"Xander, you idiot!" Buffy said once she found out what he did, "You had to use a device made by Andrew. You know you don't use anything of his unless it's been completely tested at the castle."

"But it was neat!" came the squawking reply.

Buffy sat down as she rubbed her brow. "Well, the question is what are we going to do now?"

Giles pushed the glasses back up his nose and coughed, "Perhaps we should do something else first?"

"What?"

"We really should explain things to Hermione, she looks like she is going to explode with all the questions she is keeping in," Giles said calmly.

Willow looked over to her niece. "Oh honey, we didn't mean to do that, it's just that we needed to find out what was happening first."

"It's all right Aunt Willow, but could you explain what Grandpa is talking about?" Hermione said, trying to keep questions aside until she had at least a little bit of information.

The adults looked at each other and then to Hermione. Willow then started the explanation, "Well, since you've been going to a magic school, how much have you been using the library?"

Hermione rolled her eyes, "I'm there almost everyday."

Buffy asked, "Have you ever heard of the legend of the Slayer?"

Hermione looked at her aunt, "Well, it's a children's storybook. It isn't real."

"Good lord! What are they teaching in that school? A children's story?" Giles muttered to himself.

Xander looked at the man he considered his real father, "Well, they seem to hide away a lot of the information. She really doesn't know that much magic, all things considered."

"Dad?! I'm at the top of every class! I may not have a lot of power, but I definitely know more about magic than others my age, except for Harry that is."

Willow shook her head, "Hermione, you have only just scratched the surface. After we're done here, I'm going to take over your training during the summer. And let you access my books and grimoires."

Hermione eyes opened wide, "You're a witch as well?"

Everyone else chuckled, and her mother said, "You're talking to the most powerful magic user on the planet. She was my teacher when I was younger."

"You're a witch as well? And you never told me?!"

Giles sat back, "Perhaps I should explain before we get caught up in a never ending round of questions and answers. I'll start by telling you something that they apparently aren't teaching. Bloody pillocks."

Taking a breath, he began, "This world is older than you know. Contrary to popular mythology, it did not begin as a paradise. For untold eons demons walked the Earth. They made it their home, their Hell. But in time they lost their purchase on this reality. The way was made for mortal animals, for man. All that remains of the old ones are vestiges, certain magics, certain creatures."

He sighed, knowing what his granddaughter would insist on. "The books tell the last demon to leave this reality fed off a human, mixed their blood. He was a human form possessed, infected by the demon's soul. He bit another, and another, and so they walk the Earth, feeding... Killing some, mixing their blood with others to make more of their kind. Waiting for the animals to die out, and the old ones to return. They are the vampires. For as long as there have been vampires, there's been the Slayer. One girl in all the world, a Chosen One. In every generation there is a Chosen One. She alone will stand against the vampires, the demons and the forces of darkness. She is the Slayer."

Smirking, he added the next part, "Or at least that's how it was until Xander came into the picture."

Hermione groaned. Her father had the oddest luck at times and now she was starting to understand why. "What did he do?"

"He saved my life." Buffy said. "By bringing me back from the dead."

Hermione turned to look at her father, "You brought her back from the dead?"

Xander looked a bit uncomfortable, "Well, you learned the same techniques when we had you go for the Saint John's Ambulance course."

Dawn smiled, "He used mouth to mouth resuscitation."

"But what does this have to do with the Slayer legend? And where are these books you're talking about?" Hermione asked.

Buffy smiled gently, "When he saved my life, he split the Slayer line. And to make a long story short, we now have thousands of Slayers around the world keeping the demons and vampires in check."

"He split the Slay...You're the Slayer?"

"In a word, yes. Now that you know, we should get back to the castle, after a round of shopping."

Giles groaned. His chequebook was going to feel this one for a long time. "Well, we best not delay."


Dumbledore was frowning after he reviewed the files and had seen the documentary that Amelia had brought. It did not make sense, and it made even less sense of what he knew about muggles. "You have confirmed this... story?"

Amelia nodded, "The Jedi religion is recognized by the United Kingdom and I managed to get some of their books on their doctrines. They practice exercise, meditation, technical knowledge and say that this 'Force' is the power that keeps the universe together and makes all life possible. That the 'Force' is the energy that exists alongside us is part of us and connects us to the universe."

