Chapter 16

Hermione found herself torn between two different sides of herself. On one hand, Garreg Mach was positively fascinating. She was learning new things that were not taught at Hogwarts, and making new and interesting friends who treated her with the kind of reverence and respect she wished that those back home had.

On the other, she deeply missed her friends and real teachers. No matter how well she was being treated by the Church, she knew that she did not belong. Her conversations with Dorothea and the other members of the Black Eagles were friendly and cordial, but too often would they make reference to some political belief or idea that she could barely make heads or tails of. Dorothea, who had easily become her closest confidant, had very conflicted views on Nobility, the Church, and those around them. Hermione was beginning to feel that underneath that cheery exterior was a very miserable young woman who had no idea what to do with herself.

Indeed, she felt the same way about nearly everyone around her. Professor Byleth, although clearly a hyper intelligent and capable young professor, seemed bizarrely cold and distant. Bernadetta the Recluse spent her days locked inside her room, terrified of around her. But when push came to shove her arrows were lethal. And Lady Rhea, clearly very compassionate and devout to her faith, saw no problem with sending school children to battle, and possibly death.

She wondered, not for the first time, whether Edelgard was the same way. She was House Leader, so she probably threw herself into training and fighting headfirst. Clearly she wanted her Empire to do well… she had gathered as much from speaking to her classmates. But why? Why there was a reason? Was it simply a duty? Or what was it something she was very passionate about?

Hermione wished deeply that she could meet her, and understand her better. She'd have liked a better idea of how she should act and conduct herself, because at this very moment for the vast majority of the world, she was Edelgard. Her actions could result in some kind of incident. If she had not been here, on neutral ground, with people who were willing to work with her and take care of her…

She turned around to make her way back to her room. The blonde man who had been staring at her made a surprised noise and looked away, seemingly embarrassed. Hermione recognized him instantly. He was Prince Dimitri, of the Blue Lion house. They had not spoken yet, although Dorothea had pointed him out to her several times. Unlike Claude, who had been very forward in approaching her, Dimitri seemed to want to keep his distance. He had not spoken to her at all, although she always caught him staring at her.

It reminded her a lot of how she often caught Viktor Krum's eye in the library. She had always turned away, annoyed, back to her books. She had found his very presence annoying and unbearable, and had disliked hm very much until he had come over to her table and asked her to the Yule Ball.

She had been surprised, pleased, and very flattered. She had agreed right away. She had not regretted it. She had a great time. But up until that point she had felt rather uneasy around Krum. She had thought him to be stuck up and arrogant due to his fame. But once she got to know him she had found him to be a surprisingly sweet and caring man. She really should have known better (She was friends with Famous Harry Potter after all) but she supposed she was just naturally a person who was apprehensive of the rich and powerful.

She knew that the Adrestian Empire was by far the largest and most powerful of the three powers on the Continent, but she wasn't sure exactly how the relationship between them and the Kingdom of Faerghus had changed in modern times. She knew that Faerghus had split off from the Empire years before, and that in the present the two were at peace, but knew well enough that there was probably some delicate political situation between the two behind the scenes. Perhaps that was why Dimitrii was always staring at her… without a proper leader, the Adrestian Empire would decay even further. If Edelgard never returned, Faerghus and the Leicester Alliance would be have a great advantage.

She turned around to look at him, and once again his gaze darted away from her. She felt a strong tug in her chest. It was a strong, burning sense of curiosity that could not be satisfied by simply running off to the library. No… she had to ask him.

She changed direction and headed right towards him. He seemed to almost jump with surprise and stared down at her as she approached.

"Hello." She said. "I'm Hermione. It's a pleasure to meet you."

She held out her hand to him, staring up at him expectantly. Once again she marveled at how freakishly short Edelgard seemed to be. She couldn't be much more than five feet tall. Dimitri practically towered over her. She had trouble guessing his exact height, but he seemed to be rather tall compared to most people in Fodlan.

He stared down at her. He seemed completely at a loss for words. Hermione found herself almost immediately regretting her decision. He almost had the look of a startled animal, one that wasn't sure what to say or do.

"Is something the matter?" Hermione asked him gently. Dimitri, seemingly snapping back to his senses, shook his head.

"N-no…" He admitted. "My apologies, my lady. I simply…" He coughed. "You simply took me by surprise, that's all. You are nothing like Edelgard."

"Really?" Hermione looked at him curiously. "Do you know each other well, then?"

She was surprised that he did not answer her. If anything he looked a little bit more taken aback. Hermione thought it best to explain herself.

"I was just thinking…" She said. "I know nothing about Edelgard, or her Empire, or even the continent. I was worried… what if Edelgard never returned? What if I… ruin the lives of her people?"

She turned away from him, embarrassed.

"No, I'm being silly…" She said slowly. "Forget I said anything."

"No, no." Dimitri said quickly, stepped up beside her. "I think you're a kind, considerate young lady."

She looked up at him. "Really?"

