the laws of the world tell us what goes sky

[cleverness]

For the past several weeks, calling Hermione a touch distracted at work would have been a generous description. While she still makes her way regularly to The Lamplight and keeps the same hours that she roughly has since its opening, much more of her time is spent behind the counter, sketching out potential courses and financial plans for opening up a school in Darrow. It's the type of work that keeps her energized in spite of the slight fatigue and nausea she's suffered from as of late, and it's a cause that she feels incredibly motivated by. If being in Darrow has taught her anything, it's the fact that learning is not something that ever ceases, no matter how much a person experiences.

She wouldn't have the world any other way.

Tapping a pen against her lower lip, Hermione jots down another couple names of people she's considering reaching out to for the school when the poltergeist suddenly lets out an excited chirp as a new customer enters the store.

Folding away her notebook, Hermione stands straight and smiles.

"Welcome to The Lamplight," she says, rounding the counter. "Is there anything I can help you with?"

Comments

[cleverness]

"It's unfamiliar, and it arguably gives the other person a distinct advantage in terms of power and ability. I wouldn't blame anyone for being uncomfortable with it, although I wish the response wouldn't be to meet any magic practitioners with anger and aggression," Hermione says with a slow nod. She understands that the world will never be completely composed of people as kind and accepting of differences as her own parents, but she still often wishes she could do more to sooth the frayed nerves of everyone involved.

"As those of us from outside spend longer in the city, though, I'm convinced that there will be more and more opportunities for us to learn from one another. Complete peace may be too high of a bar, but things aren't terrible here, and I do believe they can improve more still."

[notaretriever]

Luke is nodding his agreement, though he's not sure how someone might go about that. There are probably ways to communicate the desire to meet up and have gatherings with only the other people who have arrived from elsewhere, but he's not sure if there's an obvious way to do such a thing without drawing unwanted attention from others.

And it feels dishonest in a way, too. Luke is comfortable using misdirection where he needs to, but in general he prefers honesty.

"Do you have something in mind?" he asks curiously. It's possible she's only just talking about something she'd like to do in the future, but it's also entirely possible she has more than that on her mind.

[cleverness]

"You're perceptive," Hermione remarks with a smile, staring down into her cup and running her finger briefly along the edge of the saucer. There's no real reason not to let Luke in on her planning; the more people she can find in the city to help, the better. So she takes a small breath, reaching into her pocket for her wand, and Summons a few notebooks she's used for planning.

"I'm thinking about opening a school. I... hesitate to call it a magic school, because the term itself has various connotations in the different worlds that people come from, but the idea is to offer guidance and mentorship in subjects outside of the normal curriculum taught in public schools in Darrow. Age is no barrier, either. I just think that it would benefit us more than hurt us to spread some of this knowledge and share our skills; it would help us be more prepared for anything that the city might choose to throw our way. I haven't spoken to too many people about it yet, though. I'm still finding a proper location, and working on finding people willing to teach. People willing to learn, as well."

[notaretriever]

Luke nods as he listens and while it's perhaps not something he would have thought of on his own -- his ideas of a segregated school system like that remind him too much of the Institutes -- the way Hermione describes it sounds much more interesting. He would never consider himself an instructor by any means, not like Hodge, but he's spent a good portion of his life running a business and knows the intricacies of what happens behind the scenes.

"Well, I'm not a teacher," he says, "but if you were to need help on the organizational side of things, I would be happy to lend a hand. I also have a fair few contacts in this city already when it comes to magical weapons, things of that nature. I like to collect."

[cleverness]

"I'm fairly certain that I'm at the point where I could use any help that I can get," Hermione admits with a laugh, her expression hopeful as she meets Luke's gaze. Considering how briefly they've known one another, she can't help but feel a wash of gratitude over how much Luke is offering to her in this moment, with a level of sincerity that she can't even begin to doubt.

And that is, she thinks, the mark of a great friendship beginning.

"I would absolutely love to have you be a presence at the school, administrative or otherwise. I would be greatly in your debt, actually, and while I can't promise to pay you phenomenal wages, I can promise to help with your collection, at least. I have a knack for... running into things, shall we say."

[notaretriever]

Luke smiles at that and shakes his head. "I have the store, the money from the city, I'm not offering in hopes you'll be able to fund my extravagant lifestyle." He's teasing, of course, having long since settled into a routine that he can duplicate in Darrow with ease. He doesn't own anything of particular value with the exception of his weapons, he isn't interested in stylish clothing or furniture and in Manhattan, he'd had his truck for over ten years.

When he finally settles on something here, he imagines it will be much of the same. As long as it runs, Luke will be perfectly happy to drive it.

"I think I'll very much like working with you," he admits.

[cleverness]

"Still. I know how much of a sacrifice it can be to take up a career that isn't as lucrative," Hermione says, though her smile widens upon realizing that it isn't going to be a concern for Luke. It hasn't been a concern with most of her close friends, Hermione knows, and she's grateful for it — for people who pull their share where the work is needed, rather than where they can reap the most gains.

"I think I'll very much enjoy working with you as well, Luke. I'm so glad that you stopped by today."

[notaretriever]

"I am as well," he answers with a smile and he's not at all surprised he likes Hermione as much as he does, not with what he's heard of her from Ron. And certainly not with what he knows of Ron. He had been certain even before they'd met that he would like her, but he's pleased to know for certain now.

"Here," he says, digging a card out of his pocket. It's an old one for his store in Manhattan, but he writes his new Darrow number on the back and passes it over to her. "You can get in touch with me any time about this. I'd be happy to help in whatever way I can."