[ Incredibly smart, Red says, and Hermione wants to laugh hysterically because she doesn't feel incredibly anything stuck here. Except for delusional, trying to convince herself she was just busy when the beacons turned on.

She lets out a sigh and squeezes Red's hand back. ] I'm not ready to face that. I'm not...

[ Here, a helpless shrug. ] What if I see this through to the end of whatever line points us east? What if I stick around just to make sure that...that everyone makes it back alright.

[ Although, at this, she pauses, taking in the girl in front of her. Would Red want to return to wherever she's from? There are plenty of people around who wouldn't, for many reasons that are all their own, but she hasn't asked Red this question.

And if it came down to it, would it matter? Would the beacon care, if Hermione grabbed Red's hand and took her along with her, instead? Would it work?

Silly thinking. ]

Truth is, it's a mystery - what is East? I'm more curious than I should be, I guess.