Hermione held the doorknob in her hand. Stepping her way through the streets of Hogmead's was not hard. Passing the worn drunks falling sleep on their bar stools was not hard. Avoiding eye contact with the barman and waitresses was not hard.
Every step forward was easy to take when you confirmed you could change your agenda any second. No. I will not meet my desired man and allow him to show me the depths of womanhood. I will instead walk toward a popular joke shop and make easy conversation with people my own age.
But was that what she she really wanted? To make idle conversation with those who could not spark her intensity for knowledge? Not comprehend the immense difference between knowledge and memorized facts? Someone who did not respected the same goal she did?
Standing in front of a worn door was hard. With two feet firmly planted, it was the first time she seriously asked herself if she wanted this. Did she? A relationship with someone her own age was easy. She would not have to look far to find an acceptable companion. But was an acceptable companion what she wanted? Or did she deserve more?
Someone who could respect her view and challenge her opinion? Challenge her in ways no man within a ten year radius could? Could she help it if the boys in her year could not hold their end of a conversation? No. But did she deserve someone capable of satisfying her mind, body, and soul? Yes.
She knew she would not find someone with these qualifications in the student body. And she looked over the student body with a keen eye. All came up short.
Hermione held her breath and opened the door with a key Severus Snape passed to her in the halls of Hogwarts. Repercussions be damned. She deserved something outside the norms and would not settle for anything less.