It's time for a history lesson
Third-Person PoV: The Library
Hermione speed-walked along the isles, her eyes skimming across the titles till she found a book on all the Wizarding societies across the world. She carefully took it up from the shelf and added it to the growing pile of books that she was carrying in her hands, she adjusted them in her arms again before she turned around and headed back to where she had left her bag, there weren't many people in the library, surprisingly not that many had a free period for second period so she had all the time to think and read, Harry and Ron had decided to spend the free time in the Common Room claiming that they were going to do some homework but Hermione doubted that.
She set her small pile of books onto the table and sat down in the chair she moved the chair closer to the table and opened the first book on the table. Sometimes Hermione forgot how many large Wizarding schools there were across the globe, there were eight more known Wizarding schools. Beauxbatons Academy of Magic, Castelobruxo, Durmstrang Institute, Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, Ilvermorny School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, Koldovstoretz, Mahoutokoro School of Magic, and Uagadou School of Magic. Each wizarding school had its own restrictions on how far a distance student had to be accepted, most of these schools were located in Europe. There were also specialized schools too, like for broom flying or charms. Some schools like Castelobruxo offered exchanges and penfriends with the European wizarding scho-
"Excuse me." A soft voice sounded next to her, startling Hermione out of her reading, she placed a bookmark and glanced up at the blonde girl, her hair fell in loose waves and shone with a pearly brilliance, she had cold dark eyes and she quickly noted the Slytherin uniform that she was wearing, behind her stood Pansy who seemed quite bored.
"Uhhh yes?" The Gryffindor Prefect was confused, why was a Slytherin talking to her.
"Are you going to be reading the book right there?" Daphne Greengrass pointed to the book that was in the middle of her pile. It was a book that she had been able to sneak out of the Restricted section, it was about Wizarding families that possessed certain powers within their bloodlines, she had been curious about when Will had revealed he was a Parseltongue and wondered if the rest of the Royal family had any specific powers that were in their blood.
”Well not at the moment but I will later...”
”When will this later be? If it’s not for a while then I would like to read it meanwhile.” Hermione frowned at Daphne.
”I just said that I was going to read it, you’ll have to wait like the rest of us do. Not everything in life is served to us on a silver platter you know.” She bit out the last part and was about to reopen the book she was reading when the blonde placed a hand on the table, her dark eyes pressing into her brown ones. Pansy’s lips were pressed together.
”So just because our parents are loaded we get everything we ask for?” Pansy’s voice was almost mocking.
”Sure as hell seems that way, if there’s something you’re all not happy about in the school you have the School Governor’s and even people high up in the Ministry on your side.”
”Just because we seem that way on the outside doesn’t mean it is behind closed doors.” Daphne hissed at her, her eyes hardened. “Why do you assume that we have everything served to us on a platter Granger? As far as I know, we’ve never talked up until now.”
”It’s all you’ve ever done since First Year-“
”Who? Me or other Slytherin’s?” Daphne interrupted.
“Are you just basing your stereotype of the Slytherin House from the way me, Draco, Crabbe, and Goyle treated you and your glorified band of Musketeers?” Pansy snorted and let out her iconic high-pitched giggle, her face suddenly not looking as pretty as Hermione had thought in the History of Magic classroom. She scrambled for a response.
”But you serotype Muggles and Muggle-Borns too, you treat us horribly and think of us less than human when we’re the same species.”
Daphne pursed her lips and nodded. “That is true but you do realize that you’re doing the same thing as well. You assigned me a stereotype based upon a small minority of Slytherin’s that you have actually interacted with in the past. You’ve assumed that I will be just like them when I am in fact not.
"My family doesn’t care much what your blood status is, we care more about the benefits allying ourselves with people will bring. If I wanted something I have to earn it and show that I deserved it, sure our parents like to give the appearance that we get anything we ask for but that’s more just a show for our wealth.”
”Maybe you should be asking more relevant questions, like why do most Purebloods look down on Muggles? Or more why the cycle continues?” Pansy took a seat opposite the Gryffindor, Daphne still chose to stand she had removed her hand from the table and now had then folded across her chest.
”Not all Purebloods look down on Muggles surely.” Pansy giggled again and shook her head.
”Maybe I should rephrase that question, let’s see... Why do Purebloods view or look at Muggles as if they’re another species? I never realized how isolated the Wizarding society is from the Muggle society, even those who do not believe in the ideologies of the other Purebloods. Let’s take Arthur Weasley for example, since he’s the father of one of your closest friends I’m sure that you’re well aquatinted with how fascinated he is with Muggles, but doesn’t his interest make it seem more like he also sees Muggles like they aren’t human either?”
