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Ok, great. I'll meet you there shortly.

I'll see you soon!

[ And she means it, too; a few moments later Hermione has popped into existence right where she had dropped her friend off last time, not stumbling, just appearing, a soft smile on her lips as she waits. ]

[Hermione definitely apparates faster than Verity walks, but she gets there a few minutes later, looking around as if to verify she is where she thinks she should be. Which is made obvious by the fact that Hermione is already there.]

Oh, good. This is right. Sorry, I'm still figuring out how to get around. The buildings here are different from what I'm used to.

[ She just smiles, stepping forward and making sure Verity sees her, not at all put off. ]

It takes a little while to get used to. [ Hermione holds out her hand. ] Ready to head back?

Yeah, it does. But now I know there's a coffee place here, which I really didn't expect.

[Wandering around is educational at least. She's enjoyed the time she's spent at the University.]

And yeah, I'm ready. [She accepts Hermione's hand.] Thanks.

It's a very strange mixture of medieval and modern, it's true. It's a little like home.

[ It's with a quick pop and the slight feeling of nausea that Hermione brings them back to Caer Glaem, letting her hand fall away slowly once she's sure Verity has landed alright. ]

You're very welcome.

[She takes a moment to let the queasiness pass before she speaks again, addressing Hermione's comment about home.]

Your home must be interesting. I've never been to a university quite like that one, but I liked it.

[It was probably one of the more enjoyable experiences she's had since arriving. She takes out her notes to make sure they're all in order.]

I went to school in a magical castle - all of this is a little too familiar for me, sometimes.

[ Hermione nods towards a little seating area in the garden - that's why she had brought them here, after all - and she smiles. ]

Was the studying fun?

A magical castle...huh.

[She's pretty sure she knew some people who wished for something like that in elementary and middle school. That's kind of weird to think about.

She takes a seat and nods in response to Hermione's question, smiling faintly herself.]

It was interesting. I've never been able to study anything like this before.

With staircases that used to move around when you were climbing them. You have no idea how frustrating it was trying to get to lessons sometimes.

[ Her lips twitch and she shakes her head before she makes herself comfortable, sitting up. ]

Then we'll have to see if we can get you some lessons, won't we?

You know...that sounds a lot like a series of books and movies some friends of mine were into when I was a kid.

[Or, more accurately, classmates and acquaintances, since making friends can be hard when you're a child who can't really play pretend. She perks up a bit more when Hermione mentions lessons, though.]

Oh yeah? I actually had some questions I wanted to ask you about that kind of thing, if you wouldn't mind.

Really? It wouldn't surprise me if some things about Hogwarts and magic were written into books, especially if it was done by wizards to make some money.

[ Lessons make them both perk up a little and she grins, leaning forward. ]

Of course! Ask whatever you'd like, I'll do what I can to help.

...Oh. Huh.

[She can't help but have a moment of kind of blank surprise at the possibility of some of the stuff in the Harry Potter books being true in some way. If that's the case she can't help but wonder if she could have read them. It's hard to say. A lot of things seem possible here that aren't back home.

She's curious and tempted to ask more about Hermione's home, but decides that might seem a little intrusive when they haven't known each other long. Maybe she can ask more about it another time.

She blinks and shakes her head a little, trying to focus on the questions she wanted to ask.]

Okay, thanks. I wanted to ask about shard activation. How do you activate it? And...uh...what happens when you do?

[She is particularly worried about the second question, since she's been told talents you already have can become stronger here, and she's not sure how she feels about her lie detection ability getting stronger.]

[ Stranger things have happened to Hermione in the Drabwurld, and she's learned, despite some of her skepticism, that she can take some things in stride and shrug them off, learning to adapt and keep her head above water, so to speak. It's what enabled her to grow so high in the Seelie ranks, just as much as it had enabled her to help as many friends as she possibly can.

