loyalotter | 12th Gryffindor Note (Action first / later written)

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12th Gryffindor Note (Action first / later written)

((OOC: PLEASE READ. The first action part is for Draco, Raine, and Harry in that order. After she gets home and talks to Harry, housemates are free to reply and then anyone who's heard she's back and wants to come visit her is free to reply. But please wait for those three first. Thanks! Have at now, but keep in mind that she is home so all action posts are at home!))

[It's midday in the woods. Calm, quiet. And then... CRUNCH SPLASH. Guess who just got literally dumped into the lake on this cold winter day? And hard enough to break what little ice is still left. Yep. Hermione's back. And she looks like she's been through hell. Coughing, sputtering. She's going to try to climb up onto the bank, because seriously Malnosso? A sprained ankle, a partially bleeding neck, and a bunch of scratches and bruises and you couldn't dump her somewhere dry?

So... the lake just seems to not like people lately.]

[Probably an hour later, writing will appear from her, but her hand is still shaky. If anyone remembers when she first arrived, this handwriting is comparable to that.]

I'd just like to inform everyone that I'm back. It's been long enough that I should have missed an experiment... I hope everyone else is well.

Hermione

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[You forget who you're dealing with.] Harry... I missed an experiment. What happened?

[He shakes his head.] You've had a rough time of it lately. You should get to bed, Hermione.

[She stares pointedly at him.] Harry... I know something happened. You can tell me or not... [But you know she won't judge you. And talking might help.]

[He bites his lip. She's his best friend. He can trust her with anything, but he can't even trust himself with this. But he's started pacing nervously] I... I feel like if I talk about it, it's going make it more real. It was an experiment. Just a bloody experiment. [One that he really needs to talk about. Stupid Harry.]

[She's watching him, her eyes the picture of silent worry now.] It was an experiment, Harry. Whatever happened wasn't you in your right mind. It wasn't something you could control. [she's talking to you about things that are bothering her. It's only fair, right?]

[He looks at her again, and he feels worse for stressing her out after all that's happened. What kind of friend is he?] I know... just... I keep thinking about it. I can't get it out of my head and it's probably the worst thing I could ever think of.

[He's her best friend and at least he isn't pushing her buttons when she's very clearly not thinking straight.] But it was just once, whatever it was, right? It's not like something you would do normally? Nobody died, did they?

[He's at least being nice enough for that. He doesn't want to hurt her but he doesn't want to burden her more, either.] It was something I'd never actually done, on top of that.

[He looks around, considering a Muffliato and then deciding it's pointless. He stops pacing to look out the window. It's hard for him to spit this out, especially knowing what she's been through and Draco's role in it.] ... The experiment had to do with love.

[It's not a burden if she's going to help her best friend. She's been through much worse for you and she'd do it all again.

[She frowns slightly as she listens.] But what does love have to do with something you've- [Wait...]

[This is true, but Harry has always been socially retarded, even about the trio. He should know better, still.]

[He's taking deep breaths, still facing away from her.] ... It was like I'd been in love my whole life.

[Socially retarded, and no one has brain-to-mouth filters. What a winning combination.]

[she gets up then and places her hand on his arm comfortingly.] With who?

[Somehow, they continue to survive.]

[He tenses for a moment, then relaxes.] You should sit down again, just in case. I'll be fine.

[Luck, skill, and a lot of luck. Did I mention luck?]

[She doesn't want to... and if she hadn't just come home from being tortured, she would have refused. As it stands, she hesitates, then takes her seat again.] Are you sure?

[Dumbledore must've planned for this.]

[He turns around finally and heads back towards the table.] I'm more worried about you than me right now. I'm being stupid. Hopefully I'll get over it.

[Dumbledore plans for everything!]

[You are so not off the hook young man.] Harry, I'll be fine. You aren't being stupid. The Malnosso can alter our personalities, our looks, everything about us. They warp us. You can't blame yourself for something that happened during an experiment, no matter what it was or how it felt. It was the result of the Shifting Technology. Nothing more.

[Yes he does!]

[Well, darn. She's right, as always. He listens to the lecture, and feels a little reassured. After a few moments of staring at the table, he finally says it.] ... It was Malfoy.

[Pause. She looks surprised at first, watching him worriedly.] ... That explains a lot. [Like why Malfoy was at the lake again, why he was pushing her buttons so much, why everything. She's going to reach over to touch his arm again.] But it was just an experiment. It wasn't real. No one's going to expect you to keep those feelings after the experiment's over. [And if they do, she will personally give them an earful for it.]

[He's happy for her support. All this has been driving him crazy since it happened, and he hasn't known who to go to about it.] ... It's more complicated than that. We... we weren't in our right minds and we did things. The more I think about it, the more I think... well, it might not have been so bad. [This is so embarrassing.]

