"I need a guide." Hermione walked up to Harry's desk without any warning. He jerked and quickly dropped his sandwich.
"'Mione, what are you doing? I'm working." Harry all but squawked. He quickly moved his sandwich and gathered his papers together into some semblance of an order.
"I'm trying to find a guide so I can be working too," Hermione said brusquely. She looked down her nose at his messy workstation. "Also, you're not working. You're eating lunch."
"It's a working lunch," Harry muttered. He had recently joined the Auror's special task force with his bonded partner, Pansy Parkinson.
"Sure, sure. Now, how did you find Pansy?" Hermione pushed. She settled in the chair across the desk from him. Hermione watched Harry sigh in resignation. Good. Better that he gave in now, Harry knew how persistent she could be.
"Of course, what kind of guide are you looking for? We have all kinds of guides." Harry said sarcastically.
"Don't mock me, Potter! I'm a recently-online Sentinel. I need a guide." Hermione leaned over the desk.
"Listen, we haven't talked about Pansy because you have that whole hang-up with Slytherins." Harry waved a hand at her. "But I think if you met her again as adults, you'd really like her."
"Harry, I'm not looking to join a Slytherin support group, I'm trying to find a guide. Does Pansy know any others? Preferably not a classmate that tried to kill me or fought on the side of a genocidal maniac while we were in school?" Hermione settled back into the chair.
Harry put his head in his hands. "Why me?"
"You saved me from a troll over a decade ago, these are the consequences. Now, are you going to help me or not?" Hermione tilted her head at him.
"I love you like a sister, 'Mione. But sometimes you make my life harder. I'll ask Pansy and let you know what she says." Harry fell back into his chair in defeat. "Can I get back to my sandwich now?"
"Yes, just let me know what Pansy says! I'm off to get back to slogging through the records of the Magical Law Archies." Hermione sighed.
On the way to the lift, she spotted Malfoy.
"Granger," the blonde stated and nodded his head at her politely.
He had a disinterested look on his pointed face. She dipped her head in acknowledgement.
She might not like the wizard, but her mother had raised her to be polite.
Thankfully, Harry came through for Hermione. Pansy sent through a list of names, and while most of the list was Slytherins (there was a natural tendency for Slytherins and Ravenclaws to become guides while Hufflepufs and Gryffindors tended to be sentinels).
Running down the list, Hermione decided to grab lunch with each of the six candidates. There were obvious choices like Terry Boot and Padma Patil, however, Terry was insufferable. Hermione couldn't spend more than five minutes in the same room with him without wanting to throw him out the window. She walked out of the lunch before it got very far.
Chasing lead after lead, Hermione spent two weeks trying to track down Padma Patil. Only to find out that the woman had moved to New Delhi last year. That was not a fun revelation, but at least Hermione had an answer for why she couldn't find Padma.
Then there were the unlikely options like Lily Moon and Dennis Creevey. While the age difference mattered less and less the older they got, it was still pronounced when Hermione talked to them. While at most there was only three years between them and Hermione, they used terms like "untwist" and letters in the place of words that she couldn't puzzle out. At least Hermione had been able to finish having lunch with both of them.
The last two names on the list made Hermione cringe: Blaise Zabini and Draco Malfoy. She figured that the better one to start with was Blaise.
He was already seated with a glass of wine when Hermione showed up.
"Granger! To what do I owe the pleasure of receiving a lunch invite?" Blaise was dressed in a silky top that vaguely reminded Hermione of a shirt from an old pirate movie. She sat down.
He was relaxed and lounging in the chair across from her as if he owned it. Something was alluring about his confidence. Since Blaise was the first one to seem like an actual prospect, Hermione expanded her senses and breathed in his scent, only to immediately sneeze.
Blaise's eyes widened in recognition. "You're a sentinel. And, I'm guessing that I didn't pass muster with that reaction."
Hermione sighed and put her head in her hand, her other hand clenched into a fist. "I'm struggling. I want to be able to work with my guide and settle into the next steps of the Auror's special task but I'm stuck filing papers."
"Well, that's your problem right there." Blaise hummed. "Should we get the hummus? I'm getting the hummus." He waved down their server.
