Muggle primary and secondary schools let out at three in the afternoon, so the streets were full of students heading home.
Groups of children passed by them. Some students were picked up by their parents in private cars, though not the sort parked outside private schools—and besides, private schools had not let out yet.
Pomona could not help feeling moved by the sight.
"What are you thinking about?" Severus asked, watching the students as well.
"Do you remember that student who wanted to be sorted into Ravenclaw, Elena Duncan?" Pomona said. "She nearly entered the Potions Tournament with you."
"Why are you thinking about her?" Severus asked.
"I was thinking about the prisoner's dilemma," Pomona said.
"What?" He furrowed his brow in confusion.
"Elena told me she did not like Muggle schools. If something happened to her, everyone else would only secretly be happy that there was one less competitor. Do you know how hard those children work?" Pomona said.
"What does that have to do with the prisoner's dilemma?"
"If two accomplices both refuse to betray the other, then due to insufficient evidence, they both go to prison for a year. But if one betrays the other while the other remains silent, the one who informed is immediately released for meritorious service. If someone told the children at those private schools that they did not need to work so hard and should enjoy their childhoods instead, they would surely think that person had been kicked in the head by a donkey. If others do not work hard while you do, then you will surpass them and gain an advantage in the competition."
"Like Miss Know-It-All. I remember she even borrowed a Time-Turner," Severus said.
"I think Hermione was simply hungry for knowledge," Pomona said dryly.
"I do not think