Fifty-third Spell

[courageous_wit]

This hasn't happened in the castle for a while, but people are arriving who share faces with other people. It can be very unsettling. Especially if... if one of those faces is someone who was a very unpleasant person. You know these two people aren't the same but you can't help feeling uneasy.

[she's honestly still a little shaken up about it. She's told herself over and over that this is the Doctor, who is a dear friend of hers]

Anyway, I don't know if anybody's read it, but Dr. Saunders wrote a report some years ago detailing this phenomenon.

Comments

[toobravehearted]

A physical double is not such an uncommon phenomenon; at least, in my home universe I have come across a few.

[His tone of voice is mild, a general question here.] You're all right, Hermione?

[courageous_wit]

Yes, I suppose you'd be more accustomed to it, Doctor.

[she hesitates] I'm all right. He just caught me off-guard.

[toobravehearted]

Well, when you've come face to face with a copies of your friends or yourself more times than you'd care to admit... [And he stops there and vigorously nods, adding hastily,] That's not to say that the situation isn't unnerving.

[Another nod.] The castle can do that. I think it rather revels in it.

[courageous_wit]

You've had so many adventures, Doctor. I can't wait to hear what you'll be getting up to in the future.

[toobravehearted]

And all I really wanted was to play cricket. As for what I'll be getting up to, I take it that you've learned who's arrived-- recently? [The pause isn't great, but it's there. Recent arrivals, after all, but he can't be sure unless he asks or she confirms.]

[courageous_wit]

Yes, I've already spoken with him and introduced myself.

[toobravehearted]

I thought his arrival would not escape your attention, Hermione. [Simply because he thinks that she is very attentive.]

[courageous_wit]

[well, it was for a different reason, but she still feels pleased he would say that]

You Doctors do know how to make an entrance.