The following day Hermione herself following behind Hubert of all people to attend Professor Byleth's class. She really had no idea what to expect. Going by what Dorothea had told her she was half expecting that they would be sent out to war.
She find herself incredibly relieved (And somewhat surprised) when they stepped into a rather ordinary, but also quite large, classroom. It looked no different than the rooms at Hogwarts, although perhaps a little bit less ornately furnished. Going by the ornate tapestry hanging outside this was the Black Eagles classroom. Apparently all of their learning sessions were conducted in this one room.
Byleth was here already: he was standing at the front of the room, with Caspar and Petra. She had not had much of a chance to speak to either yet. She found herself taking her seat, alongside Hubert and Dorothea. Dorothea smiled to her warmly and winked. Hermione smiled back, before turning to the front of the class. She had Edelgard's things with her. Her school things, at any rate. She had not been willing to touch the large ax that Edelgard seemed to keep at bedside. Hermione had been appalled when she had seriously taken a look at it and realized how large and heavy it was. If Edelgard had seriously used that thing in battle, she must have been extraordinarily strong for her size. Hermione was no expert, but she had the impression that one was not supposed to be using a weapon larger and heavier than yourself.
She deeply hoped that today's classes wouldn't involve combat training: she would much prefer going over the theory first. She felt that she was practically going into this blind. She had no idea what to expect. Not form the curriculum, or the school, her classmates, or her teacher.
"Take your seats." Byleth said, as he turned around to walk back to his desks. Petra and Caspar obediently did as they were told. Hermione watched them, noticing Caspar's lack of fidgeting or the general overenthusiasm she had heard from him this far. He wasn't a fan of class work, but he too deeply respected their teacher to act on it.
Petra too seemed oddly out of place, sitting a little bit too formally as she stared at Byleth with a keen interest. She barely spoke their language, Hermione knew, but seemed intent on catching every word. Bernadetta, the shy girl she had met the day before, was sitting by herself in the corner, staring intently at Byleth. Hermione rather had the impression that she was fawning over him. The thought made her think of her interest in Professor Lockhart, and she had to stop herself from shuddering.
Professor Byleth turned around and faced them.
"Now." He said. "During our last battle, I took the time to observe your actions and abilities. All of you have made great strides in the months since I have joined the faculty here. I have nothing but praise for all of you as individuals."
The room began to swell with pride. Hermione could tell that the Professor's praise meant a whole lot to them.
"However." He said. "An unforeseen circumstance has robbed of us of an essential part of our army. Our House Leader, Edelgard."
Hermione froze slightly as the Professor nodded to her. Dorothea smiled at her and nudged her. Hermione blushed.
"Without Edelgard." Byleth said. "I feel that we have no true house unity. None of you have been able to rise up and take her place. Her absence has left a void in our defenses that may be impossible to fill."
Dorothea tapped her finger against the table thoughtfully. Byleth continued.
"This is to be expected. There is a reason why we must keep our leaders alive, at all cost. They are the focal point for the entire army. If they are lost, or killed, or unable to lead, the army almost immediately begins to fall apart. I have observed how Edelgard's actions have effected all of you. I understand that this is a difficult, trying time for all of us. But we must not lose face. We must not let her absence tear apart all that we have tried to build these past few months. We must continue onward, choosing a new leader if we must."
"I think you should be the house leader, Professor." Dorothea piped up.
There was a murmur of agreement throughout the room. Hermione had not spoken, but she could clearly see the students deeply trusted and respected Byleth. She could see why: No Hogwarts Professor would speak this way to their class. Byleth seemed to understand how certain events may have effects his students.
"Unfortunately, I am not a student here." Byleth, Hermione noticed, did not smile. "Unfortunately I am not qualified to take Edelgard's position in her absence. The task falls to one of you. I would ask that you discuss the matter amongst yourselves and present a new leader within the week. If Lady Rhea and I approve, than that will person will temporarily fill Edelgard's role as House Lead."
He was speaking to them like adults. Hermione realized. He was trusting them to take responsibility for themselves. It was the exact opposite approach that someone like Dolores Umbridge would have taken. She would have picked a new leader that she liked, and that was that. But Byleth was suggesting that they make the nomination themselves.
