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

[ferretface_git]

"I deal with people I don't particularly respect or enjoy everyday, so, it shouldn't be much of a change," he said, a wry smile curling his lips.

As much as he'd loath to admit it, he understood her concern. It was a great show of trust, that she even thought he'd be qualified to deal with students, without infecting them with his Death Eater rhetoric.

[cleverness]

"And it would seem like I've managed to work my way out of one of those groups, at least," Hermione remarked, smirking faintly as she sat straight again. In a strange way, it was gratifying to be a source of trust now in spite of their rocky background. Hermione wasn't sure if Ron or Harry would ever share quite that level of sentiment, but to Hermione, after the war, there had been nothing quite as important as making sure differences could be set aside and the path towards peace paved well.

"I still have a long way to go before the school is likely to open. If you're feeling open to administrative work, I could use help in figure out how to organize all of this, finding spaces that work for the subjects that we teach, reaching out to other potential professors. But if you only want to teach the course itself, I'd also understand."

[ferretface_git]

"I'm not sure I'm the administrative type," Draco drawled. He did take a certain pleasure in dolling out orders to subordinates, but that wasn't likely what she'd had in mind.

"I suppose I can keep an eye out for interested parties. I do know of at least one potential student."

[cleverness]

It wasn't too surprising to hear that Malfoy had made at least one friend of magical background in Darrow, although Hermione couldn't even begin to guess at what kind of person that might be. Someone capable, Hermione thought. Maybe someone who wasn't eager to blend in and assimilate with all of non-magical society.

Maybe she was many too many assumptions based on the Malfoy she knew from home.

"Oh? Care to tell me more about this person?" Hermione asked, leaning forward in interest.

[ferretface_git]

"Agatha Prenderghast. I think you might have met her. Or your other half has, at least," Draco said, arching a brow, "She's young. Twelve, thirteen, I don't know, but she has a great deal of power, but she's still learning how to control it."

A great deal of very dangerous power, but they both had plenty of experience with that.