Chapter 25

The evening had passed in a blur of excitement. Storm and Hermione had gone to meet their parents who had come to watch the games that kicked off the long journey that would be the World Cup. Fireworks had lit up the stadium in the distance, and people cheered and danced throughout the night. It reminded Storm greatly of the events that had unravelled at the celebration at Hogwarts. The mood that pulsed through the camp was electrifying, and she couldn't help the huge smile that split her face. Ginny and herself were finally the ones being stopped more so than Harry and Hermione. People stopping them to pull them into photographs and asking for them to sign their jerseys worn oh so proudly.

They both had happily obliged but were so grateful to finally meet the sea of Weasleys that signalled the little corner their families had commandeered. Storm caught her sister's eye from across the way and was not exactly shocked to see she had already struck up what looked to be an intense conversation with Charley. Hermione had made a beeline for Storm's parents and their baby boy who was wide eyed watching all the commotion around him in wonder. Storm watching intensely as she caught Ron's line of sight caught the brunette and their little boy. Her hackles rising almost immediately as she moved to block his view as best as she could. They hadn't seen him since that day and for that she found herself incredibly grateful.

She soon caught up with her wife, watching as her son held his arms up to her. His own smile threatening to split his face as he giggled happily. "Hello big man!" she beamed with pride as she took him from the older witch, leaning over to press a kiss to her cheek as she did. "How was your night with nanny and grandad?" she asked seriously, nodding as he clapped and gurgled at her. "That sounds great!" She replied once he had finished, moving to press a kiss to his face.

"Did you tell your momma that?" She continued on, though aimed more towards Hermione this time. The brunette had moved to draw small patterns on the back of the younger woman's back as dark doe eyes took the scene in. Her heart swelling as she watched the two shifters chat in their own little way. She mused to herself Storm always did her proud, but nothing ever compared to watching her just be with their little boy. Watching how she interacted with him and loved him so honestly.

"Grandad said he had a big breakfast!" Hermione chipped in as they moved to sit in the vacant camp chairs outside the Griffin's tent. They sat like that for hours just enjoying the atmosphere at chatting to their friends and family. Watching as the celebrations of the first proper night had unfolded around them all, basking in the happiness that just being together surrounded by people they loved brought upon them.

It wasn't too late when they decided to head back to the locomotive, Joey having fallen asleep in Storm's strong embrace after a big dinner. They had said their goodbyes then, catching up to Ginny and Harry as they too decided to turn in for the night. The pair had a big game the next day and they really did need to get as much sleep as they possibly could.

-x-x-x-x-x-

The next morning came in a flash and Storm soon found herself stood next to Ginny in a dull tunnel somewhere high off the floor of the pitch. They could hear the stands roaring so loudly the noise threatened to rattle the entire structure of their small holding. Everyone was quiet as they waited with bated breath to be called out into the air. Listening intensely as their opponents took the first spot, the crowds noise getting even louder as soon as the players were announced.

Storm chanced a look at the redhead next to her quietly thankful for the fact that they would at least be in this together. They played fierce and played even better together. Dark eyes caught light hazel ones and the older witch offered her a reassuring smile which was returned whole heartedly.

"Try to resist me this time" Storm laughed, nudging the redhead with her elbow.

"I believe that is an impossible task" Ginny retorted with a smirk and a roll of her eyes.

"If you say so" Storm stated, a crooked grin taking her lips as she shook her head.

"If you hear something enough you start to believe it" The older woman bounced back with a laugh "and you sure like to remind us" She continued with a grin.

The conversation served its purpose and eradicated some of the butterflies that had taken up residence within them both. Without missing a beat, the commentator's voice boomed again, and they were called into the air. "Be careful!" Came Ginny's voice for the last time as they mounted their brooms watching as the players in front of them began to disappear into the immense noise that threatened to deafen them all.

"You too!" Storm yelled back over the noise finally pushing from the floor to fly out into the open air of the stadium.

The sun was bright in the sky, and there were few clouds that lingered above them. The sight of just how many people crowded the stands hit her with full force in the chest. She caught the slight green tinge to Ginny's cheeks and was grateful knowing it was not just her. Their team did a lap of the stands, waving to the spectators below them.

It felt as if it was an eternity before the game was finally started and within an instant Storm set to work. Dark eyes scanning the air around the pitch, watching to see that oh so familiar glint of gold flicker in the sunlight. The other team's seeker quite obviously tailing her flying so close it was making her almost uncomfortable. Storm was banking on her sheer speed and agility to get her to the snitch first. The commentators voice was lost amongst the noise of the crowd and the wind whipping past her ears as she flew in circles.

The game was almost easy, it felt too good to be true as she watched their chasers scoring goal after goal. The English supporters erupting with pure hysteria after every shot cleared one of the huge golden hoops. A smug smirk tugged at her lips as dark eyes caught sight of the small golden ball flying straight for her before zipping up and over her head. In an instant she had jumped into action, she would end this game the way she knew they needed to, the only way she would ever be happy with. With an aggressive yank to her broom handle she forced her feet down hard to almost flip herself completely upside down within a split second heading the opposite way in pursuit of the little golden ball, twisting hard to right herself again before flattening to her brooms handle. It was a stunt that had the crowd gasp and was something she had been working on throughout practices, though she paid little attention to much other than the other seekers perplexed expression as she passed him in a flash.

