Chapter 12
Later that afternoon Storm found herself sat in their usual space at the Leaky Cauldron. Ginny was sat close beside her, nursing a pumpkin juice quite begrudgingly. It was bizarre having to order the soft drink for the redhead, but Storm figured that was the way things would be for the foreseeable future. They may as well start getting used to it now.
Luckily, Ginny had been on board once Storm had told her about herself and Hermione resuming their relationship that morning. She had seemed relieved almost, simply smiling a knowing smile as she muttered a quiet "Good" in response. She hadn't even seemed phased when Storm had arrived to meet her at the Cauldron with the most recent development.
Storm had laughed and blamed her and Harry, only to have Ginny roll her eyes playfully with quite the arrogant "Your welcome" To follow. It seemed things had really taken a turn for the best, and she truly couldn't wait to get this part over and done with. Ginny had been quite open to cancelling their weekly Cauldron evening, hazel eyes rimmed quite solidly with dark circles. It seemed as if she hadn't been getting a lot of sleep recently.
They sat quietly, muttering about the future and what Ginny's departure from the team might mean for the Harpies. Though Storm had been happy to hear that she had already secured a place with Quidditch Weekly as a journalist. The new job meaning she'd be quite able to work from home. A much safer environment Storm had thought.
Though she wouldn't deny the quiet dread that had filled her. She hadn't played a game without the redhead for over a decade, and would truly miss her presence on the pitch. They discussed who might get made Captain next, and both had decided it would probably be best if Storm had been left out of the running.
She had already been approached by the manager for the world cup team about heading that in preparation for the 2014 game in Argentina. A position she had gladly accepted, but had kept quiet to all but the redhead beside her. The task was a monumental one, but she figured as far as Quidditch went between the two of them they were definitely some of the most experienced still playing.
She had decided it would be her last hurrah and would be retiring soon after the close of that cup. She was getting older, and had more than enough in the way of funds stacked up in her vault at Gringotts. She was sure she would never actually have to work again once the time came to throw in the towel.
Their conversation was interrupted by the arrival of the second youngest Weasley. The man ambling over to them, a wide goofy grin tugging his lips up as he waved a little. The sight of him causing an eruption of nerves to well within Storm's chest. The insides of her rib-cage hosting her now absolutely erratic heartbeat.
She didn't regret what she was doing with Hermione, not one bit. But she hated the fact that the act may cause someone she now called a friend some hurt. Lying was not something she did without just cause, and normally she would say there is absolutely no just cause. But this was definitely a different situation to anything she'd ever experienced before.
She stood from her seat to greet the redhead who had lent over to pull her into a crushing hug. Something she had gotten used to since meeting him for the first time a few weeks previously. The act causing another fresh eruption of butterflies to beat the inside of her stomach until she felt physically nauseous.
"Are you alright?" Ron spoke then in lieu of greeting, his blue eyes fixing her features with a concerned stare. His features pulled up with thinly veiled worry as a paw like hand pushed her back into her seat beside his sister. "You look worse than I did that time I ate slugs" He laughed, though a little nervously.
"I'mseeingHermione" Was the almost shouted answer Storm had given, unable to contain herself anymore. Her chest was heaving as she stared at the man regarding her curiously, causing her to doubt if he actually understood what she had actually said.
"What?" He replied, an eyebrow raised in question as he all but collapsed into his own chair. Fair eyebrows furrowed up in confusion for a moment before realisation dawned and relaxed his features. "You're seeing Hermione? As in... dating? Like in a relationship" He questioned, a little dumbly. His features twisting again in a way that was entirely unreadable.
Ginny seemed to sense it, her palm finding Storm's thigh under the table as she regarded the pair quietly. Ensuring no sparks actually ignited. She had a feeling she knew what might happen, but guessed there was always the possibility she was wrong.
"Yes, kind of. It's not just that. We're moving in together, I love her" Storm continued, rambling on a little as she tried to get the explanation out quickly. "I needed to tell you, it's not right to hide it and you deserve to find out from me and not the Prophet" She carried on, barely stopping to take a breath as dark, unblinking eyes watched the redhead for any sign of potential attack.
"Does she feel the same? If you're moving in together, it must be pretty serious" He questioned calmly, his shoulders relaxed. Light eyes meeting dark in a way that Storm hadn't expected at all. There was absolutely no anger there. Nothing even remotely untoward. There was just a warmth she'd experienced with every meeting they'd had.
