Abyssus Abyssum Invocat
Originally by: VHDL
Continued by: Lady Kanko Wildstar
Note: Still slowing down, but definitely not done. I have several other stories and personal things dividing my attention even more. When I get a block on one story I try to move to another, that's part of why updates are periodical now. Plus I had to challenge a grade one of my professor's gave me, it ends up he lost my mid-term and final papers. Thankfully all I had to do was re-submit and it was cleared up within a couple of weeks, but it still freaked me out a bit.
I want to send out a thank you to Good And Evil on for letting me use there tango scene in chapter 39. I also altered my author's note out of my profile since others have become more respectful.
Some have still pointed out that Katherine being just as powerful as Harry was a little bit of a put off. Part of the reason she is so powerful ties into the crossover I made in previous chapters with Stargate SG-1. She is part of the program in a separate fic I've started called Unexpected Events (which, yes I'm still writing more for – it has NOT been abandoned). If you read that fic you'll see some of the tie in's and power references.
Please remember that constructive critics are always welcome as long as they are just that, constructive.
/……/ = parselmouth
Chapters 39 – 41
Last time in chapter 38:
So much time had passed since all this began, and once more the hall was host to another ball. The Yule ball to be precise. Katherine, Harry, Luna and McGonagall had spoken back and forth and agreed that they would port key SG-1 to the entrance hall after Katherine exacted vows of silence and peace from them all. It would be a celebration, no business would be discussed. As Katherine explained this to SG-1, they readily agreed to the conditions. Xander had already given them a while ago. Once dressed in there formals Katherine took out a small whoop and told them to touch it. Jack gave her an incredulous look until they felt a pull in their navals. Many people were startled by there arrival but recognized Katherine immediately giving her a warm welcome.
"Come on!" She shooed the group into the great hall. They looked about in wonder at there latest surroundings. Snow flakes seemed to fall from the sky but it never touched anyone. Great ice sculptures were displayed in many locations through out the hall. Everyone was dressed to the nine's in wizarding fashion. Magic tricks and displays were a bound. "Welcome to Hogwarts."
Chapter 39:
"Holy shit!" The team gawked at there new surroundings.
"General Hammond will be joining us momentarily." Katherine grinned as Xander snapped a few more photograph's. "Remember this is a celebration, a party, so no business talk!" She turned hearing her name being called and was soon hugged by Petunia.
"Katherine! I'm so happy you could come." Petunia smiled brightly before looking at the team curiously. "Muggles?"
"For the most part. This is the group I told you about."
"Oh! Them!" Petunia blinked before smiling gently. "I'm Petunia Evans, Katherine's older sister."
"Colonel Jack O'Neill, Major Samantha Carter, Dr. Daniel Jackson, Teal'c Murray and you already know Xander." Katherine pointed to each as she said their name and they each gave there own greetings. Hearing a slight popping sound the group saw General Hammond appear. "And this is General George Hammond. Now where is my nephew and his fiancé?"
"Head table." Petunia replied motioning to the others to follow them. They did after proper solutes were given where necessary. They passed by many curious students and guests on their several were giving Katherine's greetings during the walk. She nodded back to many, though she did stop to speak with a couple of the Australian students.
"Alexander Harris or Alex of Australia meet Major Alexander Harris or Xander of the US Marines Corps." She grinned at their mutually stumped expressions. "And while yes you are related to one another it's from about two hundred and fifty years ago. So your cousin's a few times removed in the very least. How you were named the same, I have no clue."
"Um..sir could I?" the Major began and Hammond merely nodded in response. The major joined the students at the table, finding himself quickly inundated with questions from the curious people around him. The rest of the group moved on to the expanded head table, Katherine first gave hugs to Harry and Luna before introducing everyone.
Once everyone was seated at their places Harry rose from his seat, the hall quickly silenced. "Welcome everyone the Yule Feast and Ball. I hope all of you have enjoyed yourselves thus far. You'll note we have many guests with us tonight I hope they will be treated well by everyone and please remember that tonight is a time for celebration and not business. So please behave appropriately. Now remember that first through third years have a curfew at nine thirty, while all other years have a curfew of eleven. Points and penalties will be taken against any who try to take the long way to their dormitories. If you're not in your appropriate dorms by eleven you will face punishment. Now please enjoy your meals."
Everyone sat at their tables and began to eat. Talk flowed freely and was about many topics, though none more so then the American military guests. Xander answered many curious questions from those around him, without revealing the stargate program of course. Talk at the head was little more reluctant.
