Chapter 31
Months came and went and soon summer had given way to the early days of autumn. Hermione's birthday was lingering just around the corner and Storm was more than excited for what she had instore for the older woman. Storm had managed to secure the weekend off and had kept that little fact to herself. Hoping to keep it a surprise for the brunette and to make the weekend even more special for her.
The World Cup was still trudging on, and now they were into the second group having come first in their first group, avoiding being knocked out so early on. That meant they were one step closer to beating the Bulgarians and Krum himself. Something the older woman had rolled her eyes at every time Storm brought it up. They had a few games organised for the winter and one just around the corner. Training had been intense between the two teams, and it never seemed to get old. There was always something new to do and every game they had played had brought more and more challenge. Storm had no doubt winning would be difficult but as long as they kept up the pace they were going at, they would definitely do it.
Storm had woken early the morning of Hermione's birthday, much earlier than she would ever be happy doing for any other reason but to do something for the brunette. She pulled a jumper on over her broad shoulders and made for the stairs as quietly as possible, taking the baby monitor with her as she went. She would get Joe when he started to stir and would leave the older woman to sleep in a while.
She made her way groggily into the kitchen, flicking the coffee pot on as she went past. She would be grateful for the caffeine's help in keeping her eyes open as she worked on setting breakfast up. It's hum and quiet bubble was the only other noise that could be heard throughout the house as she started pulling ingredients out of the fridge. A measuring cup and bowl sat on the side waiting to go.
She braced herself against the counter for a moment as she poured a cup of steaming dark liquid, splashing some milk in before pulling it tentatively to her lips. Blowing a cold stream of air over the top before taking her first comforting sip. Sometimes she was surprised by how domestic they actually were, how she had landed herself here with an amazing woman and had the privilege of spending her birthday morning with a breakfast in bed. Part of her cringed as she thought about where they both might be without having met each other. Storm was sure she would probably be dead at this point, never having been a fan of self-preservation. She cringed even harder at the thought of where Hermione might be, or who she might be with. The image of Ron Weasley crossed her mind and she shook it out almost violently.
With that, she pushed off the counter and got to work quickly. Making pancakes was something she could do with her eyes closed, she loved pancakes and made them often; though never this early. She basked in the quietness of their home, listening to the quiet whisk of her fork as she beat the batter until it was smooth. She listened to the low crackle of oil in the pan as she heated it up ready for the first splash of the creamy liquid.
"Storm, what are you doing?" Came Hermione's sleepy voice from the doorway, making her jump a little. She hadn't expected Hermione to wake so easily, but she figured the brunette was always kind of listening for Joe now and didn't sleep as solidly as she once did. Storm just turned to look at her, a small smile tugging at the corners of her lips as she took the older woman in. She looked like she had just woken up, her eyes still a little hazy though they began to get brighter as the seconds passed. Her hair was a little bit unruly from sleeping on it and her flannel pyjamas hung from her shoulders and in that moment made her look much younger than she normally did.
"I was making you breakfast" Storm spoke as she tipped some of the batter into the pan. A low hiss sounded as the cold met the heat. "We're having birthday pancakes!" She spoke again, moving to press a kiss to the older woman's lips as she sidled up next to her to peak into the pan.
"Smells delicious" Hermione spoke, humming into the kiss. Moving rest her head on the younger girl's shoulder for a moment before pressing her own kiss beneath Storm's jaw. "What time do you have practice today?" She quizzed, moving to start herself a cup of tea.
"I don't" Storm stated with a wide smile, flipping the pancake expertly in the pan. "It's your birthday! So, I'm all yours do to with whatever you please!" She spoke again, her lips morphing into a cheeky grin as she waggled her eyebrows.
"Well then, that does sound promising" Hermione quipped with a laugh, "So you're doing the laundry all day today?" She added with a sly smirk, watching as Storm's face fell for a second before she could catch herself.
"Well, if that's what you want me to do Hermione then that's what I'll do" She nodded as if punctuating her sentence. Moving to slide the pancake out of the pan and onto a plate. Her wand poised and ready with a warming spell to make sure nothing went cold.
"It would be such a great birthday treat!" Hermione laughed, wrapping her arms around Storm's waist. Pressing herself firmly to the younger woman's back, her chin resting on the younger woman's shoulder as she peaked over into the pan to watch another pancake go in.
The sun was dwindling just on the horizon now, its warm orange rays casting shadows in the early morning dusk.
"I've got you some presents" Storm spoke happily, breaking the momentary silence. "They're on the table" She added, turning in Hermione's arms in order to lock the girl into her with her own. Leaning down to steal a quick kiss before finally releasing the older woman.
"You didn't have to get me any presents" Hermione spoke moving to take the little box from the table's surface. Noting the odd wrapping paper that it was concealed in. Little cartoon dragons and gnomes littered its surface, so reminiscent of the first birthday she had spent in Storm's presence. The younger woman's music box still perched beside the bed as a token of when they had first started out. Hermione having been surprised by the gesture so early on in their relationship. She smiled to herself then as delicate fingers traced the box underneath the goofy paper, her dark eyes flicking up to meet Storm's as the younger woman tried valiantly to watch both her and the pancakes cooking on the stovetop.
"I know, I am a present enough" Storm laughed, shaking her head as she did. She was nowhere near as arrogant as she once was. The cocksure attitude had given way too many other things that Hermione found much more appealing. She had always wondered if that was just Storm getting older, or Storm just being comfortable. She always reasoned that it was probably a mix of the two.
"Arrogance is not attractive" Hermione stated with a roll of her eyes, but the smile that tugged at her lips betrayed her.
