brainiest | ic inbox/voicemail

[ True to his word, it only takes Leo three and a half days to finish a bracer fashioned to hold a wand. The last half-day had been dedicated to engraving the designs he’d created to reflect Hermione’s status as a marchioness of the Seelie court and a witch, the steel antiqued so the design stands out where people will see it. The other side is deceptively decorative, the better to hide the frame underneath that will hold her wand until it is needed. Leo has no way of knowing for sure if it’ll be comfortable enough for Hermione to wear regularly; he’d tested it on himself first, but they are obviously not a perfect match for size.

As soon as he can declare it finished, he makes for Hermione’s quarters in the Citadel, knocking hesitantly on her door. ]

Hey, Hermione? I finished the thing you asked for.

[ It isn't the only reason why he's here, but it's the one everyone else will hear. ]

[ Hermione is quick to rise up and move, stepping out of her room and walking through her office to let Leo in, softening when she sees the familiar face. It's not that she's been avoiding him, really - she spoke to him on the lockets, after all, she wasn't pretending that their quest hadn't happened - but she doesn't want to let on just how badly she's been taking it and how rough things have been for her. She does soften, though, her smile sure and gentle, welcoming him in with a nod of her head. ]

Leo, thank you so much. Please, come in, help yourself.

[ Not that she imagines he'll want much tea or biscuits, but she's too polite to not offer. ]

[ He steps in, offering her a faint smile, though he shakes his head at the offer. ]

No, thanks. I’m getting sick of everything tasting like potatoes. I think I’m starting to forget what things are actually supposed to taste like, [ Leo says, frowning momentarily before glancing down at the thing in his hand. ]

So do you want to try this thing out? I want to make sure it fits.

It's a bit of a hassle, isn't it?

[ She hasn't let on, of course, how bad her own curse is, even if she has to be careful as she walks and stands in front of Leo, not daring to pour tea or take a biscuit of her own. The tea would taste like ash, but at least the sweet taste of the cookie soothes it when she's in the company of others.

Holding out her wrist, though, she does smile. ]

Let's try it.

Better than it could have been, at least for me. Jason’s got it worse.

[ He gives Hermione a curious glance, noticing she’s chosen to forego the food, too. Leo doesn’t ask immediately, however, first busying himself with undoing the clasps and fitting it around her forearm, nodding in satisfaction when it turns out to be the right size. ]

How bad did they turn out for you, exactly?

I haven't seen much of him, but I hope he's doing alright.

[ She does hesitate, though, looking down at her wrist and flexing her arm, testing to see how it pulls and how it goes. Breathing out, she offers a small smile. ]

It could be worse. I'm keeping my head up, which is the important thing.

He’s… mostly okay, I think. It’s the food thing that’s hard. There's a lot he can't touch since we got back.

[ Leo notices the hesitation, but doesn’t say anything on it, simply watching as she tests the bracer out. It looks good from his end, but it’s up to her whether it’ll do the job right. ]

Good. We’re going to find a way to break it, one way or another. No one’s going to lose their shards to an asshole like that.

How’s it fit? [ he asks, nodding at the bracer. ] Think it’ll work?

I think that's the same for all of us. I'm looking into a way to break the curse, I promise. It's just... Hard.

[ She can't help blaming herself for Leo and Jason's troubles, especially since she was the one that was snappy and rude first. Now... She shakes her head, looking down at her wrist.

Her shard has been promised to someone else. She doesn't say that, though, she just - speaks. ] We'll figure it out.

[ Reaching into her pocket, Hermione draws out her wand and adjusts, slipping it into the slot. When she flexes, the wand slips forward into her hand and she grins. ]

It looks amazing, Leo!

I’d be looking, too, but I haven’t really had time. Lancelot asked me to make the army stronger weapons, so that’s been taking up my days.

[ It’s annoying; Leo really wants to get rid of this thing ASAP. If it weren’t for the looming war, he’d be focusing all his efforts on that, because Jason and Hermione don’t deserve that. But just the same, the soldiers need the strongest weapons they can get. It’s a difficult thing to balance.

He watches closely as she tries it out, smiling when it works as planned. ]

Comfortable, too? [ he asks, just to be sure. ] If anything doesn’t fit right, I can make the adjustments without a problem.

So much is happening right now. Having a moment to look into things for ourselves seems a bit out of the question.

[ It's obvious, by the state of her room, just how much Hermione means that. There are books and reports everywhere, items scattered around and left half-read and noted on and it looks like she's been sleeping - or dozing - on her sofa.

Lifting her spare hand, she runs her fingers over the brace, pressing into it before she nods. ]

I think so. It's a little loose around the top of my wrist, but that might be because of how little I've been eating thanks to the curse.

Guess so. As soon as this is over, though, we’re going to figure it out.

[ Don’t ask him how. He hasn’t gotten that far yet, but he’s determined not to let the Man-Eater win. They’ll find a way around it. His friends always do.

Reaching out, Leo gently turns her arm upward, revealing the inner side of the brace. ]

These are for adjusting it, [ he tells her, pointing out a few small, thin straps by the clasps. ] There’s not a lot of breathing room, but I figured I wouldn’t have it exact. Just pull or loosen it here until it’s comfortable, secure it, and you’ll be good to go.

ic inbox/voicemail

action.

action.

action.

action.

action.

action.

action.

action.

action.

action.

action.