Work Text:
Hermione walked past her roommate’s door, then stopped as she heard a voice coming from the room, then the same voice coming from the room in what appeared to be an argument with the first voice.
She turned, then walked back to stand in front of the door.
“Is that what my hair looks like from the back?” She heard one of the voices say – she wasn’t sure about which one it was – then the other voice seemed to provide an answer.
“Maybe” It said with a slight giggle – a giggle she recognized as well as her own “But I got a trim last week, so it might be slightly different”
Hermione frowned in confusion – was her roommate talking to……… herself?
She stood outside the door for a moment longer, then came to a decision.
Taking a deep breath, she knocked.
“Come in”
“Come in”
The blinked, then pushed the door open and walked in. She looked over at the bed, then blinked, letting her mind adjust to what she was seeing.
“So – you’re probably wondering about what’s going on” Luna said, gazing back at her.
“And how it happened” Another Luna said from her position next to the first.
“You could say that” Hermione nodded.
“Well it’s kind of a long story” The first Luna said.
“And it all started a week ago” The second Luna added, then waved her hand, sending Hermione spinning off into a virtual world”
“Am I really in a virtual world, or is this just in my mind?” Hermione asked.
“Is there a difference?” One of the two Lunas – she wasn’t sure which one – asked.
“I suppose not” Hermione replied after a second, then she turned as she saw a circle of bright light rushing towards her.
xoxox
She found herself watching Luna – although she realised almost at once she had no idea whether it was “her Luna” or “the other Luna” – walking into a large stone chamber.
Hermione looked around, then realised that – unbelievably – the Luna that had just walked into the chamber was somehow staring right at her.
“You weren’t here the first time” Luna said “When I – when we – first came here, it was just your friend and me, and we were alone”
“Oh, sorry – that’s my fault” Another voice – although it was the same voice – came from the other side of the chamber, and Hermione turned to see another Luna walking in through another entrance. This time she was relatively sure it was “her” Luan.
“Oh” The first Luna blinked “Well okay then” She paused “Do I pretend she isn’t here and do what we did before or do we include her and do more of a show and tell?”
“Pretend she isn’t here” The second Luna said, then she glanced at the floor, picked up a stone and flung it directly at Hermione.
Hermione raised her hand to deflect it, but it passed straight through it, then through her chest and hit the wall behind her.
“She isn’t really here” Luna – her Luna – said calmly.
“I always wondered you did that the first time we met” The other Luna looked over at where the stone was resting “I just put it down to your surprise at seeing me”
“Well it was partly that” The Luna facing her admitted “But also there’s a button on the wall that will turn the lights on” She smiled as the chamber was bathed in a soft blue light.
“You realise this is getting very confusing and you’ve got way off track” The first Luna said gently.
“But somehow……” Her Luna started.
“It’s still what it was” They finished in unison, both ending with a little laugh. Then – as Hermione watched – they gazed at each other for a moment, before her Luna walked towards the other one and took the hands of her opposite self.
“I had a dream” She said softly “I was here – a place I had never been, on a cave that isn’t real, on a world that doesn’t exist, in a time that isn’t” She paused “My entire life was in chaos and then I met the one person who grounded me” She looked into eyes she had known her entire life “The one person I knew would make my entire life complete”
“Some people would say falling in love with yourself is narcissism” Luna remarked with a slightly smile “But I would say, however, you have exceptional taste” She took a step back and gave Luna a polite bow “There is something I should tell you………”
“Yes?” Luna gazed at her intently.
“I had the same dream”
There was a flash of light, and Hermione found herself back in Luna’s bedroom.
“The Chamber is The Zero Point” Luna – her roommate Luna – said. Then – at the look on Hermione’s face – added “The cave is in the foothills of the Mountains of the Neverrealm that exists in the dark dimensions between the edges of the multiverse. It is literally noplace in notime and can only be travelled to by someone who doesn’t not want to get somewhere else” Hermione stared at her, and both Lunas could see the circuits of her brain on the verge of overheating.
“We both arrived there, and saw each other, and just knew” The other Luna said softly “That we would be together for the rest of our lives” She leaned over and kissed herself. Hermione watched for a moment, then nodded.
“I hope……… you’ll be very happy together” She said quietly “But if I could ask you a favour?”
“No more making out in front of you?” Her Luna asked.
“Two favours” She amended “Could one of your – either of you – cut your hair, or wear something, so that I can tell you apart?” The two Lunas exchanged glances, then they both nodded.
“Of course” They said in perfect unison. Hermione gazed at them, then shook her head.
“Shining flashbacks” She shivered, then turned and walked out of the room.
xoxox
The next morning she walked down to the kitchen, and found Luna sat at the table eating some cereal.
“You know………” Hermione said as she poured herself some coffee “I had the strangest dream about you last night” She turned and sat down at the table, then blinked as another Luna sat down in front of her.
“You weren’t dreaming”