The Calm before the Storm

Sorry it took so long.

“Talking”
*Thoughts*

Disclaimer: I don’t own Harry Potter

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Chapter 18 - What Took You So Long?

Tempest stumbled out of a fireplace and into the awaiting arms of Kingsley Shacklebolt.

“Are you alright?” the tall black wizard asked.
“Will be. Thanks for doing this for me. I know you’re putting a lot on the line,” Tempest said as she was steadied on her feet.
“No problem,” Kingsley said looking around.

Tempest swayed before steeling herself and walking forward. Sticking her head out the door she looked to see if the coast was clear. Pulling her hat down lower she stepped out.
She adjusted her blood red robes, uncomfortable and hot from having them on. But walking around the Ministry of Magic in jeans and a singlet was asking for unwanted attention.
Kingsley walked beside her acting as casual as he could. They walked past Auror cubicles, Kingsley nodding to people they passed, and continued on until they reached the lifts.
Pushing the down button they waited until the doors opened before climbing in and pushing the number nine button. Two other wizards were on the lift but they didn’t speak.
When the grilles closed with a bang and the lift began to descend, jangling and rattling, Tempest kept her head lowered but spoke to Kingsley through the corner of her mouth.

“I wont take you completely through. I just need you to keep an eye out,” Tempest said softly.

The lift came to a stop and declared that they had reached the Department of Mysteries.
Kingsley and Tempest got off the lift. Seeing no-one in the corridor they moved forward towards a plain black door.

“Just keep a look out. I’ll tap on the door lightly when I’m back. You tap it back twice to tell me the coast is clear,” Tempest said.
“Are you sure you don’t want me to come with you?” Kingsley asked.
“No. I’ll be fine,” she replied smiling softly to him.

Kingsley nodded and the door opened for her.
Stepping through into the large circular room she looked around her. She glared at the door behind her when it slammed shut with a loud bang, making everything go dark.

“Get me caught why don’t you?” Tempest growled at the door.

Then turning around she peered into the dark.
She wasn’t in the least surprised when the doors and the small, blue flamed, candles started to rotate.

“Oh give it up,” she growled at the doors and clicked her fingers.

Her robes changed into the brilliant white of the Guardian Protectorate.
The doors immediately stopped and lights flared around her as large torches emerged from the walls.

“Show me the door that leads to the Veil and do be quick about it,” Tempest ordered.

Suddenly a door off to her right flared bright blue before the Guardian Protectorate symbol appeared on it.
Walking over to the door Tempest tapped it twice and it opened immediately. Stepping through the doorway she looked around the dimly lit, rectangular room cautiously and dimmed the torches.
She’d been here before, once, but her memories of it were vague. Looking down the tiered steps of the sunken centre she saw it sitting on its raised stone dais.
Tempest jumped down the benches until she stood in front of the pointed archway that held the black, swaying veil which looked like it had just been touched.
When she started hearing the voices she sighed before looking around her.
Thanks to her unexpected loss of control over her other side she wasn’t able to grab what she had needed for this.
Spotting two small chips of stones she bent down and picked them up. Holding one in each hand, she transfigured them into a small shallow bowl and a knife.
Kneeling down on the ground before the Veil she put the bowl down and gripped the knife before taking a deep breath and running it along the palm of her hand.
Blood immediately began to run from the cut. Fisting her hand she squeezed, making the blood trickle into the bowl.
When she felt she had enough, she cast a cleaning charm on the knife and then transfigured it into a quill.
Even as the blood continued to run from the cut on her hand she picked up the bowl and stood, before dipping the quill into the blood. Standing on tip toes she wrote a small symbol on the stone at the point of the arch before stooping and writing another on the bottom left hand corner.
She stood again and wrote another on the right hand side about three quarters of the way up before crossing over and writing another opposite it, on the left hand side.
She wrote the final symbol on the bottom right hand corner and stood back.

“Stillus,” she said and watched as the symbols started to glow.

