The Liber Severi
Liber I - Severus Snape's True Love
Copyright (c) 2001 by Cassandra Houston
Illustrations by Gabriel (http://www.angelfire.com/art/angelgabriel/)
Author's Notes:
Most of the characters within belong to JK Rowling. Amethyst Rayne Black Snape, Lapis Meaker and some others belong to me, Cassandra Houston. I will not accept money for this book, nor any others made with the wonderful characters JK Rowling has created. I am only putting on paper my interpretation and theory of what the Rowling characters may have been like before the Harry Potter series and what they may be like after. I am not trying to insult or steal from Rowling. I am only having fun here.
If you like what you read (and I certainly hope you do), please feel free to forward a copy of this ebook along to friends, family and anyone else who may enjoy its contents.
I must take the time here to thank Gabriel. Gabriel! You are a saint and I am forever in your debt!
I now give you Severus Snape's True Love, the first in the Liber Severi series.
Cassandra Houston
Chapter Seven: Respect
The pain brought Amethyst fully awake. Her jaw hurt where Draco had hit it. The back of her head was also paining her greatly. "And the little twit has tied my hands again." She thought.
Amethyst took a deep breath and opened her eyes. She was lying on a stone floor. Draco was about six feet from her. He had his back turned, leaning over something. Amethyst noticed the corner of a piece of parchment. She recognised the figures of Crabbe and Goyle and a witch she did not know. She hoped Severus had joined with her by now. She was sure she could handle Draco alone, but she wasn't sure if she could handle four people single handedly. Crabbe and Goyle were idiots, on a good day, but they were as strong as a couple of Hippogriffs. Big, dumb animals were dangerous.
She looked around the room. She appeared to be in some sort of dungeon. The room was octagonal and there was a single door with a small barred window directly in front of her and to her left. She noticed a smallish window high and to her right. Night had fallen. She thought the window was big enough for Draco to squeeze through, but not Crabbe. Which meant she could get through it.
"But what if your father comes home, Draco?" the girl was saying.
"Father is in Germany. He said he's on some sort of business, but I think he ran. He's not here, Pansy, he hasn't been here and he isn't going to be here." Draco said, sounding like he was losing his patience. "She's all ours."
Amethyst cleared her throat. "Oh goody." She said, putting as much sarcasm into her voice as she could muster. "And I suppose you expect me to baby-sit."
Draco turned at the sound of Amethyst's voice. "Well, you're awake." He said, a truly sick looking smile forming on his lips. "I'm so sorry, but I had to tie your hands again."
Amethyst said. "Did your parents have any children that lived, Malfoy?"
Draco walked up to Amethyst and put his finger under her chin. "I thought you would know not to try and humiliate a Malfoy. Obviously you need to be taught."
"And you are going to teach me to respect the Malfoy name?" Amethyst said, unable to suppress a smile.
Draco hauled her to her feet, slapped her and said, "Yes, I am."
He motioned to Crabbe and Goyle, who came forward and held Amethyst by the arms. Draco hit her once in the stomach. Amethyst doubled over, coughing. Amethyst straightened up and strongly resisted the urge to lift her legs and send Draco across the room. Time for that later.
"Hmmmm," Amethyst said. "That wasn't bad, Draco. Actually hurt a bit."
Draco's face twisted in rage. "I'll show you, you bitch." He said. He took out his wand. "Crucio!" he shouted.
Amethyst doubled over again and her legs gave out. She locked her jaws against the intense pain. Draco kept the curse on her for a full three minutes and Amethyst feared for her sanity when Draco lifted it.
She rolled onto her back, panting. She could hear their laughter. She tried desperately to control her breathing, finally succeeding enough to pant, "Coward."
Draco stopped laughing. He hit both Crabbe and Goyle in the arms and they stopped laughing too. Pansy was standing there looking half excited, half horrified. "What did you say?" he almost whispered.
"Only a coward attacks an opponent that can't even use their hands. You hit me with a curse I couldn't even dodge." She said, continuing to pant.
Draco smiled. "You can't possibly be so stupid that you think I will give you your wand back, are you?"
Amethyst stopped rolling and lay flat on her back and stared at the ceiling. She took several deep, calming breaths, bringing her breathing back to normal. "No, Draco, I am not that stupid." She said. "But considering I have been hit by six-year-olds with more strength than you have, I would think you would like to have a go at me." She turned her head and grinned at him. "Although I would hate to have to spank you in front of your little friends."
