nearlychosen | 1st seed; [Action/Voice]

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1st seed; [Action/Voice]

[Perhaps the journal picks up the sound of Neville's arrival as he is unceremoniously deposited on the icy southern lake sometime in the dead of night. If not that, then it might catch the dull groaning as he slowly wakes and struggles to pull himself upright. If not that, then certainly the furious squeak from sneakers lacking traction on slippery ice would catch the journal's attention, as would the dull thudding as Neville collides with some child's forgotten snowman on the westernmost bank. A sharp intake of breath, then] No wand. Bastards. [In fact, even though Neville hasn't yet noticed the presence of the book at all, he seems perfectly aware that someone is listening, even if it isn't quite who he expects.]

It's still not enough! [The words, though a bit rasped and wheezing, are spoken with the stubbornness of one who rather expected this displacement.] You think you can just Portkey me someplace and be done with it? You won't get me -- not any of us -- to back down that easily. I know you're here -- show yourselves, you bloody cowards!

[The dead silence is less than encouraging. It means that if he wasn't being watched, then he'd been sent far enough that he wouldn't need supervision. Accio wand. [The incantation is intoned softly through clenched teeth. It doesn't escape him how ironic it was that in his desperation to recover his stolen wand he's resorted to a summoning spell that usually required the use of his wand in the first place. The spell fails spectacularly, leaving Neville to suppose his captors laughed, wherever they happen to be.

Still, the place he'd been sent certainly merits some investigation. If he'd been sent here via portkey, then some other innocuous-looking thing might well be the ticket home. It might appear off for a young, underdressed, blackeyed, fairly beaten and emaciated man to be picking up small stones with a thoughtful expression, but finding an alternate portkey is simply the most plausible way back to the more important matters he'd left at home.]

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...Thanks, Neville. [And she'll offer a tired smile.

[That quickly fades as he talks. Sounds about as bad as what she's been through... what with Godric's Hollow, Malfoy Manor...

[Still doesn't really help the shock factor.]

... [treasure this moment, Neville. Hermione "Know-It-All" Granger is at a loss for words.]

I can't believe that's happening. Or going to happen for me. Erm, and that's another thing I should tell you about. People here can get pulled from the strangest times. I think Cho's from around where you are, Harry remembers Gringotts but I don't, I remember Malfoy Manor in March, Luna's from Christmas, and Draco's from the end of sixth year. And that doesn't even count some of the others...

[oh and yes she did just call Malfoy by his first name. Have fun with that.]

[He kind of wishes that she wasn't so speechless. Her doe-eyed stare is a little uncomfortable, and Neville tries to downplay it by shrugging.] It's okay, nothing like the adventure you're having. Or will have, when you get to it.

[He nods at the list of hostages from their world, until the mention of Malfoy's first name throws him fully off track.] How long have you been calling him that?

I've had enough of an adventure... Malfoy Manor was more than enough.

[She doesn't even think about it.] Four months. I know it sounds like rubbish - Ron didn't believe me, either, when he was here and it took ages for Harry to warm up to him. Malfoy isn't the one we need to worry with. I don't think he's as bad as everyone thinks he is.

...What happened there?

You just think that because you haven't seen him. He's just like the rest of the Slytherins. They're full-on supporters of You-Know-Who.

[She inhales sharply.] Bellatrix. I found out just how much she hates Muggle-borns. [Among other things she didn't know happened because she was upstairs getting tortured til she passed out.]

Maybe he becomes that way when left at home. But I saw him at the manor and I've watched him here. There's something about him. He doesn't want to do any of that. He's not like his father or aunt at all. He doesn't take joy in torturing people.

[And now Neville takes a turn at looking horrified.] Hermione... I.. I'm sorry.

He doesn't stand up to them, either. None of the Slytherins do. We've had volunteers from all of the other houses, but the Slytherins all seem to enjoy the new order too much to challenge it. Bullies, the lot of them.

[She shakes her head quickly.] It's not your fault. No one knew we'd get caught.

They're Slytherins, Neville. Most of them would rather save themselves. It's part of being Slytherin, but it doesn't make all of them bullies. And Luceti does something strange to its people. I'm not even sure how or why, but meeting so many different people from so many strange places... It changes the way you look at the world.

Nobody should have to be caught. Especially not by her.

He's cursed you, hasn't he? You and Harry both.

We were caught by Snatchers and brought to Malfoy Manor. She just happened to be there when we arrived.

[She sighs at that and looks him directly in the eyes.]

Use Finite. Brew Veritaserum. Find some other way. I'll even swear I'm not. Will that convince you?

[He doesn't quite have the words to reply to that, and gives her a sympathetic look. He understands what she must have gone through better than he'd like.]

It'll convince me when you start saying things that make sense.

[She doesn't really have a response to that. She understands.]

I know it sounds like rubbish and I know to you it's like I've been Confunded - Ron pointed this out several times - but I swear to you, I'm perfectly fine.

[She pauses again and stands up.] If it'll make you feel better, I'll give you my notebook to look over. And we can talk later. I can sleep in the living room for tonight.

People who're perfectly fine wouldn't be making arrangements with Slytherins. [It'll be a cold day in hell when one of them gets into a DA meeting back home, at least.]

[He stands when she does, though.] I wouldn't dream of putting you out, Hermione. I wouldn't mind the living room.

[Ouch... That hurt, Neville.]

