Chapter 16
The next morning brought with it the first Christmas day in years Hermione had spent relaxed. She had woken their quiet home. The sound of the waves crashing gently upon the sand washed in through the cracked window. The bright morning sunshine was filtering through the drawn curtains illuminating the naked back of a finally peacefully sleeping Storm beside her.
The prospect of staying in their pajamas all day and curling up with nothing else to do but whatever it was they actually wanted to was something Hermione was truly looking forward to. She found herself rolling over fully to face the younger witch still sprawled out on her stomach, snoring quietly to herself. She reached out to touch warm skin with the tips of her fingers, dragging them across the exposed skin of the Shifter's ribs gently.
The decision to stay with Storm and spend it just the two of them had been made long before, and it had been such an easy decision to make. She had been invited to the Weasley's as usual, but when she had asked if Storm would be going this year the Shifter had politely declined. Before she had found out the younger woman's parents had perished during the battle, she figured she had spent all holidays with them and that's why she hadn't encountered her.
When she had quizzed her about what she normally did during Christmas, Storm had just shrugged and sighed a heavy sigh. She had explained that she used to spend Christmas with Joe and Cho, until Cho had gotten married and the husband had made a fuss. She had just muttered that she had just gotten pizza for herself and watched films on her own for the past seven years.
The thought had made Hermione's heart clench so tightly. She had had no idea that that's how things had been for the Shifter, and had vowed to ensure that would change. She would make sure she was never alone again.
They had set up a little Christmas tree in the living room and adorned it with colourful lights and a few ornaments Storm had come home with. Hermione had enchanted a santa hat to sing Christmas songs, and they had laid out a few other little bits to go with the meagre decorations. Hermione had also conjured three stockings to hang above the fireplace, something Storm had been more than happy about.
She moved to press a tender kiss to the Shifter's cheek before yawn took her lips as she finally made to move from beneath the sheets keeping her so nice and warm. Sliding herself from under them as she pushed herself off their large bed slowly. Moving carefully and quietly as she pulled on her robe and made her way from the room. Shutting the door behind her with a quiet click as she went.
Her first stop was her own office, the glass door creaking lowly as she pushed it open and stepped into the room. The morning sun filtering into the space, illuminating the entire area in the rising sun's warm glow. She set to work quickly, pulling the gifts from where they were hidden in her desk all wrapped in plain brown paper. As she made her way back out to the living room, she was surprised to find there was already an assortment of gifts tucked safely under the tree. She wondered then when Storm had had the opportunity to place them there.
A small smile tugged at her lips as she sighed to herself, her mind already pulling itself back to the Shifter still sleeping soundly not far away. She had woken a few more times in the night, her skin coated with a slick layer of sweat and her face paler than Hermione was sure she'd ever seen before. There was no colour in her normally pink cheeks, and her dark irises were bottomless in the dim light of her room, empty as if she was looking through her entirely. She had been nothing short of haunted, and the cause of it was entirely unknown.
Hermione had wondered if there had been something she had picked up on during the party that had sent her mind into overdrive. She wondered if there had been something her keen senses had clocked onto that nobody else had seen. There was something about just how insightful Storm could be that was slightly scary, and Hermione had soon grown to trust her judgement.
It had been bizarre; she had never seen the younger woman look so terrified. Not even during their encounter back in the actual war had Storm looked so afraid. She had been injured badly; Hermione knew that much but hadn't really ever asked about just how badly. She figured there were no scars she could see where she knew the Shifter to have been hurt so had brushed it off.
Though, there were small scars along her face from where the wall had exploded, so she knew there was some evidence of her injuries. The fact nothing big marred her skin, nothing to even suggest she had ever been grievously wounded was quite strange. Not even scars from the most brutal games of quidditch were visible along pale flesh. She wondered briefly if Storm could shift in a way that hid her injuries and wounds. She made a mental note to ask her later, and went about making a small breakfast for the both of them.
