blanket of cloud, the sky hovering; the winter is long and forgiving

Although the new year started much more eventfully than Hermione expected, there are reasons to be optimistic to be found among the chaos. Most of all, the fact that several individuals had gone around protecting people from the winter bees with abilities beyond those normally expected of a human, and none of them had been captured, none of them lambasted, none of them so far rooted out for being different. With the Ministry of Magic being a world away, Hermione finds herself wondering more and more if this is the place to try and breach the difference between those with abilities and those without. If transparency and time together can make it possible for people of all backgrounds to coexist peacefully, rather than with the suspicion and wars common in the past.

She hasn't figured out the best way to go about it yet, but it's always on the forefront of her mind, especially as she spends time at her store, taking stock and checking on inventory.

The small poltergeist, to whom Hermione hasn't yet given a name, gives a shriek of excitement as the door opens, wintry wind rushing through the store and driving a small shiver up Hermione's spine. Turning away from her shelves, Hermione smiles warmly, ready to welcome the person who's just stepped inside.

"Hello," she says, surprised to find a young girl. "Welcome to The Lamplight. Is there something I can help you find?"

set your mind at rest, let your dreams run free

After the new year's debacle, Hermione has been doing a great deal of thinking. More and more, as she hears about the history of Darrow and sees the troubles that it experiences, she's started to believe that the people of Darrow need to be better informed about threats out there, or at the very least, to have some knowledge of how one might possible fend similar threats in the future.

Most of all, given what she saw of the people who were trying to help in the chaos, Hermione knows that the magic of those who are capable needs to be cultivated. Needs to be nurtured, and trained. Even if it comes at the risk of people using their powers for selfish reasons, Hermione prefers to have faith in the nature of mankind, one that's generally well-intentioned, and worth arming with a good defense.

How she plans on going about it is another story, and probably needs to start small. Hermione's tutored peers in the past, but almost all of them had an upbringing mired in magic. She can't assume the same level of familiarity here, and certainly not a similar foundation of knowledge.

Which is why she texted Lafayette, asking if she could speak with him briefly at his apartment. Now that she's at his doorstep, of course, she feels slightly more nervous about the topic at hand. But, if nothing else, he seems like a sensible man with a good head on his shoulders, and a decent person with whom to start.

Taking a deep breath, she knocks smartly on his door, loosening the scarf wrapped warmly around her neck.