[locked to Tower residents]

[neversought]

Anyone else hear a beating heart in your room?

I'd really appreciate being certain that it isn't only me.

I think I may take to not sleeping tonight.


[locked to friends]

Everyone alright?

Comments

[askthemoon.livejournal.com]

I'm hearing it in mine as well.

[fortisleo.livejournal.com]

Glad to know I'm not going mad then.

Are you alright? Other than hearing the heartbeat, I mean.

[askthemoon.livejournal.com]

I'm fine. A bit unnerved, admittedly, but alright. Are you?

[fortisleo.livejournal.com]

Yeah.

Shaky but okay.

Definitely deciding against sleep tonight.

[askthemoon.livejournal.com]

Be careful.

If you're looking for company, I was planning on heading to the kitchen in a minute.

[fortisleo.livejournal.com]

I'm going to head that way, yes.

[locked]

Hermione's an otter at the moment so she'll want the sink.

[hermiotter.livejournal.com]

[Hermione would reply but she's probably still an otter. u_u]

[fortisleo.livejournal.com]

[Harry would totes check on his otter best frand in her room, knocking and then opening it.

Heartbeat sound can't be good for her in animal form either, can it?]

You still an otter then?

[hermiotter.livejournal.com]

[The heartbeat sound is utterly frightening, and does not help in the wanting to shift back. He will have to step further into her room.

Into the bathroom, more precisely, as it is floating about in the water, its webbed paws splashing around.

It didn't like being too dry. u_u]

[fortisleo.livejournal.com]

[Harry heads into the bathroom and has to pause when he finds her there. As worried and shaken as he may be, it's an amusing sight. Tiny, tiny smile.

He pulls a towel from the towel rack and bends down.]

...right. I am going to pick you up now.

Take you away from the heartbeat. [Maybe he'll go to the cafeteria so she can... remain in the water in the sink.]

[hermiotter.livejournal.com]

[Quite alright, Harry.

The sight of an otter in a bathtub splashing around would amuse anyone. Except Hermione, who is the otter in question. She burrows into him once he's picked her up with the towel, one webbed paw tickling the side of his fais.

Mrrh.

She wants to be useful. Researching! Resolving things!

Not an otter, but she is, alas. A wet, whiskered otter.]

[fortisleo.livejournal.com]

[Harry cannot help the amusement at all, but he does pick up the otter with ease and keep her close within the towel.

He blinks a bit at the paw tickling.

Harry doesn't have to know what she's thinking... to know what she's thinking.]

It's alright. You'll turn back. Be back to researching as you ordinarily would in this circumstance. Nothing to do at the moment but get away from the sound. [If not soon, he'll be looking for help with that. Can't be good to stay an otter so long. And he is concerned.] For now, I'll take you to the cafeteria with me.

To the sink.

[hermiotter.livejournal.com]

[Hermione blinks a bit at the paw tickling.

The otter brain, however, is much more powerful at the moment than Hermione's brain. And considering Hermione's brain?

THAT IS SAYING SOMETHING.

Hermiotter will burrow closer to the towel, sighing a bit. It is completely a Hermione sort of sigh, and not an animal sort of sigh. Harry is right, she just finds this completely humiliating.

Then she will forget all about it as she's set on the sink.

Sooner or later you will have your best friend, Harry.

For now, Hermiotter will frolic and frolic in the water!]

[fortisleo.livejournal.com]

[Harry fills up the sink with cool water, and he'd also like to note that he's left both a towel and a pair of clothes for her should she shift while in the sink.

And he will remain close so no one tries to mess with the otter or take her as a pet.

Ahem.

Not that Mark is around. Yet.]

[sollers.livejournal.com]

[The cool water is very nice. u_u

The otter is preoccupied with it at the moment, splashing around playfully and as if it has no care in the world. It's only until another sound, similar to the one she heard in her bathroom, echoes through the Tower that she is emotionally jolted back into a shift.

Hermione senses it coming, and frantically attempts to tumble out of the sink.

She only manages to do this halfway, shifting in the process and landing smack on the counter and then onto the floor with a thud.

THE MOST UNDIGNIFIED THING EVER.]

[fortisleo.livejournal.com]

[Harry has taken up one of the tables, and he's eating toast and drinking tea that he's put on in case anyone wanders into the cafeteria, looking for a hot drink.

He jumps to his feet at the sound of something hitting the-]

Hermione?

[YES. She has shifted. Yes, this means she's... naked. Harry winces, holding out... the only thing in his hand at the moment which is a cookie.]

Accio towel. [It flies into his hand, and he... keeps his eyes closed and turned away as he walks around the counter to... hold it out to her.]

