Constant Rain

Constant Rain Ch 2 - “The Coldness that Grips”

“Look not mournfully into the past. It comes not back again. Wisely improve the present. Go forth to meet the shadowy future, without fear.”
- Henry Wadsworth Longfellow


Seattle: Present day.

It was cold, bitterly cold for this time of year. It was the kind of cold that grips you and squeezes until you cry out for mercy.

Hermione couldn’t remember feeling this cold in a long time, not since…. She shook her head and drew her heavy, wool coat tighter around her shivering body. The bus stop was crowded at this time of the morning, people sipping on coffee or the occasional caffeine-laden energy drink all huddled together as they waited for the large, blue bus that would take them to their respective destinations. Some were students, or businessmen and women, all desperately trying to wake up and keep warm on this freezing morning.

She didn’t want to remember that time, a time when every day felt like her last, a time when Ron would joke with her even when they faced perils day in and day out. It was all too painful, too fresh a wound. But on this bitterly cold morning she couldn’t help but drift off and remember that time, that impossibly long year, at the end of which she would know all too well the feeling of loss and sorrow.


February – 1998 – Godric\'s Hollow

Hermione shivered as the rain pelted down. The fire that blazed did nothing to warm her chilled bones and judging from the complaints and chattering teeth of her comrades, they were also suffering from the lack of warmth.

“It’s finally done,” Harry said in a low, sad voice.

“If only it were that easy,” Ron mumbled, rubbing his hands together.

Harry looked conflicted. They had just destroyed Godric Gryffindor’s wand, the fifth known Horcrux. What should have been a celebration was a solemn affair as the trio took stock of their situation.
All of the Horcruxes had been destroyed, save two. Over the summer, Harry, Ron and Hermione along with members of the Order, had destroyed the locket that was found at 12 Grimmauld Place, and had discovered what the fifth and sixth Horcruxes were.

Gryffindor’s wand was surprisingly easy to find. The Ministry of Magic had a section devoted to artefacts and after explaining their need to find the wand to the official, they were granted access. The wand had been moved there from Hogwarts after Voldemort regained his power. The Ministry feared that he would try to destroy it if he ever found it, if they only knew.

They had always suspected that Harry might be the sixth Horcrux, but they were never sure until Remus had come staggering into an Order meeting one night, telling them all that Voldemort was bragging about how Harry had a part of his soul in him. At first, they were sceptical of the information. Remus had heard all of this second hand from Fenrir Greyback during a fight, which made everyone question if it was just Fenrir trying to bait Remus. But the more everyone thought about it and remembered all the times that Harry seemed to be connected with Voldemort, it became clear that what Remus heard was true. They had all tried to come up with a plan, anything that would prevent Harry from having to die in order to destroy the Dark wizard, but in the end they had nothing.

“If only Dumbledore was here. He would probably have a plan.” Ron said in almost a whisper.

Hermione held her breath, awaiting the explosion that was inevitable. Harry had always got upset when someone mentioned Dumbledore, going into a fit of rage, cursing Snape and vowing retribution. So it was a shock when Harry just stared numbly into the fire.

“It wouldn’t matter. He knew of the Horcruxes and I think he suspected that one might be me, but he had no clue how to destroy Voldemort without killing me in the process or he would have told me.” Harry closed his eyes, a lone tear falling down his face. “Fucking Snape!” He didn’t shout the curse, but the intensity and barely controlled fury in his voice was palpable.

Hermione walked closer to him, wrapping her arms around his lean frame, offering the only comfort she could. Ron came to him as well, hugging him from the other side.

“I don’t want to die.” Harry was almost crying by now, his words coming out choked.

Neither Ron nor Hermione said anything. For what could be said when you knew the inevitable was coming? They just held him as his body shook, the tears of his lost youth spilling onto his tattered robes.

_____________________________________________________________________________________________

Seattle – Present Day

Hermione wiped a stray tear from her eyes as she stepped off the bus. She had gone for so long without thinking about that moment. Why did she have to remember it now?
She shook her head as she made her way to work. She had to keep a clear head today. She had heard that there was going to be a new addition to her staff, a supposed specialist in a similar field. She pushed the painful memories aside as she stepped through the glass doors of Seattle Genetics, a ready smile on her face as she greeted the receptionist.

“Morning, Gigi. Any messages for me?”

“Just one, Dr. Granger. Dr. Rhoades wanted me to remind you of the staff meeting at eight.” Gigi replied, handing her a small piece of paper.

“Thanks, Gigi.” Hermione said, taking the paper and heading to the lab.

Hermione reached her lab and switched the lights on. She felt the familiar space soothe her rattled nerves. The microscopes and steel tables all gleamed under the fluorescent lighting, as welcome to her as a warm quilt. Ginny never understood why she had chosen this career path. She often scoffed that Muggle genetics research was inferior to magical study. Hermione never told her the real reason why she chose this particular field after Voldemort was destroyed. Ginny believed what she had told her, she wanted to take advantage of Muggle science to find cures for some of the nastier Dark curses that were thrown during the final battle. And in a way, that was the truth. The magical world was stumped by curses like Cruciatus, with many of the victims going insane in St. Mungo\'s.

Hermione didn’t understand why she never told Ginny the truth. Maybe she just didn’t want the pity that was sure to follow news that one of your parents had cancer. She had told Ron once right after she found out; he never looked at her the same after that.

Setting her bag down in her office, she reached up to the hook on the back of the door. Pulling her lab coat on, she grabbed her clipboard from her desk and made her way to the director’s office.

_____________________________________________________________________________________________


“Severus…please….”

“Noooo!” Severus shouted as he woke up.

His breathing was irregular, sweat covering most of his body. The sheets were soaked in it, making him shiver in the cold morning.

It wasn’t the first time he had re-lived that horrid moment from his past, but every time he did, it got worse. Every time the details would be clearer, the blue in Albus’s eyes would be brighter, the voice in his head screaming ‘No’ would be louder. This time he swore he could feel the heavy weight of his wand in his hand. It almost burned when he cast the final curse.

Tossing the covers aside, he slipped out of bed, wincing when his feet hit the cold hardwood. He made his way to the bathroom pausing to glare at his reflection in the mirror. He was grateful the blasted piece of glass wasn’t enchanted. He didn’t need anyone else telling him how awful he looked. Raking his hand through his greasy hair, he took a good hard look. His eyes were hollow, his face gaunt. The lines around his eyes seemed to go on forever. He didn’t even know who he was anymore, not that he ever did. Stepping away from the mirror, he stripped out of his pyjama bottoms and turned on the shower.

His first day of work was today, one small, bright spot in a tunnel of dark. Stepping under the scalding water, he tried to forget his dream, all the while knowing it was useless


_____________________________________________________________________________________________

A/N: To Hells my beta reader...Thank you!

All reviews are welcome...even flames.