A/N: Hey Guys! Hope everyone is doing ok! I uploaded some cosplay of Storm on IG a few days ago if anyone is interested. If you search storm_griffin2022 on instagram it should come up.

Let me know what you think if you head over, and if there are any ideas/things you might like to see let me know.

Enjoy

Kass

X-X

Chapter 6

The trek to the camping spot was as muggle filled as it could have been, and it wasn't until their tent was erected and they were inside that Hermione had five minutes to try and sort the shivering Shifter out. Though, Storm had been in high spirits since their very short kiss; despite her lips continuing to grow even more purple and her shivering becoming a little more violent as time went on.

She had tried to help as best as she could to pop the tent up but Hermione noticed there was a distinct lack of mobility in her fingers, and she couldn't even really grip her wand properly at all. As soon as the small home was up and secured she pushed a grinning Storm in through the door and immediately sent her for a warm shower. She had a fire ignited before Storm had even disappeared through the little door to where the shower was and Hermione found herself alone for a moment with her thoughts.

She couldn't help the welling excitement that was bubbling in the pit of her belly, the happiness was seeping and was almost palpable. She considered briefly going to join the Shifter in the shower, but figured that wouldn't necessarily be the most appropriate situation considering they had only moments ago rekindled their relationship. Though, as she meandered around the small room tidying random bits left out she considered the fact that she was sure Storm would never mind such things.

Images she had denied herself from dwelling on filtered through her mind. Memories of showering with the younger woman after pretty frigid quidditch practices, warming up under the hot spray after a wander through a snowy Hogsmede or around the lake covered in ice. Those thoughts turned into thoughts of being held so tightly during their most intimate encounters, and she paused what she was doing. Stopping to pull a deep calming breath into her lungs before she threw down the book she'd had clutched within her fist.

Without a great deal of thought she marched straight towards the bathroom door and burst in to the steam filled space. The Shifter peaked out from around the shower curtain almost immediately, dark eyebrows furrowed in confusion as she regarded Hermione stood there staring back at her. The older woman's jaw was set and there was a fire blazing behind her eyes as she seemed to be considering what she was doing very carefully.

"What are you doing?" Storm questioned then as she moved to slick back wet hair, her cheeks flushed pink from the hot water that was a stark contrast to the freeze she had only so recently felt.

"I'm getting in the shower with you" Hermione answered after a short pause, and her voice sounded almost as if she was stating some sort of fact she had just read in some kind of book. With that she seemed to make up her mind and had wasted no time in stripping herself bare; her clothes left in a pile on the floor with Storm's own.

The Shifter seemed to smirk as she watched the scene unfold before her quite appreciatively. "Are you sure?" She questioned, dark eyes widening further and further as more supple flesh became available to her.

Hermione was soon stumbling into the shower with her, and Storm caught her with practiced ease. Wrapping her up as they stood under the spray of the water, bodies pressed tightly together neither phased by how bare they were. The older woman ran her palms up Storm's chest, up her neck and threaded her fingers into long, wet curls at the nape of Storm's neck.

She used the leverage to tug the younger woman down and press their lips together firmly. Sighing heavily into the embrace as her heart swelled and felt as if it might simply burst. She felt as if for the first time in years she was going home, and in that moment she knew she had not felt true happiness since she had made the terrible decision to leave the Shifter all those years ago.

Storm pulled her in close and there was nothing rushed about the embrace. Storm's hands moved gently as she skimmed them down Hermione's bare back, dragging her fingertips down her spine. Their kiss was languid it deepened naturally as they fought to get closer to the other. Neither seemed to be sated by the embrace, and it was only every few moments that they had broken apart briefly to suck in a deep breath of air.

Hermione's hands moved to cup Storm's cheeks as the Shifter wrapped her up fully, strong arms snaking themselves around her waist as her heart hammered in her chest. Hermione could feel it racing in tandem with her own as their chests heaved and fell together. The steam billowing out from the constant thrum of the water rushing around them.