She wanted to leave Storm sleep for as long as possible, though that had seemed a little fruitless as she heard footsteps on the stairs. The wood creaking and groaning under the weight of her girlfriend as she made her way towards the kitchen knowing that's where Hermione would be. It was something that was practiced, a part of their routine that had been solidified over the short amount of time that they were together.
The Shifter soon entering the kitchen, her hands balled into fists as she rubbed at her tired eyes. Her skin was still pale in the bright morning light and there were deep dark circles that rimmed her bloodshot eyes as she finally looked up. Hermione was grateful to see the brightness behind dark irises return, leaving the gaunt, depthless look behind with the nightmares that had ravaged her in the night.
"Bed is nowhere near as comfortable without you" Storm muttered sadly as she moved to press her front to Hermione's back as the brunette stirred their hot drinks. Strong arms wrapping themselves around her waist before her nose nuzzled into the mane of brunette curls. Seeking solace in all that was Hermione, allowing herself to be so entirely enveloped by the older witch who had been such a pillar of strength for her during the night. Her chest heaving as she inhaled the scent of the older woman's shampoo, a small smile already tugging its way across pink lips.
"You should have stayed up there, I was coming back with breakfast" Hermione spoke quietly, turning in the younger woman's arms. A warm, worried smile taking her features entirely as she moved to lean back against the countertop, the surface pressing into the small of her back. Her fingers moved to thread into the longer hairs at the nape of Storm's neck, holding fast as the younger woman hummed into the sensitive skin of her neck. Her hot breath sending a shiver down the older witch's spine.
"I'm sorry it was such a bad night Hermione." Storm muttered quietly, though she made no move to pull away for a moment. "That guy at the start of the party wasn't right, he really unsettled me and I don't even know why. You don't spend a lot of time working with him, do you?" The younger woman explained as she pulled away, a darkness clouding her eyes as she met Hermione's own. Her lips quirked down in a little frown as her eyebrows pulled together, the look of total concern taking her features.
"I recognized him from somewhere, I'm sure of it. I just don't know where from" She added quietly, her fingers moving to play with the tie of Hermione's robe absently. Her eyes fluttering shut for a moment as the brunette drug her nails gently down the back of her neck and across her tense shoulder's before dipping down to sneak into the back pockets of her shorts.
"Hardly any at all, besides meetings and things like that I'm mostly tucked away in my office on my own." Hermione reassured the younger woman. She hadn't ever known Storm to dislike anyone, not really and this intensity that had come after the meeting was unsettling in itself. There was something about the whole thing she really couldn't quite put her finger on that had unease rippling through her very being.
"Storm, can you hide your scars?" Hermione questioned then as she thought back on her theory, the little white scars littered across the younger woman's sharp cheek and jaw bringing the notion back to her. She was curious by what exactly the woman before her could and couldn't do, and living with the Shifter always seemed to bring up new questions about her kind.
"I can once the wounds are entirely healed. Injuries will just transfer bodies though" The shifter spoke a little absently as she reached past the older woman to grab her coffee from the side. Pulling the mug to her lips before pausing to inhale the strong scent of the beverage. Hermione made her coffee perfectly, and she had resigned herself to the fact she would never know how.
"Will you show me?" The brunette asked, dark eyes moving to rake themselves over pale skin exposed by the Shifter's lack of clothing. A long t-shirt hanging from quidditch worked shoulders, and a pair of dark grey boxers the only things actually on her body. Hermione figured that was quite a lot for the younger woman, and almost laughed to herself.
Storm seemed to think for a moment, concentration pulling at her features as her own dark eyes illuminated by the brightness of the room made to glance down to her own body. "If you want me to. I mean, it's only really the ones from the Carrows and then the battle I have, apart from the glass wounds from the fight a month and a bit ago" Storm muttered as she moved to set her mug back down on the marble surface behind the brunette.