It would take a far stronger man than Draco Malfoy not to be incensed by the insult and intrigued by the challenge. Draco had no compunctions against beating up on women. He glanced at Pansy and thought about the last time she'd gotten out of line. And Amethyst and Pansy were about the same size.
Draco looked over at Goyle. "Get her up and cut her loose." He said. Goyle gaped at him. Draco turned to Pansy and said. "Here." And handed her his wand. She looked at it a moment before she pocketed it. He turned again at Goyle, who was still gaping at him. "Are you deaf?"
Goyle went to Amethyst and untied her hands and legs. Amethyst knew her braid had come undone from its bun and thought only for a moment that it might put her at a disadvantage. She rubbed her wrists. "Them too, Draco. C'mon, be a man. I don't want to be cursed by cowards as big as yourself." She said, looking right at him.
Draco motioned for Crabbe and Goyle to give their wands to Pansy, which they did reluctantly. He then motioned his three accomplices over to the edges of the room. Amethyst made a very quick mental note where they were.
Draco was now right in her face looking at her with something very nasty in his eyes. "When I'm done with you, you will give me the respect a Malfoy deserves. And whatever else I want." He said so low only she could hear.
He hit Amethyst with an uppercut to the jaw using his closed fist. Amethyst fell to the floor, but recovered her feet quickly to return with a hard punch to his midsection. While Draco was doubled over, she brought her knee to his chin, driving him backwards.
Draco backpedaled five steps and righted himself. He bent over and ran at Amethyst, driving her backwards and into the stone wall. Her head hit solid rock again and she saw stars instead of the three punches to the ribs he gave her. She felt a great pain and thought he must have at least cracked one of them. Draco had her pinned to the wall.
"I like a woman with a little fight in her, Snape." He sneered. "I can see now why your husband fancies you." And he grabbed Amethysts right breast and twisted it painfully. "Nice tits too."
Amethyst took the opportunity Draco presented by pinning her to the wall to bring up both feet and push him halfway across the chamber. She fell on her rear and got up quickly. She ran at Draco and punched him backwards. Again she hit him. And again. Draco hit the table and bent backwards over it. Amethyst leaned over him and hit him a fourth time.
Draco grabbed her by the shoulders and they rolled along the table until they fell to the ground and rolled towards the centre of the room. Amethyst managed to pin Draco to the floor, using her legs to keep him down.
"You like this, Draco?" She hissed, out of breath. "A woman on top? In control of you?' and she hit him as hard as she could manage, twice. Draco was knocked out.
Amethyst was not about to take the time to take a breath and it was a good thing she didn't. Crabbe grabbed her and pulled her off of Draco. Goyle approached her, a shocked expression on his face. "He can't believe Draco is unconscious." She thought to herself.
She braced herself using Crabbe and brought both feet up and into Goyles chest. While he stumbled backwards, she put both feet firmly back on the ground and threw Goyle over her shoulder. At least they were both in front of her now. She hoped that they were not smart enough to attack her as a team.
She backed up quickly. Crabbe was struggling to get to his feet and Goyle was looking like he was quickly getting over his shock. Amethyst bumped into the corner of the table. She hoped against hope and turned the table over, jumping behind it. She stood and watched Goyle coming at her. She backed up a little and her back hit a wall. "Bloody hell." She thought, keeping her eye on Goyle.
Crabbe had made it to his feet and was coming fast behind Goyle. They went to opposite ends of the table and hopped over it. They stood and stared at her with nasty smiles.
"Well, that didn't work." Amethyst thought.
Severus, Sirius, Ron, Harry and Hermione all appeared in a small wood. "Where are we?" Ron asked, looking around, lost.
Severus looked ahead of him. "The Malfoys" he said, his eyes narrowing "Too many curses on the place, can't just apparate in there. We'll have to work our way in." He closed his eyes. He stood there for a few minutes. "OK, she's in there, all right." He said, frowning. "Crabbe, Goyle and Parkinson are with him. The good news is that Lucius is out of town." He began jogging toward a gate. The rest followed. He paused at the gate. Closed his eyes again. "Someone lead me. She's in their empty dungeon. I remember where that is. We want to go right here and around the corner. Then about thirty feet."
