Classes continued as September wore on.
Arithmancy continued to be interesting, though Hermione was quickly disillusioned with the idea of being able to predict the future accurately anytime soon. Professor Vector was teaching them the basics and drilling them on the fundamentals of Arithmancy, of which there were many.
"If you don't know how to ask the right question," she said repeatedly, "then you won't get the right result."
She taught them about probability and distributions, teaching them Z tests and T tests to model distribution over populations or a sample. They also learned about matrices, how to make them, and how to multiply them together. It was all pure mathematics, to Hermione, with no magic involved so far, but she was sure they'd get there eventually.
Professor Vector also taught them formal logic, which she pronounced as 'one of the most critical tools available to an Arithmancer'. They went over statements, premises, and conclusions, before moving on to hypothetical/conditional statements.
"Let us say that 'If Sybill Trelawney teaches Divination at Hogwarts, then she is a professor at Hogwarts'," Professor Vector said, writing the statement on the board. "'If Sybill Trelawney teaches Divination at Hogwarts' is a sufficient condition; it is all you need to determine if X is Y. If the sufficient condition is true, the necessary condition is true as well."
She had them practice making statements, which Hermione enjoyed, writing things like 'If a monster is a basilisk, then that monster is also a serpent' and 'If a wizard believes in blood superiority, then that wizard is a prat'. They were graded on the structure of their statements, not the validity of their claims, and Professor Vector had given Hermione a raised eyebrow and smirk as she handed her back her paper with perfect marks, despite the pointed nature some of the statements she'd put down.
Ancient Runes was a lot of memorization. They were starting with the Elder Futhark runic alphabet, one of the most popular ones used, and each rune had multiple meanings associated with it, and the runes looked very similar. After they had a rudimentary grasp of the runes, Professor Babbling had them set up small protective circles around random objects using runes, showing them how to embed their power into the runes to activate their magical properties. Most of the class was taken aback as the glowing results, but Hermione was excited – protective runes could easily be translated to a bigger use during a larger ritual, and she was eager to try.
Most exciting for Hermione, however, wasn't a class at all.
It was the Wizengamot.
Hermione was always very careful never to be seen with her Time-Turner as she doubled-up on her hours to attend all her classes. But on the first and third Tuesday of every month, Hermione put on a set of long black velvet robes, carefully pinned her badge to her chest, and reported to the Headmaster's office, where she and Dumbledore Floo'd to the Ministry to attend the Wizengamot legislative sessions. Dumbledore seemed cheerful when they did, to Hermione's mild relief – she'd worried Dumbledore would hold resentment against her for being a Slytherin, but Dumbledore didn't seem to care in the slightest. She wondered if her trauma in Professor Lupin's class had garnered her sympathy from him, but so long as he wasn't openly suspicious of her, Hermione was satisfied.
Wizengamot legislative sessions were held in a different area of the Ministry, one that still had rising seats in different tiers but was more circular and tighter-together, without a large ground floor for barristers to argue on. As Youth Representative, Hermione's seat was near the top back, behind the regional representatives and among the Ministry Department heads. She sat between the Head of the Department of Magical Accidents and Catastrophes and the Head of the Department for the Regulation and Control of Magical Creatures, who each seemed to dislike the other intensely.
Era Hornbeam, the Head of the Department of Magical Accidents and Catastrophes, seemed to loathe Royce Fiddlewood (Head of the Department for the Regulation and Control of Magical Creatures), often making snide remarks that if his department did its job, her job wouldn't be half as complicated as it was. Royce Fiddlewood was indignant at such accusations and often shot back that Era hadn't the slightest idea of the complexity required to manage several different divisions at once and maintain positive diplomatic relationships with everyone.
Hermione found it perversely amusing to be trapped in the middle of feuding adults, each of them trying to convince a teenager that they were the one who was correct.
Legislative sessions in general consisted of anyone who wanted to propose new laws or regulations presenting their legislation, discussion and argument on it, and either the legislation being tabled, sent for revisions, or voted on. Most commonly, legislation was proposed by Amelia Bones, Head of the Department of Magical Law Enforcement, who occasionally brought the head of one of her sub-departments to present with her. She asked for the approval of more funds to go to the Magical Law Enforcement Patrol and for the Hit Wizard department to allow them to expand their efforts to capture Sirius Black, who was still at large, which was approved without much objection. When she proposed expanding the authorization of the type of detection spells Aurors and Hit Wizards were permitted to use, however, the legislation was met with much objection and protest.
