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[ The locket opens on just Hermione's face; behind her there is nothing but a blank wall, at least until she turns. Then there's a small bookshelf, a series of vials and a cauldron before she sits down and refocuses the camera on her and nothing else. It takes her a moment to speak but she does - after taking a long, deep breath. ]

For anyone that doesn't know me, my name is Hermione Granger. We're about to enter a war and I don't think it's right that any of us enter entirely unprepared - there's only so much we can do, but I intend to do whatever I can to make sure that everyone is ready and as capable as they can be.

[ Another deep breath and she turns, so that both her cauldrons are in sight. ]

I've been brewing potions for the last few days, as much as I can and as quickly as I can. I have things for cuts, scrapes, wounds, for loss of blood and for burns, anti-paralysis... I think you get the idea. I've got a lot of stock and I'm ready to give it to anyone who thinks they might need it before they go and fight. If you need it after then you know my name and how to contact me, right?

[ She looks troubled, still; war isn't something she is entirely comfortable with, even now, even with how familiar she is with it. ]

Just let me know if you want or need something and I can pop over and deliver it. And if you have, um, friends that might need it but can't read this? Let me know. I'm an equal opportunist potioneer, I promise. Thank you for your time.

[ And, added a little later, if the change in the shadows of the room are any indication -- ]

You don't have to pay me for them, but if you can find ingredients or donate something that would be nice. Just so I can keep this going.

[ Happy, Mako? ]

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[ It's comfortable, here like this. She knows they have an audience - George and Martha must still be around here somewhere, they'd been there when she and Luke had been talking on the lockets - but she doesn't care. Hermione knows she is doing something to help ease whatever it is that has been hurting Luke, maybe something that has been bothering him since he first arrived here. She understands the weight of having something hovering on your mind and making you stop and think, to consider your actions more than you might have otherwise, and it takes her a little while to do anything more than bask in the fact that she is sitting here and she might have somehow done something good - and his arm moves, drawing her closer, and the secretive smile quirks over her lips and soothes her as she bites back her happiness.

There's more to the story, of course, both their stories, but they're content to be here and simply exist. There's a war on the horizon and battles to be fought and won (she hopes they'll be won, at least, what more can she do but hope) but right now they're just two friends that are trying to take care of each other. While that might be new for Luke it's familiar and comforting to her. He said that her friends need to know how lucky they are but -- she just wants to make sure they're cared for, they're happy. If that means mothering them a little then it's something she will do willingly and with a stern and set gaze. Nothing is going to stop her except for something desperately serious and... Well. Who knows with the Drabworld and everything going on. She has to do everything in her power to make sure everything is done right and the people she knows, the people she wants to cherish, have all the things they need to survive.

For now, though, her mind is quiet and her half-tired body is relaxing, letting herself lean against Luke a little more as her eyes turn to look at their joined hands. Heaving out a soft noise, a little sigh, she scoffs and turns her head, almost smushing her face into his shoulder as she tilts to look up at him. ] I'm not that tiny. I'm big enough to give you a clip around the ear if you don't check in on time, and I can bribe your snakes with rats. Don't forget that I can turn cups into rats if I want. [ Not that she would go out of her way to do that often, considering, but. She's laughing a little as she speaks, biting her lip as she hums. ] I can be quite vicious when I want to be.

I won't. I promise.

[ That depends on what you consider taxing, however. ]

I think it's something that can be strengthened later, as long as it holds. It's just making sure it holds that's important.

It's a kind of spell, yes. You don't need any kind of incantation but you do need magic and a wand.

[ She grins. ]

I'll be there in two seconds.

[ And there's a pop and Hermione's gone. ]

Really? [ She's not sure why she seems to have reverted to her first-year self, but she's suddenly self-conscious about the whole ordeal. ] I mean--you're not too busy?

[Pod can't make it all the way up to the court-yard in time, but she does try. When she comes jogging out, there's a very large wolverine scrambling along at her side.

She grins when she sees Hermione and drops her head in a little bow.]

That is a powerful magic, m'lady mage. Well met.

I'm rather jealous that your world actually has that sort of magic, honestly. I don't think it would be impossible in mine, because very little is, but it would take someone with rare talent to manage it.

Well, are there any downsides to experimenting with it? ...I'd assume there were, but magic usually runs the gamut from "it simply doesn't work" to "death would have probably been more merciful."

