Chapter 544 — Welcome Party!!
Alright.
The buns actually tasted very good. There were all kinds of flavors.
But when he bit into the durian-flavored one, Darren genuinely began to wonder whether the house-elf responsible had lost their mind.
Anyway.
Darren ended up completely full.
Especially once dessert was served—he stuffed himself until there was absolutely no space left.
By the time he was done, patting his stomach, sleepiness washed over him. He started missing his big, soft bed.
Dumbledore seemed to notice his condition. He stood up and clapped his hands.
All the food on the tables vanished instantly.
Then he said cheerfully, "I'll keep this brief. The Forbidden Forest is out of bounds, and Mr. Filch is strictly forbidden, uhhm i mean Mr Flich has strictly forbidden from using magic in the corridors.
"There are two changes to our faculty this year.
"Two new professors have joined us. One is Professor Grubbly-Plank, who will be taking over Care of Magical Creatures in place of Hagrid.
"The second is Professor Umbridge, who will be teaching Defense Against the Dark Arts. As for the Quidditch tryouts—"
Dumbledore paused.
Because he heard Umbridge clear her throat.
He sat back down.
Smiling pleasantly, he said, "Oh, it seems Professor Umbridge would like to say a few words. Everyone, please welcome her."
Darren realized something immediately.
The entire Great Hall froze because of Umbridge's action.
This was the first time someone had openly interrupted Dumbledore during a public announcement.
Professor Sprout frowned. Professor McGonagall nearly stood up.
Even Snape looked at Umbridge with clear surprise.
It was hard to tell whether he was curious or simply wondering what this woman thought she was doing.
Umbridge, however, appeared completely oblivious to the reaction around her.
In a high, girlish voice that somehow managed to sound shrill, she said sweetly, "I'm very pleased by Headmaster Dumbledore's warm welcome, and equally delighted by the welcome from all the students of Hogwarts."
"On this wonderful first day of term, I hope all of you will greet your future school life with enthusiasm and smiling faces."
"I hope to become friends with you all and spend many pleasant days together…"
Umbridge spoke smoothly, without hesitation.
Darren strongly suspected she had rehearsed this speech at least eight hundred times.
It made him feel like he'd gone back to his pre-transmigration school days, listening to some education official claiming they wanted to be everyone's friend.
"…The Ministry of Magic believes that school life should be orderly, structured, and conducted in a relaxed learning environment…"
"…At the same time, certain outdated habits will be discarded, and new ones will be established…"
Started anew.
Darren felt his eyelids growing heavy.
And he quickly noticed that no one in the Great Hall was actually listening.
Even Malfoy had started playing wizarding chess with Crabbe.
Finally—after who knew how long—Umbridge sat back down.
None of the students reacted at all. Everyone continued doing whatever they pleased.
Only when Dumbledore's voice sounded again did the hall respond.
At last, the pink toad's voice was gone.
"Well then, thank you to Professor Umbridge for her message. Quidditch tryouts will be held at—"
Dumbledore finished the rest quickly. The Hogwarts school song was sung once more.
Only then were the students dismissed back to their houses.
Darren rubbed his eyes and followed behind Kassandra, surrounded by a group of first-year students.
Kassandra led them toward the Slytherin common room. The first-years kept glancing at Darren with suspicion and unease.
They probably couldn't understand why someone so much older was mixed in with them.
Darren only realized what was going on once they reached the common room.
Malfoy was leading the fifth-years.
Kassandra was guiding the first-years.
And he himself was caught in the middle, weaving through the crowd of children, swaying slightly, looking half-asleep.
Inside the Slytherin common room.
Snape stood in the center, wand in hand, watching everyone enter with an expressionless face.
The room was deathly quiet.
Even the first-years didn't dare make a sound.
Darren covered his mouth and yawned.
The freshman beside him jumped in fright.
Darren suspected the kid was terrified that Snape would hear the noise and explode.
"Prefect tryouts," Snape said coldly. "Even existing fifth-year prefects can be replaced. You may challenge them directly or fight for the position.
"As per tradition, one grade level will be selected for prefect tryouts to serve as role models for the first-years.
"Last year, it was the fourth-years. This year, it will be the fifth-years.
"Of course, students in fifth year and above who do not wish to participate may leave freely."
Snape's gaze swept the room.
Darren saw Malfoy glance at him nervously, clearly afraid Darren might suddenly decide to compete for a prefect position.
Darren just pouted and yawned again.
Then he said brightly, "Professor, I don't plan to participate. I'll head back first."
Snape nodded.
Darren immediately turned and ran for his dormitory.
On the way, he heard a sixth-year student also say that he didn't want to participate.
Snape promptly scolded him.
The reason was a lack of ambition, insufficient drive, and poor attitude…
In short, Darren heard the student get scolded until he was crying.
Fortunately, by then, Darren had already closed his dormitory door.
Whatever happened after that had nothing to do with him.
...
Meanwhile.
Harry was facing yet another argument back in Gryffindor.
As everyone knew, even though Harry was the savior, he had quarreled with his Gryffindor classmates more than once.
This time was no exception.
Ron had stayed behind to guide the first-years.
Harry returned to the Gryffindor dormitory alone, where Seamus confronted him.
Seamus said his mother hadn't wanted him to come back to school, because she believed what the Daily Prophet said.
She believed Harry was unstable.
Believed Dumbledore was a crazy old liar.
Believed Darren was nothing more than a carefully packaged "strongman."
Harry exploded.
"If you believe all that, then go to Professor McGonagall and ask to be moved! I don't want to live with you!"
Seamus was angered by that.
But he also wanted to insist that he wasn't blindly believing everything.
So he demanded Harry prove that the projection from last year was real, not fabricated.
Harry stared at him coldly.
Grinding his teeth, he shouted, "If Darren's strength is fake, I think even an idiot like you should know the answer by now."
"As for whether I'm mentally unstable, or whether Dumbledore is an old liar—if after four years you still don't understand us, then don't ever ask me again!"
Harry yelled.
But judging by the look on Seamus's face…
Harry suspected that Seamus now believed even more strongly that he really was unstable.