1/6/21

procellous

[ proh-sel-uhs ]

adjective

stormy, as the sea.

Shell Cottage was aptly named so due to its location on the beach, and Fluer's propensity to beach comb and display the shells and other treasures she finds. Bill was okay with it, and even built a shadow box for the items Fluer wanted on display. Hermione inspected the contents of this box now, seeing particularly sparkling jewelry, intricate shells that must have been from magical creatures, and an assortment of sea glass. It was surprising that, as a creature of air and fire, Fleur would be so comfortable on the shoreline of an ocean, however Hermione understood the feeling of safety when being with the one you love. Looking up, Hermione's eyes tracked the roiling clouds outside as the storm rolled in.

Harry was still out with the rest of the Weasleys, playing a pickup game of Quidditch on the Sand. The twins had insisted on the two of them coming to celebrate the birth of Victoire, despite their younger brother's animosity towards anything Slytherin. Harry always shrugged Ronald's hatred off, but it wore on Hermione to see the tensions rising every time her fiance walked into a room. Their shared love of Quidditch had tempered Ron's outbursts, but Harry took it as a personal mission to ingratiate himself to the youngest male Weasley the best way he knew how. Playing the game.

Molly had practically adopted her when Hermione had met her coming off the Hogwarts Express in First Year when they went home for Winter Break. The twins had introduced her to their mother as "the girl who struck fear into their hearts in order to make them work harder and smarter," and anything else said had been ignored when Molly had practically thanked the girl for doing what her nagging couldn't. Hermione had merely mumbled back that it was illogical to waste talent, and her fate was sealed. "They want to open their own business! Entrepreneurs at their age! I always find it fascinating! But they're not taking it seriously enough now to get ahead anywhere!" Hermione had gotten a tin of homemade fudge and a hand knitted sweater in navy with a bronze H on the front. She'd kept all of her sweaters, even the ones that no longer fit, and the twins teased her mercilessly for it. Only once Harry had been brought into the mix did their teasing shift to him, when his green sweater with a silver H "not only matched his house, but his eyes as well".

A shock of lightning lanced across the sky, illuminating the Quidditch players still flying, before half a second later thunder boomed so close, Hermione could feel her bones rattling, the house around her shaking in response. A wail started up further in the house, and Hermione cast one last look at the procellous sea, wishing her friends inside before the storm got worse, before navigating her way to Bill and Fleur's bedroom. Molly had left for home an hour before to gather up some supplies for dinner, leaving Hermione with Fleur while the boys and Ginny had relaxed outside. Fleur was frantically trying to shush her baby, already frazzled and sleep deprived from the 32 hour labor she had to endure. Softly closing the door, Hermione drew her wand and cast a silencing charm, instantly silencing the rumbling storm outside. There was nothing she could do about the thunder's intensity that shook the house, but without the noise, Victoire settled down easily. All too soon she was back asleep in her mother's arms, and Fleur deflated in relief. Hermione smuggled a giggle, smiling widely at Fleur's half-hearted glare. She quietly accepted the baby from the new mom and cradled Victoire tenderly. After rocking her for a few moments to settle her back down, Hermione went and set her down in her bassinet before going and tucking Fleur up into bed.

"Time for a nap!" she teased and the blonde gave her a tired smile.

"Molly will be back soon, non?" Fleur asked and Hermione nodded.

"I'll come get you once dinner is ready," the brunette quietly replied, and she waited until Fleur had settled back into her covers and closed her eyes before she slipped out of the room.

She came face to face with Bill, who anxiously awaited, thunder booming around them. "She's fine," she said as she closed the door almost completely. Leaving it partially ajar, she let Bill peak in to see both of his girls sleeping soundly. "We'll wake you at dinner, if you want to join her," she added, and just a smile and without a word, Bill slipped into the room and closed the door behind him. Hermione wandered in search of others, and met up with Molly in the kitchen. Standing in the doorway, she made sure to stay out of the bustling woman's way. Arms wound around her waist, and Hermione leaned backwards into Harry's grasp as he leaned his chin on her shoulder.

He was sopping wet, and with barely a thought, she pointed her wand at his face and blasted a breeze of hot air at him. He snorted in laughter at her, before tightening his grasp.

"Dinner will be soon," Molly said, and Hermione merely nodded with a smile, content with having her family around her. This was always home for her. And now, she could create a new home with Harry.