.⊹⁀➷ CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR !
↳ ❛professor dolores umbridge❜

THE NEXT MORNING was quiet hectic and the first time that Annabeth could relax was after they had finally reached the platform.

As always you had to fight your way through the crowd of students and parents, who were saying goodbye to each other.

As soon as the group came to a stand, Annabeth patted the large black dog besides her lovingly.

She gave him a small smile, but that quickly vanished when she spotted no other than Lucius, Narcissia and Draco Malfoy a few feet away from them.

The white haired man stared at the dog with his icy blue eyes, his upper lip curled up and he had a disgusted expression on his face.

Tonks, who had accompanied them to the platform started hugging the teenager's, a smile playing on her lips. "It was so nice to meet you all."

As the young woman took a step backwards, Moody gave them a firm nodd.

"Quick! Quick!", Mrs. Weasley then suddenly said as she started hugging the group of teens at random. "Write- be good- If you've forgotten anything we'll send it on- on to the train, now, hurry!"

For one brief moment the big black dog reared on it's hind legs and placed his paws on her shoulder's but Mrs. Weasley quickly pushed them inside the train.

Annabeth gave Sirius one last look and waved at him, "See you!"

After that the group of teenagers made their way further inside the train. "He shouldn't have come with us", Hermione said in a worried voice, which made Annabeth roll her eyes in silence.

"Oh, lighten up", Ron mumbled hurriedly. "He hasn't seen daylight for months, poor bloke."

Fred clapped his hands together, catching everyone's attention, "Well, can't stand around chatting, we've got business to discuss with Lee. See you later!"

And with that Fred and George disappeared down the corridor to the right.

With every minute the train was gathering more speed and grey landscape of the houses started passing by faster until the lush green of the fields appeared.

"Shall we go and find a compartment, then?", Harry questioned them, one eyebrow raised.

"Er- We're- well Ron and I are supposed to go into the prefect carriage", Hermione stumbled over her words while she eyed Harry awkwardly.

Ron was suddenly very interested in his finger nails and wasn't look at either of them.

Harry suddenly seemed like he remembered, "Oh, right. Fine."

"I don't think we'll have to stay there all journey. Our letters said we just get instructions from the Head Boy and Girl and then patrol the corridors from time to time", Hermione quickly explained to him.

"Fine." Harry's disappointment was visible on his face. "Well, I- I might see you later, then."

"Yeah, definitely", Ron immediately stated, anxiously peeking over at Harry from time to time. "It's a pain having to go down there, I'd rather- but we have to- I mean, I'm not enjoying it, I'm not Percy."

Harry started grinning, which surprised Annabeth, "I know you're not."

With that the group parted ways and as Annabeth watched Hermione and Ron walking away, she was feeling like something was missing. Harry and her had always spend the train ride with Ron and Hermione.

"Come on- if we get a move on we'll be able to save them places", Ginny suddenly spoke up from behind them, making Annabeth remember that she was also left behind.

Annabeth nodded her head in agreement while she wrapped her hand around her trunk, "Right."

As the three were making their way down the corridor Annabeth suddenly realized that many of the students they passed by started staring at her and Harry.

Only after a moment the girl realized that it was probably because everyone at Hogwarts had read the Daily Prophet over the summer, eating up the lies they were telling.

After a while no other than Neville came towards them, his round face shinning with the effort of pulling his trunk along and maintaining a one-handed grip on his struggling toad, Trevor.

He was panting heavily, "Hi, Harry- Annabeth - Ginny- everywhere's full- I can't find a seat-"

Ginny frowned at him, "What are you talking about ?" She squeezed passed the brunette boy and peeked into the compartment behind him. "There's room in this one, there's only Loony Lovegood in here-"

Annabeth heard Neville mumbling something under his breath about not wanting to disturb her before Ginny waved him off. "Don't be silly- she's all right."

The ginner haired man slid the door open and pulled her trunk inside, followed by Neville, Harry and Annabeth.

"Hi, Luna- is it okay if we take these seats?", she questioned the girl with a small smile on her face.

The girl who was seated in the compartment had waist-length, dirty blonde hair, very pale eyebrows and protuberant eyes.

Her wand was stuck behind her left ear, she also had chosen to wear a necklace of Butterbear corks and Annabeth took notice of the fact that she was reading her magazine upside-down.

The girl gave them a nodd and Ginny smiled, "Thanks."

While they sat down Annabeth noticed that Luna was watching them over her magazine that was called The Quibbler.

She also noticed that she wasn't blinking much and the blonde girl started staring at Harry as soon as he sat down on her opposite.

"Have a good summer, Luna?", Ginny asked her as soon as she had sat down.

"Yes- yes it was quiet enjoyable, you know", the blond stated dreamily while still staring shamelessly at Harry.

"You're Harry Potter", she suddenly added and Harry nodded at her. "I know I am."

Neville chuckled, which made Luna glance at him, "And I don't know you."

The boy seemed nervous. "I'm nobody", Neville quickly answered her, looking down into his hands.

Annabeth frowned at him, "No, you're not!"

