The Surprise

"Where are we going to go?" He asked, wand hidden. "My family would probably like to know." Which would be the day Aunt Petunia says she loves me without the influence of alcohol. And means it.

"Headquarters," Giles responded, tone reserved. He was eyeing Harry as though he didn't like the decision at all. "They're located somewhere in the United Kingdom, we aren't gallivanting to another country, I assure you." Harry nodded.

"Since you are aware of magic, would you mind using magical transportation? It will be the only way to get back in time and the quickest." Harry nodded thinking it would be something like a broom or apparition. As long as it didn't involve a port key, he was fine with it.

"Okay." Willow said smiling nervously. "Here we go." Willow took a deep breath, waved her hands, and… Nothing happened.

Harry looked at them inquisitively. Maybe they are insane. He hoped

"Willow, do stop that. He doesn't look like he was lying when he said he knew about magic."

Nope. He thought still waiting.

Willow pouted but nodded. "Fine. Spoils sport." Willow smiled at him. "Shazam." she said as she did a quick arm movement.

Harry never saw the world slide under his feet before and appear instantaneously. He stood there amazed as the world suddenly spun, colors melted together and it all blurred, and just as quickly, reoriented itself. If he hadn't been expecting something to occur Harry would have said it was instantaneous but he knew it wasn't. It felt like it didn't but seeing it happen made him realize it.

He tried to rationalize it. The visual sensation was the similar to that of a port key except quicker. It lacked any physical sensation except for the disorientation. The oddest part was that they never touched. Willow, if she actually did it, never had him touch anything or anyone. Both a portkey and side apparition needed physical contact in order to work. Harry did not understand how they had moved so suddenly.

Looking around, Harry noted he was in what appeared to be a small office. Not particularly malevolent or reeking of evil intentions but maybe they were just very well paid bad-guys or like the Malfoys.

The two others looked unperturbed with this event. "Right then," Giles responded. "I'll go inform the others about this. Willow would you?" He motioned toward Harry. Willow nodded.

Others. There are others? He thought imagining a sudden organization of neighborhood stalking people locating teenage girls and doing…whatever they did with them.

Giles quickly left the office. "Take a seat if you want." She said smiling.

Harry looked around the room; it was slightly spacious at the center, the bookshelves lining the one wall along with a few cabinets, the desk looking onto the closed and blinded window. There was a comfortable and worn looking chair behind the desk while another two were sitting opposite of the bookshelves. Harry took a seat there.

"Sorry for such a mess," She said obviously referring to the stacks of paper, books, notebooks, and coffee cups on the desk. "I wasn't expecting company." She looked embarrassed. "This isn't my office normally." She explained needlessly.

"Um, do you want anything? We have a lounge. You could go there. I probably won't need you until a bit later." She looked nervous, biting her lip. "Are you hungry? Whoever comes back with Giles could take you to the cafeteria or bring some food. Um, you'd need an escort. Not that we don't trust you. Just that it's a big place and you're new here and um." Not particularly evil sounding but looks can be deceiving.

Harry shook his head. "I get it." He said smiling slightly. "You don't want me wondering around alone." Which I really want to do so I can figure out where I am.

"Okay. Um, it could take Giles a bit to get here." She looked around trying to find something for him to do. She sat down behind the desk, moving the chair so it faced him. "So, uh how's it like being British?"

"The usual, I suspect. Tea, fish and chips, trolleys, and tea time, I suppose." He said feeling slightly amused as he tried to recall the few American shows he'd seen involving his fellow countrymen. He had seen some people bend over backwards trying to introduce themselves to him or start a conversation but no one had ever had started a conversation like this. "How's it like being an American?" He paused thinking. "Or are you Canadian?" He really wouldn't know.

"American." She said not stating any thing more specific. "I've never really been asked that before. I guess I'm just use to people being able to tell I'm American."

"I really wouldn't know." He said vaguely too. "I have never really met talked to an American before and I don't watch television."

Willow fidgeted. "So how do you know about magic?"

Harry shrugged. "How do you?" Willow was quiet.

Vague about it. She hasn't mentioned anything about Salem or asked what at television was. Maybe Muggle born?

They fell into an uncomfortable silence; neither of them was willing to add anything to either attempt at a conversation. Harry stopped himself from fingering his wand and he saw Willow looking at the clock on the wall. A knock saved them from the awkward moment.

A girl his age stood at the doorframe, she looked at them both with interest and annoyance. She looked at him with brief interest before looking at Willow.

"Wha' ya wan'?" She said in a heavily accent voice.

"Can you look after him?" Willow said motioning to Harry. Harry restrained himself from looking annoyed. "My spell went wrong with him. Can you make sure he's fine until we need him?"

The girl nodded slowly as if she had to process her words before a look of full annoyance came to her face. "Follow me." Her accent had dropped and Harry realized her accent had been that of someone who had woken up too soon.

Harry didn't know where she was taking her but he wondered if she could have said no to coming to escort him. "So, uh I'm Neville."

"Sam."

Harry followed her down the hallway into what looked to be a break room. She motioned for him to sit on a worn looking coach in front of a television. "You hungry?" Her accent English now clear that she looked to be awake.

"A bit." he admitted.

"We don't got much here unless you wanna go get something." She shrugged.

"What do you have?"