"Now." Byleth said. "I would like all of you to document your thoughts on the last battle. Hermione, may I speak to you please?"
Although surprised at being referred to by her first name, Hermione stood up and stepped up to the front of the room. Byleth circled the desk and sat down, staring up at her. She felt nervous, standing up here in front of him. He was staring at her if he were looking right through her.
"I've been thinking long and hard about how best we're going to handle training for you." He said. "The logical course of action, and one that Rhea felt would be best, is to continue Edelgard's training. She is, of course, a frontline fighter, and a leader. She has been focusing all of her energy in studying tactics and strengthening herself to take on powerful foes, head on. She is a force to be reckoned to be reckoned with."
Was that so?
"I disagree." Byleth continued. "Although you are in Edelgard's body, you are not her. I think it would be in very poor form of us to train you in a field that you yourself have no interest in. My suggestion, going by what you've told us about yourself, is that you focus on magic."
"Magic?" She repeated, puzzled. Byleth nodded.
"You should be very familiar with the theory."
Hermione shook her head.
"I've already tried!" She said quickly. "I've been trying to look at those tomes you use, and I can't-"
"It takes a little bit of work to use those." Byleth interjected. "I understand that your brand of magic is different, but once you adapt I expect that we will see great results from you."
He gestured to Dorothea. "Dorothea is our Mage. I have seen that you two have been spending a lot of time together already. I think it is in our best interest to focus on improving on what you already know, rather than trying something completely new. Dorothea should be able to help you. She's the second best mage in the school… she will be of great help to you." He paused.
"Is this plan agreeable to you?"
She had no idea what to say. "It… it is!" She said. "Thank you."
Byleth waved her way and she turned around, beaming to Dorothea. "I'm going to study magic with you!" She told her excitedly. It was not until Dorothea returned her sentiments that Hermione paused to think at just how well Byleth had handled such an odd situation. He had made her excited for a subject that she had had no real interest in. It seemed that the Black Eagles respect for him was well placed.
…
Edelgard had spent her entire time at Hogwarts trying to find her way around the Castle. She still had no idea where she was going. The stairways moved and the portraits were no guidemarks because of how they moved about and kept visiting each other. She found it unbearably annoying.
She had to have Ron and Harry walk her down to Umbridge's office. They seemed very concerned for her. The thought touched her, but she tried not to appear too nervous as she entered the Classroom, stepped up behind the stairway behind the teacher's desk, and ended up at Dolores Umbridge's office door.
She raised her hand and knocked.
"Enter."
Edelgard did so. Umbridge was sitting behind her desk watching her. Edelgard turned her head to look around the room, and her eyes fell on the kittens playing on the plates adorning the walls.
"I like your plates." Edelgard said.
Umbridge looked surprised for a moment, and then smiled. "Why thank you, Miss Granger." She said. "But I'm afraid flattery will not get you out of detention early."
"But it certainly can't hurt our relationship." Edelgard said, as she sat on the chair in front of Umbridge. Edelgard looked at her with a polite interest. Umbridge did not seem to know what to make of her. Going by how Ron and Harry spoke about her, Hermione seemed to think very lowly of Umbridge and had argued with her in the past. Edelgard suspected that this might be the most cordial Umbridge had ever been.
Umbridge watched her, not responding. Edelgard sat completely still, watching her. Finally she asked. "What shall we be doing tonight, Professor?"
"Lines." Umbridge said promptly. "It is my favored form of punishment. I find that it's the best, simplest way to…." She giggled girlishly. "Leave a message."
Edelgard was unimpressed. "Oh?' She said. "Well, if that is so-"
She reached into Hermione's bag and drew a quill. Umbridge was quick to stop her. "Actually Dear." She said. "You will be using a rather special quill of mine tonight."
"If you insist." Edelgard said, as she set the quill back into the bag. She reached forward and grabbed the black quill from the tabletop and raised it. She checked the point, nodded.
"Would you like me to use special ink as well? Or may I use my own?"
"Oh, you won't need Ink." Umbridge said, chuckling to herself. Edelgard stared at her, smiling softly, as she placed her hand on the parchment before her.
