Date: February 1993

"Are you kidding me?!" Gazes were drawn from the smattering of students who were studying in the Great Hall, particularly from the gathering of fifths years that were all seated together. The group included members from every house, and each day they rotated between which house's table they studied at. Today they had chosen the Hufflepuff table, which is where Julia Summers was now storming over to in all her unbridled fury.

"Um... are you alright, Jules?" Avani Kane asked hesitantly as Julia sat down between her and Liam with a huff.

"I just came back from my career meeting with Professors McGonagall and Flitwick," she grumbled.

"Oh," Eloise piped up from where she was working on history notes with Isaac. "You finally found out?"

Daisy leaned forward across the table and spoke in a loud whisper. "What did she found out? Is it something bad?"

"Yes!" Juila threw her arms up in outrage. "Did you know there's only, like, five career options in the magical world! Teaching, healing, running a small business, working at the Ministry of Magic, or getting my limbs blown off for the greater good?"

Everyone stared at her in shock. While she was known to be outspoken, never had they seen her this upset.

"I mean... when you put it that way," Leighton Kent shrugged in agreement. "I've never thought of it that way."

"To be fair, we're purebloods," Gryffindor Austin Narro pointed out. "I suppose it's more normal for us."

Daisy looked at her friends with wide eyes. "That can't really be all that's available for us?"

Leighton furrowed his eyebrows in thought. "There are some mastery courses you can apprentice in, or you can join some institutions in an interning position. I know Gringotts gains some of its researchers and retrieval teams that way."

Eloise sighed as she finally put down her pen and gave her full attention to the conversation. "Yes, but those positions usually go to purebloods or halfbloods who have knowledge in the magical world. Real knowledge. Like for Gringotts, you'd have to know more history than the drivel Binns pretends to teach about to Goblin Wars."

"Britain does have one of the highest rates of muggleborns leaving the magical world upon the end of their education," Austin offered, his voice quieting with every word.

There was a heavy silence that settled as the realization of what the black haired girl was saying sank in. "They're setting us up to fail from the start," Julia summarized bluntly, looking to the purebloods at the table for confirmation. When they nodded, her resolve only hardened. "Alright then, I guess us muggle-raised need to be brought up to speed. Will you help us?"

Looks were exchanged as her friends came to a decision. "Helping stick it to the Ministry?" Avani finally said with a smirk. "You don't have to ask us twice. Where do you want to start?"