Night Changes

This was…

This was just wrong.

Hermione was far beyond the point of blaming her ire on culture shock or a brief trice of ethnocentrism. This wasn't a matter of cultural superiority, this was a matter of humanitarianism.

How could they do this to him? How have they been doing this to him? For years.

She watched as Eren tiredly, despondently reenacted the experiment- pulling himself out of his damaged, already deteriorating Titan body and transforming into a new one.

Hermione winced as he almost tripped on his own feet, and despite the determination on his face she continued to worry for his health.

Mental, emotional, and physical.

Hadn't they just been through this with her- hadn't they seen the consequences of what overworking could do?

What was different then? Surely not much…

She flinched- and not for the first time that day- as she watched Paradis' new State of the Art missiles take their turn at Eren's Titan form.

Did they take advantage of his willingness to participate?

Did they see him as their obligation and as an extension, their property?

Or did they just not see the situations as the same- not as bad since Eren could heal- regenerate and she could not?

Whatever it was, it didn't sit right with Hermione, not at all.

She caught a glance of Hange, nearer than they should've been to the explosions but seemingly unharmed (no doubt with the help of Moblit at their side). They seemed to be wholly invested in their work, oblivious to Eren's discomfort- maybe even accustomed to it.

Maybe she should've been mad at Hange, mad at all of them for allowing this. But anger wouldn't help Eren, anger wouldn't change his situation.

Nor would it change Armin's.

It was only a matter of time until the Scouts would find an area big enough and "safe" enough to test Armin's Colossal Titan and it was almost sure that he'd receive the same abuse as Eren…

Now how to stop that… or at least minimalize these unethical practices…

Coming at Hange with anger, especially as an outsider, would surely escalate any peaceful discussion that could be had. Which Hermione, unfortunately, knew from experience. When Hermione infused even the smallest bits of anger into her proposals it was hard to convince those ol' codgers down at the Ministry to change anything as they became stubbornly defensive when she was being… "confrontational".

Ugh, she sighed internally. Logic and some rather detached, dainty empathy it was then. Though… she was new here, freshly accepted. It might be seen as a tad bit presumptuous of her to be so critical…

She spotted Mikasa in her peripheral vision.

Maybe having some well-respected… authority was needed to help convince them.

If she couldn't do it herself, of course.

From what she could see, Mikasa looked to be tense and stoic. But Hermione knew people. Well… she backtracked. Hermione knew Mikasa.

They'd talked for hours- about music, their interests, their worries. And Eren was definitely one of Mikasa's interests and worries. When Sasha would often join, the conversation would turn more lively- more upbeat, but when Eren would inevitably become the topic of conversation, nothing could stop the melancholy from settling in.

She walked over to her, preparing herself for thoughtful discourse at best and cold detachment at worst.

"Mikasa," Hermione began, to be polite, knowing full well that Mikasa had seen her come towards her the moment she moved.

She stood at a pleasant distance, intimate enough for discretion but not enough to invade personal space.

Hermione took a deep breath, knowing just how sensitive a topic concerning Eren was for her.

Rip it off like a bandaid, as her father would say, or make haste like an Episkey in the Wizarding world…

Funny, that.

"What do you think of all of this? Surely, you can't be okay with this."

Mikasa stilled further and remained silent for quite a while.

"Are… you okay with this?" Hermione continued hesitantly.

She shook her head softly, hair falling into her eyes.

"Is Eren?"

Her eyes unfocused in thought, more like in memory.

"He-" she stopped herself, reluctant to share his thoughts. She looked into Hermione's eyes, and she must've seen something- worry, care, confusion- to make her continue, "He said he was."

Hermione nodded. "And do you believe him?"

Mikasa took her time like always, a trait Hermione had always respected.

"Sometimes yes, and sometimes no."

"I see," Hermione paused, "And lately? Since the funeral?"

"He… seems tired of the experiments," she nodded to herself, "Irritated at times yet… uncaring during others."

Hermione absorbed the new information with care, "Uncaring… like resigned?"

"Almost- maybe. I'm not quite sure."

"I could um, give my insight if that's okay?"

"Mm," she hummed affirmatively, and Hermione could feel her whole posture change slightly. She could feel her spine straighten and her muscles tense, taking on a more professional disposition.

Is this what always happens?

Yes, I mean- of course, I would speak differently… but my whole body? Is this why I'm always so wound tight… because I'm always… in the mindset of working?

And why have I only just noticed now?

Ugh, let's get back to this at a not-so-critical time.

