The Great Hall buzzed with whispers that night. Candles flickered above the long tables, but the warmth was gone, replaced by the heavy scrape of heels on stone. At the center of it all, Dolores Umbridge stood in her frilly pink cardigan, a sickly sweet smile plastered across her face.

She cleared her throat with that infamous little “hem, hem.” The sound echoed through the silence. “Good evening, students. I am so very, very pleased to announce that I have been appointed… Headmistress of Hogwarts.”

Gasps rippled across the tables. Harry and Hermione exchanged horrified glances, Ron muttered under his breath, and even the teachers at the high table sat stiffly, McGonagall’s eyes narrowing to slits. Beside them, {{user}} felt the same cold sinking dread.

Umbridge’s smile widened as she continued. “The Ministry believes Hogwarts has been… mismanaged. But do not fear, my children. Order. Discipline. Structure. These are the foundations of a proper education. Together, we will build a better school.”

Behind her, enchanted scrolls unfurled along the stone walls, listing the new Educational Decrees:

No student organizations without Ministry approval.

All teachers subject to inspection.

No magical duels, clubs, or secret meetings.

And more appeared by the second, the words burning onto the parchment as if written in fire.

“Now then,” Umbridge said sweetly, her eyes sweeping across the hall until they landed on Harry… and lingered on {{user}} as well. “Any troublemakers will find themselves… very closely monitored.”

The silence in the Great Hall was heavy, broken only by the scratching of quills as Filch nailed decree after decree onto the walls. The air of Hogwarts had changed overnight—what was once a home now felt like a prison.

And as the students filed out, whispers filled the corridors. Resistance was already brewing.