when is a question not a question

[mudblood_andproud]

Hermione has her hands full when she enters the Nexus today. She has a large box in her hands, which has Crookshanks laying on top of it.

"Where do you want to go?" She speaks to the cat softly. He blinks at her a couple of times. Hermione smiles softly, and heads towards the Grand Library. Their favorite place to visit. The same place where they first visited when they entered this area of the Nexus, so many months ago.

She sets down the box gently. Crookshanks closes his eyes, content with the location. He seems to be guarding the box. Or whatever is inside the box.

Hermione doesn't seem to have a question today. She pulls a large book out of her small beaded bag. And gives Crookshanks another fond smile, petting him softly.

Crookshanks seems to be waiting for someone to appear. Who could it be?

Comments

[not_the_question]

Since she went to the effort, he will go ahead and sit down. He tries not to grimace as he sits, but sighs with relief when he's finally sort of comfortable.

"This is helping. Well, sort of. It's a long story. But this is how Time Lords cheat death. Only, I sort of did die, I mean I do remember dying, and I don't think even my magnificent brain can invent something like that."

He offers a sheepish grin. "Anyway. The TARDIS brought me here. And something about this place... is letting me stay like this."

[mudblood_andproud]

"I have known a few wizards who cheated death. They exist in magical portraits now."

Hermione frowns a little, learning that he died.

"So perhaps the TARDIS knew where you needed to belong?"

[not_the_question]

He offers a sad smirk.

"I don't know how I survived. Or rather, how I was brought back. But the TARDIS bringing me here? I think it was to give me time. Time to think. Time to decide what to do..."

Or to force him to live. Which he's sort of forced to do right now.

[mudblood_andproud]

"I am glad you are taking that opportunity to think." Especially in this situation.

"Is that what brings you to the library today?"

[not_the_question]

"You can actually thank Harley for that. She can be quite -- convincing -- when she wants to be."

She took care of him when he had first arrived. Made him eat, bathe, rest. For one night, in a way, the universe took care of him for a change.

"Er, I suppose after a fashion it is. But, ultimately, it's because there are all kinds of books here that I would never have in my own universe, so taking the opportunity to explore things I wouldn't be able to. You?"

[mudblood_andproud]

"I have never met Harley. So unfortunately, I don't know who she is." Hermione thinks that the name is familiar. From during the Halloween chaos.

"Crookshanks asked me to bring him here." She looks over at the orange yellow cat. Who opens his eyes briefly to meet her eyes.

"He is waiting for some people. To leave behind his legacy."

[not_the_question]

"Oh, I hope you do one day. I think you two would have a lot to teach and learn from each other."

But then the Doctor pretty much thinks that about practically everyone.

"He's not dying, is he? Just not going to come here often? Or something else?"

Sorry, permanent endings are kind of on his mind.

[mudblood_andproud]

"He is at the end of his life." Hermione answers softly. And pets the soft fur of her precious familiar again. Drawing on his peace with the situation so she doesn't get upset.

[not_the_question]

"Oh, that. Well, yes. That comes to us all. Even Time Lords. So when you say legacy..."

Really, when it comes to animals, that can only mean one thing.

"...Did he leave you with one?"

[mudblood_andproud]

Hermione pats the box beside her. There is a soft mewing from inside.

"Me. And a few others."

"Would you like to see them?"

[not_the_question]

He pulls his lip for a moment in thought.

"Ah, best not. Hardly know what this energy does to humans. Let alone a magical cat. Besides, once you've been chased by cats in wimples, well, let's just say you never look at any of them the same again."

He still has nightmares about his adventures on New Earth every now and then.

[mudblood_andproud]

"It must be difficult to have that energy, and watch your every little decision."

[not_the_question]

"No more so than any other decision of your life. The only difference is having an understanding of the sort of damage it might cause."

Besides, he's just not fond of cats and this is less rude way to go about declining the offer.

"More important question is how are you? Can't be easy doing this."

[mudblood_andproud]

"It is not. But it is important to Crookshanks." And she just wants to respect his wishes.

[not_the_question]

He hums in agreement. "And he's important to you... I get it."

It's one of the reasons why he's still unsure about regenerating. The more he saves and teaches the Universe to fend for herself, the more she seems to need him. Whereas he just wants to rest.

"Anything I can do?"

[mudblood_andproud]

"Your company means a lot to us." Hermione smiles. "It is a nice distraction."

[not_the_question]

"Oh, well, if it's distraction you want, you should have said."

He offers a small smile.

"I could tell you a story. Or read one... not like we're lacking for reading material here."

[mudblood_andproud]

"I do enjoy stories. Up to you, if you wish to tell one, or read one to us."

[not_the_question]

He nods and thinks quietly for a moment. He doesn't want to think about Bill, or Nardole, or River. He has a lot of patchwork stories that surround Clara because of the neural block. But there was one that felt kind of patchwork anyway.

"Did I ever tell you that I have proof that a 2-dimensional universe exists?"

[mudblood_andproud]

"You did. What was that universe like?"

[not_the_question]

He chuckles. "Sorry, so many stories hard to remember who I've told. I didn't go to their universe. They found a way through and came to ours. Easier that way. I mean, we need three dimensions for function. But, at first when they got here, they were just trying to understand us. But, really I think they were trying to take us over - become like us. But they were very scientific about it all. Dissections and the like."

[mudblood_andproud]

"That does sound like a very scientific way to understand something else."

"But it is always a mystery to me why one culture always wants to 'take over' another, to gain a better understanding."

[not_the_question]

"Well, it only looks like taking over from one perspective. Or do you think plants enjoy being chopped up and ground to bits?"

He offers a bit of a smirk, because he already knows the answer to that.

[mudblood_andproud]

"I know of a few plants that would be very upset." Hermione nods slightly. "Others would consider it their destiny."

[not_the_question]

"Yes, but the majority would be upset. I've asked."

Well, he's asked the TARDIS, anyway. It's good enough for him.

"The problem with the Boneless, was even after they learned they were destroying things, hurting us, killing us, they continued to do it. They started to wear the dead like camouflage. I had a problem with that. So with the help of the TARDIS, I sent them back to their home universe."

He looks off in the distance.

"But in a place like this... anything is possible. They could find their way here."