"Lord Potter, I have a question that has, quite frankly, been nagging at me." Hammond spoke plainly gaining the attention of the others at the table. Harry nodded briefly before the general continued. "How is it that you are engaged so young?"
Some slightly outraged mutters sound from some of those nearby, but Harry just smiled and answered, "Muggles or non-magical people have certain fairy tales of soul mates. For wizards it is no legend because magic literally bonds us to a soul mate the moment the second is born. Because of this being soul mates mean that we are destined for one another from the beginning of time. We find each other in every life, and the moment we do, we know it. And finding that soul mate at all is such a rarity that no one interferes save for the safety of either bond mate. Luna is, literally the other half of my soul, without her I am nothing more then an empty shell."
A few sniffles met then end of his response from some of the romatically hearted. The SGC members knew what he meant in a basic fashion, if they were people but with a different view and understanding, it was a very reasonable explanation. For warriors they toke every moment they could to find happiness, finding that once in a lifetime partner was extremely rare with their profession. With how limited the magical community is, finding their true mate was probably even more complicated.
General Hammond engaged McGonagall into a discussion on the difference between the muggle and magical worlds. Madam Pompfrey, Snape, and Carter ended up discussing medical techniques and medicinal differences. Daniel was busy discussing magical history with Cresswell. And Jack (surprisingly enough) was discussing flying with Madam Hooch on the difference between brooms and jets. Katherine, Petunia, Harry and Luna merely smiled and continued eating, listening to the conversations. It was interesting listening to Jack trying to describe a death glider's maneuvering capability for being so big.
Soon enough dinner was over and as they leaned back in their chairs the tables with everything still on them disappeared. The groups rose from their seats and the chairs also disappeared but then reappeared along the walls.
"And to dance we have a special band with us today…the Weird Sisters." Harry announced to the cheers of the students.
Jack leaned over to Hooch, "There guys."
"It's there band name." She muttered back a grin spreading widely. "Why don't we see if your dancing is similar, Colonel?"
"It would my pleasure my lady." He dramatically bowed holding out his elbow to her, before they walked down to the dance floor. This drew chuckles from the others. Harry bowed to Luna, as they followed their lead. Cresswell got up the guts to ask Carter to dance, as Sinistra dragged Daniel to the dance floor. Teal'c merely raised one elegant brow before heading over to the punch bowl.
Hammond turned to McGonagall, "Would you honor me with a dance Professor?"
It was surprising when McGonagall blushed but she gave an elegant curtsied. "I would, General." The two made an interesting couple to see, some students paused but soon returned to dancing when they saw the two join them.
Snape came up behind Katherine, "I don't suppose you know how dance with anyone other than Harry."
"I do. But what makes you think you can keep up?" She smirked, before give a slight twirl her uniform changed into a flowing emerald dress.
"I'll take that as a challenge." Snape held out his hand, the corners of his lips twitching and his eyes lighting up.
"Good. Because it is one." Katherine didn't bother hiding her smirk, as they went to join the others on the dance floor.
Petunia smiled at the by-play between her sister and the potions master. As they walked to the floor an oddly tango sounding song began. 'I think that we'll get quite the show from those two.'
She was correct, the moment they stepped on the dance floor others could sense the tension, the power and even the team could sense a shift in the atmosphere. Everyone slowly shifted off of the dance floor but the couple took no notice of this.
"Let's see if you know how to tango." she stressed.
Severus put on a knowing smirk and gave a low whisper, "Still have a few surprises up my sleeve," he gave a courteous bow, "Lady Katherine." He leaned in when they toke position on the edge of the dance floor, "You have to put your hand on my shoulder."
"Of course," Katherine scoffed, "I know this dance."
"Show me."
The music flowed enticing and entrancing Katherine's very being. Locking eyes with Severus's dark brown, almost black orbs, her feet fell into step immediately. Maybe it was the heat of his body next to hers, but a sudden fire began burning throughout Katherine's body, lighting a fierce passion for the dance. And suddenly it was not a dance between to human beings, it was a competition and everything in the Potion master's eyes was daring her to take the challenge. With swift, elegant spin Katherine silently accepted.
The dance floor then and there disappeared. The background and former thought of anything else faded into the shear blackness surrounding their figures. It was only they in their dashing formal wear, dancing like it was their last.
Her blood boiled with excitement, as he spun her out and back into his firm chest, with one very crisp movement. Glancing up into Severus's dark chocolate eyes Katherine found his gaze looking back at her completely unreadable.
What are you thinking? Katherine wondered, momentarily taken out of the dance.
