Hogwarts Library
Hermione patiently waited for Harry and Dumbledore to be out of hearing range. Emboldened by the whispered words of her Headmaster she turned to Miss Ericson beside her. "You said the wrong thing." she stated with absolute certainty. Miss Ericson blinked and turned to face Hermione. "How so?"
"To aid your and provide companionship." Hermione mimicked. "Harry fights his own battles when he gets into them. I do not think he likes it when you effectively try to decide who his friends would be." "That was not my intention." Miss Ericson defended.
"Then what was your intention? Providing handlers for a Campione to control him?" Hermione sniped drawing a look of annoyance from Miss Ericson. "I am not that foolish, nor is the Wittagamot to attempt that miss Granger." she said sharply.
"Then do not put it that way. Harry has an independent stubborn streak a mile wide when you press his buttons. Which you did flawlessly." Hermione lectured. "I see." Miss Ericson replied. "And why are you telling me this?"
Hermione thinned her lips and looked very reluctant to speak her next words. "I owe Harry a lot. But I am not stupid, I know I won't be able to do much and the Hogwarts library…" she gestured to the books Madam Pince was placing back. "Only knows so much about what he is now."
Miss Ericson gave Hermione a searching look and found the answer a few seconds later. "Hermione Granger correct?" she asked and Hermione nodded confused. "I will ensure that you will have access to the Wittagamot library on our majesty's behalf. In return I ask of you how I would properly convey how his majesty would prefer the assistance of our knights."
Hermione smiled slightly and started to explain as the pair walked towards Dumbledore's office.
Landing to Dumbledore's Office
"Hermione?" Harry said as he stepped off the winding staircase and past the stone gargoyle who resumed to guard the entrance. "Harry. I think you should listen to Miss Ericson." Hermione pleaded. After careful deliberation she decided against going her usual bossy route when she dealt with Harry and Ron being reticent as it would only set off Harry's far more potent anger.
"Dumbledore always has given me his advice, Hermione." Harry said neutrally as he seized up Miss Ericson in the hopes of getting a judgement of her character. Hermione let out a silent 'Oh' and it was clear on his face that she was curious what this advice was.
"Miss Ericson." Harry started only to be interrupted by a short bow and "Yes your majesty." "These knights, will they actually listen to me?" he asked neutrally. "They will be sworn to serve you the best they can your majesty." Miss Ericson replied in an equally neutral tone. "Even if I tell them to run away in the face of danger?" Harry challenged.
Miss Ericson was silent for a moment as she wondered what the underlying response Harry was expecting. "They might argue with your majesty. But they will follow your command." she decided to respond. Harry pursed his lips for a moment in thought. "Very well." he agreed. "Thank you, your majesty. By your leave." she bowed again.
"You are free to." Harry said dryly and miss Ericson left in a stately manner. When she was out of earshot Harry grumbled. "I am already sick of being called royalty." He missed Hermione's sympathetic look. "Harry. Why did you ask that? What is that book…" she rattled off and then paused as she caught her own behavior.
"Hermione. You will probably know more about being a Campione then I do." Harry said with a distant look despite being turned towards Hermione. "But these heretic gods I am supposed to slay… I do not think they'll be as arrogant and stupid as Perseus." he shook his head and Hermione nearly flinched by the laser-guided look she received from Harry's green eyes. "Promise me Hermione that if I tell you to run, you run." he demanded.
"But…" Hermione protested when Harry cut her off by raising the book he had brought with him. "Dumbledore handed me a book of spells that he can't cast more than twice a day. And he is not even sure that they will help in a fight."
The young woman gulped nervously as it hit her that Harry was keeping her away in a sense of responsibility but that he truly believed there was nothing she could do. It both made her feel fuzzy inside that he cared so much to demand such a promise from her. It also stung her pride that it was most likely true unless she got lucky and somehow managed to kill a heretic god herself.
"Only if there is no other option." She tried to negotiate. She already had let her friend down earlier that day and she wouldn't do it again. "No." Harry rebutted firmly. Hermione could see Harry would not be swayed and she bowed her head as tears stung her eyes at the idea of letting Harry march off alone to face who knows what kind of danger. "Okay. I promise." she capitulated.
"Thank you Hermione." Harry said heartfeltly and pulled Hermione in a short hug that startled her for more than one reason. He broke out in a smile that made the fuzzies things inside her worse. "Dumbledore is going to go to the ministry soon and made them give Sirius a fair trial in my name. If there is an upside to this Campione thing it's that."
