The storm had moved northwest and took with it its namesake's temporary
insanity. She sat at the shore of the lake, her lightning influenced fur
rippling like the water of the lake, and couldn't help thoughts of the
consequences of her actions creeping into her mind. She could now legally
be destroyed under the Dangerous Magical Creatures Act if Snape pressed the
matter. Malfoy would testify in favour of her prosecution, and she couldn't
even speak in her own defence. Her gift was a dangerous one and she mustn't
give away her secret if she could help it.
What was worse, she hadn't even found what she had been looking for, and she was sure Snape had it somewhere. It glittered tantalisingly close in her mind – twin sapphires like an abstract reflection of her own eyes with a diamond set between them in white gold.
She shook her head to remove the image and felt hot tears flying off her muzzle. She hadn't even realised she'd been crying.
What she really needed was a sign to tell her what to do. The answer came so quickly and was so simple that she almost laughed. She steeled every nerve in her body for the hardest test of her life, harder than her survival during Lucius's dire punishments for her transgressions, for this one was self-imposed.
A slight breeze ruffled her ear tufts and pulled at the thick fur as she held her head and tail high. Wading into the cool water with a grim smile fixed on her proud face, she submerged herself completely before taking the first powerful strokes and made for the horizon.
If she died in the attempt, then so be it, she had lost nothing. If she was washed up at the mercy of the lake then she would stay as Storm and be happy with the life that had been given to her, the same rith that had been washed up before.
But if she made it across by her own strength and force of will then perhaps Elhaz would live again, pick up where she had left off and show her true colours.
She showed her long dagger-like canine teeth in a fierce defiance of the elements. It looked like Elhaz was back and she wasn't giving in that easily.
The rith pushed tirelessly on through the icy water to meet her fate.
Storm was not the only one making decisions that morning. When Bracken and Moss heard news by howl of what had occurred on the stairs the previous night, there was outrage and immediate plans to make up for Kelyn's lost dignity, and Snape's harsh words the way that the Lupuscans knew best.
Snape was going to get the pranking of his life.
At breakfast Harry wasn't really hungry – he'd had his fill at the wolf camp. Hermione and Ron had asked where he'd been, so he just said he'd gone for an early shower. He thought it'd be breaking his promise to Saiph if he told them where he'd really been.
As the mail owls swooped into the Great Hall Harry didn't expect anything, but Hedwig dropped a letter on his bare plate. He recognised the writing immediately and ripped open the envelope.
Dear Harry (it read),
How are you? Life has been rather boring at Moony's so I am taking a trip. Dumbledore has called a meeting at the school so I am making my way up there. I hope to have the chance to speak to you, so watch out for me! I should be there in a couple of weeks, but I'll write before that and tell you my progress.
All the best to Hermione and Ron.
Snuffles.
'Wow, that's great!' Ron said as he read the letter over Harry's shoulder.
'I just hope he's careful if he's travelling,' Hermione sad with a look of concern as she read it over the other shoulder.
'Do you two mind not reading my private letters?' Harry hissed at them, but he was pleased all the same. Sirius was coming to Hogwarts. Nothing could have made him happier.
Bracken was recruiting for her merciless campaign – Fred and George Weasley were top of her list for ideas and tools for revenge, but there were a few others too. Pranksters and clowns from hers and other houses and years with a pathological loathing of the malicious Potions Master. Slytherins were not even considered for obvious reasons, but anyone else who wanted to join in the sport and were not going to give anyone else away were welcomed. By midday she had a good list, and the other Lupuscans were on the lookout for others as she had NEWTs to study for, Lateo had OWLs and there was only Moss left free to scheme, and scheme he duly did.
'Mr Thomas!' Professor McGonagall's sharp voice cut through his dreams like a knife and he reluctantly pulled himself back to reality, 'If you could kindly tell me what is so interesting out of the window I would be delighted to know.'
She stood in front of him tapping her foot impatiently on the floor and glared at him. He looked up at her with a sheepish grin and saw McGonagall's eyes widen in slight surprise. He looked down at his desk and saw... nothing. His brow furrowed in confusion before McGonagall placed a large brown rat on his desk.
'If you don't concentrate, Jason, your animal will escape. I found yours halfway across the floor. I want to see a finch on this desk before the lesson is over.' She lowered her voice so no one else would hear, 'I'd like to know how there is no change in this rat but you have managed to turn your own eyes yellow?'