She lifted the sleeve of her t-shirt up and over past her shoulder to expose the skin there. Briefly the area seemed to stretch and move, and then there was a deep scar emerging. A wide gouge that spanned from the very tips of her collar bone out and back across the entirety of the one side. The deep gash having once been carved into flesh all those years ago. Hermione's eyes went wide then, fingers moving to trace the old wound softly, dipping in a little as it seemed to get deeper before getting shallower once again. She had only seen the blood and ruined robes; she hadn't ever seen the wound itself.
Storm's own fingers dropped then to lift the hem of her shorts up as far as they would go. Her dark eyes avoiding the sympathetic stare she was now being given, unable to really stomach the thought's they evoked. She moved to twist herself in just the right way in order to show the brunette the wound on her leg that was not so dissimilar from the one across her shoulder. The flesh there torn, ripped and sloppily stitched back together. Though the scars were no longer angry and purple like they once had been, they were now a light pink and Storm figured they were as good as they'd get.
"Not so sexy" She laughed a little, though the heaviness in her voice told Hermione it was something that Storm wasn't really that happy about. She knew it was an insecurity for her, otherwise she wouldn't keep them hidden. Storm was bold, and confident and so unapologetic that something like this was actually quite shocking.
"Are these what were bleeding when we ran into each other?" Hermione questioned, more guilt welling up at the sight of just how bad the wounds must have been to leave such gaping scars marred into smooth skin. She hadn't even offered to try and help heal the younger woman, she hadn't even tried to pull her towards the Great Hall for help. She hadn't stopped her from running off, knowing she was leaving a trail of blood along the flagstone floor as she went.
"Yeah, the Death Eaters that had me pinned in that hallway had a thing for cutting hexes. I barely escaped with my head." She started to explain with a laugh, though there was no humor there. "When you found me, I was honestly not sure how I was going to get out of it without shifting." She clarified, shaking her head a little as she pulled away to grab her coffee once again, her skin covered and morphed back to hide the old injuries. There was a small smile pulling at her lips, and Hermione figured she was just putting on a brave face.
"When Cho found me, she tried to heal the wounds with a spell and it stopped the bleeding but that's about it" Storm explained around the rim of her mug, watching as Hermione's dark eyes shone with something she couldn't quite place. It seemed that her dreams hadn't only disturbed her, but they had woken something in the brunette also. "I'm pretty sure I've never bled so much in my life" she stated simply, her shoulders shrugging a little dismissively. "But it's Christmas, let's not talk about this" She added as an afterthought.
"We have presents to open" Hermione added quietly, content with leaving the conversation there for a while. Storm did have a point, there would be plenty of time later on to discuss these things. Though she couldn't quite stop her keen mind from going back over all the information she had been given.
"I love presents!" Storm quipped happily, her deep dark eyes finally brightening up as her entire demeanor changed. "I hope you like yours" She added as she pushed herself away from the older woman to let her past, following close behind as Hermione led them into the living room.
"I'm sure I'll love them all." Hermione replied with confidence, her own smile wide as she turned to look over her shoulder for just a second. "When did you even have time to get up and set them out?" She questioned then; her features twisted up with genuine curiosity.
"I didn't. I set them out while you were getting ready and put a disillusionment charm on them. I lifted it on our way upstairs last night." Storm quipped; the smirk she was wearing quite proud as she explained what she had done. Large hands moving to run through dark hair that was stuck up in all directions, still mussed from sleep.
"Well, that's actually really clever" Hermione praised, her eyebrows raised in surprise. She hadn't really ever thought about that part. She moved then to settle herself cross legged on the floor beside the tree in order to hand out the gifts to the younger woman. Cup of tea left to steam on the floor beside her.
"It was how we did it when Joe was a kid and they stayed here for Christmas" Storm clarified quite happily, her dark eyes sparkling with pride as she grinned a slightly lopsided grin. "He would always get so excited for Santa, and honestly that's the best thing to watch" She added with a laugh, shaking her head a little as she reached to rub the back of her neck.
