"Miss Granger. How are you?"

"Splendid," Hermione quipped. "How can I help you today, Hestia?"

Hestia tilted her head at her. "I'm not here to mince words, Miss Granger. The Provisional Government recognizes its missteps, especially where the Justice Tribunal is concerned. I'm here on their behalf."

Hermione lifted a brow. "Is this an apology, then?"

"It could be. But I don't think you're particularly interested in that." Hestia squinted up at the sun, and stepped closer. "The Justice Tribunal is being disbanded. We're forming a new council to prosecute the political and military leadership of the Great Order. The International Magical Military Tribunal."

It was Hermione's turn to tilt her head. "'International.' Which countries are participating, then?"

"Switzerland, Italy, Canada, France. And Great Britain, of course."

Hestia's face was impassive. Hermione strove for the same. "Do you expect me to applaud your efforts?" she asked.

"No," said Hestia. "I expect you to accept our invitation to join."

Hermione blinked at her, stunned.

She quickly looked over her shoulder at the horizon. "Give me one reason I should join."

"I'll give you several. Due process. Fair trials with representation. Sentencing agreed upon by a two-thirds majority vote. These are just a few things that are in discussion. Nothing is concrete yet, but we're in talks with the I.C.W. for guidance and approval."

Hermione stared at her through narrowed eyes. "Tell me, are other nineteen-year-olds being invited on this council? Or just the celebrities?"

"No, and yes, in a manner of speaking," Hestia said. "I'm not here to insult your intelligence, Miss Granger. Of course your public platform is a key reason. But we have others."

"Which are?"

"You have a unique viewpoint. You would be the only member of the council that spent a year enslaved."

Hermione crossed her arms over her chest. "And in what capacity would I be serving?"

"You're too young to be a judge, and you lack the training to serve as prosecutor or defense counsel. But you will have a place at the table of advisors. And if I know anything about you — and I flatter myself that I do — you want to be sitting at this table. Trust me."

Hestia's face was calm and composed as Hermione weighed her options. There were two possibilities: Hestia was telling her the truth — and her explanation certainly seemed sensible and frank — or there was some game or ploy she hadn't considered.

Either way, the answer was irrelevant. Her heart, gut, and logic all whispered to her in tandem, telling her that there was no way she could pass up a seat at the table that would help decide Draco's fate. Or his friends'.

Still, she'd learned a thing or two in a house full of Slytherins. She fixed Hestia with her iciest stare.

"I want all charges against Narcissa Malfoy dropped. Immediately."

"That's certainly something you can propose at the first meeting—"

"No. Now," Hermione said. "I'm not joining any council that can look at Narcissa Malfoy's supposed 'crimes' and choose to proceed with prosecuting her using the weight of a full military tribunal."