Note: I do not own Buffy, Harry, or anything else you may recognize...I'm only borrowing it from Joss Whedon and JK Rowling...Hope you like it...Enjoy...
I was at the stage that everything my friends did aggravated me. Everything was all ready but I still had a month to go before the baby's born. No one seemed calm except for Oz. I liked being in his presence because he reminded me of Remus and because he didn't really talk much or pester me about being too cold or too hot, being hungry, or worrying if I stood up to leave the room.
My checkups with the Healer showed that everything was going well, including the small increase in my magical core. Each time I had the checkups, my friends would ask why I was driving all the way to LA and Dad was quite quick on lying that a family friend was an obstetrician but couldn't travel to Sunnydale to see me.
Christmas was a joyful time with opening numerous presents for the baby. It received more clothes than I own and numerous toys and things for later. The Weasleys had sent a package through Muggle post and aside from the usual baking, Mrs. Weasley knitted a small sweater. Instead of the first initial, she had done an owl. Harry had only included a short note wishing me a wonderful Christmas. Aside from last year when they couldn't locate me, we had always exchanged gifts. Even in my pregnant haze, I managed to send each and every one a small gift.
A day or two before the new year, I was sitting on the couch in the living room listening to the latest Slayer patrol and slayage. I knew I couldn't be out there and Buffy did have help with the Initiative going with her but I was missing the action. I was never idle even at Hogwarts and not last year especially.
"Dee, you have visitors," Joyce called from the front door.
Buffy helped me up and I waddled over to the door. Standing on the front porch were my friends from London, all but Fred.
"Blimey, Dee. Look how fat you've gotten," Ron cried.
"Ronald, she's pregnant not fat," Hermione chastised while slapping him upside the head.
"I haven't felt like this since the Battle. My skin is tingling and my mind is racing, waiting for the next attack," Harry muttered.
I pulled the man into my arms and hugged him. I whispered in his ear that it would get easier. I gazed at the others and invited them in. The Scooby gang was in the living room waiting for us, Joyce included. I held onto Harry's hand and ushered the 4 wizards and 3 witches into the room.
"Let me do the introductions and then you can bombard us with questions. First the Americans. That's Buffy, Xander, Riley, Joyce, Oz, and Willow. My father is currently busy on a project but he will be by later for dinner. Now the Brits. This is Harry, Luna, George, Hermione, Ginny, Neville, and Ron. And yes, Xander, George, Ginny, and Ron are siblings, hence the same color of hair."
"If that was the case then Willow could be a relative," he tried.
"What are you all doing here?" I asked.
"We didn't know what to get you for Christmas so rather than send you things you might already have, we decided to spend some time here in the States before the baby is born. Luna's aunt was able to rent us a house for the next month so we have somewhere to stay. It's just past the city limits though," Hermione answered.
So they would still be able to use magic. I smiled at the thought of Ron or George going completely Muggle. I let go of Harry's hand to rub my lower back.
"Is your back still bothering you, Dee? Maybe you need to sit down," Joyce said.
"It's nothing. It just feels like the baby is kicking my spine instead of my bladder. I'll take a nap later. Xander, George is the inventor of those prank items that I brought back for you."
"Really? Those are awesome."
"Yes, awesome. My favorite shirt was ruined by that prank magical wand, which you did promise to replace," Buffy said.
"And I promise I will."
"Actually I have something back at the house that could get the stain out if you still have the shirt. It'll look brand new," George replied.
It was nice to see all my friends mixing well. George, Xander, and Oz were discussing pranks. Willow and Hermione were talking books. Ginny, Luna, and Buffy were talking fashion. Neville had Joyce listening attentively about gardening and Harry, Ron, and Riley were talking combat.
"Big Bad in the house. Where's the demon spawn?"
"He just talked so I'm sure you know where he is. We're all in here, William."
With William having a behavior modification chip implanted in his head by the Initiative, he's joined the Scoobies to work out his aggression. He's our muscle and will gladly beat the bloody pulp out of a demon on our word alone.
"Hardy har har, Winston. Are you ever going to call me Spike?" the blond vampire drawled as he entered the living room.
Harry was on his feet instantly and had William pinned to the wall with an arm across his throat. Buffy stood to intercede but I motioned for her to stay seated. Ron and Hermione each took a step forward but a field was in their way. Harry's magic was manifesting itself, multiplying because of the Hellmouth.