[That's why she's here. To be his moral support in best friend form.

[She thinks on that for a moment.] But like you said, Harry, you weren't in your right mind. It might not have felt so bad when you were doing it at the time, but now it would. It's like being Imperiused into thinking gillyweed tastes good. Or Confunded like McLaggan. [That right there might have been an attempt to ease the tension in the air.]

[He should be doing that, too. Fail, Harry.]

That's just it, though. I'm supposed to be in my right mind again, and I keep thinking that I liked it. [He's rubbing his forehead because he feels like his brain is betraying him right now.] That... I might want to have another go at it. Something's gone wrong.

[Nah, she'll make him pay up later. Besides, this is an excellent distraction for her.]

Because you remember how it felt. Even if you weren't in your right mind at the time, you remember feeling good and so you start to think that maybe it was okay. Memories do that, Harry. They can make you believe anything. [Oh what... She frowns.] Oh don't tell me your scar's hurting again. [As if they don't have enough going on. She hates it when he rubs his forehead. It always leads to a fight or something. But, that reminds her of something else she was going to ask.] And Harry, I need to ask you something, even if Riddle's gone. It's still important.

Edited 2010-03-08 17:19 (UTC)

[He'll gladly pay up. Supporting his bff is very important.]

But how do I know I didn't? I've never liked a boy before and... well, Ginny and I never, er... [No, let's not finish that sentence.] It's not my scar. It hasn't hurt since Riddle went away. I've just been thinking too much. [But at her request, he'll sit up straighter and look at her, even if he looks a little miserable at the moment.] What's that?

[It's part of why they're BFFs to begin with.]

Because it's just a memory of something you felt while the Malnosso were toying with you, Harry. Once is justifiable. If it happens again... [Well, then she'll worry about your sanity... and try to figure out wtf is going on, but for now, this is her standpoint.] Relax, Harry. Do you want a cup of tea or something? [Tea she can make easily no matter how tired she is. Though she looks at him worriedly now.] ...I need you to teach me Occlumency. Even if Malfoy's right and Riddle's really gone, it'll be good for me to learn. I meant to ask you earlier, but things kept happening and then I got kidnapped... [And kidnapping certainly puts a damper on things.]

Edited 2010-03-08 17:36 (UTC)

[Hell yes.]

... Right. It's just all in my head. [The romantic feelings were totally bogus. But what if he got into another situation like that without the experiment? He can't figure out whether he'd like it or not, and that confuses him the most.] I'm fine, really. If you want some tea, I could make some. [But that's also work for her to do and she's just come back from a kidnapping, so he doesn't want her to do it.] I can try. My legilimency isn't very good, but I suppose now's a better time than ever to practice. I'll be glad to help. [It certainly did.]

[That just sounds weird.] The Malnosso have done some pretty awful things to us, Harry. And if you experienced that, I'm certain others have as well. [She's not sure what to say to that.] I'm all right. [And she's more worried about Harry, as usual XD] It's better than having Snape do it and I don't think Neville would if I asked him, even if he knew how.

[Action] - icon so appropriate XD

[Action] - SO VERY APPROPRIATE. Bad Harry is bad.

[Action] - Harry's not getting out of this one >> He can ask her all about her issue but >_>

[Action] - Well at least he tried. And failed miserably. XD

[Action] - It's Hermione. He should know better XD

[Action] - Silly Harry and his obliviousness.

[Action] - It's endearing XD

[Action] - I love it.

[Action] - I love these guys so much ♥

[Action] - They are seriously fabulous ♥

[Action] - They make me so ridiculously happy XDD

[Action] - They are so, so much fun!

[Action] - Yes! And we have a trio now! /ridiculously excited

[Action] - A complete trio can only lead to pure awesomeness. We rock so hard!

[Action] - YES! Aaaahhhh 8D it's going to be glorious!

[Action] - SO MUCH EPIC TO BE HAD!

[Action] - LUCETI WON'T BE ABLE TO HANDLE IT!

[Action] - IT WILL EXPLODE WITH WIN!

[Action] - HIT THE DECKS EVERYONE! COVER YOUR HEADS! CHANCE OF BOOT TO THE HEAD IS HIGH!

[Action] - WE KNOW TAI KWON LEAP!

[Action] - IT COUNTS FOR SOMETHING, RIGHT?

[Action] - IT MEANS OUR BOOTS TO THE HEAD ARE AWESOME.

[Action] - FFFF I'M TOTALLY OKAY WITH THIS

[Action] - HARRY POTTER CAST AND THE EPIC BOOTING OF HEADS

[Action] - HARRY POTTER CAST AND THE BEING PRETTY EPIC IN GENERAL