A white line started from her first symbol and spread to the next, continuing in the order she had written them. When it reached the last symbol it continued up to where it had started.
The symbols changed to black and they as well as the white lines, which now formed a pentagram, began to pulse before glowing then dimming.
The veil had finally stopped its flowing movement and now stood as still as a door. Dipping the quill into the bowl again she walked forward and wrote in the center of the pentagram;

SIRIUS BLACK

Tempest watched as her fathers name started glowing and pulsing before fading.
Suddenly a figure walked through the Veil, head bowed. Once they’d fully exited the Veil they spread their wings and the room lit up.

“Turn them out you’ll ruin the spell,” Tempest growled.

The torches immediately dimmed again.

“Tempest what are you doing here?” a male voice asked hastily as he looked around and straightened his own Guardian Protectorate robes before shaking his head, ruffling his blonde hair.

Tempest looked into the bright blue eyes pleadingly.

“You have someone I want,” Tempest said softly.
“What? We… Oh you mean the man that was fighting valiantly against the shadows?” the blue eyed man said, “How do you know we had him?”
“My godbrother saw you finding him,” Tempest replied, “Please Tate I want him back. He’s still needed here.”
“Tempest as much as I’d love to, and you know I’d do anything for you, but I can’t,” Tate replied before turning back to head through the Veil.
“Damn it Tate give me back my father,” Tempest yelled close to tears.

Her emotions were already running out of control but adding this on the top was pushing her closer and closer to the edge. She could feel her other side forcing its way to the surface trying to take over completely.
She’d already fought it back early that day. She didn’t have much more to give.

“Your father?” Tate asked bewildered, “That man is your father?”
“Yes. Please Tate?” Tempest pleaded.

Tate looked at her feeling sorry for his old friend.

“I can’t. You know the rules,” Tate said softly.
“I know, I know,” Tempest cried, “No-one can freely be released once they’ve entered the Veil.”

Tempest looked down thinking about that rule over and over again. She could feel herself getting angry, could feel her other self reacting and her magic pulsing around the room, both trying to find release.
Her eyes slowly slid closed as something nagged at her.
Concentrating she probed everything with her magic. Abruptly she felt Tate with her magic, felt his magic flowing with hers and suddenly she could see flashes of Tate’s past. She could hear his thoughts, past and present, but there was one in particular that she could hear screaming through her head.

*I wish I could grant Knight his wish and give him children*

Tempest’s eyes snapped open and she stared at where Tate was slowly backing into the Veil sadly.

“I’ll grant it. Give you the power to grant Knight’s wish,” Tempest stated.
“What,” Tate asked astounded, “How did you? You were in my head weren’t you. I knew I could feel an intrusion. Tempest you swore you wouldn’t ever do that to me.”
“I couldn’t help it. I’m losing control of my other side. Please Tate. The rule is `No-one can freely be released once they’ve entered the Veil` but if I grant you the ability to do that for my fathers freedom he’s not being freely released. It would be a trade,” Tempest bargained.

She’d come up with a possible answer but it all rested on Tate agreeing. She stared at the blonde pleading with her eyes. Tate seemed to be having an argument in his head because he had a frown on his face and his brow was furrowed.
When he looked up hope immediately ignited in her heart.

“You could do that?” Tate asked, “Grant that wish? But only the high council can grant wishes.”
“I can Tate. I’m not going to tell you how I got the ability. It’d be best if you didn’t know but I can do it,” Tempest reassured, “Do we have a deal then?”

Tate looked back at the Veil before turning to Tempest a smile on his face and nodded.

“Thankyou,” Tempest cried launching herself at Tate and hugging him.

Tate hugged her back, holding her tight as she cried.
Pulling back Tempest looked at Tate before closing her eyes and concentrating really hard on the wards of Crystal City. When she opened her eyes a golden quill floated in front of her.
Tate stared at the quill in wonder he’d seen wish quills many times before but to see one conjured by someone other than the High Council made him wonder if Tempest had done something stupid.

