Disclaimer: Everything belongs to J.K Rowling.
Chapter 20: Start of Term
"Wands away, please."
Umbridge's declaration was met with groans and murmurs of annoyance. I complied myself with an internal roll of my eyes.
"Good morning class," Umbridge squeaked in a cheerful tone.
A few muttered replies was what all she received which made a look of annoyance cross her face. "Let's try that again, shall we? When I say 'good morning class', I expect a 'good morning, Professor Umbridge' in return."
"So, good morning class," she said sternly.
"Good morning, Professor Umbridge," our entire class responded tiredly. I chose not to say anything, not that she noticed.
"Good. Begin reading page one of the book you've been assigned," she said with a smile. "There will be no need for talking," Umbridge added sharply when Seamus leaned over to whisper something to Dean. He looked abashed and began reading with his head down.
I opened my book exaggeratedly slowly and began reading. Reading the book felt about the same as eating dry chicken with no seasoning. There was nothing of note there, it just existed for us to do something, not for us to actually learn something. The one thing I could say that I'd 'learned' from the book after five pages was that 'authorised personnel should be tasked with handling any potentially dangerous encounter'. If I wouldn't have been on the brink of falling asleep, I would have been impressed with the author's ability to say the same thing in so many different ways.
I looked up to the clock and felt my hand twitch involuntarily. It urged me to do something, I didn't have time to waste like this, this book was useless to the extent that I was certain that I regressed in my knowledge by reading.
Suddenly, Hermione's hand shot up like an arrow next to me. I tried to ignore her when she only sat on and on with her hand raised. Umbridge seemingly wanted to do the same but she had to address her when almost the entire class had stopped reading to watch Hermione.
"Is there a problem, miss?"
"Miss Granger, Professor. And yes, there is." The entire class were now listening to the conversation, no one even pretended to be reading the book.
Umbridge gave her a sweet smile and raised her eyebrows. "I don't understand what problems you could possibly have in my classroom, Ms. Granger."
"I just have a question, Professor. Why is there no mention of actually learning any defensive magic?"
Umbridge's smile seemed forced when she responded. "I can assure you that the curriculum is carefully constructed by experienced ministry personnel. They have planned this course so that your learning will be as efficient as possible, something which your year has dearly lacked, I'm afraid."
"But how are we supposed to learn anything if we don't practice?" Hermione pressed and I felt an uneasy feeling in my gut. If she said the wrong things and pressed the wrong buttons, this could end very poorly.
"As I stated earlier, you will know everything required to pass this course," Umbridge said sternly, her smile finally slipped off her face.
"But isn't the aim of the course to learn things?" Hermione countered.
"Your grades are proof that you've learned things Ms. Granger. If your previous results are anything to go by, you know this very well," Umbridge snapped irritably. Hermione opened her mouth to query further but Umbridge shut her down. "I think that's enough for now, Ms. Granger."
A dozen hands shot up in the air then, it seemed Hermione had inspired some independent thought, well done.
Umbridge looked as if she had just taken a large bite out of a lemon, she took a deep breath and plastered a smile on her face. She pointed to Dean.
"Mr. Thomas, Professor. I have a question."
"And what might that question be, Mr. Thomas?"
"Well, grades aren't really important, are they?"
Umbridge looked at him with what was obviously fake concern. "What do you mean, Mr. Thomas?"
"Well, the important part is knowing how to defend ourselves, innit? As long as we know that grades are irrelevant, no?"
"I see no reason you need to defend yourselves at all, I can assure you that the British aurors are the best in the world."
"What about all the things out there?" Ron exclaimed loudly.
"Hand raised, Mr. Weasley," Umbridge scolded with a sweet smile.
I prayed internally for him not to mention Voldemort or anything related to him, that was exactly what she wanted. It was rather obvious what she desired, she wanted someone to make an example of. I wouldn't let her make one of me, but she was pretty good at winding my friends up. Ron raised his hand and she pointed to him with a beaming smile.
"What about all the things we will meet out in the real world?"
