He was named after a friend - which is a long story. [ Having a friend named Padfoot probably isn't the strangest part of her life, really. She shakes her head, moving along and watching as her dog flutters back over, nudging at her hand. ]
... You're welcome, Waver. [ It means a lot to her, that he understands what the invite means. She nods her head forward and starts, Padfoot hovering and nuzzling at her cheek even as she nudges him. ]
Hot chocolate and I'll shove him in the living room. He's wanted to play with me ever since I got my -- well. My own wings, kind of.
[Padfoot's antics get a smile out of him, and Waver trails behind Hermione by about a half step. Alyosha's told him a little about some of the dogs of the Drabwurld, especially mage hounds, but dogs with wings had gone unremarked upon.]
Oh, I don't know, having someone to give belly rubs to during conversation is hardly a bad thing.
Although either way, congratulations on the new flight abilities.
I have bellyrubs and petting duties. Padfoot has to share with my cat.
[ Crookshanks, who lives in her house and practically glares at the dog whenever he comes bounding in expecting cuddles from the surely cat - the cat who wants nothing more than to shove him off and settle in a corner for a nap.
She can't really bite back her secretive grin, though, and she hesitates -- but if she's going to trust Waver with her house she can trust him with this. ]
My head, probably. There's enough hair there - or there was. I'm working on it.
[ It's a little less pixie and more curled, now, which she's glad for. She's quick to turn down the street to her townhouse, still hidden under the charms and protection. ]
[Waver knows the street, but he looks around as if trying to guess which one is Hermione's. He's passed through here how many times?]
An orc named Thrall. He's massive, green, and one of the sweetest people I've met in the Drabwurld. He'll be turning it into a trading post, so goods will still pass into the area.
Oh, that's good! Do you think there'll be some trade of herbs? I'd like to see if I'll finally have a place close to buy potions ingredients.
[ She knows she can pop over to other places, but somewhere just around the corner would be marvellous. Opening up the fence to her house she turns, offering Waver an innocent grin and a wave of her hand. The house will look different as soon as she tells him it's there and reveals the Secret. ]
[ She knows she can take care of herself. Still, she goes and opens the door and smiles as Padfoot races inside, shaking to get the cold away from his fur. ]
That was the hope. It's under a special charm from my world - it makes it so that no one can tell anyone about this place except me and once you know you can't tell anyone. It's part of the magic, so... Sorry. You'll be able to mention me having a house, but not it's location or what it's like.
[Waver follows in right after Padfoot, at perhaps only a fraction of a slower speed. Once in, the sheer warmth of being inside feels like stepping onto a beach during summer.]
That's a hell of a charm, and honestly, no hard feelings on the not being able to talk about it. With the spire where it is, I'm actually glad for something like this.
I'm sure if you needed help with anything Harry could do the spell for you. He did it for me.
[ She trips a little over the mention of Harry but shrugs it off, taking off her hat and her scarf. Rather than her long, bushy hair she reveals something a bit shorter. ]
If it comes to it at the new place, I'll have to ask him. But for now, we remain open, if only because spaces for everyone to meet are starting to disappear.
[The hair cut causes Waver's eyebrows to lift, but in approval.]
For once, not tea! And your hair looks good like that, by the way.
But it's something for now, and as safe as we're going to get, considering.
[ Hermione steps to the little kitchen, using her wand to light a fire so she can start with the drinks. A cat walks into the room, gives Waver a wary look, then hops onto a chair, watching him with a curled tail.
(At least Waver has passed the Crookshanks test). ]
It wasn't voluntary, really. [ Her nose wrinkles. ] The Jabberwock wasn't friendly.
[Waver gives Crookshanks a polite nod before he settles down into one of the kitchen chairs. It's quite comfortable, and as always, he has to note how the brand of magic Harry and Hermione use seems like a shortcut for almost everything. Practical, practical, practical, not the academic magecraft of home.]
I'm so sorry that you had an encounter with it. I've only heard reports out of Caer Glaem, Cothromach, and the Station, but everything's been--
[ She shakes her head, turning to look at him. Would it matter if she told him she almost died? That her skin had rotted off around her and that's why she lost her hair? That the only thing that had been on her mind was how tortured the poor creature had seemed, that she had been willing to give her life to protect her family?
(Would it matter, she wonders, absently, if he knew that she kept fighting because the guilt of Caer Scima settled on her like a lead weight, suffocating her from the inside out?) ]
I was at Caer Glaem. We managed to get most of the natives out and a few of us stayed back to distract it while we evacuated.
