When Narcissa met her at the front door that day, asking how it went, all Hermione could manage was, "I hardly know."

On Wednesday morning, Hermione had trouble staying in her still waters.

The signed affidavits were in regards to her. Shrapley had prepared her for this, warning her that there would be account after account of her treatment at Edinburgh and the Hogwarts Celebration Party — but her lake still rippled every time someone said her name, and when the crowd murmured, she could hear the rumbling of a distant avalanche.

At the afternoon recess, she slipped out the back door and took a walk through Edinburgh, fighting the temptation to storm back into the courtroom and scream.

"Four more hours," Shrapley muttered from the corner of his mouth, as they filed back inside the courtroom. Hermione managed a nod.

The court resumed, and just as Hermione imagined her lake, Pierre called his final witness to the stand. A Mind Healer.

Her gaze flickered as the witness was led into the courtroom.

She recognized him. He was the shorter, rounder Healer who had stopped her from leaving. Shrapley had given her his name, but she was certain she hadn't worked with him.

His eyes drifted over her as he sat on the stand and introduced himself, and when Pierre began his questions, her shelves began trembling.

"Healer Thompson, can you please explain what 'Stockholm Syndrome' is?"

Hermione's eye twitched. She looked over to Shrapley. His quill had gone very still.

"Stockholm Syndrome is a psychological response wherein a hostage bonds with their captor. Although we would expect the hostage or victim to experience fear or disdain, the opposite can happen. They develop positive feelings for their captors, possibly even believing they share common goals and interests."

Hermione tried to reach for her still waters, but it was as if the lake had dried up.

"Oftentimes the hostage comes to distrust authority figures and anyone who might be trying to separate them from their captor."

Blood rushed in her ears. Her head was light as air, and her stomach heavy.

"Now Healer Thompson," Pierre said, strolling directly in front of her, "does Stockholm Syndrome always occur in these situations?"

"No."

"Could a captor… encourage the development of these positive feelings in their hostage?"

"Of course—"

"Objection," Shrapley's head jerked up. "Conjecture."

"Overruled." President Ogden nodded to Healer Thompson.

"Yes."

Pierre tilted his head. "How?"

Healer Thompson cleared his throat. "By bringing them into their confidence and showing them kindness. By reinforcing their dependence on them."

There was a metallic taste in her mouth. She'd bitten her tongue.

"And what might a captor gain from such a thing?"

"Sympathy. Compliance. Devotion. In many cases, victims will refuse to work with proper authorities to bring their captors to justice and seek to protect them instead."

Shrapley was still except for his fingertips tapping against his lips.

"Healer Thompson," said Pierre, "Have you treated slaves purchased at the Great Order's Auction who have been diagnosed with this condition?"