Only one more to go, Hermione thought to herself. She watched as Crabbe packed up his school things and walked out of the library as another boy walked toward her. She watched as his eyes searched the library and finally settled on her. He ambled to her and sat down coldly.

Hermione raised her eyebrows and watched him lay his bag on the table. "Michael Sellers?" she asked him, looking down at the name on his bag.

"Yeah."

"I hear you're having trouble with History of Magic…so what exactly is the trouble?" she asked him pulling out parchment and her eagle feather quill.

"Yeah…it's stupid and boring and stupid and exhausting and stupid. Did I mention stupid?" He looked at her expecting her to yell at him and say he was being a snot. Needless to say, he was mildly surprised when she merely yawned and rubbed her temples.

"How old are you, Michael?" she asked him, catching him off guard.

He looked at her suspiciously and replied, "eleven…

"What house are you…Ravenclaw?" she asked next.

"How did you know that?" he asked with wide eyes.

"Don't tell me you haven't heard…Hermione Granger knows everything," she replied dryly. They sat in silence for a few moments and then Hermione spoke again. "Here's the deal, Michael…you don't belong here."

"Excuse me? Just because I'm a little slow with history, doesn't mean I shouldn't go to Hogwarts!" he exclaimed indignantly.

Immediately, Madame Pince, stalked over to their table and whispered harshly, "Be quiet or you'll never set foot in here again." Before they could answer, she went back to her desk in a huff.

Hermione just shook her head and turned back to Michael. "That's not what I meant, "she told him quietly. "I meant that you don't belong at a tutor session. You're faking it, aren't you?"

He stared at her, a blush rising to his cheeks. He then asked, "W-What are you talking about? Why would I fake being s-stupid?"

Hermione placed her worn out face into hands and stared at Michael through her fingers. Not removing her face from her hands, she said in a muffled voice, "Michael…you were chosen for Ravenclaw for a reason. You're smart. You know it and I know it. What I don't know…is why you're lying to everyone and dumbing yourself down."

Michael looked at her in shame. "How can you know I'm faking?" he asked in awe.

"I know everything, remember?" They both laughed and then stopped abruptly and Madame Pince gave them a death glare. "So spill," she added.

"What if I don't want to be smart?" he asked quietly, his head hung in embarrassment.

"What?" she asked in a shocked voice.

"I said 'What if I don't want to be smart?'" he repeated breathlessly. "What if I'm sick of everyone making me feel like a nerd and expecting me to doing everything? I'd rather be stupid than smart…now go ahead," he said angrily. "Go ahead, tell me I'm being a baby and that I should just grow up."

Hermione looked at him and asked, "Now why would I do that, Michael?"

He just gawked at her.

Hermione sighed and continued. "You're feelings are entirely understandable and believe me, I would know. But listen…you can't just act stupid when that's not who you are-"

Michael quickly interrupted her and said, "But I've been doing it all year-"

"I don't understand how anyone could get bad grades on purpose."

"You don't get it," he told her sadly. "You're a bloody tutor…you can handle it."

Hermione looked at him dejectedly and replied, "You'd be surprised at how much one person can hide behind a smile.

"What do you mean?"

Hermione sighed, wondering if she should pour out her soul's secrets to Michael. Finally, she decided if anyone would understand her, he would. "I handle it, not because I want to, but because I need to. I pushed myself way to hard when I first got to Hogwarts and before I realized what I was doing, the work and responsibilities just piled up.

"It's too late for me to set some of that stuff down because I'd be letting a lot of people down. I'm fifteen years old and I feel like some old lady. But no one sees that because I've grown very accustomed to hiding how I feel.

"But it's not to late for you, Michael. You still have the opportunity to be smart but not go overboard. You can still say no, while I, having said yes so many times, just can't find the strength."

Michael looked at Hermione and watched as tears welled up in her eyes. He had no idea what to say so he could only stare as she cried silently waiting for him to respond. Finally, he stood up and walked over to her side of the table and hugged her.

After a few moments, when her tears began to subside, he released her and sat next to her.

She smiled at him and said quietly, "I would really appreciate you not telling people about this." She gave a small laugh and continued, "People would start crying 'Apocalypse' if they found out Hermione Granger had a mental breakdown. Then she looked down at her watched.

"That's it for tonight I think," she told him while regaining her composure. "Hey, I'll see you next week okay…that is unless you change your mind about school."

He looked at her sympathetically and said softly, "I'll be back, but so you can have someone to talk to. 'Cause I really think you need that. Later, Hermione." With that he stood up, grabbed his bag, and walked out of the library.

Hermione just stared after him. Suddenly she felt something odd. Her first real smile in weeks was growing on her face.