"You know how I work to protect creatures' rights back in my world?" She continued as Mikasa nodded, "Well, based on multiple past interactions I've had with other "so-called creatures" I can see this possibly being a response to feeling dehumanized or realizing and digesting this is what he's been feeling all along. And well… this may also be an "outside" factor," she suggested, giving Mikasa a knowing look.

"Maybe your experimentation techniques need a change, or maybe he needs an intervention of sorts- just close friends. You and Armin perhaps? Buts- well, that's just my suggestion," Hermione shrugged.

Mikasa nodded in kind, taking in Hermione's words with much thought.

"We have been trying to talk to him about…" She shook her head, effectively interrupting her speech, "But maybe not as hard as we could…"

Although tense, she seemed a bit more sure of her words.

Mikasa's eyes looked far off at Eren in the distance, "But who knows? Maybe this change is just a phase. A phase that he'll naturally return from… or maybe he's maturing- he's older now, the battle may have been a wake-up call to how easily we might have been destroyed if not for…" Her eyes returned to Hermione's.

"Me… yeah, okay."

Hermione sighed, "But Mikasa… Eren's been exhibiting some troubling symptoms regardless-"

"-Symptoms? Like a disease?" Her brows furrowed.

"Well, not exactly. No. More like a condition or disorder… but I can't speak with much certainty until I know him longer. But you, Mikasa, you know him, and um maybe we can speak in more depth about this later?"

She nodded, "Please. I think this is long overdue."

Hermione nodded in return, "And whatever you do decide to do… after we talk and all, I trust your judgment. You've known him your whole life- I've only just arrived to witness this change."

She was about to move away before deciding to say one last thing.

"And- just… take care of him- and yes, I know you will, like you always do… but… take care of him here," she placed her palm on her chest, "and here as well," she moved her hand to gesture to her mind.

"Yes," Mikasa nodded and almost to herself says, "of course… We might need to have a talk with Eren- Armin and I- soon."

Hermione's smile was gentle as she put a comforting hand on Mikasa's shoulder.

"I've been thinking… I also need to go and talk to Hange about how they've been running their experiments…"

She looked to the side to watch as a giddy Hange interrogated a sullen-looking Eren fresh from his Titan form.

"About a lot of things actually… Anything to help, yeah?"

She nodded with a hint of a smile on her lips, "Yeah, thanks, Hermione."

"Of course," she squeezed her shoulder, "of course," she emphasized.

"And Hermione?"

She looked up to see a slight smirk on her face.

"If you find yourself unable to… persuade them yourself. Tell them I- tell them that I fully support your decision."

"Mikasa…" Hermione was as pleased as she was a bit surprised at the open endorsement.

"For Eren, right?"

Hermione hummed in agreement.

"Well then, for what it's worth, good luck."

Hermione let out a bark of laughter at the sudden snark.

"Thanks," she grinned, "But I don't think I'll need it."

Mikasa smiled, then walked away.

She herself walked away feeling lighter, less tense, accomplished even… the people he cared for would be there for him, now more than ever…

She winced. Hopefully enough to make a change…

Spotting Hange, she took a few deep breaths before apparating to their side.

"Hermione!" Hange jumped in surprise.

"Hey Hange," she smiled sheepishly, "I was just um, just wondering if we could talk," Hermione side-eyed Moblit's watchful gaze and Eren's curious one.

"In private…" she added, "preferably now."

"Why? What's going on?" They frantically looked around for anything abnormal to identify… abnormal to them at least.

Hermione thought a lot of things were abnormal around them- or unethical at the very least.

"No no, nothing," she moved closer to be more discreet, "I just have a few suggestions, that's all."

"Oh! Great! What were you thinking?"

She walked into a more deserted area, guiding Hange towards her.

"Well, is it okay if I ask a few questions first? Just to clarify some things."

"Yes yes, of course. What are they?" They lifted a brow in curiosity.

"It's just that- well- have you ever considered how ethical an experiment might be?"

They visibly flinched, "Ethical?"

"Yes, like if you'd gotten the enthusiastic consent of your subject after familiarizing them with the experiment. Or if you've ever made the effort to make sure the subject," her eyes briefly glanced in Eren's direction and Hange's intuitively followed, "doesn't feel dehumanized. Things like that."

They furrowed their brows.

"I see," they went to rub their chin in thought. Hange seemed to then shift into one of their rare, more serious moods.

"I would never intentionally irreversibly harm one of our own, especially Eren. We've learned not to take it too far, and besides, Eren's always been up for my experiments- though, he hasn't been as enthusiastic about them as he once was…"

"Yes, he-" Hermione sighed, "I've only seen how he's been lately so I have little reference to how it was before but… we see it, we all see it, Eren's been different- depressed, more like he has depression-"

"Huh?"