Hermione took Severus' hand and they began walking. Before they could turn the corner, Severus growled. "Son of a bitch! He's hit her with the Cruciatus Curse." Hermione gripped Severus' hand more tightly. They turned the corner and walked about ten feet before Severus grinned an evil grin. The next twenty feet were filled with Severus raising his eyebrows and cheering Amethyst on, although she could not hear him.
"Here?" Hermione asked. Severus opened his eyes and looked around. "Perfect, Hermione as usual." He looked at the wrought iron closely. He looked up at a tree branch hanging about twenty feet over the top of the fence.
Without taking his eyes from the branch he said. "Lucius has some good half-arsed curses on this place."
Sirius eyes followed Severus'. "Over that branch, you think?"
Severus nodded. He looked at Harry, Ron and Hermione. "At least one of you needs to stay here and wait. If we need help, you'll have to go for it."
The trio looked at each other. Hermione raised her hand, as if she were still in school. "I'll stay."
Severus and Sirius nodded. "You two know how to levitate?" Sirius asked, his face becoming grim. "Over that branch." He pointed.
Harry and Ron both nodded. Severus nodded and they all began concentrating on the levitation. One minute later the four of them were on the ground and following Severus across the lawns. He was headed for a smallish window at ground level. It was the only window in the place that was lit.
Ron, who was furthest behind, heard the growl. Five humongous dogs were running at them from both sides. "Look out!" he shouted, while pulling out his wand. He got the one closest to him, while Harry and Sirius got one apiece and Severus got the last two with quick restraining spells. They stood for a moment, watching the dogs. "Wow!" Harry said.
"Wolfhounds." Severus said, and continued. They reached the window and were able to peer inside. Draco was lying on the floor, apparently unconscious. Pansy was in a corner with her hands over her mouth. Crabbe and Goyle were advancing on Amethyst, one on each side of her.
"Adflicto." Sirius shouted, pointing his wand at the window. It exploded. He threw himself through the window, followed by Severus, Ron and Harry.
At the sound of the breaking window, Crabbe and Goyle, distracted turned away from Amethyst. She kicked Goyle in the solar plexus and he doubled over, shocked. Sirius pointed his wand at Crabbe and shouted "Everbero!" Crabbe hit the wall and slid to the floor.
Amethyst leaned against the wall and expelled a breath. "Well, I thought you'd show up sooner or later." She said, smiling. Her hair was coming out of its braid and she was bleeding from the corner of her mouth. She wiped away the blood and climbed over the overturned table and into the waiting arms of her husband. She called out in pain and Severus pulled back. "I think I have a cracked rib." She said.
Severus opened her robes enough to see she had plenty of bruises. He pointed his wand at her and said, "Sanoia" tenderly. Amethyst sighed and smiled as he closed then again.
Pansy remained where she had been throughout the fight. Her hands were still over her mouth. Ron walked over to her and said, "Well, halloo there, Pansy. Long time no see. Still hanging around with that git, I see." He pointed his wand at her said, "Advoco." And four wands flew from Pansy's robes into Ron's hand. "Thank you much, luv." He said, smiling.
Goyle was recovering himself. "Don't be thick." Sirius said, pointing his wand at him. Goyle stood and fumed and that was all.
"All right now!" Amethyst said, grinning and clapping her hands. She looked over at Crabbe and Goyle. "You ladies come over here and stand by your girlfriend." She waved her arm at the fallen Malfoy. "And you," she turned her eyes on Pansy. "You too." And Pansy stalked over and stood near Crabbe and Goyle. Ron handed Amethyst her wand back and Amethyst thanked him.
They put a restraining spell on the four Slytherins and magicked them out the single window. They returned to the gate, where Hermione was wringing her hands. They began levitating their captives over the fence. Malfoy made it over the fence when he suddenly fell twenty feet. Everyone looked at Amethyst who shrugged and said, "Whoops."
Sirius raised his wand, waved it in a circle that encompassed all ten of them and said, "Eo ire itum". They reappeared in the main office of Department of Magical Law Enforcement at the Ministry of Magic Headquarters.
Five wizards were seated at desks around the room. All five looked up when ten people arrived out of thin air. A tall, thick wizard stood. "Can I help you?" He asked.
Sirius spoke. "Lapis Meaker, please," he said, as if just stopping to ask the time.
