"Hermione, this is crazy," Draco growled.
Over the past few hours, he had grown used to the sideways glances Creevy had thrown him at the use of her first name. He did not care.
Let the tech worry or wonder.
The little man was grating on his nerves. Constantly walking between him and Hermione. Keeping a pleasant, if not work related, conversation with her as they went. Casting looks over his shoulder like an overprotective chihuahua.
Draco's hand had itched for his wand the whole trek, but that would not make matters any better. He was sure Hermione's plan needed the tiny man. Besides, he did not need her to be even more sore at him.
Hermione slowly rose from her kneeling position. Draco's hands tightened into the leaves beneath him.
Presently, Hermione, in a light purple jumper that offered no camouflage (Draco was sure this was purposely chosen), stood awkwardly in a patch of bushes, slowly making her way to the deer. The creature's attention was not yet on her. One wrong step, the snap of a twig, and all that could change in a heartbeat.
Meanwhile, Draco and the techs were belly down in the grass, making a half circle around the deer with wands ready.
Draco ground his teeth as she took a step.
He had raged when she told him the plan.
Live bait!
If she hadn't already been in so much danger, he would be tempted to curse her.
What is she thinking?!
She took another slow step. If the deer acted violently in any way, they were to create a barrier between her and the beast.
Draco's lips twitched into a snarl.
He knew his part of the plan was small, that the techs had more of an idea as to what would happen, and it put him more on edge.
Another step. A gentle rustle of leaves by her hand. The deer turned its head, ears up and alert.
Draco silently took his wand out as it studied her.
Its head turned. Its ears flicked back and forth. Ever so slowly, its wide eyes softened at the sight of her. It gave a small beating noise.
"I know," Hermione softly called back, as if comforting a child.
Draco watched in amazement as it took a step towards her.
Hermione smiled, slowly raising her hand.
Without notice, Creevy crouched.
Draco tensed to jump up too but the mousy woman, whose name escaped him, shook her head. He glared at her but listened.
Another step. The mousy woman crouched.
Draco was the only one left on his belly. He had never been told to do otherwise.
He watched as the techs did an odd crouch-walk to close their distance to Hermione and the deer.
His heart pounded in his head. His eyes bulged. One wrong move from either of them could kill her! He gripped his wand even tighter, the wood threatening to split.
The thought arose in his mind to cast Petrificus Totalus on the both of them when their wands moved simultaneously.
They casted a wordless spell that emitted soft lights in the treetops, not unlike the fireflies from so many weeks before.
The deer's mouth opened in awe as it took in the sight. Its tail swished peacefully.
Even Draco's own pulse slowed to a lulled beat.
Hermione spoke softly to the deer and petted its neck in a slow, rhythmic way.
The creature lowered its head to her. She ran her hand over its forehead, around small horn, and down its jaw.
Draco watched, as mesmerized as the creature, as her fingers brushed the glossy fur. Seeing the two there, with the glowing lights behind them, seemed surreal. It was like coming across a nymph with her wild pet.
Then the illusion was broken.
The mousy woman had lost her balance and landed on her bum with an audible crash. Draco glanced over to see the horror on her face.
The deer's panicked beating jerked his attention back to Hermione.
The deer bucked, swinging its hooves through the air.
Hermione raised an arm up to shield herself.
Draco jumped to his feet, snatching his wand from the dirt.
The deer lashed out, shredding cloth and skin alike. Hermione, her arm bloody and useless, fell back.
Draco pushed through the bushes in time to see her raise her wand with the other hand. The deer's eyes widened. Its nostrils flared. He lunged.
Everything froze.
Draco, hovering mid air, could see it all. Creevy, standing with his wand motionlessly forming the barrier. The mousy woman, still on her bottom, trying to do the same. Hermione, in the grass, her purple jumper stained red and wand raised.
The deer. Its wide black eyes speckled like before. Its mouth opened in silent terror. Its horn emitting a silver light.
Draco's last thought was that they were going to die like Hermione's yellow canaries.
Then - with a pop! - the deer, Hermione, and Draco disappeared from the clearing.
Author's Note:
Disclaimer: I do not own anything from the Harry Potter series. Those rights belong to JK Rowling. I am only borrowing her beautiful creations.