"-or from what I've heard, is bipolar-"

"Huuuh?"

"Later, later," she waved them off, "But all I'm trying to say is that he needs help… and the way things have been… hasn't been helping."

They stood in thought for quite a while. "Hmmmmm, I don't know… Would this benefit his performance? Ethics?"

"Oh greatly."

"Hmmmmmm."

With an answer like that, Hermione felt a little more confident that she could win this.

And without name-dropping Mikasa in the process? A win indeed.

"I've done my fair share of experiments before Hange, I even found my way here because of one."

They nodded eagerly for her to continue.

"In my world, we've already gone through this process of trial and error, been through the early stages of scientific experimentation. I've learnt them, studied them, and applied them to my own work. Implementing more ethical practices warrants more accurate results. Factors can be better isolated and tweaked to reach the desired outcome. This works, Hange. Please, please, try it, I know it does."

Hange's eyes were dissecting but their lips smiled in amusement, "You really care about him, huh?"

Hermione smiled softly in return, "I care about all of you."

"I care about people period," continued wistfully.

Slip it in, Hermione. Here's your chance! If you can do it for Eren- for Armin, you can do it for him too.

"And that's why…" she added hesitantly, "I'm also worried about Zeke Yeager-"

At Hange's intense, questioning gaze she hurried to explain herself.

"-he's still human, Hange. His experiences as a Marleyan child soldier have literally conditioned him to- to be this way. You heard what Eren's dad said- they've ingrained this self-hatred in him so deep that he ratted out his own parents and now? He's killed the innocent lives of his own people."

Her chest heaved and her eyes widened, almost as if it was in an added attempt to implore them.

She took a deep breath to calm herself.

"All I'm saying is that you shouldn't act with cruelty but he shouldn't exactly be… well, trusted or- or pampered either. He should be well fed- his basic needs met: water, shelter, physical comfort-"

Or some modicum of it at the very least… She knew he could regenerate like the other cognitive Titans, he was likely being continuously amputated to keep him docile in prison. And with the lack of her world's modern medicine? Or magic? That couldn't have been anything less than excruciating.

"-because you hold the upper hand. You, Erwin, the MP's, you hold his life in your hands, you are his God at the moment- please, be a kind one."

As Hermione's request tapered off in a gentle plea and Hange sighed, rubbing their temple with the heel of their palm, "I'll… see what I can do- talk to Erwin first, maybe bring you with me, but understand this, Hermione. This isn't a primary priority, this isn't a priority, period. There is much, much more we have to worry about than Zeke Yeager's comfort-"

Hermione's opened her mouth to question their language but Hange cut her off with a dismissive wave.

"We're fighting in a war we didn't even know we were in till a couple months ago. Our lives- our country is at stake…"

At that, Hermione physically conceded.

"Zeke Yeager memories, his knowledge is invaluable, yes- his body, not so much. So until we find a suitable candidate to take his place, Zeke Yeager will most likely suffer… or… maybe not," they shrugged in indifference, "we'll see."

"With Eren, we can make some changes, he's our own, one of us, but don't be surprised when the same concessions aren't made for him," they finished, their look oozing finality.

Hermione nodded, resigned but also grateful, "Thank you, Hange, for listening and for trying. I truly appreciate it."

"Mm, of course, Hermione," they waved their hand dismissively as if it was no big deal, "It's hard to not think of you as one of our own- what with all the help you've given us and all the time we've spent together."

Her breath hitched and she felt her chest ache with hints of joy and pride.

She knew it already, of course- sensed it, felt it. If she ran down a list of "things people do or say when they care about someone" she could confidently say she was on the receiving end of many of them.

But to have it so candidly said? And by Hange?

It honored her.

Next up, Levi, she internally humored.

But despite her nearly-overwhelming happiness, she also felt emboldened by this new development. The cogs in her brain turning to reach her goal… well, one of her goals. Getting home.

"Im- I'm honored Hange, truly."

They laughed heartily, "Of course you are, we're the best! Being one of us is a privilege, you know," they grinned.

"Oh I know, but forgive me if I'm being biased, Hange but I've got a right lot of people who'd justly compete for that number one spot."

"Oh ho ho, that's right! You've got other friends!"

Why'd they have to say it like it was a surprise, she thought a bit agitated but humored.

Anyways…

She laughed it off regardless, "Yes Hange, I do happen to have other people I know… and love. They just so happen to be in another dimension," she ended forlornly and maybe a bit bitterly too.

