Night Changes

No one could say he was a liar-

...

About this.

He was walking down the hall, shadowing Captain Levi and Hange to Hermione's quarters. And while he did manage to make good on his promise, it had been a bit more delayed than expected.

It had been three days, to be exact, since she'd been transferred to a room and a week since he'd last seen her. He slid his hand down his face in exhaustion.

It was necessary- knowing what was inside those journals then corroborating them with Eren's newfound memories was essential to their survival.

Even his own newfound memories of Berthold's life... though not as saturated with useful information- helped them come to some very interesting conclusions.

Their steps began to slow as they neared her room.

Reading Grisha Jaeger's journals had to have been the most fascinating, gratifying, yet demoralizing thing he'd ever experienced. The time spent over those journals were quite possibly the best and worst days of his life.

Hey, so the ocean exists in your world! And sandy snowfields and a whole plethora of other wonders from your book! But also, your real enemies are other humans who think you're the devil for existing! Yeah!

Yeah...

They stopped in front of her door, the guards posted by her door remained stoic with the curt acknowledgment they gave their superiors.

Hange nodded back before knocking on the door, "Don't be naked! We're coming in!" Eh?!

His cheeks tinted at the implication and he coughed to hide his discomfort.

They opened the door to find Hermione's tent pitched, taking up almost all of the space in her room. "Hermione?"

"In here!" He heard her muffled call from inside the tent.

They raised the flap of the tent to find Hermione on a couch, book in hand, nibbling on a... clear feather? She waved the hand holding the feather in a hello.

"Hello everyone, long time no see."

He smiled, "It's good to see you again, Hermione- what is it that you're doing with that... feather?"

"Oh, it's candy, I'm just eating it." Of course! Of course, their candy would be different too.

Armin nodded, "Ah..."

Hange saw the opportunity and took that lapse in conversation to explain the reason for their presence. "We're here to take you to your "trial"! It should be quick and easy- hmmm, well, for the whole verdict part..." They furrowed their brows, "You'll kind of have to stay there for the whole "Wall Maria debrief"-" They rubbed their chin in thought, "Though... you won't even be able to understand anything since you'll have your wand confiscated- but yeah, you'll probably get it back through. I'd say before the end of the day, maybe? Ahaha, but we won't be too s-"

"-Hange."

"Oop."

Levi turned to Hermione with crossed arms, "You'll need to be bound and gagged, Lazy ass. We need to show that we can exert control over you. And hopefully..." he steadied his gaze.

"We won't need to rough you up too much."

She waved him off, chuckling nervously, "I'll be fine," she rubbed her forearm, "Getting roughed up doesn't seem too bad in the grand scheme of things..." What the hell had happened to her arm?

He thought back to that first day at the castle. Why would she still be bleeding if It'd happened a "long time ago". He scrunched his brows in thought.

Well, I'll find out sooner or later.

"Good. The briefing should be starting soon." She began standing up-

"Oi. Put that candy away first." She sighed before nodding dejectedly.

"Separating me from my precious sugar quills- pfft, you're not my dad," she mumbled under her breath as she put away the candy feather, and a spike of involuntary fear shot through his body.

Captain Levi rolled his eyes, "Let's just get this over with." That's all?

"Yes. Lets."

Insane. They had quite the interesting dynamic. He'd never seen someone so unlike Levi- that wasn't his colleague or superior- interact with him in this way.

"Armin. Go gag her, or I will."

"Yes Sir." Why is it always me? He lamented.

He collected the thick strip of cloth from Hange's hands, "Sorry about this," he sent her an apologetic look.

"It's no problem. Just don’t rough me up too much," she smiled cheekily.

Hange cackled evilly in the background in response.

He felt his cheeks warm, even his ears felt hot, "Uh... a-alright."

Armin couldn't even hear the Captain's scoff as he approached the girl in front of him.

