8th Gryffindor note [voice] / [action]

[loyalotter]

It seems as though people come and go a lot here. I noticed it a while back, but you don't think the people doing the going will be those you're close to or know well until... they disappear, too. It's too much to hope that things will remain relatively constant, isn't it?

Ron's gone... isn't he?

[Hermione's going to be sitting out in the

Comments

[Voice]

[ratatosk_knight]

Yeah... I know what you mean.

[Voice]

[loyalotter]

I guess that means we all need to band together, don't we? Just to... keep each other company.

[Voice]

[ratatosk_knight]

What good will that do? They could just start sending us home too.

[Voice]

[loyalotter]

But at least we'd have each other while we're here. It's better than being all alone.

[silvergeneral]

Would the alternative of not knowing them, not befriending them at all, be any better?

[loyalotter]

I don't think so as two of the people I'm referring to were friends I had from home. Regardless of whether or not you befriend them here, it's still going to hurt to see them leave.

I suppose it's better than being alone, though.

[silvergeneral]

If that is the case, then they wait for you wherever home is. Those friends I was able to see here again, if only briefly, are already long lost to me in my time.

[pause]

Unrelated. I apologize. My point, then, is that I think the best way is to be grateful for what has passed, and to look well on what you will return to.

[...comfort is something he hasn't ever really known how to give, even when he was 'sanest']

[loyalotter]

I'm certain he's with Harry and me at home now. He'll be all right.

[She pauses as well, digesting his words.]

I'm sorry... and thank you. I'll just remember what we've done together and at least you've been able to see your friends here.

[action]

[tendstocry]

[After listening to the entry, Cho makes her way outside to Hermione. She sits down next to Hermione and pulls her into a hug.]

[action]

[loyalotter]

[Hermione doesn't look up until she feels herself being hugged. Turning, she returns the embrace.]

Thank you, Cho. How are you doing?

[action]

[tendstocry]

As well as I can be... But the more important question is how you are doing, Hermione...

[she hasn't let go of the hug yet]

[action]

[loyalotter]

[She definitely appreciates it, that's for sure.]

I'll be fine. I just noticed Ron's gone. I'd been hoping he'd come back, but he hasn't...

[hisdarkmark]

[...give it a few minutes, Hermione, but you soon might feel like you're being watched by something from behind that tree over there. A something that's not a person, I might add.]

[loyalotter]

[She does eventually sense it and glances up, looking a bit confused.]

[hisdarkmark]

[And because I have yet to actually icon him, there's going to be slow movements but soon a silvery-mist-like creature reveals itself. It doesn't look too harmful, of course, considering it's small and, well, a coyote pup. It sits on its haunches a few feet from Hermione, looking back and forth between her and the flame]

[loyalotter]

[She blinks down at it, recognizing it immediately as a Patronus, but having no idea whose it is, she just stares.]

And whose Patronus are you?

[cruxofapotter]

[Harry's going to come out to visit, because it's been bothering him, too.]

There's no sign of him at all, is there?

[loyalotter]

[She welcomes the company and scoots over to offer him space and a blanket if he wants to sit down.]

Not that I can see and there's no sign of a struggle, so the Malnosso can't have got him. He would have fought...

[cruxofapotter]

[He'll sit down next to her.]

We would have heard it if he did. We would have helped him. It can only mean... he went back.

[loyalotter]

[She's very glad for the company and offers a weary smile.]

Not even my messenger has found him. At least I don't think so, but it's difficult to tell. It should mean he's home and at least he's not dealing with the Malnosso there.