nebulochaotic | video;

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( The video opens on a girl in her late teens, dressed in a long-sleeved peasant top in spite of the heat, holding her head high as though trying to prove something to someone. In fact, she's trying to prove to herself that she can adapt in spite of the absolutely mad load of drivel fed to her back at the government building. She feels naked without her wand, even if she's been told she can do magic without it now — she hasn't tested it, not surrounded by all these Muggles, she certainly hasn't done — and learning that she's just over twenty years in the future without the use of a proper Time-Turner and in America, no less, Hermione's reasonably uncomfortable. She just...is trying to tell herself that she isn't.

With a quick clearing of her throat meant less to actually clear her throat and more to force herself to speak given that's generally a self-induced prompt to do so, Hermione offers a small smile into the camera and begins to speak, her English accent clear and crisp and dignified. )

I apologize if I'm not doing this right, erm, but I wondered...I don't suppose anyone knows whether there's a bank nearby that'll exchange foreign currency?

( Not that she's got much on her that she reckons anyone will be able to changeover unless she can find herself a wizarding community somewhere nearby.
Doing that without knowing anyone to show her the way, though, is bloody unlikely and most of what she's carrying around in her little beaded bag charmed to be exponentially bigger on the inside is wizarding currency. Galleons, mostly; a few sickles and a few more knuts.

Fat lot of good it'll do her here, but she doesn't like the idea of having to start off with no money at all and after the war, she's hardly keen to put herself on some registration she knows nothing about just to receive money she hasn't earned. What she's got in pounds and quid will have to tide her over until her first paycheck at the new job she's been given. One which, as if by some cruel twist of fate, is at a dentist's office. )

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[Radar's clearly at work, there's a horse in the background trying to eat his hat, so he has to keep ducking his head to stop it]

Uh, hi there, I'm Radar. I found a place that managed to swap out all my military scrip even though it was seventy years out of date so I bet they could help, I can send you the address?

( In spite of her generally unhappy mood, she can't help the small tug of a smile on her face at the horse in the background and the way the man calling himself Radar has to keep ducking away. It's a bit of probably unintended levity that Hermione honestly really needed just now. )

That would be really great, thank you, Radar. I'm Hermione and I would really appreciate that.

Well it's real nice to meet you Her- would you cut that out? [He gives the horse a reproachful look and moves away a little] Hermione. Or... not meet you, I guess, since we're not in the same place, but- well you know what I mean.

I'll send you the address now, I hope they can help you out!

[He sends a text message with an address]

( Another small smile tugs up the corners of her mouth at the man's interaction with the animal. Clearly, it wants his attention and she's interrupting that. )

Yeah, I know what you mean. Likewise. And thank you. This is really helpful.

[ There’s something about the girl’s look that catches Allison’s attention. Mainly because she knows that set of her jaw, because she does the exact same thing and she has an idea of the uncertainty she’s feeling if she just arrived. ]

You did it just fine.

I’m not sure, but I can help you find one?

Hi, there. I’m Allison.

Hi Allison. I'm Hermione.

( She gives what she hopes is a sincere looking smile in spite of the fact that she doesn't much feel like smiling at the mo. )

That would be really helpful, actually. If you wouldn't mind.

Welcome, Hermione.

[ She smiles reassuringly, already reaching for something off camera. ]

Not at all. Where are you? I can head over to meet you, we can go from there.

Thank you.

( Somewhere along the way, Hermione picked up a hypersensitivity to small movements and quiet sounds. She supposes there still hangs onto her a level of paranoia that she'd developed while she, Ron, and Harry had been in hiding from the Ministry. It started out as a defense mechanism and grew into something she can't quite shake, even though she's presumably safe.

So it isn't lost on her that Allison is reaching for something off-screen and Hermione stiffens slightly, her own return smile a little tighter than she'd have liked.

You're being stupid, she tells herself and the smile softens into something almost sincere. )

They've just dropped me off at the government housing, I guess.

