Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter.


Stormy Night

Professor Snape had been right about one thing, the storm currently battling the grounds was one of the largest Hogwarts had ever seen, the wind wrestled with the Whomping Willow, it's huge branches attacking the invisible force with gusto. It twisted and turned, hitting out at anything and everything it could reach, the rain pelted heavily on to the bark before propelling to the ground, the large booms of thunder echoed through empty walls of the stone corridors. Several explosions followed one another then stopped, allowing the rain to pelt on the window and the wind to whistle around the pipes and tree. A bolt of lightning crashed to the grounds illuminating darkened rooms, as soon as the flash appeared it vanished leaving in its wake the heavy rain and wind. Seconds later, and the castle shook as the thunder returned, loud and more ferocious than before.

Huddled in a ball with pale hands gripping the thin sheets of his bedding, Draco's small body trembled. The rain attacked his window begging permission to enter his bedroom and the wind thought against the rusty latch. Every time a bang of thunder sounded he would shuddered pulling his duvet tighter over his head. Fear gripped his body when the thunder hammered in the sky repeatedly and as the final boom ended he froze, he knew what was coming, it had already happened twice before. His bedroom erupted into brightness, the lightning struck the wall and he squealed in terror. His room delved back into pitch back and he felt his heart pound against his chest. Shaky fingers pulled the sheet over his head and he pushed his body up, he looked toward the window but could see nothing, the noise of the rain increased and with wide grey eyes his gaze landed on the shaking bundle in the bed at the opposite side of the room. Hidden below the green covers he could hear Blaise whimper in fear. Loud sniffles were followed and he knew that he wasn't the only one afraid.

"Blaise," his voice was shaky as another bang of thunder erupted from outside. He grabbed his stuffed dragon and wrapped his arms tightly around its belly. His bare feet dropped to the floor and he ran to Blaise his body shaking as the thunder continued to battle against the night sky. He reached forward and touched Blaise's shoulder and the boy cried in terror diving to the ends of his bed.

"Blaise," called Draco in tears, his body continued to shake as fear gripped him tighter. Blaise removed his head from out of the bedding and looked at Draco, tears streamed down his face as sobs racked his body. His hand gripped his teddy as the thunder stopped, both boys looked at the window and held their breaths, waiting. Lightning split the night sky once more and the boy's room erupted into bright light again before it vanished.

Blaise pushed back his covers and tightened his hold on to Teddy and dived off the bed, stumbling he hit the floor but the pain never registered as he jumped to his feet and they ran to the door. Throwing it open they ran. The thunder was everywhere, behind them, in front of them. Tears streamed down their faces as they ran to Hermione's bedroom door and with all their might, pushed it open.

"Hermione," they sobbed running into the room.

Shooting up Hermione switched on her bedside lamp, she had also been unable to sleep from the storm outside. She had hoped the trio would sleep soundly but staring at the shaking toddlers running to her bed she knew it had been pointless.

"Come here," she said as she reached down and lifted them one by one on to her bed. Instantly they clutched on to her burying their faces in her chest as they sobbed. Stroking their hair she rested against the headboard of her bed.
"It's okay, you're safe." She whispered holding them tightly against her.

Blaise gripped her pyjama top in his hand, his teddy buried in-between Hermione and he. His sobs slowly subsided in her grip.

Draco rested his head against her breast, his hand gripped her t-shirt cuckooing his dragon in his arm. His spare hand was fisted with his thumb plopped in his mouth.

"Did the storm outside scare you?" Hermione asked softly.

Two little heads nodded, but Hermione noticed they were no longer shaking and she took this as a good sign. It seemed Professor Snape hadn't been wrong once again, Draco Malfoy was terrified of storms. Then again it wasn't uncommon for young children to be afraid of storms she mused. She had disliked them when she was little.

Footsteps in the corridor alerted Hermione to another presence coming to her room, the door had been left over and she smiled softly as Harry appeared with Pansy crying into his shoulder. Her little body shaking from the noise of the storm.

"You too?" he asked looking at Draco and Blaise.

Harry stepped into the room and lowered himself on to her bed shifting Pansy's weight on to his knees. She instantly shuffled to see where she was and waved timidly in Hermione's direction.

"You okay sweetie?" Pansy rubbed her eyes and nodded, Blaise and Draco looked up and smiled sadly at Pansy, never once loosening their grip on Hermione's top.

"There is nothing to be afraid of, the storm can't hurt you it just scares all the monsters so they don't come out."

"Mon-sters?" Blaise stuttered, his teary eyes were wide at the thought, he quickly looked over towards Hermione's bedroom window.

