Gryffindor Common Room. Open.
Any Gryffindor could easily spot Hermione in the common room this evening. She was studying so hard, it might have looked like her head was going to pop off.
Despite her claims of "not caring" about the grades anymore, Hermione still recognized that all of this information would be imperative for the NEWTs. So, instead of just giving up hope, she decided to strive for the good grade anyway, although she knew deep inside that she couldn't ever meet the standards of the biased Headmistress, because she wouldn't be allowed to. It stung.
Despite her claims of "not caring" about the grades anymore, Hermione still recognized that all of this information would be imperative for the NEWTs. So, instead of just giving up hope, she decided to strive for the good grade anyway, although she knew deep inside that she couldn't ever meet the standards of the biased Headmistress, because she wouldn't be allowed to. It stung.