It was Storm who pulled away first, her plump lips bruised and swollen. She looked undoubtedly dazed and her eyes were glossed over. There was a small, triumphant grin tugging at the corners of her lips as she stood upright then, regarding Hermione a little curiously. "You like me" She teased with a quiet chuckle.

Hermione watched as water rolled down her face, as it streaked down her throat in streams and she blinked droplets from long wet lashes. She could do nothing but shake her head at the insinuation, at the teasing tone the Shifter's voice had adopted. She had missed how light hearted Storm made everything feel. She missed how there was nothing she could ever feel ashamed of around this woman stood before her.

This monumental shift in her life that should be so daunting felt so easy, so natural and it was all down to the Shifter. There didn't need to be a huge romantic admission, there didn't need to be any begging or apologising for how stupid she had been. It was just so easy and Storm was so genuinely accepting and she seemed so happy with the turn of events it was almost overwhelming.

Hermione just rolled her eyes a little and couldn't help the laugh of delight that escaped her throat. She couldn't help the grin that twisted her lips up as she regarded the Shifter beaming down at her. "I love you" She spoke then, correcting the younger witch easily.

"I knew it" Storm whispered as if she was telling some sort of secret, as if she had known all along. Hermione wouldn't have doubted that, Storm had always been quite perceptive. She had always looked past what people said and instead focussed on what they did.

"Shall we get out? The water is starting to go cold" Hermione questioned as her cheeks became sore from smiling so widely. She figured in that moment anything could happen, they could be discovered and found where they stood under the cooling spray; naked. They could be struck down right where they stood and she would be happy. She would always be happy so long as she was with the Shifter before her.

"I'm sure I can think of a couple of things we could do that'll help us warm up" Storm quipped with a smirk as she reached around to shut the water off. Immediately a whoosh of cold air seeped into the small cubical like shower from around the curtain that separated them from the rest of the bathroom.

"Why doesn't that surprise me?" Hermione questioned as she moved to grab her wand from where it had been discarded onto the corner of the sink. She pointed it first at herself, drying her own body off within a second. As soon as she had done that she had turned to do Storm next and Storm wasted no time in making the next move.

Once again strong arms were wrapping themselves around Hermione's waist and Storm was kissing her again. Fingers flexed and dropped down to grip at perky bum cheeks and she was leaning over to hoist the shorter woman up easily. Hermione wrapped her arms around Storm's neck and legs around her waist and as they kissed she was aware of the Shifter moving them through the tent. The cold air was bitter against her now dry skin but that only lasted a few seconds.

Soon her back was meeting the warmth the bottom bunk had offered and Storm was crawling on top of her easily. Storm wasted no time in pressing herself down into Hermione's smaller frame, the cot like bed creaking suspiciously under their combined weight, groaning with every movement either of them made. Though neither of them paid very much mind to that at all.

Storm's skin was soft and warm against Hermione's own as she settled easily between the Shorter woman's parted thighs still wrapped around her own hips. Their lips already moving together in short, sloppy kisses parted only for seconds at a time to allow them to inhale deep, panting breaths. Hearts raced quickly as the whole tent seemed to heat up almost unbearably, the air around them scorching naked flesh wherever it was exposed.

Hermione's hands were planted firmly either side of Storm's face, holding her closely. It was almost as if she was afraid to let go, afraid to break the contact. Palms slid across broad shoulders and across bare skin between the Shifter's shoulder blades, dragging her nails down her back gently until she was cupping Storm's bare backside. She wasted no time and used the leverage to pull the Shifter down into her further and Storm got the hint quickly and dug her hips down firmly.

There was a swift lick of friction to Hermione's burning loins and it did nothing but stoke the hellfire that had erupted deep within the pit of her stomach already twisting with pleasure. Liquid pleasure was rushing in waves down to the apex of her thighs, and she couldn't remember a time where she was so desperate for the touch of someone else. Couldn't remember a time where she was so very aroused.