“Lift your shirt and unbutton your pants,” Tempest said.

Tate looked at her oddly before complying. Tempest took the quill before placing it to Tate’s abdomen and writing the symbol for fertility. As she thought of the wish she wanted granted she said the incantation.

“Ashes to Ashes,
Dust to Dust,
Granting this wish,
Is a must.”

The symbol glowed gold before seeping into the skin.

“That was a stupid incantation,” Tate smirked as he buttoned up his pants and pulled his shirt back down.
“The High council made it I didn’t, but it gets the job done,” Tempest replied softly.
“I’ll just go get your father so we can complete the trade,” Tate said before leaning forward and kissing Tempest on the cheek and whispering, “Thankyou. You have no idea how much this means to me.”
“Same here,” Tempest replied.

Tate disappeared back into the Veil and as she stood alone she finally felt how much this conquest had taken out of her and prayed that Tate was quick.
Soon Tate stepped back through the Veil leading a very familiar figure.
Tempest immediately launched herself at Sirius.
She felt him collapse to his knees and went down with him refusing to let go.
Pulling back she looked at her father, he looked a little worse for wear but other then that he seemed fine.

“What took you so long?” Sirius croaked at his daughter.

All Tempest could for the first few seconds after that statement was blink owlishly before;

“What took me so long? WHAT TOOK ME SO LONG!!!! WHY I OUGHTA. I CAN’T BELIEVE YOU. BLOODY UNGRATEFUL GIT…”

All the warning Tempest got was Sirius’s unmistakeable barking laughter before she was enveloped in her father’s arms and hugged to the point where she couldn’t breath for lack of air.

“Father,” Tempest gasped, “Air.”

Sirius loosened his grip but didn’t let go and Tempest had no intention of moving. She was quite happy wrapped up in her father’s arms and not only that but the heat that plagued her body seemed to lessen and her other side toned down its fighting a little.

“We’d better get you back to Hogwarts,” Sirius said as he stroked his daughters hair, “You’ve lost too much energy. That wolf side of yours will get out soon. So rest my little cub.”
“Ahh I thought so,” Tate said softly, “But how could you tell.”

Sirius turned to look at the blonde haired man that had rescued and
then taken care if him.

“She’s my daughter and I’m mated to her dad, who’s also a werewolf, I have inside information and first hand experience,” Sirius replied.
“Well it was nice to meet you,” Tate said, “Hopefully we shall meet again under other circumstances.”
“You too,” Sirius replied standing while cradling a now sleeping Tempest to his chest.

Tate bowed before going back into the Veil.
Sirius watched as the Veil seemed to burst into flame before settling back to normal, all evidence of their being there removed.
Walking up the steps to the door Sirius kicked it open. Walking through he watched as suddenly a door flashed with the Guardian Protectorate sign and the words `knock once and wait for double knock` appeared on it.

“That’s enough I’ll take it from here cub,” Sirius said softly.

Tempest cuddled into her father further before sighing and going into a deeper sleep.
Sirius walked to the door and kicked it once. When he received a double knock in return he willed the door open and watched as it opened automatically. He vowed to find out how that was done so Remus could never lock him out of the bedroom ever again.
Walking through he was immediately greeted enthusiastically by Kingsley Shacklebolt.

“Tempest told me what she was attempting to do but I doubted she could pull it off but I shouldn’t of,” Kingsley said grinning, then holding out a set of brown robes he said, “I bought these just in case,. They have a hood so you can hide your face. We’re still trying to clear your name but haven’t gotten far I’m afraid.”
“Don’t worry and thanks. Here could you hold her, try not to wake her and think unsexual thoughts,” Sirius said.

Kingsley hesitantly accepted the sleeping form before asking,

“Unsexual thoughts?”
“She’s in heat,” Sirius explained as he donned the robes and pulled up the hood.
Accepting his daughter back he asked, “How are we supposed to get out of here?”
“Follow me,” Kingsley said as he started walking, “Tempest and I were able to link the fireplace in my office to the fireplace in Dumbledore’s office for three hours but we had better move quickly, times almost up.”