"She says she does. It was actually her idea to move in together" Storm replied a little cautiously, finally moving to look towards the other redhead still quiet beside her. The gentle reassuring hand still firmly planted on her thigh, and a small knowing smile tugging at her lips as she watched her best friend.
"Well then I'm happy for you both, and I'm grateful you thought about telling me before I found out through another source" The older man replied, his lips finally returning to his normal smile. "There are no hard feelings there Storm, I love Hermione as a friend and we'll get back to that one day. I will always have her best interests at heart and you must know, she doesn't just do things she hasn't calculated extensively beforehand." He reassured her; his light stare unwavering.
His words had settled the nerves that had threatened to pull the contents of her stomach out. It was bizarre, she figured she was definitely in it to be hexed into next week. She hadn't even considered this to be a possible reaction. Though now that it had all come about, she couldn't really see what else might have happened.
"Do you want another beer?" He asked then as he hooked his thumb over a large shoulder towards the bar, "You look like you definitely need one" He chuckled then as he moved to stand, not really waiting for an answer before wandering away to get them a few more beverages. Leaving her and Ginny alone once again.
"I really didn't expect that at all" Storm muttered quietly, rubbing the back of her neck awkwardly in an attempt to rid herself from the tension that had settled there so solidly.
"He's a lot like you are, he'll do anything for his friends and family." Ginny started as she watched her brother. She had been right about the situation, and a certain pride was welling within the base of her throat as she thought about the pair of them. They'd both done right by the other in this situation, and that was something that wasn't quite as common as it should be in this world.
"You also need to remember that they were both pushed into it, they were both made to feel like that's what they should have done. Their feelings are very much mutual. It was a deep friendship that was mistaken for something else." Ginny clarified, making the picture a lot more obvious as Storm considered her words. It was difficult to gauge an entire picture just by listening to one side of things.
Before Storm could reply Ron was back, a tray of drinks floating in front of him. His smile remained and as he took his seat once again, he pulled his own tankard towards his lips. The foam coating his moustache a little comically before he could wipe it away with the back of his hand.
The atmosphere had returned to its usual light nature, and that was something Storm was definitely grateful for. "So, I heard you absolutely wiped out some kid at today's game!" He started, another chuckle escaping his chest as bright blue eyes twinkled in the dim light of the room.
"He wasn't a kid, and he chose to follow me. It's not my fault he over estimated his skills" Storm laughed, shaking her head as she too took her own tankard. Leaving another pumpkin juice on the tray for a still grumbling redhead.
"I honestly have never seen someone hit the floor so hard! We didn't think it would actually work, we thought it'd just spook him." Ginny added then, her own smile wide as she regarded her best friend and then her brother in turn. "Honestly Ron, you could hear the smash from fifty feet in the air, at least" She giggled, recalling the scene they had all bore witness to earlier on.
"Bloody hell. I wish I'd have seen that. We had it on the radio, couldn't believe it when they announced he'd hit the ground nose first!" He laughed, pushing the conversation firmly towards the game and Quidditch in general.
"Brutal, absolutely brutal" Ginny quipped, "How could you do such a thing, Storm?" She teased with a roll of her eyes. The Shifter having huffed in disbelief.
"Well, if you hadn't of gotten yourself into such a compromising position, I wouldn't have had to do such a thing" Storm jabbed in retaliation, though the wry smile that pulled her own lips up gave her away.
"Oi! Lets not discuss the ins and outs of how babies come to be. That is my little sister you know!" Ron quipped then, his features warping into something that resembled thinly veiled disgust.
"We weren't going to discuss positions or anything Ronald! Don't be so gross" Ginny retorted with a laugh, the statement having it's desired effect on both of them. The shifter beside her choking quite audibly on her butterbeer, sputtering and going entirely red faced. Her brother adopting a rather green hue, not so dissimilar to the one Storm was wearing at the start of their meeting.
"Ginny!" Storm whined, shaking her head in disbelief as she dropped it to bang against the table in front of them softly. Deep breaths rasping into her lungs between coughs as she finally cleared her airway enough to breathe again.
"Oh, shut up, I have to listen to all sorts of filth you get up to. This is just a little bit of payback" The redhead quipped without thinking about the words she was saying, or what exactly they implicated.
