An Act of Charity

“Gentlemen,” Severus said coldly, “you’ve let yourself become bested by a woman. At last year's exams, each and every one of you lost to a mere girl. This, gentlemen, is below the bar.”
The seventh year boys looked stunned, some of them reddening with mortification, while whispers and snickers raced through the room. All eyes landed on the girl in question, the only witch of age in the school. Some looked at her with alarmingly appraising eyes - and Severus vowed that he’d keep an eye on her conduct - while others looked at her with seething envy and anger.
Victorian England wasn’t merciful to the poor, and the Wizarding world even less so. Facing a bleak future as a governess, Hermione knew that her only other suitable option after Hogwarts was to marry, obeying a husband for the rest of her life.
Either way, as a Muggleborn orphan her chances were slim, because she was worth no more than chattel in the eyes of society. Whatever happened, she was obliged to be grateful.