Hermione rocked back and forth on her feet as she waited in line. There were only two people in front of her now, but neither of them seemed to be in a hurry.

On Thursday's Class, when Professor Binns had offered an opportunity for extra credit, she had, of course, jumped at the chance. She was to write a ten-page paper on magic in another part of the world. Hermione had chosen Asia due to the class's egregious lack of focus on the continent. She had decided to study Taoist magic in China.

Earlier that morning, she had passed Madam Pince in the hall and had asked her, not for the first time, about the availability of one of the library's more noteworthy tomes on the subject. This morning, however, instead of giving a sigh and an apathetic "nothing yet," Madam Pince had informed her the book had finally been returned. Of course, Hermione had classes to attend But she resolved that the moment lunch came around, she would check out the book and begin her research.

Now only Justin Finch-Fletchley was in front of her. She was almost jittery with the excitement of learning about the foreign styles of witchcraft.

"This book is to be returned by the 18th of October. Please do remember Mr. Finch-Fletchley, that if you do not, for any reason, return the book by this date, it will have been the third time now, and you will until otherwise decided, be unable to check out another book."

"Yes, ma'am," Justin replied with a bit of an edge in his voice.

As she handed him the book, she continued with mild disdain, "I almost hope you forget again. That way, I will no longer have to suffer your poor attitude."

Justin grabbed the book from her hand, and stomped out, grumbling to himself.

Hermione stepped up to the desk, "I'm here for A Brief History Of Taoism and Fulu. I believe it was returned this morning?"

Madam Pince set the book on the counter with a dull thud, "Indeed."

After it had been checked out, she took the book and began heading toward a table. It was then she heard muffled laughter from behind.

"Maybe she's hoping to move to China," whispered a high-pitched nasally voice.

Hermione turned to See Pansy Parkinson, Theodore Nott, and Milicent Bulstrode standing at the corner of a bookshelf, looking right at her. Theodore seemed unimpressed at the comment, but Milicent had quite taken to it. She had to cover her mouth from laughing.

"Is that meant to be an insult, Pansy? I think you're losing your touch."

Pansy scoffed, "Oh, no! Actually, I hope it works out for you, I really do. That way, we never have to see your ugly face around school anymore. Honestly, sometimes it's hard to eat knowing that if I look up, I might see that," she motioned to all of Hermione.

Hermione furrowed her brow, a small lump having now formed in her throat, "Well, that's funny. I was just thinking about how you affect everyone too. Y'know, how whenever you enter a room, the average IQ drops to 20?"

"The thing is Granger; I already know what I'm going to do with my life. My father has had a job for me at the ministry lined up for ages now. And I'm going to marry rich. So I don't have to worry about making up for my dirty blood and lack of reputable magical background by doing all this extra work as you do. I can spend that time having a social life and doing what I want. You could do all this nonsense, and they're still wouldn't be a job for you."

The lump in her throat now felt double in size as she managed, "Whatever Pansy" and strode around to the opposite end of the library.

Hermione sat in silence for a minute, listening for anyone. What Pansy had said was her exact fear. Of course, all of this work was in the hopes that someday she could work at the top of her field within the wizarding world. She wanted to be in politics, fight for equal rights for all creatures, and help everyone and everything she could. But she had so much fear that no one would hire her due to discrimination about her blood status. So many of the Slytherins were hateful to her, and most of their parents were highly-respected members of the ministry.

When she felt safe, she put her head down on her arms and began to cry. Eventually, she stopped but stayed sitting like that and thinking for several more minutes.