Disclaimer: 'Stargate' and 'Harry Potter' both belong to their respective creators, so I don't own them; I'm just borrowing them for the immediate moment in time and space
Feedback: I'd like it, believe me
AN: OK, in advance, for any Harry Potter fans reading this, I would like to take this opportunity to re-confirm that any revelations in 'Deathly Hallows' regarding Snape's true allegiances never happened here; in this story, he's the bastard he appeared to be at the conclusion of 'Half-Blood Prince', and he's remained that way for the last twenty years. I apologise to any Snape-fans- Hell, after 'Hallows' I kinda sympathise with the guy myself, even if I don't think everything he did has been excused by that one revelation-, but I've been planning a later scene with him- you'll know it when you see it- since I began this story, and I just couldn't bring myself to not write it
Truth and Revelations
An hour later, once the technicians had run the Stargate address provided by Malfoy through the computers, the remaining active SG-1 and the unofficial 'SG-M' were once again gathered together in the briefing room, Sam standing at the head of the table beside the projection screen as she looked at the group before them. Trying not to think too much about the continued absence of Daniel and Mitchell from the briefing- even with magical assistance, it had turned out that the two of them and Minister Granger would be out of action for at least a few days-, she turned her attention back to the matter of relaying the information she'd acquired from Malfoy about their next destination.
"Given the symbols that Malfoy tells us Voldemort dialled into the DHD when he left through the Stargate," Sam explained as she looked at the people a part of her was already beginning to think of as friends ever after knowing them for such a relatively short time, "even when taking into account the possibility that Malfoy didn't remember them in the correct order, there seems to be only one gate address that fits the criteria we're looking for; the abandoned laboratory of Anubis that we visited shortly after we helped the Asgard save Orilla from the Replicators."
"Sorry; you visited the lab of who after you helped the who save what from the what?" Fred asked, raising one hand and looking in confusion at Sam.
"Anubis was a Goa'uld System Lord with access to Ancient technology, the Asgard are some of our most powerful offworld allies, Orilla was their new homeworld, and the Replicators were a species of artificial life forms that tried to conquer the universe to continue 'replicating' themselves; we destroyed them last year," Sam said briefly in response to Fred's question before she continued. "Anyway, given Voldemort's apparently limited knowledge of the technology that was once used by the other System Lords- not to mention the fact that he probably doesn't have access to any of it himself even if he's a real Goa'uld who just happened to discover a means of posing as the original Voldemort-, it seems like a safe bet that he intends to try and find something in that lab that he can use to improve his current position among the Goa'uld hierarchy."
"Improve his current position using technology?" Lupin said, looking uncertainly at Sam. "Colonel Carter, while I don't deny your experience in facing these 'Goa'uld', if this really is Voldemort we're dealing with, I find your suggestion unlikely; he's never shown even the slightest interest in using technology before where magic's always been available-"
"He's never had access to Goa'uld technology before," Sam pointed out, as she stared back at the werewolf. "I admit that him going after technology wouldn't be something he'd have done before- based on what Daniel told us about him he totally disdained anything to do with non-magical means of doing anything-, but you have to take into account that Goa'uld technology is something the general population of Earth doesn't have access to. If he used it, he wouldn't be showing a reliance on the non-magical community that he would have perceived to be weak; he'd have gained control of something that no other wizard, to his knowledge, has ever possessed before, putting him at an advantage over anything your world could throw at him."
For a moment, the wizards sat in silence contemplating what Sam had just said, before Tonks finally nodded.
"It does seem to fit his personality, you have to admit," she said, as she looked at her husband and colleagues. "His main goal was always to gain power, and you can't deny that a spaceship is definitely something that not many other people would have available right now."
"Well, Anubis didn't really leave anything significantly useful there when we investigated it, but at the time I admit that we were mainly looking for any Ancient-related technology he might have left behind rather than just general weaponry," Sam explained to the wizards. "Teal'c, Daniel and I did find a basic armoury in that area, but it only contained conventional Goa'uld weapons, and, given how difficult the lab was to access in the first place, we decided it would be best just to leave it alone."
"And you didn't worry that somebody might go back there?" George put in, looking in surprise at Sam.
"As Colonel Carter has just informed you, the laboratory lacked an obvious entrance that somebody could use; we felt it unlikely that anybody would ever manage to return to claim its contents," Teal'c explained. "In any case, there was nothing there that could have been of significant use to any Goa'uld currently active at the time; to destroy the base would have been too much effort for no particular benefit."