The wizard looked at them and did not seem impressed. Just then a door along the wall opened and another tall, solidly built man stepped out of his office. He looked in their direction and his eyes landed on Sirius. "Well, I'll be god damned!" he shouted. His accent was definitely strange. American Southern. He walked up to Sirius and the two men shook hands heartily. "What brings you here, and at two o'clock in the morning, no less?"
He seemed to suddenly notice the other nine people. "Well, well, well." He said. He looked them all over, one by one. His eyes rested on Draco Malfoy. "If it isn't Draco Malfoy." He boomed. He scanned them again. "This ought to be good!" and he sat on the top of the desk nearest him. The tall, thick wizard, seeing his boss had everything, if not in hand, at least had it, returned to his desk.
Amethyst launched into her story. Lapis' brown eyes got larger as she progressed and he laughed several times. When she'd finished her story, he waved his wand, breaking the restraining spells on their captives. He stood up, pulled Malfoy into a sitting position with one hand and slapped him smartly with the other.
Draco began to stir. "Wake up, fool!" Lapis yelled at him.
Draco opened his eyes and started. "Wha?" he said stupidly.
"I would like to welcome you to the Department of Magical Law Enforcements main office. My name is Lapis Meaker and I'll be your host for the evening." He said grinning into Malfoys face.
Malfoy began to move and Lapis threw him down and stepped on his chest. "Listen here, boy." He said, looking down at Draco. "Don't play games with me. It ain't healthy." He then got off of Malfoy's chest and conjured chairs for Malfoy, Crabbe, Goyle and Parkenson. "Sit down and make yourself comfortable."
They sat, and so did Lapis, in a chair behind the desk. He looked at Amethyst. "Now, ma'am," he said looking at Amethyst. "I need to tell you that this bunch here are facing some very serious charges. You will be required to testify when they go to trial. Are you willing to do that?"
Amethyst said, "Yes."
"All right then." And he pulled a quill out of his pocket and went rifling through a drawer looking for parchment.
"You talk funny." Pansy said, suddenly.
Lapis looked up. "Well, sweetheart, let me tell you." He said, a slow grin spreading across his face. "I've been in London goin on about ten years now. I came here when I was eighteen. Now, I'm originally from a place called Sealy, Texas. That's in the States, now. And, if you don't mind my saying, I think it ain't me, but all y'all who talk funny." And he bent his head over his parchment while Pansy stared and Sirius and Amethyst laughed.
Half an hour later, Amethyst signed her statement. Draco was facing kidnapping charges. Crabbe was facing accessory to kidnap charges. Draco, Crabbe and Goyle were all facing assault charges, and Pansy was looking at a light charge of failing to prevent mayhem.
Amethyst left the building at a quarter to three o'clock in the morning with Severus, Sirius, Ron, Hermione and Harry. They stood in the cold a moment, actually enjoying the cold.
"What a night!" Ron said.
"Yes it was at that." Amethyst said, leaning into Severus. He had his arm around her.
"Well," Hermione said, brightly. "You may as well all come home with us. You've all been invited to spend the holidays, anyway."
"That's right." Snape said, beginning to chuckle. Amethyst was giggling.
"What?" Ron said, looking at them as if they'd gone mad.
"We were going to send word with Ginny." Amethyst said, laughing now. "I sent Colin Creevy to find her. We decided we were going to spend this holiday quietly and alone."
Everyone laughed. When the laughter died down, Sirius spoke.
"I'd like to invite my sister and brother-in-law," and here everyone gaped at Sirius, who stopped and said "What? Severus is my brother-in-law. You all know that." But he looked mischievous and turned a bit pink. "I would like to invite you two to my place for the Holidays. We have a lot to talk about, or I do anyway."
Severus and Amethyst looked at each other for a long moment. Amethyst raised her eyebrows at her husband. He nodded. "OK, Sirius. You're right. Guess it's time to hash this all out once and for all, eh?" The three of them bid the rest goodnight and disappeared.
Hermione looked disappointed, but Harry poked her in the ribs and said. "They might just patch things up, especially after tonight." He said, hopefully.
Hermione sighed. "I suppose your right. They seemed to have developed a lot of respect for each other." She said, looking hopefully at the spot where Amethyst, Severus and Sirius had just been.
"I would love to hear the conversations they'll be having this holiday." Ron said in a wistful sort of a voice. Hermione hit him in the arm.
