Chapter 1

Ringing is the best description for the shrill, borderline painful noise that was going off in Storm's ears. She was on her knees again, the hard flagstone biting and cold even through her trousers. Her palms flat against it's rough surface as fingertips reached out to cover as much space as possible, feeling for anything to keep her grounded as pain coursed through her body.

An eternity passed, and the darkness that had clouded her vision had started to recede for a moment. Only a moment. Then the shooting pain that blinded her entirely was back again, setting every nerve in her body alight with a flame she was sure came straight from the pits of hell.

Her jaw tightened painfully, teeth gnashing together as her spine arched and twisted painfully in an attempt to keep herself from collapsing all together. All the muscles in her limbs tensing until she could barely breath, any air she pulled into her lungs coming in short panted breaths. Doing little to sooth the scorch that claimed her entire being. Her fingernails biting into the flagstone, clawing at it's unforgiving embrace.

Another eternity passed and soon the fire was gone only to leave her nerves twitching and burning with the aftermath of what had happened. The ringing that had been replaced briefly by a roaring static came back ten fold, shrill and piercing as it echoed in her ears. The darkness that had once again crept into her vision had begun to recede once more.

In it's wake a pair of boots were visible, hazy and grainy as she swayed on all fours. Struggling to keep herself upright at all. The flagstone beneath her bloody fingertips looking all together inviting as she worked to pull breaths into her lungs.

"You talk far too much, you ask for it Griffin" The voice came from somewhere above her, spat rather than spoken as she lent forward to press her cheek into the cold floor. Trying desperately to cool her burning skin in any way possible. Any attempt she made entirely futile.

"We don't ask for much, yet you chose to openly defy us at every opportunity. Maybe you just like pain" The voice came again, gruff and all together amused. The boots that had been poised in front of her downcast vision moved then, thudding softly upon the stone floor with every step.

"I just like to provide some entertainment for our new professors" Storm growled as she pushed herself up then, trying desperately to hold her shaking body together. The aftermath of the curse she had been subjected to lasting longer and longer with every use. She figured she didn't really want to know the ins and outs of the damage it was doing.

She heard the impact before she felt it, a heavy wooden object connected solidly with her cheek. Splitting the skin there wide open, crimson blood spraying out as Storm's head spun on her shoulders from the force of the strike. Her lips fell open as she gasped from the shock and pain from the blow. Her resolve slowly fading away as she felt hot liquid begin to trickle down her face, her eyes watering liberally from the sting.

"Shut up!" Was spat as the face of her assailant came into view. Amycus Carrow stood before her then, his lip curled up around his front teeth in nothing short of a snarl. His hand balling in a fist at her collar as he used it as leverage to hoist her up from where she knelt. "You do not SPEAK" He growled, his eyes alight with unshed fury as he eyed his handy-work.

She was all but thrown back, careening into the floor beneath her as he released his grip on her robes. Though she had no time to brace herself, no time to right herself at all. "Crucio!" Was all but screamed a millisecond before her entire body erupted with that now familiar pain.

Flame licked at her stomach as she felt her entire body writhe, all her muscles contracting once again. She was weak to it, she couldn't help the grunt of pain that escaped her lips as the burning became more intense. The low whimper that came next involuntary as she lost all control, her vision turning black entirely as the roaring static returned ten fold.

She had annoyed him, she knew that much. Part of her really wanted to be smug about it, but she just couldn't. She was losing the will to keep this up very fast, the break was in sight and she almost wanted to grab hold of it with both hands just so she wouldn't have to feel this anymore.

They were only a month into their sixth year, a month into their school year with Snape as Headmaster. This was her third detention, and her third trip to the Carrow's office for refusing to use this horrible curse on the younger students. This was her third round of punishment and each time was worse than the last.

The pain lingered a little longer than the last run around with this particular method of torture. But soon it was gone, leaving her entirely spent sprawled on her back. The ceiling fading back into her vision after a second or so, and the ringing subsided eventually.

"Get out! Before I change my mind!" He screeched then, his voice assaulting her ears as she scrambled for the door. Barely making it out before she was hitting the ground in the abandoned hallway. The door to his office slamming shut as soon as her first foot had made it across the entryway.

She could breath then, sort of. Her chest was tight, all her nerves had begun twitching and quivering as the cold night air hit her skin. She didn't know which in that moment had hit it's limit, her body or her mind. A bitter laugh escaped her lips as she slowly made to push herself up for one last time.