"What things are you referring to Mr. Weasley?" Umbridge wore a smile which belonged on a predator, this was her moment. The silence was deafening as everyone waited for Ron's answer, no one dared to even breathe.
"I mean, what if we get robbed or encounter a werewolf? There are a bunch of dangers in the world" Ron said and I heard a large breath of relief coming from Hermione, I couldn't help but share her sentiment.
"I can assure you, Mr. Weasley, the aurors are qualified to handle such matters. They've proved just this week that they are very well equipped to deal with dangerous individuals." She gave me a pointed look and I wanted to roll my eyes.
How discrete of her.
I received a few concerned looks though so I guess that not everyone saw through her machinations. I sighed internally and decided that something had to be done.
I raised my hand and heard several gasps behind me. My classmates who had hands up took them down faster than I had finished putting mine up. People were practically leaning forwards in anticipation.
"Don't let her wind you up. Use your head, not your heart," I thought to myself in a silent reminder.
"Professor," I began icily. "I'm afraid I find myself doubting the capabilities of our esteemed aurors."
Umbridge frowned at me in concern and glared at me incredibly discreetly. How so, Mr. Potter?"
"Well, an escape for Azkaban has been on the run for two years. They also failed spectacularly to provide protection for the champions last year. It could be said that the aurors are focusing on the wrong things."
This time, Umbridge didn't even attempt to conceal her glare. "Of course, someone with a criminal record would feel that way."
I gave her a fake look of confusion. "I'm afraid I don't understand, Professor. I was cleared of all charges. Don't you remember? You were in the room when the sentence was uttered, after all."
Umbridge looked as if she wanted to flay me alive at that moment and I didn't doubt for a second that she would have if there wasn't a group of witnesses in the room. Instead she gave me a forced smile which resembled a grimace more than an actual smile. "Class dismissed," she said sweetly and chairs scraped against the floor immediately.
I didn't do anything for a second and grinned at her victoriously. Umbridge only sneered in response.
"That was awesome, Harry!" Dean said jubilantly when I exited the classroom. The Gryfindors had stayed behind to wait for me to pack my few things away. Seamus and Lavender were talking by themselves at the edge of the group, neither of them had received me that warmly the night before. It was concerning how many believe the prophet blindly.
On the other hand, I couldn't really blame them. They had seen me bring Delacour to the brink of death mere minutes before I returned with claims about how Diggory was murdered.
Perhaps it wasn't entirely reasonable to be upset with them. But I was.
"It was nothing," I said with a wave of my hand.
"No! It was brilliant! Did you see her look? She wanted to give you detention for the rest of the week, but she had no reason to." Dean was practically jumping up and down in excitement, Neville and Parvati had smiles on their faces as well. Ron looked more like he wanted to strangle Umbridge and Hermione looked very…distant. She was staring at the door with her brows furrowed, deep in thought.
"Maybe," I said absently. "Perhaps it's better to actually try in the quali for the tournament. Just to leave Hogwarts for the year," I joked with a small smile.
"Well, you could do that, Harry," Dean said with a wry smile. "No one in Hogwarts could beat you, I'm sure of it."
I resisted grimacing at his comment. The downside with mine and Malfoy's plan to show everything Delacour said and did was that everyone also knew what I said and did. "Maybe," I said vaguely.
"Well, I'm signing up for the process," Dean stated proudly. "Just to see where I am, you know?"
"So am I," Parvati interjected with a proud look.
"I think I'll do it as well," Neville added.
We had now reached the Great Hall and the pleasurable scents of food descended upon us like a fluffy cloud. We sat down towards one end of the table and we began to fill our plates with all ranges of food.
It felt weird to sit at the Gryffundor table surrounded by people who were my friends, or were they? I looked around at Neville, Ron, Hermione, Parvati, Dean and even Seamus and Lavender. I couldn't remember the last time I had something as ordinary as lunch with all of them at the same time.
I repressed a frown at the thought. It definitely never happened last year. Two years ago was a long time…
I felt the dragon rumble from behind its suppressive bars. It was strange, it wasn't the grand parties in the Gryffindor common room after a quidditch victory I missed the most. It was the small moments, the completely normal moments.
