The first lift that opened was empty to Hermione's relief. She really wasn't in the mood to make inane chitchat with people she hated and cared nothing about. Not for the first time since her return she lamented the fact that she had to be somewhat social to keep her cover up. It was much easier when she was on the run and didn't have to talk to anyone at all. She missed those days. No one was present in the corridor outside of the Department of Mysteries. Her path to the staircase that led to the courtrooms and the dusty file room on Level Ten was unimpeded.