The walk back to Gryffindor tower was slow going as she wandered the deserted halls. There were no fires lit, there were no banners up and even the ghosts seemed to have disappeared. Hogwarts always had been such a lively, warm place. It had always been so comforting, these huge walls always whispering.

But since they returned it had been silent. Everything was done in shades of grey, and no colour broke through. Both metaphorically and literally, there was nothing bright at all. There was no joy, no spark of happiness.

Half of the students hadn't returned their dorm rooms pretty much empty save three of them. The other half that had come back had been terrified into being so subdued it was almost hard to believe anyone living still resided within these walls. The whole thing had been bizarre at first, but now it was just draining.

Storm moved then to brush her cheek with her shoulder in an attempt to stop the trickling sensation dripping blood had created down her face. Her eye already swollen to the point where it was hard to see through. She guessed she probably looked just as bad as she felt.

She had to stop for a moment as a familiar lightheadedness took her. Her vision clouding as the ringing returned to her ears. She found herself gripping the banister to the stairs with white knuckles as she willed herself to stay upright for just a moment longer. She needed to get to the tower, and to their dorm room. At least then she could collapse into her bunk and sleep the ordeal off.

The fog faded and she pushed on, the sound of her boots hitting hard floor the only noise that echoed up and down the tower as she trudged up the steps. Her body heavy, her mind even heavier. She lent against the wall next to their entrance portrait as she muttered the password, all but falling through the portrait hole once the painting had swung open.

Warm hands found her shoulders, steadying her as she swayed on her feet. Her eyes bleary and watering as she all but collapsed into the arms that held her. She was grateful for the streak of red that flashed across her still blackened vision. Grateful for the familiar hands that pushed her dark sweaty hair back as she noted for the first time she was absolutely coated with a thick layer of cold sweat.

Her uniform drenched through as salty liquid pored from her skin like it had done after every session with Amycus. The wound at her cheek still liberally dribbling down her skin, making her itch with the thought of how it had gotten there. She felt grimy but figured she couldn't even stomach a shower at this point.

She didn't even have the energy left to be angry anymore. The rage that had welled within her stomach so many times before entirely extinguished to leave an emptiness in its wake. A crevice had formed where any hope had once been, and she wasn't sure if there was anything that would ever fill it.

When her vision cleared she was on her back, staring at the canopy above her bed. Even the claret and gold curtains that hung on the rails around the bunks didn't seem as bright. There seemed to be no life left in even them.

"I'm guessing it was bad then?" Ginny's voice came and Storm figured she sounded just as exhausted as she felt. Storm knew Ginny struggled with what was happening, the lack of knowledge, the way Harry had left her. She was struggling with her own resolve, struggling with keeping her own fire alight.

"It's always bad" Storm whimpered, unafraid to show her weakness to the redhead she had called her best friend since they had started Hogwarts together all those years ago. Her eyes filled with hot tears that quietly leaked over grimy cheeks as she pulled herself slowly into a sitting position.

"It'll be over soon" The redhead hushed, though she didn't really sound too sure. Harry had disappeared on some sort of mission, and nobody had heard from the trio for months. They were starting to lose all hope, slowly it was being eaten away bit by bit.

She knew their resolve would be solidified by the time dawn came, but sometimes with the night came a darkness that creeped into the pit of their bellies. "I think we have quite a while left of this" Storm sighed, wiping the back of her hand across her bloodied and sweaty face.

"We just have to stay strong" Ginny spoke then, conviction laced within her tone as she watched her best friend try so valiantly not to fall apart. Storm had always been so strong, so sure and unwavering when it came to things that just weren't right.

Ginny had never seen her dark eyes so dark, rimmed heavily with black circles that told a story of just how exhausted Storm actually was. Her normally broad shoulders were slumped and shook as the young witch inhaled shaky breaths into burning lungs. Her normally sharp jaw and high cheekbones looked a little sharper, and a little more hollow than Ginny could ever remember them being before.

If someone hadn't known Storm for as long, or as well these things would easily go unnoticed. But Ginny noticed. She saw the way Storm's defiance was slowly breaking, she saw the way the dark haired witch fought with herself. Every time she caught her with slim fingers threaded into short dark hair, tugging at the roots as if it was the only thing that was keeping her sane in that moment. She worried that the next encounter with the Carrows would be what broke her.