Her lips left Storm's with a low pop and dark eyes met equally dark eyes; searching for a moment for any hesitation. The Shifter's gaze was bottomless in the dim light of the tent, her lips were bruised from the force of their kiss and she wore a lazy smile that almost made her look a little dazed. "Are you alright?" Storm voiced then as she pulled away a little further, her eyebrows knitting together as she flicked her stare across Hermione's face.

"Perfect" Hermione whispered then, dragging her hands back up Storm's back. She didn't really know what else to say, or how else to voice the need pulsing through her smaller frame. She was momentarily stunned by the fact they were once again in this position after years of thinking there would never be another chance again. "I'm perfect" Hermione whispered again, moving to tentatively press her lips against Storm's once again.

She noted the small sigh of appreciation that came from the taller woman still pressed tightly to her and moved to drag her lips across Storm's jaw. Her lips tracing the sharp edge and moving to press hot open mouthed kisses to the Shifter's neck just under her ear. The soft sigh turned into a small moan of appreciation.

Hermione's hands moved down to the Shifter's hips, holding them for a moment before she moved to trace one hand down between them. Quickly she found the sensitive bundle of nerves between Storm's legs and immediately she was met with wet heat coating her fingers. The Shifter was already slick with excitement and she knew she was sure to be much the same.

She swirled fingertips around the sensitive bundle, gently pressing down into it as a low groan rumbled up Storm's chest to drip from her lips. The noise sending another bolt of fire to the brunette's own centre as she moved to steady the Shifter hovering above her. Her hand flattening to a broad shoulder quivering as Storm tried to keep herself together.

It seemed to be just enough to kick the younger woman into gear and soon she was shifting all of her weight onto one side, careful not to stop Hermione's own ministrations driving her mad. A paw like hand moved to swirl the tip of calloused finger around soft, peaked nipples for only a moment on their way further down. The need to make Hermione feel just feel just as good as she did in that moment pulsing with each beat of her racing heart.

Hermione's lips were back on Storm's after dragging across a sharp jaw. Her own heart began hammering faster than she had ever thought possible as the Shifter got closer and closer to where exactly Hermione wanted her to be. As soon as dexterous fingers met her heated core, her keen mind went blank and all cognitive thought vanished. She had forgotten just how good this felt, forgotten just how good Storm was at this particular thing.

There was a sudden pressure and long fingers were pressing deep into her entrance quivering around the intrusion gloriously. A heavy moan escaped her lips and she dropped her head back to the pillow, dark curls splaying out around her. Her thighs parted further to allow Storm more room to manoeuvre. She had started a slow pace, making no move to speed it up.

Slowly they moved in tandem, winding the coils at the base of stomachs tighter and tighter until it was impossible to hold on to any longer. It felt as if it were merely seconds after the encounter had started that Hermione was tumbling over the edge. Her walls were fluttering around strong fingers, and fleshy thighs were quivering as the waves of her orgasm washed over her.

She forced herself to continue, faster now as she shook with pleasure. Her competitive nature was rearing it's head and she was determined to pull Storm into the abyss of pleasure with her. The Shifter above her was shaking and Hermione knew it wouldn't be long at all.

There was a muttered "Merlin" along with a deep sigh of contentment as Storm heaved in a calming breath and Hermione knew she had been successful. Strong thighs quaked as the Shifter came down from her own high and Hermione found she couldn't fight off the urge that tugged at her chest and she wrapped her arms tightly around Storm's broad shoulders and pulled her down into her entirely. The Shifter obliged lazily and rolled onto her back, wedging herself firmly between the brunette and the wall of the tent. Her chest was heaving and Hermione noticed there was a pink tint that had creeped up her neck.

"I missed doing that" Hermione spoke first as she caught her breath that had been stolen by pleasure. Her words husky as she rolled over to press her front into Storm's side, the Shifter's skin warm in comparison to the biting air that seemed to be flooding around them now their encounter had come to an end. She ran a finger up the Shifter's bare torso in order to swirl around her peaked nipples absently. She took the opportunity to really examine the body she hadn't seen this closely since the last night they had spent together in Hogwarts.