"An actual religion? And they all have these lightsabers?" Albus stated in awe. A religion that was not listed in the magical world and that he had no idea of. The idea was fascinating.

Amelia then said, "Not all of them, but most did, although they didn't use them when they were in their church. However, they do have several things which are worrying."

"Which are?"

Taking a small sip of her tea, Amelia continued, "Well, aside from practicing the fighting arts, diplomacy, and teaching how to use this force, they have several specific chapters dedicated to various areas that they are involved with. The one we need to be concerned about is the Jedi Paranormal Investigation Unit. Apparently, they monitor magic users, creatures, and other things."

Now Dumbledore was worried, "The Statute of Secrecy has been breached?"

Sighing, Amelia admitted her worst fear, "They have a lot of accurate information, although they tend to stay out of our world for the most part. However, the Statute from our end may be a lie. I actually think it's the other way around. They have a Statute of Secrecy towards us that is only now being breached. What's worse, is that they are entirely in the open and well known."

Dumbledore choked on his tea. "You mean they've always known about us?"

Amelia shrugged, "Yes. I've talked to several muggleborn and they confirmed the Jedi exist. Some of them were even in awe, wishing that they had the abilities of the Jedi. It seems that we are far behind them in knowledge and how to affect the universe. You know, I even decided to take a chance on my sanity and talked with Mr. Lovegood, and not only did he confirm that the Jedi are an ancient order, far older than this planet, but that a number of the creatures he writes about comes from their archives. It's seems there are more sentient creatures than we are aware of in the Wizarding World."

"I see..." Dumbledore leaned back into his chair. "Then we must contact Mr. Granger. If they have been so open and have not interfered, they do not want to be known, at least not yet. Perhaps he'll allow a contingent of his fellows to work with us in this latest crisis."


Hermione was practically prancing.

Her lesson for the day was over, and the first thing she had learned from her aunt was not to dismiss technology. Technology was actually a large aid to the practicing mage, and the more you knew how to use both, the more powerful you were. It seemed that this was something that the purebloods of Europe, which were restricted to basically Britain, France, and a couple of other places, didn't want the newcomers to their world knowing, thus the laws against 'muggle crap'.

Still, for the chance to learn, and to be in this huge library Hermione would willingly follow whatever she was being thought. There was so much to learn and so little time to learn it. It was at that moment she wondered about the laws concerning apprenticeship.

Well, that was a concern for later.


Giles looked over the three women in his office. "I have investigated the situation with Mr. Potter, and it is worse than what Hermione indicated. It seems someone has been using a lot of spells in that area to erase and change memories, especially of the damage that...that so called family has been doing to him."

Buffy got up and started to pace, wishing that Giles kept a punching dummy in the room. "What do we do about it?"

"I have already assigned our law firm to help with the situation, and they will be well protected from any effects that the blighter's may try to use," Giles stated grimly, "On that note, I have also been in contact with our friends at Wolfram and Hart, and they have promised me that they are researching any old files that pertain to the situation here. They have already terminated the contract with Mr. Riddle for breach of terms and they are moving to collect the monies that he and his cronies have collected over the years. The goblins will not like this, but they do not have much to stand on here, and I believe that it will affect the accounts of the Death Eaters in future."

Dawn nodded, "Good. I want Harry to become my son, and I don't care who stands in our way. Are there any debts that we can call upon in that community?"

Giles grinned, "As it so happens, the council does have certain uncollected assets. Most recently from World War Two, and a little situation in getting close to a number of wizards on the other side who were helping Hitler. Given how long a Wizard or Witches life span is, I believe we can call on those debts.

Willow smiled deviously, "Or we can ask the American government or the UN for help. I wonder what would happen if their lie was broadcast worldwide before they had a chance to do so?"

The rest looked at her and then gained evil grins of their own.

Giles pushed the phone over to her, "My dear, would you like the honour?"

Willow picked up the phone and hit the speed dial button.


Xander looked at the door that he was about to open with some dread.

Years ago, when he was director of operations before semi-retirement from the Council, he had created this particular department and filled it with about twenty people. They were the designers and engineers, the dreamers, and the technically inclined. It's initial budget had been 5 million pounds, and they were told that great things were expected from that department.