Storm had taken more detentions than anyone else at this point, always arguing she was strong enough to take it. She was bold with her rebellion unafraid of consequence as she outright shouted her disgust for things that had been happening. Ginny had begged her to stop after she had come back in a similar state the last time, she had seen the damage it had done.

They all knew the stories of Nevilles parents, and what that curse had done to them. She was terrified for her friend, and as she watched the dark haired witch shake beside her that fear threatened to swallow her whole. A deep burning ebbing at her very soul as she longed to make it better for the witch sat beside her.

There was only a few of them left in Dumbledore's army, and between the pair of them, Neville and Luna they were the ring leaders. They had to be strong and lead from the front. It would be important when it came down to whatever was coming.

The palm of her hand found Storm's back between her shoulder blades, rubbing small circles as she hushed her best friend. The quiet tears that still streaked bloodied, dirty cheeks told her a story that struck her dumb. She had never seen Storm look so entirely broken.

They were all struggling with their own demons. Ginny had been left by the boy she loved as he went on a suicide mission with her brother and best friend. She didn't even know if she would see him again, she didn't even know if he was alive or dead at this point. There had been no word, nothing at all since he left.

She struggled to stay positive, she struggled to fend off the immense loneliness that had consumed her entirely every time she was alone with her own thoughts. Storm to her credit had been an unwavering source of comfort for her, but there was something missing. Something needed to change as the situation became more and more stretched.

"It just hurts" Storm spoke then, her voice small as she lent back to raise her gaze to the canopy above them. One Dark eye brimmed with tears, the other swollen shut entirely. The bruise already coming out in a hues of dark purple and blues. "My whole body hurts" She whispered, lost for what else she might even be able to say.

"I know" The redhead soothed, moving to stand then. She had gathered a few bits and pieces to help with situations like this. She figured it might be better if Storm's wounds were healed as much as possible, at least the ones on the outside. "Let's get you cleaned up, because honestly you look like hell" She teased lightly, watching Storm from the corner of her eye as she rummaged in the desk between their beds.

A weak smirk tugged at Storm's lips then, shaking her head a little bit. Teasing was easy for them, it was light and something they knew they could always fall back on to make the best out of a bad situation. "Well, here I was thinking I was just doing you a favour. I figured normally I'm just too irresistible, it must be hard for you to keep your hands to yourself" Storm stated, her voice much more confident than it had been a moment earlier.

"That's very thoughtful of you" Ginny started, sarcasm dripping from every word as she moved back to the bed where the dark haired witch was still sat. A small bottle of antiseptic and a ratty cloth held in her hands. They couldn't use anything else, or heal the wounds fully. They had made that mistake once, and had reaped the consequences. "Here I was wondering what ever I was to do, oh irresistible one" She laughed then, her own voice much lighter than she felt.

Ginny dabbed the shred of fabric in the potent liquid then, gathering just enough to make it damp. Her forefinger and thumb moving to grip at Storm's strong jaw as she eyed the laceration closely. It wasn't as deep as it could have been, and it seemed Storm got away easily this time. Though, it would definitely take a while to heal.

"Always thinking about you, obviously" Storm smirked then, inhaling deeply as she was grabbed. Allowing Ginny to manhandle her in any way she wanted. She trusted the redhead whole heartedly, and always found comfort in her embrace.

She watched as hazel eyes regarded her intensely, flickering over all her features making sure the wound across her cheek was the only one that needed tending to. A pink tongue darting out for a moment to wet her lips caught Storm's attention, and it was as if a fog settled heavily over her entire being. Her dark eyes honing in, fixing so intently to pink lips she had never really noticed like this before.

They had been in this position many times, so many times she had lost count. They had known each other since they were eleven, having become fast friends. There was little left when it came to their friendship, and physicality wasn't really something that had ever made them uncomfortable.

Though in that moment there was something not quite right, something different with this encounter. She could feel Ginny's breath bouncing off her lips, and with every inhale she could smell the redhead so strongly. Though, it brought no comfort to her in that moment it only stirred something entirely different deep within her stomach. She brushed it off, figuring the torture she had been subjected to had finally started to send her into some kind of delirious state.

