Draco stood before the dimming embers crackling amidst the hearth in the dark, empty common room. His right bare foot was tapping rhythmically on the hardwood floor, his thin fingers twisting the charmed jewel around itself and between his index and thumb periodically. He hated to admit -even to himself- that he was nervous; that he was anxious to find out what it would feel like when the other part of the bond was readied and connection snapped.
The bracelet in his hands was light, but he didn’t need to try to snap it to know that it was unfathomably resistant. There were no marks on it, no carvings, no clasps to fasten and open. But he could feel it, like a small tremor, the life vibrating lightly off the polished metal, the quiet rumbling of its core travelling all the way into the back of his mind. It felt him, and he felt it.
But it wouldn’t be like that for long; soon, the connection between his jewel and her sister would snap and he would stop feeling himself, and start feeling… her.
What would it feel like, when he did? Would she appear before him like a vision? A shiver ran down his spine. Would he hear her voice inside his head? Would he read her deepest thoughts?
The thought of being forcefully immersed in the best hidden corners of the girl’s mind made him almost choke on the little air he was managing to take.
Would it feel violating? Would she see everything that’s inside of him, too? Would she read his thoughts? Would she learn of his fear and shame? Would she learn of his mind and heart? Even worse… would she learn of her place in them?
His speeding thoughts halted suddenly, when he felt the unexpected warmth of a body at his back wrap its arms around his chest. Draco didn’t move, befuddled. He swore he could feel the dainty hands grabbing onto his grey t-shirt tightly, creasing it into its fists. He thought he could just make out the warm shape of a small woman pressing onto him from behind.
As the heat spread over his body, Draco watched the platinum bracelet levitate from his hands and float before him. It shone, like a beacon of light. Rays of moonlight white glow kissed his arms, his chest and his face, drawing random, angular shapes of darkness and light on them.
He knew then, that he’d never felt something like it. It was like an endless wave of warmth, like a clash of tame fire and wild peace.
It felt like something he couldn’t pin down; like something he’d never felt but somehow was so familiar, and so right.
He searched through his mind and memory tirelessly, his eyes absentmindedly focused on the glowing bracelet in the air before him, until he finally found it.
Unbeknownst to him, but old friends with his daily musings.
It felt like what he imagined a hug might feel like.
A hug from Her.
