Pain

Title: Pain
Author: Ellywinkle
Fandom: Harry Potter
Challenge: Writer’s Table – February 2019 Drabble Challenge
Rating: PG
Word Count: 414
Summary: Highly compatible Sentinels and Guides can bond with just a touch…any touch.

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Hermione was mad. The injustice of them ordering Buckbeak’s execution just because they were in Lucius Malfoy’s pocket upset her. She knew she should fall back on her Guide training and center herself, but she just didn’t care. Hagrid was heartbroken. He was such a kind, outgoing, forgiving, happy person that to feel pain from him was like a slap across the face.

He had felt sad about losing Norbert, but the little dragon was better off growing up with his own kind. And, it was only logical that he be protected on the dragon preserves. Hagrid eventually saw the logic of it and adapted. But there is nothing just about the decision to execute Buckbeak as a dangerous creature. Well, of course, he’s dangerous if you ignore the instructions. He was only acting true to his nature.

She needed to meditate. That’s what she needed. To tighten her shields and meditate away all the sorrow and anger that are not her own. If she were bonded, this would not be a problem. Her sentinel would be her shield. No, don’t think about that nonsense. She is a modern guide and not dependent on some hormonal sentinel to protect her.

She felt a flash of anger and knowing it came from Ron, clenched her hands into fists. It was strange, even after three years to not feel her gloves on her hands. Compatible sentinels and guides could bond with just a touch, so unbonded guides usually had to cover their skin. Luckily, sentinels and guides are relatively rare among magicals. It was freeing to live like everyone else.

The anger was building, and she looked up to see Draco Malfoy with his usual minions joking about Hagrid’s feelings. Harry’s anger joined Ron’s and stoked the fire within. Malfoy, with his arm in a sling from a scratch! Oh, how he went on and on about the excruciating pain. She wanted to show him real pain.

“You filthy little Mudblood.”

Without stopping to think, Hermione hauled off and punched him as hard as she could in the face. The pain in her hand was secondary to the pain she could feel from Draco as their eyes met in shock and the flash of secondary shields wrapped around her mind. Pain, fear, shock, and a helpless yearning for acceptance flashed in her mind as the bond took hold and solidified.

“Guide.”

“Sentinel?”

In the distance were the sounds of a dragon’s wings and a wolf’s howl.