→ o1. [video]

[aperfectthird]

[The feed opens quite abruptly on a young man looking into the device with a combination of consternation and confusion. A finger appears and taps on the screen, then the view promptly swings around to a pair of perfectly polished dress shoes. The view shakes for a moment before coming back to Percy's face, brow still furrowed.]

Oh, I think it's one of those communication devices - felly - no - telly - telephones? Is it on?

[He speaks loudly now.]

Hello?! Can anyone hear me?

[Beat. He looks worried, biting his lip, then squares his jaw, thinks for a moment, and continues. His tone is firm and authoritative, though those who know him well might be able to spot a very fine thread of fear running through it.]

If anyone can hear me, then I demand safe passage back to England immediately. I am employed by the British government and I guarantee that the Minister will not be pleased to find I have been taken.

I await your response.

Now how do I turn this off?

Comments

Voice;

[alwaysadoe.livejournal.com]

You're speaking on it fairly adeptly.

There's a Welcome Center near the fountain if you need some place to go. They can provide you with shelter, food and tea. At least short term.

Voice;

[aperfectthird.livejournal.com]

Several people have informed me how.

When you say the fountain, I presume you mean the large one in its own courtyard?

Voice;

[alwaysadoe.livejournal.com]

Yes. that would be the one. It seems an arrival point for a good deal of people.

Voice;

[aperfectthird.livejournal.com]

I'll go there, then. Thank you for the information, Miss ... ?

Voice;

[alwaysadoe.livejournal.com]

Mrs. Potter but you may call me Lily.

[aperfectthird.livejournal.com]

[There's a long pause, and one gets the feeling that the rug has been forcibly yanked out from under his feet.]

Lily Potter? It's - really you?

[alwaysadoe.livejournal.com]

small>[There's a moment of surprise, although she's not sure why she is surprised at meeting people from her world's future generation.]

Really me. In the flesh, or in this case voice. [She pauses a moment to switch the device to video so that he can see her. She waves a bit at him.] I was pulled here just after I died.

[She thinks it's best that people know she knows she's dead then they don't feel like they have to avoid mentioning it or wonder if she knows.]

[aperfectthird.livejournal.com]

[He looks like he's been punched in the gut.]

Oh. I - I see.

[And this just got even more surreal.]

So - it's. It's true.

[alwaysadoe.livejournal.com]

[Now she feels guilty. She's not sure why he looks like that but she feels bad for having caused it.]

I'm sorry. [She sounds sincere because she very much is.] But yes, this place can bring people who've died in our world here.

[aperfectthird.livejournal.com]

There's no need to apologize.

I can't - there's no magic this powerful.

[alwaysadoe.livejournal.com]

I know. [She understands his befuddlement. She has been struggling with it a bit as well.]

And yet, I am quite certain I died and here I'm...not so much alive as not dead.

[aperfectthird.livejournal.com]

I'm sorry. I don't follow.

[alwaysadoe.livejournal.com]

[She hesitates a moment, considering the kindest way to explain it.] I've no heartbeat, no need for breath, no body temperature and any food I consume is simply for the pleasure of it or social consideration but very obviously I'm not dead in the manner that we usually think of it.

[aperfectthird.livejournal.com]

You're -

[he's clearly fumbling for words, and his hands aren't visible, but judging from the movement of the camera, he's making some sort of vague gesticulations.]

- you're like a vampire?

[Beat. Horror.]

...oh. I'm so sorry, M - Mrs. Potter, that was immensely rude.

[alwaysadoe.livejournal.com]

[He gets horror in return because she hadn't thought of it like that but then a slight laugh and a head shake.]

No. Not precisely. Well...only a bit. I don't bite people. Or at least not to suck their blood.

Awful sort of diet that'd be.

[aperfectthird.livejournal.com]

It doesn't sound very appetizing, no.

[STILL HORROR OVER HERE. She saved the wizarding world practically single-handedly and he just called her a vampire.]

Thank you for - enlightening me.

[alwaysadoe.livejournal.com]

[Poor Percy. She really doesn't look at it that way though. Despite what the truth may or may not be.]

You're welcome. Have you spoken to your sister about the cabin here?

[aperfectthird.livejournal.com]

Yes, she's mentioned it. I believe George is coming to take me there.

[alwaysadoe.livejournal.com]

In that case, we're certain to meet face to face. Ginny was kind enough to invite me to live there as well.

[aperfectthird.livejournal.com]

[For a moment, he forgets it's video and his face sort of contorts before he forcibly gets it back under control.]

I look forward to it.

[alwaysadoe.livejournal.com]

[She sees that face but she attributes it to the oddness that is knowing she's been dead for a long while. In any case, she won't seek him out. She'll let him come to her in an attempt to alleviate some of the weirdness.]

You'll be all right here, Percy.

[aperfectthird.livejournal.com]

Given time, I'm sure.

[Perhaps.]