Chapter 24
Storm woke early the next morning, way before the sun had begun to breach the horizon to shed it's first rays across the land. She was consumed immediately by the scent of vanilla and as her dark eyes fluttered open she was instantly met with the mane of brunette curls pressed to her face. Hermione was pressed into her front, with her back to Storm. The younger woman groaned internally, her bleary mind tearing itself away from where the older woman's bottom was pressed so tightly. She could feel a tight coil in the pit of her stomach as she rolled ever so slightly to rub her tired eyes. Sleep hadn't come easily to her after the ball, her mind racing around the expectations of the next few days. It would be intense but there was an untameable excitement that reared its head deep within her at the very thought of getting up in the air in front of a huge portion of the wizarding world.
With a deep sigh she finally resigned herself to getting up. Carefully she rolled out of the bed, instantly missing the gentle pressure the older woman had unwittingly provided. Had it been another day, another time Storm was sure she would have awoken Hermione in the most pleasurable of ways. But today was not that day, and it was not that time.
The young shifter knew she had work to do, and a team to support. It would be their first practice since arriving in Bulgaria, and their first practice with the World cup pitch. She knew she had to be on form today, as this would be what sets the tone for the rest of the tournament.
With a heavy yawn, she stretched her long form out. Pulling sleep taught muscles out of their rested stupor and into the waking world. Her large hands found her dark, tired eyes as she rubbed them before taking in the darkened room. Her wife barely budging at all as she moved out of the comfort of their little sanctuary.
She dressed quietly and grabbed her bag before making her way to the door of the trains compartment. It was still quiet in the halls, and she briefly wondered if she was late. She doubted it, she had set her alarm early enough and the anxiety and excitement that twisted her guts wouldn't allow her to snooze. She slid the door open and peaked out into the dimly lit hall, dark eyes peering down to see if anyone else was yet awake. She soon heard a rustle from the door opposite before it too was sliding open. Ginny stood before her in a matter of seconds, her long red hair pulled up into a ponytail and her quidditch robes already draped so properly over her shoulders.
"Good morning" Storm muttered, rubbing the back of her neck lazily as she yawned. Taking her opportunity to slide the door behind her closed.
"You're awake surprisingly early" Ginny quipped, though her hazel eyes were kind as they took in the younger woman. Neither of them were exactly the chirpiest in the mornings, but for this occasion it was different.
"I'm excited to get on my broom" Storm stated honestly, her smile bright as she watched the older woman begin making her way to the dining cart.
"Me too" Ginny agreed with a nod, flicking her eyes back to watch as Storms long strides fell into step with her own.
As they meandered down the hall, doors behind them could be heard sliding open as other players fell into stride with them. All seemingly unable to sleep any longer, a buzz filled the air and Storm found herself glad they had been situated right down the end of the cart. Hermione would at least be safe from any noise that might filter through into the compartments of each of the players.
"Did you sleep at all?" She spoke once again, flicking her dark eyes over to take the redhead in.
"Not really, I think I've maybe had three hours." Ginny spoke, though her voice was free from any grogg that normally came with such little rest.
"I think I'm about the same" Storm smirked "I hate not being able to sleep properly" She stated, and Ginny just laughed.
"I'm surprised. Here I was thinking you could sleep through everything." She stated, her own smirk pulling at her lips as she swung her leg over one of the long wooden seats, her other following soon after.
There was a smorgasbord of different breakfast items lining each of the tables. Scrambled egg, toast, bacon, sausages, black pudding everything you could think of. Steaming pots of tea and coffee scattered about the table in between big jugs of pumpkin juice and the like. Storm had barely sat down before she was pulling food into her dish that was sat in front of her.
Breakfast continued quietly and there was an air of tension that followed them all out onto the field. The sun was just about rising casting orange and yellow tones against everything it touched with its warm glow.