Hermione had watched in fascination as the Sacred 28 contingent, many of whom had regularly given off the air like they couldn't be bothered, had come alive at the proposal, speaking out strenuously against it. Lucius Malfoy had spoken against it, citing how many precious family heirlooms of many families had been made with dubious methods long ago before such restrictions were in place. It would be terrible, he said, to have such people fall under suspicion for merely having such artifacts or keepsakes. Rowan Greengrass had spoken, openly saying how such legislation would make his family's ancestral home register as illegal, because blood rites had been used to protect it when the foundations were laid centuries ago. And Narcissa Malfoy, current holder of the Black family house seat, gave an emotional speech over one keepsake she still had of her mother's – a locket that had been forged with old magic passed down for generations, and how she would horrified to be arrested under suspicion of Dark activity for wanting to wear something precious given to her by her mother.
Hermione took mental notes as she listened to the orators. The legislation was voted on and struck down, to Madam Bones' obvious frustration, but Hermione was curious to see the Sacred 28 largely come alive and vote nearly as a block.
The Sacred 28, it seemed, differed in opinions on most issues, but when it came to their pride or their heritage, they closed ranks and voted together as a block. Any major changes, Hermione suspected, would need to be proposed in such a way that the Sacred 28 would support the legislation, even if it were against their own interests.
Hermione mostly sat quietly in the back, occasionally talking to Royce Fiddlewood about his concerns in the department ("The Goblins are getting snarky," he'd told her, "and I'm concerned that the Werewolf Registry is terribly out of date") and listening Era Hornbeam's complaints ("They want Obliviators to be able to handle anything," she sniffed, "but they won't approve funds for more technical Obliviation training. Do they think wiping specific memories from people is easy?"). Hermione sat and listened and learned, figuring out how legislation was written, how it was presented, and just how everything worked.
The few things the youth of Britain had asked her for, really, were food, protection, and the freedom to do as they pleased. It wasn't much, but Hermione was determined to try to help get them the few things the hedgewitches had asked of her. She was well aware of her young age and that generally all the Youth Representative was expected to do was vote, and that any plan to propose legislation herself and get it passed would have to be very carefully planned and plotted.
If nothing else, it was very interesting, Hermione mused to herself, to see just how the government of the Wizarding World was run.
Snape was looking at Hermione. His eyes betrayed nothing.
"A field trip?" he repeated.
Hermione glanced around at her coven, who nodded encouragingly.
"Yes, sir," Hermione said. "We want to learn about the old rituals of the Autumnal Equinox."
Snape pinched the bridge of his nose very tightly.
"Miss Granger," he said finally. "This would be a very difficult request at the best of times. Persuading the Headmaster to allow five underage students off the school grounds on an Old Magic festival day would be a challenge normally. When there is a mass murderer on the loose, it is even less likely to be approved."
Hermione faltered.
"Oh…" she said. "I forgot about the Sirius Black thing."
"Yes." Snape's eyes gleamed. "The 'Sirius Black' thing."
The coven exchanged disappointed looks.
"What if I don't go?" Harry volunteered.
Hermione whirled around to look at Harry, who shrugged.
"I mean, if he's after me, then he's after me," he said. His voice was cynical. "No reason the rest of you shouldn't get to go, when it's me who'd be risking you all."
"Harry, no!" Hermione protested. "We all go together, or we don't go at all!"
Harry made a face. "That seems unfair to you."
"Life is unfair, Potter," Blaise said, clapping him on the shoulder. "But we'll let it be unfair and all gripe about it together."
Snape raised an eyebrow.
"As touching as this is," he drawled, "do you have anything else for me?"
"Oh! Yes," Hermione said. She scrambled in her robes, withdrawing a parchment. "I was hoping you could help me find buyers for basilisk parts?"
Snape took the parchment, his eyebrow going up very high.
"Buyers?" he said, his tone tinged with incredulousness. "Miss Granger…"
"I have a Class B Nontradeable Goods License, sir," Hermione told him. "So I can sell them to people licensed to work with such ingredients. The apothecary in Diagon Alley suggested I reach out to the Potion Masters guild, and I thought maybe you could help with that?"
Snape snorted.