My eyes surveyed the Great Hall and landed on the blonde girl seated at the Slytherin table. I had just had a defence class with her, but I had never even seen her.
That summed up her entire character as far as I knew, I couldn't remember her saying a single word in any class. Teachers rarely called on her, most likely due to the fact that she did pay attention even if she didn't speak.
I sighed and heaved a portion of chicken stew on my plate.
I knew that my marriage would be a bad one, but perhaps I had naively held some hope that there wouldn't be outright hostility between us. How I had been wrong.
It dawned on me that she really was an prat. I mean, no matter what has happened, who tells someone that they will cheat on you and insult your mother at the same time?
Daphne Greengrass. That was the answer to that question.
Perhaps I wasn't the best person I'd ever met but I didn't go that far. She really was a bastard, wasn't she?
I shook my head and dragged my gaze away from the blonde, lest I get caught staring.
"Harry!"
I looked up my plate to find everyone staring at me expectantly. I chewed quickly and swallowed. "What?"
I could see Hermione rolling her eyes in my periphery.
Parvati smiled. "I asked if you had any tips for the tournament tryouts?"
I took a sip of my pumpkin juice and contemplated the question.
"Know when you are worse," I said wisely. "The easiest way to win a fight is to never start it."
Parvati raised her eyebrows. "Are you saying we shouldn't try?"
"No." I paused and looked her in the eyes. "I am merely saying that you won't be able to win against a seventh or sixth year. So, instead of trying to take them head on, find a clever way around that problem."
Dean scoffed. "Harry, we're Gryffindors! Why are you going around preaching stuff about being clever?"
Parvati nodded. "I get your point, Harry. But Dean's right, that's the Ravenclaw way." She looked around at the others. "We want to do it the Gryffindor way."
"Yeah," Dean added with a grin. "Gryffindor for the win."
He and Ron did a high five and Parvati chuckled. My eyes landed on Hermione who tried her very best to look as if she was eating her food, not listening with rapt attention.
"How will you do it, Harry?" Neville asked.
"How will I do the qualification?"
He nodded. "Yeah."
I nodded slowly. "I don't know. Probably try to learn something new, like only using my left arm or something until the second to last round, where I will surrender."
The group looked at me incredulously.
Parvati chuckled. "Only you will just assume that you will be able to win every game with your weaker arm."
Dean shook his head with a smile. "We're here just trying to survive this and your focus is making it even harder for yourself."
I shrugged. "What can I say? It's good practice."
"Practice for what?"
My eyes landed on the source of those words. Seamus. He had a challenging look on his face.
The smiles slid off everyone's faces like water did off a window on a rainy night. I felt like something heavy hung in the air.
I narrowed my eyes on him. "I think you're fully aware of what."
Seamus had his eyes narrowed on me too. "Really? Because to me it only sounds like you're bragging about your abilities."
I scoffed. "Perhaps I am, but at least I have justification to do it. Unlike your beloved prophet's attacks on me."
He shook his head and stood up. "I'm done here."
Dean grimaced but made no move to leave. Everyone but Lavender staying meant more to me than I could even put into words. I don't even know why. It was such a small thing. Perhaps I was just used to everyone storming away from me like I was a disease. Perhaps I was just used to being the 'bad guy'.
Perhaps I was just used to being wrong.
For the first time in some while I realised that I wasn't as alone as I had realised. What did everyone's presence here tell me about what they thought about my story?
Their actions spoke more than a thousand words.
The mood was ruined after they had left. We ate the rest of our meal in relative silence.
Even if the mood around our group was ruined. I felt a lightness inside I hadn't felt for I don't even know how long.
That was until my eyes unfortunately landed on two people on the Hufflepuff table. I didn't recognise either of them, they looked to be seventh years.
One girl. One boy.
One pair of lips upon one pair of lips.
The dragon inside me roared with fury, the bars which confined it melted. I tried to drag my gaze away from them but I couldn't.
I sighed. Even if having fun with my friends had been good for a time, I realised that it didn't really mean anything. All of my problems persisted.
They could do some things, but saving me from the shackles I bound myself with, they could not.