Dark eyes ran over the taller girl's frame appreciatively. Hermione knew she had filled out and wasn't so skinny as she had been before, she could see that with clothes on. But there was much more muscle than she had really expected there to be. There was no denying that she was in great shape and the brunette figured that wasn't really such a huge surprise.

Her muscles rippled and twitched under the brunette's fingertips as they drew themselves down Storm's stomach, tentatively tracing places she knew had been sensitive once before. They had each garnered the same reaction as they once had. The thought made her laugh a little and Storm tilted her head a little and quietly regarded her.

"I missed doing that too" Storm admitted finally with a rather smug grin. The wide smile plastered to her face, twisting her features up. She looked beyond content with how Hermione was touching her so gently. Flashes of their time at Hogwarts rushed through Hermione's mind as she recalled how they had laid like this many times before.

The taller woman shifted then somewhat reluctantly to reach down and tug the skewed sheets around them. She rolled to press her front into Hermione's, dark eyes searching and bright even in the shadows the top bunk cast over the space. "I suppose we have a very good way to cure boredom now" She quipped lightly, her smirk turning much more mischievous.

Hermione couldn't really do anything but roll her eyes playfully, moving to press herself a little tighter to the body she had only just been admiring so appreciatively. "I suppose you're not actually wrong" She concluded, though there was nothing reluctant in her tone.

"Do you still want me to sleep up there?" Storm questioned then after a moment, growing serious. "I mean, I don't want to put pressure on this because we're stuck together." She added, fiddling with the hem of the thin duvet that was pulled up around their chests.

"I think it'd be much better to sleep with you. I've actually been thinking about asking for a while because of how cold it gets at night" Hermione admitted a little sheepishly, a light blush creeping up to tint her cheeks.

Storm looked simply elated by that bit of information, and dark eyes flashed for a moment with something that looked suspiciously like excitement. "Oh really?" She questioned, her tone teasing as she waggled her eyebrows suggestively.

"Not like that you goof" Hermione scolded but couldn't quite stop the small smirk from taking one side of her own lips. She knew it was pointless trying to deny the veiled accusation. Storm would see right through it, she always had.

"Were you thinking about sleeping with me for long?" Storm questioned again and she seemed quite genuinely curious.

"Oh shut up" Hermione snipped, though the small laugh that escaped her lips told the Shifter all she needed to know.

"Bet you were thinking about that thing" Storm paused for emphasis "well defined" She added before pausing again, using Hermione's own words against her "In my sleep trousers" She finished, punctuating her words with a kiss that told the brunette there was no malice in her words.

The older witch thought then about how since she had mentioned it there had never been such a situation. Not that she was particularly looking for that particular appendage, but it was quite hard to miss on such occasions. "Have you not been shifting?" She questioned, ignoring the Shifter's words for the most part.

Storm shrugged a little and shook her head. "I have been, but I didn't want you to feel uncomfortable so I've not been going commando." She admitted a little sheepishly. "I figured you'd have noticed straight away if I'd let it sorta just chill out, whether or not you wanted to."

Hermione was taken back by the admission but she wasn't really sure why. Storm had always been quite thoughtful and conscious of people she was close with. She had always done things to make sure everyone was as comfortable as possible, especially Hermione. Even after they had split up, Storm had stayed away and had stayed out of Hermione's path because she had thought that's what the brunette had wanted.

Hermione had no idea what to say and she moved to press a gentle kiss to Storm's bruised lips. Placing her hand gently to Storm's warm cheek in order to stroke her thumb gently across soft skin. "You can be pretty sweet sometimes" She quipped a little teasingly, shaking her head as she pulled back a little. "You doing have to do that anymore, I don't mind" She added, the blush once again creeping up her cheeks as she considered what that might mean.

"I'm sure you wont mind" Storm retorted with a smirk, a low laugh escaping her chest. "You perv" She added pointedly, laughing again.

"Why are you like this?" Hermione questioned with a roll of her eyes as she moved to get out of the bed. Making for their small dresser that sat in the area full of their clothes. They each had two drawers each, full of meagre supplies that had lived with since going on the run. She made to pull a few bits out for each of them figuring before long Storm would be complaining about being hungry.

