Chapter Text
Hermione takes a morning bus from her flat to Croham Hurst Woods. Almost vibrating out of her seat the entire way, despite the hour. She’s doing her best to be calm, as there’s a great deal of excitement inside right now. Not just leaving England, she’s leaving her world. Leaving her solar system!
It’s somewhat of an uphill walk into the park. As always, it’s worth it. Everything is very green at the top, which Hermione feels is appropriate. Green and Pleasant.
She’s some time before Hal arrives, so she finds a bench and attempts to still herself. Sitting in solitude and enjoying her planet. Hermione might not be seeing it again for awhile. Months, not weeks. Or maybe ever. Training will be tough, even fierce at times, Hal had said, and there’s always a possibility of serious injury or death. She’d smiled at that. Nothing as bad as her last school, where serious injury and death had been a probability, almost a certainty. Of all the staff, Madam Pomfrey had always seemed the busiest.
Her travel bag is mostly personal items, as Hal had mentioned to pack light as everything else would be provided. The phrase ‘boot camp’ had come to mind as he discusses his experience, especially his primary instructor. Nothing magical packed either; that had been less a mere mention and more “yeah, seriously, don’t do that.” Bag and wand had been the obvious ones. Others had taken longer as she’d forgotten how many stray items have charms and enchantments on them. She’s gathered a lot over the years, created many of them herself.
Of course, all of this really depends on the Guardians accepting her. Hal feels confident. She’ll simply see what happens. If nothing else, this should make for an eventful day. Hermione’s had several of those recently. Quite the change from the last several years, she thinks, and it’s a good change. There’s an eagerness for the future again that hasn’t been around for far too long.
She’s still alone when Hal arrives. He’s wearing much the same as when she last saw him; the jacket must be a favourite of his. Hermione suddenly realises that she hadn’t really thought about what to wear. She’s going on a long journey, so she’d selected comfortable clothing. Merlin, thankfully it’s not too bad, slacks and blouse with a light coat. Classier than her standard jeans and jumper. Hopefully good enough.
“Heya kiddo. Looks like you’re all packed.” He makes a zooming motion with one hand, and she recalls him saying he’s a test pilot when not a ringslinger. “Ready to go?”
She has a nervous smile, and he gives her a reassuring gaze. “Hey. It’s gonna be good. Trust me. And anyways, no commitments, right?”
“No commitments,” she replies firmly, then more to herself, “Giant Leaps.” Hermione stands and grabs her bag. She takes another long gaze around her and readies herself.
“Let’s do this, shall we? I’ve a ring to earn.” Gryffindor courage at 110 percent.
Hal has that grin again, like he’d after his ring had done its earlier check on her ‘qualifications.’ He walks her out of the clearing to a clump of trees, where he shimmers like a mirage and it’s the three-colour bodysuit again, mask and all. It’s nonverbal, wandless magic at its best, though she knows it’s really neither. It’s still impressive, and something Hermione can’t wait to learn.
His ring flares, and she’s encased in a spherical shell like before. A similar emerald glow forms to cover his entire body. Departure time.
And with that, they’re airborne. It’s a bright, sunny morning and she’s in a green bubble and ascending into the heavens. This is her new life, and Hermione gives a short giggle.
They rise quickly into the atmosphere, moving far higher than any broom or dragon. Passing vertically through clouds, much different than from inside an aeroplane. The ride is smooth as standing still. Nonetheless, Hermione very directly looks up and to the horizon. The flying, or rather the heights, part of the new job could possibly be problematic. Looking at Hal, she can tell he’s in his element. Maybe it can be hers too one day.
She’s more aware of it all this time, less overwhelmed than when he’d brought her back from the Moon. Odd things, like it feels she’s still standing on the ground while suspended in the centre of the bubble. And it’s a translucent green bubble yet she can see colours outside quite normally. The sky is blue, clouds are white. All more ring not-magic, Hermione assumes. More things she can’t wait to learn about.
Then into space. Space! She sees the curvature of the planet, the bright blue rim. Stars forget to twinkle and become coloured dots as the Earth becomes a globe. He levels off and begins a few orbits. All of Britain departs, then Australia rushes by. It’s a cloudless night below in Sydney, and Hermione wonders if her parents see an emerald light moving across the sky.
Hal grins as they leave orbit and speed up. The Moon rushes by, the very one she was on recently.
“I built in some extra time for the trip. How about a scenic route?”
Hermione wildly shakes her head yes.
“Cool, some greatest hits coming up. A few of my faves; you’ll make ones for yourself when you get your own ring.” And she notes the surety of the when, not if. And from the look in his eyes, it’s not an accidental phrasing. She gives him a nod in return.
And then they really speed up. The Earth quickly shrinks to a blue marble, then merely a sapphire dot. It’s hard to tell it’s happening, given the absolute control Hal seems to have over mundane things like inertia, mass, and acceleration. It almost feels like the rest of space is moving around them instead.
First is Mars, and she makes a few quick estimations on their velocity that arrive at ridiculous numbers. He slows as they circle Mons Olympus, and then more of the mad acceleration to several of the larger asteroids. A detour to Jupiter because it’s Jupiter. Kind of a must see, along with several of its moons. “Saturn’s on the other side right now,” he mentions as he carries them along a twisting route through Jovian space. Casually, like it might rain today. Hermione is feeling that her sense of scale is going to be expanding a great deal with the new job. And she’s already looking forward to her return, to really explore more of her wider home.
Then he speeds up even more to pass a very famous, very English comet on its journey to aphelion beyond Neptune. Hermione imagines that being able to pick out one dirty snowball from all the rest is part of training, and there’s yet more eagerness. Then Neptune itself, ghostly blue in the darkness. Hal does… something, and she can suddenly see the ring system around the planet. It’s not Saturn, but it’s still amazing.
They go on past objects that haven’t been discovered yet, by their species anyways. Out where the Sun is just a very bright star. They’re essentially beyond the solar system now, and almost all of it can fit behind her thumb.
Hal sees her looking back. “Kinda neat, huh?”
“It’s… unsettling?” Hermione’s feeling the magnitude of the distance. “From here, you can’t tell we exist. Humans. On Earth, I mean.”
“Trust me, you listen to the right frequencies, we’re pretty loud. No ignoring us.”
She’s not sure if that’s a good or bad thing. She’s rarely enjoyed raucous parties.
“So, that’s home, our system. Ready to see another, kiddo?” The glow around her bubble seems to intensify, as it does around him as well. His ring is almost incandescent.
Hermione feels like she should brace herself, though there’s nothing to hold onto, and puts on a determined look. “Can’t wait.” Gryff spirit still strong.
“Okay then. Things are gonna get weird now, but don’t worry.”
“What?” Merlin’s Bald Spots, that’s rarely a good thing to hear. Some things shouldn’t be said casually, especially given where they are!
There’s an indescribable acceleration, and the stars stretch around her as the universe goes wobbly.
Time passes, though she’s not sure of the duration, and finally stellar lines resolve into recognisable points of light again. Hermione realises that they are on the outskirts of another star system, as far away from its sun as they had been to her own. Hal checks that she’s holding together, and she gives him a thumbs up. Bit shaky, but good.
There’s more of that impossibly fast yet motionless feeling, and one planet is soon before them. A gigantic emerald structure covers a large portion and small green lights arc across the surface like fireflies at night. Oh my. A new world.
“Hermione Granger,” he says, less casual now. “Welcome to Oa.” The grin returns.
“Let’s see about getting you a ring.”