[ There's the faint jingle of her keys, and the sound of her drawer closing as she grabs a spare t-shirt for her in case she wants to change. After all, wearing a long sleeve in Florida is not exactly ideal, but it's not like the welcoming committee always thinks about those things.]

Sounds good, I'll be right out. Give me a minute, yeah? See you in a bit.

[ The connection ends as she stands so that she can walk over to the entrance to meet up with her. ]

Sure.

( Hermione gives a small smile before the feed disconnects and then she makes her way up the small flight of stairs leading from the sidewalk to the door that she supposes leads to the lobby. Not having her wand on her makes the idea of meeting a new person in person mildly terrifying but she has to tell herself, again, that she's being a bit stupid. No one here has any real reason to want to hurt her, anyway. And, besides, they said she has wandless magic, so...she's not completely defenseless, is she?

Hermione moves into the building a little uncertainly, testing the wandless magic as surreptitiously as she can by reaching to push the door open but not actually touching it to make it open. As soon as it starts to, though, that's enough to satisfy her curiosity for now and she puts both hands on the bar to recreate the illusion that she's pushed it open herself.

Seeing a dark-haired girl emerge from the lift much further into the building, Hermione perks up slightly and calls out a little uncertainly. )

Allison?

Edited 2020-08-24 16:07 (UTC)

"Hey," Allison responds with a smile and a small wave with her free hand. She hadn't brought a bag, just the t-shirt and two water bottles that she's holding in her other hand. She tends to pack light whenever she goes out of the apartment, her keys and small wallet tucked in her pockets. All in all, by now, Allison looks comfortable enough in her new environment and no longer feels or looks like a fish out of water. Being here, after being in Alpha, had been a bit of an adjustment and while she'd be lying if she said that she's not still expecting this to be some sort of simulation, she's letting herself enjoying it nonetheless.

"Welcome, Hermione," she greets once she's closer to her. She remembers the first day and how thrown off she had been, so she's definitely sympathetic to however Hermione might be feeling after landing here.

"Do you want to drop off anything at your apartment before we head out?" She offers the shirt she had brought, along with one of the water bottles. "You don't have to use them if you don't want to, but I brought this just in case you want to change out of that long-sleeve. And, in case you get thirsty. It gets pretty warm around here, so...just wanted to give you an option in case you want it."

Hermione's eyes take in the water bottles gratefully, but the t-shirt isn't lost on her. She's already trying to formulate an excuse for not taking it if Allison offers it. The last thing she wants is to be showing off the ugly scarred scrawl of MUDBLOOD on her arm. It's bad enough that it's there at all, but letting other people see it feels mortifying to even think about.

"Thank you," she says and then shakes her head, shrugging slightly as she crosses her arms to hug herself self-consciously. A movement she has to almost immediately reverse to take the offered water bottle. "Thank you. I'm all right. It's not so bad," she says even though it's a filthy lie. It's hot out, sure, but what's worse is the sticky humidity making the hair at the nape of her neck already damp with sweat and curl against the back of her neck beneath her ponytail. "That was nice of you, though, I appreciate it," she says sincerely. She does. If she weren't so embarrassed, she'd take the other girl up on it.

Clearing her throat slightly, Hermione looks back down at the t-shirt the other girl is still holding because Hermione hasn't taken it yet. "Did you want to take it back to yours before we go? I don't want to make you carry it around..." she offers awkwardly.

Allison is observant enough to notice the way that she hugs herself, but she's also careful to not show that she caught onto that little detail.

"It's no problem," she assures her. At her question, she shakes her head like it's really not a big deal.

"Nah, I can just put it in my mailbox and pick it up on the way back." It's not necessarily quick thinking, Allison had considered that maybe Hermione wouldn't feel comfortable borrowing a stranger's clothes, so she had already figured out a solution for it.

As they walk towards the front gate, she glances over at her. "Other than the bank, do you want to stop by anywhere else?"