"Ah, I never really considered what it would be like with children" Hermione added, though her voice sounded a little excited. "I suppose all these little tricks may come in handy soon" She added as an afterthought. Dark eyes meeting Storm's growing brighter still, the younger woman's smile growing exponentially as she considered what Hermione's words may mean.
"I do have my uses" Storm laughed then, slipping off the sofa to settle herself cross legged with Hermione on the floor. Reaching out to take one of the gifts wrapped with Ginny's help for the older woman to hand it to her. "Come on then, the suspense is absolutely killing me" She added, her smile never faltering.
"You have absolutely no patience, do you?" Hermione laughed then, though she knew her words weren't actually that correct. Storm was probably one of the most patient people when it came to things that mattered. Something she was more than grateful for. She was pretty confident Storm's patience was the only reason they were sat exactly where they were and their relationship was still thriving after the mess she had made.
They both got stuck in quite happily, taking turns to open their things from the other. Storm's pile of Quidditch themed paraphernalia growing with each gift she opened. Hermione's own pile of books, muggle films, and stationary all embossed with her initials sat to one side of the tree. Storm just smirked when she pointed out her initials wouldn't change even if she decided to take her name, something she seemed quite amused by. Dark irises twinkling as they reflected the warm lights from the tree.
"I think this is already one of the best Christmases I've had in a long time" Storm spoke as she finally pushed herself up from where she had perched on the floor. Making to move and set the television up with a DVD she had chosen. Hermione settled on the sofa as she worked, aiming her wand at the fireplace to ignite a small hovering blue burning flame.
By the time she was done, Storm was settling comfortable beside her. Stretching long limbs out as a yawn took her features for just a second before situating herself along the edge of the cushions. Quite satisfied by the fact Hermione was pressed so tightly to her side. The morning had already been a long one, and she was truly exhausted by the previous night's events.
"Well, I should bloody hope so." Hermione added, though there was no mirth in her tone. Even with the heavy start, and bad night she too wouldn't opt to change anything about the day so far. It was much different to any Christmas she had experienced herself. Normally by this point she would be surrounded by every Weasley there was.
That wasn't really a bad thing in itself but, she always found she would need time off after her time off. There was never a dull moment at the Burrow, not ever did the household just stop. It was constantly alive with some kind of noise. With thoughts of the Burrow came thoughts of whether or not her experiences would have differed if Storm had gone to every Christmas she had been invited to.
"You're in your own head again Hermione" Storm's voice came from the Shifter's place next to her, quiet and calm. Dark, keen eyes trained on her as she adjusted herself a little where she sat.
"I was just thinking about how much time we could have actually had together if you'd have come to the Weasley's every time you were invited" Hermione admitted quietly then, her voice hushed as she spoke.
"I mean, it wouldn't have mattered really Hermione. Nothing would have changed; You were with Ron and I would never have done anything or insinuated anything while that was the case." Storm spoke again, leaning in to press a kiss to the top of the older witch's head. The task quite easy to do considering the brunette had tucked her head under her chin as soon as she had settled down. Dark curls tickling her jaw as the older woman lent up to return the kiss, pressing her lips to the Shifter's pulse point.
"Do you think we should invite them all to the wedding? I mean, I only want a small wedding but they're like family to me; even still." Hermione quizzed then; her dark doe like eyes fixed to Storm's profile as the younger woman paid attention to the screen now flickering with light. She had no idea what film was even selected, something to do with an elf that had some kind of maple syrup addiction.
Though, Storm seemed to find it absolutely hilarious, chuckling to herself every now and again as it played on. Hermione found she was glad for the lightness that had taken over the younger witch. The dark, troubled shadow finally lifted as the day had gone on. She had been worried their night would have ruined the day, but found that most definitely wasn't the case at all.
