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[ ... Ah. She stands up, moving and opening the door, pausing for a moment before her eyes flicker a little before she leans down. This has to be someone she knows, of course, but... ]

Hello?

[ At her door, there is a rather large, dog-like animal. It looks as if someone took the general idea of 'wolf' and then tried to shove a couple other shapes or creatures inside its skin. Tall, broad through the shoulders, but the front legs are sort of bowed in a way that suggests some ability to rise up on its haunches and be dextrous. There's a long, powerful whip-like tail that ought to be good for balance when running. A heavy ruff of fur and possibly feathers around its neck and, goodness, very strong jaws indeed.

It ought to be worrying, except for the eyes; one green and very human, the other amber and set in scarring.]

[ She pauses, staring again for a long moment... Before she shifts, kneeling down and offering out her hand before she sighs. ]

Harry? It's you, isn't it?

[ How do you get into these scrapes? ]

[ With a rumbling chuff he noses against her hand and nods. Yes, it's Harry. He's aware and sentient in there, but talking is not really going to work.

Still, he didn't want her to think he'd forgotten about her and Yule. ]

[ Hermione shakes her head, standing up again and opening the door, ushering him inside and giving him the room to do it before she shuts the door behind them. ]

You can go and sit on the couch if you like.

[ There's always work to be done, so he doesn't have too long to stay, but he wants to visit. He trots past her, into the house, and makes a point of wiping his feet on the doormat. He might be an animal, but he's got manners.

What a good dog.]

[ Following, she sits on the ground before the sofa, reaching out to offer a hand, lifting her fingers up to touch the spot behind his ears. ]

Is this okay?

[ Harry chuffs again and leans into the touch. There's a particularly itchy bit of feather-fur that's almost about to moult and if she can help with that, he'd adore her forever.

He's going to adore her anyway, but this will just be on top of that. ]

[ Beaming, she reaches up and scratches just right, practice from taking care of Godric and the cats she's been adopting (she has three, Merlin help her) her hand stroking over him. ]

You're very handsome.

[Harry makes a high, pleased sound and tilts his head to give her better access. Truly, he is the luckiest dog-cat-whatever.

After a moment, there is a funny sort of expression that seems to imply he knows just how handsome he is. Handsome and modest.]

[ She laughs softly, scratching a little harder even as she shifts, her other hand cupping his jaw. ]

I can't believe all the animals you're becoming. I'm jealous.

[Whatever he is can't purr, but he can make a sort of squeaking rumble. He's been in this form for close to two months now and he's missed this simple affection.

If he could, he'd tell her there's nothing to envy. An owl is a fine bird, but whatever he is now is all work.]

[ Sh just hums, shifting a little to scratch a little more, soft and gentle with him - because that's who she is with Harry. A soft and loving friend. ]

Do I get a cuddle, at least?

[With that, Harry grins as best as he's able and flomps on her. Suffer, Hermione. Suffer the indignity of so much cuddling.]

[ Laughing, her arms wrap around him and she tugs him close, leaning in and stroking her hand down his back. It doesn't occur to her that this might be strange; it feels normal, natural, for the Drabwurld. ]

[Maybe it's a little odd, but it's a comfort and Harry won't say no to giving or receiving a little kindness. As one of Morla's Wolves, he's been kept busy enough with other, less friendly acts.

Fair warning: if she keeps that up, he'll end up sprawled on his back and falling asleep.]

[ All she can do is pull him closer, stroking him gently and humming, scratching when she thinks about it, an absent thought. ]

You should rest for a few hours. I know you must be busy.

[He rumbles in lieu of saying anything else. He is busy, but it hasn't been a bad sort of work.

Harry also knows just how difficult it is to convince Hermione to take a break and he's glad to be the reason for her to have a little time to just laze about.]

[ Relaxing, Hermione moves and settles, cuddling up against Harry's side before she breathes out. ]

Can you keep a secret?

[ It's almost a joke, really, since he can't actually talk, but she wants to tell someone. She can't get it off her mind. ]

[Did you know that cat-dog-whatevers can roll their eyes? You do now, Hermione.

Harry bumps her with his nose. Come on, spill.]

[ She pauses before she swallows, squeezing him gently. ]

Someone asked me to marry them.

[Harry rolls over and stares at her with big, big eyes. Really? He whines and wuffles. Who? Who? Tell him. Assuming she seems slightly pleased, he's clearly happy for her and gently baps her with a big paw.]

[ She shakes her head, reaching over and rubbing under his chin. ]

He's just a friend, really. We've been spending time together because he's been helping tutor me in my magic, just a little, to make the things I've learned here more focussed.

[ It's obvious that she finds it hilarious. ]

I said no, of course.

[Still, she gets another gentle pat-pat as he settles back down.

When he can talk again, he's going to have a few things to say about this, but for now all he can do is fuss at her. Fussing, Hermione, do you see it? He wants her to be happy. He wants her to find the right person for her. He wants to know this fellow's name so he can, eventually, do the duty of a best friend and get to know him better.]

[ Laughing again, she moves, tugging Harry onto her lap so she can pet at him. If she wasn't so used to the awkwardness of their situation, to the strangeness that happens here, she might be disconcerted, but it's been far too long for that now. ]

I don't love him. I'm not going to get married until I love someone and I don't love anyone here, not even someone handsome with magic.

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