A/N: I don't own Harry Potter

This is for the Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry

Assignment #2 Astronomy Task Two, Stars twinkle because of the turbulence in their atmosphere: Write a fic set during a storm (please note that the storm must be significant and not just a passing mention)

Word Count 421

Warning: mentions of war, PTSD

The wind pounded the trees, slamming them back and forth. The rain was nearly blinding, a watery curtain blocking anything that got in its path. It was on this night, this night when everyone was hunkered down, safe in their dorms, in their homes, that she dared venture down to his chambers. She knew he would be there. He was always there.

"Severus?" she whispered, knocking on the door.

"Go away," he called. She ignored him and unlocked the door stepping inside. The room was dimly lit, with just the fireplace providing light.

"Severus, me going away isn't going to do much, if anything for the mood you're in. I know the storm's getting to you."

"Every lightning flash, every thunder clap... it's like I'm back there, Hermione. The war ended for everyone but me," he whispered. She walked over to him.

"I know. I'm back there too, I swear I see their faces in rain, I hear their screams in the howling winds."

"We won the war, Hermione. We won, but at what price?"

"I don't know, honestly I don't know," Hermione answered. "At least you don't have to face it alone," she said, giving him a slight smile. He nodded.

"Severus, the storm will pass. Tomorrow might be a good day, didn't the therapist talk about good days, how they're something to treasure, look forward to?" she asked, knowing she'd heard the same words over and over. She hadn't been on the front lines as long as Severus had, she hadn't nearly lost her life. She had suffered in other ways, she still suffered from the nightmares, the terrors that haunted her every waking moment. Severus being here was one of the few things that made things better, not that she'd admit it to him. She knew she did the same for him, knew her coming down here, being with him as the storm howled outside, was one of the few things keeping him in the present, keeping him grounded.

"The storm will pass," he repeated slowly, pausing between each word, sounding as if he didn't believe them.

"Good, now, how about we each have a cup of cocoa, do the word puzzle in the latest issue of the weekly paper, and try to stay here and now?" she suggested.

"Fine, but I get first pick of the clues," he stated. She smiled, gave his hand a slight squeeze.

"I wouldn't have it any other way," she stated, heading off the the small kitchenette in Severus' set of suites.