-()-
"Your stance is all wrong," my master said in irritation. She went up to me and showed me how to do it. "Always have the wand trained on your opponent. Always with your arm towards your opponent, that will make you a smaller target."
I mirrored her movements and aimed my wand at the targett she had set up.
"Stupefy! Stupefy!"
Two bolts of red light emerged from my wand and struck the targett dead in the middle.
"Adequate," Rowena commented with a nod.
She took out her own wand and stood five metres away from me. "I want to make sure that you haven't unlearned something from last year."
She sent a bolt of purple light at me which I just about managed to conjure a shield to protect myself from. I breathed out a sigh of relief that it didn't just pass straight through like the one she used the other day.
She transfigured a table into a large wolf who howled loudly before charging me.
"Incendio," I whispered quietly and reduced the creature to a pile of ash with a grin of satisfaction. I then transfigured the pile into shards of ice which I banished at my master. She simply waved her wand and all of the shards flew past her harmlessly. I frowned in concentration, I was getting better at doing spells silently, but nowhere near good enough.
"Are you planning to enter the tournament?" Rowena asked them at the same time as she conjured an uncharacteristically green golem made out of what looked like green water.
I conjured the pair of purple golems I had used during the third task and they stormed towards the golem angrily. "Yeah, but I won't go to the finals," I shouted over the noise of the battling golems.
Her creation punched one of my conjurations and I waved my wand frantically to control the movements of the remaining one.
"Why not?" she asked as she calmly dictated her own creation.
I gave her a deadpan look which she probably didn't see because of the wrestling match between us. "Because I need to stay here to study with you, obviously."
The green golem ripped one arm off my golem and I winced at my impending defeat.
"Arrangements can be made for you to have tuition from a distance," she said calmly and conjured another pair of wolves I had to burn down in between controlling my purple creation.
"Uhhh, okay. Do you want me to do it?" I said between my efforts to defend from all sides.
"I think experience against different types of opponents is useful,'' she said. "But it's your decision."
Her green golem ripped the head of my purple golem and I had to dive out of the way from a punch it directed at me. I felt something grab my neck and pin me up against a wall.
Rowena appeared beside her green creation who was currently limiting my intake of air. "You've improved. It'll be interesting to see how well you do against other skilled duellists."
"You assume that I will reach the tournament in China, what if I lose before I qualify?"
Rowena smiled at me amusement as the green golem dissolved into nothing and I was dropped onto the ground, panting from exhaustion. "If you lose against someone here, I'll unmake you my apprentice."
"No you won't," I said in an attempt to call out her bluff.
"Do you want to find out?"
-()-
"Hermione, do you know what the catalyst is for the blood replenishing potion?" Ron asked with a frown where he sat across from me.
"It's the beatle's liver," I replied absently and continued to scratch away at McGonagall's essay.
As was common since the new term started, me and Ron sat by ourselves in the library in an attempt to finish our mountain of homework. I agreed that homework was a very useful way to get students to learn things, but the OWLs could only contain so much knowledge. When I had uttered my complaints for the first time Ron had looked at me with a concerned look.
"Who are you and what have you done to Hermione Granger?" he had said.
He had a point, I guess. I had never complained about homework before but now when I actually wanted to spend my free time on something useful, I found myself increasingly frustrated at the amount of work we were assigned.
"If only Harry could help me," I thought to myself in irritation. I still couldn't wrap my head around his stubborn refusal to help me. Haven't I shown enough that I wanted to help him?
It was difficult to study by oneself, and Ron wasn't keen to pull his sleeves up and actually work for it. The fact that my own extracurricular studies went so slowly mixed with the awful defence lessons left me with a knot of concern. What if I actually had to fight someone anytime soon? I wouldn't stand a chance. The same could be said for all my classmates, every one of us would be in mortal danger the second a Death Eater appeared. Bar Harry.
My quill broke under my furious scratching and I swore loudly. Ron raised his eyebrows at me in amusement. "Language, Ms. Granger," he said in his best imitation of Umbridge.
I wasn't in the mood for joking around. I only glared at him before I repaired the quill with a 'reparo'.
