Hermione had no idea why she chose to drive to Oxford University the next day. She had no idea why she bothered driving there with her own muggle car. It wasn't that the car was uncomfortable to be in - after all, it was a Mercedes and any car associated with that brand was automatically luxurious. No, it was rather how suddenly "muggle" Hermione had changed in the short time-span. Hermione rarely used her muggle car, or anything muggle related. Really, she only associated herself with muggle things as a novelty, not really interacting with it. Especially considering how clueless Hermione was with her own muggle television. She even charmed her own muggle microwave to warm the food itself and all her chores were done by magic. To have herself driving was just completely disturbing to even the most magical of families.

Which made her think: why DRIVE to Oxford University? If she really wanted to just go there, she would have apparated there in an instant. Driving there really seemed inconvenient; however, somehow Hermione had a feeling in the sudden impulse.

Flashback

10 year-old Hermione Granger was enthusiastic with today's family trip. Her parents have agreed to take the young girl to tour around Oxford University. It was October and the "University Fever" has gone well underway. For most graduating secondary students, the following months were crucial for choosing their post-secondary education. Not for Hermione though. She chose to take this orientation for academic aspiration.

As the only child of two dentists, Hermione was raised nothing short of an educated and proper family. Table manners were emphasized alongside being taught potty-training as baby. Anything deemed "uncouth" to Hermione's parents' eyes were immediately shunned down; Hermione's lack of athletic ability mainly being the product of this prejudice.

Her parents were keen on ingraining and nuturing Hermione's interest in studying, and they were quite pleased at the young girl's suggestion to making such a trip.

Once the car was parked, Hermione enthusiastically got out and was in awe.

End of Flashback

Not much has changed since that impression. Hermione was still in awe at the campus right in front of her. When she was younger, she aspired to be associated with the prestige and intelligence of Oxford students. She had once dreamed of becoming an academic scholar, indulging in the information like it were chocolate. Those dreams may have been popped but she still enjoyed the nostalgia connected to school. Just being on the site made the memories of her short time with her parents more lucid.

Agnese had never been ignorant, choosing to lock herself up in her old dingy room with whatever books she can find. Despite that, she had to admit she knew next to nothing about muggles. She was quite ashamed at her apparent ignorance of her own heritage.

While walking around, Agnese mindlessly asked questions and pointing around. Hermione, just as enthusiastic, happily answered and discussed what she knew about Oxford University.

"Oxford and Cambridge University are both of high prestige but their students say otherwise. What they believe in is their own essential truth and frankly, you can't do much with it."

Once the tour was over, the two headed over to the nearest McDonald's. Hermione had decided to buy a meal from the most iconic muggle fast-food chain before the long trip. Agnese found the red clown mascot quite amusing and the food being quite an aesthetic too (little did she know of course). She was taking one last bite of her cheeseburger.

"Ophelia," Hermione had suddenly said.

Dumbfounded at the abrupt randomness, Agnese tilted her head in response.

"Just ignore me, dear. I was just thinking," Hermione awkwardly apologized. "I just thought of it as a nickname for you."

Agnese raised a brow and shrugged. "I mean, that's a rather longer name for a nickname.. but whatever makes you happy is fine for me."

Hermione held onto Agnese hands.

"This may seem quite sudden, but what do you want to be?" she asked.

Agnese had never had much ambition in her life, just being eternally grateful for any scrap she can get. Being asked such an influential question would have been difficult though... in the past. Now, the young girl had some idea of what she wanted. Maybe not quite bold but still a goal in mind.

"I guess I want to do good in this world with all the power I have," answered the young child. Agnese was astonished at the amount of effort and accomplishments the Oxford alumni and students had in their studies. Their whole education was the center of their success. Just the idea of trying lit the young girl's previously dull-eyes.

Mr. and Mrs. Granger would have pestered the youngster to dream more specific. Not Hermione. In fact, she was quite proud at the young girl's statement. Her own daughter seemed determined to make the world a better place, which was already far more better than Hermione's career. It was a blessing to Merlin to know that Hermione's sins didn't ruin the young girl's potential. For that, Hermione was extremely grateful.

Hermione looked frightful just staring into Bellatrix's eyes. That monster was intent on doing anything to hurt the young girl.

"Draco, dear, why don't you bring the mudblood into a spare room?" she maniacally asked, making sure she held onto the newly carved mudblood scar with a lot of pressure.

Draco stared into Hermione's face with his stoic face. Somehow, she knew that under his blank face was a scared boy just looking into his eyes.

Hermione woke up, panting like crazy. Beads of sweat were glistening down her forehead. She hadn't recalled that memory since the day of the incident.

A tear drop fell onto her bedsheet. Hermione wiped the newly formed tears in her eyes. She hadn't cried in years.

She looked at the small figure sleeping right next to her. Stroking Agnese's hair, Hermione couldn't believe that something so precious came out of her pain.

"Ophelia... you are my greatest treasure yet my most tragic memory."

Okay, sorry for the long break. Currently having writer's block lol.

So in this chapter, the duo were having a heart-to-heart. I decided to write about Oxford based on my loose experience. In all honesty, I've never visited the campus (please don't kill me) but I have admired the school on an international scale. During the summer, I made my parents visit Boston for Harvard and MIT. We drove all the way from Canada and I don't regret any minute of it. You can say it was an academic inspiration trip lol. I really admired the scholarly vibe while I was there. Just breathing the air from the exact spot of influential alumni made me glee with anticipation.

Okay, enough of my nerdyism. I tried to channel my enthusiasm for the story based on it though.

Hermione's dream was of a horrible memory, hence why she secretly named Agnese her nickname "Ophelia". Ophelia was a tragic character from Shakespeare's play, "Hamlet". I actually got that name last minute when I had to read Hamlet for the Shakespeare part of my English class' curriculum. I just thought it'd be a fun tidbit, considering Hermione's name came from another Shakespeare play lol.

I hope you all enjoyed this lousy update and feel free to comment whatever you want. I'm going to go back and suffer from writer's block.