"Neville Longbottom- Luna Lovegood. Luna's in my year, but in Ravenclaw", Ginny quickly introduced the two to each other.

"Wit beyond measure is man's greatest treasure", Luna sighed in a sing-song voice. After that she raised her upside-down magazine, so high that it covered her face.

Harry and Annabeth exchanged a sceptical look with each other and Ginny suppressed a giggle.

After a moment of long silence, Neville suddenly spoke up once more, "Guess what I got for my birthday?"

"Another Remembrall?", Harry assumed while he raised his eyebrows at him.

"No- I could do with one, though. I lost the old one ages ago- no, look at this-", Neville stated while he held up what seemed to be a small grey cactus in a pot, except that it was covered with what looked like boils rather than spines.

"Mimbulus mimbletonia", Neville told them proudly. Harry and Annabeth stared at the thing, not showing much reaction. "It's really, really rare."

Annabeth forced a smile onto her face while she nodded her head, "Great."

They fell back into silence before the compartment door slid open and a nervous voice spoke up, "Oh- hello, Harry."

Annabeth's eyes slightly widened when she saw that it was no other than Cho Chang, Harry's crush from last year. Her shiny black hair was longer than the year before and she had a large smile playing on her lips.

"Oh- hi", Harry had this dump smile plastered on his face.

"Um- well- just thought I'd say hello- bye then", the girl hurriedly spoke before her face turned into a deep pink and she closed the compartment door behind her.

Harry immediately slumped back into his seat and let out a rather loud groan.

Annabeth shot him a knowing look while she played with her fingers and the silence was continuing in the compartment.

A long while later the compartment doors flew open once more and Ron and Hermione entered.

"I'm starving!"

He slumped down into the seat next to Hedwig and Pigwidgeon, grabbing a chocolate frog from Harry.

"Well, there are two fifth year prefects from each house", Hermione stated while she threw herself into the seat beside Annabeth. "Boy and girl from each."

"And guess who's Slytherin prefect?", Ron said, his eyes closed while he chewed on the chocolate frog.

Annabeth and Harry answered in union, already imagining who it was, "Malfoy."

Ron nodded in confirmation, "'Course."

"And the complete cow Pansy Parkinson", Hermione viciously snapped. "How she got to be prefect when she's thicker than a concussed troll-"

"Who are Hufflepuff's?", Annabeth questioned them, while she slumped further into her seat.

"Ernie Macmillan and Hannah Abbott", Ron informed her. "And Anthony Goldstein and Padma Patil for Ravenclaw", Hermione added quickly.

"You went to Yule Ball with Padma Patil", Luna's vague voice suddenly interrupt their conversation, making everyone look at her.

"Yeah, I know", Harry stated, looking mildly surprised. "She didn't enjoy it very much", Luna informed him, which made Annabeth let out a snort.

"She doesn't think you treated her well, because you wouldn't dance with her. I don't think I'd have minded", she added, seemingly deeply in her own thoughts again. "I don't like dancing very much."

After that she retreated behind The Quibbler once more and the train ride continued.

After some time Annabeth had to change into her robes, so she grabbed them from the top of her trunk and made her way down the corridor to get changed.

But half way there, one of the compartment doors suddenly slid open, revealing no other than Draco Malfoy to her.

He had his black Hogwarts robes with the green and silver Slytherin details on, his almost white hair messy and falling into his face, Annabeth's eyes traveled up his figure and she also noticed that he had grown quiet a bit over the summer.

The compartment door fell shut behind him and the two students just stared at each other for a small moment.

Annabeth saw how his eyes moved down her body and then back up to her eyes.

The brunette had grown a bit over the summer, her chocolate brown shoulder-length hair was shorter than the year before but her brown eyes still held that warmth inside them that he knew.

Annabeth suddenly raised an eyebrow at him, "What?"

A large smirk appeared on Draco's face, while his hands were behind his back, "Careful, manners, Potter, or I'll have to give you a detention."

Annabeth scoffed and crossed her arms while she gave Draco a sceptical look, "Shut up, Malfoy."

"I seem to have touched a nerve", the bod stated while he still eyed her closely. He started walking around her in a circle. "Well, just watch yourself, Potter, because I'll be dogging your footsteps in case you or your brother step out of line."

Annabeth glanced at him over her shoulder, a smug smirk appearing on her lips, "So you're going to stalk me? Wow-"

Malfoy immediately frowned at her, shaking his head, "Wha- that's not what I said-"

"Oh, that's exactly what you said", Annabeth stated while she let out a chuckle.

"I feel honoured to be so important to you", she joked while she started walking away from him, leaving him speechless.

The girl gave him a smirk before she opened the door to the changing rooms and disappeared behind them.

Shaking her head to herself, she got into her school robes and when she left the changing room, Malfoy was gone.

When the Potter girl had finally reached the compartment, the train came to a stop and she joined the other's, who were already gathering all their stuff.

Neville and Ron were carrying their trunks outside and the other's followed behind them when suddenly an arrogant voice spoke up from behind them, "I'm surprised the Ministry's still letting you walk around free, Potter!"

