( open ) ϟ put on your war paint

[brainiest]

Who: Hermione Granger
Where: Building #2, Floor #2 OR Building #1, Floor #3
When: Backdated to a couple of days ago!
Summary: Hermione is being haunted and she doesn't like it.
Warnings: None, apart from nasty spirit stuff!

[ Hermione is staggering through the building, her hands shaking and her eyes wide as she tries to make her way to the one place she actually knows she might be alright - that is, strangely enough, the apartment of one Draco Malfoy. The flashes of her vision are still rocketing through her mind, her busy brain trying to decipher it as best she can while feeling so weak and tired, the shadow still seeming to follow her, looking over her shoulder and taking what little stores of energy she feels like she still might have.

She tried to sleep after she had attempted to help the woman that had appeared before her, reaching out and wanting to talk, to discuss - because Hermione was all too used to ghosts - but the touch seemed to send a chill through her body, twisting her stomach and causing her to falter. Even the woman's words still haunt her, the vision of fire and bright, brilliant light; "O mournful voice of Creation, grant thy humble servant Thy Light that I may use Thy power to quench the unruly flames of those who've strayed."

Even magic isn't making her feel better and, for a long, deperate moment, Hermione wishes she can stick herself in a dungeon and brew a potion to make herself feel better. Unsure what's going on, all Hermione can think is that her sickness, the way she knows that she needs to touch someone even though she had settled with her back against Draco's not so long ago. She doesn't understand, and that frustrates her more than anything else.

Finally making her way to the second floor, she settles down at the top of the stairs and rubs her eyes, feeling her stomach turn. She feels like she's having flashbacks to Malfoy Manor, where the torture had almost broken her spirit entirely - but she can't dwell on that. No matter how much she might want to just wait it out, the negative thoughts rubbing at her mind, she fights back. ]

Merlin, Granger, pull yourself together!

Comments

[brainiest]

[ Taking the tea with a grateful smile, Hermione settles it between her fingers on her lap, content to just... Listen for a moment. He seems so sad, so... Lonely, in a way, that it tugs at her heartstrings. It's like the way she had seen the desperation in others who had been alone and hurt for so long - like Sirius, not so many years ago.

She nods her head, settling up and watching him carefully, prepared to comfort him. The knowledge of his age doesn't shock her as much as it could, considering she's used to century old vampires and ancient house elves, but it's still a surprise. ]

Special. [ She nods. ] Please, go on.

[unionjackoff]

[lonely was a great word to describe England, and perhaps maybe all countries at some point or another. but England would be a lonely individual even if he was just a normal human. that was just his personality.

he smiles serenely when she speaks and lifts his eyes to face her again. well, might as well get out with it]

When a group of people... humans... come together, a country is born. I am a nation, or rather, the embodiment of one. I live for as long as the country lives. I feel the dreams and desires of my people, but also the pain of war and disasters. My goals are supposed to be the same as my leaders, and my duty is to remain strong for my citizens.

[brainiest]

[ Her eyes widen as she watches him and tries to take in the information. A country, the physical embodiment of an entire nation, was - well, it was shocking to say the least. She sat back in her chair as she tried to register it. A single soul tied to his people, feeling their dreams but also their pain and suffering. Having to follow the regulations that his people set, the Governments, all of it - it sounds terrible and her heart aches all the more.

It wasn't easy to accept, but Hermione was open-minded (she was a witch, for Merlin's sake) and had become... Used to strange, unexplainable things, especially here.

She puts her tea to one side, leaning over and licking her lips. She's always been particularly smart and, honestly, the accent and living in London did give away which country, exactly he was. ]

A country - an entire country. [ She pauses. ] ... England?

[unionjackoff]

[his smile widens and he nods] That's right.

[what reason did he have to lie? it wasn't like England was announcing who he was publicly on the network. on the contrary, he was secretive about who he was. he knew many people wouldn't believe him, and being a country in a world where England wasn't supposed to exist didn't really give him any political standing. he was in the same boat as all the other-worlders were.

after a moment, something seemed to occur to him and he reached into his pocket for his wallet. England shuffled around in there before pulling out a card to hand to her. it looked legal, an identification card that stated who he was, with an embossed seal]

All of us... countries, I mean... have one of these! America's here too. [now he was excited to have someone know who he really was. whether or not Hermione fully believed his story was another matter entirely, but England was placated after revealing his true identity]

[brainiest]

[ Hermione reaches out and takes the card, looking it over. It's incredibly official, embossed, sealed, and it stated who he was. She read it over a few times, sealing it to memory, before passing it back into his hand.