Hermione, having been to this restaurant for a few of these compatibility meetings already knew her order and was ready to rattle it off when asked. The server quickly moved away.
"What is my problem?" Hermione asked.
"You see this as a means to an end. Haven't you looked into the purpose of Sentinels and Guides?" Blaise asked.
"We have them in the muggle world." Hermione rolled her eyes. "The sentinel has enhanced senses and the guide can help moderate them."
Blaise looked at her with a faintly pitying look. He shook his head. "Maybe that's how it works in the muggle world, but there's more to it in the magical world. You don't just find a compatible match. You need to find your match. As a Sentinel witch, only one guide will resonate with you."
Hermione eyed him carefully. "So you have a specific Sentinel that you're with?"
Blaise smirked. "Not yet. I'm waiting for him."
"Him?" Hermione raised an eyebrow.
"He hasn't come online yet." Blaise took a sip of the wine.
"You know who it is?" Hermione asked. She took a drink from her water.
"I have a suspicion. But I know it'll be a wizard." Blaise rested his elbow on the back of the chair he was in. "That's what you're not understanding. It's a give-and-take. Sentinels and guides. They are your other half. You should complete each other."
Hermione scrunched up her nose. "But that would mean … you're describing soulmates. That's not a thing." Hermione said hesitantly.
Blaise hummed. The server brought the hummus. "Oh, they added the oil to it! This was a great restaurant choice, Granger."
"Zabini, soulmates aren't a thing," Hermione argued.
"Are you saying that in everything you know about the world, and all the things you know that you don't know - there's no chance you missed something? Have you studied Sentinels and Guides from a wizarding perspective? Let me guess, you in your muggle education learned about Sentinels and Guides and accepted it as fact. I'm going to go out on a limb here and assume you didn't cross reference your sources after you got to the magical world." Blaise paused. "Of course, given you were keeping Saint Potter alive and solving the whole Dark Lord problem, I'm not complaining. I'm emphatically not complaining. I'm very thankful for all the shenanigans you Gryffindors got up to. Do you mind if I finish the pita?"
"Go for it," Hermione replied on autopilot. She had so much to think about now. Her thoughts were racing as she made plans to research this topic. But … since Blaise was being so accommodating. "How will I know when I find her or him?"
"There's the question you should be asking." Blaise savored his last bite of the appetizer. "You'll be drawn to your guide. They'll feel like the calm in the storm. If you crash out, they can talk you around. It'd be best to avoid touching anyone that isn't them. You'll feel like ants are crawling over your skin. But once you'll be able to tolerate their touch above all others." ]
The rest of the lunch passed by quickly. Blaise proved to be quite slippery. He was able to turn the conversation around every time she tried to return the topic to Sentinels and Guides. Blaise was a bit of a gossip. He kept up a steady stream of consciousness on what everyone was up to. Shockingly - he knew that Padma was in India. Hermione shook her head when he commented on it.
While Hermione didn't leave the lunch as a close personal friend of Blaise Zabini, she felt they parted on good terms. Unfortunately, that left her with one person.
Draco Malfoy.
It wasn't that Draco Malfoy was the scourge of the Earth. She just didn't like him. He had been a bully in school. He hadn't been the one to kill Dumbledore. He hadn't turned them over to Voldemort in his home. He had run across the battlefield to rejoin their side after Harry had 'come back to life' but there was just something that was ingrained in her to bristle at his name. Probably muscle memory.
Blaise was right. It grated a little that Hermione had had such a large blind spot. Harry probably didn't know. But there was no chance that Pansy didn't know. Hermione would have to make sure that Harry was up to speed. But that was a secondary priority. Hermione was more determined than ever to find her guide.
There had to be more guides in Britain than the ones she'd met with. While Sentinels and Guides weren't the majority of society, they were still plenty prevalent.
She didn't have to start with Malfoy. Instead, she could do with some discomfort and do as the books say to 'test' for her match. The skin-to-skin contact would reveal a lot. Hermione took to wearing short sleeves and became very touchy-feely. It felt right as it was how she had been before she'd found out that she was a Sentinel.
Hermione had never been one to hold back her hugs or a pat on the arm or a chance to brush cheeks in greeting or leaving. But when she found out she was a Sentinel, Hermione had pulled back her physical displays of affection for friends and family.