Harry looked at Hermione alarmed but she ignored his look and reshuffled Draco and Blaise so they were seated in her lap.

"That's right. In the wizarding world we get monsters that like to scare children. But high in the sky there are magical wizards and witches that are given a really important job. Do you know what that job is?" Three heads shook as they listened to every word that left Hermione's mouth.

"They are the keepers of the storm. When a monster is feeling very wicked they try to leave their magical homes but the keepers of the storm see this happening and they create a storm like the one that is outside with lots of wind and rain, with really loud noises and striking light. The monsters aren't as brave as us witches and wizards and they get scared and they run back home where they are safe. The storm continues until all the monsters have run away. When they have all gone, the keepers of storm stop it because all the children are safe again."

"So storm scare monsters away?" asked Draco.

"Yep, a storm happens only when monsters come out. Sometimes it can be a very long time until we have another storm because monsters are so scared but sometimes we can have a storm a few days later because they didn't feel as frightened."

"Silly monsters," laughed Blaise.

"Harry?" Harry looked down at Pansy, a frown plastered across her face. "That twue? Storms scare monsters?"

"Yep, monsters get scared easy, when there is a storm they get scared. When there is no storm then there are no monsters running about."

"But what if they not scared of storm?"

Frowning he bent down and whispered in her ear, "Do you want to know a secret?" grinning widely she nodded. "All monsters are scared of storms."

"All monster?"

"All monsters." Her lips formed a small 'o' before it split into a large grin.

"Mione?"

"Yes Blaise."

"Me thinks, me have to stay here cause monsters scare kids but you're not a kid so me stay and keep you safe." He told her in a matter-of-a-fact tone of voice. His little head nodding as he told her this.

Hermione had to bite her lip to stop her from laughing out loud.

"Mione, Draco gotta stay too so, keep you safe."

"Well aren't I lucky, two brave boys wanting to make sure I'm all safe and sound? You can stay in my bed for one night but you're back in your own tomorrow. Is that understood?" they nodded their heads and shimmied off her knees burrowing under the covers.

"Harry, I stay with you. Keep you safe?" Pansy asked standing on her feet. Rolling his eyes Harry nodded and scooped her up.

"Just one night though, cause you're a big girl and big girls sleep in big girl beds." Pansy nodded covering a yawn with her mouth, she tucked her head in-between his shoulders and closed her eyes.

Reaching over Hermione turned off her bedside lamp and snuggled into bed. Glancing to her left was a stuffed green dragon with blonde hair and to her right a tatty teddy bear with a missing ear and mop of black hair. Both Draco and Blaise were fast asleep the storm outside no longer bothering them now they knew they were safe. Smiling to herself Hermione closed her eyes.

The following morning Harry was wakened from slumber by a sharp tapping on the window. Peeling open his eyes he glanced down at Pansy who continued to sleep soundly gripping tightly on to the quilt. Easing his body out of bed, careful not to wake the sleeping toddler he plodded towards the window and the owl flew into the room. Perching on the desk the tawny owl hooted up at Harry and held out the letter. The second Harry released the letter the owl spread its wings and flew out of the room.

Peeling back the seal he quickly skimmed the note and smiled. Eyeing Pansy Harry crept quietly out of the room and towards Hermione's. Tapping on the door he let himself into Hermione's room.

"Hi Harry!" cried Draco waving his hands, his voice awakening Hermione and Blaise.

"Hi Draco," Harry smiled, it was obvious the blonde had been awake for a few minutes by the how awake he sounded.

"Harry, what do you want?"

"We got a letter from Dumbledore this morning, he heard about our adventures in class the other day and he has given us the next few days off class until the Slytherins are back to normal. He said classes aren't a place for young children and we should have 'fun' while they're still young.

"Why do I have a bad feeling about this," Hermione groaned falling back against the pillow. Laughing Harry walked back to his room, if there were no classes then he was going back to sleep, he'd eat later.


As if it's been 2 months since I last updated this story and I'm really sorry... I've gotten a new job in between and I was busy last month, hopefully this chapter will make up for the delay, not my longest chapter but I hope you'll all like it, I think it's one of my favourite ones.

A REALLY big thankyou to everyone who has reviewed, added it to their favourite and alerts list because it makes my day everytime I see that you've enjoyed it enough to remember it.

Won't be long until the toddlers are back to their original age and we'll be saying goodbye to the loveable babies that we are all slowly coming to love.

Next chapter will have you seeing a lot of orange or should I say ginger ;)

I look forward to hearing from you all soon, please review

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