Author note: Sorry for the long wait, I've been writing various things, although concentrating on one story actually and it's getting pretty cool. Anyway, it's August and with August comes the end of my summer. It's been a rather long one in my mind, but it's the first time I've ever had such a long summer. Well here's hoping the few who read this story like the chapter. Chapter four
"People ask me, 'how worried should we be?'"
By
Dr. Anthony Fauci
It was late at night in Scotland. The sky was filled with stars that shinned bright. Stars, large celestial bodies composed of gravitationally contained hot gases emitting electromagnetic radiation because of nuclear reactions inside the star. Stars staid in the same position year after year, stars were beautiful and one could always trust in them to find your way.
In his office at Hogwarts Albus Dumbledore looked at the stars. They were something that was associated with him quite often considering he normally had them on his robes and hats. Now though he was not thinking about stars no he was thinking of the current problem in his life. His granddaughter, Tempest Dumbledore had run away from Hogwarts. Not only that but Storm Potter, a girl he considered a granddaughter had also run away but from her muggle relatives. They had searched; he and Minerva had searched for both girls. They had sent letters to Tempest's friends in America, asking if they had seen her or if she was with them but she was not there. Fawkes couldn't find her and that had added to his wife's worry. Tempest was the last member of their family alive, he had promised himself to protect her with his life, and her running away when Voldemort was back was not protecting her.
Exhausted not only physically but mentally he sat down in his chair and held his head in his hands.
Flashback:
It was a beautiful day; the sun was out and about. It was summer time and so the only occupants of Hogwarts were the staff that stayed at the school and one child, Tempest Dumbledore the granddaughter of Albus Dumbledore and Minerva McGonagall-Dumbledore. The Headmaster was currently working on some paperwork when the door to his office was opened and in entered Severus Snape and trailing behind him pouting was his granddaughter.
Tempest Dumbledore was six years old and was one of the most adorable children he had ever seen. She had beautiful dark red hair that was normally long but today was done in two side braids. She was wearing a pair of jean overalls that were a gift from Poppy. One shoulder was undone showing the yellow and white stripped t-shirt under. Her knees had a grass marks on them and her emerald eyes were wide with child innocence that he had learned was never a good thing.
"Severus, what can I help you with?" he asked.
"I found Miss Dumbledore here, trying to sneak into the Forbidden Forest, again." He answered causing a sigh to leave the Headmaster's lips. Gently he rubbed his forehead before looking at his granddaughter.
"Tempest, this makes how many times?" He asked her causing a smile to appear on her lips.
"Third time this week," she answered in an innocent kind of way.
"And what did I say about going into the Forbidden Forest?" He asked her.
"The Forbidden Forest is dangerous and forbidden for a reason. I must not enter it no matter what and I must not approach it. Many dark and dangerous things live in the Forbidden Forest that could harm me." She recited world for word but with a huff.
"Exactly now what will you do?" he asked as though he had asked this before.
"Learn how to get in without being caught?" She asked hesitantly.
"No." he moaned causing Tempest to giggle softly.
"I won't try to sneak into the forest again." She answered his question and he gave a nod.
"Good now off with you." He stated and with a bright smile, she ran out of the office.
"Personally I do not think she'll make Slytherin." Severus remarked causing the Headmaster to snort.
End of Flashback:
Flashback:
It was late at night and Albus Dumbledore let a sigh leave his lips. Tempest had just woken up screaming and he and Minerva were both worried. The girl was getting quite a few nightmares, nightmares that she wouldn't speak to them about. Currently Minerva was rocking back and force with the three year old in her arms dozing. Her cheeks had tear strikes on them from dried up tears and her thumb was in her mouth.
"Oh Albus what are we going to do?" Minerva asked softly, her voice filled with worry. "She can't go on like this; nightmares like these are bad for a child her age."
"I know Minerva, but how can we help her when she won't even tell us what her nightmares are about. Tempest is hard headed sometimes and to get her to speak about something that scares her is a big no, no." Albus stated and Minerva gave a sigh.
