Umbridge had that satisfying look on her face as she watched the student. She knew Dumbledore was going to sugarcoat the event; that was why she needed to show them the truth.
"We at the Ministry of Magic understand that the situation has led to Harry taking such a step. But we cannot have anyone thinking that justice can be served by their own hand and crumble the very peace that the Ministry of Magic has achieved. That's why Harry Potter could not go unpunished. Normally, the use of unforgivable magic is a lifetime imprisonment at Azkaban, but as the Ministry of Magic intends to fulfill justice, we could not help but sympathize with Harry Potter. As such, together with all the members of the Wizengamot, Harry Potter was put on trial and given a four-month imprisonment at Azkaban plus a month's probation after that."
What followed was the low voices of many students talking among themselves.
Even though it was big news in the wizarding community, many of the Muggle-born were with their parents and were unaware of the events that happened during the last few months. Evidently, they heard about it on the journey to Hogwarts, but still, it was a hard truth to digest. Only now, seeing that Dumbledore or any of the other professors were not contradicting Umbridge, those students who had doubts now knew that this was indeed the truth.
Ron and Hermione felt many students' gaze on them. They could only look down to avoid seeing anyone.
Ron was feeling angry.
Three months in Azkaban? That was supposed to be some kind of mercy?
He stole a glance at Harry's empty seat at the Gryffindor table, an empty feeling settling in his stomach.
For the rest of the ceremony, everything became blurred to Ron as Umbridge's speech became distant. It was only when Ron heard a great clattering and banging all around him that he came back to reality. Dumbledore had obviously just dismissed the school because everyone was standing up, ready to leave the Hall.
Hermione jumped up, looking flustered. "Ron, we're supposed to show the first-years where to go!"
As Ron and Hermione were doing their Prefect duty, Draco and Pansy were also tasked with guiding the first-year Slytherins. But it was much more Pansy who was doing the job as Draco was moving outside the hall. Pansy understood well that Draco had a task to do, as he had stated to her earlier on the train.
It came as a shock to her when Draco first told her that the Dark Lord wanted her to be part of his Death Eaters.
How her family, the Parkinsons, was part of the Sacred Twenty-Eight pureblood family, and how she was going to be the one who would continue this pure lineage.
When Draco mentioned how the Dark Lord was impressed with her magic, with her behavior, and even called her the best Slytherin female of this generation, Pansy was filled with a dark exhilaration. Then she saw the pride on Draco's face when he revealed the dark mark to her, showing how he had already become one of the loyal followers of the Dark Lord.
She was promised the same reward if she followed the Dark Lord's command.
As such, when Draco told her to take care of the first years while he was going to do a task assigned by their Lord, Pansy complied immediately.
She watched as Ron was the first to leave the hall among the students.
After looking left and right, ensuring that no one was following him, Draco walked at a fast pace toward the third floor. Soon after navigating the familiar corridors, he arrived at his destination, in front of a door. Behind it was the room where the previous DADA Professor, Alastor Moody, and Lupin stayed during their time at Hogwarts. And this year, the pink Professor, Umbridge, was going to make this her room.
Draco opened his robe and took a letter from his inner pocket. After ensuring once more there were no spying eyes, Draco slid the letter through the gap between the door and the ground. Once the letter got inside the room, Draco returned to his House.
The letter was given to Draco by the Lord himself.
Even though Draco did not open it, he was certain that the content of the letter must be something along the lines of Voldemort recruiting Dolores Umbridge.
Draco did not know exactly when, but he knew that he was changing. The previous Draco would have peeked into the content of that letter. The boy he had been, petty, impulsive, eager for attention, was being replaced by something else.
After meeting the Dark Lord, after getting his mission, and more importantly, after Voldemort told him to be more mindful of his behavior, Draco changed.
And during the feast in the hall, Draco's belief and faith in the Dark Lord gained another level. When Voldemort gave him this letter, the latter told him that Dolores Umbridge was going to be the new DADA Professor and that Hagrid was going to be replaced by another one.
Upon confirming that in the hall, Draco came to two conclusions.
The first was that Voldemort had someone at Hogwarts who was giving him information. But Draco quickly dismissed that thought, as not even his father knew that Hagrid was not going to be here today, even though his father was one of the governors of Hogwarts.
Voldemort knew that Draco was going to be made a Prefect this year; he also knew about the different new professors for this year. So, the only other possible conclusion that Draco reached was that Voldemort was a Seer.
And a very powerful Seer.
Now all he had to do was repair the vanishing cabinet, and his task would be completed.
Back inside the hall, Dolores Umbridge watched as all the students left, and she was left with the rest of the teachers. Many of them did not bother to approach her, but she did not mind it.
Soon, they would be put in their place.
She turned and looked at Dumbledore before leaving and walked toward her room on the third floor. As she opened her door, she almost stepped on a paper that had been clearly passed under the door.