"Greengrass—" Hestia lifted her gaze with a furrowed brow. "She's not in Azkaban."

Hermione blinked. "You're sure?"

"Quite." Hestia looked over her shoulder. "The Greengrass family has ties to the Canadians. She has been released to the consulate, and sent back to her family in Montreal."

Relief surged through her, then mingled with a growing fury. "I see. And you think that's fair, General?"

"Of course not. But since when has this world been 'fair,' Miss Granger?" Hestia leveled her with an intent stare. "Provide me with information as to why Pansy Parkinson was sold at the Auction, and I'll see what I can do to get her charges dropped. If I recall correctly, that was the main point of contention."

Hermione's mouth felt dry. "I can get it. If you let me speak to her — let me go to her at Azkaban, and I'll get it."

Hestia nodded once. "I'll clear you for visiting as soon as I return to the Ministry this afternoon."

"Thank you." Hermione took a deep breath as she studied her — trying to figure out what kind of ally she would be. "There's one last thing. Assuming I join the Council, I expect to be informed from here on out. If there are matters I should be aware of, I expect you to tell me. If not…"

"Understood, Miss Granger." Inclining her head, Hestia moved past her.

By the time she went to the loo to splash water on her face, it was almost the end of the lunch hour. Hermione returned to the table with an empty stomach and the same feeling of ignorance as when she'd first left it.

Each member could only vote for the judges representing their own country. Of the long list of names, Hermione only recognized one: Tiberius Ogden, who had resigned from the Wizengamot when Fudge had made Umbridge the High Inquisitor of Hogwarts.

Hermione sat at the table and tried to keep her knee from bouncing when the vote commenced for Great Britain. Hestia raised her hand for Ogden and another name, and Hermione followed suit. It was impossible to know if she'd made the right decision, but she felt certain of two things: first, that Hestia still had a conscience beneath her hardened pragmatism, and second, that if Tiberius Ogden had issues with Dolores Umbridge, they at least had one thing in common.

The rest of the afternoon was met with lengthy discussions of logistics and courtroom proceedings. When the meeting was finally adjourned, Hestia bid her a swift goodbye, and exited the room with the speed of someone who had ten other meetings to get to. The other members ignored her, and Hermione was happy to return the favor.

Hermione carefully organized her paperwork as the room emptied. She was just pushing in her chair when a voice behind her said, "'Ermione." Hermione spun, and then she was being enveloped in a hug by Fleur Delacour. It took a moment for her brain to catch up, but then she was squeezing her back.