Harry took the sandwich handed to him after a brief talk. He stayed in the room wondering what could possibly be going on with Willow and the spell. He managed to get more information out of Sam about the spell having found her as well as her friends. After making like he knew what she was going on about, Harry managed to gather a bit of information.

When Willow came in looking for them, Harry had a vague idea that whatever organization this was, it was much larger than Harry had thought of before and it didn't look to be as evil as he had thought. After he followed Willow, he saw Sam, who he had spent talk to about safe topics, leaving with a wave. Harry vaguely wondered if he'd see her again.

The woman was silent and had a serious look on her face that made Harry worry. They would up back at the same office with Mr. Giles present but no one else. He too had a serious expression on his face.

"Could you try something for me?" She asked suddenly. The older man's face gave away nothing about what he the question was about.

Harry gave her an odd look but nodded. "Could you try and bend this?" A strip of metal was presented to him.

"Are you serious?"

"Could you just try?"

Harry frowned but did as she asked. He tried finding the metal hard and after a bit of effort managed to bend it quite a bit. She looked at the older man and he nodded. "Could you close your eyes?" Harry did careful make sure no one was moving toward him. The piece of metal was replaced with something else. "Could you try to bend this?"

Harry did finding it easier than the first. There were two gasp and the thing was taken back. Harry opened his eyes to find another piece a metal in the woman's hands. "It fits but it just doesn't make sense." Willow tried. She made a noise. "I've tried every other combination for the spell to target just girls and he's the only one that doesn't fit because he shows up differently." She murmured. "Giles?"

"Mr. Longbottom," The older man began. "did you experience any physical changes latterly? Unexpected bursts of strength, speed, agility?"

"Not really except at the park." He said quietly. "I've just been restless since I lost someone." He said.

Another strangled sound from Willow. "Could I ask when you started feeling restless?"

"About a few months ago." Harry said looking annoyed and nervous. He kept his hand ready for his wand. "I haven't been doing much except housework." He said.

"Would you mind if I try a spell on you? It won't hurt." Willow asked looking as if she was going to have a mental breakdown.

"For what?" He asked suspiciously.

"To see if what the spell says is true." Mr. Giles replied.

"If what's true?" Silence. "What?" He growled.

"Do you have any non-human in you?" Harry looked incredulous.

Willow looked frustrated. "By any chance were you born a girl?"

Harry's eyes widened. "What? No!" He shouted confused hand reaching for his wand. Mr. Giles raised his hands up showing he wasn't reaching for something.

"Neville," The man said easily and calmly. "I don't know how to say this but it appears that you've been affected by a spell of ours. It shouldn't have." He said calmly enough but Harry saw his surprise.

"And what did this spell do?"

"Activate potentials." Willow said quietly.

"Potential what?" He growled.

"Potential slayers." Mr. Giles filled in easily enough.

"What's a slayer?"

"Something you shouldn't be." Willow said enough.

"Well, I am now aren't I?" Harry said as his temper broke. "So what exactly is a slayer?" His voice was quiet.

"A slayer is a warrior, a hunter of demons, big bads, a protector." Willow said just as quietly although hers seemed to have come from her shock. "And has always been female so unless you were born a girl, you're…an anomaly." She said as if still unable to believe it.

Harry's eyes widened. "What?" His growled. "NO!" He looked at both of them. "Take me home!" He yelled.

"Neville," Willow began, "if you let us try to figure this out."

"No!" He screamed feeling panic. "You're all insane. You…you take girls and brainwash them don't you?" He pulled back, hand on his wand. "You brainwash them into thinking they're this warrior and then you get them killed and look for another one am right?"

"I don't care what spell you use but I'm…I'm calling the Ministry. They'll put a stop to you and…and then you'll have to try and explain this to the court!" He snapped.

Giles moved toward him. "Stay away from me!" he said pointing his wand at him as the room vibrated. The man wisely took a step back.

"Mr. Longbottom," he tried.

"I won't be your toy." He snapped. "I don't know what game you think you're playing but I won't have any part in it." He felt someone behind him and spotted a dark haired girl who looked to be older than him.

"Willow!" Giles said urgently as the space appeared to tremble around them.

"It's not me!" Willow placed her hands up and motioned for the girl to move away. "Neville, we aren't looking to use you." She said.

"Sure you aren't." He said sarcastically. "And now you're just going to let me go."

"I don't know how you're doing this," She said as she motioned lightly to the room. "but I assure you I won't hurt you. I'll take you back home, I'm going to take just us two to the park where we were." She said calmly. "Alright?"

Harry nodded looking uncertain. "Fine."

"Alright." The world didn't spin for Harry this time but change suddenly with Willow remaining in the same spot. Harry didn't lower his wand.

"It's just the two of us. Will you listen to me?" Harry didn't move. "Fine, come on, I'll walk you home or to where you want then I'll leave." Harry nodded, he kept his grip on his wand but started walking the long way to the Dursleys. Willow began talking and Harry couldn't help but listen. He listened to her amazing story and how he wasn't normal anymore in any sense of the word.

His anger dissipated as the walked and when he stopped a few blocks his home, she handed him a card. "If you need to contact us." She said quietly. "I'm sorry."

Harry said nothing but saw her vanish. He dropped the card and ran back to the Dursleys. This just couldn't be but Harry knew she wasn't lying. He could feel it.

Harry Potter was a slayer.