"Unless, of course," Sam added as she looked around the table, "as in this case, we're dealing with a Goa'uld who has none of their conventional weaponry available to him to begin with and wants to make his mark on the galaxy."
"Not a very likely situation, huh?" Fred asked, raising his hand casually.
"Not really," Sam replied, shaking her head. "Most Goa'uld have been active in the galaxy for centuries; the only real exceptions we've encountered so far have been the Goa'ulds who posed as Osiris and Isis during their reign on Earth, who were frozen in stasis on Earth until somebody let them out of their prisons."
"Ah," Lupin said, nodding in understanding. "And you think that the Goa'uld we're dealing with here might be like them? He was trapped on Earth before they left here and was only recently released?"
Sam nodded briefly. "It's possible, of course, but I wouldn't like to say anything either way until we have the chance to find out from the immediate source," she said, as she looked over at General Landry. "With your permission, General, I think we should check out this planet as soon as possible; if we can find Voldemort before he's had a chance to relocate; the more we keep him on his toes, the less chance there is that he'll have a chance to organise a plan to come back to Earth."
"Right then," Landry said, sitting forward to look around at his team. "The same procedure as last time should be fine; get onto that planet, capture who you can from the other side, find out what you can about how this 'Voldemort' sucker came back to life, or, failing that, capture whatever high-ranking followers of his you can find who might know his secret."
"Talking of which, how're Harry and Hermione doing?" George asked, looking curiously at Landry. "Oh, and Mitchell as well, of course," he added, looking around briefly to apologise for his oversight (Not that Sam and Teal'c blamed him, of course; it was only natural that he'd be more concerned about the people he'd known the longest over somebody he'd only met a couple of days ago).
Landry shook his head apologetically. "Unfortunately, none of them are currently in any position to do anything; even with that… outside help you brought in," he nodded briefly at Lupin at that before continuing, "Doctor Lam tells me it's going to be a good few hours at least before Colonel Mitchell alone is back on his feet, to say nothing of Ms. Granger or Doctor Jackson; that… curse… Doctor Jackson took to the head apparently did quite a bit of damage."
"Yeah, head-on Cruciatus ain' ever a pleasant thing to deal with," Hagrid said, shaking his head as though at some saddened memory before he brightened and looked back at Sam and Teal'c. "Don' worry 'bout Harry, though; Poppy's seen him through injuries since he was at school, and he's always come through."
"Poppy?" Sam asked, looking curiously at the half-giant gamekeeper. Despite her strong desire not to be reminded any more than she had to be that Daniel had been in the hospital wing so many times it wouldn't be unreasonable to suggest that he have all his mail forwarded there, Sam couldn't resist the temptation to ask for further information about his life back in the wizarding world before he'd taken the steps that would lead to the two of them meeting on Abydos all those years ago.
"Oh, Madam Pomfrey's the Hogwarts staff nurse; Harry was pretty much her most consistent patient during his time in the school," Fred explained, smiling slightly at the memory. "He was in a coma after exams in first year, had to regrow all the bones in his arm in his second, fell off his broomstick and nearly got his soul sucked out in third year, had to deal with dragons and dark wizards after his blood in fourth year, got tortured by a right git of a teacher and narrowly survived a showdown with Voldemort's followers in fifth year, and after sixth year…"
He chuckled slightly, as though at some slightly pleasant memory. "Well, whenever Harry, Ron or Hermione got injured, Madam Pomfrey was always the first medwitch they went to; with Hogwarts shut for the war and all, I think they were probably grateful for it."
Sam, Teal'c and General Landry could only blink in surprise after the twin's latest revelation.
"Daniel Jackson endured all that and survived?" Teal'c said, looking sceptically at Fred. "And you are confident that this was all when he was but a child?"
"Uh… yeah?" Fred said, looking in confusion at the Jaffa. "There a problem we should know about?"
After a moment's pause, during which the two SG-1 members and General Landry exchanged uncertain glances with each other, Sam shook her head.
"No, it's nothing; just… surprised, I guess," she said, shrugging dismissively.
"Right then," Landry said, leaning forward to look at the team with a slight smile. "You have a go."
Just as the group had stood up, however, Landry raised a hand and looked critically over at Fred and George.
"You two stay here," he said, prompting surprised looks from the rest of the team.
"Huh?" Tonks said, looking in surprise at the general. "Why?"