Smiling a little, Hermione nods. "Oh, right, that's a good idea," she acknowledges. Maybe she'd have thought of something like that as an option, too, if she were here long enough to have settled in and gotten to know about the place she's temporarily living now, but she hasn't been, yet. Hermione hasn't even gone to her new flat, yet, though she will once she's converted the money. She might as well if there's a bank that offers it since she's probably going to be waiting a bit for a first paycheck at the new job.

She's relieved when Allison seems to think little of Hermione's refusal of the shirt and hopes that it's because the other girl just assumes Hermione's uncomfortable at the idea of wearing someone else's things. She makes a mental note that she'll have to go shopping for some new things to wear as soon as possible. Merlin, she might actually have to take that other fellow up on his suggestion to sell her wizarding coins, Muggles or not, because she's fairly certain she hasn't got enough British money on her to convert to US Dollars sufficient to eat and buy new clothes before she gets paid. It makes her wish, only fleetingly, that she trusted the idea of registration for the stipend alone.

"No, I don't think so. At least, not just now," Hermione replies as they move toward the front gate and then out of it again. "I haven't got much to convert and I'm not registered. I dunno if I'm planning to be, either, so I've got to make what I've got last until they pay me at the new job and I don't even start that until tomorrow," she confesses with a little shrug. She's already thinking of ways to make her magic help her out in the meantime. She might not be able to duplicate money — perhaps she could, but she reckons that's almost definitely against the law and she's not going to try — she can use magic to keep her clothes clean each day until she can buy more and she can use it to make whatever food she buys large enough to portion it into more meals than it normally would do. She'll manage.

"I appreciate you offering to help me out. I'm sure I'm hardly the only one who needed a bit of help upon arrival, but I've never been to America, so I wasn't even completely sure a bank would do the conversion as they would do in the UK," she explains almost sheepishly, tucking a few stray curls that have freed themselves from her ponytail behind her ears.

She nods in understanding as they walk. Allison herself has gone back and forth so much regarding the registration, that she ends up making herself confused. She has had the benefit of at least having Lydia, and even Scott and Isaac around after her arrival in case she ever needed anything, though, so not registering hasn't been an issue. Even back in Alpha, she had never shown up without having someone to turn to, so she definitely feels for Hermione if she's alone here.

"It's really not a problem," she assures her with a small smile. "It's a big shock, all of it. This is my second 'trip' to a place away from home, and I'm still not used to it, so...I get it."

Before they cross the front gate, Allison opens the mailbox for her and Lydia's apartment, and after putting the t-shirt in there she leads Hermione in the direction of where the bank is. She's not sure if they'll be able to do what Hermione needs, but it doesn't hurt to try.

"I'm also not registered," she shares. "I've been here for a few weeks, though, and it's not so bad once you get into the groove of things. The people that get pulled from the portal have all been pretty great. And everyone else from the city, for the most part they're all very friendly. Apparently we're famous, so I guess that has something to do with it..."

She hardly lets herself think about that, because it's still odd to her that they're famous. It makes her uncomfortable.

That makes Hermione's eyebrows lift. The idea of it seems completely mad, but then again, so is the idea that Hermione is here right now, too, so maybe it's not completely ludicrous after all. "I understand time...but completely different worlds? I just can't wrap my head 'round it," she confesses, feeling a bit stupid not for the first time today. Her welcome packet is still in hand and it almost feels like it burns in her grasp, as though it's aware it's being talked about or something. Hermione knows that's in her head, but still.

As they walk and the other woman shares that she's still unregistered in spite of the fact that she's been here a bit longer than Hermione, Hermione feels herself relax just a little. "They haven't tried to make you?" she asks, just the slightest bit of wariness creeping into her words. She's hoping that there hasn't been pushback, of course, because it means that she won't receive any, but she's a little doubtful in that vein.

Her nose wrinkles a little with confusion at the mention of fame. "We are?" she asks, balking slightly as she looks for confirmation that she's understood correctly. "For what? Just...showing up?"

[ Well.

This is awkward.

Because Hermoine Granger sure as hell wasn't Max's childhood fictional crush or anything. Not like she was literally the smartest wizard at Hogwarts and is the only reason why Harry or Ron survived — every, single, year.

