They announced a lunch break before the judges' vote. The others lingered, but Hermione left the room quickly, struggling to catch her breath in the corridor. Once more, she was playing a game in the dark without knowing the rules. She had an hour in which she could eat lunch, review the judges' files, and file back into the room to vote, just like they'd asked.

Or an hour in which she could use the little bargaining power she had to tip the scales in her favor.

The doors opened, and Hestia and Jacobs exited the room, speaking tensely. Hestia cut him off just as Hermione stepped in front of them..

"Miss Granger," she said with a nod. "How do you find your first Council meeting?"

Hermione tucked her 300-page binder under her arm. "It's certainly been informative." She rolled her shoulders back. "I'm considering joining."

Jacobs' jaw clenched. Hestia simply assessed her.

"You're already here," said Jacobs brusquely, as if explaining things to an unruly toddler. "You've already cast votes."

"I agreed to attend the meeting. I didn't agree to join." Hermione sent him a cool smile. "I do hope it won't be too much work for you to strike me from your records should I decline the opportunity, General Jacobs. I'll be sure to let you know by the day's end."

Hestia shifted her weight. "Miss Granger—"

"In fact, it seems there's been quite the head start without me. Just how long has the Council been meeting for 'preliminary work,' General Jones?"

"A couple of weeks." Hestia pressed her mouth in a hard line. "You'll recall, Miss Granger, that I informed you the Council's work was already underway when we met last week."

"Yes, but you neglected to tell me how extensive it was. When I arrived this morning, I had no idea that I would be expected to vote on nearly-finalized matters I had no prior knowledge of."

The silence stretched. Hermione tapped her heel on the floor. "I suppose you expect me to join to be your pretty face? Your media spokesperson?"

Jacobs sneered at the phrase "pretty face."

"If I am to join this Council," Hermione continued, "I expect to be kept in the know. I should have been given the chance to participate in these 'preliminary discussions.' At the very least, I should have been given these materials as soon as they were available."

"Noted." Hestia clasped her hands in front of her. "And what else do you require for reassurance, Miss Granger?"

"I'd like to speak about Pansy Parkinson," said Hermione, shifting her gaze between them. "How good of you to ask."

Jacobs didn't bother hiding his scoff.

"Parkinson's case will be handled domestically by a court under the Provisional Government of England," said Hestia.

"And the top leadership of the Provisional Government is the two of you, isn't it? Wonderful." She shifted her binder into her arms and conjured a quill. "When do you meet?"

"Meet?" Jacobs' eyes jerked to hers.

"To discuss the legal process for domestic cases," said Hermione, in a sweet tone that would have made even Umbridge's skin crawl.