"You're the one eyeing the goods, I am the innocent party in this equation" Storm stated with a laugh, she seemed absolutely delighted by the revelation.

"You cant really miss it Storm, it's not exactly discreet" Hermione stated dryly as she moved to dress herself, trying her best to keep the amusement from her tone.

"I bet you missed it, bet you missed it a lot" Storm added coyly, laughing even harder as the brunette moved to shoot her a glare from underneath long lashes. She knew she was spot on.

"You are a git you know that" Hermione accused, her own lips cracking up into a wry smile as she considered just how amused and elated the shifter actually was. "What are you making to eat?" She questioned in an attempt to steer the topic away from the current topic. Hoping to save herself from the teasing Storm seemed to be so good at.

"That's one of the nicer things you've called me recently" Storm shot back, her tone light and playful as she moved to wander into the living area of the tent. Finding Hermione's beaded bag to sort through the supplies they still had. They would need to find some more in the way of food soon, but there was still plenty to keep them going.

The night went quickly, and the days that followed even more so. They settled into a routine and their relationship quickly fell back into something both new and old. November bled into December, and Hermione and Storm were still nowhere nearer to finding the rest of the Order. They had been to every place Hermione had picked out as potential to be hiding Fleurs family and each of them had been empty. They were at a loss with nowhere else to even go, nowhere else they could think of had turned up any better.

It was Christmas week, and they found themselves high up in the mountains. Snow laid thickly on the ground around their campsite blanketing the world in sheets of white. There was nowhere they could really go with the weather so bad. Their tent was half buried and they had spent their days quietly passing time in different ways.

One day they had spent hours playing cards, another Storm polished her broom over and over again until she was sure she was actually wearing the handle away. Hermione had gone through all of her books and had started reading them from the beginning again. There was simply, nothing really to do. There had been no danger now for months, and it had begun to grow increasingly tedious.

They had a large meal that evening, Storm had disappeared early that morning to go hunting. She had returned long after the sun had gone down and had brought with her a few rather large hares. There had been a wolffish grin tugged across her features and she had simply settled herself outside in the snow and had cleaned them up.

As they had tucked into the hearty meal they had discussed where they might go next, and what the plan might be. Though, they had both decided to spend Christmas and the New year in this very spot. They had been travelling for much longer than either had hoped to be, and had decided they deserved a much needed break.

They were camped out somewhere in the North of France, and they could see for miles around them. It was stunning, and Hermione found she had felt as if that would be the most suitable plan. She would be hard pressed to admit it if anyone had asked, but she was truly enjoying the time she had gotten to spend with just the Shifter. There was no pressure, no work to get to, there was nobody fighting for her attention and they could just be together to do whatever they wanted.

Though that didn't necessarily end with either of them wearing clothes very much, Hermione figured there were much worse ways to pass the time. Storm was most definitely a fan of that particular cure for boredom and though that in itself was unsurprising it was quite pleasing at worst. It wasn't as if there was much else to do at all really.

She was sat in one of the armchairs, a small fire blazing away in the hearth keeping them both as warm as they could get. She had a knitted blanket draped across her lap and one of Storm's oversized hoodies on. There was a book sat open in front of her, but she hadn't been able to really concentrate on it at all. They'd given themselves a week to break away from the lull, away from the effort of trying to get themselves back to the rest of the group, but the failure to do so up until that point had weighed heavily on Hermione's mind.

Storm was sat on the floor in front of the brunette, fiddling with the dial of a small radio they'd come across a few weeks earlier. She'd had the idea to try and find the station that Ron had been on about years previously, the last time they were on the run; Potterwatch. Though it had been days of trying with no success, she had begun to wonder if that would also be a dead end.

The feeling of grasping at straws was almost overwhelming and she found herself grateful for the Shifter sat before her. Dark curls cascading past broad shoulders clad in the jumper Hermione had knitted for her as she was hunched over in concentration. Her wand tapping the top of the small device as she muttered random words that might turn out to be the password. White noise filling the tent, lulling them both into a sense of calm that washed over the space.

