Last time...

"There are good people there, even in the ruling class, but no one goes against the will of the king; if only because they haven't had the ability to in so long that no one thinks to try anymore." Hera explained. "It's not all bad, but we are definitely ahead of them on the equal rights curve; as behind as we view ourselves as a whole to be. There are warriors that are women, and magic users that are men, and people who don't give a bloody fuck what people think of their sex lives or gender, but those people pay a heavy price for flaunting societal norms; sometimes a fatal one."


Chapter 68

"So…What do you think?" Hera asked nervously, once most everyone had filtered out to enjoy the last of their time in Hogsmeade that day. "Will they be interested?"

"Hera, that was…How do you know all that?" Neville asked, having been one of those to stick around. "I don't doubt that you do, because the way you talk, it's like you've actually been to these places."

Hera just gives a grimace and a nervous giggle.

"Bloody Hell." He swears under his breath, before straightening up as one does when making a big decision. "Listen. I don't know how you know all that, but if your defense lessons are going to be anything close to being as interesting and informative as this was, I can't wait to take your class."

"I shouldn't be teaching at all, Nev." Hera reminded him.

"Don't care. Still doing it." Neville declared with a stubborn lilt, giving a sharp decisive nod before walking out.

"How are you not top of our Year?" Hermione demanded once Neville was gone, though it was more out of exasperated fondness than annoyance. "I keep meaning to ask, but then you rattle off some new bit of knowledge, and I get distracted again."

"I don't care about grades, and the traditional way of learning bores me." Hera shrugged. "Intelligence is not always synonymous with good at school, Hermione. If the House of Ravenclaw actually cared about being good at school, you wouldn't even be able to touch them in grades. No one would. That's not an insult to your intelligence, or your ability to do well in school. It's just that you're driven about it in a way that they aren't."

"But how am I supposed to know that I'm the best if no one else is trying?" Hermione exclaimed, exasperated for an entirely different reason now.

"Hermione, the only one you're ever competing against is yourself, to do better than you did the year before." Hera stated gently. "School isn't a contest. It's a structured journey of self discovery. It's one of the reasons Luna is still so insistent about what she believes, and based on what I know of the other realms, she's not entirely wrong."

"What?!" Now Hermione was incensed, fully believing that Luna was wrong about all her make believe creatures.

"Heliopaths, the spirits of fire she talks about, are likely one of the beings from Múspellsheimr that know how to Sky-Walk. Coming to Miðgarðr is forbidden, as it is a protectorate, so it's not like those who can come here would advertise that they do." Hera replied easily. "What she describes Blibbering Humdingers and Crumple-Horned Snorkacks to be sounds a lot like a couple of the creatures I saw in the Underground, and even if they are not, there are books in the King's Library that mention them. While the Nargles she deals with are bullies and thieves, there are creatures throughout the Nine that do what she describes. Same thing for Wrackspurts, by the way."

Hermione just sighed. It appeared she was never going to know if she was smarter than her peers, not if they didn't look at it the same way she did, and especially if they were going to constantly break her understanding of everything on such a constant basis. Perhaps it was time to put that particular goal away. She'd proven she was just as much a part of this world as anyone else, and that was what mattered. Instead of commenting on Hera's explanation, she went over to the paper she'd left to be signed. Seeing the multitude of signatures, Hermione wondered if her friend would deny her ability to teach now.


Come Monday morning, there was a large sign affixed to the Slytherin notice board. It was actually so large that it covered everything else on there, something Hera had no doubt would be remedied soon enough. The new sign was printed in large black letters and there was a highly official-looking seal at the bottom beside a neat and curly signature. There were quite a lot of her fellow students reading it, while a few looked on as if they couldn't believe what they were seeing. She would have to begin thinking of how she wanted to handle that woman soon, Hera knew.

...

- By Order Of -

The High Inquisitor of Hogwarts

All Student Organizations, Societies, Teams, Groups, and Clubs are henceforth disbanded.

An Organization, Society, Team, Group, or Club is hereby defined as a regular meeting of three or more students.

Permission to re-form may be sought from the High Inquisitor (Professor Umbridge).

No Student Organization, Society, Team, Group, or Club may exist without the knowledge and approval of the High Inquisitor.

Any student found to have formed, or to belong to, an Organization, Society, Team, Group, or Club that has not been approved by the High Inquisitor will be expelled.

The above is in accordance with Educational Decree Number Twenty-four.

Signed:

Dolores Jane Umbridge

High Inquisitor

...

"Think she knows?" Draco wondered, having been one of those standing near the sign already.

"I knew we should have met at the Hog's Head!" Hermione seethed upon seeing the thing as well, turning to glare at Hera.

"She doesn't know." Hera countered, her eyes still on the parchment. "She's fishing."

