Hermione's publicity

Read up to 40 chapters ahead on Patreon - patreon.com/Dark_sym

This fic is completed in patreon

-----

Before anything else, Hogwarts was preparing for an important event—the arrival of students from Beauxbatons and Durmstrang.

Excitement crackled in the air.

During class, barely anyone was paying attention. The only thing on their minds was the grand banquet set for that evening.

Sensing their restlessness, Ethan sighed and dismissed them half an hour early.

After several classes, most senior students had become adept at casting magic using seals instead of wands.

With the combined research of Dumbledore and Flitwick, many more straightforward spells had already been adapted into this revolutionary form of casting.

It was an astonishing breakthrough. Flitwick, bursting with pride, had even taken Ethan to apply for an Order of Merlin First Class.

However, with Fudge still absent from the Ministry, the award was indefinitely delayed. Flitwick was more than a little displeased, but Ethan remained indifferent.

The medal meant little to him.

Meanwhile, Harry, Ron, and Hermione strolled through the bustling halls, each carrying a small box labeled Charity Fund.

After last year's chaos, Hermione had finally scaled back her overwhelming course load, giving her time to focus on her passion project—the Society for the Promotion of Elfish Welfare (SPEW).

The initiative had already reached the fundraising stage, and the gentle jingling of coins inside their collection boxes hinted at a modest success.

The Hogwarts corridors were packed with students from Beauxbatons and Durmstrang arriving soon.

Hermione saw this as the perfect opportunity to spread awareness.

She had stationed herself in the foyer, enthusiastically handing out flyers and speaking to a hesitant Hufflepuff girl about house-elf rights.

Ron and Harry stood behind her, looking bored. They had been through this routine many times before.

Ethan entered the foyer at that moment.

Harry and Ron spotted him first, and their reaction was immediate—they froze, eyes wide with something between shock and fear.

Ethan frowned. Why did they look so terrified?

As he stepped closer, Harry hurriedly jabbed Hermione in the back.

She turned, saw Ethan, and immediately paled.

In a panicked motion, she stuffed the flyer she was holding behind her back.

It was a useless attempt at hiding it. Ron was still clutching an entire stack of the leaflets in plain sight.

Ethan raised an eyebrow, amused.

"Ron," he said, his voice even but firm.

"Would you mind showing me the flyer?"

Ron gulped. Without hesitation, he handed one over.

Ethan took the flyer, and everything became apparent when he saw it.

Bold black letters stretched across the top:

"Join the Society for the Promotion of Elfish Welfare (SPEW)— Professor Ethan's choice!"

Below the text was a grinning photo of Ethan, looking far too cheerful. He had no idea where they had gotten it.

For a moment, Ethan just stared, utterly dumbfounded.

Meanwhile, Harry, Ron, and Hermione avoided his gaze, staring down at their toes like children caught red-handed.

Ethan sighed, folding the flyer neatly.

"Who came up with this idea?" he asked, his tone serious.

Silence.

Despite his usual easygoing demeanor, Ethan commanded authority when he took on a stern tone.

The three hesitated, shifting uncomfortably.

Finally, Hermione raised her hand—hesitant, trembling.

"I-It was me, Professor Ethan," she admitted in a voice as small as a whisper.

"We tried promoting it on our own, but no one paid attention… so I thought borrowing your name would help," she added, eyes fixed on the floor.

She braced herself for a reprimand.

Instead, there was a soft clink—a coin dropping into her collection box.

Hermione's head snapped up in surprise. Ethan had just tossed a gold Galleon inside.

"Since I am a SPEW member, at least ask for my permission before using my image next time," Ethan said, shaking his head helplessly.

"Never repeat this"

Hermione's face lit up with excitement.

"Understood, Professor! I promise I'll ask first next time!" she said quickly, relief washing over her.

Beside her, Harry and Ron exhaled in unison, finally relaxing.

But before they could linger in their victory, Professor McGonagall's sharp voice rang across the hall.

"Everyone, line up at once! The students from Beauxbatons and Durmstrang are arriving! Merlin's beard, straighten up—you represent Hogwarts!"

She marched down the row, eyes scanning the students with laser precision.

"Weasley! Put that box away—this is hardly the time! And fix your hat!"

Ron scrambled to adjust his lopsided hat, shoving the charity box into his robes.

"Miss Patil, take that ridiculous thing off your head!" McGonagall snapped.

Parvati frowned, clearly displeased, but she removed the large butterfly hairpiece from the end of her braid.

"First-years in the front—no pushing! Stay in formation!" McGonagall continued, guiding the students outside.

Hermione, Ron, and Harry quickly bid Ethan farewell before hurrying to their assigned spots.

Ethan made his way to the professors' section, standing at the back of the group—directly behind Snape, who barely acknowledged his presence.

The crisp evening air greeted them as they stepped onto the grand stone steps.

The night was falling, and a pale, silvery moon now hung over the Forbidden Forest.

The entire school stood in anticipation, whispering eagerly amongst themselves.

Excited chatter rippled through the crowd, all centered around the much-anticipated arrival.

This was a rare spectacle—Hogwarts hadn't hosted an event like this in decades.

"The time is almost upon us," McGonagall muttered, checking her watch anxiously.

She adjusted her hat for the fifth time, a rare sign of nerves.

The students shifted expectantly, eyes fixed on the darkening sky. Yet, for several long moments, nothing happened.

The grounds remained still, bathed in soft moonlight.

Then—

"Aha! Someone's coming!"

Hagrid bellowed, pointing a thick finger toward the sky.

Several people flinched at the sudden outburst.

Looking thoroughly irritated, Snape rolled his eyes and moved farther away from Hagrid.

But Hagrid was right.

"There!" a seventh-year Hufflepuff gasped, excitement in their voice.

All heads snapped upward as, at last, the visitors made their grand entrance.