[The lighthouse again. Eleven frowns, turning a look back over his shoulder, but all that's behind him is that same, fluctuating gray space. The shadow of Yggdrasil had led him here..?
But the stretch of beach is unfamiliar, as are the figures walking it. Eleven watches the three of them until recognition stirs. He steps forward on the sand, feeling out of place]
[They look happy to be here, her parents. They look behind her as they walk, sometimes, smiling and calling her Hermione, and it feels like any of their vacations. When she was little, her parents dragged her everywhere, instilling a sense of adventure and curiosity in little Hermione even before she was a witch.
How have I thanked them for it?
A person calls for her, interrupting the moment. His face is familiar, but it doesn't fit this place, it doesn't go with - mum, dad.]
A dream? [It comes and goes in waves, awareness. She frowns at looks ahead, to her parents strolling together, carefree, and it tugs at her heart. Tide comes in - awareness comes to the front.]
My dream, isn't it? Oh, at least it's not a nightmare you're walking into...
[Tide goes out, awareness retreats - Hermione frowns.] No, no - it's not, I - they're real.
[He frowns, following her gaze. The people walking look real enough in detail; the sort of people she must know in a familiar way. Her parents, he'd say at a guess, given their age, familiarity and echo of likeness. He hopes she hasn't lost them in the waking world]
You'll see them again. [In another dream if nothing else. He hesitates] I'd stay.. but I don't know what's happened. I'm worried we might not be able to wake at all- like them.
[That's how she knows it's not real. He says, reassurringly, that she'll see her parents again, and she remembers what she did to keep them safe. Maybe, maybe she'll see them again. Will they forgive her for it?
Up ahead, her father says something, a distinctly Australian accent to his words, and Hermione sucks in a breath.]
Right, I...mm. Dreaming. [She looks at Eleven, a little weary.] Like which them?
[She follows his arm up to the Lighthouse, and it does jump to her memory - the Lighthouse doesn't belong in the same world as her parents, so yes. It must be a dream, but at least it isn't a nightmare. That makes her glad, at least.
She looks back to Eleven and nods.] No - I'll wake up. I just - let me say goodbye to them. I haven't had a quiet dream in a while.
[She gives him a sad little smile, and before he can agree, she turns to walk towards her parents. The beach stretches, and stretches in front of her, making them unreachable. Her breath quickens, and in the rising panic, she starts to run, opening her mouth to shout for them to turn. The beach snaps back to its normal size, and her outstretched hand nearly brushes the jumper her father is wearing and -
[Eleven nods even as she turns away, then fidgets with repeated glances back to the lighthouse as though it might suddenly move. More heart-wrenching is seeing Hermione run for her parents as the dream stretches cruelly before her. He starts forward a step himself, knowing she likely won't reach them. The guilt claws at him]
I'm s-
[But he wakes with a gasp, eyes snapping open to a familiar ceiling and creeping touch of real cold. Eleven lingers on the dreams, sorting through meaning, then remembering what he needs to do, resolves to properly thank and apologize to Hermione later as he moves to check on the others]
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But the stretch of beach is unfamiliar, as are the figures walking it. Eleven watches the three of them until recognition stirs. He steps forward on the sand, feeling out of place]
Ah.. you're Lily's friend?
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How have I thanked them for it?
A person calls for her, interrupting the moment. His face is familiar, but it doesn't fit this place, it doesn't go with - mum, dad.]
Eleven...?
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I don't mean to disturb you. This is something like a dream, I think. I don't know how to wake from it.
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My dream, isn't it? Oh, at least it's not a nightmare you're walking into...
[Tide goes out, awareness retreats - Hermione frowns.] No, no - it's not, I - they're real.
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You'll see them again. [In another dream if nothing else. He hesitates] I'd stay.. but I don't know what's happened. I'm worried we might not be able to wake at all- like them.
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Up ahead, her father says something, a distinctly Australian accent to his words, and Hermione sucks in a breath.]
Right, I...mm. Dreaming. [She looks at Eleven, a little weary.] Like which them?
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There. On one of the floors, there are people sleeping. They can't wake up. I can't wake up. But if I'm in your dream, if you can, then maybe I will.
[Hopefully. It could just leave him here alone and the thought is terrifying]
But if I don't.. tell someone about us. There are two others that came in with me. I don't know if they're all right.
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She looks back to Eleven and nods.] No - I'll wake up. I just - let me say goodbye to them. I haven't had a quiet dream in a while.
[She gives him a sad little smile, and before he can agree, she turns to walk towards her parents. The beach stretches, and stretches in front of her, making them unreachable. Her breath quickens, and in the rising panic, she starts to run, opening her mouth to shout for them to turn. The beach snaps back to its normal size, and her outstretched hand nearly brushes the jumper her father is wearing and -
she wakes.]
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I'm s-
[But he wakes with a gasp, eyes snapping open to a familiar ceiling and creeping touch of real cold. Eleven lingers on the dreams, sorting through meaning, then remembering what he needs to do, resolves to properly thank and apologize to Hermione later as he moves to check on the others]