001 // [action; lobby]

[outstandings]

[Hermione? Is very, very confused. She's read the letter over and over again until the paper has been nearly worn down from how hard her hold on it had been. The course catalog is clenched in the same hand, her bag held tightly in the other as her wand had been stuffed into the back pocket of her jeans as soon as she had read the warning about '

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[lionizations]

[Where is Ron? Why, Ron's actually just stepping out of the elevator. He's dressed in the same clothes he'd worn just before preparing for bed at the camp, his heavy rucksack slung over a shoulder with a pant leg of his maroon pyjamas hanging out.

Ron has read the letter and course catalog almost as much as she has, the paper and booklet now gripped in a hand where his wand should have been. He figures there's no need for it as no one's jumped out to attack him since he found himself there. He's tucked his wand into the slot on the inside of his zip up sweater, safe and sound.

The ginger-haired wizard hesitantly steps out onto the main level of Garden and throws a cautious look back over his shoulder as the elevator doors close and the cart rides back up to the 2F. Is he in a place of Muggles? The letter said something about 'unusual power', which he had automatically assumed meant 'magic', magic he was familiar with maybe...

But he pulls his backpack up higher onto his shoulder and faces the directory, blue eyes sweeping around before he hops down the steps.

Elevators... sounds like something his dad would have a fanciful fit over, yeah?

Ron idly taps his acceptance letter and course catalog against his thigh as he comes to a stop in front of the directory, staring down at it with his brows deeply knit.]

...Wonder if this'll tell me where Harry and Hermione are...

[outstandings]

[Her eyes had just been scanning the vicinity when it finally picks up that tuft of red hair belonging to a person standing just over at the directory. It's hard no to tell who it is, not with that height, red hair, the clothes he wore as well as the rucksack slung over his shoulder.

Initially, all Hermione feels is shock-- she was beginning to worry that she'd been the only one who wound up here. But immediately she stands from the bench and calls out to him.]

Ron!

[Never mind-- instead of simply standing and waiting for him to notice her, she makes her way over to the directory.]

Have you seen Harry?

[lionizations]

[Who the hell knows his name here in this place? Unless there's someone else with the name 'Ron'... But that voice...

Ron looks around and his eyes widen as soon as he spots Hermione approaching.]

You're here as well then? [He shakes his head.] I figured he was with you.

[Then he shows her the letter and booklet in hand, noticing she has one too.] What d'you reckon this is all 'bout? Time Compression... 'unusual powers'...

Feel like I'm in some sort of loony bin, this place is mental.

[outstandings]

I'm not sure-- the letter didn't tell me much at all. [She sounds both worried and frustrated; Hermione doesn't like this situation at all.]

Regardless, I don't think they'd appreciate it much if they knew we could do magic; we should keep our wands out of sight unless we really need to use them.

[She opens her bag then, depositing both the letter and course guide inside before drawing the strings shut.]

We should look around and see if we can find Harry-- I don't know how this could have happened! I know I had a clear vision of the forest when we apparated away...

[lionizations]

What? [His look was one of utter confusion.] We didn't apparate anywhere, you were already in bed. And Harry - he was there as well.

[Ron shakes his head, looking around at the cadets who are eying them warily as they pass them. He's not wearing his uniform and by the looks of it, neither is Hermione.] I remember gettin' ready for bed, then I was here.

[outstandings]

Getting to bed? [The expression Hermione is wearing? Confused, unimpressed, and of course rather annoyed.]

What are you talking about? We weren't getting ready for bed-- we had just barely escaped the Death Eaters! We were apparating away from the Lovegoods', don't you remember?

[lionizations]

[But Hermione's always unimpressed and annoyed with him. Ron knows by now how to deal with it, although her moodswings are another thing entirely.]

No - Hermione, we were getting ready to tuck in for the night. You don't remember? Me and Harry came back from destroying the Horcrux. We never got 'round to going to see Luna.

[outstandings]

What? [The look of annoyed bewilderment never leaves her-- she obviously doesn't believe a word he says.] No, that was days ago-- we all agreed to go to the Lovegoods to ask Xenophilius about the marks in the books, don't you remember? We barely escaped the Death Eaters that Xenophilius summoned to try and capture us.

[lionizations]

We've been here one day, 'Mione, and you're acting completely mental. [He notices the look she's wearing and returns it with a frown.] We'll find a way back home, and we'll find Harry, you'll see.

[outstandings]

One day? [Alright, Hermione is just getting annoyed now.] It's been days since you've returned! We stayed in the forest for several days following your return before I brought up the idea to go to the Lovegoods to Harry, then we apparated to their home! You-- you must've hit your head as you arrived here or something, that's the only reason why you can't remember.

[lionizations]

No, I don't remember any of it because it never happened. [Ron stresses the last two words on a scowl now, hiking his pack up on his shoulder.]

[outstandings]

[Out of habit, Hermione's nose flare for a brief second as her body visibly straightens, lips pressed into a straight line.]

Never mind, then. [Her tone is quite snappy.] We need to find Harry, then we can figure out whatever has happened. I'm sure Harry will remember everything as clearly as I do.

[lionizations]

Bet you're wrong.

I bet that when we do find Harry, he'll be just as messed up from where we all come as we are now.

[If she wants to play the lip-press game, Ron can do that too.]