nexus_crossings | when is a question not a question

when is a question not a question

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?

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"Why is that? Did you get hurt?"

"His name is Crookshanks. And he was more worried about you disturbing the kittens." Hermione explains. "You are outside the Grand Library."

"Some asshole fucked up my eye, yeah... looked like he escaped from a fuckin' Shakespeare troupe. Goatee. Spoutin' dumbass riddles. Watch out for the guy. He's more dangerous than he looks."

Majima tilts his head around, as if he could hope to confirm Hermione's response. He lets out an exasperated sigh. "Shit. Some good a buncha lousy books'll do me. I was hopin' to find a bite to eat."

Hermione frowns slightly. "You fell into the snow didn't you?"

"I have some food in my bag. Here sit..." Because she wants to see if she can help him. And will guide him to a seat, far enough away from Crookshanks and the box."

"Yeah. PINpointed right into that fuckin' mess."

Majima cautiously follows her guidance and feels around before taking a seat. He rests his hands on the handle of his umbrella. "Why're ya hangin' out here with a box 'a kittens? Tryin' to get rid of 'em?"

"He put a magical curse on you?" Hermione is very concerned now. She is casting a diagnosis spell over him, as he sits there.

"Crookshanks has intended that some of his dear friends get one of the kittens."

"I dunno," he says with a shrug. "Just burned the crap out of my eye with some kinda flash? Guess it mighta been magic? I'm just prayin' this shit ain't permanent."

Majima furrows his eyebrows. "Your cat ... has friends? I didn't think cats gave two shits about people. I mean, unless you fed 'em, maybe."

"Most magic is not permanent. Usually there is a way to cure a situation."

Crookshanks twitches his tails, as he listens to Majima.

"Crookshanks is a very extra-ordinary creature." Hermione laughs softly.

That's the best news Majima's heard all day. "Really? You got some magic know how, miss? 'cause I don't know fuck all about this stuff. The only magic we got in my world is pullin' rabbits from hats and boring card tricks."

He cocks his head to one side. "Most people think pretty highly of their pets. What makes 'im special?"

"My world has a very high occurrence of magic. I, myself, am a witch."

"And Crookshanks is my familiar. He also has his own magical abilities."

"Huh. Ain't met a real witch before." He bobs his head, as if it would help him see Hermione better. "Don't tell me ya got a pointy hat and a broom there."

His stomach makes a sharp growl and he frowns, remembering the motivation that brought him to the Nexus in the first place. "Not to be a total beggar, but ya said ya had some food?

"No poison witch apples, though, 'kay? I can't afford to be in some kinda Snow White situation," he quips with a laugh.

"I was never a fan of brooms. The height is a little too much for me." Hermione smiles. "But I know of a few witches who do wear pointy hats."

Hermione waves her wand above her beaded bag. And soon pulls out a picnic basket, that she sets beside him. He might smell roast beef sandwiches, fruit, and fried chicken.

"No one to kiss you awake?" She hands him a sandwich.

Majima was expecting some kind of snack, but his mouth starts watering when he sudddenly smells a legit smorgasbord. "Damn! You just had all this on ya? Did ya just do some fancy magic and I didn't even get to see it? Shit."

He feels the sandwich in his hands and gives it an experimental sniff. Nexus food is always cause for caution, but he's desperately hungry. After he chews and swallows a bite. "I got at least one lady who'd be up to the task, so I'm not too worried. But she might wash her hands of me if she knew I was so lousy about judgin' danger around here."

"I did some fancy magic. I am still doing fancy magic." Hermione returns to casting a scanning spell over his head, so she can see the extent of the damage done to his eyes.

"So that means she doesn't know about your situation?"

Majima is doing magic of his own, making that sandwich utterly disappear. "What're ya doin' now? Can ya tell what that shitlord did to my eye?"

He pops the last bite in his mouth and it's gone. "Nope, she doesn't know. Didn't want her gettin' worried."

"I am trying to determine if it was a spell, or other damage. And if it can be healed." Hermione explains.

"Would you rather she find out from someone else, and then be upset you didn't talk to her?"

"Don't get thrown off by the left one. That one was already long gone."

Ugh, who is this lady? Calling him out on his communication skills (or lack thereof). Majima grimaces. "Look, she's already dealin' with enough crap without me pilin' on my own stupid mistakes. Maybe this'll just go away and everything'll be peachy. She wouldn't even have to know!"

Hermione smiles a little. "It does not bother me. One of the Order of Phoenix had a mechanical eye, to replace one he had lost during the first Wizarding War."

She senses that a change of topic might be necessary. And perhaps she is overstepping her boundaries again, and needs to make sure she doesn't upset him. Like she did with Reynard.

"I apologize. I do not want to assume that you need my help."

"Nah, don't worry. I didn't mean to get snippy 'bout it, either. 'specially after you bein' nice enough to gimme food and help with whatever the fuck's goin' on."

He realizes he's just barged into this poor woman's situation and blurts, "If ya need to help yer cat friend with whatever his thing is, I can get a move-on."

"I got caught in the snow too. I had a disagreement with Reynard about how I escaped the situation." Hermione moves to sit down. Crookshanks moves slowly into her lap.

"You do not have to do that." She reassures him. In all honestly, his situation is distracting her about Crookshanks situation. And losing her familiar.

Majima latches onto this new information immediately, his jaw tightening. "Reynard? That's his name? He was givin' you shit too?"

"Reynard North. I met him at Christmas."

"He was... unhappy that I used my magic to get out of the snow. That I cheated..."

"That guy has a real fucked up sense of right and wrong. So bein' a witch and all, you could tell he's doin' some kinda magic?"

Majima realizes he's focusing an awful lot on someone else's name before he's even properly introduced himself. "Name's Majima, by the way."

"It was his magic. Nothing from my world."

"Oh. I'm Hermione." She tells him.

Majima sighs and rubs a palm over his face, rasping over a day's worth of stubble. "So, Hermione-san, that means ya can't just go 'abracadabra' and undo whatever it is he did?"

"No."

"But I have some healing herbs that might help. Can I place a mixture over your eye?"

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