The Calm before the Storm

Sorry it took so long updating, my best friends little sister was taken to the hospital and diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes and since were all like family I\'ve been rather distracted. I also apologise for if my next updates are kind of erratic. Forgive me?

\"Talking\"

Disclaimer: I don\'t own Harry Potter.

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Chapter 16 - Heat

“Albus I’m worried about Tempest,” Remus said from his chair in front of the old man’s desk.
“As am I,” Severus said from his spot by the fireplace.
“Me too,” Harry spoke up from where he’d been listening at the partially open door to the office.
“Eavesdropping Potter?” Severus asked smirking.
“Couldn’t help but overhear,” Harry replied.
“I’m sure,” Severus said.

Harry poked his tongue out at the Potions Professor who raised an eyebrow in response. Remus chuckled at the interaction. Not so long ago they would have been jumping down each other’s throat.

“I too am worried. She has taken on more than she can handle. Unfortunately at this moment in time there is no way to lighten the load,” Dumbledore reasoned, “Two subject curriculum’s to prepare and teach on her own, training Harry, all the errands she has to do for me plus her duties for the Guardian Protectorate and carrying the wards of Crystal City. I’m afraid she’s not going to be able to last much longer before serious issues start to arise.”
“And there’s nothing we can do?” Remus asked discouraged.
“I’m in the midst of finding someone to take over the Crystal, Gems and Magical Items class from Tempest but I’m afraid there’s not many with the extensive knowledge for the subject that Tempest has,” Dumbledore said, “As for the other items I can not spare her. It’s where she needs to be.”

The other three occupants nodded their heads, rather reluctantly, in acceptance.

Harry groaned as he straightened up from where he had been leaning on the door frame. It was lunch time, on the Tuesday after his power release and still his body ached from the exertion of it.
Tempest had said it would wear of eventually but since he was very powerful and had released a pulse that equalled about eighty-five percent of his power, not to expect it to go away immediately.

“I’d better get going to class. Professor McGonagall will have my head if I’m late. I just wanted to tell you I had another dream about Sirius,” Harry said to the three adults in the room.
“Alright Harry. Have you told anyone else?” Dumbledore asked.
“Just Tempest, she seemed intrigued,” Harry said, “It was only someone saying that he was healing nicely that’s about it. Anyway just thought you’d like to know.”
“Thank-you Harry,” Dumbledore said.

Harry waved goodbye and disappeared down the staircase.

“These dreams of his. Could they mean anything,” Remus asked carefully.
“I’m afraid I’m not sure,” Dumbledore said calculatingly, “It could just be Harry compensating for his loss or it could be another trick by Voldermort. We can not be sure.”

Remus and Severus agreed. They’d need to wait for more information to arise before coming to a conclusion. They didn’t want to jump the gun or anything.

“Well gentlemen I believe we all have things to do,” Dumbledore said to the other occupants of the room.

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He had been late to his Transfigurations class but after explaining why, Professor McGonagall had not punished him.

Harry walked into his double Advanced Defence Against the Dark Arts class and sat at his assigned desk next to Draco. He was excited because today they would be getting their athamé.
They had found out last class that the questionnaire they’d done was to determine the crystal that would sit in the hilt of the athamé. Once they had received it they were going to learn what to do with it and how to use it.

Tempest chose that time to enter. Harry immediately sensed something was off about Tempest.

Walking up to the front of the class she stood in front of her desk.

“Okay today I’ll be handing out your athamé’s then we’ll be learning the proper uses for them as well as about them,” Tempest said.

Harry noticed that she seemed to be out of breath.

Walking over to an old wooden cabinet that was in the room she opened the door. A group of long green boxes sat on the shelves in it.

“When I call your name come and get your athamé. Do not open the boxes until I say,” Tempest ordered.

Tempest started reeling off names and when the last person finally had theirs and was seated Tempest resumed her spot at the front of the class.

“Alright before you open the box I want you to understand something. Athamé’s are very special items and can sometimes be used instead of a wand. So you are going to be absolutely careful with them until you can handle them properly. If anyone does anything reckless I will confiscate their athamé and flunk them in this area of their final grade. Do you understand me?” Tempest said eyeing each of them in turn.
“Yes Professor,” most of them chorused.

Harry watched as Tempest took a deep breath and pulled at the neck of her robes before undoing them and pulling them off, draping them over her chair.
Underneath she was wearing jeans and a long-sleeved t-shirt. Harry remembered seeing her in a singlet that morning so he guessed it was underneath the shirt.

“Okay you may open your boxes. Please pull it out, handling it carefully. There is a piece of paper in it that I wrote. It has what your stone represents on it,” Tempest said pulling at the collar of her shirt.

Harry looked at Tempest closely and could know make out that Tempest’s cheeks were slightly flushed.