Are... you alright?

[sollers.livejournal.com]

[Ow.

That hurt. Hermione is livid and that almost, almost blots out her complete embarrassment at this predicament she honestly couldn't have seen coming.]

Of all the completely humiliating, entirely inexorable, absolutely--

[Hermione snatches the towel and wraps it around her quickly.

When she turns back around her hair is bushy and wild and sticking out at unfortunate angles.]

DO I LOOK ALL RIGHT TO YOU?!

[fortisleo.livejournal.com]

[Harry is trying very hard not to look the least bit amused while she goes off on one of her tangents.

It's not so much that he isn't sympathetic, but it's more that-- she was an otter only moments ago being all animal like and enjoying the water. Now she's herself again and ranting.

Harry doesn't quite move like moving might somehow bring that rage down upon him instead.]

I'm actually... not looking. At all.

[He's afraid if he does, he WILL laugh.]

It sounded like a rough fall is what I meant. I knew you'd be embarrassed and angry.

[sollers.livejournal.com]

[This is wise, Harry, as Hermione doesn't think this is amusing in the least.

Never mind the otter was having a ball only minutes ago. It really did enjoy the water and is very grateful for your assistance, Harry.]

Ooh, you know perfectly well what I meant, Harry!

[Her gaze narrows as she sees he is close to laughing. She straightens in place, attempting to look as dignified as possible.]

Let us never speak of this again.

[And with that, she all but flees.]

[lefthertainted]

Only too loudly, unfortunately. I'm relatively certain it isn't dangerous.

[fortisleo.livejournal.com]

That's a relief. Still it can't be too healthy listening to that. Think someone could go mad that way.

What makes you think it isn't dangerous?

[lefthertainted]

Well, yes, madness is certainly a possibility if it goes on too long.

I've met the man responsible for the noise during the first incident a few nights ago. He's completely mad, but it appears he's tied to the hallway he came through in. It's the one that's barricaded down on the first floor, by the way. I wouldn't suggest going in.

[fortisleo.livejournal.com]

That is what I would be afraid of for people. It isn't as if there's not enough that could drive people mad as it is.

I met him as well with my friend Hermione.

Why don't you suggest it? Only because of him?

[locked]

[lefthertainted]

You have? Were you two able to have any kind of coherent conversation with him?

And no, that's not the only reason I don't suggest going down there. The hallway he's in...I don't know the exact details, but bad things have happened there.

Additionally, there is a very strong aura of decay that completely saturates the area. Even after mentally shielding myself, the aura is so strong that it just seeps right through the shields.

Lastly but not the least, I can sense that that part of the Tower is not quite aligned with this universe. I would not want to be in there if it shifted out of alignment enough that I could not get back to the Tower proper.

Mind you, this information is not for public consumption, but I've heard good things about you and trust that you will not share this information with people who would use it for bad ends.

[locked]

[fortisleo.livejournal.com]

No, I wouldn't exactly call it coherent. He mentioned that he'd killed someone or something. A woman. He said he was dead as well.

That's a bit on the vague side. I'd rather avoid bad things, but isn't there any way to fix the hallway? Instead of leaving it for bad things to happen to people at?


I wouldn't at all. I'll keep it to myself, and I will try to steer clear of the Tower. I've already fallen from one universe into another without any control or any way back. I'd rather not do that again.

Thank you.

[And not used to being well known inna Rift, he has to ask.]

Who did you hear good things about me from?

Re: [locked]

[lefthertainted]

That's about what I got from him as well.

If there is a way to fix it, I don't know it. As long as we keep people from wandering into it, it hasn't been a problem--or, at least for as long as I've been here. I've been keeping an eye out for more information, but it's not really a high priority at the moment.

As long as you stay out of that particular area, you should be fine. The rest of the Tower is quite stable, save for the the occasional few who find themselves on a trip to Narnia--but those people almost all come back, and in one piece as well.

Martha mentioned you to me as one of the magic-users working on setting up wards for that area, and on the Tower in general. Hermoine's too, so it is all right if you discuss this with her.

[magicandpudding.livejournal.com]

It seems to only be heard in the rooms, I couldn't hear it out in the corridor.



And I'm fine, Harry.

I suppose being kept awake means I won't be sleepwalking again.

[fortisleo.livejournal.com]

Yes, that is the strange part though I am grateful we are able to escape the sound. It would be maddening otherwise.


I'm glad to hear that, Luna. Thank you for responding.

That is definitely the silver lining. I'm grateful you are here to show me it.

[magicandpudding.livejournal.com]

Yes, it would be a shame if we went all mad.

[Obvious Luna is obvious.]


That's quite alright, Harry. :)