Way to lay it on thick, Hermione.

"Mm…" they grinned, " So you love us, huh?"

That's all you gauged from my statement?

"Of course, Hange, especially Uncle Levi," Hermione rolled her eyes but smirked nonetheless.

Cough. "Especially Armin" Cough.

She groaned internally but smiled anyways, Merlin.

"But yes, I love many many people, and many of them I might never see again."

She tried for a more direct approach and stared into Hange's eyes, a faint scar on the lid of their left eye from the previous battle barely discernible from this distance.

"I need to see them again."

They sighed. "We'll see what we can do, but we'll need to take precautions of course, just in case you are another traitor," their eyes narrowed then brightened immediately.

"Otherwise, I don't see the problem with a few more heavily monitored experiments, and by your design- with all your otherworldly ethics! Exciting!"

Hermione playfully rolled her eyes then shot Hange a genuine smile, "I don't know if exciting is what I'm aiming for here but… thank you. You guys don't have to do this but you are and… and again just… thank you."

She was so grateful for their trust in her, despite everything they'd been through. She'd have been disappointed if they refused or postponed but she'd understand. Hermione herself didn't do too well with traitors either.

Sometimes she went too far with them…

Sorry, Marietta Edgecombe.

"You didn't have to save our asses out there during the battle, but you did- and a whole lot of other stuff too, so consider this getting even," they patted Hermione's shoulder to console her.

To Hermione, it just wasn't enough to get even, she felt the need to truly prove to them where her heart stood.

So she began to dig in her beaded bag, and after more than a couple of seconds of being arm deep, she pulled out something special.

She paused, holding the technology close to her chest, marking the importance of its transfer into unfamiliar hands.

"Here, take it. Please," she pressed the cold metal warmly into their hands. "Use it to document experiments- capture memories. Use it to make history."

Hange stuttered, eyes bugging through their goggles. "Is- is this…"

"Yep, your very own camera. Magical even. To take photos."

"Photos…" they cooed, holding the camera as if it was fragile china.

"Moving photos," Hermione replied proudly.

"Whaaaaaa," their eyes glazed over

"Mhm."

There was a beat of silence in which Hange's scaringly still body inspected the device.

So….

"Yahoooo!" They suddenly jumped- causing Hermione to flinch involuntarily- arms waving, reaching a height Hermione didn't think was possible from their beginning stance.

Her body relaxed and she smiled.

Now, why didn't she think of giving it to them sooner? She could always get another one at home. She could afford it, easily so, but the timing worked out well enough- was quite organic if she'd say so herself. So ultimately, Hermione felt no need to fuss over what could've been, because what was happening was already a cherished sight.

"So you like it?" Hermione asked redundantly, a smirk on her lips.

"Wha- a- a-," they spluttered, "Of course I do!"

Hermione could only laugh in response.

"Really Hermione, Thank you. If this is a bribe, it's a pretty damn good one," they said closely eyeing the camera.

"Well it's not- just a gift… buuuut, if it manages to further convince you, you won't hear me complain."

"Convince us to change our experiments or allow you your own?"

Both.

She shrugged, "Both."

"Fair," they shrugged back, still grinning.

"So yes to both then?" She prodded.

Still partly distracted, they said, "I'll try to advocate for both."

Close. A win to be sure, but not quite what I was going for.

"Yes, yes, of course," she nodded, hands clasped, still giddy.

But what will this win be if not secured in the end?

She leaned forward, "And it's good you say that, Hange. Mikasa told me herself she would prefer to do it my way."

Hange's head snapped at the sound of Mikasa's name.

It was a bit cartoonish, but nevertheless endearing. Coupled with the odd mix of awe, annoyance, and curiosity on their face, surely they understood what her support implied.

"Huuuuuuuh, why didn't you just lead with that?!"

"Uh, oops?"

"Oops, oops?" They glared at Hermione knowingly, playfully. "You just wanted to see if you could yourself, huh?"

She scoffed but her lips couldn't help but form a smile, "… mmm, maybe."

"Mmhm. Well, just know you got there in the end," a hand clasped her shoulder.

"So… we'll go?" She egged on.

Hange pulled her close and wrapped their arm around her shoulder in an almost painfully tight yet endearing embrace, "I'll make it happen once, but after that, it's all up to Erwin- I won't interfere, Hermione."

Success!

Hermione grinned.

Despite their stern tone, hope bloomed in her chest.

Home was just on the horizon.

The only problem was her new home was helping her get there…