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Flying Lesson - Assignment 11 - Task: For this task, the weather will play a big part of your chapter. I want you to take one of the following weather conditions and use it as a problematic issue in your story. For example, if you choose a heatwave, maybe the characters are suffering from blackouts and sunstroke. If they choose a storm, perhaps someone is afraid of it and must be consoled. The weather conditions MUST be a clear issue within your story. Weather Prompt Used: Storm/Thunderstorm/Electric Storm. Remaining Prompt from list: Mermaid
Twelve Moments In Time: The Storm
It had been only a few months since Hermione had arrived at Hogwarts and she had already had a good few falling outs with Lily Evans.
She had expected Lily to be sweet and kind - the Lily that Remus told stories about, but it was clear that this Lily and the Lily Remus remembered were not the same.
Unless Remus was being nice, telling Harry wonderful stories about his mother, rather than say that Lily Evans was a bitch.
Hermione fixed her pillow on the sofa in the Common Room: Lily's nasty comments about her shouldn't have bothered her, but they did - just because it was her best friend's mother who was making them.
Hermione couldn't help it if she couldn't sleep because of the storm.
She wondered if it was because of James? That Lily was jealous that James had taken it upon himself to look after her.
Hermione unfolded the blanket she had brought down with her, laying it across the sofa, before setting up some wards: she trusted the students, but didn't want anyone to sneak up on her whilst she was sleeping - she didn't trust the Marauders to not prank her.
She picked up her book on Mermaids and began to read.
It was only about half-an-hour before she heard the portrait hole opening, though no-one was there. She watched the empty space for a bit before she felt the tingle of her wards.
Hermione's wand was in her hand in seconds, and Sirius quickly threw the cloak off himself and Remus.
"Relax," he insisted, holding his hands up as though he was surrendering. She lowered her wand at the sight of the pair.
"Chocolate muffin?" Remus asked, opening the tub he was holding and offering Hermione one. She smiled and took one.
"So, what are you doing down here? Are you sleeping in here?" Sirius asked, his eyes on the blankets.
"I can't sleep," Hermione admitted. "The storm keeps me awake at night and Lily... well, I decided I'd rather sleep down here."
Sirius' eyes narrowed. "Is she giving you trouble?"
Hermione snorted. "Nothing I can't handle. I just didn't want to deal with it at this time of night."
"So... what has made you so scared of storms?" Sirius asked, looking towards Remus.
"My past," she admitted. "Nightmares. The storm reminds me of the lowest points. Does the storm keep you awake?"
Sirius hesitated for a long time. "It does," he admitted. "For both of us. It's the anger of the storm, the violence. We both have things we'd like to forget but..." he trailed off.
"Don't worry, you don't need to tell me," Hermione whispered, already knowing what affected the pair. "Have a good night you two." She went to turn back to her book, but was surprised when Sirius and Remus sat down next to her.
"We were going to eat these upstairs, but maybe we could keep you company for a few minutes whilst we do," Remus said.
...oOo...
Hermione knocked softly on the door to the boy's dorm. In the day, she usually just walked in, but it was night-time, and she felt strange heading here.
Even if she was dating James Potter and had slept in his bed whenever he was with the Marauders during the full-moon.
The door opened slightly and Sirius blinked at her, the light from her wand hurting his eyes.
"Everything alright, luv?" he muttered, pushing the door open slightly.
"I couldn't sleep," Hermione admitted. "The storm... nightmares."
She knew that, with Sirius, it really was that simple. Though they had such different experiences, he seemed to understand her more than anyone. She had overheard the older Sirius make jokes about his families treatment of him and knew he was no stranger to torture or nightmares.
Though, his nightmares only usually happened when Remus was away on Order business and wasn't there to help him.
"Padfoot?" came James' voice. "What's going on?"
Sirius put his arm around Hermione and led her into the room, closing the door behind her. "She can't sleep," he explained. "But I'm not willing to share Moony, I need him to keep away my own nightmares. You'll have to do."
He grinned at Hermione, before placing a kiss on her forehead. "Sleep well, okay?"
She could hear the concern behind the grin and leer he shot her as he headed back to his own bed, where Remus was sprawled out, fast asleep. She wondered briefly why Remus was frowning so deeply.
She watched Sirius slip into Remus' arms and the frown disappear quickly, before turning her gaze to James' bed.
"I used to love storms," she whispered, meeting James' gaze. "I thought they were beautiful, I loved watching the lightening light up the sky and listen to the crashes of thunder during the storm. Now, the noises make me feel ill, they make me panic. I know they can't hurt me, they can't do anything, and I know it's silly, but -"
James was off the bed and had her in his arms in a flash. "Hermione, after everything you've been through, you don't need to explain yourself to me like this. I'm not going to judge you just for needing me during the storm." His eyes fell on Sirius' bed. "Sirius is the same, though I don't invite him to sleep next to me."
"I bet you don't, you're too scared of what Remus would do to you," Hermione teased, her arms still clutching her pillow between them.
"You're welcome to join me whenever you have a nightmare or whenever there is a storm," he insisted. "I love you, and I'll protect you from anything that you fear or that could harm you. Storms included."
He led Hermione over to his bed and grabbed his wand, casting a warming spell on all the sheets before she slipped under them.
"Oh, that is warm, I've never thought of doing that," Hermione admitted as James walked around the bed and slipped in on the other side, fixing the covers around them.
James pulled Hermione into his arms. "Sleep well, love," he whispered, his lips meeting her tangle of hair.
Review Please :)
Thanks to Lynn for betaing