"Storm, lets go to bed" Hermione spoke then, moving to shut her book and put it down on the arm of the chair. She lent forward as the shifter lent back, though Storm never stopped her muttering. She was trying a different string of words and Hermione knew she was just trying to get through her train of thought before stopping for the evening.

Smaller hands reached out and stroked themselves down the Shifter's chest as she lent over to brush her lips across the taller woman's ear. Breathing in the smell of their shared shampoo and the vague scent of coffee. She could feel tense muscles relaxing under her touch, and Storm tilted her head back finally finished with no success.

The younger witch sighed deeply in disappointment as she tilted her chin up to allow the brunette access to kiss her cheek gently. "Hermione" Storm started but was entirely cut off the the sudden sound of voices filtering into the tent.

Both of them jumped, startled by the foreign noise. It had been months since either of them had heard it, months since the Quidditch World Cup. The voice was coming from the little radio and it was Harry's.

"Holy shit it worked!" Storm spoke, awed by the fact the radio had come to life. Hermione's name had been the password and it was only sheer luck that they'd stumbled upon it.

"Shh!" Hermione hissed as she moved to swat the taller witch, though there was nothing malicious in the way her hands had gripped so tightly to Storm's jumper at the front of her chest immediately after. Holding the shifter close to herself as they both fell quiet to listen to the boy who lived.

He sounded exhausted and fed up. He sounded as if he too just wanted this all to end now. Hermione found her heart aching for her best friend. This had been far longer than she had ever gone without seeing him, never going more than a week at most since they were in Hogwarts.

It was as if he was calling to them, calling to Hermione. He spoke of their location in riddles, and said they'd be moving soon. They had gotten the help they needed and were without a doubt stationed at the Burrow. Hermione was shocked, speechless as she met Storm's own wide eyes.

"How is that possible?!" Storm questioned, her eyebrows furrowing in confusion as she considered how off they had been.

"The Fidelius charm" Hermione admitted, though she too was a little fuzzy on the ins and outs. It could be the only way they'd be safe at the well known home.

"Fuck" Storm muttered, scrubbing her face with the palms of her hands as she finally slumped back into Hermione's embrace. Relief and dread filling her chest all at once leaving her fighting for how she actually felt.

"We'll move tomorrow night. We can cover most of the journey in a few hours so long as we fly" Hermione spoke, her voice dripping with determination now.

"They're going to be swarming that area Hermione, we'll be walking into them" Storm quipped, though there was nothing in her tone that said she was about to shy away from the task at hand. Of course she wouldn't, she too craved to be back within the presence of her own best friend.

Ginny had been her only constant since they had left Hogwarts, she had been her only constant for years before that. Ginny had kept her sane after her parents had been killed during the war, and Storm knew she would have had the baby by now. Her heart raced with excitement at the prospect of finally being reunited with the redhead.

This was the beginning of the end, and the light at the end of the tunnel was finally in sight. The little radio fell silent for a moment before the room was flooded with the sound of white noise that filled the void as they both sat stunned. Hermione's hands never leaving Storm's chest as she held the Shifter close to her. The younger woman leaning back into the embrace so willingly.

Storm turned the little box off, shut it down and slumped back as if the whole ordeal had sapped her of any and all energy. The thought of just how difficult it would be to get into the burrow crawling through her mind as she considered the swarm of death eaters that were sure to be waiting for them. She wondered if they too had access to the radio station, she wondered if they'd even make it there alive.

A deep sigh pulled her attention back to the present and she turned to eye Hermione over her shoulder. The brunette looked pensive, she looked almost afraid and her fingers had started to dig into Storm's flesh a little painfully. Storm had a fair idea of what she was thinking about and couldn't really say much to make it any better.

"Let's go to bed" She called then, finally twisting to get up onto her knees and face the brunette. Dark eyes looked up at her and though Hermione's gaze was strong, it was also unsure. Large paw like hands reached out to smooth her palms down Hermione's thighs before offering them out to her to take silently.