Storm jerked up, staring wide eyed at both of them for a moment, as if expecting the light heartedness to suddenly disappear as the reality of the situation hit. The topic not really avoidable for very long at all. She wondered briefly if this is the point of the hexing, if she had dropped her guard too soon.
"Don't look so mortified Storm!" Ron quipped, laughing at her expense. "We're all adults here, except for Ginny of course." He added, teasing his little sister quite easily. "Besides, I've seen all the Prophet articles regaling the wizarding world with your exploits long before this little development. Hermione had quite the obsession with showing them to me. Perhaps I should have seen this coming" He laughed again, watching as the Shifter before him turned multiple shades of crimson.
"I don't know why they even publish nonsense like that. Nobody actually wants to know those things" Storm laughed then rubbing the back of her neck awkwardly in an attempt to shake the blush off. Though she made a mental note to tease the older woman about this little insight at a later date.
"Well apparently if you have a hand in defeating a dark wizard, or fly about on a broom all the while suddenly everyone wants to know what's going on behind closed doors" He spoke with a roll of his eyes. They had all been the subject to many, many articles both flattering and not so much.
"It's a nightmare, honestly" Ginny added over her own pumpkin juice. "I'm waiting to see what they have to say about Harry, me and the baby. No doubt it'll be something ridiculous." She stated simply.
The other two nodded their agreement, both taking the opportunity to sip on their own drinks for a moment. "You could always catch Skeeter out and trap her in a jar for a year" Ron joked knowingly, shaking his head as he chuckled to himself.
"What?" Storm quizzed; an eyebrow raised in question. This isn't a particular story she had been privy too. "You trapped Rita Skeeter in a jar for a year?" She questioned again, not quite able to bring herself to believe what was being said.
"Not Ginny, Hermione!" Ron clarified, his own amusement alight behind his irises. Ginny just shook her own head, long red hair whipping back and forth as she too laughed at the thought of the very put together bookworm losing her patience with the reporter.
"Remind me to never shift into something able to fit into a jar around Hermione... or if I go missing, check the cupboards" Storm laughed then, though a little nervously. She knew Hermione herself had a ruthless streak; everyone knew that. The way she gave some of the more problematic students a tongue lashing enough to have them quaking in their robes had made that pretty obvious.
"Shift?" Ron questioned; an eyebrow raised curiously. His light eyes scanning her body as if he was searching for something not entirely visible.
"Storm's a Shapeshifter" Ginny clarified quietly, though an eyebrow raised. She was sure her brother already knew, they'd talked about it after being attacked by the muggle brutes. The little quirk the younger woman had not exactly common knowledge. She hadn't exactly kept it a secret, but it wasn't something she broadcasted to just anyone either.
"Oh yeah! I almost forgot." Ron laughed then, recalling the commotion from the first night they had been out together. He had been quite intoxicated, and had figured he probably dreamt that conversation. "That would have definitely come in handy if it hadn't of been muggles we were fighting with" He spoke simply, light eyes growing a little vacant as he imagined how easy that might have been.
"It definitely would have." Ginny added absently, a heavy sigh escaping her lips as she thought back on that evening. "Did you ever meet that girl again Ron?" She asked then, remembering that he had indeed gotten her number.
"I had to ask dad to help me with a muggle phone, but I called her." He began, his cheeks growing red as his smile turned sheepish. "We met up a couple of times after that, but I don't really think it'll go anywhere" He added, and Storm couldn't help the smirk that tugged her own lips up.
Just the thought of this man, who had previously had no idea what a muggle club or pub was had gotten himself a muggle speaking device to contact a girl he had met. It was quite the endearing picture. She hoped he too found someone for himself soon, someone he could genuinely be happy with without the pressures of what was expected of him.
"Bloody hell" Ginny laughed out loud, clearly the sentiments were shared. "Do you still have it?" She questioned, curiously.
"I do, it has games on!" Ron explained as he pulled the small square object from his pocket. Showing them the game he had been playing. It was chess, just an electronic version that was much less violent than the one they were used to. "It's not as good as actual chess, but it passes the time when the store is slow" He laughed as he returned the device to his jeans.