The little golden ball just centimetres from her grasp before he even had a clue as to what was happening. In the next breath she had reached out and grabbed it in a fist straight out of the air, it's golden wings struggling to get free as she looked over her shoulder to take stock of her teammates. In a way she couldn't believe it their first game was over so soon.

Ginny was the first one on her after flying at her in a flash of red, almost climbing onto her broom to pull her into a huge hug screaming "We won! And you didn't get hurt!" She yelled over the absolute chaos that had ensued as soon as Storm's flesh contacted metal. The look on the redhead's face was one of pure exhilaration as she grinned from ear to ear.

"I told you I'd be careful!" Storm yelled back, "I told you I'd get it!" She stated proudly before she was let go for them to land. The rest of her teammates piling onto her as soon as her booted feet had touched down onto the soft grass. People were pulling her in every direction, and she soon lost count of how many times she had been patted on the back.

"One down Griffin! All the rest to go!" Gwenog Jones finally joined them, offering the seeker a deserved smirk.

"No pressure then!" Storm retorted with a laugh, ducking a little bit as a large paw of a hand ruffled her hair from somewhere behind her. The rest of the team hysterical with delight as they celebrated the first win of the cup. The shifter found herself pulled from the commotion as Hermione had come racing out to them, her dark eyes sparkling in the sunlight and a winning smile pulling the corners of her lips upwards.

Storm broke away from the rest of the team as other partners and spouses joined them on the pitch. Her eyes set firmly on her target as she took a couple of long strides in the older woman's direction. Closing the gap in as little time as she could possibly manage.

"Hermione!" She called reaching for the curly haired witch, long dexterous fingers moving to pull the older woman towards her in a hurry.

"You did brilliantly!" The brunette gushed all but launching at the shifter. "You didn't even get hurt!" she added as an afterthought, wrapping her arms around Storm's neck.

"Why does everyone keep saying that?" Storm quizzed with a raised eyebrow "I don't even get hurt that often." She quipped as she leant in to press a kiss to the older woman's lips.

Hermione just raised a brow in response, shaking her head as she laughed. She returned the kiss whole heartedly for a moment before a delighted squeal grabbed their attention from somewhere behind them both.

Joe was meandering towards them both, arms full of a beaming little boy watching his mothers so carefully. The older man had opted to wait until the rest of the families had cleared out a bit before even trying to make his way down to the pitch. Having taken the baby boy off Hermione who was visibly chomping at the bit to get to the younger woman in a hurry.

"Hello there handsome baby" Hermione spoke as she turned to take the baby from her father in law, her dark eyes watching as he gurgled happily. His chubby fingers clenching and unclenching into fists as they wrapped themselves in the soft material of her shirt. Hermione was wearing Storm's Gryffindor Jersey proudly, the sight so reminiscent of their time at Hogwarts, yet so different.

Joey himself adorned one remarkably similar, Storm having insisted he would have to be her good luck charm that morning. Storm's fingers found the little boy's chest as her dark eyes watching him settle into his mother's grasp. "I like your shirt!" She stated, leaning in to give him a kiss on the forehead. "I guess it worked" She whispered as she moved in closer. Speaking to him as if he understood everything she was saying.

"Come on then Hermione! I heard they were having a BBQ for dinner!" She stated as she began to pull the older woman away from the noise of the pitch. "I'm Starving!"

"Storm, honestly." The older woman just shook her head in disbelief. "I swear you only ever think about your stomach!" She laughed with a shake of her head.

"It's one of few!" Storm confirmed with a cheeky grin and a wink.

"Oi! Head out of the gutter!" She laughed, though not entirely surprised.

"I didn't mean that! Hermione, you are just filth" She teased, wrapping an arm around her wife's waist as she held the two of them close to her side.

"Oh, I'm the filthy one?" she stated haughtily, her voice taking on a tone that was akin to the one she used during her head girl days. "We'll see about that one when you're spending the night on the sofa!" She quipped as a matter of factly, trying to stay as serious as she possibly could.

"You would miss me!" Storm laughed out loud then, leaning in to kiss the older woman on the cheek. "she would miss me" she spoke to her boy who had his head resting on the shorter woman's shoulder. His own dark eyes watching Storm's every move.

"What have I told you! Arrogance is not attractive!" Hermione stated simply, nudging the younger woman with her hip as they continued their short journey to the locomotive.

"You keep saying that… but honestly I just don't believe it" Storm laughed again, content with how things were just then. She loved quidditch, and she loved her little family. All that was missing was Dex, though she would see him when they got home.

She took the opportunity to truly bask in the bliss that was their lives in that moment just then. Nothing but smiles all around.