[ She tries to manage a smile, or something of the sort. ]
It just... Seemed afraid. I didn't want to hurt it, not really.
From everything I've come to understand, she wasn't even supposed to be out and about yet. Just a young thing that couldn't be controlled yet, and definitely not something that anyone anticipated being used in this fight.
[Waver knew, because Kayneth had been fool enough to broadcast the Jabberwock's escape to the entire damn network, that it had gotten out only because of the Seelie attack. But there was no need to bring that up, because more guilt wasn't really useful right now.]
I had people create evacuation plans back in January in case the Station came under fire. It worked well enough for this, at least. Sometimes all you can take pride in is mitigating damage.
No, I... I think I knew it was coming, but I didn't realise. I had a vision about it coming through the towers at Caer Scima, about something coming up and screaming, but I didn't put two and two together until it was too late.
[ Another thing to be irritated at herself for. They're brushing the topic of the sigil and Caer Scima at a distance and she know is, turning back to the pot before she sighs, shaking her head and focussing, instead, on pouring their drinks. Thank goodness for her beaded bag and she amount she could shove in there; it makes brewing (potions or a hot drink) a thousand times easier. ]
It reminded me of the Battle of Hogwarts - the school at home. Getting people out, fighting...
[ Death. She shakes her head and offers Waver his drink before she stands back, deciding she might change the topic back over again. Just for now. ]
Look, everything's going to be clear in hindsight. You'd think that we might've know it in May, back when Morla demanded we raid Caer Glaem for the tooth. The monarchs play the long game, after all.
[The longest game, really.]
I've heard a little back home about your school, but I've never heard much about there being a battle there. Although it's probably a better outcome than what would happen at Clock Tower.
[Fighting each other, Waver knows it. Magi. He accepts the hot cocoa happily though, wrapping his hands around it and basking in the warmth.]
Oh, I know. I've lived my life realising that things are only obvious now because we have more information. It all makes sense when everything is written out in front of us.
[ And Hermione's heard pieces, here and there, about Waver's, but she offers a smile. ]
It was the final battle of the Second Wizarding War. I can tell you all about it when you have a few hours to spare.
[ She steps back, though, focussed, instead, on the new buzz of power inside of her. Bag and wand set to one side she moves, closing her eyes and letting herself shift, transform into a white lion, wings fluttering around her body. ]
[ She laughs a little, the sound coming out as a strange rumble before she stands. Padfoot, obviously smelling the difference, comes rushing in and almost barrels into Hermione's side, her head shaking before she stands.
Slowly, carefully, she shifts over and puts her face on Waver's lap.
She isn't a real lion, but she wants to flex her wings and she can't do that sitting down, can she? ]
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... You're welcome, Waver. [ It means a lot to her, that he understands what the invite means. She nods her head forward and starts, Padfoot hovering and nuzzling at her cheek even as she nudges him. ]
Hot chocolate and I'll shove him in the living room. He's wanted to play with me ever since I got my -- well. My own wings, kind of.
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Oh, I don't know, having someone to give belly rubs to during conversation is hardly a bad thing.
Although either way, congratulations on the new flight abilities.
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[ Crookshanks, who lives in her house and practically glares at the dog whenever he comes bounding in expecting cuddles from the surely cat - the cat who wants nothing more than to shove him off and settle in a corner for a nap.
She can't really bite back her secretive grin, though, and she hesitates -- but if she's going to trust Waver with her house she can trust him with this. ]
Would you like to see?
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[That grin's hard not to match.]
Yes, but can it be done inside? You probably shouldn't be showing off in broad daylight.
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[ She nods, moving forward quickly. It is rather cold, after all, and he makes a very good point. ]
It's just up here. Only three streets from the Barrel.
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[Waver hurries himself, the wind threatening to pick up again.]
Ah, speaking of. The establishment is changing hands and names.
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[ It's a little less pixie and more curled, now, which she's glad for. She's quick to turn down the street to her townhouse, still hidden under the charms and protection. ]
Really? Who're you passing it on to?
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[Waver knows the street, but he looks around as if trying to guess which one is Hermione's. He's passed through here how many times?]
An orc named Thrall. He's massive, green, and one of the sweetest people I've met in the Drabwurld. He'll be turning it into a trading post, so goods will still pass into the area.
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[ She knows she can pop over to other places, but somewhere just around the corner would be marvellous. Opening up the fence to her house she turns, offering Waver an innocent grin and a wave of her hand. The house will look different as soon as she tells him it's there and reveals the Secret. ]
Welcome to Haven, Waver.
