A/N: Not much to say. Enjoy and review!
Hermione listened as Elspeth told Luna about the Great White (the holocaust), the Herder Faction and the Council as she lay in the cart, eyes widening at what had happened to the world.
'Why would anyone want or try to blow up the world?' Hermione thought in horror. She couldn't see Luna or Elspeth's mouths move, but she guessed it was because she was so tired. Ron was snoring and Harry couldn't lie still, but she guessed that was normal for them. The one thing that bothered her was the murmuring. She had started hearing it since they reached the trees, above, around and far-off. It seemed to come from the trees themselves, but she somehow knew it wasn't.
But for some reason, she couldn't shake the feeling that it was the animals.
Meanwhile, dreams plagued Harry. About three times, he had woken up, sweating. Twice, Garth had been awake and stared at him suspiciously, so Harry had lain back down, his scar prickling. He was filled with a strange feeling, and it took Harry a while to figure out what it was.
It was freedom.
Hogwarts had given him a type of freedom, but it was still filled with rules. Now he had no horrid relatives that he had to return to. He guessed that his only unrest came from the knowledge that now there was almost nothing to fear and not much to lose. He felt excited and thrilled, feeling that he could do whatever he wanted.
Once Elspeth had finished explaining about the present world, Luna fiddled with her necklace, appearing dreamy. Occasionally a thought would enter her head, and she smiled.
Hermione worried. She thought her parents might be wondering where she was, but she dismissed the idea. Now she was in the future. Her parents weren't even alive, though that thought was unsettling and Hermione didn't think about it much.
It was dark by the time they got to Obernewtyn, and even though they slept on the journey, they were all too tired to take notice of the large oak doors, or the passages resembling Hogwarts. All they noticed was the front door, and then the beds.
Elspeth rushed straight to Rushton, who was in the Healer's Hall, talking to Roland.
"What happened?" Elspeth asked, worried.
"I volunteered for an experiment," replied Ceirwan ruefully from a hospital bed. Elspeth whirled around to glare at him.
"Now who's going to help me run the Farseekers' Guild?" Elspeth grumbled. "What type of experiment?"
"Ah… well, anyway, I broke my leg," Ceirwan said. "Anyway, what did you find at the castle?"
"We found books," Elspeth replied excitedly. "And some pots… and get this- there were people there!"
"Elspeth, I didn't think you the Teknoguilder type, so I know there has to be more than it to books," Rushton said.
"I just told you! There were people at the castle!" Elspeth replied, frustrated.
"I heard, but I thought you were joking. As in, they were exploring, or visiting at the same time as you?" Rushton asked, raising his eyebrows.
"No, as in, lived there!" Elspeth said. "They say they come from the Beforetime! They called the place Hoggywart or something."
"Elspeth, I think it's a bi' late," Ceirwan said, amused. "Maybe ye need a rest…"
"Stop mocking me!" Elspeth said, annoyed. "I'm telling the truth. Their names are Harry, Hermione, Ron and Luna and I brought them here…"
"You WHAT?" Rushton yelled. "What if they're spies?" he lowered his voice as some passing healers glared at him. "Why on earth did you do that?"
"Well, Luna's a Talented Misfit, I'm sure, and they say they came from the Beforetime!" Elspeth said. Rushton shook his head, not believing it.
"If I live to regret letting you do this, I'll make sure you do too!" Rushton threatened.
"Well, ye didn' have much of a say in it anyway," Ceirwan pointed out.
"Well, I guess I'll see them before you start introducing them to the whole castle," Rushton said, and glared at Ceirwan and Elspeth.
"They're asleep," Elspeth told him as they left the Healers Hall.
"I guess I could wait," Rushton sighed.
'But should you?' Elspeth found herself thinking. 'Am I making a mistake, and risking all of Obernewtyn?'