01 | Time Compression

[off_beet]

[ To say that Luna is taking being thrown into an alternate dimension rather well is an understatement. At first it was a little alarming to find herself waking up to an enrollment of an entirely different education program after just leaving Hogwarts, to say the least. But after reading the letter sent by the Headmaster explaining the time

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[outstandings]

[Hermione likes taking her studies into the courtyard on a nice day; fresh air does wonders for study, after all. She's sitting on the bench, immersed in one of her many textbooks when she hears the all too familiar, dreamy voice from a bit away.

Startled, Hermione looks up, her eyes immediately drawn to the direction of the voice before the book falls from her hands, hitting the grass on a soft 'thud'.]

Luna...?

[Is this a trick of Time Compression?]

[off_beet]

[ Luna turns, and blinks in surprise at seeing the familiar face. Looks like time compression was a little more meddling than Luna had anticpated.

she stops and smiles ]

Oh, hello Hermione.

[outstandings]

[It's when Luna addresses her does Hermione immediately stand from her bench, quickly making her way to Luna.]

Oh, Luna! Are you alright? Are you hurt? [Hermione is already checking Luna up for visible injuries, her hand immediately going to the satchel around her wrist to pull out the Essence of Dittany should she need it.]

[off_beet]

[ Luna continues to smile placantly at Hermione ]

Oh yes. Aside from a mild headache- though I could see how that might be a side effect of the time compression.

[outstandings]

[Well, Luna certainly looks as though she's well-- not a single scratch on her. But that doesn't stop Hermione from worrying in the slightest.]

We visited your father-- he told us that You-Know-Who took you as captive. [Even if they were in a new world, the fear of the taboo still hasn't worn off.] Are you sure you're alright?

[off_beet]

[ Luna stares blankly at Hermione for a few beats ]

Well. It certainly wasn't the most pleasant of stays, but as it's been a few months since, I must say that I am most definitely starting to feel better.

[outstandings]

[Luna's words slowly register with Hermione, and after a moment of confusion she looks up with a furrowed brow.]

A few months?

[Of course she's heard of time discrepancies during her stay here, but she still refuses that it's possible from their world.]

[off_beet]

Perhaps six?

[ behind her blank stare the cogs are lining up ]

It seems as if we have an...interesting situation to deal with.

[outstandings]

[Sorry, Hermione is still trying to let this all sink in. She's well aware of the possible repercussions when meddling with time, and this certainly seemed like such a situation. But considering everything that was going on in their world, and the apparent time lapse between the two of them, Hermione is dying to ask her a dangerous question.

The struggle is obvious on her features, brows knit and mouth moving wordlessly as she tries to gather her wits. The internal debate is fierce, and finally, finally she asks:]

Everything... everything is well, then?

[off_beet]

[ Luna looks slowly from side to side ]

Well...there is a bit of a mess to clean up.

[outstandings]

A mess? [Her brow furrows in confusion.] What do you mean?

[off_beet]

[ Luna frowns, staring at her shoes ]

I can't help but wonder just how much I should be telling you. If the matter of time compression were to ever bring us back to the points we came from, it may have bigger, larger consequences.

[she twiddles her thumbs]

Though, were you to guess, I think I would be quite powerless to control certain reactions to your guesses were you right.

[outstandings]

[Hermione can't help but agree with Luna's reasoning-- there's a reason why she was sorted into Ravenclaw, after all. There's a long silence that stretches between them as Hermione sorts through her thoughts, debating whether or not to ask. Finally, she takes a deep breath, her voice a bit shaky when she speaks:]

Just tell me... is Harry alright?

[off_beet]

[ Luna taps her chin in thought, thinking on how to word this as carefully as possible]

The last I saw of him, he was finding a way to leave the party with a cloak on.

[outstandings]

[Party? Luna's answer momentarily confuses Hermione until it dawns on her.]

So… so that means that Harry did it? That it's over?

[Not that she doesn't trust Luna, but Hermione will have to see Harry for herself to believe that he's alive and fine.]

[off_beet]

Well, there is a lot to clean up...

[ she gives her a dreamy smile ]

But many people we care for are safe.