So Much for No Strings Attached

Chapter 99 A Very Different Hogwarts

'Father and Harry told me to keep an eye on her,' Draco whispered. 'They're not happy that she got the job.'

The Slytherins all nodded seriously.

And then Umbridge stood up and hem-hemmed. She was only slightly taller than Flitwick standing on the chair. Pansy sneered at her lurid pink robes whose only place was a party not a professional setting.

'Ah, and it would seem Professor Umbridge would like to say a few words,' Flitwick said politely hopping off his seat.

'Thank you, Headmaster,' Umbridge smiled like a viper, 'for those kind words of welcome. Well, it is lovely to be back at Hogwarts. And to see such happy little faces looking up at me.'

'How old does she think we are?' asked Pansy sniffing.

'I am very much looking forward to getting to know you all and I'm sure we'll be very good friends,' simpered Umbridge.

Pansy sniffed, 'who does she think she is?'

'The Ministry of Magic has always considered the education of young witches and wizards to be of vital important, the rare gifts with which you were born may come to nothing if not nurture and honed by careful instruction. The ancient skills unique to the wizarding community must be passed down to 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 like she was some kind of stage actor at the Globe. Naturally, the staff were too dignified to bow back even if they wanted to which given their looks, he doubted they would have even if they were so inclined.

'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 would 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 permanence and change, between permanence and change between tradition and innovation because some changes will be for the better, while others will come, in the fullness of time, to be recognised as errors of judgement. Meanwhile, some old habit 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 out to be preserved, perfecting what needs to be perfected, and pruning wherever we find practices that out to be prohibited.

'As we all know we have a new headmaster and deputy headmistress, due to the previous administration's incompetence that has led to the drastic falling in standards. A time of change like this is always a time of much strife. And only time will tell what kind of changes they shall bring. I hope that we shall work closely to ensure that Hogwarts will once again before the noble institution it once was.'