They disappeared.
Liber I - Severus Snape's True Love
Copyright (c) 2001 by Cassandra Houston
Illustrations by Gabriel (http://www.angelfire.com/art/angelgabriel/)
Author's Notes:
Most of the characters within belong to JK Rowling. Amethyst Rayne Black Snape, Lapis Meaker and some others belong to me, Cassandra Houston. I will not accept money for this book, nor any others made with the wonderful characters JK Rowling has created. I am only putting on paper my interpretation and theory of what the Rowling characters may have been like before the Harry Potter series and what they may be like after. I am not trying to insult or steal from Rowling. I am only having fun here.
If you like what you read (and I certainly hope you do), please feel free to forward a copy of this ebook along to friends, family and anyone else who may enjoy its contents.
I must take the time here to thank Gabriel. Gabriel! You are a saint and I am forever in your debt!
I now give you Severus Snape's True Love, the first in the Liber Severi series.
Cassandra Houston
Chapter Seven: Respect
The pain brought Amethyst fully awake. Her jaw hurt where Draco had hit it. The back of her head was also paining her greatly. "And the little twit has tied my hands again." She thought.
Amethyst took a deep breath and opened her eyes. She was lying on a stone floor. Draco was about six feet from her. He had his back turned, leaning over something. Amethyst noticed the corner of a piece of parchment. She recognised the figures of Crabbe and Goyle and a witch she did not know. She hoped Severus had joined with her by now. She was sure she could handle Draco alone, but she wasn't sure if she could handle four people single handedly. Crabbe and Goyle were idiots, on a good day, but they were as strong as a couple of Hippogriffs. Big, dumb animals were dangerous.
She looked around the room. She appeared to be in some sort of dungeon. The room was octagonal and there was a single door with a small barred window directly in front of her and to her left. She noticed a smallish window high and to her right. Night had fallen. She thought the window was big enough for Draco to squeeze through, but not Crabbe. Which meant she could get through it.
"But what if your father comes home, Draco?" the girl was saying.
"Father is in Germany. He said he's on some sort of business, but I think he ran. He's not here, Pansy, he hasn't been here and he isn't going to be here." Draco said, sounding like he was losing his patience. "She's all ours."
Amethyst cleared her throat. "Oh goody." She said, putting as much sarcasm into her voice as she could muster. "And I suppose you expect me to baby-sit."
Draco turned at the sound of Amethyst's voice. "Well, you're awake." He said, a truly sick looking smile forming on his lips. "I'm so sorry, but I had to tie your hands again."
Amethyst said. "Did your parents have any children that lived, Malfoy?"
Draco walked up to Amethyst and put his finger under her chin. "I thought you would know not to try and humiliate a Malfoy. Obviously you need to be taught."
"And you are going to teach me to respect the Malfoy name?" Amethyst said, unable to suppress a smile.
Draco hauled her to her feet, slapped her and said, "Yes, I am."
He motioned to Crabbe and Goyle, who came forward and held Amethyst by the arms. Draco hit her once in the stomach. Amethyst doubled over, coughing. Amethyst straightened up and strongly resisted the urge to lift her legs and send Draco across the room. Time for that later.
"Hmmmm," Amethyst said. "That wasn't bad, Draco. Actually hurt a bit."
Draco's face twisted in rage. "I'll show you, you bitch." He said. He took out his wand. "Crucio!" he shouted.
Amethyst doubled over again and her legs gave out. She locked her jaws against the intense pain. Draco kept the curse on her for a full three minutes and Amethyst feared for her sanity when Draco lifted it.
She rolled onto her back, panting. She could hear their laughter. She tried desperately to control her breathing, finally succeeding enough to pant, "Coward."
Draco stopped laughing. He hit both Crabbe and Goyle in the arms and they stopped laughing too. Pansy was standing there looking half excited, half horrified. "What did you say?" he almost whispered.
"Only a coward attacks an opponent that can't even use their hands. You hit me with a curse I couldn't even dodge." She said, continuing to pant.
Draco smiled. "You can't possibly be so stupid that you think I will give you your wand back, are you?"
Amethyst stopped rolling and lay flat on her back and stared at the ceiling. She took several deep, calming breaths, bringing her breathing back to normal. "No, Draco, I am not that stupid." She said. "But considering I have been hit by six-year-olds with more strength than you have, I would think you would like to have a go at me." She turned her head and grinned at him. "Although I would hate to have to spank you in front of your little friends."
