"Are nice words not what you're looking for?" Hermione asks, wincing slightly with her lack of surety. Is comparing the apartment to his fashion too much? Neither really seems to be indicative of his gender, as far as she's observed. She's always gotten the sense of Lafayette being a man, even if he doesn't dress in the same way as most of the men Hermione knows.

She folds her hands on her lap, pressing her lips thinly. With decent intentions, she's pretty sure Lafayette won't turn her out, and she smiles faintly when he returns with the mugs.

"I'll tell you why you should be sold on the idea of getting educated, Lafayette, and I'm not going to mince words. Regardless of whether or not you take what you learn and use it, the only way you'll have a choice in doing it is if you understand your powers and how to keep them under control. That's why schooling is mandatory, where I'm from. If left without guidance, a witch or wizard could easily perform deeds that they never meant for. Powers are volatile. Even if you never want to use them again, it's easier to avoid them once you've learned how."