"I think we should. They've always been really kind to me, and Ginny has been the only constant in my life since even before my parents were killed." Storm clarified, a small smile took her features, twisting her lips up at the corners as she flicked her attention away from the screen to answer the question. "Cho picked Joe's godparents, but if we do have kids, I'd like Harry and Ginny to be their godparents." She added a little absently as she played with a stray brunette curl, her eyes already trained on the screen once again.
"That sounds reasonable, I don't see why we couldn't do that" Hermione spoke as she thought on the Shifter's words, barely watching the film herself. The lack of sleep finally catching up and settling heavily over her eyelids. The dim light of the room coming from the little lights on the Christmas tree twinkling away in the corner and the soothing warmth from the fire still crackling somewhere off to the side setting the tone.
"Storm" Hermione started, her fingers tracing small circles against the fabric of Storm's t-shirt at her chest. Her head resting so comfortable against the Shifter's shoulder, her heartbeat audibly thumbing away beneath her touch from this position. "Do you think the end of February is an achievable target for the wedding?" she questioned then, curling further into the warmth the younger woman provided, pressing herself tightly to the larger body holding her in just the right way.
"I have no idea Hermione, I've only ever been to like four wedding's before" Storm replied simply, "But we can try for then if that's what you'd like. I'm sure if we're keeping it small, we can have it all sorted before then" Her voice was quiet as she spoke, lips finding the top of Hermione's head as she moved to press a gentle kiss to dark curls. Inhaling the calming scent of Hermione's shampoo as she traced her own little patterns at the small of the shorter woman's back.
"I'd like that" Hermione stated, her delicate features twisted up with delight. "I mean, we're not getting any younger, are we?" The older woman quipped with a small chuckle to herself. She had after all just turned thirty-two in the September just gone.
"Oi, speak for yourself! I'm still as sprightly as ever I'll have you know." Storm retorted a little cockily, her lips tugged up into a sly smirk as she twisted to shoot the older woman a teasing glance. "It's not my fault you're ancient" She added, teasing the woman beside her so happily.
"Hey! I'll remember you said that!" Hermione retorted indignantly, smacking the younger woman's chest gently as she did so. "You weren't saying that a few nights ago!" She quipped; a coy smile tugged at her lips as she lent in to drag them teasingly down the exposed column of Storm's throat. Her ears strained as she picked up on the low grumble and gentle sigh that she had pulled from the younger woman's chest.
Before they could get any further, a deafening shrieking noise was filling the entire room and Storm was launching herself off the sofa with reflexes Hermione didn't even know she had. "What is that?!" She yelled over the blaring noise, dark eyes watching as Storm went to a window to draw back a curtain in order to peak out.
"Those are my wards!" The younger woman replied quickly, spinning on heel in order to move towards another window to try and get a better look at the grounds surrounding their home. Her wand already in hand, motioning to shut the noise off. Ears shifting to sit straight up towards the ceiling, rotating as she strained against the silence to hear what might have set her barriers off.
"They've never been set off before! Nobody that I don't want here should be able to get to this house!" She called, her voice much quieter this time, laced entirely with suspicion. She whipped around quickly to stare at the brunette who was now on her feet, her own wand drawn and at the ready for whatever was to come. She moved to transfigure her robe, altering it to something much more substantial just in case something was to happen.
Her next thought firmly on summoning her beaded bag with all her emergency things still tucked away within, curls swishing as she turned to watch it soar through the air from their room. Her own ears strained against the silence; eyes wide as they watched Storm stalk across the room quietly. Her shoulders visibly bunched as her ears continued to twitch and rotate.
"There are three people I don't recognise. I can hear them" Storm whispered as she held her pointer finger up to her pink lips, dark eyes narrowed impossibly as Hermione moved to her side. Her own instincts kicking into hyperdrive as her keen mind worked through what exactly was going on. She could feal her heartbeat in her throat, throbbing away almost painfully as the feeling of cold dread washed over her.