"How do you-"

"Hermione." Hera's sharp tone cut through whatever Hermione had been about to say, and her friend held her tongue. Her voice softened when she looked over and saw how worried her friend was; not about being cut off, but about being found out by Umbridge. "We would have been discovered at the Hog's Head. That is a guarantee. The way this is worded…She's fishing. She knows a large number of students went to one place at the same time. She can't actually accuse anyone without proof, so she gets this decree made. You, Draco, and even I placed certain magics on that parchment before it was signed. Trust me, if anyone told, we'd know."

They made their way to the Great Hall, separating when Hera split towards the Head Table. Umbridge didn't bother to hide the glare she gave her, but the woman said nothing when Hera politely nodded to her before sitting down. As she's eating, Hera takes her time looking about the room discretely. No one appears to be missing. No one looks any different. She'd known Umbridge was fishing, but it was still nice to have it confirmed.

"I can only assume this has something to do with you." Snape spoke, barely audible. Hera allows for a small smirk to play across her lips. "You know this means the Quidditch teams too, do you not?"

"Explains why Angelina and Ron are in such a strop." Hera nodded, having seen how the two were furiously whispering to each other. "I'm not on the House team this year, so everyone should be able to get permission again."

"And if you were?" Snape countered. Hera froze. "Did Mr. Montague not speak to you?"

"He might have done, but I was a bit preoccupied." She admitted. "He'd expected to see me at tryouts, but I don't understand why. Draco's Seeker…" She sees the look on his face. "…right?"

"He tried out for Chaser this year." Snape informed her. "He put your name up for consideration as the new Seeker."

"It's better for them if I'm not on the team. They won't get approved to play again if I am." Hera countered with a huff. "You have to know she's been trying to physically keep me out of her classroom."

"If she sees that you're busy with Quidditch and studies, she might not be so inclined to think you responsible for everything." Snape suggested.

"Your mistake in using logic for your argument is that you can't do that with someone who's clearly insane!" Hera hissed, indignant.

"Just try out for the damn team, Potter." Snape grumbled. "It's not like he's planning to hand the bloody position to you. With the delays happening, he's thinking about holding tryouts for a Second String as well."

"Wait…I'll get to actually try out?" Hera asked, blinking a bit as she tried to clear her thoughts. "No having to catch a student on an unruly broom, or a teacher who'd tried to help? No being pounced upon by my Head of House as soon as I land in the Hospital Wing from some stunt or other?"

"What kind of far fetched codswallop was that?" Snape wondered, arching an eyebrow at her.

"That's how I got onto the Gryffindor team." Hera shrugged, before getting distracted by the morning post.

It was not often that she'd send Hedwig out with a letter, and so was not expecting one so soon. She used an international delivery service for the letters she sent to Matt, but she did go up to the Owlery often to visit the regal snowy owl. Something was wrong. The way she was flying…Hera was standing up, arm extended for Hedwig to land on, summoning her dragon hide gloves onto herself. When Hedwig had settled, Hera could finally see what was wrong. Hedwig's feathers were oddly ruffled; some were bent the wrong way, and she was holding one of her wings at an odd angle.

"What happened to you, Hedwig?" Hera murmured, as she looked over the injury, already walking away from the table. She'll get food on the way to class, if she doesn't make it back in time. Finding an empty classroom, Hera does the only thing she can think of. "Jareth?"

One light explosion of glitter later, and Jareth stands in the room with her.

"It has been some time since you called, My friend." Jareth greeted with a slight nod.

"I would take you to task for making me Princess without telling me what it was you were actually giving me, but well…" Hera trailed off, raising her arm a bit more to show him Hedwig's injury.

He caught her worried expression, and looked to the snowy owl she held dear. "I see. Someone or something has attempted to kill this beautiful creature."

Hedwig preened a little at the praise.

"Will you allow me to take her from you for a time?" Jareth inquired. "My healers can do more for her than those here."

"Hedwig?" Hera looked to her. "Are you willing to go with Jareth? I won't be able to follow this time."

Hedwig softly hoots her agreement, and Hera carefully transfers her to Jareth's arm.

"Okay, he'll take good care of you, and you'll be healed up in no time." Hera spoke softly. "No fancy moves or high dives for at least a week, okay?"

"I will take good care of her, Hera." Jareth insisted with a small smile, as he'd watched the whole thing intently.

"I know…My apologies for calling you like this." Hera fumbled needlessly.

"The first time you asked me for help, and it wasn't even for you. This time is no different." He teased. "I might actually fear the day I'm called to help you personally. Imagine the trouble you would have to get into before then?"

"Ah, I was hoping to find you here, my king." Filius interjected, stepping into the room. He was not surprised to see the pair of them hovering over the snowy owl and her broken wing.

"Professor?" Miss Potter inquired. "It's…I mean…It's not against the rules for me to have called him here, is it?"

Both the snowy owl and the king turned their heads as one to look at Miss Potter with shock and indigence.

"It's just…He's only here because I'm worried about my friend." Miss Potter insisted. "I mean…No one's been wished away or anything."