They made their way quickly back to the second floor and got to Kingsley’s office without any trouble.
Holding out a pot containing floo powder Sirius awkwardly grabbed some before gripping Tempest tightly and stepping into the green fire.

“Thanks Kingsley,” Sirius said.
“See you later Sirius,” Kingsley said.

Sirius with a flick of his wrist released the floo powder and clearly stated, “Hogwarts, Albus Dumbledore’s Office.”

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Harry was going out of his mind with worry but he wasn’t the only one.
Dumbledore sat rigidly in his chair behind his desk eating one lemon drop after another, Severus sat in one of the chairs on the opposite side of the desk tapping his fingers on the wooden arm of the chair, Remus was pacing back and forth muttering under his breath about how stupid he was.
Harry looked at both Professors who were ignoring their injuries, which Tempest had inflicted upon them when she escaped. They both had refused to go to the infirmary opting for searching the entirety of Hogwarts for Tempest. Upon coming up with nothing all the female teachers had started searching the entire grounds while Hagrid and Firenze searched the Forbidden Forest.
They had yet to find her.

“This is ridiculous,” Severus snapped standing up, “She can’t just of vanished.”
“Calm down Severus. She will be found. I’m sure she is just hiding somewhere waiting this lapse in control out,” Dumbledore said calmly although he didn‘t feel it.
“Don’t lie to us Albus,” Remus said stopping his pacing and looking at the old Headmaster, “It only makes it worse.”

Harry watched as Remus went back to pacing. Sighing he got up and walked over to Fawkes before stroking the phoenix’s feathers.
While everyone went back to worrying their own special way Harry wandered around the office.
He had just been about to start a conversation with the sorting hat when the fireplace burst into green flames and a hooded figure stepped through with Tempest in their arms.
Remus gave a cry and ran over to the figure taking Tempest into his arms and cradling his daughter to him and crying into her hair.
Harry, Severus and Dumbledore watched the robed figure cautiously. Was this friend or foe?
Suddenly Remus caught the robed figures scent and his eyes widened. Snapping his head up he looked the figure over. Right height, right build, right scent but it couldn’t be, could it?

“S-S-Sirius?” Remus asked softly.

Harry, Severus, and Dumbledore looked from Remus to the robed figure tensely.

“Never could hide anything from you could I love?” came a familiar voice before they pulled back their hood, looking from Remus to Harry he asked, “What? Don’t I get a hug?”

Harry broke out of his shocked stupor and launched himself at his godfather, bursting into tears as he did so.
Sirius caught Harry in a hug while he reached out and pulled Remus into the hug.

“Terrific,” Dumbledore said clapping, “How did you do it Sirius?”
Sirius didn’t even look up as he answered, “I didn’t. Tempest did.”
“I’m sure that will be a fascinating story but for another time maybe,” Severus said unsure of whether to keep hold of the anger he felt towards Black or try to call a truce.
When he was just stared at oddly he explained himself, “Tempest is picking up Potter’s and the Headmaster’s scent.”

They all looked to the form in Remus’s arms noticing that her cheeks were going red and that she had started to sweat.
A whimper alerted them fully to how bad things were getting, fast.

“Remus use my fireplace and floo to your rooms, Sirius go with him. We’ll talk later. Severus could you take Harry and inform the Professors that Tempest has been found. I have some things I must attend to immediately,” Dumbledore said.

Sirius looked at Severus not liking the idea of Harry being with the Slytherin.

Remus sensing this whispered, “It’s alright Sirius, they’ve come to an accord.”

Sirius gave a warning glare to Severus, who snorted and rolled his eyes, before following Remus as they flooed to Remus’s rooms.

“Come on Potter let’s get this searched called off,” Severus said before walking out of the office, Harry following close behind.

Dumbledore sighed as he watched his plans fall even further apart in front of his eyes. He decided it was time to change them.

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Well there you go. What do you think? Read and Review.