Now, Max has literally grown up since that was all true, but it doesn't make literally hearing her voice — which, honestly, was permanently assigned to be Emma Watson's voice since Max saw the first movie and Emma's portrayal of Hermoine was PERFECT — any easier to hear.

When he finally pops up on video, his cheeks are a little red, just enough to make one wonder if he's blushing, but not enough to confirm that it's definitely happening. ]

I think other people have already helped you with this, but in case you do need someone to contact, I didn't have this exact problem, but there is someone I went to for something else that was also inter-dimensional, and she was a big help.

( For a moment, Hermione just looks back at the man and her brow creases as she replays his comment in her head, trying to parse it and thinking perhaps she'd missed something, but no. No, she just...can't quite figure out what he's actually saying. Is he offering to help her or offering to defer her to someone else to help her and is he talking about this issue or a hypothetical subsequent one? )

Sorry...it's been a really long day, but erm...what?

Uhhhh.

[ Errrrrr ... Was that too much too fast? ]

There's a woman I could send you to, if you still need help. She was able to help me with these kinds of questions when I first got here.

[ If Hermoine Granger can't understand what you're saying, it's definitely your fault and not hers. ]

( Nodding, Hermione looks a little less confused. That makes more sense. )

Oh, right. Thank you. I think I'm all right for now, but if I need it, I'll reach out. Erm, but I didn't get your name?

Oh!

[ Max smiles awkwardly, a small dimple showing up on his face as he does. ]

I'm Max. It's really nice to meet you.

( Hermione returns the smile. )

It's nice to meet you, too, Max. Thank you again. Have you been here a while, then...?

[ He scrunches up his face a bit, in an expression that's says "Awww nooo" more than anything else. ]

A month maybe. Maybe working toward two? It all still feels pretty new to me, but I have been getting to know people, and trying to figure out what my life is like here.

What've you come up with so far?

( Maybe it's just easier to shift the conversation in his direction because it'll give her something to focus on which is not also how completely lost she feels here as of right now. )

You might sell it to the locals. I'm sure there's one of those fans out there with a wild kink for useless artifacts from different worlds. Best not to ask questions beyond that.

[ He snorts at the thought. As if the overarching government here wasn't bad enough, he has no doubt there are some freaky people in this place. ] I'm sure you'll rock their world.

( Her eyebrows lift with interest, but Hermione still looks a little confused. )

...they're just British pounds, though... You really reckon I could get a local to buy money they can't even spend here...?

( And she's not sure she understands the latter comment, but Hermione feels a bit stupid asking, so she...doesn't. )

Well, we're the exciting and shiny new kids round here, and all those delightful little plebs would be drooling over the idea they might get some merch from another world.

[ He snorts at the idea. There could really be a market for something like that here, and it's a pity he didn't have more on him he could sell. ]

They'll probably frame it and hang it on the wall of their bathroom or something. Call it modern art and move on with their happy little lives.

( Hermione can't actually tell whether he's just taking the piss or if he really believes that someone would buy her foreign money because it's hers. If that's the case, she might be able to get rid of the wizarding coins after all...only would she have to tell them what they were buying? She reckons probably she ought to and that's no good. )

Yeah?

( She worries at her bottom lip slightly with her teeth. )

I'll have to have a think on it. Thank you.

[The moment Sirius sees the video he feels that this girl, whoever she is, is a bit more shaken than she's letting on. Her posture is stiff in the way people sit when they're in potentially threatening territory, and her voice is quite even for someone who just got pulled into a different dimension. Maybe she's like Allison though, where this isn't the first time this has happened to her, but the look in her eye makes him feel that isn't the case. He's not certain though, and for that he's a little impressed by her. If she's putting on a brave face, she's quite good at it.]

Bit unfair that you got to come over with money, but I suppose I won't hold it against you. [He offers a charming smile but it's toned down a bit, if only because she looks like she's a little to close to being overwhelmed.]