"What would you like me to write?" Edelgard asked politely. Umbridge considered her for a moment before answering.
"You-Know-Who has not returned."
Edelgard looked up at her, with a raised eyebrow. Umbridge giggled at her. Edelgard was beginning to see why Harry and Ron resented her so much.
"How many times?" She asked quietly.
"As many as it takes." She said, leaning back in her chair and staring down at her smugly. Edelgard ran the pen tip across the paper and winced. The pain that Harry had warned her about creeped across the back of her hand. She gritted her teeth and bore with it.
She began by writing out the message. You-Know-Who has not returned.
You-Know-Who has not returned.
You-Know-Who has not returned.
You-Know-Who has not returned.
You-Know-Who has not returned.
You-Know-Who has not returned.
You-Know-Who has not returned.
You-Know-Who has not returned.
You-Know-Who has not returned.
Voldemort has not returned.
She did not look up at Umbridge. She was fixated on her hand. The wound she was inflicting on herself was healing, but she could tell that if she kept this up that it would stay. She pressed her hand harder against the parchment, and she could feel the Quill's blade digging into her skin.
She wondered what Hermione herself would think about what she was doing. She couldn't think about it now. She played with the pen a little. Digging in deep on some words, and lightly dabbing at others. Umbridge was watching her carefully, but she was looking at her parchment. Not her hand. She was looking at her face. Looking for any sign of weakness of apprehension. She was dull. Edelgard realized shrewdly. She was a woman who was granted authority over children, that was all. She was nothing.
Several hours of this passed. Hermione's hand was aching.
"That will be enough, I think." Umbridge said coolly. "Please, present your hand.
She reached out her hand as if she were going to take it, but Edelgard refused her. She smiled at her radiantly as she raised her hand upward instead. Umbridge's heart seemed to stop.
"What-"
There, written on Hermione's hand, clear as day: VOLDEMORT HAS RETURNED.
Umbridge frantically looked down at the parchment and saw, to Edelgard's pleasure, that she had deliberately pressed down on the parchment so hard so that certain words, VOLDEMORT, HAS, and RETURNED appeared prominently on her hand. The NOT she had simply stroked as lightly as possible. She had written it out on the parchment clear as day for Umbridge to see, but the message on her hand, the one that would last, was entirely different.
"Interesting message you wanted to impart on me, Professor." Edelgard said, chuckling at her expression. "Your Minister isn't going to like that, is he?"
Umbridge's eyes seemed to bug out furiously as Edelgard's chuckles broke out into full blown laughter. The confident, self assured Ministry Plant had been completely broken by her own punishment.
" I think." Umbridge said, her voice icy cold. "That another month's detentions are in order, Granger."
"I think." Edelgard said coolly, as she crossed her legs. "That you have already learned your lesson. I have no reason to come back here."
Umbridge seemed about ready to explode. "I?" She repeated shrilly. Gone was the fake, high pitched little girl voice. "I learned my lesson?"
"Indeed." Edelgard said smugly, enjoying the look of furious outrage on her face. "It is only a matter of time, Professor. You have no true hold over this school. You command no real respect. Do you know what they call you, in your very own classroom? The Toad." She put on a high pitched imitation of Umbridge's speech. "READ THE NEXT CHAPTER OF YOUR BOOKS PLEASE."
Umbridge stood up. She was so short that this lacked any real impact on her whatsoever.
"You will be expelled, Miss Granger!" She shrieked. "You will do as I say!"
Edelgard stood up.
"But Professor." She said innocently, as she tapped the parchment with her finger. "I did my lines."
She turned to the door and walked out. She ignored Umbridge's screams at her to stop, and stepped out into the classroom. It was as she thought. Umbridge thought she had power and influence over the school. She thought she could bring the entire might of the Ministry of Magic down on her. Expel her, even.
But all she was doing was bandaging a lethal wound. There was nothing she could do to rid Hermione of the proud scar that Edelgard had inflicted upon her in order to leave a permanent message. One so grand, and so important, that everyone in the Wizarding World needed to know it.
Lord Voldemort had returned.