For Hermione

[ferretface_git]

Over a year in Darrow, and Draco continued to resolutely avoid settling down, in any real way. He'd learned to exist on meager Muggle funds, subsidizing his lifestyle with magic, when possible. It perhaps wasn't the most moral of choices, but Draco had never particularly cared for those types of rules. He wasn't stealing money, but if he could magic a solution to problems for which Muggles might've only had their money to save them, he certainly wasn't going to hold back.

However, there was still one problem he'd yet to solve: Boredom.

It was a constant, creeping pit in his chest, this feeling of listless uselessness. This life without purpose or identity. He didn't even have any real rivalries anymore. He didn't even have any hatred to pour his energy into.

It was pathetic. It needed to stop.

That afternoon, he found himself at the Lamplight. Once, Granger was a bitter enemy, but on the island, she'd become a voice of reason. A person to speak to, when he needed advice. And the sad truth was, in this place, he didn't have anyone else to turn to.

Comments

[cleverness]

Ever since the strange disappearance of the Darrow natives for a few days, Hermione had redoubled her efforts to pull together the magic school she'd proposed to a number of her peers and closest friends. Even though she spent the majority of her time at the Lamplight, it wasn't with the same level of attentiveness as before. Bundled warmly in a soft jumper and scarves wrapped loosely over her shoulders, Hermione sat near the back of the shop with a few different sets of sheets — a floor plan for the buildings she was to construct, a checklist of materials, and names of people she had or was planning to contact to join in the effort.

When the poltergeist warned Hermione of a customer's entrance with a small, almost melodic squeak, she glanced up and stood next to the counter. Coincidentally, the man who stepped inside was one of the names high on her list of people to speak with.

"Mister Malfoy. Can I help you with something?" Hermione asked with a small smile, curious to know what had brought Malfoy to her doorstep.