She looked up at him expectantly, cocking a brow up in question, and he willed himself to focus on the task at hand.

He walked up to her, silently asking for permission with his eyes. Hermione's eyes crinkled at the gesture, brown eyes warm with kindness and the low light of the tent.

He hesitantly brushed her hair back from her face. It's so soft.

Shit. Does it seem like I'm staring?

She looked down at her feet and he pulled his hand back, mindful of her comfort.

She looked up and shook her head, "It's okay." Her smile was kind as she brought her hand up to guide his. Armin's hand briefly brushed against her cheek as she helped him to pull up the upper half of her hair. Her hands were soft too.

She held her hair up, waiting for him to begin the process.

He stepped behind her, wrapping the gag around her head through the arms holding up her hair. He then craned his neck to see if the gag had made its mark.

It had.

Full lips were separated by the thick, clothed gag as she eyed him curiously.

He'd noticed this before- when she'd sung that first song only a week before- that her lips didn't pink like everyone else's. Her lips seemed to darken at the top then pink at the bottom. It… it suited her.

He snapped back around and continued tying the knot behind her head.

Fuck.

He stepped back and once she felt the absence of his tugs, she let her hair fall around her shoulders.

He walked to stand next to Hange who was practically foaming at the mouth. Oh gods, Hange. Please. I can't take any more embarrassment.

Unlike Armin, Captain Levi had gotten to work right away, already halfway done on binding her wrists behind her back.

He took a chance and looked up at Hermione. Despite the usual humiliation people found themselves feeling when restrained, Hermione held herself casually- a stark contrast to the way she held herself against Captain Levi's brashness.

He once again akinned her to the moon: calm and steady, yet ever-changing.

Bindings completed and wand in hand, Levi led Hermione out of her room into the hall while Armin and Hange followed closely behind.

Levi turned back to address him. "No making eyes at each other. Avoid her gaze if she looks. You don't know one another, understood?"

Making eyes at… with each other?

"Yes Sir."

They walked in at a hurried yet controlled pace till they reached the large doors of the conference hall. Levi handed the wand to Hange before opening both of the double doors.

Their entrance led to many stares, most of them directed at Hermione. Whispers began to rise- mostly likely at her appearance and the rumors of her magical powers.

Armin's eyes darted from officer to officer, filing every expression and coherent whisper in a mental record for… later use. But as the whispers became increasingly unabashed and as they neared their seats, Armin risked the chance to try and read Hermione's response to all of this.

Her expression was, of course, hidden by her mass of hair, but her back stood straight as Captain Levi led her next to the Head table. Once there, she was restrained in a similar fashion to Eren during his own trial.

She kneeled stiffly on the floor, eyes darting to everyone in the room. He wanted to reassure her that it'd be over soon, but he could not reveal even the slightest bit of amity. It would give reason for doubt in the Scouts' ability to contain her, ultimately making it harder for them to convince Premier Zachary.

He sat next to Eren and nodded to his friends in greeting. Armin then straightened his posture, giving his attention to whoever was speaking at the time.

After a plethora of formalities, the proceedings went on as planned and as expected, Commander Erwin spoke for most of it.

For the most part, the Commander gave a detailed summary of the journals and a quick description of their current position in relation to Marley's.

But of course, Armin had already been privy to all of this- being one of the only low-ranking soldiers that had even gotten to so much touch Grisha Jaeger's journals.

"-may be possible, even without royal blood, for Eren to wield that power as well."

"That can't be!"

Every gaze in the room fixed themselves on Eren, even Armin's.

What can't be? Do you not have the ability to? Or... is it that you don't want the ability to?

"Eren, you scared me. What was that all about?" Hange turned in their seat to stare up at him. Even the Commander waited patiently for his answer.

"I-uh... I- I..." Are you okay…?

Eren?

"Please continue, our Titan." Armin internally bristled at the term. He's not just your Titan. He's not just your weapon. There was a level of dehumanization to the term that just didn't sit right with him.

