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

[curlybrain.livejournal.com]

"I... graduated," said Hermione. "And then I went to study advanced magic in Australia. And now it appears I'm back and everything's... quite changed." She twisted some of the loose material of her robe anxiously. She was still more than a little convinced the new and improved Hogwarts was some extensive dark enchantment.

[hannibal-sefton.livejournal.com]

Noticing the hesitation in her voice and the nervous gesture, Hannibal responds kindly. "Have you a room or dormitory to which I may show you, or may I find you something to eat? My own arrival was quite sudden and though welcome and congenial, a little disorienting. May I ask to which House you belong? I myself am Ravenclaw, and very pleased with the wealth of information and new disciplines one may study."

[curlybrain.livejournal.com]

"The portrait said I was a Ravenclaw, too," said Hermione, still clearly not over this point. "But I'm not. I was a Gryffindor prefect!"

[hannibal-sefton.livejournal.com]

"Oh!" Hannibal was a little surprised. "I had been given to understand there was no prefect system in place! Though it strike me as odd at the time, when there are Houses and no Heads of Houses. But perhaps if you are in Gryffindor, yet the portrait suggests Ravenclaw, we could visit the Sorting Room and ask the Sorting Hat for some clarification?"

Poor Hannibal. He is very fond of the Sorting Hat and quite trusting, welcoming this excuse. In fact... he had just been in the library considering outre knitting patterns for the gift exchange.

[curlybrain.livejournal.com]

Hermione shook her head, rather adamantly, but made herself not snap at the nice gentleman. "No, I'll manage, thank you," she said. "I intend to stay in Gryffindor until someone thinks to remove me... If I'm really not supposed to be there." This was quite a rebellious stance for strictly by the book Miss Granger, but it was one she felt strongly enough about to maintain.

[hannibal-sefton.livejournal.com]

Hannibal is a little taken aback at this defiant attitude, for everyone at the school had been generous and well-disposed towards him, even kind. Furthermore, he is fond of his house, even proud. "Perhaps you really ought to be in Gryffindor, after all. I wish you well in your studies."

He bows again politely, though with slight disappointment that he will not be paying another call upon the Sorting Hat.

[curlybrain.livejournal.com]

Hermione caught his disappointment and felt bad for it. "Thank you," she told him with what she hoped was a polite smile.