'Sorry, Professor,' he mumbled and pointed his wand at his own face. They quickly changed back to their normal hazel colour.
Damn it, why did they always have to do that at the most inopportune moments? They hadn't ever done it in Snape's lessons, thank the fates, but it was an idea that'd freak him out. He scribbled it down on a crumpled piece of parchment before turning his attention to the rat and attempting to turn it into an bird.
The sun was high and hot. It made a figure below it steam as it crawled out of the lake. A distinctive black marking on her left hip stood out proudly, declaring her name for all who wished to see it.
She panted heavily, her eyes hooded with exhaustion, and all she craved for was sleep. Her mind had been focussed on swimming and that alone. She didn't dare waste energy on pointless thoughts, not even now as she dragged herself up the rocky bank of the mirror calm expanse of water that separated her from everything that she knew.
Elhaz had made it.
She curled up underneath a shrub cleaned of dust by the previous nights downpour and fell asleep almost immediately, her face covered by her white- tipped tail and dreamt the dreams of the indomitable.
'Where's Storm?'
That phrase echoed throughout Hogwarts castle as afternoon darkened into evening. The rith hadn't been seen since the previous night, and only Snape knew why. Dumbledore had got wind of something, but was keeping quiet on the matter. The injury he had seen on Severus's hand last night had looked just like a bite, but if he chose not to mention it then he was not going to press the matter. It was his opinion that Storm was in hiding, fearing the consequences of her actions, and it was only a matter of time before she would appear again. Ones like her didn't just disappear without a trace, they were like bad pennies – they always came back.
Some students and staff had offered to look for her, and he accepted their help gratefully. As much as he was sure of her eventual return, he'd rather have her back sooner than later to make sure that she didn't do anything else stupid.
It was night before Storm awoke, and when she did full realisation dawned on her. She had done it – life had given her a sign. Her tail raised proudly as she surveyed the challenge she had overcome. Throwing back her head, she howled out her triumph to the star-strewn sky.
Elhaz was back, and back to stay.
She took a small drink of the water to slake her raging thirst, but not too much so it impeded her progress and set off at a brisk run round the edge of the great loch. Travelling by night was a much more sensible idea, and she felt as if she could run all night despite her trials during the day. Her black paws made no sound as they hardly touched the earth. The constellation of Lupus glowed brightly in her eyes as the full moon rose.
What was worse, she hadn't even found what she had been looking for, and she was sure Snape had it somewhere. It glittered tantalisingly close in her mind – twin sapphires like an abstract reflection of her own eyes with a diamond set between them in white gold.
She shook her head to remove the image and felt hot tears flying off her muzzle. She hadn't even realised she'd been crying.
What she really needed was a sign to tell her what to do. The answer came so quickly and was so simple that she almost laughed. She steeled every nerve in her body for the hardest test of her life, harder than her survival during Lucius's dire punishments for her transgressions, for this one was self-imposed.
A slight breeze ruffled her ear tufts and pulled at the thick fur as she held her head and tail high. Wading into the cool water with a grim smile fixed on her proud face, she submerged herself completely before taking the first powerful strokes and made for the horizon.
If she died in the attempt, then so be it, she had lost nothing. If she was washed up at the mercy of the lake then she would stay as Storm and be happy with the life that had been given to her, the same rith that had been washed up before.
But if she made it across by her own strength and force of will then perhaps Elhaz would live again, pick up where she had left off and show her true colours.
She showed her long dagger-like canine teeth in a fierce defiance of the elements. It looked like Elhaz was back and she wasn't giving in that easily.
The rith pushed tirelessly on through the icy water to meet her fate.
Storm was not the only one making decisions that morning. When Bracken and Moss heard news by howl of what had occurred on the stairs the previous night, there was outrage and immediate plans to make up for Kelyn's lost dignity, and Snape's harsh words the way that the Lupuscans knew best.
Snape was going to get the pranking of his life.
At breakfast Harry wasn't really hungry – he'd had his fill at the wolf camp. Hermione and Ron had asked where he'd been, so he just said he'd gone for an early shower. He thought it'd be breaking his promise to Saiph if he told them where he'd really been.
As the mail owls swooped into the Great Hall Harry didn't expect anything, but Hedwig dropped a letter on his bare plate. He recognised the writing immediately and ripped open the envelope.
