Written for THC Round 2

House: Hufflepuff

Class: Astronomy

Drabbles

Prompt: [Creature] Hippogriff

Word Count: 916


Hermione was walking around the grounds of Hogwarts when she heard a cry of distress. She wasn't sure who was crying out, but it wasn't human. It appeared as though it was a hurt animal or creature.

Following the cry, she found herself on the edge of the Forbidden Forest. She stood there debating whether she should go in to help the hurt creature or stay away from the Forbidden Forest; it was forbidden for a reason. Hearing again the desperate howl, Hermione went in.

She wasn't sure how she found her way around the forest, but it was like something was leading her towards the creature.

She stopped suddenly, the scene in front of her breaking her heart. A large Hippogriff was laying on the ground bleeding profusely from a large gash on his abdomen. How did such a magnificent and powerful creature get hurt in such a way.

Another cry snapped Hermione back from her thoughts and she knelt next to the Hippogriff. Seeing the fear in his eyes, she tried to apply the lesson Hagrid had taught them. Maintaining eye contact, she inclined her head and extended her right hand towards the creature's head. He stared at her before scenting the air, she could see her was in pain. It made no sense, but she could swear she could feel his pain. He touched her hand with his beak and waited.

Taking that as her queue to act, Hermione took out her wand.

"I'm going to heal you, I promise, just stay still please," she told him, he looked at her as though he understood what she was saying. She felt a nudge in her mind but she wasn't sure what it was, it was weird, like something was pushing on her mental barrier wanting to get in.

"Episkey," she said, trying to convey her intent as much as she could. She saw the gash closing a little but not much, it was deep, she wasn't sure Episkey could heal it.

She felt the push in her mind again, looking up she was caught off guard by the intense stare she was under. She felt the prickle again but this time it was much stronger. Forgoing caution, and with a feeling that it was the Hippogriff that was causing this push, she reached out with her mind.

The connection was immediate, she felt the presence of the Hippogriff in her mind. It was strange having someone else in her head. When she had decided to learn Occlumency, she had been able to close down her mind completely. And now having someone else's presence there felt odd.

That spell won't work, you need something stronger.

The voice was deep, and it seemed old, wise.

"I don't know what other spell could work," she told him desperately, she could see that he was losing a lot of blood. If this kept up, he would die because of the blood loss.

There is another way, better…

"What is it? Please how can I help?"

Place your hand on the cut and think of the spell you were using.

"Wandless magic! I can't do that; I don't know how to do wandless magic." She was panicking now; how on earth would she do that?

Concentrate, you can do it… feel the magic, I can feel it… your magic is strong.

Hermione placed her hand as instructed and tried to concentrate. Feel the magic, what does that even mean, how can she feel her magic?

Close your eyes, think about the spell… How do you feel when you cast a spell, Where do you pull the energy from when you use magic… you need to tap into that!

He sounded weaker; he was fighting to maintain the link between them. She did what he told her too, she thought of the feeling she got when she cast a spell. She usually thought of what she wanted to concentrate on, pulling on her powers, her core. She reached in, tapping into that power; it was there, dormant inside her. She needed to pull on it, think of the spell and pull on it.

Episkey

Nothing happened.

Focus… Energy… palm… hand.

Came the dying whisper of the Hippogriff.

Hermione listened and tried to understand what he was telling her, energy, palm, hand. Does she have to direct her powers to her palm? A whimper pulled her out of her mind, and seeing that she was running out of time, she did as she was instructed.

Tapping into her core again, she tried to direct the flow of her magic towards her palm which was in contact with the wound. Focusing on the intent to heal, she channeled that feeling in order to power her spell.

Episkey

She felt a jolt of power running through her and onto the beast. Opening her eyes, she saw the gash start to mend and the skin closing in until nothing was left. The hippogriff let out a relieved sigh as the pain left his body.

Thank you, friend, I am in your debt. My name is Azan.

"I'm Hermione, and you don't owe me anything," she told him, leaning into him and caressing his soft skin. She was exhausted now, all that power she had used had taken its toll on her. Her eyes were drooping closed, she was trying to fight it but found that it was a lost battle.

Sleep child, I've got you.

Hermione felt asleep leaning onto the majestic beast.