gestures between couples, it seems like she Vincent started doing it back in first grade.