and we're happy to share our ending vicariously

[cleverness]

The stables which newly appeared with the change of scenery reminded Hermione a bit of home. The similarities weren't that great in number; the sky was too arid, the sun too relentless, and surely the garb alone was jarring. If anything, April felt a bit like living in a film, a certain slice of culture that Hermione hadn't expected to acquaint herself with and one that seemed perfectly constructed for the silver screen. Yet, the horse stables felt like home, perhaps because ever since the age of twelve, Hagrid and his animals had been a constant in Hermione's life, and one that she sorely missed.

They were nothing like the monsters Hagrid tended to prefer, admittedly, the horses beautiful and largely tame. There were wilder stallions who ran in the distance, but Hermione had no desire to try and break them in. Instead, she stood by the stables out of curiosity, smiling as she watched them bob down occasionally to the water trough, no doubt just as thirsty as the rest of them.

As for Hermione, she'd come here for a reason. Ginny's disappearance was one that shook her, in its way. Perhaps that wasn't unexpected— Ginny was, after all, the best girl friend Hermione had ever had, and losing her was like losing a part of herself. But neither did it draw panic out of Hermione, who believed that what came after the island wasn't necessarily positive or negative, but instead just another leg of life. Surprises were to be expected. Losses as well.

It was enough to make her restless and draw her out of the offices, but not enough to fall apart, and maybe that was something she'd gotten used to in the past years as well.

Comments

[halfscarlet]

With the month nearly gone, Billy intends on getting in all the cowboy stereotypes he hasn't mastered (or tried to master) yet. One of them is horse riding, and while he's had a few lessons and isn't the most comfortable on one, he sometimes likes heading out to the stables and just hanging out with them for a little while.

Which sounds weird, but it really isn't.

He always expects someone to be around, whether an actual islander or a fake stable hand, but he doesn't expect to see someone familiar, let alone Hermione. She's the last person he'd expect to see around the horses, but then again, he wouldn't have thought he would enjoy being around them either.

"Hey, Hermione," he says, spurs clicking as he walks over, grin on his face. "I didn't know you liked horses."

[cleverness]

Turning with a smile, Hermione brightens immediately, waving in Billy's direction. Whether or not it's the result of having grown accustomed to loss, in a way— or at least to expect it, even if each hits her in a different way— Hermione manages to pick herself up quickly enough from her thoughts, finding that they don't have a place here. There are plenty of friends she still has on the island, friends she won't reunite with if she returns home.

And there's value in cherishing those exactly as they are.

"Billy," she greets, arms again crossing over her chest as she continues to lean against the beam. "I'm... actually not strictly a fan of horses. I don't dislike them either, mind, but having them here in the stables, and so many of them as opposed to the island, reminds me a bit of home."

[halfscarlet]

"Yeah?" Billy doesn't recall any horses at Hogwarts -- either from the books or from visiting it once with Harry -- but considering Hermione went there, he'll defer to her on that one. "I'm not used to them, but I figured if I wanted the whole cowboy experience, I should be able to ride one, so I've been learning."

[cleverness]

"I wasn't really so used to horses, but we had, occasionally, other breeds our gamekeeper kept about for lessons," Hermione considers, stepping closer to a horse and carefully reaching her hand out, reminded of Buckbeak and the first time all of her year had greeted the herd of hippogriffs. "Unicorns, once. Hippogriffs for quite some time. We also had visitors from a rival school who brought the most majestic flaming horses you ever did see, quite intimidating in their own right."

Her lips quirked into a grin. "Admittedly, I didn't often try to ride any of the former, aside from Buckbeak, I suppose. So you're bolder than I am in that respect."

[halfscarlet]

Sometimes it strikes Billy that his friends are actually from Hogwarts, where they can throw around words like unicorns, Hippogriffs and flaming horses as though it were just another day at school. Which it was.

"You make me feel like being a teenage superhero isn't that cool," Billy says lightly, unable to suppress a grin. "You really saw unicorns?"

[cleverness]

"Being a teenage superhero is much more impressive, trust me," Hermione replies with a soft smile, shaking her head. "Remember that we were... well, I wouldn't want to say your average witches and wizards, but what we could do was simply the product of hard work, and the rest was out of necessity. We didn't really make the decision to devote the rest of our lives to being above and beyond in the way you did."

Wrinkling her nose momentarily, Hermione shakes her head. "Although I should be fair. I'm sure that Harry will continue doing the work he's done for many years to come. And I think Ron might also decide to put his efforts towards fighting the Dark Arts. I don't think I'm up for it, though. So I really have to admire and commend all of you who make that decision for yourselves."

[halfscarlet]

It still freaks Billy out a little to hear things like that; despite doing what he can because it's right -- that much he'll accept -- he doesn't think of himself as a hero yet. Not the way Cap and Iron Man and Thor are heroes. The very idea of being in the same league makes his face flush.

"Thanks," he mumbles, that being the only thing he'll say about it in favor of more important things. Namely, Hermione thinking she's not up to anything Harry or Ron could do. "Why do you say that? You're smart enough to do anything you want, Hermione. And considering all you did with Harry and Ron, I think you're already counted along with us."

[cleverness]

"Oh, don't misunderstand, I... I know that I'm more than capable of pulling my weight," Hermione stammers, cheeks coloring in embarrassment as she shakes her head, trying for humility— but humility has never fully fit her character, Hermione supposes. "I'm sure that I could become an Auror and fight the Dark Arts if I wanted, but there's a difference, I think, between being capable of pulling that weight, and feeling it your passion."

Sighing, but with a faint smile on her lips, Hermione shakes her head as she leans against one of the support beams.

"I don't know if it's what I want to do. If needed, I would never hesitate, but sometimes I think movements in government can be just as important. There need to be better policies to begin with."