"You can do that?" Hermione asked with wide eyes and Harry nodded happily at the thought of his godfather finally being free. "Oh Harry, there is so much injustice you could set to rights." Hermione started and Harry could almost feel the impending list being drawn up. "There is." He agreed hurriedly. "But Dumbledore cautioned me for trying too much too soon. They can choose not to listen to me."
Hermione paused and thought it over. "I suppose so." she agreed with some reluctance. A silvery phoenix flew through the stone gargoyle and stopped before Harry. "Mister Potter." it spoke in Dumbledore's voice. "I am off to speak with our minister as he already left Hogwarts during our discussion in the library. I would advise you to head to the Great Hall and accept the arrival of the foreign schools into your 'kingdom' as it were. These kinds of actions are expected by you I am afraid."
"My kingdom?" Harry asked, horrified as it settled in what he had signed himself up to. As far he was aware this was the Queen's country. Not his country. "Oh…" Hermione said as she put things together. "The country a Campione lives in is usually accepted as their territory." she took a breath and Harry braced himself for a long explanation. "There are all kinds of ceremonies and greetings made over the years to greet important foreign dignitaries. The heads of school would most certainly qualify. Just like the minister or heads of important departments or organisations like the Wittagamot. An another Campione entering your territory must also present him or herself or it is considered a hostile action."
"So I am expected to be the greeting boy." Harry summarized. Hermione blushed slightly and shook her head. "No. They are to present themselves to you, state their business and ask for your permission to enter." "So I am customs?" Harry deadpanned. Hermione gave Harry an irritated look that he was not getting it. "No.. it's more important than that. If you don't like the way they look you can tell the Minister of Magic like Fudge to go away."
"Hmm." Harry hummed. "Do you think if I tell those Wittagamot people I am not interested in that I won't have to?" Harry asked and Hermione shrugged. "Maybe? I don't know Harry. Most of what I speed-read in the library described how big of a tyrant a Campione could be."
"I think you should ask." Hermione said with a frown. "If you got pulled out of the school for a couple of hours to talk to a foreign dignitary that would seriously disrupt your study schedule." Harry smiled at Hermione's priorities and made a note of it. It was a good excuse to tell this new organisation he would do his own thing.
They got close to the Great Hall when Hermione stepped in front of him and started tugging on his robes and tie. Befuddled Harry allowed his friend to do as she pleased. With a pout she looked at his hair. "Your hair is unfixable." she declared.
"And here I was hoping that got fixed as well." Harry said dryly. Hermione quirked a smile. "Well I do think without your glasses your eyes get out better." she replied. Then she blushed and clicked her mouth shut. "Anyways." she said quickly before Harry could process the statement. "You are a king now. So you should try to look the part."
"I am in my school robes." Harry pointed out. "Then you need to wear them properly." Hermione sniffed haughtily. "I'll try." Harry agreed noncommittally. "So what do I say. What can I expect?" he asked and Hermione faltered. "I don't know." she admitted. "Then I'll wing it I suppose." Harry said as he stepped forward and opened the side door into the great hall.
It had shrunken down significantly as most of the visitors had left. For a moment Harry hoped that his entrance would be unnoted as he approached the Gryffindor table but somebody pointed him out and soon the attention in the hall was directed to him. He scanned the professor's table and made eye-contact with Headmistress Maxime.
She seemed to pick up his attention and she rose from her seat and walked around the table towards Harry. Who in turn approached the table. "Your highness. I am Olympe Maxime, Headmistress of the Beauxbatons Academy of Magic. I request your permission for myself and my students to stay in your lands to attend the Triwizard Tournament."
Harry barely managed to stop himself from blinking and the first thing that popped into his mind was 'Look like a king, act like a king.' "Granted." he replied with a nod. Meanwhile the Durmstrang headmaster made an unsightly scramble to the front of the professor's table.
"Your majesty." he said quickly as he bowed. "I am Igor Karkaroff. The headmaster of the Durmstrang Academy. Please allow me and my students to stay in your lands and participate in the Triwizard tournament." "Granted." Harry repeated.
"Your majesty." an unwelcome voice in Harry's opinion piped up and he saw Rita Skeeter standing behind him with her quill floating above a piece of parchment. "Will you still participate in the tournament?" she asked. His knee jerk reaction was to say 'Yes, I will lose my magic otherwise.' It was this reaction that made him remember he had destroyed the artifact responsible for that.
"No." he said firmly. "I only participated because someone put my name into the Goblet of Fire. Without the contract hanging above my head I will not participate again." he realised how Skeeter could misconstrue that statement. "I have disrupted the event enough with my presence." He barely managed to stop himself from calling it a 'farce'.
The quail started scribbling quickly. "What will you do now?" Skeeter asked and Harry held himself back from giving the woman any kind of emotional response. "I am considering my options." he lied.