I wish I could be more helpful but I'm afraid I don't know about any currency exchanges around here. I couldn't help but pop in and say hi to the first person I've found who also sounds like she's been dragged to America, as opposed to simply being from it.

( Hermione's brow creases and her eyes narrow slightly as she leans a little closer to the image projected onto her forearm like she's trying to see better. He looks familiar — really familiar — but she can't quite place him. )

If it makes you feel any better, it isn't all that much, really.

( At least not the money she's comfortable letting the Muggles at the bank see. )

Allison is going to show me a place that will hopefully be able to convert it, in any case.

( A small smile pulls on her lips and she tucks a few strands of hair that have slipped from her ponytail behind an ear. )

Is it really just the two of us from across the pond? Have you been here very long?

Ah, you've met Allison then! Good. She's a delightful woman, isn't she? And it does make me feel better, in fact. [He gives a firm nod with a pleased face.] As long as we're all destitute I'm happy, my only goal is to make sure we all suffer the same amount.

[He smile is warm and shows that he's joking, but it fades in a sigh and a roll of his eyes at her question.]

I'm afraid we are. At least from who I've met, but I certainly haven't met everyone yet. I'm fairly new myself, been here for perhaps... oh, I don't know. [He looks up for a moment in thought.] Maybe two weeks? Little more, little less. Certainly not enough time to know what in Merlin's name is going on, I can assure you that.

[He's not being very comforting, he realizes, and he offers another smile, this time a little apologetic.] I really am no help, am I? If it makes you feel better, everyone here has been wonderful. Truly, I -

[Sirius gestures to himself with a dramatic little scoff.] I'm here out of the bloody eighties and I have no idea what anything is in this world, but people have been jumping at the change to help me. A stranger. I'm just saying, you're in good company. We're all a little community here, I'm learning. We take care of our own, you're included in that.

That and everyone is lovely. Not lovely as in kind like I was saying, but genuinely, everyone is gorgeous on some degree. It would almost be intimidating if I wasn't... well. [He waves his hand to finish the thought, as if saying 'if I wasn't absolutely stunning myself' isn't necessary and just implied.] It certainly isn't the worst place to wake up in.

Edited (when i die it will be because I didn't properly close my '/continue life' code. ) 2020-08-28 00:29 (UTC)

She seems nice, yeah.

( To that, Hermione does give a sincere smile because she does genuinely feel that way. It fades when he says they're the only ones. That means Harry and Ron aren't here, nor Ginny, and she well and truly is on her own. The idea is a bit daunting if she's being honest. Something changes in her expression, though, when she hears Merlin because Hermione is a Muggle-born. She'd never once heard someone use Merlin in conversation like that until she'd joined the wizarding world.

All at once, she recognizes him. He looks as though he's sloughed off about twenty years and at least a stone, but the voice comes together with the eyes, the facial structure; the wizarding language and the time differential. Christ, that's Sirius, isn't it?

...he's bloody fit in his prime...

Her cheeks warm and color at the thought and she realizes belatedly that she's missed much of what he's just said.)

Sorry, I—oh, right... I mean—

( And now she's flustered because, as she was catching up with what he'd said, she realizes she's inadvertently agreed that he's gorgeous and she hadn't meant to. He is, but that's neither here nor there. )

Did you say "what in Merlin's name" just then?

[When Sirius looks back at Hermione she looks as if she's seen a ghost, or perhaps something shocking on his face. He lifts a hand as if to check but instead looks at himself in the video reflection. Nope. Still handsome. So what's that expression for? Her question prompts a raised eyebrow and he looks at her with a touch of hesitance. She seems a little thrown and Sirius has no earthly idea of what he said wrong.]

I did - oh, yes. Sorry. My apologies, darling, I forget sometimes. What in God's name, is what I meant. Things are a bit different where I'm from, you'll have to forgive the cultural slips now and again.

[He offers another charming smile before leaning forward, and Sirius's eyes hold a touch of concern before his voice softens.]