"Well, I don't know how things work in the wizarding world, but I do have to submit reports to my superiors about our activities here," Landry explained, as he looked over at the auror before turning to look at the twins. "Anyway, since I doubt anyone from the IOA will believe me about this latest turn of events, I feel that the only chance I have of not being carted off to the mental asylum after I tell everyone about this latest turn of events is to provide proof that magic actually is real, and, in all fairness, you two currently strike me as the most expendable members of our expanded team if we get into a fight."
"Expendable?" Fred said, clutching at his chest as he looked at Landry with a wounded expression. "Sir, I am shocked at your implication!"
"We are very skilled long-term members of Dumbledore's Army-" George began.
"Whose specialities, according to what Doctor Jackson- to say nothing of your colleagues- have told me, include coming up with various magical-themed practical joke devices," Landry pointed out as he looked at the twins. "I'm not denying your skills, but I think we can both agree that you'd be better suited to convincing my superiors at the IOA that I haven't gone crazy by talking about magic; any civilisation advanced enough to have created a means of duplicate."
"Uh… look, about the whole 'telling these IOA guys everything about this situation', are you sure you have to talk to themabout it?" Tonks asked, looking uncertainly at him. "I mean, we do have this whole policy about keeping our world secret I'd really like to keep; Harry may trust you all, but can we really be sure that these guys will keep it…"
Landry shook his head.
"Trust me, I considered asking you for information about trying to contact somebody in the… wizarding branch of the government about this, but I'd still need to let the IOA know about this whole thing in the end; something this big can't just be kept secret, given how often we're needing to dial the Stargate to do the job," he said, shaking his head apologetically as he looked at the metamorphagus. "If it's any consolation, they've kept the Stargate program and everything linked to it secret so far; I think they can be trusted to keep the wizarding world quiet from anybody who shouldn't know about it."
"Plus, of course," Sam added, looking with a slightly relieved expression at the others, "it might comfort them to know that we're actually making some progress in coming up with new means of combating the Priors."
"Huh?" Hagrid said, looking in surprise at her. "What do yeh mean by that?"
"Well, one of the SGC's main goals is to discover new technology that might enable us to combat our current enemies," Sam explained to the half-giant. "We succeeded in that goal when it came to the Goa'uld, but the Ori and the Priors are so far proving more difficult; our only successful means of fighting them is this device that temporarily blocks off the parts of their brain that allow them to use their powers, and even that's only a temporary measure at best. With you on the team, we actually have a means of surpassing the Priors; after all, their most obviously useful powers to convince people of their powers are limited to telekinesis, healing, and apparent control over fire, all of which, from what we've seen and heard so far, you're more than capable of equalling, if not actually surpassing."
"Eh, we try," Fred said, shrugging with a slight grin on his face before the implications of Sam's statement set in. "Wait… you don't mean you're going to… press-gang us or something, right?"
"What?" Sam said, looking in horror at him. "You thought we- no!"
"Colonel Carter simply meant that, if the IOA ask for a reason why we're allowing you and any associates you may wish to bring along access to the Stargate, we have an explanation for our actions that the IOA will accept," Landry clarified, looking reassuringly around at the wizards. "I assure you, you will be under no obligation to continue going through the Stargate once the current situation has been dealt with unless you wish to; once this is over, you can freely return to England."
"But… won't these 'IOA' be… well, 'annoyed' is probably too mild a term… at our departure after you said we could help you?" Lupin pointed out.
Landry shrugged. "So long as I simply give them enough information to make them think you'll stick around without actually explicitly saying that you will, we shouldn't have too big a problem," he assured the werewolf. "That's the thing about these people; sometimes, so long as you give them what they want to hear, they don't notice what they didn't hear."
"Nice," Tonks said, smiling back at him in approval. "Leave whoever comes down thinking that he's got what he wants out of us, while not leaving us obligated to actually give him anything."
"Precisely," Landry said, nodding before he indicated the Stargate on the floor below them. "Anyway, you'd better all get moving; the longer we wait here, the greater the chance that Voldemort and his followers will move on to another planet, and this time they won't leave us somebody we can question about the address."
A few minutes later, after the slightly disorientating experience of going through the Stargate once again, Sam, Teal'c, Tonks, Lupin and Hagrid found themselves in a grassy field with some ruins spread out around the Stargate, weapons and wands drawn as they studied their surroundings.
"OK, everybody stay on the alert and keep an eye out for any sign of hostiles," Sam said, looking back at the others as she spoke. "The MALP didn't detect any sign of Goa'uld technology being in use, but there's no guarantee that the Death Eaters haven't just acquired the weapons and gone on. If that's the case, we need to try to find some clue regarding where they've gone, and then we'll take whatever next step is appropriate. Any questions?"