Hermione reluctantly nodded, a small blush of guilt lightly covering her cheeks, “As much as I hate to admit it it’s true, we’re seen as a whole other species and that since we don’t have magic integrated into our lives we can’t do anything. When we actually we can do just as much but in different methods, and there is some stuff both societies can do that neither can.” Hermione ranted, her eyes sparkling as she began to talk about a subject she had never had the chance to talk about with others.
”It's true, Muggles are so much more than we give them the credit for, your technology had been advancing fast in the past Century has it not?” The blonde Slytherin asked.
”Yes, I’m quite confident that it won’t be long till we discover the Wizarding society, it can only stay hidden for so long.”
”My parents were thinking of starting a business in the Muggle world last summer and they came back home to talk about how advanced some of the Muggle technology is from the last time they went to the Muggle world ten years ago.”
”Science is advancing very quickly, I can barely keep up with my Muggle education anymore, it’s a shame that Hogwarts doesn’t give us the chance to have an education outside of the Wizarding World, it’s like a trap.” Her face scrunched up and she stared at the table her fists clenched.
“Hermione,” the girl looked up again to Pansy in surprise, “it’s fine if I call you that right? I-I just doesn’t feel right calling you by your last name..” The Slytherin Prefect trailed off, Hermione blinked again, sure that Pansy had apologised yesterday for her behaviour towards her and her friends for the past four years but at times she truly couldn’t believe it. It’s like she had a complete turnaround of her personality over the summer, she did notice her becoming quieter towards the end of the fourth year but at the time she was more focused on helping Harry complete his tasks, she picked on Neville and younger students less.
Though she still noticed some of her behaviour that was still there, she would slip up and say something antagonizing but then quickly walk off before they could even respond. And there were two times she had seen her acting out a mockery of students on the way between lessons, but she was improving and Hermione was impressed, it’s not easy to change who you are over such a small period of time. It took a lot of patience and perseverance, Pansy wasn’t perfect and still had her flaws but she did say she was trying, and if Hermione wanted to make the Wizarding world a better place for all she’d have to learn to forgive, she had to learn to take the first step to aid in creating a society that was better for all, it's not like she could really have much of a career still in the Muggle World now.
”Sure, you can call me that, as long as I can call you by yours.” Pansy smiled and hummed in agreement.
”I wanted to know what your thoughts are on why Purebloods hate Muggles so much.”
“What?” She was caught completely off guard, it was a rather broad question, she had a lot of thought but none that she had actually put together before for a conversation.
”What Pansy means is that she wants to know your opinion on how Purebloods hate Muggles and why it still continues.” Daphne had a small smirk on her stoic face, most likely in amusement.
She bit her lips and tapped a finger on the cover of a book. “Well my first thoughts would be on the Salem Witch trials and all the witch hunts, of course, Purebloods wanted to protect themselves the obvious solution was to hide from the Muggles, and because of what was done to them it’s only logical that they would hate them too.”
”That’s true and it’s a great start, but the hate was there well before the witch trials. Most wizards hated Muggles because they were a clear threat to the community, at the time Hogwarts was founded it was well known that Salazar Slytherin only wanted Purebloods to be accepted and that Half-Bloods and Muggle-borns shouldn’t be accepted. Why do you think that?”
”He thought they were unworthy right?”
Daphne tilted her hand in a ‘sort of’ motion. “You’re half right, history is known to be written by the victors after all, what isn’t known is that he wanted them to attend a separate school and that before they started school they should spend a year accustoming themselves to the Wizarding world.”
”That actually does make sense.” Daphne motioned for her to continue, “Muggles were less accepting of magic at the time so they should’ve spent some time getting them to know what the Wizarding world is like and that being a witch or wizard isn’t actually that bad. I think I would’ve liked that...” She muttered.
”It is, we have what from our birthday until September 1st. Muggles attend school from a young age don’t you?” The brunette nodded, “So between studying for school and then trying to figure out what the Wizarding world is like which you don’t even have the opportunity to do so until a professor comes to take you to Diagonal Alley it isn’t enough time to understand a whole new world that has suddenly been thrust onto you. A world where you don’t understand the politics, laws, history nothing!” She slammed her hands onto the table, her voice began to rise in volume, Daphne blushed heavily and removed her hands, and composed herself. Pansy laughed and Hermione let lose a small smirk.
”Looks like someone got too passionate.” Daphne glared at her fellow Housemate and rolled her eyes.