Are you all right? Really, I mean. [He holds up a hand before she can answer so he can finish.] I know that this is a lot, it shook me as well. It's okay to not be all right. I know I haven't been particularly helpful thus far but if you need a strangers ear, I'm more than happy to listen and try to help as much as I can. Truly. It always breaks my heart to see a pretty face in distress.

No, it's okay. I know what you meant. I say it sometimes, too.

( It's hopefully clear enough what she means when she says that. Hermione doesn't want to be a whole lot more obvious just now. She's still trying to decide how safe or unsafe this place is. That, and she really oughtn't be too obvious where Muggles can hear. )

I'm fine.

( She isn't and him complimenting her like that is not helping. It just deepens the color in her cheeks a tad more. )

It's...it's fine. Only, it was 1998 for me. ...I reckon I might know you, erm, later on. Sorry, this is a bit weird...are you...Sirius Black?

[Her response takes only a second for him to process before Sirius's face lights up in hope and excitement.] Are you a witch? [The question is so direct that he looks sorry as soon as he asks, because if she isn't she's sure to take it the wrong way. But she is, she must be, right? Another magic wielder from his world? He doesn't know her but right now that doesn't even matter, a real person from his own world. She probably even went to Hogwarts. He's not the only one anymore.]

Are you sure you're fine? You seem-

[He stops immediately when she says his name, and Sirius leans back in his seat. He suddenly looks cautious, very cautious, because being recognized by a witch from his world is not a good sign. His face had been plastered across every copy of the Prophet they published for weeks on end, usually on the front page before he became older news.

He doesn't know how to answer. He doesn't want to lie, she'll find out anyway, but there are people here who don't know what he's been through - what his home thinks of him. The end of that precious dream of anonymity could be sitting right before him disguised behind the face of a pretty woman looking or help.]

... Don't.

[He says it after a long stretch of silence, the edges of the word barely less than a plea.] You must understand, I'm - yes, I'm Sirius Black. [He continues quickly,] But I'm not who you think I am. Hear me out before you say anything to anyone. Please.

[He wets his lips nervously and leans forward again, briefly considering whether or not he's above begging and immediately deciding that he's not.]

Please.

( She stiffens when he asks her if she's a witch, but she does give a subtle nod. Her eyebrows lift when Sirius stops abruptly and she realizes a few moments into his plea what's going on.

Hermione shakes her head, her eyes wide, holding up her free hand to try to stop him and assuage his worry. )

No, no, no... I know. Sirius...I know. I'm a friend. ...I'm a friend of Harry's.

( She gives him a significant look and then a small smile. )

You don't have to explain. I know.

( She knows more than Sirius himself knows, actually, but she's not really sure if she's allowed to mention that. Back home it would be dangerous because time is very fragile, but here, who knows? )

[She says probably the only thing that could baffle him more than he already is, and once again Sirius falls silent to try and comprehend what she's telling him. A friend of Harry's?

How does Harry know who he even is? Did Albus tell him? Did he-]

You know.

[His voice still carries an edge of doubt but he's too hopeful for what that could mean. She's a friend of Harry's... his little baby godson Harry, probably not a baby by the time the two of them had met he supposes. But if she's claiming to believe in his innocence, that must mean-]

He knows?

[His voice almost cracks at the sheer idea of it but he just barely manages to keep himself even.]

Harry knows? He knows that I didn't do it?

[Sirius shakes his head suddenly, as if trying to clear the sudden fog that rolled in.]

Wait, I don't understand, you're - what's your name? Where - when are you from? You know? Does everyone?

[The idea that his name could have been cleared seems so unlikely and unreachable that Sirius never allowed himself to entertain the dangerous thought.] I- bloody hell...

[He collapses back in his chair, stunned, but still looking directly at her as if trying to find some sign of falsehood.]

This is not how I was expecting this day to go.

( Now Sirius is the one who looks overwhelmed and Hermione gives him a softened look of understanding as she nods. )

Yes, he knows. We know who really did it.