But then thrown back in as Severus spun her out again, the royal silk of her dress spun like fountain on the floor, the violins blared in her ears and the dance continued.
Twists, turns, lefts and rights, Katherine was moving her body in ways she hadn't in a while and though her body twinge in pain sometimes. It had been a while since she tangoed. She loved this, the passion, the moment, the mystery, the daring in his eyes. They excited her. Made her feel dangerous, yet scared her at the same time. She could see a passion in his movements and holds. For such a imposing man, Severus Snape moved with surprising grace and wit, moves that the style of music only complemented.
Faster and faster they danced this dance they do, until completely immersed in the entrancing music beyond thought. Finally as the music began to come to the end, Severus took her in his strong arms and dipped her low in one swift movement.
As the music came to dead halt the spell on them was broken. And they came back to the elegant floor, with flowing butterbeer and punch; a shinning ice sculptures sparkled around them. With the addition of roaring clapping, Katherine looked around to see find hundreds of eyes staring back at her.
Katherine looked over at Severus to see him taking a short bow and slowly, she gave a short curtsey and the crowd grew even louder, obviously her tango wasn't as rusty as she thought. He toke her hand and led her from the floor back to the group of friends. Petunia, Harry and Luna were exchanging a look of understanding. Severus was truly very interested in Katherine. And it appeared that she was returning that interest, even if it was obvious she held back. This pairing would be interesting to see what the future would bring. Especially with Malfoy Sr. giving both of them heated looks, whether it was lust or anger could not be discerned so easily.
Chapter 40:
While Hammond toke another port-key, uncomfortably, back to the base the rest of the team stayed in Hogwarts. Both Daniel and Sam were practically vibrating with excitement to explore and examine everyone and everything. Teal'c looked around with mild interest as he was seeing a new side of the Tauri people. And Jack was wishing he could take a spin on a Nimbus that Madam Hooch had described to him. Xander spent time with his cousin, his personal room being not far from where Alex's dorm was. Katherine, however, almost went into full hiding mode again. She hadn't missed the heated looks from Severus and Lucius, and was starting to freak out again. She guessed the two noticed because they rather respectfully kept their distance.
Early the next morning Katherine was walking the grounds when she heard a scream from one of the greenhouses. Others came running from various locations to it as well as Katherine was drawing her side arm. Bursting into the greenhouse a screaming Beauxbatons girl stared in horror at the dead body she had found. Harry came in from the other side and his jaw clenched with anger at the sight. McGonagall lead the student out as she sobbed.
"Who would dare do this?" Snape hissed.
"The muggles?" One of the foreign teachers suggested.
"No, both Katherine and I warded their rooms ourselves, they were escorted to their rooms at the end of the dance and never left them until ten minutes ago. This body has been dead for hours." Harry interrupted before more speculation could begin. "Katherine, I need you and Madam Pomfrey to do a full autopsy both muggle and magical. I want to know how and when. Then maybe we can piece together the why. Use all of your abilities aunt, we need to know everything. Severus, please assist as needed."
Both Katherine and Severus nodded as Madam Pomfrey levitated the body onto a stretcher and covered it with a blanket. The two women walked through Hogwarts with the stretcher between them and Snape followed from behind. Students and guest watched the grim procession horrified. As they passed SG1 Katherine shook her head before they could say anything. They understood, it was a 'don't ask, don't tell' type of situation. As they began the autopsy, Harry questioned the girl that had found the body in the headmistress' office with Madam Maxime and other officials present.
"For legalities sake we need to administer truth serum. Madam Maxime is here to help represent your best interests and prevent unlawful questions from being asked. Then we might need to see the memory in a pensive, okay?" Harry said gently and the girl nodded in understanding still shaken. Madam Maxime herself administered the potion before the questioning began. "What is your name?"
"Maria Le Court." Maxime confirmed with a nod of her head.
"Can you speak English fluently?" Harry asked gently.
"Yes." The girl spoke firming and Maxime nodded again to confirm.
"What were you doing when you found the body?"
"I was taking a walk." The girl blushed brightly before continuing, "I was going to meet Zacharias of Hufflepuff before we went down to Hogsmeade for a date."
The adults gained looks of understanding at the girls embarrassment. Harry knew of young love quite well. So he continued, "How did you find the body?"
"I wanted to warm up, it was so cold out that I felt frozen in moments of stepping outside. I smelt something strange…I thought I heard a noise. I went towards it and she was there…just lying there, as cold as ice…her throat…"The girls eyes began to tear up. Madam Maxime immediately gathered her in a protective hug.