"The idea of selling basilisk parts in Diagon Alley…" he scoffed. He examined the paper again. "Skin, venom, venom glands…" He read over the list, pausing at the end. "Fangs, bones… ovaries?"
Hermione flushed. "Well, yes. There were two."
Snape paused to give her an incredulous look, and Hermione's face colored a deeper red.
"I don't know what's useful or not in potions-making," she said hotly. "I just put everything on the list."
Snape smirked, rolling the list up.
"Some of these ingredients, the Potions Masters guild would likely be very interested in," he conceded. "I will reach out to them with your list and quantities of each available, and we shall see what they say."
"Perfect." Hermione beamed.
Susan Bones nudged Hermione. "Actually, professor…"
"Oh! Right," Hermione said, remembering. She looked back up at Snape. "You might want to update the quantities on that sheet before you owl them. You get first dibs on anything you want."
Snape paused. "…Miss Granger?"
"As a thank you," she said hurriedly. "You're our coven sponsor. And I'm pretty sure if I give you the parts, you don't need a license because you're not buying them, right?" She looked up at him. "We don't really know much, but in the muggle world, most people who earn higher degrees and teach also have private research that they work on for publication, and we figured that if you had ultra-secret projects, super rare basilisk parts might help you out with that."
"Ultra-secret projects?" Snape raised an eyebrow, and Hermione flushed.
"Well, you don't seem the type to do nothing…" she said.
"You clearly don't like teaching," Harry said bluntly. "If you don't like teaching, it must be the other opportunities keeping you here."
Snape gave Harry a sharp look, but Harry folded his arms and didn't back down.
"Other opportunities?" he said, voice dripping with venom.
Harry blinked.
"Well, yeah. You're a Potions Master – that's got to be like a PhD in the muggle world, right?" he asked. He shrugged. "Tons of university professors hate teaching. They only keep at it because the university funds their research."
Snape turned to Blaise, Susan, and Luna incredulously.
"And you went along with this?" he demanded. "You let them continue believing this?"
"It made sense to me," Susan said, puzzled. "I know you have to do some kind of advanced study after Hogwarts to earn a Mastery."
"I thought you deserved a gift of our appreciation, regardless of private research or not," Blaise drawled. "It's not like I know anything about career options after Hogwarts yet."
"And I didn't want to share your private business with anyone," Luna said. She smiled at Snape, even though her words sounded vaguely threatening. "It's not time for that to come out yet."
Snape stared Luna down, but she just kept her airy smile. Hermione finally broke the awkward silence.
"If you're not going to be able to get us a field trip," she said, "can you at least write us a pass to be out on the grounds after hours on the equinox so we can do a different ritual?"
Snape sighed and pinched the bridge of his nose.
"I cannot think of how to put this more plainly to you, Miss Granger," he said. "Sirius Black is a dangerous criminal who is suspected to be coming after Potter. Because of this, he should not be out after hours. It is a safety risk."
"There are dementors all around the school!" Blaise objected. "They'll block Black from getting in."
"If Black has slipped past them once before," Snape said, raising an eyebrow, "what makes you think he cannot do so again?"
"If he can, then why are the dementors still here?" Hermione grumbled.
Snape gave her a look.
"The Ministry is doing the best they can to protect student safety," he drawled. "After the past two years, the general populace is not pleased with how their students have been at risk. Posting the dementors around the grounds is a very public way of showing the Ministry is taking a proactive approach."
"You hate me," Harry said plainly. "What do you care if Black offs me?"
Hermione gasped, and Snape's eyes cut over to Harry sharply.
"Harry, Professor Snape doesn't hate you—" she started.
"Hermione, listen. Yes, he does." Harry's voice was weary. "I have no idea why, but he does. He tolerates me with the rest of you around when I'm part of the coven, but he hates me the rest of the time."
Hermione went to object, but then she faltered and stopped, considering, before turning to look at Snape. Snape was looking at Harry with dark eyes, his gaze sharp. Harry wasn't looking at Snape; he just seemed weary.
"Professor," Hermione ventured. "Do you hate Harry?"
"I refuse to tolerate such inanities," Professor Snape spat. He stood up. "I will talk to the Potion Masters Guild for you; I will not sign your form. Do you understand?"
"That wasn't an answer," Luna observed wisely, and Snape's eyes flashed.
"Well, no," Blaise said, smirking. "Professor Snape can't really admit out loud that he hates a student, can he? Though, maybe he can admit to hating a peer…" Blaise shot a grin at Professor Snape. "So, sir… do you hate Professor Lupin?"