Storm followed behind the crowd of players, watching them all quietly as she took in their behaviours. Her quidditch boots pressing into the grass as she trudged along. The breeze was gentle and with it brought the smell of dying campfires and fireworks. The night before everyone had partied until the earlier hours of the morning, and she could feel the magic still tangible in the air around them. The camps each flying the colours of their home countries with pride. She was in awe of exactly where she was as the walls of the stadium loomed above her making her feel smaller than she had ever felt in her life. Her heart hammered as she looked beside her towards her best friend. Ginny looked as if she was feeling the same emotions Storm had racing through her own body. It was insane to think of how much they had achieved at such a young age. The rest of their team members were much older, with vast amounts of experience behind them. But there was something about being absolutely surrounded by all that was magical that had her soul absolutely vibrating within the confines of her chest. She truly in that moment, felt alive.
Soon the practice had kicked off, and their captain had them flying circles around the pitch. A quaffle added into the mix to really get them trying. Magical smoke hoops appeared before them only staying long enough to either be flown through or missed before disappearing again. Storm felt like she was dodging and diving at all angles, and from what she could tell the captain had the whole team doing the same.
She knew she would be a target and needed to be on form, she needed to be aware of everything around her at all times or it just wouldn't work. She needed to get to the snitch as soon as possible before anyone on the team got too badly hurt. That much had already been established.
"Storm!" Came the captains voice from somewhere deep below her. Her dark eyes searching the ground as she hovered mid-air. Another quaffle came soaring up past her, and she reached out to grab it. "Keep the quaffle. Team! Get the quaffle" Came the voice again, and before she knew it the team were all after her.
"Nice warning!" She quipped with an eye roll as she all but took an elbow to the face. Ducking she dived straight down, followed closely by Ginny who was smirking an all but mischievous smirk.
She knew the redhead had a hugely competitive streak and she wasn't about to let her win.
"Come on Storm" Ginny yelled hot on her tail her broom handle too facing directly towards the floor. Storm knew when it came to playing chicken she would always win, though it could be argued that it was less to do with bravery and more to do with stupidity and stubbornness.
The dark green carpet that was the grass below them was coming closer and closer when a sharp movement caught her attention out of the corner of her eye. She looked quickly only to be met with another one of her team members flying straight towards her. With a sharp pull on her handle it sent her flying straight at him, her chin close to the broom as she tried to keep herself as aerodynamic as possible. He looked startled for a moment as if he hadn't expected her to come straight for him, the wind stinging her eyes blurring her vision as she whizzed past him, changing the direction of her broom once again, this time heading straight up. She couldn't help a low chuckle as she looked round to see half of her team trying desperately to catch up.
A sharp elbow caught her in the jaw as she was collided with solidly from the side. She hadn't been paying attention to where the rest of the team where and someone had snuck up on her. Hands grasped at her robe, at her arms, and her fingers that were gripping into the leather ball with all she had. It took her a moment to compose herself, her dark eyes flicking to her assailant and almost rolling when she noted that it was none other than Ginny herself.
"OI! Watch my face!" Storm yelled though her slightly bloodied lips were still tugged up into a smirk.
Ginny just laughed "I'm sure Hermione wont mind!" She yelled over the wind as she angled her broom to slam into Storm once again to knock the quaffle loose.
"If you wanted to be close to me you could have just said!" Storm retaliated, her broom guiding hand leaving her handle to grab onto Ginny's robes. "I much prefer playing dirty in private! But have it your way!" She laughed as the redhead's eyes went wide for a moment as she realised what Storm was thinking.
With a Sharp tug Ginny was being pulled from her broom. Her hands gripping desperately to her handle as she tried not to fall off completely. "OI!" She yelled, kicking nothing but air as she watched Storm fly off once again in the direction of the rest of the players as if tempting them. Rolling to fly upside down at the very last moment before one of their team members kicked a foot out and knocked the quaffle completely out of her hands.
Ginny laughed out loud at that as she finally righted herself on her broom. "Too Arrogant" She laughed again, her hazel eyes finding their coach down below them.
She was shaking her head, though a small smile could be seen pulling at her lips. Ginny knew Gwenog Jones quite well, she was her own captain of the Harpies. They all knew Storm had two weaknesses, Hermione and her own arrogance. Storm knew she was good, and sometimes, just sometimes that worked against her.
