word count: 340
The thunder wakes her. Narcissa knows that, technically speaking, the thunder can't hurt her, and that, at twelve, she is much too old to still be afraid of a little noise. Logic isn't her strong point; she's not a Ravenclaw for a reason.
More thunder, a flash of lightning. Narcissa gulps, tugging her blanket up, trying to shield herself, though she knows there isn't really a threat that's trying to hurt her. It's just an act of comfort, a desperate attempt to ease her own fear. Her breathing grows ragged and panicked, and there is no use pretending she isn't afraid.
As thunder rolls, her door opens, and Andromeda appears, offering her a smile. Andromeda is the brave one. Sometimes she thinks Andromeda would have fit right in with the Gryffindors, not that she would ever admit that. Their parents expect perfect Slytherins, after all.
Andromeda doesn't say anything, just pulls a handful of chocolate from her pajama pockets. Narcissa doesn't know how or why she has a variety of sweets, but she doesn't question it. Her sister will always have her little secrets, she supposes. Narcissa accepts one: chocolate and orange, her favorite. She bites into it, and a smile tugs at her lips.
Her sister climbs into bed with her, making soft shushing sounds when another roll of thunder makes Narcissa cry out, nearly dropping her chocolate to the floor. Narcissa nods. She knows it will be okay. It's just a bit of bad weather, and nothing to worry about.
Still, having her sister by her side makes her feel a little better, like maybe things would be okay. Once her chocolate was finished and the wrapper was stashed away on her bedside table, she sinks back into the mattress. Andromeda doesn't leave her side. She sits next to Narcissa, humming soft lullabies until Narcissa's eyes are too heavy to stay open for even another second.
As she drifts off to sleep, Narcissa thinks of how lucky she is to have a sister who loves her so much.