The change was immediate; Snape's eyes narrowed to slits, and he looked like he was barely restraining himself from violence. Hermione could see a vein pulse in his neck, and he clenched his fingers into tight fists.
"The Headmaster would prefer if the faculty remain united as one collective face to provide strength and guidance to the student body during these trying times," he recited, his voice emotionless.
"So that's a 'yes'," Blaise said. He turned to Harry. "At least he hates an adult more than you? That's got to be a comfort, right?"
Harry laughed. "Yeah, sure."
"If you would please get out of my office," Snape hissed, his eyes flashing, and Hermione realized they'd worn his patience down completely.
"Of course. Thank you, professor," she said quickly, herding her coven toward the door. "Have a good night!"
Professor Snape's office door slammed shut behind them, and they made their way to an empty classroom to groan.
"We can't not do a coven ritual on the equinox!" Susan bemoaned. "It's one of the best times to do ritual magic!"
"I'm surprised you gave up so easily, Hermione," Blaise said. "I thought you'd have pushed harder."
"That's because she didn't give up," Luna said simply.
The others looked up at her, and Hermione smiled.
"Follow me," she said. "I have an idea."
"—so we thought it'd be an excellent way to learn more about the Ministry bans," Hermione explained. "You're always telling us the best way to learn History is to get inside of it. And we thought if we go out, we'll be able to tell if there really was a lot of power present, or if it was the Ministry just trying to control people's lives."
The coven all stood around Lockhart's desk in his office. Large cover art prints of his books were framed and hanging up around on the walls, with photos of Lockhart winking and grinning at them from every direction. Lockhart himself looked thoughtful.
"The Ministry bans on traditional magical holiday rituals aren't often talked about," he said. He started to grin. "What an excellent path to take! A brief exploratory experience to discover what might lay beneath the surface!" He beamed at them. "If you each write a foot about what you learn from it, I'll even give you extra credit!"
"So you'll sign the pass?" Harry fought to keep the shock from his voice.
"Of course!" Lockhart was writing a pass to be out after hours with a large peacock feather quill, his handwriting extremely loopy and exaggerated. "Far be it from me to stifle curious minds! Why wouldn't I?"
"I think Harry is just surprised because other teachers wouldn't consider it," Blaise said quickly. "You know. With Sirius Black out and about."
Lockhart laughed at that, handing Hermione the pass.
"Well, I daresay if Harry Potter here could beat his master as a baby, Sirius Black himself doesn't stand a chance," he said, grinning. "And that's to say nothing of our own little budding heroine over here!" He shot Hermione a wink, and she managed a mostly genuine grin back.
"Thank you, sir," she said, gratitude in her voice. "This is brilliant."
"You're the brilliant little students with such an enterprising attitude for exploring history," he praised them, flashing them another grin with bright, gleaming teeth. "Be sure to report back what you've learned!"
As they left his office, thanking him again, they headed back down the hallway toward the staircase. Harry and Blaise made it halfway down the hallway before dissolving into snickers.
"Now we find out why Hermione really wanted a new History teacher," Harry teased. "She wanted to be able to get passes to the Restricted Section or to be out after hours whenever she wanted."
"Professor Binns was terrible and you know it," Hermione defended, but she was laughing.
"Trust Hermione to know exactly what academic buttons to push to get what she wants," Blaise said, grinning. "But hey! We've got it." He looked at Hermione. "So? What do you want to do for it?"
Hermione bit her lip.
"I want to try a ritual similar to the one we did with air over the summer with you all," she said. "But I also want to test out a new sort of magic with you all too. So I haven't quite made up my mind."
"A new kind of magic?" Blaise's eyes gleamed.
"Not Dark magic?" Harry worried.
Hermione rolled her eyes. "Of course not, Harry."
"I'm excited," Susan said, bouncing down the hallway. "The equinox is what, next week? The week of your birthday."
"Yes. And—" Hermione shot a sharp look at Luna "—no surprise birthday parties this year, okay?"
Luna laughed happily.
"Fair enough," she agreed. Her eyes danced. "We can see which of your friends and suitors remember your birthday on their own."
"That is not what I meant," Hermione groaned, but Susan and Luna were teasing her now, and Hermione was relieved when they all had to part ways hastily to get off to bed.