Harry Potter Halloween Collection Prompt: (weather) thunder and lightning storm
Sirius heard the storm coming long before it hit, the distant rumble of thunder more audible to him in the stillness of the night. Marlene was fast asleep beside him, undisturbed by the noise. He watched her as she slept, lightning flashes illuminating her face more and more frequently as the storm approached.
She stirred as the first rain drops pattered against the window. He could hear the wind picking up and the thunder had now turned into deep, house-shaking rumbles. This was going to be quite the storm.
"Sirius?" Marlene whispered, a note of anxiety in her voice. "Are you awake?"
"Mhm," he said. "Everything alright?" She snuggled against him in response, burying her head in his chest. Something was obviously wrong, but he couldn't figure out what. Maybe she'd had a bad dream? Or maybe...
"Are you afraid of thunderstorms?" he wondered aloud as he put an arm around her. While he had been friends with Marlene for years, there was still a lot he didn't know about her. Something he planned to remedy now that they'd become far more than friends.
"Um...a little." Her voice was shaky. He could feel her trembling. "I never liked them as a child. I always assumed I'd outgrow it, but I haven't. I'm kind of embarrassed about it, especially right now."
Sirius kissed the top of her head. "Embarrassed? Just because I know what you're afraid of now? Please, you'll laugh when you hear what I'm afraid of."
"And what's that?" she asked, pushing away from him enough to be able to look up at his face.
"Fleas."
Marlene giggled. "Sorry, but it is funny."
"Told you you'd laugh." He pulled her close again and smiled. She was still shaking, but not as much as before.
They lay awake as the storm raged on outside. She occasionally jumped at the sound of the thunder or when the lightning seemed to be striking very close by. Whenever this happened, he would squeeze her and whisper reassuringly in her ear.
As the storm began to fade, he felt her finally relax. Her breathing became slower and shallower as she fell asleep once more. Not wanting to disturb her and enjoying the feel of her in his arms, Sirius held her as she slept. I could get used to this, he thought, just before he too drifted off to sleep.