His instincts flared and he took a step back and pulled Hermione with him. A split second later a dung bomb hit the back of Skeeter's head and Harry was just outside the range of the stinky powder that erupted from the prank item.
"Miss Skeeter. I request you leave the premises to get yourself cleaned up." Professor McGonagall stated and she turned her attention to the Gryffindor Table. "Five points from Gryffindor mister Weasley." she called out. Harry found that punishment surprisingly mild and he wondered if his transfiguration teacher was also grateful for the twins providing a handy excuse for the woman to make herself scarce.
"Mister Potter." Professor McGonagall said as she returned her attention to Harry. "Do you know where the headmaster is?" "He is at the ministry on my behalf." Harry replied. No sense possibly giving anyone a warning why he would do so. professor McGonagall didn't seem all that thrilled by that answer. "Very well. Please return to your seat mister Potter, miss Granger."
Harry and Hermione sat down on the bench closest to the professors table and in a deft swing of her wand professor McGonagall drew the attention of the entire room with a bang. "I ask that all the guests return to their homes. I am certain there will be an evening edition of the Daily Prophet. You can learn everything there. All the students will head to their common rooms. Prefects please ensure everyone is accounted for."
"Feels like I can barely sit down before heading out again." Harry mumbled as he waited for all the visitors to exit first while the prefects did a headcount. Just as professor McGonagall was about to send the students to their dorms Miss Ericson returned with Princess Alice. Princess Alice made a beeline for Harry with miss Ericson hovering nearby as she did while the students watched with great interest.
This did not deter the prefects from getting the students moving and Harry decided professor McGonagall would forgive him for staying as Princess Alice seemed busy getting her breath back. The glass of water Harry gave her was gratefully taken.
"Thank you, your majesty." Princess Alice said as she finally caught her breath. "Are you alright?" Hermione asked worriedly. Princess Alice smiled gently. "I am miss…?" "Hermione Granger." Hermione filled in. "Miss Granger. Humans are not supposed to channel more than a certain amount of power." there was a hint of sad acceptance in her voice. "Sadly I have more then enough power to go over that limit."
"What about Harry?" Hermione asked worriedly and princess Alice blinked and then smiled. "He is a Campione. Logic and limits tend to have a loose connection with them and otherwise they go at it with sheer stubbornness until the world gives up and bends to their will as it's easier for all involved."
Hermione couldn't help herself but to smile slightly. "Ah.. Harry is very stubborn." she agreed and she smiled wider at Harry's sullen look. "Where are my manners? I am Louise Alice. Pleased to meet you Hermione." "Pleased to meet you miss Alice." Hermione replied politely.
"Now your majesty…." Princess Alice said as she turned her full attention to him and Harry straightened up as she seemed quite serious. "...I am sorry to fall asleep on you." she apologized with a sheepish look. "But this stupid castle has too many stairs!" she whined with a pout. "Princess." Miss Ericson said exasperated but her efforts were rewarded with a raspberry from princess Alice.
"It's alright." Harry said as he relaxed. The childish behaviour actually put him at ease instead of all the official behaviour being slung around. "And please call me Harry." he insisted. Princess Alice perked up. "Sure Harry." she said brightly. "Now Patricia has done the official introduction. I just wanted to let you know I got my own magic that allows me to project myself over the world. So if I know anything about Heretic Gods showing up or any prophecies spoken I will try to get into contact with you if that is alright."
"It is. Thank you." Harry replied easily. "Great. I hope we can be friends!" Louise chirped, pleased with herself. "So do I." Harry said as he extended his hand for a handshake, something Louise happily took despite miss Ericson's less than impressed expression.
"Well. I got to go. Dad will be worried otherwise." she stated and seemed to finally catch miss Ericson's disapproving glare. She smiled sheepishly and Harry blinked as the bubbly young woman transformed into the stately princess everybody addressed her as. He wondered what kind of magic she used to convey such a different person. "Until we meet again Harry." "See you next time Louise." Harry's mouth replied as his brain was still processing the change and his eyes tracked the long haired blonde on her way out.
"What kind of magic did she use to… change like that." Harry asked Hermione when the great doors closed behind princess Alice and Miss Ericson. "I don't know Harry." she admitted. "There was no magic involved in that change mister Potter." professor McGonagall replied behind both teens and they both jumped in their seats in surprise. "That was all in her body language and bearing."
"Professor McGonagall." Hermione squeaked out. "Miss Granger, mister Potter. Do you have any other meetings planned?" Professor McGonagall asked professionally. The pair shook their heads. "Then please head to the Gryffindor common room." Although it was stated as a request it certainly did not feel like that to the pair of teens and they made haste to obey.