Open RP - Hermione is unpopped

[curlybrain.livejournal.com]

There were things everyone in Hermione Granger's world knew for a fact. Everyone knew that Slytherins were racist Muggle-hating xenophobes, for example. Everyone knew, too, that You-Know-Who had been a cruel, sadistic torturer, and not, say, a poor, mistaken soul who really wanted to be loved. And Hogwarts... Well, it was a place of higher learning. It had its quirks, but ultimately, it was the sort of place she'd always wanted to go back to after seventh year, maybe to teach Charms or Arithmancy, because she was proud of its long and varied history.

In the Hogwarts of Hermione's experience, there was not a room full of giant popcorn kernels in glass cases. Nor was it appropriate for her to find herself in said room after a night poring over advanced arithmantic equations. Yet here she was.

Sighing, Hermione stood up and absently performed a scourgify spell, cleaning her robes of the residue of salt and grease that had accumulated.

The presence of so many giant popcorn kernels was actually quite ominous, if she thought about it, and so Hermione picked her way through the room to the door.

Once outside, she looked around, spying the familliar corridors of Hogwarts. She didn't know if this was some dream she was having, or if some spell had gone awry, but she reasoned it wouldn't be too hard to find McGonnagall or Flitwick or... Well, no, she wouldn't find Dumbledore here, she thought, feeling unaccountably empty at the thought.

But she didn't find either of them, and she found her steps moving toward Gryffindor. The portrait at the door of the common room eyed her askance as she approached.

"You're supposed to be in Ravenclaw," the image informed her.

"You're mistaken," said Hermione briskly. "And where's the Fat Lady?"

"Dunno," the portrait responded unhelpfully, and swung open to admit her into the common room, never again to have a part in this RP.

One glance at the common room, with its workout equipment had Hermione turning briskly around and heading back out into the hall. How could anyone study in that environment? She most definitely did not approve.

Still looking for a familliar face, she kept wandering. As she passed students in the hall, she became aware that none of them looked familliar. Most of them were older than they should have been, and in the case of one gentleman, who was wearing a suit and carrying a box of parchments, they didn't all look like wizards.

The real highlight, though, she had to admit, was the sight of a naked woman kneeling in a convenient alcove doing... Oh, sweet Merlin... Hermione wasn't going to think of the things the woman was doing to that poor house elf. Sure, there was S.P.E.W, and then there was... that.

"Everything's gone mad," Hermione stated to nobody in particular as she hurried in the opposite direction from the naked woman.

She pinched herself experimentally, but did not immediately wake up to discover she'd been dreaming.

With a sigh, Hermione found a wall to lean against outside the Great Hall. She folded her arms across her chest and frowned, looking for someone familliar who could explain what all this nonsense was about.

Comments

[gourmetchairman.livejournal.com]

He's faced belligerent people before. He's kept his cool around them too.

"Takeshi Kaga," he bowed to Hermione.

[curlybrain.livejournal.com]

Hermione took that in in silence. "I've never met an Eastern wizard," she said. "Are you here on some kind of exchange program?"

[gourmetchairman.livejournal.com]

He smiled. "No, no. I believe Hogwarts has changed since you attended, miss. People from various countries and time periods have joined Hogwarts."

[curlybrain.livejournal.com]

"But why?" Hermione demanded, as if Kaga would have the answer to one of the deepest questions plaguing Hogwartsian philosophers lately. "Y mean... You're not even of age to be a student." This was going to be a sticking point, clearly.

[gourmetchairman.livejournal.com]

"And all ages," the Chairman amended. "I do not know, miss. It could be that the Sorting Hat wishes to see a variety here at Hogwarts now. It could be that a sanctuary was needed for people, and this was the best choice. All I know is that I came here one day, and aside from a few visits back home I've stayed here."

[curlybrain.livejournal.com]

That still didn't explain everything to Hermione's satisfaction. But at least she could live with that. "I see," she said. "And what is it that you did prior to finding yourself here?" she inquired politely.

[gourmetchairman.livejournal.com]

"I run the Gourmet Academy. It's a school for prospective chefs, though it's more well known for my Iron Chefs and their battles."

[curlybrain.livejournal.com]

"What's that got to do with magic?" Hermione wanted to know. For a smart girl, she was being entirely too dense about this sort of thing.

[gourmetchairman.livejournal.com]

"Absolutely nothing. I didn't start learning magic until I came here."

[curlybrain.livejournal.com]

"So you're a Muggle, then?" Hermione asked slowly. "Not that there's anything wrong with that at all. I'm Muggleborn myself."

[gourmetchairman.livejournal.com]

"By wizarding definitions, yes I am. Quite a number of us are, actually. I don't even know of anyone native to the wizarding world, though there must be one somewhere."

[curlybrain.livejournal.com]

"Hmm, that's interesting," mused Hermione, summoning parchment and quill to write a note to herself. Look up Muggles acquiring magic later in life in the library and see if any of the texts therein might have some clues. Kaga seemed like a nice enough bloke, and she was curious about his wandwork (not *that* kind of wandwork), but didn't think it prudent to ask about it.

[gourmetchairman.livejournal.com]

Oh GOD NO.

"I apologize for not being much help, Miss..."

[curlybrain.livejournal.com]

"Granger," Hermione said. "Hermione Granger. And I do appreciate the explanation you were able to give me, even if it seems strange to me."

[gourmetchairman.livejournal.com]

"Then I hope you adjust, and we meet again, Granger-san."