You did mention it, but most would consider the offer of trade to be the concession to the current political state. To even be able to give to those who might need them, you must be either quite skilled or simply over-generous.

Admittedly, it was because some of my friends told me I shouldn't be giving things out for free. [ Which, really. Come on. War. ] Maybe I'll start more of a business front once this part is over, but... I'd like to think I'm skilled and generous, really.

It's more dangerous than you'd think. If you apparate you run the risk of splinching if you don't do it properly - which is the possibility of leaving bodyparts behind, from a piece of your eyebrow to an entire arm. It takes a lot of concentration to perform without hurting yourself.

[ Splinching in the Drabworld might not be too terrible, but she'd rather avoid it. ]

Flooing is generally safer, but if you're not careful about your pronunciation you could end up anywhere.

If you want - I don't want to force you. Having a second pair of hands to do a few non-magical things might make the load a little easier, actually.

[ Her eyes flick to the wolverine and takes it in, widening a little, before she turns to focus on Pod, her smile brightening a little. ]

It's just Hermione, really. It's nice to meet you in person.

Family fortunes have been made on war - it's a very lucrative business.

[ and so humble too! although he did point it out first so she's fine. he will refrain though, from pointing out that most people do like to think they are skilled and generous. he doesn't have any proof to say she isn't, nor reason to look for any. ]

You said you had potions? They work?

I'd much rather there be peace, to be honest.

[ Especially if it'll keep her friends (and makeshift family) safe. Still, she nods, smile still in place. ]

They do. They're a mixture of ingredients from my world, herbs and a bit of magic and they definitely work.

Which is why war is so profitable.

[ He doesn't seem particularly enthusiastic about war for a guy who carries himself like an officer and has swords and such in his room, but. ]

Normally I'd have expressed my doubts in magic - [ seeing the way people responded to it back home, the person he nearly lost for it ] - but even a short time here is fairly convincing. I'm somewhat surprised you didn't also offer to show others how to make their own.

[ She wrinkles her nose. She's had enough of war for a lifetime or two, but she doesn't really have much of a choice here. ]

I would, but quite a lot of the brewing requires a wand like mine and I don't think too many magical people here have those. If they did I'd be happy to help teach them as much as I could.

[ And, look. She lifts her and and whispers a quiet Lumos, setting up a small light on the end of her wand. Magic is real. ]

I have promised to help show how to make some of the salve that might need less magical input, though.

I am Pod, and this is my brother-in-fur, Kiga. Have no fear of him; he knows his manners well.

[Her name actually translates, while Kiga's does not, and Pod holds out the sack of lavender. Kiga sits at Pod's side for a moment or two, and then slowly comes forward. He'd like a better sniff, but doesn't want to risk upsetting their new acquaintance.]

I hope this is enough to further your endeavors! I would give more, but I need lavender for my own work.

Probably right. You're used to snails and mad things in potions and I'm used to dealing with shirty children and running away from aliens in moon bases and submarines.

We become used to what we do daily. Even if it sounds completely mad to everyone else.

[ though he's been beneath the care of stubborn friends before, luke's always been successful in pushing them away. seeing them gather new circles, moving far from him — it's always hurt him to watch as annabeth grew away from him, but he never felt as though it was right to give into the instinct to reach out for her and keep her close. much safer from him and his anger, he distanced himself purposefully from everyone he knew and cared for as if he possessed the foresight to know how damaging his presence would be for those who he cared for. but he appreciates it from hermione, her stubborn will to remain by his side, even though he knows and fears that one day she'll huff and shut off her locket from him, cutting him out of her life as successfully as he had his entire family when he had turned his own back on them. but he doesn't feel the desire to do so, finding that, despite her having a very nice back and posture, he doesn't wish to see her walk — or apparate — away from him. ]

[ and it's nice, enjoying himself, comfortable with someone once again as he's no longer alone. though george and martha and maia are comforting presences, even the cows who linger outside his window to watch him carefully, he's been without friendship for so long he isn't quite certain how to cope with it being presented to him on a golden and rather stubborn and intelligent platter. he supposes, though, it's only fair he fetch her her ingredients when she gifts him something he has been without, finding happiness and something with her as she's right — though he strives for greatness, if he can be the person someone needs, instilling hope and friendship and reminding them of the love he isn't sure he's capable of giving as his heart has been shredded beyond repair from the talons of a dragon, it'd be the best heroic act of his life. ]

[ too bad he can't really enjoy the moment. ]

[ looking down at her, he smiles, hand tightening around her as he relaxes against the back of the couch. and he laughs, prepared to inform her of how tiny she is, capable of being picked up by him as if she weighs that of a feather, when he hears the commotion within his own mind as their audience begins to grow restless with being unwelcome spectators. ]

Rat! [ luke rolls his eyes as he leans back slightly. george slithers beneath the couch to coil up the length of the table before them. sitting atop it, he looks to hermione with glee on his features. ] You can turn cups into rats!? [ he's beaming with happiness. his voice is much louder as he shouts toward the couch, ] Martha! Did you hear that? Rats! In cups! Cup rats!