With her renewed focus on finding her Guide, Hermione noticed that her Sentinel senses felt stronger than ever. She switched her schedule to avoid dealing with the crowded atrium. When possible, Hermione took the stairs. But nothing prepared her for the Tuesday when she got to work and the sunlight in the Ministry atrium was aglow. It was a rare sunny day in London.
As Hermione walked through the atrium, she wandered into the sunlight. It felt like the sun was blazing on her face. Hermione was frozen. She needed to shake her overwhelmed sight off, but she wasn't able to do it just yet. She closed her eyes and counted to ten. Making a promise to herself to move on when she hit the last number, Hermione centered herself.
Keeping her promise, Hermione opened her eyes and moved. There were sunspots in her vision, but the further she got from the light, the clearer her vision became.
Out of the corner of her eyes, she spotted a blonde hair of head move. Was that Malfoy? Shaking her head to clear her thoughts and hopefully help with the vision, Hermione got back on her way to work.
Meeting Harry and Ron for drinks after work, Hermione was surprised to find that Harry had brought Pansy, and Pansy had brought Blaise.
In deference to Hermione and Harry's Sentinel senses, they were at a higher-end cocktail bar. There was not as much ambient noise and it led to a calming effect for Sentinels.
Unfortunately, as the night went on it became busier and the tables around them filled. The noise was becoming less and less manageable. Hermione spotted Pansy helping Harry regulate and filter out the sound. Hermione was a little jealous.
Hearing a rustling, Hermione's eyes snapped to the sound and she saw Blaise rest a hand on Ron's fist. Before she could unpack that someone screamed. It wasn't in fear or horror. They were just greeting someone else with excitement.
With the sound piercing her ears, Hermione flinched and clapped her hands over her ears.
"What's going on here?" Draco Malfoy's dulcet voice cut through the discordant noise.
Hermione didn't understand why his voice seemed to act as a balm to her abused ears. Slowly raising her head, Hermione spotted that Draco appeared to be glaring at someone behind her. Was he glaring at the person screaming and practically yelling in the small bar?
"Draco! Join us!" Pansy said excitedly, and more importantly, at a normal volume.
"Are you sure I'm welcome?" Draco asked. He turned from glaring behind Hermione to eyeing ROn warily. Hermione kicked out at the seat next to her to jolt it slightly away from the table in a clear invitation.
"You're more than welcome," Hermione said. She just wanted to keep hearing that voice and the silky cadence of his words.
Draco sat down hesitantly. "As long as you let me know if I'm close to wearing out my welcome."
The background noise filtered out for Hermione and she wasn't sure why. That was only supposed to happen when you had a bonded … Turning her wide eyes on Malfoy, Hermione didn't expect him to still be gazing at her. He hadn't joined Blaise and Ron's weird staring content or Pansy and Harry's conversation on their latest case.
"You …" She stopped herself.
"Me?" Draco's voice lifted with the syllable in confusion.
"Nothing, I'm sorry. I have to go." Hermione grabbed her bag. "Harry! Ron! I'm heading out." Hermione brushed her cheek against both of her guy friends and patted the three Slytherins on the back as she left the bar. She wasn't running. No, this was just a strategic retreat.
Draco Malfoy had been able to help her to a larger degree than expected, given their lack of interactions. But still. Hermione would have to compose herself. It seems she might be locked on Malfoy more than expected.
The hard part about living in a city with enhanced senses was the smell. It was constant. Some were better than others. But most were worse. Hermione cursed that she'd chosen to stay in the muggle world to stay true to her roots (and to save money given the cost of living in the Wizarding World could be quite expensive).
It was moments like now that Hermione just had to push through. She was on her way to the grocer. But it was Wednesday and the garbage collection had yet to come around. It was also quite warm - making the smells more potent. Hermione just breathed through her mouth, but even that didn't fully solve the issue. It just temporarily alleviated it.
Counting down until she reached the grocer, Hermione was so close when her nose was suddenly saved. The scent of sandalwood permeated the air.
Hermione immediately started to scan the area. Where was that coming from? It was almost calling to her. Spinning around, Hermione spotted a man in a jacket.
