@perceptiing | [x]
the minute hermione’s eyes find the older woman, a cry of RELIEF escapes her. she hasn’t seen her in so long - after the prison went to hell && she’s been on the run, her hope that carol was okay the whole time has been fading slightly, even after she met up with the rest of the group. but seeing the other now, safe && sound, has hermione so relieved that she finds herself rushing forwards to envelope her in a tight hug.
“thank goodness you’re alright.” she mumbles, fighting back tears. she can’t lose anyone else that matters to her, && she’s so glad that she hasn’t yet had to experience that again.
she doesn’t know what to EXPECT when she creeps through the foliage of the forest and stumbles upon the group -- frightened and panting but SAFE and alive -- but she doesn’t consider that they’d all have SURVIVED this long. she hoped beyond anything that it was the case, after the TROUBLE at the prison and being SEPARATED from all of them, but as the time passed the HOPE of flame in her chest became dimmer. this wasn’t the sort of life where GOOD people lived, and everybody from the prison, the people she considered her FAMILY were good as any.
they all look as SURPRISED to see her alive as she is to see them and for a split second nobody MOVES and time seems to slow to molasses -- before a FLURRY of dark hair is rushing towards her and she barely has time to drop her BACKPACK before hermione has smacked against her in a tight hug, and she’s WRAPPING her arms around the girl and fighting back TEARS of her own.
❝ i’m fine, i’ve looked for you all for--- ❞
she stops herself for a MOMENT and takes the girl’s face in her HANDS, studying her with watery eyes. she wants to make sure that she’s REALLY here, that maybe just this once their little group can get a HAPPY ending, and everybody who has been LOST can be found. she tugs the younger girl back against her and hugs her TIGHTLY again, beaming through her tears.
❝ you’re okay. ❞