I looked at me oddly for a moment. "Are thinking about Harry's refusal again?"
I exhaled in frustration. "Why would I do that?"
He tried to hide a smile and shrugged. "I don't know, I just know that you break things sometimes." He grinned broadly. "The Hermione I know doesn't break things for no reason."
I huffed and returned to my essay.
"You have also complained about it the entire summer break," Ron added.
I put the parchment and the quill down. "I haven't complained the entire break. I just think he is being stubborn and stupid."
Ron smiled at me. "Perhaps he is," he admitted and I looked at him oddly. He had always understood where Harry was coming from and defended him. "But I think you need to realise that he won't help you. I would love to have him help us as well, I want to be there for him just as much as you do, but I understand that he won't let us. So do you need to understand," he replied gently.
I thought about his words. Maybe he was right. If Harry didn't want to teach us then I would have to take things into my own hands. I gave Ron a smile. "You're right. I've got an idea."
He grimaced. "Please don't tell me it involves even more studying."
-()-
They really should have put an age limit on the entrance into the qualification process. This was the third round in a row where I faced someone in third year or below. I'd expected that there would be a lot of people who would only sign up to 'get some experience' but it seemed the whole school had signed up, no matter if you were a first year or a seventh year.
This made it ridiculously easy if you were lucky enough to face someone a lot younger than you, as I had. Ron hadn't been as lucky, he was knocked out in the first round by the seventh year Slytherin, Joshua Montague. Ron had done better than I expected but I had to grudgingly admit that Montague knew what he was doing.
Hermione had fared a lot better even though her opposition had been very difficult, at least in comparison to mine. She had defeated both a seventh year Hufflepuff and her dorm mate Parvati. I could tell from the way she held her wand and always fired at least three spells in a chain that she had actually made some progress in her practice. Considering the amount of effort she put into it, it looked to me as if she was struggling along with her additional studies slowly. She made progress but I had expected more based on all the times I saw here buried in books unrelated to any coursework.
I watched from the crowd as Neville was sent flying across the entire stage by a seventh year Ravenclaw. Flitwick ruled the duel over and Neville was knocked out as well. Even though everyone left had duelled three times each, there were still three duels to go to actually reach the finals of the tournament. The ones who got selected would travel to China where the tournament would take place, and stay there for as long as they remained in the competition.
That meant a lot of individual studies which I personally found very appealing. Flitwick would visit us occasionally to make sure we actually did the work but the reins were securely fixed in our own hands.
I just hoped that the assignments wouldn't be too overbearing. This was actually a perfect opportunity to increase my time with Rowena. However she would arrange her 'tuition from distance'.
Hogwarts were allowed to send four competitors, since we were a rather large school. The prospect of duelling people from all over the world made my head bubble in excitement, there would be a total of 128 competitors from all over the globe. I barely knew of any other schools apart from Hogwarts, Durmstrang, Beauxbatons and the famous American school, Ilvermony.
I knew from prior experience that Beauxbatons were specialists in manipulation of nature, similarly, Hogwarts were renowned for their transfiguration graduates. I wondered what kinds of magic I would encounter. I resolved to not just fight myself, but to watch other duels. Take inspiration and learn. If I could fight in ten different ways, I would be much deadlier.
I frowned. Since when have I wanted to be deadly?
Flitwick used a sonorus charm and cleared his throat loudly to get everyone's attention. He had a huge bowl of paper slips beside him, the lottery for the next round was upon us. I looked around me and found that the majority were older than me, there were still a fair few fifth years and the occasional person who looked even younger, but all in all. The worst ones had been whisked away. Considering this tournament only took place every six years, it was mightily unfair if you happened to be a second or third year.
Flitwick took two paper slips and read the two names out loud. I shut out his voice and engaged Angelina and Katie in some conversation. They were the only Gryffindors left that I knew, apart from Hermione.
"Hermione Granger and Angelina Johnson," Flitwick read aloud clearly and the moved on.
Angelina frowned and quirked an eyebrow at me. "Do I need to be worried?"
"You'll get no help from me," I said and held my arms up. "I'm not taking any sides."