Hermione did just that, she wrapped smaller fingers around Storm's own large ones and allowed the Shifter to pull her up from the recliner. Though, Storm hadn't stepped back and instead tugged the shorter witch flush into herself. She wasted no time in wrapping her arms around Hermione's waist to pull her in even closer. "You look much better in that hoody than I do" She spoke quietly, her voice firm as she grinned a little mischievously.

"I'd argue there, but I'm quite glad you think so" Hermione laughed lightly, twisting her fingers into Storm's own jumper at her stomach. Peaking up at the taller witch from under long lashes as she offered up a coy grin. Her heart fluttered a little and then sank as her keen mind soon turned to what the next day was to bring.

She couldn't help the feeling of just not wanting to do it. She had only just gotten Storm back and here they were about to embark on yet another death defying excursion. Her keen mind settled on how cruel it was, how unfair. Pink lips were tugged down into a frown quite firmly and her eyebrows furrowed a little as she fought back the welling sadness.

"It's going to be fine, they'll have no chance. We'll manage it no problem Hermione, you'll see" Storm soothed, moving to duck her head to pepper light kisses across the brunettes features. The brunette sighed heavily into the embrace and seemed to fall forward allowing the Shifter to keep her steady where they stood.

"I just hate knowing it's not over yet, I hate knowing this whole mess is happening again." She explained quietly as she moved to gently push Storm towards the bed they had created out of the two bunks. The whole thing taking up the entire space in that corner now.

All she truly wanted right then was to climb under the sheets with her Shifter, she wanted to be wrapped up wholly in the entirely protective embrace and she wanted to never have to leave. She was sure Storm would never argue. But she so wanted their lives back, she wanted to see where this could go in the real world. She wanted it all, and knew they'd have to overcome the darkness once again to do it.

Storm simply moved then, she turned to meander towards their bed but never once did she release the older witch's hand. "I can't wait to show you my house" the shifter spoke then, her dark eyes flicking over to meet Hermione's own. A wide smile tugging at her lips as she considered what that might mean.

"I cant wait to see it." Hermione spoke thoughtfully, and she truthfully couldn't wait. She had often thought of where Storm might live, what her home might be like. She had known the Shifter had been unable to go back to her parent's home. She had never been able to stomach being there without them. "Tell me what it's like?" She questioned, her tone warm and genuinely curious as they readied for bed.

Storm paused for a moment, dark eyes seemed to be swimming with delight as memories visibly crossed her mind. She seemed to be fighting for the best way to describe it. With a small, content sigh she turned to look at the brunette once again, a small warm smile tugging at her lips as she shook her head a little. "It's on the beach and boarders a wide forest. I have three miles of land and every day after Quidditch I get home and just wander for a while" Storm started with a grin as she moved to get into the bed.

"I've got this enchanted window, it covers most of one side of the house and I can see as far out as the horizon, it directly faces the water." She stated, and Hermione couldn't help but notice the longing tone that laced itself within her voice as she spoke.

"It sounds lovely" She spoke then, honestly. "I've been living in London, not far from the ministry since we left Hogwarts. I don't think you'll like that too much" She spoke then as she too slid into the bed beside the Shifter waiting for her. Dark eyes watching her every move intensely.

"It's only a one bedroom flat, but it's big enough for just me." She added with a small sigh, moving to press her front to Storm's side. Her fingers immediately dipping below the sheets to seek out warm skin.

"I bet it's full of books" Storm laughed, shaking her head as she watched the creeping blush start to snake it's way up Hermione's throat and across her cheeks. "I mean, some things never change. I remember having to take books out of your bed so I could get in it at Hogwarts" She laughed lightly, scrunching her nose up as Hermione's fingers hit a particularly ticklish spot near her hip.

"Well you're not wrong, no. All I do is work. Get up and go to work, come home and work some more. It's tedious" the elder witch explained, and her words were nothing but the truth.

