AU! EWE

WRITTEN FOR THC, YEAR 7

Drabble

Gryffindor, DADA

Prompt:

(character) Hermione Granger

(creature) Puffskein

(dialogue) Wait here, I'll be back

Word Count: 996/1000

The fearsome dragon's wings swished through the air as it flew past. The magically enhanced windows trembled in its wake. The keepers had assured Hermione that the dome-like structure of the reserve was strong enough to keep the injured dragons outside, but Hermione still took a step back, her heart in her throat. Only a strong hand on her shoulder stopped her from bolting for the doors.

I'm a Gryffindor. I've fought Death Eaters, destroyed Horcruxes, and survived Bellatrix Lestrange's Cruciatus Curse. I'm a Gryffindor.

"Hey, it's okay," a masculine voice murmured in her ear. Hermione's shoulders relaxed, and she breathed out slowly. He whispered, "They can't hurt us… We're safe in here. We're all skilled keepers, love. We can handle anything."

Hermione nodded reflexively, focusing on the voice. It was low and husky, and it always soothed her nerves. "I'm okay," she whispered, and the hand squeezed her shoulder.

"It's ok, love," Charlie murmured.

Hermione bit her lip as she looked at her boyfriend. They'd been dating for two years, and Hermione didn't have to voice her worries anymore; Charlie knew her all too well—and still loved her.

Charlie reached up to cup her face, his palm rough and calloused against her soft skin. "Hey, dragostea mea…" He tilted her head up and gazed into her eyes. He whispered, "You'll be great at this job. I know you will."

Charlie believed in her. Unlike Harry and Ron, who always needed proof about everything she said, Charlie's faith in her was immense. He was the reason why she now stood in the Romanian Dragon Reserve intending to work with the gigantic—and terrifying—creatures as a Dragon Healer.

Hermione's heart pounded in her ears. She shouldn't be scared of a dragon—she had rode one before—but the feeling was instinctual. Unless you were Charlie Weasley or an idiot (or both), you couldn't possibly stand in front of a live, fire-breathing dragon and not be terrified.

"Okay." Hermione stepped back, straightening her shoulders.

Charlie's lips turned up in a loving smile. "Oh, to keep you company, I brought you something," he said, pulling out his wand. "Accio Puffskein!"

A blue Puffskein careened through the air and landed in Charlie's outstretched hand. He handed it to Hermione.

Her brow furrowed as she stared at the fluffy little ball. "You... bought me a Puffskein…"

"Yeah, I know you don't want to adopt any cats after Crookshanks passed away last year, so I figured you'd like a Puffskein instead," Charlie said, standing straighter with his chest puffed out.

Hermione couldn't help but smile at his thoughtfulness. Who knew under all those dragon tattoos and bulging muscles was the sweetest man on earth? Hermione may have been attracted to him physically at first, but it was his personality that had made her fall in love with him.

"So… do you like it?" Charlie asked, his eyes wide with hope.

Hermione nodded and hugged the Puffskein to her chest. She smiled up at Charlie and said, "Yes, I do."

Charlie grinned and leaned down to kiss her forehead, his lips soft and warm. "Okay, now wait here, I'll be back." He turned around and jogged down the hallway, whistling as he went, and Hermione smiled at the sight.

Once he had disappeared, Hermione looked down at the Puffskein in her hand and absentmindedly petted its head. It crooned in delight at her gentle touch.

Hermione saw a short and spiky tail swish-swishing inside the enclosure, and it piqued her curiosity. She stepped closer to the window.

Before she could inspect the truck-sized Hebridean Black lying on its side, the Puffskein decided to escape her hold. It shot out of her hands like a bar of soap, and Hermione cried out, startled.

"Hey, come back!" She whipped out her wand, ready to Summon it.

A dragon keeper, who was hurrying past her with a large goat slung over his shoulder, stopped her. "Sorry, miss," he called, "but you can't use magic near the dragons. They're a bit on edge—it's mating season."

Hermione shoved her wand into her pocket, apologised to the man, and ran after the Puffskein. It was surprisingly fast for a small ball of fur. It climbed up a keeper's leg and settled itself on his shoulder, its long tongue flicking out excitedly.

"Hey, wait up!" But the man didn't hear her as he opened the main door and walked outside.

Into the dragons' enclosure.

Shit.

Hermione couldn't let the dragons eat her Puffskein—Charlie had bought it for her! She didn't see any other option than to enter the enclosure herself.

She unlocked the large gate and was about to open it when Charlie called out, "Hermione! No!"

Hermione shot away like she had been electrocuted, and Charlie ran to her side, his eyes wide with horror. "What were you thinking? You can't go in there without proper protection! The dragons would chew you up and spit you out!"

Hermione rushed to the large window and pressed up close to it. The Puffskein rolled around on the shamrock-green grass, its tongue lolling out. She cried, "The Puffskein… It's in there."

"What?" Charlie stepped closer and saw it skittering around, dodging the dragon's spiky tail.

Charlie's guffaws startled Hermione. "Why are you laughing? It could get killed—"

"Relax, love," Charlie said, placing his hand on her shoulder. "Most people don't know this, but dragons don't kill or eat Puffskeins. They play with them."

"What?" Hermione's eyes almost bulged out at his explanation. She had never come across this information in any book before.

"We only learnt this recently—it's the other reason I bought it for you. This way, you can heal the injured dragons and they could play with your Puffskein," Charlie said, a huge grin on his face.

A sigh of relief escaped Hermione, and she slapped Charlie's arm. "You should have told me that! I was so scared I was going to lose that thing!"

Charlie only laughed before kissing her worries away.