"I doubt the wards would have let him in as peaceably as they did if Hogwarts herself didn't know that he means no harm to any child here." Filius assured her. The King caught onto his word choice, as Filius knew he would. "Besides, it seems perfectly acceptable to me for a princess to call on her king."

"You're not going to start calling me Princess or anything, are you, Professor?" She groaned. "How do you even know about that? I had to find out from Ragnok."

"That ring is only subtle to those who don't know what it means." Filius explained kindly, before turning his attention to the snowy owl. "And you? I can't say we've had the pleasure, my lady."

"This is Hedwig." Miss Potter stated quietly.

"Well met, Hedwig." Filius greeted with a slight bow. "My apologies for interrupting your meeting, Miss Potter, but I had hoped to speak with King Jareth for a moment."

"No worries, Professor. I need to be going anyway, now that I know he'll be able to look after Hedwig." She insisted, making to step away from Hedwig and Jareth.

"Mind me asking why the rush?" Filius asked, intrigued. "Not that you need to answer, you understand."

"Oh!" Miss Potter brightened considerably, happy to share her plans. "I just need to swing by the kitchens I shouldn't know how to get into, grab a snack, and head over to Professor Snape's classroom. He's getting inspected today."

"Very well. I shan't keep you." Filius nodded. Miss Potter brightened once more, turning back to 'Hedwig'.

"Take your time, and heal up good and proper; okay, Clever Girl?" She cooed to the snowy owl, rubbing nose to beak. "I can't plan my best mischief without you, now can I?"

Hedwig preened at this, which had Miss Potter smiling widely as she left.

"You wanted a meeting?" King Jareth noted. The rest of the question did not need asking.

"Yes." Filius stated, straightening up to his full height. "There are things going on at this school that you need to know about, things involving the very real threats posed to our new princess."

The king shared a look with Hedwig, before both turned to him expectantly. "Go on."

"We'd better start with the most pressing then." Filius decided. "Let me tell you about Dolores Umbridge…"


"Well, what do you want me to do about it?" Jareth demanded, as he transferred 'Hedwig' to a perch in the Healer's Halls now that they were back in the Underground. 'Hedwig' chirped unhappily, looking away from him. "Can you at least transform back? How are you supposed to argue with me if you can't yell at me properly?"

The snowy owl ruffled her feathers, looking like she was about to fly.

"Ah, ah! No flying! You've broken your wing, you see." Jareth scolded. "Just how on Earth did you get caught out by their magic anyway?"

'Hedwig' shifted to a form a bit more friendly for speaking, if not still wounded, and Jareth sighed; having guessed just who it was that he was talking with. She did this on the odd occasion, transformed herself into an owl and acted as a Familiar for a particularly gifted witch or wizard. There were many fights she had with her husband about these ventures, none of which were Jareth's business. He often did the same, though never for as long she did, choosing to visit the Above briefly so as not to leave the goblins unsupervised for longer than the possibility of a small 'natural' disaster.

"I expect you to help her!" The woman insisted.

"She's not a child!" Jareth countered. "Why are you so insistent about this?"

"You made her princess." The woman snapped back. "Are you not willing to defend what is yours? She's not going to ask."

Jareth's lips curled up in distaste, as he did not like what this implied about his friend.

"She's not going to expect it of you, or anyone, ever! Even after her friends blatantly showed their unwillingness to let her go it alone, she still doesn't wish to be a bother by even telling them her problems!" The woman explained, frustrated with his seeming unwillingness to defend what and who he considered his.

"Why did you choose to watch over this one?" Jareth asked, leaning against the wall now. He needed to think. She didn't normally get so attached to her charges, not like this.

"Why did you choose to befriend her?" The woman shot back, before fumbling…floundering to explain. It is a look he has never seen her wear. "I suspect our answers are the same. You didn't see who she'd been until the cold revealed his lines to you, but even before then you felt his magic about her, did you not? Weren't you curious to see what could become of someone so blessed by his magic?"

Jareth nodded; After all, 'twas true.

"'Twas the same for me." The woman admitted softly. "I thought I could…I didn't help you, when you came to me, when you pleaded with me to help him, when you were barred from ever seeing your friend again. I should have helped you. So I thought…I could watch this one, guide her…I didn't realize he had been reborn anew, not while he still lives. Then Jörmungandr showed up, and she rescues Fenrir, and then I knew. I had another chance to do right by you, to do right by your friend. How could I not take it?"

"And as she is now?" Jareth wondered.

"As she is now…" The woman trailed off again, perhaps mulling her words over to choose them with care. "I have never been more proud to call a witch my charge. Now, you are going to help her, yes?"

"Of course, I'm going to help her. What sort of Fae did you take me for?" Jareth snorted in amusement, having heard enough. "Now, let's get you to the Healer, Hedwig."

"Don't you sass me, child." The woman scowled, holding her arm close to herself as Jareth guided her towards the main Healer's Room. "You should be more like Hera. She calls me her Clever Girl."

"Of course, Mother."