"Yes." He said. "You're thinking more about the people around you than yourself, are you not?"

Hermione pursed her lips. "Well, I wouldn't say that I haven't been worried about myself." She said slowly. "But-"

"Edelgard." Dimitri said. "Is a fine leader to her subordinates. She considers their needs, and the needs of her Empire, above all else."

She looked at him, surprised.

"I feel as if I understand her a bit better than most." He admitted to her. She giggled.

"Well, maybe you could help me, then."

He shook his head. "I don't believe anyone can help you, but yourself." He said. "The best thing you can do is wait for your people to bring Edelgard back to us… Please don't worry about anything else."

Hermione stared up at him. She found herself feeling very comforted.

"Please." She said. "Could you… keep telling me more about Edelgard?"

…

Edelgard found herself tailed by nearly all of Gryffindor House as they headed down the stairs. Passerby students, mostly from Ravenclaw House stopped and stared as they passed by. Edelgard spoke to each as they passed. (We're going to deal with Umbridge!) and they quicky backed away. They did not join them, but they looked somewhat excited about what was to transpire.

Close to a Hundred Gryffindors stepped into the Great Hall all at once. Rather than walking straight to their table, as they typically would, they stepped in unison up to the Staff table. Umbridge, upon seeing them approach, immediately go her feet. Edelgard knew that the rest of the room, including Dumbledore himself, were watching them.

"What is the meaning of this?" Umbridge demanded, as the Gryffindors came to a stop right in front of her table. "Miss Granger?"

She was staring down at Edelgard with great fear and dislike. Hermione stepped forward.

"We at Gryffindor House have arrived at a decision." Edelgard said, raising her voice so that the entire, staring hall could hear. "We will not tolerate your nonsense at our school."

Umbridge spluttered for a bit. The chubby hand clenched into a fist. Edelgard suspected that she was fighting back the urge to draw her wand.

"In very simple terms." Edelgard said. "We want you, and the Ministry, to sod off."

Umbridge's eyes widened so large that it looked as if they would expand into dinner plates. "You dare speak that way to me?" She whispered dangerously. "Miss Granger- I WILL have you expelled-"

"You attacked me in the Gryffindor Common Room." Edelgard said, her voice cold. "Forgive me if I don't resect your authority."

Professor McGonagall, who looked as if they were about to stop her, suddenly relaxed in her chair. She looked towards Dumbledore, seemingly hoping for him to take charge, but he said and did nothing. He was watching intently. Edelgard had to stop herself from smiling.

(They know we're doing the right thing)

"Dolores Umbridge." Edelgard said. "We are formally demanding you resign."

She raised a copy of the document she had sent to the Ministry.

"We have already informed your benefactors at the Ministry of Magic." She said. "We will not continue to acknowledge your authority over us. Further Educational Degrees will be ignore-"

"All of you will be expelled-"

"And no one will attend your incompetent classes." Edelgard continued. "All of Gryffindor have decided on these conditions. I now ask those from other houses to support us in our cause."

She stopped speaking, staring up at Umbridge with a defiant gaze. Umbridge stared back, at first. But her concentration was broken by the sudden scraping of chairs as most of the entire school, excluding many from Slytherin House, stood and took a stand with their classmates.

You would never know there were deep seated rivalries between houses now. Edelgard though with pleasure. You would never know that many of these students did not get along, or did not even like each other. But when it came to Dolores Umbridge, when it came to the new restrictions that had been placed upon them…. They were all in agreement. Dolores Umbridge had to go.

Umbridge found herself at a loss for words as she stared down at all of the students, staring defiantly up at her. In the end her eyes found their way back to Edelgard's.

"It seems." She said coldly. "That things at Hogwarts are a lot worse than I feared."

"I think the students are fighting hard to correct the problem." Edelgard retorted.

Umbridge let out a frustrated shriek and turned her gaze towards the student.

"All of you… all of you will be expelled!" She shrieked. "Miss Granger… you will be sent to Azkaban for defying the Ministru-"

"Dolores!" It was not Edelgard that spoke this time, but Dumbledore. "It is not your place to threaten my students with prison!"

Umbridge reeled back, rather like a wounded animal. "I… Oh, I see…" She murmured. "I… my… apologies…"

"And you have no right. " He thundered. "To threaten so many students with expulsion."

This time Umbridge thought to defend herself.

"It is my duty as High Inquisitor.

"We firmly believe that the position of High Inquisitor is not only unnecessary, but easily abused." Edelgard interrupted.

"Thank you, Miss Granger." Dumbledore said. This was clearly a signal for her to stand down, but Edelgard was not ready to give up the attack. It was not until Harry touched her arm and whispered that maybe it would be best for Dumbledore to say his piece that Edelgard fell silent.

"It is my duty as High Inquisitor." Umbridge said, speaking more loudly. "To prevent violent student uprisings from occurring-"

Edelgard said nothing. The crowd behind her was tittering amongst themselves. This was not a violent crowd. Yet.

…