"Why don't we speak with Severus. He says he has plenty of experience with nightmares from his own students?" She asked and Albus brightened.
"Very good idea, for now let us get her to bed. She seems to be asleep." He said and together they did just that.
End of Flashback:
Two days after speaking with Severus Tempest had stopped having nightmares. It seemed like Severus had helped her in some way and both Grandparents were extremely thankful for that. It seemed like every time Tempest had a nightmare she would go to Severus who would help her through it. Neither spoke to them about them but they suspected it was because it was a sort of confidence they had together. Severus was after all her Unca Sev. Tempest was the only one who could ever call Severus by that name.
Laughing softly Albus looked at the pictures on his desk. Two pictures, each of a girl. Two red heads with green eyes. Tempest Dumbledore and Storm Potter. Tempest had her hair in a ponytail and her ears were pierced. Something he was grudgingly against considering she had done it without asking him. She was not wearing her uniform since it was the summer but wore a pair of grey jeans with a blue top. Then there was Storm Potter. Her own hair was short going to her shoulders and she had it pined back. She wore her Gryffindor uniform and was laughing. Most asked why he had a picture of Storm Potter on his desk and most of the time he didn't answer. He always put it away whenever he had a student because he didn't want students thinking that he favoured a student. Shaking his head, he looked out his window again.
Storm Potter was also plaguing his mind because she had also run away. Evading all Order Members, he had stationed around her home to protect her. What was it with children and running away now a days? He wondered. Of course, she just had to escape when Severus had been there and he was determined that the girl had done in on purpose even though they knew she didn't know about them watching her. Thankfully, she had been spotted in Diagon Alley but apart from that, nobody had seen her since which worried him. He knew she would have gone to Gringotts but he question was, what had she done there. Was it only money she took or did she learn about other things. He didn't want the child to be put down by responsibilities and pressure as she would be when she became an adult after all she was the heir to the Potter Family, one of the most wealthy pureblood families in Britten.
Storm Potter, being the girl who lived, the last Potter and the number one most wanted witch in not only Voldemort's books but also quite a few males. Storm was the key to them surviving this war. She was the key to defeating Voldemort even though all he wanted was to hide the girl away like he was doing to his own granddaughter. She was a child, a mere child expected to do what most adults had not done. Battle in war.
In another part of the castle, Minerva McGonagall is in her own office looking over a picture of her granddaughter and of Storm Potter. Unlike her husband she didn't need to really hide Storms picture because she could just put it off to her being her Seeker, especially since the girl was dressed in her Quidditch robes. She was a known Quidditch fanatic and had numerous pictures of the Gryffindor Quidditch Team around her office. This photo had been taken just before Storm had to cut her hair. It had been long back then, going down to the low of her back. The only reason why she had cut it was because of a potion incident. The Malfoy boy had thrown his potion at her back it had glued onto her hair and started to melt it along with her clothing. Thanks to Mister Longbottom's quick thinking, he had cut her hair and pulled her out of the room. He informed her that he was bringing her to the infirmary when they noticed that her clothing was disintegrating. Hurriedly Storm had run into a classroom with Mister Longbottom's outer robe. That was when she arrived.
Flashback:
"Mister Longbottom what on earth are you doing out of class when you should be in potions?" Asked Minerva McGonagall her eye thin with anger.
"Um well you see Professor..." Neville stuttered his face paling but just then, Storm stepped out, dressed in his oversized Gryffindor boy's outer robe.
"Miss Potter!" She exclaimed and that's when Storm turned and blushed crimson. "What is happening here?"
"It was a potion accident Professor. Malfoy sent some of his potion flying towards me and it landed on by back and in my hair. Neville noticed that my hair was melting where the potion hit and so cut my hair. He was leading me to the Hospital wing when we noticed that were the potion was, was disintegrating my robes. He lent me his outer robes and I ran in there just in time." Storm answered causing her Head of House to frown in anger.
"Very well, hurry along to the Hospital Wing. May I assume that Professor Snape did not excuse you from class?" She asked.
"No ma'am he did not. He shouted at us when we left, didn't seem to notice what had happened." Neville answered.
