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'I am very much looking forward to getting to know you all and I'm sure we'll be very good friends！'
Students exchanged looks at this； some of them were barely concealing grins。
'I'll be her friend as long as I don't have to borrow that cardigan；' Parvati whispered to Lavender； and both of them lapsed into silent giggles。
Professor Umbridge cleared her throat again （'hem； hem'）； but when she continued； some of the breathiness had vanished from her voice。 She sounded much more businesslike and now her words had a dull learned…by…heart sound to them。
The Ministry of Magic has always considered the education of young witches and wizards to be of vital importance。 The rare gifts with which you were born may e to nothing if not nurtured and honed by careful instruction。 The ancient skills unique to the wizarding munity must be passed down the generations lest we lose them for ever。 The treasure trove of magical knowledge amassed by our ancestors must be guarded； replenished and polished by those who have been called to the noble profession of teaching。'
Professor Umbridge paused here and made a little bow to her fellow staff members； none of whom bowed back to her。 Professor McGonagall's dark eyebrows had contracted so that she looked positively hawklike； and Harry distinctly saw her exchange a significant glance with Professor Sprout as Umbridge gave another little 'hem； hem' and went on with her speech。
Every headmaster and headmistress of Hogwarts has brought something new to the weighty task of governing this historic school； and that is as it should be； for without progress there will be stagnation and decay。 There again； progress for progress's sake must be discouraged； for our tried and tested traditions often require no tinkering。 A balance； then； between old and new； between permanence and change； between tradition and innovation：〃
Harry found his attentiveness ebbing； as though his brain was slipping in and out of tune。 The quiet that always filled the Hall when Dumbledore was speaking was breaking up as students put their heads together； whispering and giggling。 Over on the Ravenclaw table Cho Chang was chatting animatedly with her friends。 A few seats along from Cho； Luna Lovegood had got out The Quibbler again。 Meanwhile； at the Hufflepuff table Ernie Macmillan was one of the few still staring at Professor Umbridge； but he was glassy…eyed and Harry was sure he was only pretending to listen in an attempt to live up to the new prefect's badge gleaming on his chest。
Professor Umbridge did not seem to notice the restlessness of her audience。 Harry had the impression that a full…scale riot could have broken out under her nose and she would have ploughed on with her speech。 The teachers； however； were still listening very attentively； and Hermione seemed to be drinking in every word Umbridge spoke； though； judging by her expression； they were not at all to her taste。
'： because some changes will be for the better； while others will e； in the fullness of time； to be recognised as errors of judgement。 Meanwhile； some old habits will be retained； and rightly so； whereas others； outmoded and outworn； must be abandoned。 Let us move forward； then； into a new era of openness； effectiveness and accountability； intent on preserving what ought to be preserved； perfecting what needs to be perfected； and pruning wherever we find practices that ought to be prohibited。'
She sat down。 Dumbledore clapped。 The staff followed his lead； though Harry noticed that several of them brought their hands together only once or twice before stopping。 A few students joined in； but most had been taken unawares by the end of the speech； not having listened to more than a few words of it； and before they could start applauding properly； Dumbledore had stood up again。
Thank you very much； Professor Umbridge； that was most illuminating；' he said； bowing to her。 'Now； as I was saying； Quidditch tryouts will be held：〃
'Yes； it certainly was illuminating；' said Hermione in a low voice。
'You're not telling me you enjoyed it？' Ron said quietly； turning a glazed face towards Hermione。 That was about the dullest speech I've ever heard； and I grew up with Percy。'
'I said illuminating； not enjoyable；' said Hermione。 'It explained a lot。'
'Did it？' said Harry in surprise。 'Sounded like a load of waffle to me。'
There was some important stuff hidden in the waffle；' said Hermione grimly。
'Was there？' said Ron blankly。
'How about： 〃progress for progress's sake must be discouraged〃？ How about： 〃pruning wherever we find practices that ought to be prohibited〃？'
'Well； what does that mean？' said Ron impatiently。
I'll tell you what it means；' said Hermione through gritted teeth。 'It means the Ministry's interfering at Hogwarts。'
There was a great clattering and banging all around them； 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！'
'Oh yeah；' said Ron； who had obviously forgotten。 'Hey … hey； you lot！ Midgets！'
'Ron！'
'Well； they are； they're titchy：'
'I know； but you can't call them midgets！ … First…years！' Hermione called mandingly along the table。 This way； please！'
A group of new students walked shyly up the gap between the Gryffindor and Hufflepuff tables； all of them trying hard not to lead the group。 They did indeed seem very small； Harry was sure he had not appeared that young when he had arrived here。 He grinned at them。 A blond boy next to Euan Abercrombie looked petrified； he nudged Euan and whispered something in his ear。 Euan Abercrombie looked equally frightened and stole a horrified look at Harry； who felt the grin slide off his face like Stinksap。
'See you later；' he said dully to Ron and Hermione and he made his way out of the Great Hall alone； doing everything he could to ignore more whispering； staring and pointing as he passed。 He kept his eyes fixed ahead as he wove his way through the crowd in the Entrance Hall； then he hurried up the marble staircase； took a couple of concealed short cuts and had soon left most of the crowds behind。
He had been stupid not to expect this； he thought angrily as he walked through the much emptier upstairs corridors。 Of course everyone was staring at him； he had emerged from the Triwizard maze two months previously clutching the dead body of a fellow student and claiming to have seen Lord Voldemort return to power。 There had not been time last term to explain himself before they'd all had to go home … even if he had felt up to giving the whole school a detailed account of the terrible events in that graveyard。
Harry had reached the end of the corridor to the Gryffindor mon room and e to a halt in front of the portrait of the Fat Lady before he realised that he did not know the new password。
'Er：' he said glumly； staring up at the Fat Lady； who smoothed the folds of her pink satin dress and looked sternly back at him。
'No password； no entrance；' she said loftily。
'H