( The smile falters and falls away into something a little more apologetic bordering sympathy as she shakes her head. )

Sorry, right. I'm Hermione Granger. It was 1998. Harry knows, Professor Lupin knows, and Professor Dumbledore knows. ...and Ron and I, but you don't know us so I reckon that doesn't matter much to you just now.

( Her brow creases slightly at the present tense for Professors Lupin and Dumbledore because it's the first time she's used present tense for either of them since they died, but she tries not to betray the uncomfortable pull on her heart when she does. )

Oh, I'm sorry...I wasn't expecting my day to go as it has done, either, if that makes you feel any better...

Edited (you saw nothing.) 2020-08-28 01:55 (UTC)

Profes- I'm sorry. [Sirius leans forward with his head tilted as if he's hard of hearing.] Did you just say Professor Lupin?

[Despite himself and the way his head is spinning Sirius can't help but bark out a laugh, immediately covering his mouth after he does. For the most fleeting second he looks as if he could shed tears. Professor Lupin. The last of them got a job teaching at Hogwarts, apparently, and he well deserved it too, Sirius is sure. It warms him to know that Remus has a full life - well. A life up to 1998 at least, but that's good enough for men who spent their youth in war. Moony is safe, that's what matters most.

But why didn't he write, then?

He shakes his head quickly, pushing the thought away, when Hermione finishes.]

No you're right, I'm sorry, this must be just as mad for you as it is for me, I'm just - [he trails off, mouth open but uselessly silent. Speechless.] ...It's a lot. That's all, but good. It's good, this is... yes. [Another laugh, a bit more nervous this time, and Sirius drags his hand down his face before giving a single, echoing clap.]

Hermione Granger. [He repeats her name with a grin that brings out every charming quality about him.] If you don't mind me saying so, it is an absolute fucking delight to meet you. And it matters! It matters that you know, it matters that anyone knows. It does.

( He looks too happy to hear the title attached to his friend and though she's learned to hide it very well, Hermione suddenly very much has the urge to cry. But she keeps herself together and smiles a little, nodding. )

I did, yeah. And it's okay. I suppose we're both a bit overwhelmed. It isn't the worst thing we could have in common at the moment, yeah?

Oh my lovely girl, [he gives a breathless sound that's between laughter and disbelief] no. This is far from the worst thing you could have in common with me but I suppose you already know that.

I - [so many questions, but Sirius also knows the dangers of being aware of his own future. There are things he shouldn't know, but driving him more are the things he doesn't want to know.]

I'm curious. But I'm not going to ask you anything about it, I think both you and I know things would be safer that way. Still, I'm sorry you're here. But if you'll forgive me for saying, you're the best thing that I've come across since I've arrived.

I suppose that much is true.

( She might not know everything there is to know about Sirius and she probably never will, which is all right with her, but of the important points she does know, there are things she's rather grateful not to have in common with him. )

Yeah, sorry, it's probably better I don't say much, if I can avoid it. I appreciate your understanding there.

( Even though the context doesn't call for it at all, Hermione finds herself blushing as she shakes her head in response to his last comment. )

No, I don't mind. You've either directly or indirectly had a hand in saving my life on an occasion or two, so...if my being here is helping you out in some way, that's a small price to pay, I reckon.

( She pauses, mildly considering just finding a reason to disconnect the feed without being rude, but before she can take much time for that, the words escape her traitorously. )

Bit weird seeing you like this. You must be practically fresh off the war. Sort of a crap thing to have in common but still not the worst.

What I can tell you, as I reckon what I've just said might actually be cause for concern now that I think about it, is that it's really and truly over now. One hundred percent, for sure, Voldemort ( even now, saying it out loud feels uncomfortable and makes her shudder a little, but it's what Harry would want her to do, so there she has it. ) is gone for good. So there's that, for whatever it's worth.

[When Hermione mentions that he has apparently saved her life at some point it prompts a look between polite confusion and small suspicion. He likes Hermione so far of course, and he's glad that his future self did it, but what happened where she was in that sort of position in the first place?