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[Although with the spire where it is, Waver has to worry if it will be safe for Hermione to be out and about.
As he follows through the gate, Waver has to wonder why this place never stuck out.]
A good name, I think, but I think all the better for your magic. I've never noticed this spot.
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[ She knows she can take care of herself. Still, she goes and opens the door and smiles as Padfoot races inside, shaking to get the cold away from his fur. ]
That was the hope. It's under a special charm from my world - it makes it so that no one can tell anyone about this place except me and once you know you can't tell anyone. It's part of the magic, so... Sorry. You'll be able to mention me having a house, but not it's location or what it's like.
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That's a hell of a charm, and honestly, no hard feelings on the not being able to talk about it. With the spire where it is, I'm actually glad for something like this.
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[ She trips a little over the mention of Harry but shrugs it off, taking off her hat and her scarf. Rather than her long, bushy hair she reveals something a bit shorter. ]
Hot chocolate, then? Not tea?
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[The hair cut causes Waver's eyebrows to lift, but in approval.]
For once, not tea! And your hair looks good like that, by the way.
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[ It's enough to make her think even as, self-consciously, her hand goes to her hair. ]
Hot chocolate it is. [ A pause and, well. She smiles. ] You'll be disappointed that I'm growing it back.
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[He waves the thought aside.]
What prompted the cut in the first place?
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[ Hermione steps to the little kitchen, using her wand to light a fire so she can start with the drinks. A cat walks into the room, gives Waver a wary look, then hops onto a chair, watching him with a curled tail.
(At least Waver has passed the Crookshanks test). ]
It wasn't voluntary, really. [ Her nose wrinkles. ] The Jabberwock wasn't friendly.
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I'm so sorry that you had an encounter with it. I've only heard reports out of Caer Glaem, Cothromach, and the Station, but everything's been--
[He lets the silence fill in the rest.]
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(Would it matter, she wonders, absently, if he knew that she kept fighting because the guilt of Caer Scima settled on her like a lead weight, suffocating her from the inside out?) ]
I was at Caer Glaem. We managed to get most of the natives out and a few of us stayed back to distract it while we evacuated.
[ She tries to manage a smile, or something of the sort. ]
It just... Seemed afraid. I didn't want to hurt it, not really.
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[Waver knew, because Kayneth had been fool enough to broadcast the Jabberwock's escape to the entire damn network, that it had gotten out only because of the Seelie attack. But there was no need to bring that up, because more guilt wasn't really useful right now.]
I had people create evacuation plans back in January in case the Station came under fire. It worked well enough for this, at least. Sometimes all you can take pride in is mitigating damage.
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[ Another thing to be irritated at herself for. They're brushing the topic of the sigil and Caer Scima at a distance and she know is, turning back to the pot before she sighs, shaking her head and focussing, instead, on pouring their drinks. Thank goodness for her beaded bag and she amount she could shove in there; it makes brewing (potions or a hot drink) a thousand times easier. ]
It reminded me of the Battle of Hogwarts - the school at home. Getting people out, fighting...
[ Death. She shakes her head and offers Waver his drink before she stands back, deciding she might change the topic back over again. Just for now. ]
I promised you a bit of a show, didn't I?
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[The longest game, really.]
I've heard a little back home about your school, but I've never heard much about there being a battle there. Although it's probably a better outcome than what would happen at Clock Tower.
[Fighting each other, Waver knows it. Magi. He accepts the hot cocoa happily though, wrapping his hands around it and basking in the warmth.]
That you did.
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[ And Hermione's heard pieces, here and there, about Waver's, but she offers a smile. ]
It was the final battle of the Second Wizarding War. I can tell you all about it when you have a few hours to spare.
[ She steps back, though, focussed, instead, on the new buzz of power inside of her. Bag and wand set to one side she moves, closing her eyes and letting herself shift, transform into a white lion, wings fluttering around her body. ]
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The Drabwurld, in many ways, has stopped surprising Waver. Things are weird, then they go from bad to worse. That's just how it is.
Sometimes, it's nice to be surprised by something that is simply beautiful.
Silence sets in for a few moments. Finally, there's a low whistle, and Waver is beaming.]
That is amazing.
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Slowly, carefully, she shifts over and puts her face on Waver's lap.
She isn't a real lion, but she wants to flex her wings and she can't do that sitting down, can she? ]
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hermione i'm going to cry from that magic of friendship comment.
the most powerful magic after love!!!
honestly i'm tempted to say let's end it here BECAUSE IT'S A REALLY GOOD SPOT.