Hello.

For those who may be keeping up with the story, I'm sorry there wasn't a post on Friday. Due to Thanksgiving break, my roomie and I completely forgot to discuss what we were going to do in regards to posting on our break.

Here is the chapter, I hope you enjoy despite it being posted a few days late.

Thanks!

Disclaimer: This work is purely for fun and anything recognizable is more than likely not our work. If there are similarities, please take it as a compliment from us and give credit to those deserving.

CHAPTER FIVE: FUCKING LEMONADE!

Kate walked briskly down the stairs, trying to reach the lower landing before the asshole thing moved. Time was of the essence as she made her way to the lower sections of the castle, the light dimming around her. In the dungeons of Hogwarts, very little light punctured the curtain of gloom and darkness.

"You're late." a voice stated. Although the figure would typically be hidden in the dark corner, Kate knew he was sulking somewhere along her route. Neville Longbottom was a well-established teacher. His herbology students never saw him without a smile, but now the wretchedness surrounding him stank of concern and uncertainty.

"Don't start with me today Neville, I'm not in the mood," Kate stated, continuing, now being followed by steadily by the Gryffindor.

"I'm just saying," the teacher continued while pulling out his wand and casting a quick Lumos, "Not like you, you know? Was it Cassie again?" Kate stopped at the base of the stairs, before them, a long corridor lined with doors continued into the darkness.

"Cassandra…" Kate spat, "It doesn't matter, let's move. Just drop it."

Neville however, in true Gryffindor fashion, had no intention of doing that. "Hey," He said, pulling Kate to a stop by her arm, "Whatever happened can't be as bad as all that, right?"

Kate, still looking into the darkness, shook off his hand. Sucking in a deep breath, she screamed into the darkness, "FUCKING LEMONADE!"

The sound bounced and echoed against the cold walls, sounding more like a banshee that an upset American. Kate continued walking and was followed by the shocked professor.

"Three years…" She began, "Cassie said it would take her another three years. NOT 6 MONTHS!" She stated.

Neville's eyes grew wide, immediately understanding. "She...She actually did it! How?" He asked.

"Fucking Lemonade is how." Kate said sarcastically, "Clumsy as she is, I figured she'd blow up the potions room at least twice before figuring it out. But no, she's had it sorted for over a month now!" Neville stopped, his light stopping with him. Kate slowed on the edge of the glow, still looking into the darkness.

"She's had it figured out for over a month, and you're just now telling me?" He asked incredulously. Kate turned back to face Neville, anger clear in her eyes.

"I've been stalling! Do you have any idea how hard it is to stall the woman, and FOR A MONTH?! It's like trying to stop owls from migrating! But all she wants to know is 'When are we leaving?' or 'How about next week?'. But can I tell her I don't have my side of things done? NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO! I've got to LIE and HIDE the fucking reason! I'M A THUNDERBIRD, AND I'M LYING!

Neville listened to Kate's rant, opening his mouth several times to interject but finding no space to do so. Once she had stopped, he took a moment to process her tirade.

"You know," he said after a pause, "I don't think owls migrate."

Kate threw her hands up into the air, letting out a sound of utter annoyance. Neville reached out and placed a hand on her shoulder.

"Hey, we are getting close. Not much longer now. I understand you're frustrated, but we are so close. We must finish this, it's what Mad-eye would want. If we can do this one thing, maybe we can change everything. That's worth a little stalling, isn't it?"

Kate looked into her friend's eyes, seeing a silent wish in a soft gaze.

"Ok," Kate said quietly, "your right. I just…. she's gonna figure it out. She's gonna be mad, like, righteously mad."

"Then we will deal with it. Besides, I doubt she'll be that mad." Neville moved ahead through the darkness, Kate following closely.

They both continued down the corridor in silence, letting the weight of everything sink in.

After some time, they reached the end of the row of doors. At the end of which stood a heavy, bolted door. As Kate put her hand up to the old wood, the door illuminated in the dark; powerful, ancient runes glowing at her presence. Josie, who appeared on Kate's shoulder coed worriedly.

Kate, however, reached up and placed him onto the floor saying "No, you're safer out here bud."

Josie disappeared, and her scampering could be heard retreating down the dark hall. Kate returned her attention to the door. From the top, beyond the reach of light, a sinister, inhuman, voice spoke.

"Password" it hissed.

"Qui huc intrasti omissa spe," Kate spoke, staring ahead.

With that, the doors flung open to reveal a room covered wall to wall with protective symbols retreating into the dark. As Kate and Neville entered, the braziers burst to life, illuminating the space. In the center of the room sitting on the floor was a little girl. Chains held her hands, feet, torso, and neck in constant restraint to the floor. The girl raised her head.