"Per'aps we sho'd stop." The headmistress said.
"No, I wan' to finis'" The girls accent began to come back as she hiccupped.
"Did you see anyone or anything near the body?"
"She ha' something in he' hand. It was clentched tight. Bu' I couldn't see it clearly."'
Harry studied the girl briefly before nodding to an official who held the antidote. Maxime toke it from him and once again administered it to her student. "I know this is hard but we need the memory for evidence. Do you know how to use a pensive?"
"My papa has one, he taugh' me how." She hiccupped. Harry summoned the pensive that had been set aside. The girl shakily rose from her seat to stand in front of it. Raising her wand she place it to her own temple before slowly drawing the silver thread of memory out and dropping it into the pensive herself. She quickly turned to hug Maxime who rubbed her back gently whispering soothing words to her in French. Maxime looked to Harry who merely nodded, the headmistress gently guided the girl to another of her female staff, who then led the girl out.
A knock came from the door before they could view the memory. In walked Katherine, very grim and angered. "Prelim is done. Death was not quick."
Curses met her short words. Harry sighed, "What happened based on what you could gather?"
"The girl was beaten by hand then magic. She was tortured, raped and then finally killed. Rigger mortis is set for about an hour after the final curfew." Katherine showed no emotions through this, only a harden cold mask. She stepped up to the pensive herself, drawing memories and placing them in the bowl. And went to the door to leave, though she did pause for a moment. "I have to get back. We're running more focused tests next. I used mage sight to pull her last memories. If you have a shaky stomach, then don't even try to see it."
Several people still stepped forward to the pensive. They all went in as one.
First came the sight of the young girl finding the body:
They watched as the young Beauxbaton girl excitedly left the dorms humming, walking through the halls often stopping to speak with a few of the portraits for directions, then finding her way to the entrance hall. Nodding to others along the way. She shivered as she stepped outside, drawing her cloak tighter around her for warmth. As she walked farther and farther, she seemed so chilled. Spotting a greenhouses door ajar she bolted for it. Once she got into the green house she rubbed her hands to warm up.
She sniffed the air repeatedly, her nose actually twitched. She turned quickly after hearing a pinging sound. And slowly made her way in that direction with her hand on her wand. As she moved around a bush she saw the body. Her hand fell away from the wand as she slowly began to back away before finally screaming.
The memory faded just as Katherine came bursting into the room followed by others. The group toke a few moments before diving into the pensive again.
Now they watched the autopsy through, horrified by the process. Katherine moved up to stand near the bodies head, placed her wand onto it as she chanted, then drawing the wand with a new glowing silver ball attached to her own head, where the ball absorbed into it. Then the scenery suddenly changed…
She was being chased from the entrance hall by a cloaked young man, giggling all the way. It was obvious she was going outside with him willingly at this point. They walked along in the darkness holding hands, until they finally came to the green house. Quickly the guy pulls her in laughing as she giggled along.
Then he tried to kiss her and was rapidly escalating his movements – he wanted sex, that was plain to see – but she resisted after the first few kisses. And as he continued to try, she continued to fight him. Finally he pulled away long enough to back handedly hit her. When she tried to draw her wand after falling to the ground, he ripped it from her grasp before she could even say a spell. She tried to scream but he cast a silencing spell before beginning to beat her.
Those present watched in horror as she was beaten relentlessly, before her attacker began to use magic. Then he ripped of her cloths and raped her…repeatedly. And finally after what seemed like hours the attacker cast the worst unforgivable, the Avada curse. Just before she dies they saw what her attacker had worn, the uniform of a junior staff member of the Russian Institute.
Finally the memory ended and they were once again in the head mistress's office. Still several shocked gasps, a mutter of "Sweet Merlin" and several gagged. Harry, however, didn't react or even twitch at all for a few moments before moving over to the fireplace.
"Hogwarts Hospital Wing." He shouted as he through floo powder into the fire.
"Yes, Lord Potter." Snape's face appeared.
"Tell Katherine to gather any and all evidence from the body and the green house that she can. We sealed it off after removing the body so it should be relatively untainted. If she has to use everyone of her mage gifts I don't care. I need to know who did this murder, understand?" Harry demanded coldly and Snape merely nodded before disappearing from the fireplace. Harry turned to the others, "We need everyone in the great hall NOW! All of them must be accounted for save Pomfrey, Snape and Katherine. Auror's must be posted throughout Hogwarts and its grounds until Katherine gathers the evidence. I will not let this go unsolved, the criminal must be brought to justice for the sake of that poor girl."