It would take a far stronger man than Draco Malfoy not to be incensed by the insult and intrigued by the challenge. Draco had no compunctions against beating up on women. He glanced at Pansy and thought about the last time she'd gotten out of line. And Amethyst and Pansy were about the same size.
Draco looked over at Goyle. "Get her up and cut her loose." He said. Goyle gaped at him. Draco turned to Pansy and said. "Here." And handed her his wand. She looked at it a moment before she pocketed it. He turned again at Goyle, who was still gaping at him. "Are you deaf?"
Goyle went to Amethyst and untied her hands and legs. Amethyst knew her braid had come undone from its bun and thought only for a moment that it might put her at a disadvantage. She rubbed her wrists. "Them too, Draco. C'mon, be a man. I don't want to be cursed by cowards as big as yourself." She said, looking right at him.
Draco motioned for Crabbe and Goyle to give their wands to Pansy, which they did reluctantly. He then motioned his three accomplices over to the edges of the room. Amethyst made a very quick mental note where they were.
Draco was now right in her face looking at her with something very nasty in his eyes. "When I'm done with you, you will give me the respect a Malfoy deserves. And whatever else I want." He said so low only she could hear.
He hit Amethyst with an uppercut to the jaw using his closed fist. Amethyst fell to the floor, but recovered her feet quickly to return with a hard punch to his midsection. While Draco was doubled over, she brought her knee to his chin, driving him backwards.
Draco backpedaled five steps and righted himself. He bent over and ran at Amethyst, driving her backwards and into the stone wall. Her head hit solid rock again and she saw stars instead of the three punches to the ribs he gave her. She felt a great pain and thought he must have at least cracked one of them. Draco had her pinned to the wall.
"I like a woman with a little fight in her, Snape." He sneered. "I can see now why your husband fancies you." And he grabbed Amethysts right breast and twisted it painfully. "Nice tits too."
Amethyst took the opportunity Draco presented by pinning her to the wall to bring up both feet and push him halfway across the chamber. She fell on her rear and got up quickly. She ran at Draco and punched him backwards. Again she hit him. And again. Draco hit the table and bent backwards over it. Amethyst leaned over him and hit him a fourth time.
Draco grabbed her by the shoulders and they rolled along the table until they fell to the ground and rolled towards the centre of the room. Amethyst managed to pin Draco to the floor, using her legs to keep him down.
"You like this, Draco?" She hissed, out of breath. "A woman on top? In control of you?' and she hit him as hard as she could manage, twice. Draco was knocked out.
Amethyst was not about to take the time to take a breath and it was a good thing she didn't. Crabbe grabbed her and pulled her off of Draco. Goyle approached her, a shocked expression on his face. "He can't believe Draco is unconscious." She thought to herself.
She braced herself using Crabbe and brought both feet up and into Goyles chest. While he stumbled backwards, she put both feet firmly back on the ground and threw Goyle over her shoulder. At least they were both in front of her now. She hoped that they were not smart enough to attack her as a team.
She backed up quickly. Crabbe was struggling to get to his feet and Goyle was looking like he was quickly getting over his shock. Amethyst bumped into the corner of the table. She hoped against hope and turned the table over, jumping behind it. She stood and watched Goyle coming at her. She backed up a little and her back hit a wall. "Bloody hell." She thought, keeping her eye on Goyle.
Crabbe had made it to his feet and was coming fast behind Goyle. They went to opposite ends of the table and hopped over it. They stood and stared at her with nasty smiles.
"Well, that didn't work." Amethyst thought.
Severus, Sirius, Ron, Harry and Hermione all appeared in a small wood. "Where are we?" Ron asked, looking around, lost.
Severus looked ahead of him. "The Malfoys" he said, his eyes narrowing "Too many curses on the place, can't just apparate in there. We'll have to work our way in." He closed his eyes. He stood there for a few minutes. "OK, she's in there, all right." He said, frowning. "Crabbe, Goyle and Parkinson are with him. The good news is that Lucius is out of town." He began jogging toward a gate. The rest followed. He paused at the gate. Closed his eyes again. "Someone lead me. She's in their empty dungeon. I remember where that is. We want to go right here and around the corner. Then about thirty feet."