The reality was somewhat different. The real reason for the department, never told to this group, was that it was a way to keep Andrew and the people he recruited out of the way and to make sure they survived since bugging slayers with geek questions was never a good thing. He never imagined at the time the department was created that a few Slayers in training would opt to join the department because they were just as geeky as the rest of the people behind the door. Then again, they did get a number of good weapons out of them, after being tested.

No item was supposed to go out into the field without being completely tested so that it wouldn't fail.

Rubbing his nose slightly Xander pulled himself upright and opened the door. "How's everyone doing?"

A couple of the people looked up and smiled, seeing the familiar face of the ONLY director that mattered to them. One of the girls smiled at him and said, "Fairly well. We're planning a new project at the moment, and if it works, it will revolutionize Slayer warfare."

Xander hid his wince. He was well acquainted with that line, having seen the devices they dreamed up, which only one in a hundred actually worked correctly. "That's good. What is it?"

The explanation, as usual started off expensive and bad. "Well, a group of us were playing Red Alert and someone was looking at the teleporter when a person asked if we could do something like that."

"I take it that the project was unfeasible?" Xander asked, being familiar with what usually went on.

"Well yeah," came the grumbled reply, "We have witches who do the job very well, and the cost would be at least four years of our budget and forty or fifty years to get right."

"So, what's the new project?"

Ah, there was the cheery, slightly nutty and crazed smile, "Teleporting grenades! The idea is to throw one at the target and they will be teleported, via spell, to a mile or so high, then the grenade explodes on them and they fall, splat!"

Xander nodded. It did sound like a good project. "So what's the problem?"

"Well, we can get the teleportation, and the explosion correct, but it's the timing. Also, the spot that the grenade teleports the target to. We've got to design different target zones and payload packages depending on the creature."

Xander smiled politely, "Well, I'll leave you to it. Is Andrew in?"

"Yeah, he's in his office."

Saying his goodbyes, Xander proceeded to the office.


"So, have you managed to get a hold of Mr. Granger?" Albus asked as he stopped by Amelia's office.

"Not yet. They've apparently apparated to an off limits castle in Scotland. We're not allowed anywhere near there, apparently, even though Fudge now wants to storm the place to get Mr. Granger and force him to work for us." Amelia sighed and rubbed her forehead, "The idiot thinks that this will save his career if we are seen to be doing something."

Dumbledore actually groaned, "I'll have a talk with him. You did leave a message for them, didn't you?"

Amelia smiled back while quietly wishing the old headmaster luck. "Yes, but I'm wondering how they left and why alarms didn't sound for underage magic since Ms. Granger is the only registered witch there."

"If the castle is off limits to us, and they are using magic, I believe your supposition about the Statute is correct. It would well explain Ms. Granger's high aptitude for learning the magical arts."


In the office of the Minister for Magic, things were not going well.

After being informed by Amelia that morning of Mr. Granger, he decided to go and visit the muggle Prime Minister to get his co-operation in forcing the muggle to help deal with He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named. It had taken a while as he had been out of his office, and when he did manage to get a hold of him, it was with the unfortunate information that he already knew and that steps were going to be taken since Fudge had obviously dropped the ball on this one. In an unprecedented move, the Prime Minister was then reaming out Fudge on the fact that he failed to investigate and take evidence from the year before, and therefore, under the Royal Charter which formed the Ministry for Magic, a term he was informed was the the correct one, then they, the muggles would be stepping in.

For him, the situation was getting worse as he was being informed of all the areas that he had neglected, and how his own Undersecretary had tortured people at a school, wanted to use an Unforgivable, sent Dementors after a student during the summer, and that his main adviser was a man who was a convicted Death Eater. Cornelius had been tempted to obviate the man in order to do what he had to and protect the Statute of Secrecy but for one thing. The Prime Minister had more information on the magical world than even he was privy to. The man obviously had more connections than he had been allowed to know, and he would be asking Dumbledore why he hadn't been informed that this was the case.

He left as quickly as he was able to, and then ended up in an even worse situation.

