Just as everyone was eating.
Suddenly, a vast flock of owls flew into the Great Hall.
The students quickly grabbed the food in front of them and stuffed it into their mouths, afraid that if they were a moment too slow, all they would get to eat would be owl feathers.
Hermione deftly caught a copy of the Daily Prophet dropped by an owl and began reading.
Ron looked around, and only after confirming that his family's owl was nowhere to be seen did he uncover the milk jug in front of him.
He said in surprise:
"Hermione, you actually subscribe to the Daily Prophet?"
Without looking up, Hermione said:
"If Harry wants to complete his task, he needs to keep up with the latest developments in the Wizarding World, especially anything about Sirius Black.
"The front-page story is about Professor Holmes."
Ron said urgently:
"Everyone's seen that enormous photograph. Hurry up and see what the article says."
Hermione skimmed it, then began reading it aloud to the others.
"The new Professor of Defense Against the Dark Arts is him, of all people?
"According to reports, Hogwarts's Professor of Defense Against the Dark Arts this term will once again be Douglas Holmes, who held the position last year.
"He is the first professor in decades to serve a second year as Professor of Defense Against the Dark Arts. One could even call Professor Holmes the most formidable Professor of Defense Against the Dark Arts in recent decades.
"In a letter, Dumbledore explained that there had never been any jinx and that we should believe in magic..."
At this, Harry said quietly:
"Why do I feel like that sounds like something my maternal cousin would say?"
Ron nodded in wholehearted agreement.
The entire article recounted some of Douglas's past exploits, without