Sitting up a little more, Hermione relaxes. Shard questions are something she is more than comfortable with, and this won't be the first time she's offered instructions on how to use and activate them. ]

The way I learned is incredibly simple. Our shards are strong because of our connection to our home worlds, the places we come from, and it's by remembering our homes that we can unlock their power. For me, it's memories of my friends and the people I love, strong, happy memories, that helped open it the first time. Once your shard is activated, it takes a little while to be able to use it properly, but when you do...

[ She tilts her head, thinking of the words. ]

You're faster, a little stronger and any powers you have from your home get enhanced. The power of the shards is incredible, and you can use it to manipulate this world itself if you get strong enough, but that takes a few months and some good lessons to achieve.

[Verity nods a little as Hermione speaks. She understands the link between shards and worlds better now thanks to her visit to the University, so everything Hermione is saying about how shards are activated makes sense.]

Yeah, the dissertation talked a little about that. It's interesting. I'm glad I was understanding it correctly.

[She can't help but frown a little at the rest of what Hermione says. Being faster and stronger could be useful, sure, but she's worried about the possibility of her power from home becoming more difficult to deal with.]

But...what if I have a power I don't want enhanced?

Shard magic wasn't really common knowledge until I'd been in the Drabwurld a few months - it's good that newcomers are getting to learn about it at a far faster rate than we were allowed not too long ago.

[ Pausing, Hermione shifts, settling back in her chair as she considers. She had always appreciated the fact that her powers were made a little stronger in the wake of her shard use, but she has magic that she's comfortable with. If people had powers they weren't...

She hums, crossing her arms. ]

There must be a way to stop it.

--Oh. I didn't realize the knowledge was so new.

[She'd heard the war spoken about in terms of thousands of years. Generations. She had assumed knowledge of shards was old, too.

And she's a little relieved when Hermione says there must be a way to avoid some abilities becoming more powerful. Even if her wording indicates she doesn't necessarily know how she does seem certain that there should be a way.]

If there's a way around...uh...certain enhancements, that would be helpful. I've heard that activating my shard is important, but I've been kind of hesitant.

Some aspects of it are! A lot of people learned how to use their shards a few years ago, now, but beyond activating it? Studying that sort of power has been a slow process. Histories are incredible, of course, but there's no real instruction on how to do it.

[ Knowledge of shards is an old and ancient thing, but for all the people Hermione knew... It wasn't that easy. She sighs, shaking her head before she sits up a little and pauses to consider, trying to brainstorm. ]

There must be some way of doing it. If nothing else, it might be something to ask the queen about.

[ Either that or take a trip into the restricted section... ]

I can look into it for you.

[She nods again. It seems like there is some information that's just hard to find in this world. It's probably not surprising that instructions about shard activation is elusive.]

I guess that makes sense.

[She tilts her head a little when Hermione offers to look into things for her.]

You...don't mind?

[She appreciates it, but it also seems like a lot to ask someone.]

[ The surprise doesn't shock Hermione; sometimes, when she offers to help people, the people in question seem beyond confused that someone wants to help for the sake of helping. ]

There must be something we can do - otherwise other shardbearers with powers that could be dangerous or hurt them would never have been able to use that power. It wouldn't make sense for it to be that limiting when we can manipulate the world with the power itself.

[ She considers, though, thoughtful. ]

It gives me something new to study, too.

Okay, you make a good point. So, yeah, I'd appreciate the help.

[She pauses as something else occurs to her.]

Do I have to activate my shard before I start learning, um...useful skills?

[She's talking about things like magic, it just still feels weird to talk about herself actually learning magic.]

Of course. I'll do what I can.

[ Hermione turns back and tilts her head before she shakes it in the negative. ]

No, no. Being here means you can learn all kinds of magic even without shard activation.

[That honestly surprises her. It seemed like being able to do things like that without activating her shard might be too much to ask, somehow.]

Really? That's incredible.

We were brought to a world with magic, and we can use that magic. There's native runes, or anything that other shardholders can teach you. Sadly, what can't be taught anymore is fire magic - since the Pyrii died it's no longer avaliable unless we knew it at home and use our shards.

I guess I'll have to start looking into it, then. I...really have no idea what kind of magic I might be good at.

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