By the time Sirius had reached Dumbledore's office with the children, he was on his way to a funk.

I don't see why I have to leave just because the Ministry is going to be here... They've been in and out the whole time. I've played a good familiar and haven't had any trouble. I'm sick of running and hiding. Sick of waiting for word. Sick of not knowing because I'm not there!

Then, one of the High Judges walked by. The deep blue cloak carried the unmistakable scent of Dementer, and Sirius blanched. In dog form, it got the Judge's attention and the wizard smiled at the children and their dog. While Sirius recovered from that, a new scent replaced it. It was the phoenix-smoke, candy sugar smell that had to Headmaster Dumbledore. He hurried them into his office and made sure the door was closed behind them.

"I'm not sure this is a good time for any of you to out and about," the Headmaster said. He looked keenly at Sirius. "Especially you. There's going to be a special assembly to get all the students out of the way while a powerful ritual is cast in a part of Hogwarts."

"What ritual?"

"I haven't been told," Dumbledore said grimly and that made all of them gulp a little. They were used to Dumbledore knowing everything that was going on in Hogwarts.

"Why here?" Harry asked.

"They seem to be tired of losing criminals under their own noses," sighed Dumbledore. All eyes were on Sirius again, so he shifted to his human self.

"If everyone is going to be out of the way, then there will be no one to see me anyway," he said, a little too hopefully.

"There are wards being set up even now," Dumbledore said. "If you are still inside when the final spells are cast, you won't be able to leave at all. There are four different levels of them," he added when Sirius started to argue. "One for the towers, two for the main building, and one for the grounds."

"Well..." Sirius mind was humming. "What about the lower levels?"

"Wards won't work down there," Dumbledore rubbed his temple. "The Morthahg is too close. If something goes wrong, Sirius, you won't be able to get away."

"I won't be able to get back in either!"

"I can give you a keyport to my office," Dumbledore said. "But you should know that everything that can be done to help Ms. Zephyr is being done. I've delayed things as much as I can, and they'll have a much more difficult time now that the Zephyr patriarch is here."

"How did you know?" Ron asked. Dumbledore made a modest hand-waving gesture.

"What about the Morthahg?" Hermione asked next.

"Only a few people know about it right now," Dumbledore said. He was rummaging in a drawer of his desk. "Fudge has called everyone away from working on the door to help contain Ms. Zephyr. He believes that when she is removed from Hogwarts that the Morthahg will also leave."

"Esme didn't release the thing," Sirius protested. "Ficus did."

"Ficus is dead," Dumbledore's eyebrow rose in a look of owlish severity. "And it is doubtful he ever had any control over it. He can't help them and they're looking for someone who can."

"What's kept it from completely engulfing Hogwarts like it did Elmskill?" Harry asked.

"It keeps getting lost." A trace of humor reappeared on Dumbledore's face. He finally found what he was looking for and pulled out a small velvet bag.

"What??"

"There are secret places all through Hogwarts," Dumbledore said. He pulled out a candy that smelled like chocolate mint and looked like a small snowball. Popping it in his mouth, he offered the bag to the others. Only Ron took one. "The sub-basement the Morthahg is trying to get in through was designed by Rowena Ravenclaw, who besides being an accomplished harmonica-player also had a knack for labyrinthes. Even if it dissolves all the magic it comes in contact with, it still has to find its way out."

"But Tanner found his way to it and back!" Hermione said.

"Trueborn werewolves have a knack for not being lost," Dumbledore said with a sigh. "Magic notwithstanding."

"Is he dangerous?" Sirius asked.

"Of course."

There was a knock at the door and Sirius dropped back to Padfoot and plopped grumpily down on the rug. The door opened almost at once and Fudge swept in. Sirius couldn't help but bristle at the sight of him. Fudge looked a little peeved to see the children there, but only gave them a curt nod.

"What should I know about this Zephyr person?" he snapped before Dumbledore could even greet him.

"Which one?" Dumbledore asked mildly.

"Victor, I think," Fudge paced the front of the desk before stopping with his hands on his hips. He was clearly flustered. "Is... is he someone I should've heard of? He has my staff scrambling to accomadate him and I can't place the name."

"I understand he's something of a war hero where he's from." Harry could almost suspect Dumbledore was enjoying this. "Noble family, old money, very politically influential," the Headmaster went on, and Fudge's draw dropped a little.

"Oh..." Fudge said. "Really.."

"Oh, yes."

"And the witch in the tower is-" Fudge pointed randomly. Sirius ears perked at this.

"His granddaughter. Yes."

"Oh dear," Fudge's face couldn't drop any lower and still stay on his shoulders. "This is going to be difficult, isn't it?"

"I imagine so." There was a definite twinkle in Dumbledore's eye now.

"I don't suppose he'll understand the situation." Fudge started pacing again.

"Take care to explain it to him."

"Yes..." Fudge straightened his collar and plunked his hat back on his head. "I AM a diplomat after all..." And then he swept out. Sirius was human again as soon as the door clicked.

"Which tower?" he asked urgently.

"They brought one of their own," Dumbledore said with a very level look, and then offered him another candy.