It's not a problem. If I need to, I can move in with Cho or Luna. [Preferably Cho because Luna would make her crazy in about five minutes. Regardless of if he's going to stay or not, she needs to leave the room for a bit. She does pause by the door, though]

I've already had this argument with Harry and Ron. You don't have to believe me, but I hope you'll at least consider the fact that people can change here. Nothing's what we expect it to be.

Edited 2010-02-15 16:02 (UTC)

[It wasn't his intention to hurt, though! His expression softens when her voice drops, though. Don't be sad, Hermione! He's only trying to make you listen to reason.] if it's as important to you as you say, I'll consider it.

[She understands. She really does. At least this one hasn't escalated like the one with Harry. Neville's still speaking to her. That helps.

[She lingers by the door a little bit longer, one hand on the doorjam.]

It is. I know it sounds like rubbish. I can't explain it. It's just something that's strange about this place.

[She pauses and offers a small smile.]

If you need anything, just let me know, all right? I'm sure Luna, Harry, and Cho will be around, if you need them, too. And there's food downstairs.

Edited 2010-02-16 05:12 (UTC)

[It would take a lot more than that to get Neville to stop talking to anyone, let alone the person who singlehandedly kept him from failing five years of Potions.] It's worrisome that you keep saying that, though. You must realize how hexed you sound, talking about how strangely you're behaving and not understanding the motivation for your own actions. This place might be enchanted -- that could be why we were sent here.

[He returns the small smile, though, and fully perks up at the mention of food that doesn't come from filthy Hog's Head plates.] ...It's okay to help myself? [That noise that sounds a bit like a dying walrus? It might be his stomach.]

[Her lips twist.] I know. If you'd told me when I came that this would be my future, I would have called you insane and never thought anything else of it. I suppose that's what I get for coming here directly after him and before anyone else.

[The question about food makes her blink and tilt her head a little, even as she nods.] Of course. You're one of us, Neville. Why wouldn't it be? [GJ, man; you're worrying her now.]

[He doesn't like the way she's made that sound. At all.] ...Hermione, what did you have to give up to get that wand?

Well of course, I just. ...I wasn't sure how badly you've needed to ration here. [Well he certainly didn't lose all that weight from getting Weight Watchers owled in.]

[She looks surprised.] Nothing. You can find your wand here. I... don't believe I should have been able to find mine, but I did and I don't care. I like mine much better than Bellatrix's.

...Don't worry about it. [And that's what has her worried. Weight Watchers she could lecture him over. The Carrows are another story entirely.]

Did you examine your wand for jinxes before you grabbed it?

[But he smiles at the prospect of a full belly nonetheless; despite his misgivings over the nature of anything in Luceti, cursed food would be better than no food at all.] Thanks, Hermione.

[oh damn, he's got her there.] I didn't have a way to do it. Malfoy's was the only other wand here and I don't think he would have let me touch his at the time.

[She smiles in return.] You're welcome. [A pause.] As much as I wish you hadn't gotten dragged here, too, I'm really glad you're here.

I don't like the way it sounds, Hermione. I'm worried about what's becoming of you. ...Is Harry here? I want to know what he thinks.

[He stands and prepares to follow her out, at least as far as the path to the kitchen coincides with the route to the girls' room.] That means a lot. [Perhaps it means a bit less than it would before she'd admitting to also enjoying the company of Malfoy, but it's still thoughtful nonetheless.]

[She hesitates again.] He's here. I don't think he's in the house right now or he'd have come up as soon as he heard me Apparate.

[And then she leaves the room and leads the way to the kitchen.]

You could probably contact him over the journals if you really need to see him. The kitchen's down here. [She points out all the rooms with a smile, before grabbing a drink.]

...Can I get you something? [Before she leaves, she means, though she's only going out onto the "patio."]

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1st seed; [Action/Voice]

[action] - ♥!! Yeah it was like two days straight for us and university canceled a lot of classes.

[action] - ♥!! YAY for time off though!

[action] - ♥!! yeees even if it nearly makes me miss choir XD i'm sooo off schedule

[action] - ♥!! Aww! You'll get it back!

[action] - ♥!! tryyyiiiiing sob DX actually I'm not or I would have been in bed an hour ago xDa

[action] - ♥!! xDD Story of my life. Welcome. <3

[action] - ♥!! XD aaauugh fail!late tag is fail and late. Stupid migraine

[action] - ♥!! nooooo it's okay FEEL BETTER D:

[action] - ♥!! THANKS i'm a little better. i get these a lot DX

[action] - ♥!! I'm glad! Well that you're better now I mean, not that you get them a lot. D:

[action] - ♥!! I got what you meant XD thaaanks ♥

[action] - ♥!! Welcome~<3

[action] - ♥!! bah I fail |D also, we're on oppsite schedules aren't we :(

[action] - ♥!! We so are. ;__;

[action] - ♥!! sooob I'm opposite everyone ever DX I blame school

[action] - ♥!! School is important though! I should be on campus a lot more than I am. XD

[action] - ♥!! i have a loud Hermione muse that likes to yell at me over that |D;;;

[action] - ♥!! I can see where that could get unbearable. XD

[action] - ♥!! You learn to live with her XD Kinda like Ron and Harry have 8Da /gets smacked

[action] - ♥!! xDD Be careful, I don't think she's a muse you want to cross.

[action] - ♥!! no, but we get along... mostly... >>

[action] - ♥!! If you occasionally stop speaking to her for a few months, she's used to it!

[action] - ♥!! burn but so true XD AT LEAST MY HAIR ISN'T RED