"Nope," Tonks said brightly, followed by equally confirming nods from the other members of the combined SG-1/'SG-M' team. "Let's do-"
Before she could finish the sentence, a staff blast struck the ground off to the side of the team, sending them all diving back to hide behind the platform that the Stargate was standing on.
"What; they got the weapons already?" Tonks groaned, as she glanced over at Sam and Teal'c. "Don't these guys have anything that takes a while to learn how to use?"
"Since the Goa'uld are predominately scavengers, they rarely seek to make their technology particularly complex to operate," Teal'c explained as he glanced over at the metamorphagus. "Also, with Hestia's remaining Jaffa to aid them, it is likely that the Death Eaters were able to significantly cut down on the time that it would have taken for them to properly learn how to use their new weapons."
"Great…" Sam groaned, as she checked her gun before risking a glance over the edge of the platform, briefly noting the advancing Death Eater and Jaffa forces coming towards them before ducking back down. "OK, we've got about a dozen Jaffa and six or so Death Eaters; there's no sign of the Jaffa First Prime, but the lead Death Eater appears to be a pale man with greasy black hair-"
"Hold on; did you say 'greasy black hair'?" Lupin said, his expression suddenly grim as he looked at Sam. "Excuse me for a moment…"
Peeking over the edge of the platform, Lupin ducked down after a few seconds- a staff blast narrowly missing his head as he ducked back down-, a grim expression on his face as he looked over at Tonks and Hagrid.
"It's Snape," he said, his hand clenching around his wand as he looked at his wife and his friend. "He's leading them."
"Uh… Snape?" Sam asked, looking inquiringly over at Lupin. "Would this be the 'Snape' Daniel told us used to teach… Potions… back at the school?"
"Yes," Lupin said, spitting the word out like it was a curse. "He was our 'insider' to the Death Eaters' plans… but he was using us all along, simply because he couldn't get over a joke a friend of mine had played on him that nearly got out of hand back when we were all fifteen. He kept on going on and on about how Harry was an arrogant fool who lived solely for the attention he received as the Boy Who Lived, with no skills and having survived that far only because of luck…"
He rolled his eyes in frustration as he leaned back against the platform. "Honestly… after all the times Harry tried to stay out of the spotlight, you would have thought that Snape would have received the message…"
"You say that this man showed disrespect to Daniel Jackson?" Teal'c inquired, looking over at the werewolf as he checked his ammunition.
"Well…" Lupin paused, a bit surprised by the unexpected question, before he finally nodded. "Yes, that is one way of describing it, I suppose…"
"Very well, then," Teal'c said, as he looked over at the wizards. "You all may do as you wish with our other opponents; I shall deal with this 'Severus Snape' myself."
Lupin blinked in confusion, but Teal'c turned to look at the werewolf before he could say anything.
"When I first came to this world, I had done a great wrong to Daniel Jackson by being responsible for selecting his wife as a host to the queen of my former master Apophis," he explained, his expression grim as he recalled those dark times. "Despite this fact, Daniel Jackson did not hesitate to aid me in understanding the world that I now lived in, and even sought to defend me when the people of a planet we visited sought to put me on trial for my past crimes against them while in the service of Apophis."
His eyes narrowed grimly as he studied his weapons. "If this man has dared to insult Daniel Jackson and imply that he is anything less than what he is, I intend to see that he pays greatly for his actions."
"Ah," Lupin said simply.
Having heard Teal'c's reasons for wanting to kill Snape, Lupin had to admit that his new friend- and he was almost amazed at how quickly he'd started to think of Teal'c as a friend- certainly had his reasons for wanting Snape dead. Admittedly he didn't quite understand where Teal'c was coming from, but, after all, he sometimes became confused by some muggle customs in daily life; why should he expect to understand how an alien race thought?
Besides… looking at the weapon in Teal'c's hand, Lupin had to admit that he would find it somehow more… satisfying… if Snape died as the result of a muggle weapon rather than as a result of a spell, after all the former potions-master's beliefs that he was superior simply because he was a wizard.
Lupin may have hated Snape for longer than Teal'c, but, right now, he could think of no better revenge than to have the man who'd betrayed the contents of the prophecy to Voldemort, thus sealing Lily and James' fates that terrible Halloween night, be killed by the weapons of the people he believed were nothing to him.
"Very well," he said at last, nodding at his Jaffa ally. "You take Snape; we'll handle the rest of the Death Eaters."
"Right then," Sam said, checking her ammunition one last time before she looked back at her expanded team. "Everyone, attack!"