He's about to ask but she's pushing forward, speaking in a way that one would if they were trying to pull the words back in while saying them. A part of him wishes she had when the name hits his ear, and the color drains from him so fast that it's gone by the last syllable. Gone for-]

What do you mean, gone for good? As in he wasn't?

[He's surprised but there's an edge to the question, barely there in his restraint but not suppressed completely. No, that's not right, it was supposed to be over. That was the entire point, that's why James and Lily were gone. It's why Harry was orphaned and why he rotted in a cell, losing sanity along with weight. It was all because the war was bigger than them, Voldemort had to be stopped and if he was it would be worth it. His innocence meant nothing in the grand scheme of the war and the potential destruction that could have happened.

That apparently did happen.]

I- [He seems to melt into his chair with sudden tiredness, mouth agape as he stares slightly off camera through the wall behind it.]

I was six months in when I was brought here. [The words finally manage to assemble themselves. He pulls himself back, eyes coming back into focus as he looks back at her.]

We didn't finish it.

[It was supposed to be a question but finality hits the word. It's the only thing that would make sense. She just said she came out of a war. Voldemort was 'for sure' dead.]

He wasn't dead? We thought that Harry had... [he trails off because she must know what he thought now. She probably knows everything.]

( Honestly, she really should just disconnect the feed. Instead, she gives him a small frown and shakes her head. )

Harry very nearly did. He was gone all that time, in hiding. He's done, now. It's done.

( Shaking her head, Hermione closes her eyes in a slow blink. )

I should go, I'm liable to make you feel even worse than I already have done just now. I'm really sorry...

['Very nearly isn't what his parents died for' is what Sirius wants to say but he doesn't, knowing very well that none of this is Hermione's fault. The poor girl certainly can't be expected to keep everything to herself, Sirius knows very well what kind of strange personal hell that could be. He forces himself to speak before he can process anymore.]

Don't be sorry, I don't want to hear that. [He sounds firm.] We knew the risks going in and we knew it was possible we would lose. It sounds like we didn't, which is what really matters. We just didn't finish. You did that for us, you should be apologizing to no one. I just thank Merlin you were there.

[Even after he absorbs what this all means, another war, the failures they made that must have led to it, Sirius knows he means it. The war was bigger than them and it needed to be done. If they couldn't, at least there was someone who could. And one of them was Harry, he can't help but focus on with a strange sense of both swelling pride and crushing sadness.]

Go on love, I won't keep you. [He sounds tired but not angry, but before she goes he waves his hand to catch her attention.]

I still mean it, even with that, I would like you to know. You're still the best thing I've come across since I've arrived. Truly. Thank you, Hermione.

Loads of people played their role. Honestly, Neville and Harry deserve the most credit, if you ask me.

( Not that anyone ever does, but that's just fine with Hermione. She'd rather they didn't, anyway. Hermione gives him another small smile, this one a little apologetic because she's still sorry, even if she'll respect his wish enough not to come out and say it again. )

Belive it or not, that feeling is mutual. At least I'm not completely alone, even if you don't know me, yet. I know you and that's enough for me. So, you're welcome, but there's no need to thank me, Sirius.

Well of course it is my love, I'm an absolute delight to know.

[He can't help it despite the how undeniably shaken he is. Levity is all he has in moments like these. He has a strong suspicion that she means Longbottom when she mentions Neville, barely older than a newborn when everything had happened for him back home, but he doesn't ask. With what happened to Alice and Frank a part of him doesn't want to know. ]

How about this then. Once you get settled in, let me take you to a little cafe I found around here. [He gives a weak smile.] Then you can tell me all about how wonderful I am and I can get to know you as well as you seemingly know me. How does that sound?

( In spite of herself, Hermione laughs, a quiet, surprised sort of sound escaping her at his comment. )

You would say that. I think that sounds nice. I'd like that. Only, you know, maybe less with the telling you how wonderful you are, as I'm sure I can't possibly say anything that'll live up to how wonderful you think you are.

( To that, she gives him a little grin to let him know she's only joking. )

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