Harry had thrown himself completely into studying Hatred Magic, while Hermione went to Cabin to find Hannah and Anna, hoping to join the Navigators.
She had been lost for some time, unsure how to gain the ability to "control" magic that Anton had described.
At last, she went to Professor McGonagall, hoping the great witch could give her an answer.
When she arrived at the Headmaster's office, Ron's father, Mr. Arthur Weasley, happened to be there too.
Mr. Weasley gave her an answer.
"Relax and let everything come naturally. If thinking alone can't bring you an answer, then your past experience may not be enough to help you make a judgment. Perhaps you should take action."
"Go and do what you want to do. Time will give you the answer."
Professor McGonagall clearly agreed with him and pointed Hermione in the right direction.
There were two options.
Professor Dumbledore's Magical Research Institute, or Anton's Navigator organization.
Whatever direction Miss Granger chose to take in life, getting involved with either of these two paths while she was still a student would be an excellent credential.
Hermione ultimately chose the Navigators.
The reason was simple.
After she stopped blindly treating Harry's hatred as her own, reason took over, and she clearly saw how poorly equipped she was to protect herself from danger.
In short, if she fully joined the Order of the Phoenix, her parents and family would constantly be at risk of harm from Voldemort and the Death Eaters.
It was a very real problem.
She had neither the right nor the means to stand against Voldemort.
Unless she became a powerful witch herself.
Everyone had their own path to walk. She wasn't Harry Potter's follower, nor was she his leader. She was simply herself.
She had no obligation to keep