WIP: "Transfigurations"

Fandom: Harry Potter.

Harry unrolled the piece of red flannel. "Dr. Bokor said he's always had luck with this one."

It was an ordinary black-handled paring knife, much used. A tiny bit of the tip was broken off, and many years of sharpening had left the blade slightly concave. The metal was oxidized a deep charcoal gray, but a sheen along the cutting edge suggested it had been sharpened recently.

"On his earlobe," Hermione suggested. "There are fewer nerve endings there."

"That's where we do it when they're unconscious," Harry said. "But there's power in the pain, too, if it's freely given." She bit her lip and nodded.

Harry turned to Draco and took his right hand, now bare of the usual heavy silver rings. His fingers were long and pale. His face, when harry looked up, was paler still.

"Do you consent?"

"Yes, yes," Draco said impatiently. "Let's get it over without any amateur theatrics, shall we?"

"Draco!" Hermione said. "Blood magic! It's not something to be taken lightly."

Harry put his hand up and touched Draco's cheek until Draco met his eyes. Very slowly and distinctly, he said again: "Do you consent?"

Draco held his gaze for a long time before whispering, "Yes."

Harry wiped his hands on his robe, and then he picked up the knife.