"No he did, he was watching when it happened." Storm answered causing Minerva to sigh.
"Hurry along you two. I shall deal with this with the Headmaster."
End of Flashback:
After that Severus had gotten a sever talking to and the Malfoy boy had been punished for the dangerous stunt. Poppy had been able to identify the potion thrown at Storm as an acid like potion.
Shaking her head, she observed the photo again. Storm's hair was blowing around her and she was smiling one of her true and bright smiles that lit up her face. In her hands was the Nimbus 2000 she had sent her. Her Quidditch robes were blowing around her but she looked beautiful in them. Then there was her Granddaughter. It was a recent picture. Her own hair was pinned up in a design and she was wearing her uniform. She was laughing at something. One of her Professors had sent her this picture the year before.
To her, both girls were quite similar. Both had run away this summer causing her to worry terribly. Oh how she worried. With Voldemort back Storm was in danger and so was her granddaughter. If that man were to learn of her, she would be hunted like the man had hunted her son and daughter in law, just like he was hunting Storm. Storm though had more responsibilities on her shoulders. The war against Voldemort, the farce of the Ministry of Magic now calling her an attention-seeking brat. She was sure that this year was not going to be a very good one for the girl.
"Oh why did you both have to do this to us?" She whispered.
Later both the Headmaster and Deputy Headmistress made their way to the Headquarters of the Order of the Phoenix also known as Number 12 Grimmauld Place, the ancestral home of the Black Family. It was located in London, in a muggle neighbourhood, but protected under the Fidelius Charm.
The Order of the Phoenix was a secret society founded by Albus Dumbledore to oppose Lord Voldemort. It was originally created in 1970 during the first war against the mad wizard so many feared. Before it had worked with the Ministry to fight but now they were in a different situation with the Ministry not believing in Voldemorts return the Order was in a horrible position. They were trying to recruit people but they couldn't do a very good job because the Ministry suspected Dumbledore and would do anything to get him. They had been working to protect Storm Potter, until she ran away even though they did not know that. Tonight would be the night they were going to learn of her disappearance.
When the last Order member arrived, they all sat down and the Headmaster began the meeting.
"Members of the Order, tonight I have grave news for you all. Storm Potter has been run away from her relatives house." no sooner had those words left his lips did Sirius Black, escaped convict, jumped to his feet.
"What the hell do you mean my goddaughter is missing? Storm wouldn't just leave Privet Drive when she knew she was safe there! She wouldn't leave unless she had to!" he shouted, his anger boiling to the surface."
"I'm afraid Sirius, that Storm left on her own accord. None of her belongings were at Privet Drive and none of the children have heard so much as a letter from her." the Headmaster sighed, and at those words the other members of the Order started to whisper amongst each other while Molly Weasley broke into tears.
The Headmaster was silent as this went on, he knew in his heart that he could not mention Tempest to them because nobody but a few knew he had a granddaughter and at this point, it was for the best. Merlin he hoped Voldemort had not gotten his hand on both of them. He did not think he would be able to face himself if that was what had happened to both girls.
After a few more hours, with everybody speaking to one another about things they had learned they returned to Hogwarts for tea in the Headmaster's office. When they arrived though what they found were two letters.
Swiftly Albus made his way towards his desk and what he found made his eyes widen. There on his desk were letters from Storm Potter and Tempest Dumbledore. The one from Tempest was addressed to him while the one from Storm was addressed to Minerva.
Dear Grandpa,
Okay I understand that my running away was not the smartest of things but I am safe. I won't tell you where I am because you're just going to force me to return and I, for the first time, don't want to. Yes, you heard me I will not be returning to Hogwarts for the summer. Hope you're doing better with a letter from me.
Tempest
Dear Professor McGonagall,
I suppose the Headmaster has already noticed my disappearance but that is not why I am contact you. I wish to change my class choice. I learned that it is possible because I have yet to take my OWL's. I do not want to take Divination anymore but Ancient Runes. I would like to apologies if I have caused worry. I am safe and I will be returning to Hogwarts.
Storm
