His Mermaid Her Unicorn

4

     Hermione was so bewildered by the effect the unicorn had on her. Before it could turn its head to her, she abruptly turned and left. Surely nothing good could come of a connection such as this. She was the most feared creature of the Black Lake who cared not for beings beneath her. But, the unicorn just looked so helpless and in pain. For some reason, she came back to once again gaze upon the creature. As if pulled by an invisible force, she got closer to it loudly brushing by some bushes along the way. She placed her hands softly on the unicorn's hide and slowly began to rub, hoping to ease some of the pain before contemplating how best to help. She was still confused as to why she held such compassion for the creature.

     Not questioning this change of heart any longer, she got up using her scepter. Looking around, she caught sight of a pile of leaves that had fallen when she first came to the wooded area. She picked up a few of them and made her way back to the unicorn. Taking note of the three arrows sticking out of it, she settled next to the one in its side. She rubbed the area around the wound to soothe it before ripping the arrow out. At the pain, the unicorn jumped up so fast it knocked Hermione over.

     "I'm so sorry!" She exclaimed as she tried to calm the beast down, but she stopped suddenly in surprise. Her words came out as a scream. Even the unicorn cocked its head in puzzlement.

     "Please sit down and let me help you," she tried again but more screams came pouring out of her mouth. Hermione was baffled to say the least. She could barely express her intent to assist without mucking it up. All those years of living as a mermaid and speaking Mermish with the waterfolk have altered her vocal cords. It seemed that they could be permanently ruined or she had just lost the capability of human speech. She must readapt her voice or else there would be no communicating with anyone or anything.

     She opened her mouth to speak again but the unicorn neighed in protest and she quickly closed it. She beckoned it with her hands and tried to convey her intention to help. After a few seconds the unicorn seemed to decide it was best to let her help and plopped back down beside her. The last two arrows were in the hindquarters area and Hermione didn't think anything of it as she rubbed its leg and bum to soothe the areas. She ripped the arrows out in rapid succession.

     She took the leaves she gathered and placed them on each wound. Taking her scepter, she applied pressure and blue fire to the areas, as she had done to her own wounds on many occasions.

     She sat back to admire her handiwork but suddenly she began to feel faint. Her throat had gone dry and her skin slightly desiccated. Her eyes widened as she realized she needed to get back into the water and quickly. She grabbed her scepter and broke into a sprint back to her lake, stumbling along the way. As she dived back into the water, she failed to notice the unicorn trying to keep up with her. Back underwater, it felt as if she could properly breathe again. She turned back toward the water's surface and could see the unicorn just barely making it to the shore. She swam closer to the beast and could already tell her handiwork with its wounds was helping. She smiled herself and opened her mouth once again to speak. The unicorn gave her a look that seemed to question her decision making.

     "I'll try to come and check on your woundsss tomorrow," she hissed. Being back in water and in her own beastly form helped her voice sound a little more normal and for that she was grateful.

     The unicorn dipped his head as if to nod and turned towards the forest.

     "I'll meet you by the treesss," she hissed again as the unicorn paused but didn't look back at her. It galloped back into the cover of the trees.

     With a flick of her tail, she dived deep into those black waters to contemplate her encounter that day. The unicorn called to her for some reason and her old Gryffindor curiosity was piqued.