voice testing!

[setapart]

Could you— stop?

Thinking of horrible situations to put me in might be funny to you, but you're the only one. Alright?

Comments

[heardmermaids]

Pretty much.

["Sebastian's" clever disguise really isn't that effective when faced with a much younger version of himself. Hullo Harry, meet your older, AUd alternate?]

[setapart]

Er— [is probably. . .noticing how similar he looks to how pictures of James look.] Who are you?

[heardmermaids]

Old enough to know better?

[A pause as he runs a hand through his hair in a nervous gesture that Harry might find familiar.]

It's a long story, but to summarize, for every action or series of actions, there's a variety of outcomes. If you choose one, you might have your life; if you choose another, you might have mine.

How old are you?

[setapart]

[Harry mirrors him unconsciously, his eyebrows drawing together as he processes his words.]

So- you're me?

I'm seventeen. How old [brief hesitation] are you?

[heardmermaids]

Twenty-eight.

[He speaks slowly, taking the time to make sure he's only saying what he wants to say.]

And, yes, I am a version of you that might be your future. Or not.

[setapart]

How did you— I mean— how did I. . . [he gestures at- well, himself, trying to remember all he can about what Hermione told him about the time turner.] Or is that something you can't— tell me about?

[heardmermaids]

Time passed? Or do you mean how did I kill Voldemort?

[He shifts his footing, from good leg, to bad, and Harry might pick up on the fact that this older man walks with a limp. He's also missing a part of his ring and pinkie finger on his right hand.]

[setapart]

[Harry's eyes do drop briefly to his legs, then pause on his hands as he looks back up to his other self's face.]

How did I become you? But [the corner of his mouth tips upwards in a wry smile] I suppose any hints you have for killing Voldemort wouldn't exactly go amiss.

[heardmermaids]

The war went on. It wasn't quick or clean with a neat battle or two, but a long, messy urban conflict with too many factions vying for power or control.

[He shrugs.]

Consistently un- and under-trained children at the mercy of the government and against an army of experienced Death Eaters doesn't make for an easy go of it.

[setapart]

. . .Oh. [This is going to take a few moments to sink in.] Ron and Hermione? Are they- how are they?

[heardmermaids]

I haven't seen them recently, but they're both doing well.

I suppose I should say that I haven't seen 'my' version of them. In Baedal, the city where I've been living, there's a Hermione.

[setapart]

That's, that's really good. [pheeew]

You know two Hermiones? [can't say that wouldn't be useful...] They've- she's not met herself, has she?

[heardmermaids]

No. One of them is back in Britain; the other in Baedal.

[Wisely, Sebastian does not mention that most of Baedal's wizarding population is made up of (former) Death Eaters -- Malfoys, Lestranges, Snapes, and more.]

[setapart]

Oh. [He doesn't know if that's a shame or not. One Hermione is brilliant; two could probably solve all the problems of the world in one afternoon.] Where is Baedal? Some sort of- wizarding village?

...one million years later.

[heardmermaids]

No, it's a city stuck between worlds. At least, that's what the propaganda says.

[setapart]

You're in a city- stuck between worlds- with its own propaganda?

I wonder what it would be like to have a strange life.