Angelina glared at me but Katie laughed in amusement. "Don't worry Angie, just throw a book at her and she won't be able to resist picking it up to read it."
I chuckled weakly but it was forced all the way. Hermione may be born with a book in her hands, but it was something which I found increasingly admirable.
"Harry Potter and Daphne Greengrass!" Flitwick read loudly from his slips of paper. Mutterings emerged immediately. Both me and a girl with blonde hair were directed a bunch of glances.
My eyes widened comically at the announcement, the odds of that happening must have been astronomically low.
This marriage would be anything but calm, I realised darkly.
It would give me a good opportunity to bring her down a peg. Or a hundred. Perhaps she wouldn't feel as inclined to insult me to my face after having been bested in a duel?
I nodded slowly. Perhaps I would enjoy this duel after all.
No. There was no 'perhaps' about it.
I would enjoy this duel. I would savour every second of it.
Katie breathed out a sigh of relief next to me. "As long as it is not me," she said with a smile towards me. She looked slightly concerned at the look on my face.
I smirked at her confidently. "Scared, Bell?"
"Nah, I just have a brain," she said with a wink.
"She's right," Angelina commented absently. "No one wants to face you." She looked at me with the corner of her lips curled slightly. "That show you put up last year was terrifying, you know."
"Good," I said darkly. "That means I've won even before I step onto the stage."
Neither Angelina nor Katie answered.
In the end, Flitwick read Katie's name. "Katie Bell and Joshua Montague."
"Of course I had to get him when I avoided you," she said with annoyance.
"You'll get him," I said supportively, I didn't really believe it. Montague was probably the best here, apart from me, of course.
-()-
"I'm sorry, Ms. Granger, but I will have to decline your offer," Fliwick smiled at me brightly from his elevated chair in his office. "You're a brilliant student Ms. Granger, but I, quite frankly, do not have the time this year between managing lessons and keeping an eye on our contestants."
"It's alright, Professor," I said with a forced smile. "It's just that I've already asked Professor McGonagall and Professor Vector. You're the last one I could think of."
Flitwick gave me a sympathetic look. "Your aspirations to improve are admirable Ms. Granger, but I think that very few are willing to educate a fifteen year old to fight during a time like this."
"Yes, the others felt the same."
Flitwicks eyes gleamed happily. "There is a way, of course. It'll be difficult though."
I perked up immediately and sat up straighter in my chair. "What do you have in mind, Professor?"
"Well…I am in charge of tutoring the students who travel to the tournament."
My stomach dropped at his words. Angelina would be a very difficult opponent, and even if I won that fight, I would still have to win two more against better opponents.
"I'll try Professor," I said weakly and stood up to leave. "Thanks for the help, Professor."
"Ms. Granger," Flitwick called calmly as I was in the doorframe. I turned around sharply and looked at him inquisitively. His eyes twinkled merrily in the office. "You know how to win a duel, Ms. Granger. Focus on making sure that you can win a duel this time."
I frowned at him but nodded slowly and closed the door behind me. He was right, I could do this. There were two days until our duell, that was plenty of time to learn.
-()-
"I'm facing her in the duell tomorrow," I said when me and my master had settled down in our armchairs after an excruciatingly tiring session. Her bar was significantly higher than last year. Getting even a comment that something was 'adequate' was becoming increasingly difficult. I did my best, it was all I could do, really.
Being put through a rigorous exercise where I had to conjure rocks to block spells at the same time as being subjected to a tickling jinx was surprisingly painful. Blocking out the sensation of the tickling while trying to focus was nigh on impossible.
Still, this evening I had only been injured about ten times. Improvement.
"With 'her', I'm guessing you're referring to your betrothed." Rowena said with an odd look in her eyes.
"Yes," I confirmed simply. "She'll regret what she said to me."
Rowena narrowed her eyes. "What is that supposed to mean?"
"She is a mean, racist, bitch."
"Have you learned nothing?" Rowena let out a sharp breath. "I told you to think and you let your emotions steer you like you're a blind donkey?"