Hermione took Severus' hand and they began walking. Before they could turn the corner, Severus growled. "Son of a bitch! He's hit her with the Cruciatus Curse." Hermione gripped Severus' hand more tightly. They turned the corner and walked about ten feet before Severus grinned an evil grin. The next twenty feet were filled with Severus raising his eyebrows and cheering Amethyst on, although she could not hear him.
"Here?" Hermione asked. Severus opened his eyes and looked around. "Perfect, Hermione as usual." He looked at the wrought iron closely. He looked up at a tree branch hanging about twenty feet over the top of the fence.
Without taking his eyes from the branch he said. "Lucius has some good half-arsed curses on this place."
Sirius eyes followed Severus'. "Over that branch, you think?"
Severus nodded. He looked at Harry, Ron and Hermione. "At least one of you needs to stay here and wait. If we need help, you'll have to go for it."
The trio looked at each other. Hermione raised her hand, as if she were still in school. "I'll stay."
Severus and Sirius nodded. "You two know how to levitate?" Sirius asked, his face becoming grim. "Over that branch." He pointed.
Harry and Ron both nodded. Severus nodded and they all began concentrating on the levitation. One minute later the four of them were on the ground and following Severus across the lawns. He was headed for a smallish window at ground level. It was the only window in the place that was lit.
Ron, who was furthest behind, heard the growl. Five humongous dogs were running at them from both sides. "Look out!" he shouted, while pulling out his wand. He got the one closest to him, while Harry and Sirius got one apiece and Severus got the last two with quick restraining spells. They stood for a moment, watching the dogs. "Wow!" Harry said.
"Wolfhounds." Severus said, and continued. They reached the window and were able to peer inside. Draco was lying on the floor, apparently unconscious. Pansy was in a corner with her hands over her mouth. Crabbe and Goyle were advancing on Amethyst, one on each side of her.
"Adflicto." Sirius shouted, pointing his wand at the window. It exploded. He threw himself through the window, followed by Severus, Ron and Harry.
At the sound of the breaking window, Crabbe and Goyle, distracted turned away from Amethyst. She kicked Goyle in the solar plexus and he doubled over, shocked. Sirius pointed his wand at Crabbe and shouted "Everbero!" Crabbe hit the wall and slid to the floor.
Amethyst leaned against the wall and expelled a breath. "Well, I thought you'd show up sooner or later." She said, smiling. Her hair was coming out of its braid and she was bleeding from the corner of her mouth. She wiped away the blood and climbed over the overturned table and into the waiting arms of her husband. She called out in pain and Severus pulled back. "I think I have a cracked rib." She said.
Severus opened her robes enough to see she had plenty of bruises. He pointed his wand at her and said, "Sanoia" tenderly. Amethyst sighed and smiled as he closed then again.
Pansy remained where she had been throughout the fight. Her hands were still over her mouth. Ron walked over to her and said, "Well, halloo there, Pansy. Long time no see. Still hanging around with that git, I see." He pointed his wand at her said, "Advoco." And four wands flew from Pansy's robes into Ron's hand. "Thank you much, luv." He said, smiling.
Goyle was recovering himself. "Don't be thick." Sirius said, pointing his wand at him. Goyle stood and fumed and that was all.
"All right now!" Amethyst said, grinning and clapping her hands. She looked over at Crabbe and Goyle. "You ladies come over here and stand by your girlfriend." She waved her arm at the fallen Malfoy. "And you," she turned her eyes on Pansy. "You too." And Pansy stalked over and stood near Crabbe and Goyle. Ron handed Amethyst her wand back and Amethyst thanked him.
They put a restraining spell on the four Slytherins and magicked them out the single window. They returned to the gate, where Hermione was wringing her hands. They began levitating their captives over the fence. Malfoy made it over the fence when he suddenly fell twenty feet. Everyone looked at Amethyst who shrugged and said, "Whoops."
Sirius raised his wand, waved it in a circle that encompassed all ten of them and said, "Eo ire itum". They reappeared in the main office of Department of Magical Law Enforcement at the Ministry of Magic Headquarters.
Five wizards were seated at desks around the room. All five looked up when ten people arrived out of thin air. A tall, thick wizard stood. "Can I help you?" He asked.
Sirius spoke. "Lapis Meaker, please," he said, as if just stopping to ask the time.
