Chapter 2
Todd was excited. As excited as when his wife let him use the Pool for his TV shows. This was going to be great. It'll be so much fun, the girls will love it, he'll be entertained and it'll totally definitely work. Yes he was practically giddy.
Clapping his hands together he geared himself up, he knew he had to sell it.
"Ladies," he said with a pleased smile. "We're here to play some games. We'll do some trust exercises, tests of endurance, and techniques to improve our communication skills. It's good, it'll be fun. I've planned for everything, there'll be snacks." Todd threw in a charming smile, this'll work, everybody loves games.
"Who are you? What are we doing here?" Hermione said at the same time Fleur said, "Qui êtes-vous, ramenez-moi, arrêtez cela maintenant." It took him a bit to translate, French was a skill he lacked but 'who are you, what is this, stop this now,' seemed a lot ruder than Hermione's questions.
Todd frowned. Both seemed unhappy. Both had their wands raised at him. This wasn't going well.
"I'm Todd," he said pointing to himself, slower than before. Sure he tossed them onto the Field but there was definitely no way he caused a concussion, he aimed perfectly.
"Yes. Todd. We've at least established that. Now tell me how you brought us here, why, what are you?" Hermione inquired.
Fleur threw a sneer at Hermione, "Or 'ow about simple sending us 'ome? No need to write a research paper."
Hermione rolled her eyes because of course Fleur.
Todd tsked. "We've have established this. Games, snacks!" He raised his hands in a pacifying gesture, "You'll only be here until you complete your finished then off you'll be off. I swear it. As for 'what I am.' First, rude. Second, just a god doing godly work."
Hermione scoffed. "Watching the two of us play games? That's godly things?"
Todd's frown deepened.
He always prided himself on being nice, his wife said it was one of his sexiest qualities. He wanted to be nice here with these two idiots. Sell the idea, give them snacks, inspire excitement. None of which was working. At this rate he'll rescind the snacks. No he wouldn't rescind, he did promise and he already opened the Doritos.
There was always the second option.
"Look," he said with no small amount of irritation, "this is happening."
With a snap of his fingers, the two disappeared from the Field.
-
First Hermione was standing in a field of the greenest of grasses, now, she observed, they stood in what looked like a darkened muggle operating room. Fleur stood not too far from her. Oddly enough, she looked down at herself & back at Fleur, they wore scrubs, the sort a nurse or doctor would wear in a hospital Hermione thought with a sinking feeling.
" 'ermione do you know where we are?" Fleur asked. "And why am I wearing this horrible thing," Fleur disgustedly, tsking as she pulled the sea green shirt away from her body.
"We're in an operating room," Hermione murmured, looking around, "it's a muggle healing room."
Fleur wandered over to one of the machines in the corner. "And this?"
"Takes a person's vitals." Hermione murmured distractedly.
Fleur gasped, opening a drawer in one of the stainless steel cabinets.
" 'ealing?" She said incredulously, "More like butchering." Picking up one of the numerous knives in the drawer.
"Fleur put that down and focus. We've somehow been mysteriously transported to the muggle world, in an operating room, of all things. Now is not the time to fiddle." Hermione scolded.
Still turned away, Fleur mockingly sneered out Hermione's words under her breath. She wandered over to Hermione's side of the room, not wanting to incur further reprimands.
Hermione peered out the small square window in the door, finding an empty hospital hall.
"Fleur, it seems like we're in a muggle healing place, a place where muggles go to get their wounds looked at when injured. Much like St. Mungos."
"Yes, I gathered as much when you said 'ealing place 'ermione." Fleur said with eyes rolling.
Hermione quickly ducked as a stretcher rushed by, wheeled by men and women in scrubs similar to their own. Their faces betrayed how serious the situation was.
A brown haired man sat strattling the injured woman. His brow furrowed and dripping with sweat as he conducted compressions on the injured woman.
"You won't die on me dammit," he said, he demanded, "I haven't lost a patient today and I'll be damned if I lose you."
"Shit shit shit." Hermione whispered as the group passed by the door. "This room could be used at any moment, we need to get out of here Fleur."
Fleur peered out the door. "Allons y, 'ermione," she said gesturing to the handle.
Of course she had to go first, it wouldn't be like Fleur to put herself in danger Hermione thought irritably.
Opening the door slowly Hermione ducked her head out. Seeing no one, she straightened up and walked out of the room, feigning causality.
Fleur followed but not before a flick of her hair.
"Now what, 'ermione?" Fleur whispered.
"I'm thinking Fleur, give me a minute." Hermione responded briskly.
A woman suddenly turned the corner, darting straight to Hermione.
"Doctor Granger, I need you to sign off on room four's discharge." the woman said tiredly, handing Hermione a medical clipboard and a pen.
Hermione hesitated, starring at the woman blankly.
"Room four, Mr. O'Reilly. The unfortunate man who 'fell,'" the nurse provided air-quotes, "on the hairspray can. While nude," said with the unimpressed air of a woman who saw her fair share of nude men and their butt-lodged hairspray cans.
Hermione, startled at being stopped by a woman who apparently recognized her, quickly clicked the pen and signed her name with a flourish. Best to get rid of the woman without further questions until they were able to gather where they were and why.
"'ermione?" Fleur asked hesitantly once the nurse walked away.
"Hmm Fleur?" Hermione responded while glancing up and down the hallway.
"'ow big is a 'airspray can?" Fleur inquired.
"It's- what?" Hermione stopped. "Fleur focus. We have to figure out this 'game.' That's what Todd called it, now how do we play it."