It all seems so impossible, if she's being honest with herself, but she has no reason not to say that he's lying. All the evidence supports his claim and Hermione is from a world where unicorns, elves, werewolves and vampires roam the land alongside witches and wizards and giants - how can she, with all her knowledge, turn around and claim that someone else, someone from a world as different to hers as this one was, was lying to her about what he was - who he was?

True, it would take some time for her to get used to it, but she liked Arthur. He had been nothing but kind and courteous with her, almost sweet, and it was nice to have someone here who knew England - and the irony wasn't lost on her at all in that regard - as home, that knew about her life but didn't want to interrogate her about it or bombard her with information about her fictional status. ]

Then it's very nice to meet you, England - though I suppose you'd rather I call you Arthur? [ Perceptive as always; she can tell that this is something kept secret, incredibly so, and very close to the man's heart. ] I'd really like to meet America too, one day - what's his name? I'll keep an eye out on the network.

[unionjackoff]

I prefer England, since that is my real name. [he puts the card and wallet away] Though, if you are more comfortable, Arthur is fine. And America is Alfred. He's a loud idiot, so he is hard to miss.

[brainiest]

No, no, England is fine. It's your comfort I care about, honestly.

[ She picks up her tea again, taking a long sip - it's actually rather good for how displeased England had seemed about it. ]

Alfred - I see. Don't worry, I'm used to loud idiots.

[ Did you mean: Ronald Weasley. ]

[unionjackoff]

[England's used to much finer tea, the finest in all of his land, stuff that goes for a lot of money. and he gets it all for free. so, yes, this tea makes him sad. if he wants better tea, he'll have to get a job!]

I suppose you are. [a soft smirk into his cup] Though I suppose America does have some good points. For instance, he's been becoming friendly with the local officials here in hopes of gleaning some useful information on our whereabouts, and such.

[and that was all the praise his precious America would get]

[brainiest]

[ She can't help her laugh, shaking her head - maybe England's relationship with America is more like her own with Ron than she had actually thought. ]

That's good! I haven't been able to do much as of yet - I've barely even touched any research about this place and none of the books that were brought here with me are any help whatsoever. It's so frustrating!

[ She sighs, shaking her head and pushing hair away from her face. ]

[unionjackoff]

[what was she laughing about?]

There isn't much to read here. Apparently, most of the history books and scrolls detailing Saeng Seong's history were supposedly taken away by religious zealots. I've been trying to find out what I can by talking to the natives.

[brainiest]

Really?

[ Hermione's eyes widen and she purses her lips, looking frustrated. She'd hoped to delve into the tomes and learn at least something, but if the books had been taken... She probably wouldn't be able to summon them even if she tried, the magic here was strange, but... ]

Merlin, we're completely helpless here, aren't we?

[unionjackoff]

Not hopeless. As I said, America and I are still looking for ways out. I also spoke to your friend, mister Malfoy. He's not happy, so I think he will help me.

[don't lose hope, citizen! England is here to protect you!]

[brainiest]

Then I'll have to do whatever I can to help you, won't I?

[ She sits up a little straighter, looking quite pleased with the idea of being useful in this place. Maybe she could go to the library anyway, see if there's any random passage in a dusty old book she could use… ]

Malfoy and I - we're not - I mean… We're not really friends.

[unionjackoff]

Oh no?

[England was being facetious. still, it would be nice to hear about their relationship from Hermione's own point of view. he leaned forward a bit]

[brainiest]

We're not exactly enemies, but... I suppose we've called a truce, for now, just to help each other.

[ She shakes her head, smiling to herself. ]

[unionjackoff]

That's a good strategy. [England sits back and sips some more tea] In any case, I'm certain with you two helping out, we'll be in good shape. Just remember to keep your eyes peeled for anything.