Dear Harry (it read),
How are you? Life has been rather boring at Moony's so I am taking a trip. Dumbledore has called a meeting at the school so I am making my way up there. I hope to have the chance to speak to you, so watch out for me! I should be there in a couple of weeks, but I'll write before that and tell you my progress.
All the best to Hermione and Ron.
Snuffles.
'Wow, that's great!' Ron said as he read the letter over Harry's shoulder.
'I just hope he's careful if he's travelling,' Hermione sad with a look of concern as she read it over the other shoulder.
'Do you two mind not reading my private letters?' Harry hissed at them, but he was pleased all the same. Sirius was coming to Hogwarts. Nothing could have made him happier.
Bracken was recruiting for her merciless campaign – Fred and George Weasley were top of her list for ideas and tools for revenge, but there were a few others too. Pranksters and clowns from hers and other houses and years with a pathological loathing of the malicious Potions Master. Slytherins were not even considered for obvious reasons, but anyone else who wanted to join in the sport and were not going to give anyone else away were welcomed. By midday she had a good list, and the other Lupuscans were on the lookout for others as she had NEWTs to study for, Lateo had OWLs and there was only Moss left free to scheme, and scheme he duly did.
'Mr Thomas!' Professor McGonagall's sharp voice cut through his dreams like a knife and he reluctantly pulled himself back to reality, 'If you could kindly tell me what is so interesting out of the window I would be delighted to know.'
She stood in front of him tapping her foot impatiently on the floor and glared at him. He looked up at her with a sheepish grin and saw McGonagall's eyes widen in slight surprise. He looked down at his desk and saw... nothing. His brow furrowed in confusion before McGonagall placed a large brown rat on his desk.
'If you don't concentrate, Jason, your animal will escape. I found yours halfway across the floor. I want to see a finch on this desk before the lesson is over.' She lowered her voice so no one else would hear, 'I'd like to know how there is no change in this rat but you have managed to turn your own eyes yellow?'
'Sorry, Professor,' he mumbled and pointed his wand at his own face. They quickly changed back to their normal hazel colour.
Damn it, why did they always have to do that at the most inopportune moments? They hadn't ever done it in Snape's lessons, thank the fates, but it was an idea that'd freak him out. He scribbled it down on a crumpled piece of parchment before turning his attention to the rat and attempting to turn it into an bird.
The sun was high and hot. It made a figure below it steam as it crawled out of the lake. A distinctive black marking on her left hip stood out proudly, declaring her name for all who wished to see it.
She panted heavily, her eyes hooded with exhaustion, and all she craved for was sleep. Her mind had been focussed on swimming and that alone. She didn't dare waste energy on pointless thoughts, not even now as she dragged herself up the rocky bank of the mirror calm expanse of water that separated her from everything that she knew.
Elhaz had made it.
She curled up underneath a shrub cleaned of dust by the previous nights downpour and fell asleep almost immediately, her face covered by her white- tipped tail and dreamt the dreams of the indomitable.
'Where's Storm?'
That phrase echoed throughout Hogwarts castle as afternoon darkened into evening. The rith hadn't been seen since the previous night, and only Snape knew why. Dumbledore had got wind of something, but was keeping quiet on the matter. The injury he had seen on Severus's hand last night had looked just like a bite, but if he chose not to mention it then he was not going to press the matter. It was his opinion that Storm was in hiding, fearing the consequences of her actions, and it was only a matter of time before she would appear again. Ones like her didn't just disappear without a trace, they were like bad pennies – they always came back.
Some students and staff had offered to look for her, and he accepted their help gratefully. As much as he was sure of her eventual return, he'd rather have her back sooner than later to make sure that she didn't do anything else stupid.
It was night before Storm awoke, and when she did full realisation dawned on her. She had done it – life had given her a sign. Her tail raised proudly as she surveyed the challenge she had overcome. Throwing back her head, she howled out her triumph to the star-strewn sky.
Elhaz was back, and back to stay.
She took a small drink of the water to slake her raging thirst, but not too much so it impeded her progress and set off at a brisk run round the edge of the great loch. Travelling by night was a much more sensible idea, and she felt as if she could run all night despite her trials during the day. Her black paws made no sound as they hardly touched the earth. The constellation of Lupus glowed brightly in her eyes as the full moon rose.