The damp rag the redhead was holding met her skin as Ginny dabbed the cloth to her wound. Storm's eyes snapped shut as a sharp hiss of air escaped from between her teeth. Bitting into her own lip to stop from squirming away from the sting that came with the cleaning solution.

She braced herself for the next touch, and waited. It never came. Dark eyes fluttered open to investigate what the holdup was. Her still unsteady gaze taking a moment to settle on hazel eyes regarding her, something so entirely unfamiliar in the way Ginny was watching her.

"What?" Storm questioned, unsure of what was wrong. Her fingers raising to drag across her own lips as the redhead's eyes settled on them for a moment too long. "He didn't split my lip too did he? Honestly I can't even tell, my whole body is on fire" Storm muttered a little grumpily, dark eyes flickering away from the intense stare she was being subjected to.

Before she could react, Ginny was leaning forward quickly. Pink lips ghosting Storm's own slightly grimy ones. Catching the dark haired witch entirely off guard not for the first time that night. The touch sending a spark deep into the crevice that her evening with Amycus had opened. Lighting it's dark depths in a way she hadn't really thought possible.

The redhead seemed startled herself, pulling away a few inches as if she'd been given a shock. Her eyes wide as if she was entirely shocked by her own actions. Floundering a little uncharacteristically as she stared wide eyed at Storm, as if she may have an answer to what had just happened.

Storm acted on impulse then, not trusting her mind in that moment. Raising her hand to grip the back of the redhead's neck, pulling her back in for another kiss. Though, this one much more firm and entirely loaded with a need neither had realised was there. A need that had been ignited by the first kiss.

A need born out of loneliness, a need born out of the want for a comfort that went beyond anything they had at their disposal. They stayed like that for a moment, heat radiating from between them as they gave in to this thing that hadn't existed before this moment. Pouring what little hope that was left into something so entirely unknown to them.

Eventually the kiss came to a natural end, the redhead's fingers still holding firm to Storm's jaw. Keeping her in place as she pulled away to shake her head a little in disbelief. Neither really able to form words, unable to vocalise anything as their minds raced. Their eyes locked in shock for a few seconds as they stared at each other, neither willing to be the first to back down.

Without word, Ginny quietly went back to cleaning Storm's wound. Dabbing the rag a little too gently at the drying blood caked to Storm's pale skin. Storm allowed the redhead to continue without interruption. Her hands finding the edge of the bed to grip as she stayed as still as possible. Afraid to move too far or too much just in case.

She had stood then to gather things for a swift shower as an all consuming heat washed over her as soon as the redhead had stepped out of her proximity. Finished cleaning the gash that marred her face, remaining silent. She looked around the dorm then, dark eyes lingering on the only other occupied bed in the room. It's curtains drawn as it's occupant hid from the darkness that surrounded the school.

The atmosphere lingering between the two of them thick and much different to anything that they'd ever experienced before. The whole thing entirely taking away from anything going on outside of the privacy of the dorm. At least for just a moment or so they had both forgotten about the Death eaters in the castle, the unknown whereabouts of their friends, the darkness that loomed over them at every angle.

Storm's dark eyes lingered on Ginny then as she stood on unsteady legs, her splintered mind racing with what had actually just happened. She knew she liked women, she'd had a very obvious crush on one Hermione Granger for the most part of her school career. She supposed, Ginny didn't really care about gender. She was free and did what she wanted. But she was so in love with Harry.

She had been so devastated by his departure, so consumed by worry for his safety as the days stretched on with no word. He hadn't exactly left them intact, having severed their relationship before he had left in order to spare her. Of course it hadn't spared her, though Ginny had understood it had haunted her.

They remained silent, equally trapped within their own minds for a moment. Watching the other a little absently as the energy between them coursed as if it were tangible electricity. It pulsed as they once again drew comfort from the other, just in an entirely new way.

Storm watched as Ginny's resolve visibly steeled a decision clearly made on her part. She watched as the redhead moved forward again. The bottle of anti-sceptic and cloth entirely forgotten, left behind strewn on the desk between their beds.

Her hands moving to meet Ginny's waist as the redhead's body collided solidly with her own. Quidditch calloused hands threading through short dark hair as Ginny pulled the dark haired witch to her. Storm's aching, vibrating and pulsing after the curse almost entirely forgotten as a renewed energy welled within her very stomach. Lips clashing almost violently as they kissed once again, throwing all caution to the wind in that moment in favour for a comfort only the other could provide.