30 years later…

The cluster of witches and wizards of varying ages that gathered in front of Flourish and Blott's on the morning of the last day of July could hardly be termed a crowd, and she knew it. There was no doubt the street was crowded – crowded enough that most people paid no notice to the dozen or so people who were simply standing there, rather than rushing in or rushing by. Those who did pay them notice quickly turned away when they noticed the woman who seemed to be gathering them together. No, there was no way she could imagine this group to be the crowd she had been hoping for.

The wind was blowing the pieces of her salt and pepper hair that weren't pulled back into a loose knot in every which direction. She hadn't worn robes in years, but the floral blouse which had once been loose and flowing clung only partially due to sweat in odd areas, and had a neckline which highlighted her sagging cleavage. A worn denim skirt barely reached her knees, and the bright pink scarf tied around her waist only accentuated her hips. The outfit might have seemed more impressive twenty five years earlier, but then, so would the person wearing it. Her face looked tired as she squinted from the sun and scanned the group in front of her.

"Darvin? Are Eddie and Nadine coming out today?"

"Eddie said he'll try to stop by later, but the twins are down with the measles, so Nadine has to stay with them. They're both hoping to make it to the Ministry next week, though."

"Good. We'll need everyone out then. Sarah? Anymore of your group coming?"

The blond shook her head. She too was in muggle clothes, although her tee read Ask me to see your wand and I'll show you mine! "I think this is everyone for today, Hermione. Unfortunately, not everyone in the group sees the connection between monopolistic capitalism and the patriarchy that rules our society."

Hermione considered the bright, passionate young witch in front of her for a moment after taking in that statement. Give her twenty years in this close minded place and she'll be as big a cynic as I am. At this thought, she threw a disappointed glare across the ragtag crowd in front of her. A few of them stood up straighter, one or two of them took a step back, their eyes showing their confusion, but the rest weren't fazed at all. It was that that snapped Hermione's mind back to the task at hand, as it was that sort of apathy that was rotting away the wizarding world from the inside out. But it wasn't too late to stop it.

"Why did you come here today?" Her booming question was directed at the whole group, but she didn't wait for an answer. "Why should we spend an afternoon standing here sweltering on one of the hottest days of the year?"

"To protest?" A hesitant voice took advantage of the pause to answer.

"To protest? Are you sure about that?" Hermione raved in the direction of where the voice had come from. "To protest what? Witches rights? Equal treatment for all magical creatures? The new wave of pureblood supremacy?" Picking up a newspaper, she waved it around frantically. "The Daily Prophet called us nothing more than a small group of disaffected who cling to a different overblown grievance every week because we can't find a way to contribute to society. Is that why you're here? Because you can't conform and you have nothing better to do?"

Paper still in hand, Hermione gestured widely, including the whole group. "Look at us! Are we the only thing that stands between the entire wizarding society continuing in its system of oppression?" Her voice cracked in desperation, and for a moment it looked as if Hermione Granger, leader of the modern magical civil rights movement, was about to back down from a fight. "Do you think that twenty people can actually make a difference?"

"Yes, they can," a new voice spoke up confidently. Hermione spun around, and was greeted by the sight of a cavalry in the form of two dozen energetic teenagers. Their leader was a brunette who greeted Hermione with a warm smile, before stepping up to address the group which had now more than doubled in size. "Less than two dozen so-called pureblooded families control our entire society. They run the Ministry. They own Diagon Alley. They're buying out the goblins at an exponentially growing rate every year. They sit on the Hogwarts Board, and now they're trying to rob their own future before we even leave school!"

This last line brought cheers of agreement from the students who had just arrived.

"No way! We won't pay!" A teenage boy who couldn't have been more than fourteen shouted, pumping his fist in the air.

"Every year Hogwarts requires us to buy new textbooks. Every year Flourish and Blotts comes out with a new edition of the textbooks we need. Every year they raise their prices!" She was wasn't just addressing their group anymore, but was walking around as she spoke so that anyone in the area could hear her. "Why? Because we let them! Because for hundreds of years, we have refused to demand other alternatives! It's time to demand a change!"

Hermione couldn't help but notice that the passing crowds who had ignored her and her group earlier were now stopping two or three at a time to listen to this young witch. Amoung them was a sturdy black haired witch, whose eyes lit up when she saw the vocal brunette, dragging another slender, but taller witch by the witch. The other girl, who had seemed hesitant at best earlier, came to a complete halt when she saw where her friend was leading her. Twenty feet away, Hermione was frozen in shock as well.

"Gloria, Gloria, I brought Joan with me!" Hermione heard the shorter witch tell her dorm mate as she closed the distance between them. The girl's smile faltered, however, when she noticed she was now standing alone.

"I though you said we were coming to Diagon Alley to buy our schoolbooks, Prudence." The hope that had been building inside Hermione crashed as Joan spoke. She doesn't want to be here.

"I told you we were coming to Diagon Alley to take care of our book list." Her grin came back full force then as she revealed her cleverness.

Hermione watched as Joan looked back and forth between Prudence and her. She won't meet my eyes, Hermione observed, sadly. Joan's frown deepened. "It's funny, I could have sworn the Sorting Hat put both of us in Gryffindor five years ago, but you sounded exactly like a Slytherin there for a moment."

"You want to talk about house pride, Joan?" Gloria spat out. "When you're about to refuse to stand up and fight for your rights again? Some Gryffindor you are."

"I know what I believe, but I refuse to be swept up in an embarrassment of a movement that's causing more problems then it is solving." Joan's words were directed at Gloria, but her gaze was set on Hermione. For a moment, all four women were silent, aware of the various audiences surrounding them.

"Joan…" Hermione started, reaching out a hand as if to rest it on her arm. She stopped herself, though, shaking her head. I promised both of them I wouldn't push her. Still, Hermione felt she had to say something, but as she started, Joan stopped her.

"Don't waste your breath. I've heard all your arguments before, heard Gloria here quote your book in the evenings until she's blue in the face, and heard Dad point out all the flaws and inconsistencies with the logic behind it."

"Nick told you…" Hermione trailed off, truly speechless this time.

"Yes, even your muggle ex-husband can see the flaws in your proposal for wizarding social reform. Now, if you don't mind, I have books to buy. I am starting six NEWT classes this fall, after all." Joan paused, and Hermione watched as she turned away from her to look back at her friend. "Prudence?"

"I… I'm going to stay out here," she said hesitantly, taking a step backwards to join the throng of other students who had been pulling out signs and banners while their conversation had been going on. Gloria smiled, and gave her a friendly side hug. For a brief moment, Hermione caught a glimpse of hurt and betrayal in Joan's eyes. Then her only daughter walked quickly into the doors of the bookstore, without looking back.

Gloria looked disgustedly in the direction of the door Joan was now walking through, and then back at Hermione. As she opened her mouth, however, Hermione quickly spoke up.

"The issues between my daughter and I are complicated and go beyond the ones we're here to fight, Gloria. I won't go into them, for Joan's sake, but don't be too quick to judge her."

Gloria looked like she still wanted to say something, but she was young enough still to submit to a respected authority figure, Gryffindor-nature notwithstanding. "I do have something else I need to talk with you about, Hermione. It's why we were late in getting here today. Something you need to hear."

Hermione nodded, and motioned towards the group, who almost all held signs, banners, or a handful of pamphlets. She noticed someone had passed out buttons. "Later," she promised. "Right now, we have to get this group organized before half of Britain finishes their shopping for the day."