Storm's fingers wrapped around her wrist gently but firmly, grounding the brunette beside her. Her skin warm to the touch as she pulled the shorter woman behind her larger frame. "Stay close to me" Hermione whispered as she watched Storm's face morph, dark fur sprouting from her nose as it became more of a snout. Her skin at the tip changing into something that was much more leathery looking as her nostrils flared.
Just as Storm went to move again, a silvery light swam through the open kitchen door and into the living room. The light changing into a Stag until it stood proudly before them, large antlers pointing directly towards the ceiling. They both stared at the Patronus, wide eyed and surprised by its sudden appearance. Hermione's fingers tightening to grip white knuckled at Storm's wrist, her breath catching in her chest as Harry's voice came a moment later.
"Hermione! They're coming! They're here!" Was all it said. His voice strained and audibly filled with panic. It was almost entirely drowned out by noise of some sort of battle going on in the background. The stag lingered for a moment before disappearing into a mist, leaving the room around them much duller than it had been moments before. The warning ringing out, deafening them as they looked to each other for a brief second. Wild dark doe eyes connected for just a second with Storm's own, now glowing bright red like beacons in the dim light of the room.
Before either could make a sound, make a move or decide what to do a blast ripped through half of their home. The spell sending glass and wood exploding into the space like small missiles, ripping through any exposed skin so easily. Shaking the very foundations that held the walls in place, threatening to have the entire building collapsing around them both. Another blast, and a deafening boom met their ears before more glass and spells were flying through the space, lighting up the room in a multitude of bright colours.
Storm was grabbed and pulled behind the sofa by the t-shirt, ducking as green light whizzed overhead and shouting from their assailants filtered through from where the kitchen had stood. Hermione could feel her heart hammering so solidly against the inside of her ribcage as she swallowed heavily before unleashing her own reign of attack on the people who dare threaten their peace. The tip of her wand alight with her own barrage of spells as she peaked out from behind the sofa.
Before she could register what exactly was happening, Storm was shifting beside her. Her body changing again and becoming something much bigger, something much more terrifying. Something, Hermione was sure if she had been during the battle before nothing much would have been left in her wake. Her eyes had grown a deeper red, menacing as she stood finally to shake and stretch out thick sinewy muscles visible so clearly as they flexed under dark scales.
An earth-shattering roar escaped her throat as flames erupted from her nostrils and behind huge jaws brimming with teeth sharper than any sword she'd ever seen. The missile of fire engulfing all that was in its path with no mercy, savaging anything the flames licked at. Dark eyes grew wide as she shielded herself behind the sofa, far away from the danger of the flames. She watched as huge talon like claws dug themselves into their wooden floor, tearing it up where she stood as she braced herself against the sheer power of the blast.
Screams rang out as the smell of burning met her nose, acrid and strong as it filled the air around them. It lasted but a moment before Storm was staggering back, shifting completely back down into her much smaller human frame. An arrogant smirk already twisting her features up for a moment before she cast her eyes down towards the brunette. "BBQ?" She laughed as the entire room grew quiet once again, eyes so entirely wild with something Hermione had never seen before. She looked liberated, satisfied with the outcome.
"Storm!" The brunette yelled, unsure if she really believed what had just happened or if she could bring herself to be angry at the woman who had so readily dispatched those threatening them. She peaked up from her hiding place behind the seat, her dark eyes growing impossibly wide as she took in the scene of utter carnage before her. The whole of the kitchen was missing, sheared from the rest of the house by the spells that had threatened the collapse of the entire home on top of them.
Bodies of their assailants still groaning in agony lay burnt in the sand, any skin that had been exposed blackened by the flame none of them had expected at all. Though, a second later her eyes were growing wide for another reason. She watched as if in slow motion as a cloaked, masked figure popped out from seemingly nowhere. Wand trained on Storm who was no longer paying attention to much except trying to put out the small fires still burning. A red spell hurtled through the air and slammed the Shifter square in the chest, sending her careening back and straight into a wall with a sickening thud.
