When a prince declared himself a true friend or enemy—that is, when he did not hesitate to show that he supported one man against another—he earned respect. This policy was always more useful than remaining neutral. For if two powerful neighboring states came to blows, the outcome could only be this: if one side won, you would either have cause to fear the victor or not. In either case, if you had not declared your position, you would always become the victor's prize, while the defeated party would feel pleased and satisfied. Moreover, you would have no reason or grounds to defend yourself or seek shelter, for whoever won would have no need of a dubious ally who had not helped him in adversity, and whoever lost would not protect you, since you had been unwilling to take up arms and share his fate.
Georgiana closed The Prince and looked at the sunset scenery beyond the carriage window.
"Whoever wins would have no need of a dubious ally who had not helped him in adversity," she murmured.
In the conflict between Gryffindor and Slytherin, Hufflepuff and Ravenclaw remained neutral most of the time. She was used to neutrality, but so-called neutrality was never entirely neutral. From the moment Head Boy Ernie Macmillan began supporting Harry, Hufflepuff had gradually leaned toward Gryffindor. During the Battle of Hogwarts, aside from Gryffindor, the largest number of those who remained behind to defend the school had been Hufflepuffs.
From the story Napoleoni had just told, Venice, that neutral state, had not been completely neutral either. They had also leaned toward Austria. Marcel, the mayor of Paris, had not chosen Charles V or Charles II, whom the British supported. If he had truly accepted Charles II, he could easily have opened the gates and surrendered