Chapter 41:
"ALL STUDENTS, STAFF AND GUESTS ARE TO REPORT TO THE GREAT HALL IMMEDIATELY! NO EXCEPTIONS!" Harry's blasted throughout the school and its ground. Staff members guided students to the hall as aurors flooded the hallways searching every inch to make sure no one was missed. The poor Beauxbatons girl who had found the body was surrounded by supporters, including Zacharias who held her hand, as she made her way to the great hall. She sat with Zacharias at the Hufflepuff table joined by a few of her schoolmates.
At the head table they were deadly serious, even Luna's eyes had lost their twinkle of happiness. It was as though a stone wall was erected for how grim they looked. Once everyone entered the hall, the doors slammed shut causing many shouts of surprise and shock. Harry rose from his seat before bellowing, "SILENCE!!"
All noise in the hall stopped so you could hear a pin drop as everyone turned in shock to look at Harry's thunderous face. "Not an hour after final curfew last night a young girl was murdered. Murdered by someone who was staying within these very walls. And now justice will be had for her and her family. Her name was Jennifer Smithson. She was going to graduate this year from Salem Academy. Already promised an apprenticeship to the professor of charms there as well. She was beaten by hand then magic. She was tortured, raped and then finally killed."
The fireplace flared to life and Katherine came out dressed in black dragon hide robes. She handed a small card to Fudge who nodded grimly and handed it back. "We have evidence of what happened, where, how and some of why. But now we also know who. As Katherine is leader of the council of mages she has the right and authority to dispense justice for crimes committed against any living creature before their time. Her authority is absolute and only the Lady Perceiver herself can change the ruling. And she also has diplomatic immunity. So there is nothing anyone can do against her actions without an international incident of epic proportions."
Those in the hall shifted nervously as Katherine's own venomus gaze looked across the hall before focusing on one man, she hissed "Mark Romatiskovka." Everyone around the man immediately moved as far away from him as possible. "Through the evidence gathered with my own two hands, eyes and magic, I find you guilty of physical assault, sexual harassment, rape, torture and murder. You killed a daughter of house Smithson and Gatterland, I now dispense justice on their behalf. For the crimes you have committed you are hereby sentenced to the dementors kiss." Katherine growled as she strode forward, Mark backed up to the door.
Just she clamped her hand around his neck as a chill came over everyone. As window creped open and a dementor floated into the room. Surprisingly while they felt the chill they didn't feel anything else. Katherine held the struggling man in place as the dementor floated to stand beside her. As she removed her hand, it replace hers with one of its own. Slowly it leaned towards him until finally they kissed, Mark's body went limp. The dementor dropped the body as it turned towards Katherine…it actually bowed to her before going back out the window. As warmth returned to the hall two auror's picked up the body moving out of the way as the doors swung open slightly.
Before the doors opened completely and Katherine disappeared in a swirl of blue smoke, Harry's voice rang out, "Let this be a warning to those who would commit these heinous crimes, there will be no mercy from the mage's council or from me."
Chapter 42:
Katherine sighed as she sat before the fire in night robes with a large glass of firewhiskey. This reminded her all too well of the past. Even with all her time in the Marines, fighting and killing, things like this still unnerved her. She was pulled out of her thoughts by someone pounding on the portrait entrance to her room. She set down her cup down and strode to the door, flinging it open and roared, "WHAT????"
Both Severus and Lucius toke a step back in shock. Lucius cleared his throat, "Lord Potter thought it best someone checked on you after this whole…incident."
Katherine eyebrow quirked, "He sent both of you?"
The two men shifted from one foot to another before Severus spoke up, "Not quite. Though we didn't know if more then one would be needed with how he hinted that you might be indulging your drinks."
"I'm in the privacy of my rooms and thus do not need babysitters." Katherine's eyebrow twitched slightly. "Thanks for your concern but go away."
She slammed the door shut before either could stop her.
In the days that followed people's spirits slowly lifted. The members from the SGC had successfully left without any further incidents. Only time will tell if this proves to be true…
EMERGENCY AUTHOR'S NOTE:
I'm seriously considering taking on a co-author or simply letting someone else take over completely for Abyssus. If your interested please write a scene and send it to me. I would prefer remaining as an author for the fic but I've hit an extremely large writer's block that I can't seem to get out of. Only those who submit will be considered at all!!!!
I'll be considering all those who submit by March 31st and announce within two weeks after that (roughly mid April)