Eren looked around nervously- almost disoriented. "It's... nothing." I... don't think it is, Eren. What's been going on? Ever since he'd gotten his father's memories, he'd been acting odd.

"Sorry for interrupting the meeting." Eren stared at the table in distress. He saw something else. Something worse than what he's already told us?

"Oh? I see... Right..." Does Hange see something I don't?

Eren looked up at them in disbelief. Does he not want anyone to know? "He's at that age... the age when one acts up and randomly yells things." That's... not it at all. But you already knew that, didn't you Hange?

"Ah, I see. That's unfortunate. He would be at that age, I guess." Please tell me he didn't actually buy that? This is no teenage phase... There's something deeply wrong here.

"Eren?" Armin asked, mindful of Eren's guilt-ridden face. Deeply, deeply wrong.

They quickly moved on from Eren's outburst in an almost sickeningly neglectful manner. Armin looked to the side to find Eren's eyes narrowed in determination. I'll just ask him right later. He'll tell me what's going on… right?

"-do you suggest we do with the Beast Titan?"

"We should start on finding a suitable candidate to be his successor. In the meanwhile, we suggest leaving him in the joint custody of the Scout Regiment and the Military Police-"

We can't seem too greedy.

"-Both will conduct their own interrogations and experimentation as they see fit."

If the MPs were more trustworthy, then letting them know of the possible connection to "Zeke Jaeger" and Eren wouldn't be a problem. But as it stood, they were still as corrupt as ever.

The less they know the better...

In addition to the Beast Titan's identity, the only useful information he could pick out of Berthold's memories, thus far, was of Marley's recent state of affairs and the other Titan shifter's identities.

And more about Annie...

He hadn't had the time recently, but he'd go see her soon. Armin sensed he would have a lot to talk to her about the next time he'd visit.

"-find that suitable enough. Does our Queen approve?"

Historia nodded and they began moving on to the next topic.

"And what about this strange… anomaly? Though, what we find strange is entirely relative at this point." Agreed. "This dark witch who claims to be named "Hermione Granger"." Hermione perked up at the sound of her own name and looked over to where the Premier sat.

Her eyes held nothing but mild curiosity. Even at her own trial, she couldn't be intimidated by the possibility of things going awry.

"What do you suggest we do with her?"

"Based on her behavior during the retaking of Wall Maria and her cooperation thus far, we are willing to venture that she can become a powerful ally for us," the Commander replied.

"However, there is no denying the possibility of betrayal. She will be heavily monitored at all times and procedures are currently being planned to take her down should she decide to turn on us."

"So, you believe she should be in Scout custody?" The premier raised an accusatory brow.

"Yes, Premier."

"Mm. What behaviors has she exhibited that make you believe she could be our ally?"

"She helped us to capture the Beast Titan and healed our injured... despite her own glaring ailments." By having their rumors either confirmed or denied, whispers from the other military branches began to spread through the room.

Historia craned her neck to scrutinize Hermione, "Truly? Why would a stranger- taken prisoner- be dead set on aiding their captors?"

"We don't know for certain, but we've asked her the same thing. She said working with the military was her best chance of getting home."

"Home? Where is this witch's home? Beyond the walls?"

"It is a probable possibility, yes. But she gave us an even more bizarre answer."

"Did she now?"

"She claimed to be from another world."

Outrage came from almost everyone in the room. Shouts of "liar" and "deceitful bitch" permeated through the hall. Sorry Hermione, he winced on her behalf as she could not make out that those jeers were for her.

Captain Levi stood from his seat, the screech of his chair against the floor gathered the attention of everyone in the room. He wordlessly motioned for Hange to give him something...

Her wand.

He examined it with detached interest. Captain Levi began playing with the wand, scratching his fingernail against the handle, then tapping it against the desk. Armin heard her whimper from the front of the room.

Oh.