”Hermione what are you doing talking to them?!” Ron thrust his hands out at the two Slytherin’s his face red with barely contained anger.
The girl in question frowned at her two friends, “Ron this is a library, you’ve been attending this school for four years you should know to be quiet.” She sniffed and fixed him with a disappointed look. Ron fumbled over his words and Harry stepped forward his emerald eyes flashing.
”Then you should also know by now just who the Slytherin's follow in the footsteps of.” He bit out harshly, Hermione flinched tears beginning to fill up her eyes. Pansy frowned, she’d never fought with her friends before, the only times she could count as fights were when Cedella would constantly challenge the mindsets that they had last year. But she had never been this harsh, friends shouldn’t be like this just because they had opposing views.
”I’m fairly sure friends don’t talk to each other like this.” Pansy lazily gestured to the two Gryffindor’s.
”We weren’t talking to you, Parkinson. It’s none of your business butt out.”
”Then why are you still talking to me?” She raised an eyebrow at Ron who reddened further if it was even possible.
”It became our business when you talked to our friend with that attitude.” Daphne coldly spoke, her eyes digging into their souls.
”What? Hermione isn’t even friends with you lot.” Ron shook his head.
“Actually Ronald, they are my friends, and I would appreciate it if you didn’t speak to them like that.”
“How could you be friends with her after all the things she’s said to you? After she’s bullied you and humiliated you!” Harry growled out, on the edge of shouting.
”I know she did that! I know she did that to me and a lot of other students, I won’t forget what she’s done and but unlike you,” she stood from the table and jabbed a finger at him “I’m not going to hold her accountable for the actions that she’s committed in the past. She’s apologized and I know that an apology doesn’t hold a candle to what she’s made me feel in the past but her actions show that she really is sorry. She may not be perfect and still sometimes does stuff that she used to do but I can see that she’s trying and putting in an effort to become a better person. That’s more than enough for me. And since when did it become an issue with who I’m friends with, I have other friends that just aren’t the two of you.” By now Hermione was shouting, her bushy hair seemed to frizz and surround her face like a halo, fists clenched tight and held firmly at her sides, her cheeks burned red as she stood yelling in the faces of her two best friends. Ron and Harry stood there quite shocked, not able to utter a word, Hermione has never gotten this angry before, she'd usually retreat to the library (well she couldn't now because they were in the library) or go somewhere else with angry tears in her eyes. She was serious about what she was saying and there was no way in hell that her mind would even be changed.
Harry adjusted his glasses onto his nose, he didn't really believe that the Slytherin's were changing per say, Voldemort had arisen last year and all of a sudden the Darker House was quieter and more secluded, he didn't believe that it was a coincidence, he knew it wasn't. Most of their actions must be a trick, to draw away suspicion from them, so when Voldemort finally did show his pale face to public eyes they could quietly follow him without any fingers pointed their way, and Pansy was close to Draco, who's father was in Voldemort's close circle, he heard him that day in the Graveyard. He wouldn't trust them, he wouldn't believe them.
"Well don't come crying to us when they hurt you!" Ron stormed off to the doors of the library, his feet meeting with the floor in heavy clomps, the tips of his crimson ears were visible to anyone from a distance. Madam Pince's eyes watched Ron as he stomped past her, she turned her eyes back to the group, Harry gave Hermione a scowl and speed-walked to catch up with Ron.
"Don't run in the Library." Madam Pince said as he was about to pass her, he slowed down but dashed as soon as he reached the doors.
Madam Pince turned her attention back to the girls, she raised an eyebrow and crossed her arms, "Were they bothering you girls? I could hear you arguing from my desk."
"I-I'm sorry Madam Pin-" The Librarian cut off the Gryffindor's ramblings.
"It's ok dear, I agree with you, we do need to start making changes to the way we think if we want to win this war." With that, the Librarian vanished behind her a large bookshelf presumedly to return to her desk.
Daphne rose from the chair she was perched on and fluffed out her robes, her hand raised to delicately flick strands of her blonde hair over her shoulder. "Shall we go ladies? Break will be over soon and I don't intend to be late for our next lesson." Hermione frantically nodded, the two Slytherin's helped her to check out the books that she was planning to read later on that day.
"Ummm Daphne, here." Hermione placed a book into her hand."I probably won't get onto that book today so you can have it meanwhile." A shy smile arose on her face, her front teeth coming to nibble at her lips waiting for the blonde's response. She graciously took the book from her and fitted it into her bag, she turned back to face the brunette and gave her a thankful smile.
"Thank you, Hermione, I'll make sure to return it to you once I have finished reading."