A/N: I couldn't control it, so I apologise for the fact that it's very similar to the previous segment and also all my fics segments timed during Shell Cottage... But you know... I have many many many Shell Cottage feels so I couldn't really turn my back on this one.
6. Rain
It's pouring.
March showers, she reminds herself fleetingly as she watches the sand, the sea and the rain merge as one.
She's tired all the time.
Her body is still sore after the Cruciatus, and her mind is frustratingly hazy. She has trouble just to think.
She knows they are heading toward the end of their journey, she can feel it. There is so many possible outcomes - good and bad, it makes her head spin. She recognises the signs of her body and mind beginning to spiral down toward a dark place. Just like the nightmares, except that she's awake. She doesn't want to, but it's too hard to stop.
"Hey."
Ron's voice behind her startle her out of her reverie and she turns around quickly. Too quickly. The war is doing that to her.
He buries his hands in his front pockets, a tortured apologetic look on his face. The war is doing that to him.
She hates it.
But having Ron close to her allows her head to spin in a very different way. Her heart races whenever she sees him, her body shivers and her mind lights up. The way he looks at her, eyes burning into her, makes her feel unlimited.
"I was going to make tea, do you want some?"
"I'd love to," She acquiesces, smiling softly. His face lights up and she finds that lopsided grin of his she loves again.
"Wait!" She yelps as he turns to leave. She grabs his arm, her hand curling around his elbow. Too many words jump at the forefront of her mind at once and she finds herself out of breath. She fights the tight lump in her throat, because when she looks at him, she just feels so much and words are not enough.
"Thank you." For the tea. For coming back. For saving me.
His eyes widen slightly, he seems to understand that she doesn't mean just the tea.
"Anytime," he shrugs, his voice raspy as if he's holding back tears. Then, he squeezes her hand and leaves the room.
She looks outside again and smiles.
The rain has stopped.
