SSHG 21 for the drabble asks please
The road in front of them seemed to stretch on for miles--at least, the part that she could see. Tall trees and an abundance of undergrowth were covered in a blanket of snow. It was beautiful, in a way.
And it was making Hermione sick.
Then it started raining. Despite the heat blasting through the carās vents, she was cold. Even her soul seemed frozen as she gazed out the window.
The tall trees werenāt strong and impressive--they were looming and terrifying. The underbrush wasnāt lush--it was dark and depressing. The snow wasnāt clean and white. Instead, there were just patches of fluff littering the forest floor.
The pouring rain blurred her view through the window and beat against the top of the car like battle cries.
She was in a forest in a tent. She was in a battle in a cavernous room. It all felt too real. Too similar. Too--
āPull over,ā Hermione said suddenly, shutting her eyes against the onslaught of memories.
Severusās voice was soft when he spoke. āItās alright, love. Weāll be out in the open in a moment.ā
āPull over.ā She repeated.
Thunder rolled, and it sounded like the crumbling of a stone building.
āI need. I need out. I need to--I needā¦ā
Her breathing sped up. Shallowed. She couldnāt breathe. There was too much happening. It was too dark, too familiar.
At her pleading, frantic voice, Severus slowly pulled the car over.
The only sounds that could be heard were her rushed breathing and the pounding rain.
And the rhythmic thud of the windshield wipers. It sounded like footsteps, like soldiers climbing stairs. Like--
Hermione clawed at the door handle, but it was locked.
āSeverus,ā she sobbed. āHermione.ā His tone was stern, commanding. āYouāre going to be okay.
Usually, the soothing sound of his voice could bring her out--bring her back to him, but it wasnāt working.
Hermione scrambled, clawing at the door until she managed to unlock the car. āPlease, Severus let me out. I need--I need to get out. I canāt--ā
Finally, finally, the door was open, and she was out of the car as fast as she could move.
Outside the confines of the car, the rain sounded like white noise instead of the blasting spells. The headlights illuminated the area enough to be soothing.
The drops on her skin managed to warm her despite the cold temperatures.
āHermione?ā Severus called out. āLet me conjure an umbrella or cast a covering charm or--ā
āYouāll catch a cold, love.ā
āNo.ā She said again. āI--I want to feel it.ā
Severusās look was skeptical, but there was a fondness in his eyes. āWeāre in the middle of a thunderstorm and you want to stop and feel the rain?ā
A few moments later, she felt a wave of a warming charm wash over her.