(Untitled)

[wasafreak]

If pressed, Teddy Altman would have readily admitted to living through some pretty bizarre stuff. There was only so much slipping through the time stream, getting caught up in fights between major super hero teams and finding yourself in the middle of religious galactic warfare you could experience before things started to shock you less- but they

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[honestlyrubbish]

"Exactly," Hermione agrees with a light huff of air, glad to see that someone else understands. Or that, at least, someone else is willing to put into words what most people on the island seem to avoid. It isn't easy to think of home, Hermione knows, when returning is such an unlikely and uncontrollable feat. But Hermione's never shied from a thought, no matter how difficult, and try as she might, it's a little late to start now. Pulling her lower lip between the teeth, she worries it, feeling the breeze skim along her cheek. "My world was caught in a war when I left, and... no one in their right mind wants to return to that. But most of my friends and family are there, and I never hesitated for a moment before joining the cause of the war, because there are certain things you want to protect, no matter how difficult life can get."

With a sympathetic quirk of her lip, Hermione raises a shoulder lightly. "I find that it's best to remember that our time on the island is likely temporary. More of a break than an eventuality. Like... television and Central Park, I suppose, only a bit extended. And tropical."

[wasafreak]

"Hermione," Teddy says, breathing out a long, silent sigh through his teeth before bumping her shoulder lightly, wearily with his own, "I know exactly what you mean."

Which he wouldn't have necessarily ever thought of as being true, just reading the books and watching the movies, but hearing her talk about it, just two people comparing notes, he finds himself grateful he can relate.

"Normally I wouldn't complain about a break, either, but the timing's kind of lousy. If Billy's here, though..." Then it's okay, he thinks, but the sheer enormity of his time on the island is still boggling.

"Two years. I'm really having trouble with this."

[honestlyrubbish]

"As you should, really. I'd be rather concerned if you weren't having some amount of trouble with the news," Hermione confesses, brow furrowing. "Some people do seem capable of letting this type of information slide off their back altogether upon arrival, but I've never understood how they manage. Actually, I'm often convinced that most people have as much trouble as the rest of us, even if they can't admit it."

Glancing over, Hermione finds herself momentarily at a loss. What is there to say? How can she even be of service in a situation like this? Even in terms of experience, she has precious little to draw back upon.

"There was a friend of mine, a rather close friend, who arrived here a few years before I did, myself," she begins. "And it's... been difficult, reconciling the girl I knew there with the one here. She's seen and experienced a great deal that I don't think she ever had prior to the island. Still, we're good friends, and that's in spite of having very different outlooks on life. From what I've heard, at least the two of you won't need to face the same. There's a great deal of understanding between you two, isn't there? And trust. And for all that trust is hard to build, I think after a point, it becomes equally as hard to break."

[wasafreak]

It's such a Hermione thing to say, Teddy can't help being ridiculously pleased by it, though he keeps how much so under wraps. He just smiles a little and nods, struggling to maintain that sense of optimism.

"He's... he's the person I'm closest to in the world."

[honestlyrubbish]

All at once, Hermione thinks again of her two best friends, the two that she finds impossible to separate herself from at both the best and worst of times, Even with Ron at a distance for all those months during their search for the Horcruxes, still her thoughts wandered to him day after day, apparently forging a link that neither of them could fully understand after Dumbledore's death. She feels a surge of sympathy, again, for Teddy. Years between himself and Billy won't be easy to cross. Hermione suspects that they wouldn't have been, either, had she ever left Harry or Ron's sides for so long.

"Then things will be fine," she says, her voice sounding sure. "It may take some time, but I promise to you, and I wouldn't make such a promise without feeling absolutely sure- things will work out." She turned on a fork in the path, heading towards the Estates. "Both of you are too kind for them not to."

[wasafreak]

"Heh. You're a real optimist, Hermione. That's good," he adds, following her.

"And I appreciate what you're saying. Even if it... is kind of freaking me out. No, that's not fair," he says quickly, "that's not what I meant. I am generally freaked out right now. It hasn't sunk in at all where I am or the fact that I... That I can't go home. Whatever he's gone through, though, whatever may be different, for him, just knowing Billy's here means things have the chance to be okay. So."

He ducks his head a little and slides his hands into his pockets.

"He is a really kind person."

[honestlyrubbish]

"Oh, I don't know," she smiles, ducking her head in slight embarrassment. "Believe me, I have more than my share of doubts, and I spent, Merlin. Months trying to wrap my mind around this place, and I still don't think I've gotten through the half of it. But like you said, the fact that Billy's here is a reason in of itself to hope. Maybe I'm a bit optimistic when it comes to friendships, but no matter what seemingly insurmountable obstacles have come in the way, things have resolved themselves."

It shouldn't be long now, she thinks, until they arrive at the Estates. Five minutes, at most.

Quietly, she glances over. "I suppose that you'll want to be alone when we get there."

[wasafreak]

"I guess that depends on Billy," Teddy says honestly, "but."

He grins a little, shyly, at her, hands digging a little deeper into his pockets.

"I hope so?" With a quiet laugh, he shakes his head.

"But I'd be happy to spend the rest of the night just chilling out and getting to meet Billy's friends."

Especially if more of them were from his favorite book and television series'.

[honestlyrubbish]

Hermione wrinkles her nose and shakes her head with a laugh. "Oh, no, I wouldn't dream of pulling you away from Billy so soon, but sometimes people want someone to help brace them as they adapt to the island or greet people who haven't seen them in some time. I don't think that you need it, mind, but if you felt that you did, I'd be more than happy to offer that," she tells him, gaze briefly skirting over as she spots the first treehouse some distance away.

"We have plenty of time to learn more about each other in the coming days and weeks," she adds with a slight raise of her shoulder. "I keep fairly busy these days, but I always have time for friends. If you ever feel that you need someone to talk to, I'm remarkably adept at making time in my schedule, if I do say so myself. Though it was a hard lesson learned, a few years ago."