"Muggles are quite clever, aren't they?" Ginny quizzed, though it wasn't really a question. There were a lot of things Muggles did that Storm preferred. Though having magic was definitely something she never would give up. It was just too easy, and made life much simpler in many ways.
"My grandparents on my mom's side were muggles, they definitely are clever" Storm added, a small smile tugged at her lips a little sadly as she thought on the family she once had. Though, the prospect of the family she had now, and might have yet to come soon erased the sadness threatening to spill into the cavity of her chest.
She had spoken to Hermione a lot about the customs they had experienced growing up around the muggle world. Hermione had been surprised to learn that her mother had been muggleborn, and even more so when Storm had expressed that she had never really given up that life. She had simply strived to introduce the two of them together wherever possible.
Hermione had told her then that the explanation had given merit to how much Storm seemed to live in-between the two worlds. Much more so than many other people within the magical world. She had always detested how people who had the ability to use magic seemed to just ignore the whole other side of things. Deeming it unworthy of their attention.
Their conversation continued in much the same way. They laughed and discussed things as they came up, the topic frequently jumping as they laughed and joked. The entire meeting going much, much better than Storm could have ever imagined. Though she was definitely grateful for that.
A few hours passed that way, and before Storm knew it it was time to go. Hermione had headed back to her little flat to start packing things away and sorting her belongings out. Storm had promised to bring dinner back with her, quite pleased with how things had unfolded over the past twenty-four hours.
On her way back she had stopped to grab a pizza from one of the little shops they had used a few times after heading back late from the Cauldron. She perched herself in the window as she waited, watching muggle London go past in a blur. Once she had their dinner safely within her grasp she made her way quickly to a small alley at it's side to disparate. The whole practice quite familiar, though a little lonely without the presence of the bookworm she was so excited to see.
Within seconds she was standing in the middle of Hermione's flat. The entire space was lit up, and Hermione was sat cross legged on the floor where the sofa normally sat. She had stacks of books surrounding her, laid out around the space rather chaotically.
"I see you've been productive" Storm quipped as she turned on the spot, examining the room and the lack of things actually in it. It seemed the move would take much less time than she thought, though she couldn't find it in herself to be upset about that particular notion.
"I've not really got many things" Hermione added simply, a small genuine smile tugging at her lips as she looked up from the book she had been skimming over. She pushed herself up from the floor and made her way towards the shifter now standing within her living room. Arms full of pizza boxes and a bag that contained some kind of fizzy drink.
"I have a room that's not got much in it, I never really knew what to do with it. We can always bring all these books and things with you and make it a little office" Storm offered a little sheepishly. Her mind flicking back to the conversation they'd had the night before.
"I don't know if that would be more for me, or more for you" Hermione added a little coyly, leaning up to press a kiss to the younger woman's lips. "But I would definitely like that very much" She spoke, excitement evident in her voice.
"Well, shall we eat before there's a distraction? Because honestly Hermione I think I'm losing weight at this rate" Storm laughed then, watching as Hermione moved to take one of the boxes from her before making her way into the kitchen.
"You're not losing weight Storm, and you're just as much to blame for these distractions as I am" Hermione quipped a little cockily, her tone sure as she laid out the box she had grabbed on the table that was left still standing. "How did it go with Ronald?" She questioned then, curious as to what had actually happened. The Shifter seemed to be in a very good mood, something that was a little surprising.
"It went really well Hermione, he said he's really happy for us and was just glad I had actually spoken to him before it became a thing in the news." Storm spoke as she flopped down lazily into one of the wooden chairs that sat at the table the pizza was now on. Not wasting time in waiting for a plate before she grabbed a slice to stuff into her mouth.
"Well, it looks like we're finally in the clear then, there's nobody really left to tell personally. You've written to Cho and Joseph, Ginny and Harry have been told and Ron has been taken care of." Hermione spoke, the news lifting a weight from her shoulders. She hadn't expected the man to react badly, she had known Ron long enough to really be able to gauge his reactions to things.
"Yep" Storm nodded, muttering around a mouth full of pizza before swallowing hard. Moving to grab herself a drink before she continued. "I still can't believe this is actually happening" Storm stated simply before pushing the rest of the slice of pizza past her lips. Dark eyes watching as Hermione nibbled quite delicately at her own slice.
