Hermione Granger's parents were very proud of their daughter. She was always the top of her class, and before she started school she could already read and write and do simple math. Throughout her first couple school years, teachers would always gush over what a bright child she was.

Still, her second grade teacher wanted to call a meeting for some reason, and so her parents had agreed to meet after work that Wednesday. In fact, they'd had to close the dental office early in order for both of them to get there, but had instructed Hermione not to mention that to her teacher, in case they came across as looking angry. Hermione looked up at the clock above the whiteboard. 4:01pm. Not like them to be late. She began twisting her bushy hair in her fingers, wondering where they were.

It wasn't easy to wait in the classroom. During the day there were things to distract you from the stuffy air from the windows that didn't open, or the loud ticking of the cheap clock likely found in a bargain store somewhere. Hermione wished she had a water bottle, it was very dry in this room and she was feeling cotton mouthed.

Marlene Jacobs was seated behind a beat up desk when Hermione's parents came in. Her hair, which looked like it might have been in a tight bun in the morning, was now falling out a bit, and there was a strand hanging in her face. She looked as though she'd gotten about six hours of sleep that week put together, but still managed to put on a smile when the Grangers walked in. "Hello Mr and Mrs Granger. Thank you for making it down here like this, I know you keep busy office hours."

Hermione was seated at her desk in the front row. She thumbed at the tape around the colourfulnametag stuck to her desk, and pulled up the edge of it a little bit. She knew she would regret making such a mess of it later, but for now, it was all she could do to keep from having an anxiety attack. This was the first time she'd ever been kept after class.

Before the Grangers could reply to her greeting, Ms. Jacobs looked at Hermione, "My dear, would you mind waiting in the hallway? This won't take very long, and I would like to speak to your parents privately if you don't mind."

Hermione grabbed a book out of her desk and made eye contact with her mother on the way out the door. Her mom smiled at her and said "don't worry dear, we will be out right away." and opened the door for her. "and besides, we are right here if you need us." Hermione went through the door and it shut behind her.

The school was an old building and she found that she couldn't help but to overhear. Well, couldn't help but overhear if she was sitting as close to the door as possible and straining, but the truth wouldn't have to be stretched much if it came to it.

In the time it took her to shift into position she had already missed a few sentences. She heard Ms. Jacobs say "...the first few years of school are extremely important for children. There is not much else that has such a strong impact as primary school. I'd venture to argue that it is just as formative as the lessons and experiences a child has at home." Hermione could hear her father starting to object, but Ms. Jacobs continued,

"Please Mr Granger, I am not quite finished. You see, in primary school, and especially in the first few years, children are leaving the haven of their home for the first time. Usually by second grade, children have made some friends and are used to having a teacher. I don't think Hermione has any problem with the second part, but she does appear to be a bit socially alienated. The truth is that a child met with exclusion and ridicule will likely grow up to distrust other people. I'm worried Hermione isn't having the easiest time finding friends here."

Hermione looked down at her novel and set it beside her, hugging her legs into her chest. It was true, she didn't get along well with many of the other children, but why did that matter to Ms. Jacobs? There was no grade assigned for friendship.

"Now, those concerns certainly have some weight. However," Hermione heard her mother say, "she is just a gifted child. Perhaps the problem could be solved by placing her in the grade ahead? She does all of her homework within fifteen minutes of getting home anyway, and you've hardly called us here to discuss her understanding of the material."

Ms Jacobs sighed heavily. "Students have a hard time accepting children socially who are younger than they are. In a non-school setting its fine, but in classes I've seen it happen many times where a student becomes more isolated than they already were."

Hermione balled her hands into fists as she listened, and soon she could see white moons on her nails from pressing them into her palms. Was she doomed to be alone forever? Her chest got tight as she tried to keep herself from crying. She focused on the in and out of her breathing.

It seemed like forever before any of them spoke again. "Also, there have been some strange incidents involving the children teasing Hermione. It sounds crazy, but things like all the milk becoming sour in the cups of children teasing her, but none of the other children. Maybe they brought vinegar or something in themselves, and had it pre planned. It wouldn't have been possible to be Hermione, and she didn't get punished, but the point is that things have escalated past the point of what we consider at this school to be healthy for a child." Ms. Jacobs lowered her voice, and Hermione could barely hear when she said, "The other students have taken to calling her a witch."

It wasn't true that she hadn't been punished at all for the milk incident. The students had all been made to apologize to each other, even though she had not done anything wrong. Hermione had had to stand up in front of the entire class and apologize.

"What I'm saying is, Hermione may be more comfortable at another school altogether. There's a very common group phenomenon, especially at this age: inclusion through exclusion, to tighten a group by excluding people from it. I think that's what..."

Whatever Ms. Jacobs was saying was suddenly cut off by a sound like a branch snapping, only much louder. Hermione jumped up out of fright and looked around. A big crack had appeared in the wall just behind her. She started in to the classroom, but her parents burst out the door before she'd so much as taken a step.

As soon as she saw her parents she blurted an apology. "Oh my goodness, I'm so sorry. I was just sitting here reading, I never meant to! You have to believe me that I didn't mean f-f-for…" but she wasn't able to finish because she started to cry.

At once the teacher and her parents assured her that there is no way she could have caused such a thing. "Hermione, that simply wouldn't have been possible for you. This is an old building. It is just an unfortunate coincidence." said her mother.

"Anyway I think we've heard enough for today Ms. Jacobs. Hermione is obviously very upset and we're going to bring her home now." says Hermione's father. Hermione grabbed her mother's hand and started down the hall toward the door, leaving her father to say goodbye to her teacher.

Still crying, on the way out Hermione looked up to her mother and choked out "You're not going to send me to another school, are you?"