Suddenly Malfoy, followed by Crabe and Goyle appeared besides them, arrogant and disgusted expressions plastered on their face. "You'll better enjoy it while you can- I expect there's a cell in Azkaban with your name on it!"

Suddenly Harry flinched forward, lunging at Malfoy, who immediately flinched back from him while Ron and Neville held Harry back.

For a second the blond's face showed an expression of shock and surprise, hut he quickly regained control over his mimic and gave Harry a hateful glare.

Annabeth was shocked herself, Harry and Malfoy had always bickered and insulted each other, but never had one gone as far as to attack the other.

"What'd I tell you? Complete nutter", Annabeth could hear Malfoy's voice while he and his friends slowly disappeared out of sight.

"Just stay away from me!", Harry shouted after them, the vein on his forehead popping out.

Annabeth gave her brother a worried look, "It's only Malfoy, Harry. What did you expect?"

Ron then slowly let go of his best mate and Harry remained silent while they walked towards the carriages that would transport them this year.

Neville, Luna and Ginny had already climbed up into one of them, followed by Hermione and Ron.

Annabeth had stopped in her tracks, her eyes fixed on the creature that was infront of the carriages.

The creature looked like some sort of horse, but the brunette was horrified by it's looks. It seemed to only consist only out of bones and thin dark flesh.

The brunette still stared up at the creature, her eyes wide, "What's that?"

Ron frowned at the other's, "What's what?" Annabeth nodded at the creature right infront of her, "That- pulling the carriage?"

Hermione glanced at the other's, "Nothing's pulling the carriage, Annabeth. It's pulling itself, like always."

Annabeth glanced at her friend's, who all gave her worried looks, except for Harry, who was also starring at the creature.

"You mean- you can't see the horse-thing?", she questioned them, while pointing at the creature.

"What horse-thing?", Ron questioned her, seeming completely irritated.

Annabeth took a couple of steps around the carriage, the panic rising in her chest while she still stared at the creature.

"You're not going mad", Luna's dreamy voice suddenly spoke from inside the carriage, while she emerged from behind The Quibbler. "I can see them too- You're just as sane as I am."

That statement didn't calm Annabeth down, but she let the topic go and climbed into the dark carriages, followed by the other's.

As soon as everyone had sat down Luna sighed loudly, "I'm hungry- I hope there's pudding!"

Annabeth gave the girl a small smile before the carriage started it's way towards the castle and the group fell silent.

The Great Hall was as always bustling, everyone was chatting about their holiday, eating and gossiping until Dumbeldor suddenly interrupt them.

The headmasters deep voice was carried over their heads, "Good evening, children! Now, we have two changes in staffing this year. We're pleased to welcome back Professor Grubbly-Plank, who'll be taking Care of Magical Creatures while Professor Hagrid is on temporary leave."

He made a small pause before his gaze slowly turned towards a woman, who was dressed in pink cloths from head to toe.

Her eyes were dark, small and held something treacherous. Her hair was brownish and short and her face reminded Annabeth of the looks of a toad.

"We also wish to welcome our new Defense against the Dark Arts teacher- Professor Dolores Umbridge!"

The little woman smiled a toothless smile at him, while Dumbeldor continued, "And I'm sure you'll join me in wishing the Professor good luck. Now, as usual, our caretaker, Mr. Filch, has asked me to remind you-"

Suddenly the woman named Umbridge cleared her throat loudly, which made Professor Dumbeldor stop in the middle of his sentence while everyone turned to face her.

The woman slowly got onto her feet and replace Dumbeldor at the front. Annabeth scoffed to herself, never in her life had she witnessed one of the Professors' interrupting the Headmaster's speech.

"She was at my hearing. She works for Fudge", Harry whispered hurriedly over to Annabeth and Hermione, who both frowned at him in surprise.

"Thank you- Headmaster, fo those kind words of welcome. - And how lovely to see all your bright happy faces smiling up at me", the toad-like woman started speaking and Annabeth let her gaze wander around, realizing that in fact no one was smiling at the moment.

"I'm sure we're all going to be very good friends!"

"That's likely", the twins whispered in union while they eyed the woman sceptically.

"The Ministry of Magic has always considered the education of young witches and wizards to be vital importance. Although wach headmaster had brought something new to this historic school-", she nodded over at Professor Dumbeldor, who nodded back at her.

"Progress for the sake of progress must be discouraged. Let us preserve what must be preserved- perfect what can be perfected- and prune practices that ought to be prohibited."

Dumbeldor started clapping for her and some of the students joined in, but most of them exchanged annoyed and sceptical glances. "Thank you, Professor Umbridge. That really was most illuminating!"

"Illuminating? What a load of waffle", Ron stated grumpy while he turned towards the other's.

"What's it mean?", Harry hurriedly questioned the brunette besides him, with raised eyebrows.

Hermione sighed deeply, before she whispered, her eyes still trained on Professor Umbridge, "It means the Ministry's interfering at Hogwarts."

Annabeth felt this unsettling feeling in the pit of her stomach while she thought about the fact that the Ministry was interfering in Hogwarts business.