44. Gentle

Her Patronus lopes gracefully back to her and she watches it, perturbed; envoys dissipate once their messages are relayed. She's never known one to return to its caster before…

But this one, somehow, has. As if it knows.

It slows as it approaches, noses her hand, curves itself to stand behind her, its glow washing warm as daylight on her skin. She can almost feel the brush of coarse fur against her legs and her heart lightens for the moment. Even though she knows she's just projecting what she wants upon the charm. Even though she knows it's all illusion.

All the same, she softly smiles, and strokes her werewolf's ears.