"Will you have any time off of work for Christmas? I don't think we've talked about that. I don't have another game until the New Year now, I have a few meetings I need to be at but otherwise I'm pretty much off now" Storm stated. She had gotten used to their routine. Hermione having only had the weekends off since they had met back in August.
"I have two weeks off for Christmas and the New year. That should give us plenty of time to get settled in and adjust" Hermione added, her keen mind already making lists of things they needed to do in that time.
"Joey is with Cho for Christmas, but I have him for New Year. Normally we just play video games or watch films and eat snacks instead of actual dinner" Storm spoke then, filling Hermione in on their usual tradition. It had been how they had spent the past few years, and neither of them seemed to be intent on changing that.
"I have a Christmas party at the Ministry on Christmas eve, it would be nice if we could go together" Hermione added casually, but the way she was watching Storm for her reaction told the Shifter she had actually been quite nervous to ask.
"I think that sounds nice. Do I have to dress up?" She quizzed then, already going through her entire wardrobe in her mind. It had been a while since she had worn anything but jeans or a set of Quidditch robes. "I might have to make a trip to get a few things if that's the case" Storm added as an afterthought.
"It's formal yes, if you'd like we can take a trip together. I can help you pick something out" Hermione spoke as she finished her second slice of pizza. She was quite excited by the prospect of getting to do something so incredibly couple-y with the Shifter.
"That sounds like it could be fun. I bet they'll have some fancy snacks" Storm stated quite happy with the prospects of what there would be to eat. Something about the statement didn't really surprise the older woman. "Does this mean I might get to see your actual office?" Storm questioned then, waggling her eyebrows suggestively as a crooked grin creeped across her lips leaving white teeth on show.
"That depends" Hermione responded, her tone changing entirely. The way she seemed to consider the implications of what exactly Storm had asked sent a rather prominent chill down the younger woman's spine. Settling with heavy excitement deep in the pit of her stomach that sparked a reaction of its own.
"What on?" Storm questioned; her own voice thick with interest as she lent forward in her chair. Her attention fully fixed on the conversation in question.
"You'll have to wait and see" Hermione stated then, her voice changing once again to something much lighter. Her dark eyes rolling playfully as they took in the look of sheer disbelief the younger woman was wearing. A set of long fingers raising in order to pull the collar of her t-shirt away from her neck a little as she shifted in her seat.
"Well, that was just cruel." Storm pouted then, moving to tidy up the pizza boxes in order to give herself something else to think about. If she were to dwell much longer on that particular topic there would definitely be a distraction away from packing up Hermione's things.
"You're so easy to tease" Hermione laughed as she too stood from where she sat, moving to wrap her hands in Storm's t-shirt at the stomach. Pulling the taller woman in for a lingering kiss as a means of apology. Though as she moved to pull away, Storm chased her. Strong arms wrapping themselves around her waist, pulling her in flush with her body. Long fingers dropping to squeeze at perky bum cheeks through the denim of Hermione's jeans.
The action causing the older woman to sigh quite heavily into the kiss, her own fingers moving to slide under the Shifter's t-shirt. Splaying out against sensitive stomach muscles that quivered under her touch as she stroked just under the Shifter's bellybutton. The still quite unfamiliar presence of Storm's member starting to make itself known as the she continued her ministrations, dipping her fingertips lower to gently skim over the younger woman's crotch for just a moment before returning to her stomach.
Storm pulled away ever so slightly then, just enough to sink her teeth gently into Hermione's plump bottom lip. Pulling it out ever so slightly before letting it go to snap back in place, followed swiftly by a gently soothing tongue urging the kiss on further. Her hips grinding forwards, seeking purchase as her fingers squeezed gently into denim clad flesh.
A low whimper met her ears as the brunette attempted to deepen the kiss, her fingers dragging the hem of her t-shirt up so cool air met her skin. Storm just smirked then, pulling herself back and away entirely. Dark eyes full of mischief as they met Hermione's own, eyebrows furrowed up in confusion as they regarded the younger woman.
"You're so easy to tease" Storm mocked before turning to leave the room as if it was the most casual thing in the world. Leaving Hermione huffing in frustration, her loins burning terribly with a want the shifter had ignited within her once again. Packing could most definitely wait.
With that thought she followed hot on Storm's heels, determined to get her way and show Storm up. Her competitive nature flaring at the very evident challenge that lingered between them. She would ensure she won this round, by any means necessary.