"Sounds about right" Storm spoke then, though there was a lilt of sadness to her voice. "Mines quite big, but it's empty. I mean, I hate how lonely it gets and it's always really quiet. I have four rooms just with nothing in them, I thought one day maybe it could be good for a family but obviously well that was never going to happen" She explained and Hermione couldn't help the feeling that there was something left unsaid.

"Do you want a family?" She questioned bravely. She couldn't deny that since they had resumed their relationship, though it was very new still and yet to be tested in the real world she had thought about it. She had thought hard on it while they were still at Hogwarts. There had been a time where she had wanted nothing more than everything a future with Storm held.

"I would love one eventually" Storm muttered easily, honestly. Her own large paw like hand moving to brush a strand of hair out of Hermione's eyes tenderly, leaning in for a chaste kiss. "What about you? Have you ever thought about it?" She fired Hermione's question back at her.

"I think that would be lovely." Hermione spoke simply, a small smirk tugging at her lips as she watched Storm's smirk widen a little. "Don't get any ideas, it's far too soon to even be thinking about that" She quipped, scolding the Shifter who had waggled her brows a little suggestively.

"Whatever happens Hermione, whatever has happened it's always been you and always will be" Storm muttered quietly, seriously. Once again there was nothing showy or intentionally romantic in her words but Hermione knew it was the truth. "I just thought I'd be alone, thought for sure you'd move on and really I cant believe we're here" She added simply before rolling to lay on her back again, an arm folded under her pillow as she relaxed into it.

Hermione remained silent for a moment, considering the Shifters words carefully. "Breaking up with you was the worst thing I've ever done" She replied then, settling easily into Storm's side. Her fingers stroking small circles against heated flesh. "I was waiting for you to come back that night to pull back on the whole situation, I'd regretted it immediately and I cant believe we've been apart because I'd been so foolish this whole time" She admitted honestly, her voice quiet as she almost whispered.

"I thought you wanted to yell at me" Storm laughed, shaking her head a little. "When I heard what you'd said to Ginny, I swear my heart broke. I honestly thought you didn't want me anymore, I wasn't surprised. I mean, look at you and look at me. I thought you were just embarrassed it'd ever happened and that's why you didn't want to know me afterwards" She spoke quietly, though there was no intention of making Hermione feel bad but her words hit her hard.

She still couldn't believe Storm had heard her, she couldn't believe she'd even said any of it for any reason. The idea of hurting the woman beside her so callously was ludicrous and she wished she could go back and change it all. But she knew she couldn't, she knew it had all happened and it was all done and over. "I never meant any of that. I was so afraid and I'd let that take over and Ginny had collared me after she had found out to tell me how daft I was. I was just trying to get her to stop. She hadnt believed a word I'd said though and told me how awful it was that I'd even tried to go that way" She explained tentatively, her voice cracking a little as she thought hard on what had happened.

"You've always been more than good enough Storm, maybe too good actually. There is nobody like you and I love you for everything you are and do" she added, her words even quieter than they had been before. She had nothing to say that even came close to how she felt. But she owed it to Storm to try.

Storm went quiet then, unable to really figure out what she could say in return. With that she muttered a quiet "I hope it works this time, I'll kill that evil git myself just so we have a chance to have what we deserve" thought her voice was quiet, it was full of conviction and Hermione believed her. She knew Storm would go to the ends of the earth just so they could have the life they wanted. Dark eyes traced her features, watched how her own eyelids had begun to droop. She watched as her chest had begun to heave and fall much more deeply as she was slowly falling into the realm of slumber.

"I suppose we'll know soon enough, it won't be long now either way" Hermione stated simply, moving to run her hand through Storm's unruly hair as the Shifter nodded simply.

"I love you too, Hermione" She muttered, her voice growing deeper as she struggled to keep herself awake.

It went quiet then, and soon Hermione was listening carefully to the gentle snores coming from the Shifter beside her. She was listening to the sound of her breathing, the sound of her heart beating underneath her ear as she settled with her head on the Shifter's chest. She allowed the sound to lull her into her own fitful slumber, nerves for what would come now settled for a little while as she too fell into the realm of dreams.