I shook my head at her. "No, I have thought it through. She needs to change for this relationship to work. Hopefully, this will be a wake up call for her."'
"You think a public humiliation is synonymous to a 'wake up call'?" Rowena was looking at me incredulously.
"Difficult situations require difficult solutions," I said decisively.
Rowena's lip curled in distaste. "So revenge is no part of it?"
"It is part of it," I said honestly with a shrug. "But not the main reason."
Rowena slipped on a stone mask of neutrality upon her face. Her purple orbs were trained piercingly on mine. "I order you not to humiliate her, then."
I clenched my fists. "Why?"
Rowena gave me a stern look. "Isn't that obvious? I know that she hasn't been...nice to you-"
"That's an understatement."
My master glared at me and I fell silent as a rock. "-but surely you realise that there is no way for things to get better if you don't try? She is to be your wife."
I returned her glare. "That she is going to be my wife is irrelevant, she didn't try one second to even be civil with me."
Rowena laughed coolly. "And you did? Did you try?" Rowena straightened her back. "You knew what you signed up for with the contract. Don't come here and cry about how she is treating you poorly."
"She insulted just about every thing about me she could!"
Rowena tilted her head at me with a sharp glint in her purple orbs. "Remember what I told you about Delacour last year?"
I folded my arms. "You told me a lot of things about her -and I don't think manipulating Greengrass will end well here..."
The purple-clad woman pursed her mouth into a thin line. "I was refering to the fact that Delacour is a fellow human -with thoughts and feelings of her own." The founder smiled thinly. "The same could be said for your betrothed," she continued.
"I'm not sure if that is true," I muttered under my breath. "A rock has more emtion," I spoke up, a little clearer.
"Well then," Rowena said, annoyed. "If you were placed in the same situation, could you really say that you wouldn't feel inclined to insult the person responsible?"
I sighed and stared at the ceiling. "I know, I know, but she could try too. She is just as stuck as I am."
"Give it time." Rowena folded her hands neatly. "Allow her some time for reflection."
"I...no!". I held up a finger warningly. "I will give it time, until the wedding, then I can meet her again."
"And you say that she is the one who isn't trying!"
"Yes!" I exclaimed angrily. "I've told you what happened, in precise detail too."
"No, you told me your view of what happened." Rowena's face was cooler than ice. "You are just as guilty as her in regard to the current state of your relationship."
"I didn't outright insult her with the first words I said to her," I replied indignantly.
"Perhaps not," Rowena drawled. "But your fault lies in your mind, you're already so set that your union will be miserable and horrible that you make sure that it will be so."
"She is the problem here, not me," I ground out.
Rowena shook her head. "There are two people in a relationship, not one. If any relationship wants to work out, it'll require rigorous work from both parties."
"You'd think differently if you met her."
Rowena straightened up again and looked at me condescendingly. "Your opinion is irrelevant here. I order you to not just stop her from being humiliated, but to make her look like someone very challenging for you."
"Why the fuck would I do that?" I laughed incredulously. Surely she was joking?
"Everyone knows you are the best, managing to hold her own against you will earn her a lot of respect from everyone." Rowena looked at me pointedly. "You know this."
"Even if I wanted to help her, and that is a big 'if'. It would be obvious that I wasn't trying."
"Does it look like I am not trying when I train you here?" Rowena aske with an arched brow.
"Well…not really," I admitted, even if I didn't want to.
Rowena gave me a pointed look. "Think, don't feel," she reminded.
I let out an exasperated sigh. "Okay then, making myself a emotionless rock, I can admit that it does look a little bit like you're trying when you train me."
"Exactly, if I can do it, you can do it."
I shook my head in frustration. She didn't understand anything.
I imagined seeing Greengrass being looked upon with admiration and respect.
She didn't deserve such a thing. She really didn't deserve such a thing; and definitely not from me.
Justice. Would humiliating her be just that? Yes, I decided. On the other hand, I knew that justice didn't really exist. It was idealistic and naive. Yet here I had an oppertunity to actually give out some...
Why wouldn't I do that?
Because my master ordered me not to.
She knew what she was talking about. She had decades of wisdom I could never hope to achieve.