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heir Headmaster rising to greet them all before the start…of…term feast。
To our newers；' said Dumbledore in a ringing voice； his arms stretched wide and a beaming smile on his lips； 'wele！ To our old hands … wele back！ There is a time for speech…making； but this is not it。 Tuck in！'
There was an appreciative laugh and an outbreak of applause as Dumbledore sat down neatly and threw his long beard over his shoulder so as to keep it out of the way of his plate … for food had appeared out of nowhere； so that the five long tables were groaning under joints and pies and dishes of vegetables； bread and sauces and flagons of pumpkin juice。
'Excellent；' said Ron； with a kind of groan of longing； and he seized the nearest plate of chops and began piling them on to his plate； watched wistfully by Nearly Headless Nick。
'What were you saying before the Sorting？' Hermione asked the ghost。 'About the Hat giving warnings？'
'Oh； yes；' said Nick； who seemed glad of a reason to turn away from Ron； who was now eating roast potatoes with almost indecent enthusiasm。 'Yes； I have heard the Hat give several warnings before； always at times when it detects periods of great danger for the school。 And always； of course； its advice is the same： stand together； be strong from within。'
'Ow kunnit nofe skusin danger ifzat？' said Ron。
His mouth was so full Harry thought it was quite an achievement for him to make any noise at all。
'I beg your pardon？' said Nearly Headless Nick politely； while Hermione looked revolted。 Ron gave an enormous swallow and said； 'How can it know if the school's in danger if it's a Hat？'
'I have no idea；' said Nearly Headless Nick。 'Of course； it lives in Dumbledore's office； so I daresay it picks things up there。'
'And it wants all the houses to be friends？' said Harry； looking over at the Slytherin table； where Draco Malfoy was holding court。 'Fat chance。'
'Well； now； you shouldn't take that attitude；' said Nick reprovingly。 'Peaceful co…operation； that's the key。 We ghosts； though we belong to separate houses； maintain links of friendship。 In spite of the petitiveness between Gryffindor and Slytherin； I would never dream of seeking an argument with the Bloody Baron。'
'Only because you're terrified of him；' said Ron。
Nearly Headless Nick looked highly affronted。
Terrified？ I hope I； Sir Nicholas de Mimsy…Porpington； have never been guilty of cowardice in my life！ The noble blood that runs in my veins …'
'What blood？' asked Ron。 'Surely you haven't still got …？'
'It's a figure of speech！' said Nearly Headless Nick； now so annoyed his head was trembling ominously on his partially severed neck。 'I assume I am still allowed to enjoy the use of whichever words I like； even if the pleasures of eating and drinking are denied me！ But I am quite used to students poking fun at my death； I assure you！'
'Nick； he wasn't really laughing at you！' said Hermione； throwing a furious look at Ron。
Unfortunately； Ron's mouth was packed to exploding point again and all he could manage was 'Node iddum eentup sechew；' which Nick did not seem to think constituted an adequate apology。 Rising into the air； he straightened his feathered hat and swept away from them to the other end of the table； ing to rest between the Creevey brothers； Colin and Dennis。
'Well done； Ron；' snapped Hermione。
'What？' said Ron indignantly； having managed； finally； to swallow his tood。 'I'm not allowed to ask a simple question？'
'Oh； forget it；' said Hermione irritably； and the pair of them spent the rest of the meal in huffy silence。
Harry was too used to their bickering to bother trying to reconcile them； he felt it was a better use of his time to eat his way steadily through his steak and kidney pie； then a large plateful of his favourite treacle tart。
When all the students had finished eating and the noise level in the Hall was starting to creep upwards again； Dumbledore got to his feet once more。 Talking ceased immediately as all turned to lace the Headmaster。 Harry was feeling pleasantly drowsy now。 His lour…poster bed was waiting somewhere above； wonderfully warm and soft：
'Well； now that we are all digesting another magnificent feast； I beg a few moments of your attention for the usual start…of…term notices；' said Dumbledore。 'First…years ought to know that the Forest in the grounds is out…of…bounds to students … and a few of our older students ought to know by now； too。' （Harry； Ron and Hermione exchanged smirks。）
'Mr Filch； the caretaker； has asked me； for what he tells me is the lour…hundred…and…sixty…second time； to remind you all that magic is not permitted in corridors between classes； nor are a number of other things； all of which can be checked on the extensive list now fastened to Mr Filch's office door。
'We have had two changes in staffing this year。 We are very pleased to wele back Professor Grubbly…Plank； who will be taking Care of Magical Creatures lessons； we are also delighted to introduce Professor Umbridge； our new Defence Against the Dark Arts teacher。'
There was a round of polite but fairly unenthusiastic applause； during which Harry； Ron and Hermione exchanged slightly panicked looks； Dumbledore had not said for how long Grubbly…Plank would be teaching。
Dumbledore continued； Tryouts for the house Quidditch teams will take place on the …'
He broke off； looking enquiringly at Professor Umbridge。 As she was not much taller standing than sitting； there was a moment when nobody understood why Dumbledore had stopped talking； but then Professor Umbridge cleared her throat； 'Hem； hem；' and it became clear that she had got to her feet and was intending to make a speech。
Dumbledore only looked taken aback for a moment； then he sat down smartly and looked alertly at Professor Umbridge as though he desired nothing better than to listen to her talk。 Other members of staff were not as adept at hiding their surprise。 Professor Sprout's eyebrows had disappeared into her flyaway hair and Professor McGonagall's mouth was as thin as Harry had ever seen it。 No new teacher had ever interrupted Dumbledore before。 Many of the students were smirking； this woman obviously did not know how things were done at Hogwarts。
Thank you； Headmaster；' Professor Umbridge simpered； 'for those kind words of wele。'
Her voice was high…pitched； breathy and little…girlish and； again； Harry felt a powerful rush of dislike that he could not explain to himself； all he knew was that he loathed everything about her； from her stupid voice to her fluffy pink cardigan。 She gave another little throat…clearing cough （'hem； hem'） and continued。
'Well； it is lovely to be back at Hogwarts； I must say！' She smiled； revealing very pointed teeth。 'And to see such happy little faces looking up at me！'
Harry glanced around。 None of the faces he could see looked happy。 On the contrary； they all looked rather taken…aback at being addressed as though they were five years old。
'I am very much looking forward to getting to know you all and I'm sure we'll be very good friends！'
Students ex