In his office, waiting for him, were three people. The American Ambassador, the representative of the International Confederation of Wizards, and a person from the muggle United Nations. Their appearance in his office had to do with both the situation and with Harry Potter, who it seemed, was now under international attention and pressure was now being given to him to turn over the boy to someone who actually cared. It seemed the boy had been abused and locked up at his relatives place, something else he hadn't known about as that had been handled by Dumbledore as well, and he was always informed that Harry was safest where he was.

Then the man from the UN started to speak, wanting to know why Britain's own magical laws concerning the criminal, Black had not been followed. Since he had been sent to Azkaban without trial, and without being allowed to use Veritaserum, the man had been exonerated by a quickly formed international tribunal, and was wondering how many other 'political prisoners' that the Ministry was holding. The UN, and their Magical Branch was going to be informing the Prime Minister and he was demanding full access to all files on prisoners as well as an inspection tour of the facilities. Something that the woman form the ICW was fully backing.

The ICW themselves had been informed and were investigating how the laws in the country were made to allow the advancement of Voldemort and his cohorts. Her demand was simple. She wanted access to their law records, who made what law, and how they were carried out. She was particularly interested in how Werewolf's were treated as it seemed many had fled to other countries where they were safer than in Britain. She was also fuming over the fact that Demonic Vampires were given free reign in Magical Britain. Upon hearing that, the UN representative offered them a group called Omega Delta to handle the situation which was acceptable to the woman.

The American Ambassador, however, made sure that his plans for Granger, who he was informed was once named Harris, were well and truly shut down. It seemed that he was well known in America and still retained his American citizenship. He had also been granted citizenship by many countries, and Mr. Granger, along with his family, were pushing for full adoption of Mr. Potter. He also added the fact that the American President was considering declaring Magical Britain a group of terrorist and bringing the full might of their military in to help the Prime Minister quell the situation and bring order back. Something he himself backed as it would help to 'Keep Mr. Harris out of the situation and the body count down.'

Fudge was not a happy person.


"Well, I can help you out!" Andrew laughed heartily. "How would you like to be the first actual Jedi on the planet?"

Xander stared at the man across from him, "Andrew, the lightsaber part of the gun worked, but how the hell would I get the force type powers?"

Andrew smirked, "Well, if you noticed, all the powers that are on the films are variations of psionics. To name a few of them, telepathy, telekinesis, Astral projection, biofeedback, clairvoyance, energy control. These are things that are part of all sentients and I've been quietly developing a system to allow our people to have access to these abilities. Imagine teams of Slayers and Watchers who can do this, it would revolutionize how we go about things, and allow us to come out into the open."

It clicked for Xander then, "The lightsaber. You're planning to artificially create a Jedi Order here so that we can openly patrol and fight. That's...That's..."

Andrew huffed and fell back into his chair, "If you're going to say insane, it's all right. I understand."

Xander looked at the boy who had finally become a man in his eyes, "No, you idiot. It is the single, most ingenious idea that I've ever heard! How do we go about this?'

Andrew looked at Xander as if he had never seen him before. "Um.. It would mean some implants throughout the body. Psychic amplifiers that duplicate some of the things that we've seen in the Slayers, and the electronics are well shielded since they are stored in subspace strata. There would be several around your head so that if one command unit is damaged, you wouldn't be defenseless."

Xander's thoughts turned to his daughter, "How about for those who are naturally magical?"

Andrew grinned, "Well, if they practiced from the time they were young, they could develop the abilities naturally. Magic is controlled by the mind, after all, and they do have access to a lot of energy. All the devices would do is enhance their abilities. Training them to do what is necessary is up to you."

Now the former Director looked at Andrew carefully, "How long have you been planning this?"

Andrew grimaced, "I've had the idea for a few years, but I only started to really work on it since Hermione started at that school. I don't want her, or any of our charges, to head down the path I did when I was young."

"Lets do this."

Andrew smiled as he got up and led Xander to the medical section after taking a box from his desk. "The implants only have to be injected, so it will only take a few minutes. After that, I have some robes with some special features for you, Hell, a full Jedi suit with armour if you must know, and I want to build some ships."

Xander raised an eyebrow, "An X-wing, the Falcon, and a speeder I take it?"

"You know me so well."