As they all landed the older woman still stood on the pitch clapped. "Well done team! You showed some amazing flying skills up there. I hope you all feel ready for the first game because it will be with us before you all know it!" She shouted to be heard.
"Go get changed! I'll see you all at lunch!" She finally ended, there wasn't much to say. The team played well, and practice was only to get them out of their own heads.
"You've got a bit of..." Ginny spoke as she pointed to Storm's lips, her own pulled up into an amused grin. "blood" She finished as Storm raised her own fingers up to tentatively touch her mouth.
"Oh, thanks red!" Storm laughed, shaking her head as she brought her robe clad arm up to wipe away the crimson drip from her own face. "You could have been a little gentler" she grumbled, nudging Ginny with an elbow as they made their way back to get changed.
"I though you liked it rough?" Ginny quipped with a loud laugh as she watched the younger girl smirk to herself. Hazel eyes rolled as she watched the thought process race through storm's head quite plainely writing itself across her features.
"Wouldn't you like to know!" Storm laughed, shaking her head as she ran a hand through her short hair.
"I already do, you forget Hermione is my best friend" Ginny stated as if it was the most obvious thing in the world.
"Hey! I thought I was your beast friend" Storm stated with a gasp, holding her chest as if she was genuinely hurt. "Am I not good enough now?"
Ginny just laughed, shaking her head as she did so "Oh shut up" She stated playfully.
They carried on much that way, making their way back to their own compartments. By now the sun had fully risen, and Storm was sure Hermione would already be awake and waiting for her. They still had a little time before going to pick up Joey from her parents and for that she was grateful. She was sweaty and very windswept from practice and couldn't wait to shower.
They parted ways once at their doors, promising to meet for lunch in an hour or so. They would both be going to the British camp in search of their families. Storm couldn't wait to see what it was like outside of their train. She had heard stories from Hermione Ginny and Harry about the World cup they had gone to and she could almost feel the excitement radiating from her bones.
"Hermione!" She called as she shut the compartment door behind her. Sliding it into its frame as she turned on heel to make her way into the depths of the enchanted room.
"In here" Came the brunettes voice, and Storm's interest peaked as the gentle patter of the showers spray hitting tile hit her ears.
Her quidditch robes were soon forgotten, coming off quickly as she rushed to catch the older woman before she got out from underneath the warm waters spray.
She rounded the corner and sure enough through the steam her dark eyes could make out her wife's figure behind the glass of the shower door.
"I don't know if you agree, but I definitely say this is perfect timing!" Storm laughed as she slid the glass door open allowing steam to plume out around her.
Hermione laughed, dark eyes flicking up to take the younger girl in from underneath watery eyelashes. "I would most definitely agree" The brunette stated as a matter of fact. Her wet hands reaching out to flatten against taught stomach muscles as Storm stepped into the waters warm embrace. Soon the shifter had pressed her body firmly to Hermione's own, leaning down just enough to pull the older woman's full lips into a fierce kiss.
Storm's hands finding their way to Hermione's neck, her fingers gently splaying out until they were tangled in damp curls. Pulling brunette waves away from Hermione's neck to expose sensitive flesh. Storm's lips expertly skimming down the older woman's jaw, and past her earlobe to press hot open-mouthed kisses to her pulse point, feeling her heart race so rapidly under her tongue as a deep moan fluttered from parted lips so close to her own ear.
"I'm guessing practice went well, you're definitely in a bright mood this morning" Hermione spoke, although a little breathlessly.
"It was great" Storm stated, though no elaboration was necessary at the time.
Storm could feel Hermione's hands gripping tightly to her shoulder's, nails biting at the skin there before raking down her back just the way she liked. Hermione's fingers soon coming to squeeze pert butt cheeks, and quidditch tightened thighs. It wasn't long before Hermione was pushing her away slightly, just enough so her own lips could find Storm's jaw, tracing along its sharp line until she got to her earlobe. Pulling the flesh in between her teeth she nibbled gently, the hitch in Storm's breath nearly lost amongst the pounding of the water against their bare flesh.