The wizard looked at them and did not seem impressed. Just then a door along the wall opened and another tall, solidly built man stepped out of his office. He looked in their direction and his eyes landed on Sirius. "Well, I'll be god damned!" he shouted. His accent was definitely strange. American Southern. He walked up to Sirius and the two men shook hands heartily. "What brings you here, and at two o'clock in the morning, no less?"
He seemed to suddenly notice the other nine people. "Well, well, well." He said. He looked them all over, one by one. His eyes rested on Draco Malfoy. "If it isn't Draco Malfoy." He boomed. He scanned them again. "This ought to be good!" and he sat on the top of the desk nearest him. The tall, thick wizard, seeing his boss had everything, if not in hand, at least had it, returned to his desk.
Amethyst launched into her story. Lapis' brown eyes got larger as she progressed and he laughed several times. When she'd finished her story, he waved his wand, breaking the restraining spells on their captives. He stood up, pulled Malfoy into a sitting position with one hand and slapped him smartly with the other.
Draco began to stir. "Wake up, fool!" Lapis yelled at him.
Draco opened his eyes and started. "Wha?" he said stupidly.
"I would like to welcome you to the Department of Magical Law Enforcements main office. My name is Lapis Meaker and I'll be your host for the evening." He said grinning into Malfoys face.
Malfoy began to move and Lapis threw him down and stepped on his chest. "Listen here, boy." He said, looking down at Draco. "Don't play games with me. It ain't healthy." He then got off of Malfoy's chest and conjured chairs for Malfoy, Crabbe, Goyle and Parkenson. "Sit down and make yourself comfortable."
They sat, and so did Lapis, in a chair behind the desk. He looked at Amethyst. "Now, ma'am," he said looking at Amethyst. "I need to tell you that this bunch here are facing some very serious charges. You will be required to testify when they go to trial. Are you willing to do that?"
Amethyst said, "Yes."
"All right then." And he pulled a quill out of his pocket and went rifling through a drawer looking for parchment.
"You talk funny." Pansy said, suddenly.
Lapis looked up. "Well, sweetheart, let me tell you." He said, a slow grin spreading across his face. "I've been in London goin on about ten years now. I came here when I was eighteen. Now, I'm originally from a place called Sealy, Texas. That's in the States, now. And, if you don't mind my saying, I think it ain't me, but all y'all who talk funny." And he bent his head over his parchment while Pansy stared and Sirius and Amethyst laughed.
Half an hour later, Amethyst signed her statement. Draco was facing kidnapping charges. Crabbe was facing accessory to kidnap charges. Draco, Crabbe and Goyle were all facing assault charges, and Pansy was looking at a light charge of failing to prevent mayhem.
Amethyst left the building at a quarter to three o'clock in the morning with Severus, Sirius, Ron, Hermione and Harry. They stood in the cold a moment, actually enjoying the cold.
"What a night!" Ron said.
"Yes it was at that." Amethyst said, leaning into Severus. He had his arm around her.
"Well," Hermione said, brightly. "You may as well all come home with us. You've all been invited to spend the holidays, anyway."
"That's right." Snape said, beginning to chuckle. Amethyst was giggling.
"What?" Ron said, looking at them as if they'd gone mad.
"We were going to send word with Ginny." Amethyst said, laughing now. "I sent Colin Creevy to find her. We decided we were going to spend this holiday quietly and alone."
Everyone laughed. When the laughter died down, Sirius spoke.
"I'd like to invite my sister and brother-in-law," and here everyone gaped at Sirius, who stopped and said "What? Severus is my brother-in-law. You all know that." But he looked mischievous and turned a bit pink. "I would like to invite you two to my place for the Holidays. We have a lot to talk about, or I do anyway."
Severus and Amethyst looked at each other for a long moment. Amethyst raised her eyebrows at her husband. He nodded. "OK, Sirius. You're right. Guess it's time to hash this all out once and for all, eh?" The three of them bid the rest goodnight and disappeared.
Hermione looked disappointed, but Harry poked her in the ribs and said. "They might just patch things up, especially after tonight." He said, hopefully.
Hermione sighed. "I suppose your right. They seemed to have developed a lot of respect for each other." She said, looking hopefully at the spot where Amethyst, Severus and Sirius had just been.
"I would love to hear the conversations they'll be having this holiday." Ron said in a wistful sort of a voice. Hermione hit him in the arm.
They disappeared.