Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter. Harry Potter and all other series characters are the property of J.K. Rowling (Goddess Esquire), and are not my intellectual property. There is no financial gain made from this nor will any be sought. This is for entertainment purposes only.

Title: The Lightning Strike

Category: Harry Potter

Pairing: BWHG

Genre: Drama/Romance

Rating: M (Language, Suicidal Allusions, Sexual Situations)

Summary: After the war, demiwolf Bill Weasley, struggling to come to terms with the loss of his beloved wife, gets an unexpected visitor at his doorstep during the full moon who had no choice but to turn to him as her only ally. BWHG

The Lightning Strike: Chapter I

A bright flash of lightning illuminated the bare guest room as Bill paced back and forth in the small room. The three long scars that marred the left side of his face started to tingle in anticipation of the full moon pushing his anxiety to unprecedented levels.

It was strangely poetic that it would storm so violently on this full moon, the first Bill was spending without his wife. His poor beloved Fleur didn't make it through the Battle of Hogwarts, one of the many souls lost that night fighting for a future that hey would never ultimately get to see.

They knew the risks of fighting with the Order. It's why they got married as soon as they could. But he always thought it would have been him if anything happened, that he would have been there to protect her above all else. If only he hadn't gotten caught up in that wild goose chase for Greyback during the battle, maybe he could have stopped Rodolphus Lestrange from killing his wife.

He could feel in his soul when the full moon rose. A shiver ran down his spine as he ripped the leather string from out of his hair causing his long red locks to fall down around his face. Tears began to stream down as he pictured his Fleur laying on the stone floor of Hogwarts next to his brother, Fred. His hands ran up into his hair, gripping it by the roots, as the pain washed over him harder than ever before. His beautiful Fleur, ever radiant even in death, laying expressionless in her coffin just three weeks before flashed through his mind. Followed by George's face as his twin was buried right before his eyes. A low groan rippled through Bill's chest as he crumbled upon himself in his grief.

It should have been you. It should have been you.

The words kept being whispered to him in his mind by his inner wolf. Bill began to hyperventilate as all the emotions he'd been feeling in the past month overcame him like a tsunami wave. He exploded with a tortured howl before he began to sprint out of the small bedroom, down the steps, and towards the small kitchen at the back of the cottage. The rain poured down even harder upon the roof of the house, sounding like a thundering crescendo of drums, as Bill pulled out the largest knife from the block on the counter.

Another flash of lightning illuminated the dark house causing Bill to catch a glimpse of his distorted appearance in the metal blade of the knife. His breathing was heavy as he looked at the bright yellow eyes that looked right back at him. He began to shake with anger as he looked at what he is without her. What he's going to surely become if-

Loud thumps began to echo through the cottage over the noise of the storm. Startled, Bill dropped the knife, effectively cutting his palm open as it fell. Bill gave a sharp howl in pain as the loud thumps continued over the noise of the storm. His ears perked up towards the front door as he heard a tortured feminine voice screaming his name. "Bill please! Open up! Please! Please!"

Bill breathed in the air around him hoping to pick up the woman's scent but, thanks to the storm, all he could pick up was the sea salt from the ocean and fresh rain. The woman's voice kept going, sounding more and more pained, as she continued to hit the door. Bill grabbed his wand from his back pocket as he slowly stalked closer to the door. "Who is it?" He growled out in a yell.

"Hermione!"

Bill immediately dropped his wand and sprinted the rest of the way. The door was thrown fully open by the wind once Bill unlocked it. The young witch in front of him instantly crashed down on the floor as the surface that was supporting her disappeared. Bill could clearly hear the sobs over the thunder as they tore through her body. She was soaking wet. Her curly hair was flattened down to soggy clumps as her drenched jeans and jumper were sticking straight to her body. Bill kneeled down in front of her as he began to pet her hair, hoping to calm her down. "Hermione, are you hurt? Are you okay?" He frantically asked as he pulled the girl up.

"No," she sobbed as she clung onto Bill. "I need your help." She lifted her heavy head and immediately made eye contact with him. All the air left Bill's body as he looked into her bloodshot eyes and saw that they glowed the same yellow as his own.

Author's Note: If anyone is interested in knowing, the title comes from Snow Patrol's amazing song "The Lightning Strike". If you listen to it, I recommend listening to the version with all 3 parts of the song included! It speaks volumes.

A huge thank you to UnseenLibrarian, who is graciously let me borrow some elements about werewolves from her story "Twice in a Blue Moon" (which I totally recommend for any Bill/Hermione fans).

Another big thank you to both siriusbarks for betaing and fanfictionfan1990 for pre-reading and letting me bounce ideas off of you. This story is better because of you!

If any readers are interested, I'm looking for pre-readers/betas for my new Fred/Hermione multi-chapter story. It's about halfway done and will need readers once I finish (I only start posting stories when they're finished). If you're interested please either comment or PM me!

Tune in tomorrow for the next chapter! The story is finished so I'll be posting a chapter a day. (The chapter's will usually be longer than this.)

If you liked it please favorite, comment, or share with others! Any comments/reviews are welcomed.

Felix Felicis With A Twist