Another spell followed it quickly leaving no time for any reaction at all, carving a huge chunk from the younger woman's ribs with a gut-wrenching rip as she had tried to right herself from the first. A yell of pain rang out as crimson blood began spilling liberally from the gaping wound, the younger woman falling to her back with a thud as both hands moved to press firmly to where she'd been hit, pale fingers immediately tainted red.
Hermione sprang into action as horror tore through her own body, jumping from her own place she turned on their last attacker. The tip of her wand alight as she reigned fury down on the masked man. Soon his body slumped against the floor, he was bound and gagged. Soft pops rang out then and Hermione paid them no attention as Harry's voice echoed through the fog that had settled over her keen mind.
She spun on heel, no longer concerned with what was going to happen to the masked figures that had come from nowhere to terrorize them in their own home. To ruin Christmas day, and potentially many more days to come. She moved quickly, closing the space between herself and the shifter now lying motionless on her back, entirely limp in an ever-growing pool of her own blood still seeping liberally from the open gash that had ravaged the pale skin along her side.
Her knees met the ground with a solid thud as she summoned their tartan blanket, untouched as if nothing had happened. Using the fabric to press to the younger woman's side, her grip firm as she held it in place in an attempt to stem the flow. "Storm" She called, her voice quietly breaking as the noise around them seemed to grow behind her once again, dark eyes scanning the younger woman's face that had drained of all colour.
Footsteps echoed and before she knew it Ginny was dropping down beside her, red hair tinged with dust and dirt. Her features marred already with flecks of blood, and small wounds she too had sustained from their own attack. Her light hazel eyes, tired and fed up met Hermione's as she watched the older woman closely for just a moment.
Another set of hands moved to hold Hermione's, moved to take her bloodied fingers and pressure away from the large hole that had been left in the Younger woman's side. Hermione made to snap at whoever it was who dared to try and move her away from the Shifter, dared to try and stop her from helping. But as dark doe like eyes took in the owner of the hands now holding a bandage coated in something glistening to the younger woman's wound, she found her argument dying in her throat.
"I sent her my Patronus as soon as I walked in here and saw Storm. She was here within seconds" Ginny explained, though Hermione's keen mind was a few steps behind. Her dark eyes moving to fix themselves to Storm's chest. Watching as it still fell up and down, as her breathing remained steady and even. The brunette's fingers moving to hold her wrist, discreetly pressing the pads of a few fingertips to her pulse point, feeling the steady thrum under her touch and allowing it to calm her substantially.
Her dark eyes brimmed with unshed tears that threatened to spill down her cheeks as she breathed deeply in a desperate attempt to calm herself. Cho nodded to her, a tight-lipped smile pulling at her lips as she got to work immediately "I can fix this" was the only thing she said, and Hermione believed her. She knew that Cho had done this before, she had seen the evidence just that morning of how the Scottish girl had saved the Shifter all those years ago. The thought of those jagged, messy scars triggering something in her keen mind, and she could feel her resolve stealing.
A low growl left her lips as she pushed herself up from the floor quickly, leaving the Shifter in capable hands of the two people she knew cared about her almost as much as she herself did. The suspicion welling in her mind dangerous as she found herself marching towards where the man that had taken Storm down was still lying unconscious. His mask still firmly in place as Aurors peered over him. Hermione soon knelt beside him, all but ripping his mask from his face to expose his features.
Features she had seen pretty much every day at the Ministry, features she had seen the night before paying far too much attention to the Shifter. Features that had set Storm off and triggered the worst night's sleep Hermione was sure she had ever experienced. The whole thing clicked into place as soon as dark eyes laid their gaze upon the face that had been that of nightmares for the Shifter.