He tore his gaze away from her and opened the box on his desk. In it lay his silver athamé a beautiful blood red ruby shone at the hilt.

“Red. I knew it,” Draco nudged Harry playfully, “Bloody Gryffindor in everything.”

Harry poked his tongue out at Draco childishly.
Since the incident in the duelling classroom he and Draco had been even more friendly lately, much to Harry’s delight.

“So what did you get in yours?” Harry asked.

Draco pulled his athamé out of the box and showed Harry.
Harry looked at the beautiful very light, sea blue coloured stone. It was such a light blue that it had a clear aspect to it.

“It’s an Aquamarine,” Draco said, “This says that Aquamarine is used for many healing applications. From strengthening and healing, to calming and balancing. Aquamarine is an opener of the heart and throat allowing emotional understanding and expression of self. Some say that this stone builds the intellect and helps one to mature in a timely fashion. Especially for those who wish to never grow up! Aquamarine is great for those who are going into combat, for it \'guards against injury\'. A stone of the 5th chakra, these sea blue gems were thought to bring one courage and many friends. Speak your heart and express your true self to others.”

Harry burst out laughing. He laughed so hard he couldn’t breath and almost fell out of his chair.

“Grow up,” Harry gasped out between laughs, “Brings friends. Definitely needed that. For a long time.”

Harry was laughing so hard he felt like he was going to wet himself.

“I’m glad you find it amusing,” Draco growled out, “So hot stuff what does yours say.”

Harry quelled his laughing, which he found was rather hard to do, especially when he kept catching sight of the stone in the hilt of Draco’s athamé.

Harry lifted his out of its box but almost dropped it in surprise when it started to glow and engravings started to appear on it.

“I forgot to mention,” Tempest said softly, “If you are aware of your Animagus form or you have one an elaborate engraving of it will appear on your athamé. Some other things may appear but I’ll go into detail later.”

Harry looked down to see that in the centre of the blade, stretched out along the length of the blade was, a wild cat, Harry realised that it was a black panther, his Animagus form. There were some other things, flowers and symbols as well as some crests which Harry decided to ask Tempest about later, placed in special locations on the athamé.

“So Potter your an Animagus too,” Draco said looking at the athamé.
“Yeah a black panther,” Harry replied stroking the animal on the blade.

The panther lifted its head and nodded at him.

“Pretty neat Potter. But what does the note say?” Draco asked.

Harry lay the athamé across his lap and pulled out the piece of paper in the box.

“It says ‘The Ruby symbolizes energy, strength, physical existence, and vitality. It is associated with the material side of life (abundance) and survival issues. It is used to stimulate the life-force, increase circulation and to energize the nervous system. The red of the gem increases your connection with the Earth, it gives strength and will to live in the physical world. It also speaks of fertility and sexual issues (Good more than Bad). Rubies also intensify life force energy as a gem of the root chakra. Stimulates the will to live and survive. Some are record keepers!!!’” Harry read.
“Suits you down to a tee. Don’t you think,” Draco said smirking, “By the way ‘fertility and sexual issues’.”
“Oh shut up,” Harry said blushing.

Draco chuckled placing his athamé and the piece of paper back in it’s box. Harry doing the same.

“These are beautiful,” Hermione said from behind them.
“Not to mention cool,” Blaise said from beside Hermione

Blaise and Hermione were each others assigned partner.

“What stone did you get,” Harry asked turning around, “And what does it mean.”
“Mines an Amber stone,” Hermione replied then proceeded to read the accompanying piece of paper, “As stones of the 1st and 3rd chakras Amber transmutes negative energy into positive energy. The red ray is highly energizing and creative. Amber is very simulating and allows you to get out of that \'writers block\' emotion. Amber is highly protective but it also offers the emotion of pure joy. Amber was employed very early on for amulets and medicinal purposes. Those who owned Amber felt that they had a talisman of great power.
A highly calming stone that facilitates energy balancing and cleansing it removes psychic attacks and energy draining from others. It is often used by healers as a protective shield against taking on others pain in healing work.”
“It’s perfect since you want to become a medi-witch,” Harry said grinning, “But Hermione getting ‘writers block’ I don’t think so.”
“You’d be surprised Harry,” Hermione muttered.
“So Blaise spill, what’s yours?” Draco asked.
“Me? I got a Sunstone,” Blaise replied, “’Sunstones help one to discover their life\'s purpose. It evokes courage and heals fear. As a stone of the 3rd chakra it supports the life force! Sunstones promote very happy and joyful energy. The holders of this stone often help others when they are feeling down, immediately cheering them up.’”
“Well that’s true,” Draco replied, “You always cheer me up when I’m down.”

Blaise grinned.

“So what did you two get,” Ron asked leaning over from the side where he was partnered with Pansy who was talking to Millicent, he eyed the two Slytherins warily but continued, “I bet you their good.”

Harry and Draco related theirs to Ron.