Skilled fingers soon found their way to Hermione's thighs, pushing them apart gently with her own thigh. The older woman's entrance was already slick with a heated want when Storm's fingers found it. Pressing two fingers in straight away garnered the response she wanted as Hermione groaned again, pulling away to stare up for a moment. Dark eyes glazed over with lust as they stared up at Storm in the way she loved so much. The shifter took the opportunity to press the older woman back into cold tiles, her ears straining to hear the hiss of a sharp exhale fall from the brunette's lips as her heated skin was assaulted by the frigid temperatures of the stone.
"Storm" Hermione spoke breathlessly as the younger woman started her work. Pressing her fingers in as deeply as possible watching as dark eyes all but rolled back as Hermione allowed her head to drop back ever so slightly.
"Mmm?" she hummed as if in question, though it was entirely rhetorical. She pulled her fingers out again ever so slightly before pushing back in with force. She set her pace, quickly and roughly as the older woman whimpered, dropping her head to rest against Storm's shoulder. Her own fingers digging harshly into Storm's flesh.
"Storm I'm not far..." She whispered, her body shaking as pleasure wracked its way through her bones. The younger woman dipping her head down to pull plump lips into a kiss, her free arm holding onto Hermione for dear life.
"I know" the younger woman whispered against the brunette's kiss bruised lips, watching intensely as the older woman's features warped and twisted in ecstasy.
Her body began to tremble, and her legs began to shake as Storm pushed on in desperate need to finish what she had started.
It wasn't long until Hermione was gasping for air a hand moving down to pause Storm's ministrations desperately as she could not take anymore. "Stop" She muttered as dark eye opened slowly, glazed over with lust as the took in a rather smug looking shifter.
Her fingers tracing delicate circles over Storm's wrist as she held her there for a few moments.
"Why do you look so smug?" She questioned as she tried to get her breath back, heaving huge gulps of air into her lungs.
"Because we never get to do things like that anymore" Storm stated simply. There was no malice in her voice, she was just stating a simple fact.
"I know" Hermione added. It was hard with Joe and their own schedules. It felt sometimes as if they rarely even saw each other. "I miss you" she spoke honestly, moving to drag her fingers up through the short hair at the back of Storm's neck. Scraping her fingernails against the soft skin she found there causing Storm to shudder delightfully.
"I'm nervous" Storm spoke honestly, completely open with her wife.
Hermione blinked for a moment; taken back by the vulnerability she was so rarely shown. Sometimes she did question if Storm ever actually felt nerves, or anxiety. She was always sure of everything.
"You'll do amazing!" She beamed a smile so bright it lit up her entire face as she stroked the shifters cheek gently. "You're amazing whenever you get up on that broom Storm! Just do what you always do." She spoke with earnest. Cupping Storm's face in order to ensure the younger woman was actually listening to her.
Storm's dark eyes were boring into her own, as if she was searching for any sign of a lie. "I'll just do it a little more carefully" Storm added with a laugh, sure that was the next bit to follow the pep talk.
"You best do I am not going to be a mother and a nurse at the same time. You're on your own if you do something stupid and get caught out" Hermione laughed, she was only partly joking.
"I thought you liked playing nurse⦠I was even going to get you a little outfit" Storm stated, waggling her eyebrows as a cheeky grin tugged it's way across her lips.
"I don't think that'll be on the cards" Hermione just rolled her eyes, pushing the younger girl away. "Now get yourself showered; we don't want to be late to pick Joey up from your parents!" She stated sternly. Making her way towards the glass door of the shower as she spoke, not looking back at what she was sure to be the worlds biggest pout.
"Why can't we just stay naked for the rest of the day?" Storm quizzed, though put up no more of a fight.
"I for some reason don't think many people would appreciate that, and I would not want to see that front cover of the Daily Prophet" Hermione quipped, and then she was gone.
A/N: Anyone been to Harry Potter World in Universal? What's it like if so?
Hope this chapter is ok for you all, let me know!