"Play with me?" She stated, in a coy manner. As she did, the doors slid closed with a resounding boom.

Kate approached the child as Neville moved to the table in the corner, opening a massive tome. He remained standing as he began to write. Kate watched him out of the corner of her eye, never letting the child entirely leave her vision. Neville signaled his readiness and Kate turned back fully to the child.

"Hello, I'm Katherine Addams. What's your name?" She said.

The child looked up at her, her smile spread across her face. "My name is Penelope Moody. Please help me, I don't know where I am. Help me, please? Won't you?" She asked concern a clear rose.

Kate, not skipping a beat, continued, "How are you feeling today?" The child twitched, her entire face morphing from one of innocence to madness.

"HoW aM I fEeLiNg?!" She shouted.

Kate kept her composure, calmly watching the child transform, black smoke pouring from and swirling around her. Within moments, the darkness fell away to reveal a girl of, instead of five or six, fifteen. Her skin was pale and cracked, dark threads of magic moving beneath the surface of her body not covered by white pants and matching shirt. The teen, now fully standing, threw her head back to move her dark hair out of her face, which had black rings below her eyes. Well, eye. The brown one shone with anger, while the other was pitch black without any white left. Penelope twisted her head as if confused and trying to remember something.

Kate stood still while watching her, keeping all emotion under control. The first time the Headmistress had brought her here, she had tried to free the girl. The scar on her stomach proof of her stupidity that day.

"Who are you again?" Penelope asked, drawing Kate from her thoughts.

"My name's Katherine Addams" She stated, "I'm an animagus with a mastery in both Transfiguration and Defense Against the Dark Arts. I'm here to help you." The girl's cruel smile shone in the dark room.

"Right." She spat, "You and your Weed think you can cure me."

Kate walked over to the table, picking up a necklace with a small blue pendant. She turned back to Penelope. "Let's begin, shall we?"

FOUR HOURS LATER

Penelope thrashed violently on the stone floor, screaming as black smoke flew around her with Hurricane speeds. The violent maelstrom causing the runes to flash, testing their strength. Kate crouched just beyond the current, watching the girl closely. Suddenly, a scream was cut short as the girl spat blood into the air.

"We have to pull her out!" Neville screamed over the wind. Kate, however, either didn't hear him or ignored him outright. "KATE!" Neville screamed, drawing his wand.

"NO!" Kate screamed back, casting an accio for Neville's wand.

Kate continued watching Penelope thrash, now screaming a constant request, "Kill me!"

Come on, come on. She hoped, prayed, and pleaded to every great witch and wizard for the device to work. As she girl thrashed, cracks began to make their way along the floor and walls. The ancient seals and runes shattering from the force of the Obscurial's wild magic. Kate struggled to her feet against the onslaught. Extending her hand, she spoke against the wind, activating the amulet.

"By Merlin's power, I command you! RELEASE!"

All at once the smoke froze, still in the air, and Penelope still in her agony. It was as if someone had pushed pause on the whole room.

A blue flash emanated from the necklace around the girl's neck. Slowly, the blue gem began to absorb the black smoke, slowly and calmly. The wild magic now flowing into the device, which as it did, turned from blue to red. Once the last of the magic was contained, the jewel flashed again, releasing the room.

Kate dropped onto the stones, the cold force breathing new life into every corner to space. She looked over to Neville, who looked just as shook as herself. Kate slowly turned back to the girl laying lifeless in the center of the room.

Kate pushed with all her strength forward towards Penelope. She turned the girl over, checking her pulse. However, before she could, Penelope jumped sitting upright with a loud gasp. Kate, who had jumped backward, softly spoke, saying, "Penelope, easy."

As she did, the girl turned towards her, big brown eyes looking back at Kate's own green. Her skin had regained its natural hue and her dark hair now limp and unwashed. Penelope smiled, not malicious or vile, but overjoyed.

"Tha-Thank you. Thank You!" She said as tears began to stream down her cheeks.

"You did it," Neville said, now standing beside Kate, looking at the now cured young girl. Kate stood, turning to Neville, eyes wide with a newfound hope.

They helped Penelope to her feet and out the room. As they walked down the long dark corridor, and up the stairs, Kate filled with hope. We can do it! We can change the past and save the future.

As Kate watched Penelope take her first steps into freedom from her years of suffering, the girls face showed no memory of the time spent under her uncontrolled magic. No memory of the people she had hurt. Probably better that way. Kate embedded the girls face in her mind, silently promising to never forget this moment.

The moment when a lowly NoMaj born American had saved an Obscurus.

Fucking lemonade.

Thank you so much for reading! If you want, reviews are always welcome.