This is their proof. Proof that they can handle her.

Captain Levi motioned to break the wand and Hermione began to cry through the gag. Was this real? We're these real tears…? Or were they… exaggerated?

He hid a proud smile. Oh, she was good.

"What is this, Captain Levi?"

"This is her magic stick," he drawled, "Her "wand"."

He waved it around haphazardly and Hermione let out another cry as she pulled on her restraints, "She's very attached to it... uses it for everything apparently. We take it and she's useless." A white lie, yes, but a needed one.

"If the powers are from the "wand", can't we just take it for ourselves?"

"No, apparently not. She was born with the innate power to wield the wand, but she still needs the wand nonetheless," Hange explained.

"I see… Queen Historia?"

"If you can keep her under control, I see no reason why she shouldn't be in your custody."

Captain Levi returned to his seat once again, still twirling Hermione's wand between his fingers. Well, he seems to enjoy his part well enough.

"Then it is settled. Until she can truly prove herself to be an ally to humanity within the walls, she will be in the Scout's custody."

Armin sighed a breath of relief. One step over, a hundred more to go.

"Yes, Premier. Queen Historia," Commander Erwin nodded to them in thanks and took his seat.

He glanced at Hermione. These weren't like the tears he found her in when she first played him music. Yes, her eyes were still brimmed with them, but he could find no distress behind them, just expectancy. She was just... waiting.

We're almost done. You'll know soon.

"It seems we have settled everything that's needed to be settled. Though I feel it is best I remind you that that funeral held for our fallen Scouts will be in three days' time… otherwise, we may be adjourned."

The room begrudgingly began to empty as people stalled to watch as Captain Levi brought Hermione from her knees to walk towards the exit.

Ignoring the stares, Captain Levi led her out the door- most likely to her room.

"Armin."

He turned to find Jean eyeing him, "You've spent the most time with the witch. Do you think she's lying about where she's from?"

He already knew his answer, but he hesitated to look cautious, "I- I think there's some validity to what she says. And I don't think the possibility is off the table either."

Jean was neither accusatory nor demanding, "Or maybe you just like her." U-um...

"What did you just say, horse face?!"

Thank you, Eren. Their fighting would save him from having to answer to that. For now, at least.

He sighed and turned a blind eye to their quarreling. He felt a hand on his shoulder and looked up to find Mikasa nod to him. He mouthed "later" to her and she began pulling Eren away from the fight to walk by their side.

As Eren mellowed out, he began walking by himself. The rest of the way was spent in silence until they made it to a secluded hall to talk.

"Don't let that horse face get to you Armin, he's just being an a-"

"-he's not wrong."

"Huh?"

Armin sighed and massaged the bridge of his nose, "He's not wrong, Eren. I- I do like her, but as a person-"

Yeah, he scoffed internally. Sure. He liked her as a person. If liking her as a person meant finding himself lost in her gaze or the way her lips looked when she sang or the way her hair felt against skin...

"-She's interesting and unique, but she's also a lot like me and I've never really met someone like that. And... I think I respect her and... That's all," he finished lamely.

"She likes you too," Mikasa replied into her scarf.

"Mm," he nodded. I've had an inkling but it's still hard to believe...

"She sees you in the same way," Mikasa reiterated, sensing his doubt.

"Oh." I- She does, doesn't she...

"Well… Do you think all that "like" is clouding your judgment?" Mikasa asked in an effort to encourage introspection.

He took a moment to think, "Maybe, but I have a good feeling about this..." His mind involuntarily shifted to the memory of them dancing together in the low light of the cells, of the sincerity and the genuine happiness he felt radiating off of them both, of their masks being off.

"If you say so, Armin. We trust your judgment," Eren sent him a small smile and Mikasa nodded in agreement.

"Thanks, guys."

He felt an overwhelming amount of love spread through his chest.

Eren clasped his shoulder, "Always, Armin."