“God she’s good,” Blaise laughed, “Got you two down pat.”

Hermione and Ron were chuckling as well.

“What did you get Weasley?” Draco asked trying to draw their attention away from his stone’s meaning.

“Me?” Ron said frowning, at the others nod he continued, “I got a Citrine. It’s this golden orange colour. I actually find the meaning a little insulting. It says ‘Citrine is often called \"the merchant stone.\" It assists in acquiring wealth, maintain the state of said wealth but also about achieving success in ones profession. Men are drawn to Citrine for the courage and self discipline it offers. Getting tasks done, developing self worth and mastering the ego are all achieved through the energies of Citrine. Citrine is one of the two stones on the planet which does not hold or accumulate negative energy, but transmutes it. As a stone of the 3rd chakra it is useful in balancing yin yang energy. Helpful for clearing the aura and aligning the energy centres.’”
“I can see why you’d find it insulting Weasley, but it’s a good stone for you and just remember wealth isn’t all about money. It can be about friends and family too. I’ve noticed that sometimes you get a little egotistical and your friends seem to drift away from you,” Blaise said.
“Also it may help you concentrate on your assignments,” Hermione said smiling at Ron.
“Oh I see,” Ron said before grinning, “Either way it’s a really neat looking stone.”

Harry grinned before looking for Tempest.
His grinned faded when he spotted her. Tempest had discarded her long-sleeved shirt and was down to her singlet. She was leaning forward bracing herself against the desk with her arms, breathing hard, with sweat dripping down her body. Her face was flushed red and she was swallowing hard. He could see her digging her fingernails into the desk.

“Tempest are you alright,” Harry asked standing up.

When Harry moved to go to her Hermione stopped him.

“Harry don’t,” Hermione said, he heard her stand, “Ron go get Professor Lupin now! Tell him to come immediately. Harry get everyone out of the classroom.”

Harry stood frozen until a whimper from Tempest got him moving. He heard Ron burst out of the room.

Turning to the rest of the class he yelled, “Well you heard her. Out.”

The students threw everything in their bags hastily and as the last students were exiting Hermione spoke again.

“Get Draco and Blaise to help you. Thank god we’re the only class in this corridor today. Move the students and block this entire corridor don’t let anyone past except for Professor Lupin. Not even Dumbledore, you hear me and if you hear anything don’t come back.”

“But Hermione…” Harry started.
“Just do it Harry,” Hermione yelled.

Harry grabbed his, Hermione’s and Ron’s belongings from their desks, snatching up their bags and bolting from the classroom.

Everyone was standing outside talking and whispering.
Harry walked over to Draco and Blaise.

“I need your help. Hermione said we have to get everyone away from here, even us, and block this corridor,” Harry said to them, “Only Remus is allowed through. Hermione said to not even allow Dumbledore through.”

Blaise and Draco looked at each other before nodding.

“Everyone is to exit this corridor immediately,” Draco yelled.
When no-one moved Draco yelled, “Now or I’ll deduct house points and as Slytherin prefect you know I can.”

After this threat everyone proceeded to exit the corridor.
Harry watched as Draco and Blaise walked in opposite directions pushing the students away from the door.
A crash from the classroom had Harry spinning on his heel and running for the door but Draco reached him before he reached it.
Grabbing hold of Harry he started to drag him away.

“Let me go,” Harry said struggling.
“No Potter listen. If Granger says evacuate that’s just what we’re going to do. She obviously knows something that we don’t. So just calm down and let Granger do what she does best,” Draco soothed.

Harry stopped struggling and watched the door of the classroom. He could see Blaise down at the other end of the corridor watching the classroom door as well.

They could hear crashes and bangs as well as animalistic yells and screams. They really started to panic when something hit the door making it splinter. Said thing must have hit the door again because the splinter of wood stuck out another ten centimetres from the door.

Harry felt a rush of relief when Remus ran around the corner at Blaise’s end of the corridor, Ron and surprisingly Severus in tow. Blaise grabbed Ron stopping him. Ron went to protest but was rounded on by Severus.

Severus caught up to Remus who had stopped at the door. They seemed to be discussing something before suddenly Remus’s voice was heard over the din.

“Hermione are you alright in there?” Remus called out.
He must of got a reply because he called out, “Good I’m going to open the door in a second, Professor Snape is with me, when I do get out quick okay.”

Harry watched as Remus and Severus nodded at each other. Severus put a hand on the door. After a second Severus yanked open the door. Remus ran in while Severus blocked the door. Soon Hermione dove out and Severus jumped in pulling the door shut behind him.

Hermione stood up. Ron’s movement towards her had her head snapping in that direction.

“Ron no. Stay there,” Hermione yelled.
“Why,” Ron yelled back.
“Because Tempest’s in heat,” Hermione yelled back

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Adiós y los puede sean bendecidos con la salud buena.