There was no way.
"Malfoy!" The man stopped and slowly turned in her direction. It was him.
"Granger?" He asked and stepped toward her. Hermione fought not to purr at his smell. It was divine. She wanted to take a dive into his arms. "Are you stalking me?" His mouth had a teasing grin.
"You smell so good." She said before her brain caught up with her mouth. "What? No!"
He looked amused at her.
"I'm off to get some food for the week. I live around here. What are you doing in the muggle world?" Hermione raised an eyebrow.
"It seems that great minds think alike. I was just getting food as well. However, I'm grabbing dinner only." He said.
"Got a hot date?" Hermione asked. She needed to stop letting her first thoughts out of her mouth. She leaned in closer to him.
"Yes." He deadpanned. "Not really, it's just my mother."
Hermione laughed. "Well, I'd hate to make you late. I was just a little overwhelmed." Hermione waved a hand at the rubbish on the curb.
"I won't be late. Do you want to join us?" Draco asked. He tilted his head down toward her.
Hermione's eyes went wide. She's sure that she probably resembled a deer in headlights. While she desperately wanted to say yes and stay near his scent, spending time with Draco and his mother sounded like a recipe for disaster. "Oh! I wouldn't want to impose. Plus, I still have to get to the store. Maybe a rain check?"
"I'll hold you to it," Draco said. He stepped back. "See you around, Granger."
Hermione's luck was nowhere to be found this morning. She woke up late. Then she'd realized that she was on the dregs of her deodorant and toothpaste. She'd have to stop at the store on the way home. Thankfully, she'd had enough to make it through her morning routine. But, it did put her behind schedule.
Normally, Hermione took the stairs. But this morning, she was running so late. There was no chance she could get to work on time if she didn't take the lift. The ministry lifts were special. They went up, down, side to side, and even backward. It was a little ridiculous.
Hermione quickly hopped in the lift and settled into the back corner. Hopefully, there won't be too many people joining her. The first person to get in after her was Draco Malfoy. She gave him a tight smile. While they weren't yet friends, it would be dishonest for her to insist that she didn't like him. He'd joined Pansy at a few of their group events lately, and he'd grown up.
Unfortunately, Hermione's tenuous luck for the day was not with her at the moment. People kept cramming into the lift. Malfoy ended up turning around so he was facing her.
"Alright, Granger?" He was all up in her space. She couldn't fault him for it. At least they knew each other.
"Bit of a rough morning, actually. You?" She asked.
He hummed. "Nothing too crazy." The doors closed and the lift jerked. Hermione and Draco both reached up to grab the handle above their head.
Their skin made contact for the first time since Hermione came online as a Sentinel. It was jolting. Hermione had felt skin since she'd become a Sentinel and it had never been like this. His hand was smooth and her thumb ran across the back of his palm as they both held onto the handle.
She drew a breath sharply in through her nose and was flooded with his scent of sandalwood. His body heat was a wall in front of her cutting her off from all the other people in the lift. This was amazing. It was the best feeling in the world. She felt surrounded by him and his strength.
He rested his forehead against hers. Hermione melted into him a little.
"Holy -" Hermione started.
"Granger, don't you dare." He wrapped an arm around the small of her back to help keep Hermione standing.
"Malfoy, it's you. You're my guide." She breathed into his ear.
"Yes." He didn't hesitate to reply and pulled his head away to look directly into her eyes.
"You knew!" She gasped.
"Yes," he admitted. With that, the lift gave another jerk to a stop and people got off. He went to step back from her.
"Don't move away!" She grabbed onto him tighter.
"You're not mad?" He tilted his head.
"I'm going to be mad if you move away from me."
"Granger, we both have work. On different floors." He teased, his hand rubbed up and down lightly on her mid-back. It was heavenly.
She wrapped her arms around him in a hug. Her face met his chest. "Skiv off with me?"
"Are you suggesting we leave?" He smiled down at her.
"Yes. Are you in?" Hermione asked.
"You don't even have to ask. I'm all in."
Much later, Hermione got the chance to taste her guide. He was as fantastic at that as everything else. But some things Hermione was keeping just for herself.