[ martha appears at the back of the couch, tail brushing against the cushion as the fox behind it begins to move once again. ] Yes, dear. [ with her tail, she pushes the very edge of the cushion to see it fall to the floor, freeing maia from her makeshift prison as she leaps off the couch to hide beneath the table. ] Though, she isn't bound to giving you the rats. [ george begins to open his mouth in protest — ] George.

Martha! It's a cup rat! I haven't seen the likes of it since … since …

[ martha shakes her head. ] Oh, George.

You're not getting a rat, buddy. [ luke shakes his head, his arm remaining around hermione despite it slipping away just slightly. ] Because I'm going to check in on time. A minute before, too. So, you're screwed.

[ george whines, ] Luke!

[ from beneath the table, maia darts out, running in wild circles around it as she chases nothing in particular. ] You're meant to be on my side. I'm the one who freed you from the Staff. [ martha knocks into his leg. disengaging from hermione, he leans over to grab her around the stomach, pulling her into his lap where she immediately curls. she looks up at hermione as luke's fingers stroke her fur hard. ] Didn't we, Maia? George doesn't know how to do shit.

I resent that! [ and as george glares at luke, one hand remains in maia's fur as the other rests against the back of the couch behind hermione. looking to her, george carries on: ] Give me the list! I'll go fetch your things! Give me, give me!

You don't have opposable thumbs, George.

[ Hermione is content to spend her time settled against Luke's side, she really is. He's warm beside her and his arm feels settled, comfortable, and she can't do much more than smile and lean on him, enjoying the embrace. She's done the thing a good friend should do and she was here to help hold him together as much as she can and now she can be here as a comforting side embrace rather than an overbearing one. For now they both seem happy and there isn't anything she would rather be doing - it's true that she has potions to make and things to brew and put together but for now she thinks she's earned a quiet five minutes --

-- or what she thought would be a nice, quiet five minutes. She had imagined it wouldn't take too long for George and Martha to poke their heads up and come and say something but she hadn't really expected they would shove their faces into the idea of rats in cups. She was a little too distracted by talking to Luke and perhaps losing herself in her own comfort for now. When they do poke their heads up to speak all she can do is laugh, shifting a little as Luke moves away to address them. It's too hard to bite back her laughter and she has to try and smother it with a hand on her mouth, glancing between Luke, his snakes and his fox with wide, amused eyes. ]

Maybe if you're very nice I make make you a few for your birthdays. Do you have birthdays?

[ It's not as though she knows exactly how his snakes work but she's utterly enchanted by them. Hermione would love to go out of her way to learn more about the magic behind the staff, the transfiguration possibilities, how it works, but now isn't exactly the time. Right now she just leans back into Luke, looking down at the fox and biting back the urge to coo, offering her free hand for Maia to sniff at, to decide if she likes Hermione, even as the conversations go on around her. Eventually she listens in again, her head shaking with fond amusement.

It's like a family. ]

I appreciate it, George, but I'd rather you not get yourself into trouble. I'd be utterly heartbroken if something happened to you because of me. Really. Martha too.

Yes! Every day!

[ and there's the roll of his eyes once again. while luke has no idea when george and martha had been born, let alone their own anniversary, it's something that he knows he can easily find out. being the only two people who had ever been with him through thick and thin, even when he hadn't known it, it had been important to him to honour their own wish for freedom. though they hadn't quite said anything about their own displeasure of being trapped to the staff, luke had wanted to free them as a gift of gratitude for always tethering themselves to him. even as a young demigod at the age of nine, they had been better guardians and parents to him than his own had been — and it's at no fault of may's she'd been taken from him before he could properly save her. ]

[ but he takes to them too naturally, unembarrassed as he looks at george with an unimpressed expression, trusting martha to remain where she is on the couch and not slither over and start pecking him all over the face as she had on the night of samhain he'd made his deal. treating him as the mortal parents did their kids — he realises just how lucky he is, having these two, great ancient snakes on his team. instead of running free and wild after he'd pried them from the staff, they'd tethered themselves to him. ]

[ glancing down at maia, he notes how she sniffs at hermione's hand, ears crinkling a little, before she licks it. teasingly, he grins, ] You got chocolate on your fingers?