"So, you keep saying, but Hermione, who else would do laundry for you?" Storm quipped with a wink, a crooked grin tugging at her lips as she once again slipped a pancake out of the pan and onto the warm plate with the others.
"Well, you have yet to actually do any laundry. Actually, I can't remember the last time you did do laundry. So, when you find out the answer to that question, please let me know!" Hermione spoke as a matter of factly, an eyebrow raised as she watched the younger woman's grin turn a little more sheepish.
"I washed some towels the other day!" Storm muttered, rubbing the back of her neck as she suddenly found the contents of the pan incredibly interesting.
"Storm, honestly. Using scourgify is not washing towels. You have to actually use soap sometimes!" Hermione spoke, a tone of disbelief laced throughout her voice as she did so. Sometimes it felt like she had two children, not just one.
"Well it did the job didn't it?" the shifter muttered before quickly changing the topic. "Are you going to open it?" She asked, nodding towards the gift Hermione still held wrapped in her hands.
"Oh right, yes, I almost forgot" Hermione stated before gently tugging at the paper until it had all come off revealing a little wooden box underneath it. She fiddled with a little silver clasp until it popped open and granted her access to what was inside. A small gasp left her lips as she lifted the lid and her eyes fell on its contents. Inside was a plush burgundy pillow, with two little charms sat on top of it. She eyed them closely, looking at the detail each had. They almost looked as if they were alive in the dim light of the rising sun. There was a small kitten, with gems for eyes. It seemed as if it moved ever so slightly, it's face changing and morphing as if it were actually playing. The other was a ring that looked like an identical miniature replica of their wedding rings, glimmering, and shining making it look if it were iridescent in the light.
"Storm, they're lovely" She spoke quietly as she took in the charm bracelet that had remained on her wrist since Storm had given it to her on the night of the ball at Hogwarts. It still only had the little flower on it, and Hermione had loved it since that day.
"Do you like them?" Storm quizzed, having turned the stove off with a successful stack of pancakes balancing on the plate in her hand. "I wasn't sure what else to get for you." She admitted quietly as she leaned over to set the dish down on the table. Two more following with some cutlery after that.
"I love them, they're beautiful" Hermione spoke, throwing her arms around the younger girl's shoulders. Her fingers moving to wrap themselves around the back of the shifter's neck. Storm just relaxed into the embrace, moving to press her nose into the older woman's hair.
"I love you Hermione" Storm muttered before pulling away just enough to press a chaste kiss to the older woman's lips. "Why don't you get yourself some breakfast on the go? I'll grab some syrup" Storm spoke again quietly, running the tip of her nose against the older woman's. Watching with a smirk as the brunette's dark doe eyes fluttered for a moment.
"Okay, we'll have to save Joey some. He loves pancakes" Hermione spoke as she took the seat Storm pulled out for her as she moved away to rummage in the cupboards.
"Who doesn't love pancakes!" Storm laughed, shaking her head as she did. "I've made plenty. Don't worry" the shifter spoke, moving to open the window to let in a little owl that had pecked lightly at the glass. It swooped over the table and dropped the daily prophet next to the stack of pancakes right in front of the brunette. On the front was a moving photo of the pair of them after Storm's most recent game. They had gotten used to seeing photos of themselves, Harry and Ginny, and the rest of the players littered amongst the pages of the tabloid. The headlines were something about the older of the two turning 21 and speculation on how they would be spending the day.
"I wonder when they'll get bored of us" Storm quizzed as she sat down, dark eyes running over the front of the newspaper. "I don't think anyone actually cares about how we spend your birthday" She muttered, sloshing a hefty glug of syrup all over her plate.
Hermione just smirked; the prophet had always been full of nonsense. It was much better now that Rita Skeeter had ceased to write for that particular paper. She was grateful in a way, at least she hadn't received any hate mail recently. She would never forget that particular article the wicked witch had written all those years ago.
"Well, at least they aren't trying to ruin any pregnancy surprises" She quipped and for a moment Storm paused and stared at her.
"You're not pregnant?" She quizzed, they had tried during the opening of the quidditch world cup, but nothing had ever come of it. An eyebrow raised as Hermione just laughed.
"No of course not! You'd have noticed by now!" She smirked before taking a bite of pancakes.
"Well, we did try!" Storm defended herself. "We could try again…" Storm spoke through a smirk, waggling her eyebrows cheekily. "You know… before Joey gets up?"
"Storm, there's no magic around!" Hermione scolded, "Besides, it would take much longer than the time we have right now." She added, a coy smile tugging at her lips. They didn't have much longer before the baby would stir, and they were truly working with borrowed time. "We can always practice when we put him down for a nap" She stated, watching as Storm's features morphed and her cheeks turned red, Hermione was sure she could see the cogs turning in her head.
"Well... It IS your birthday after all!" Storm spoke with a laugh, "You definitely deserve birthday sex!" She added before finishing her pancakes. "Pancakes, laundry and sex. My Hermione that is one fantastic day. You are definitely spoilt!" She stated, pushing herself up from the chair she was at in in order to take their dishes to the sink.
"My, what else could I possibly ask for?" Hermione quizzed sarcastically, rolling her eyes as she did.
"I don't know, honestly. I don't" Storm smirked, leaning down to steal one last kiss before leaving the brunette to read the prophet. Disappearing to grab an armful of laundry in order to get it started. Remerging a few moments later to shove the armful into the washing machine.
They were quite lucky in the fact they both agreed doing things the muggle way was sometimes much simpler.
"Look Hermione! Pigs are flying!"