Oh, no. I'd love to get rid of him. How do you think of me as Mr Ridire's wife? [ she puffs out her chest. at george's glare, she slithers off the couch and up the leg of the able to coil beside him, kissing him on the cheek. luke rolls his eyes, making a disgusted sound in his throat. it's bad enough they act like this in front of him on a daily basis, but in front of hermione? it's a little embarrassing. ]

Think he's a little too old for you, Martha.

I don't look a day over twenty-nine!

[ george mumbles, ] That's what I've been saying for the last few centuries.

[ luke leans in toward hermione, arm still resting on the back of the couch. ] But we're serious. I told you — I get a little restless when I'm sitting around doing nothing. There's only so much I can do with Backbiter before I'm starting to poke myself in the chest with my sword out of boredom. [ he glances down toward maia, tapping her on the nose the moment she begins to try and gnaw on hermione's fingers. ] You need any of those ingredients for your potions, there's a good chance I can track them down. [ he grins, slightly smug, but most definitely proud. ] I've got a network at my disposal.

Every day? Then I have a lot of birthdays to catch up on. You should have said something, George. [ She's teasing, of course, but she can't help herself. ] Maybe I'll do something. We'll see. Luke will have to keep an eye on you for once.

[ It's nice to see Luke so at peace around people that obviously care about him. She might have joked about the snakes before and poked fun at them, at Luke, too, but she can see how much they all mean to each other. It stings a little, knowing she might never see her own parents again and, as far as they're concerned, she doesn't exist, but that's fine. If she can work to help save her own world, which includes them, then she'll do it. Hermione just knows she's lucky to have people around her that are as kind as they are - and she still doesn't really think she deserves as much as she has been given.

Her focus, for a moment, drops entirely on the fox and she smiles, shifting a little closer (leaning on Luke) to reach out and run a hand along her gently, scratching behind her ears like she would if it were Crookshanks on her lap. When Luke speaks her nose wrinkles and she shakes her head, biting back her grin before she lets herself be enchanted by the sweet creature. It takes her a moment to draw herself away when she hears more voices and she sighs, leaning back a little and wiping her hand on her jeans absently. ]

I'm not sure that Solais would be happy if you tried to sneak in and steal her throne, Martha. [ Plus, Ridire scares Hermione. His stern nature and his capability to sacrifice so many people doesn't sit well on her shoulders, especially when she knows there must be a means of peace, one day. She's spoken to him and found him wanting, a pain in her chest when she thinks about the understanding the two of them had come to. It's far nicer to focus on George and Martha and their antics. ]

But I think you're right. You don't look anything older than twenty, in my opinion. You're beautiful.

[ She turns her head towards Luke, resting her head on his arm absently and feeling her face go a little pink - she can blame that on being warm. ] I know you're serious. I wouldn't think otherwise. [ She purses her lips, shifting to cross her legs under herself as she nods. ] I can make you a list but I don't know what you can get in the Drabworld. There might be some things that are only made in my world - and you could look for them forever and not find a single thing. I'd hate to send you on another endless quest, Luke. [ How goes the muggle search? ]

Edited 2015-01-23 16:00 (UTC)

... You know, anyone else would think we were a little bit mental.

Hello to both of you!

[ Her eyes brighten and she reaches out, taking the sack and grinning. Opening her beaded bag, she puts it in, her arm sliding down to her elbow as she reaches around to get the promised bark alongside a few vials of potion. ]

Here you go. I brought some potion, too, in case you need it later. There's some salve for small cuts and a bit of common antidote. You never know.

That's good to hear. I'm not sure how much magic I'll have for the next little while, since I have so much to do, but I think those charms would be a good idea to try and do sometime soon if you have time.

[She ponders for a moment.]

...they would probably hold best if they were ground with blood, somehow.

I'm going to do some reading and see what I can dig up. If there's some kind of native spell or native rune we could use that would be incredibly helpful.

[ Hermione hums before she pauses. ]

... Blood?

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