"Harry James Potter, do not make me get up off this couch," I threatened.
Harry's arm pressed harder into Williams's throat.
"He's a vampire, Deedra. Why is he allowed here? Why isn't she pulling a stake to kill him?"
All American eyes stared at me waiting for me to explain how he knows about Slayers and vampires and such. I used the armrest of the couch to pull myself up and walked to the edge of the field. I laid my hand on it, feeling it crackle against my palm. One second the field would feel hot and then cold. I shut my eyes and pictured the spell in my mind. I wasn't sure if it would work but I needed to try.
"Because he's a Scooby even without a soul. Because he saved Buffy last week on patrol. Because he would kill anything or anyone who threatened my child. William isn't one of those vampires who sided with Voldemort. He wasn't even in Britain during the war. Besides no one commands William to do anything except for Drucilla and she's no where near Voldemort's level of lunacy."
"Dee, what are you thinking? No vampire is good," Ron said.
"The ones we fought I will agree with you but William and another named Angel are different. I will explain more but first, Harry needs to let him go. He won't harm anyone here. Even if he tried, he wouldn't get to without blinding pain taking over his head."
The field came down under my hand and I stepped closer to Harry. I laid a hand on his arm and rubbed my fingers along his skin. His hold on William loosened but didn't drop completely. I leaned in and whispered in his ear. What I said had Harry dropping his arm and spinning around to face me.
"Merlin, Dee. When were you going to say something?" he gapped.
"I just did. The others will find out in due time. It looks like I have some explaining to do but Dad should be here soon and I'm sure he would like to be in on the conversation. Harry, go sit next to your girlfriend and William, there's a new supply in the fridge in the basement."
The Boy Who Lived sat next to Ginny who tried to get him to spill what I had told him while the blond vampire went to get a glass of blood. Joyce went to check on dinner and I took my seat trying to relax my tense body.
Dad showed up and was surprised to see the larger group of people. He stepped up behind me and squeezed my shoulder. He had understood when I told him about my magic so I hoped the others would be the same.
"Dinner is finished unfortunately there isn't enough for everyone," Joyce said as she came back into the living room.
"That is quite alright, Mrs. Summers. My friends and I ate before we came. I can see that everyone is quite eager to know what transpired so if you bring your dinner in here, we can fill you in," Hermione spoke up.
"Is she always so wordy?" Xander asked.
"More so. Our Mione was the top student in our school. On one exam, her essay was nearly double of what she needed and she still had time to do the other part with plenty of time to spare. Yet, someone else could barely finish the exam within the time limit."
"Oi, I was hungry. I can't think with an empty stomach," Ron whined.
Willow brought me back a plate of dinner and they took their seats again. William was perched on the edge of the couch next to me and it made Harry keep an eye on him. Even with my reassurance, he wasn't going to back down.
"So where should I begin? With the Slayer, Hogwarts, or Voldemort?"
Ron and George flinched at the dead wizard's name and I shook my head.
"He's long dead. I could chant his name like Bloody Mary and he won't appear."
The Brits didn't know what I was talking about but the Americans did, at least for the Bloody Mary reference. I handed my plate to William, who put it on the coffee table. I rubbed my bump and looked at my friends.
"The short version so everyone is on the same page. Buffy, they know about the Slayer and vampires because we study them at school. There is a course called Defense Against the Dark Arts and we study different creatures and when it comes to vampires, we're informed about the Slayer, the Watcher's Council, and such.
"Willow, we consider the magick that you do to be earth magick. There is a type of magic that comes from within for some. We go to a special school to learn about this magic and things within the realm of being magical. While most could do some form of earth magick, only those with magical cores can use the other form. My friends and I have this core."
I let it sink in for a bit and went for the deep of it all.
"In the wizarding world, there was an evil man who sought world domination and the eradication of non magical people. He brought war to our world before we were even born and then spent a decade as a non corporeal entity. He would eventually come back and it was up to us to stop him, Harry mostly, but as his friends we weren't going to sit by and let him deal with Voldemort.
"The war ended with our side victorious and I was called back to Boston by my mum because she was informed of Faith. You all know the story from there."
"So this evil was like Hitler. He wanted only a certain type of people to live and would have wiped everyone else out," Joyce said.
"Quite similar but with Voldemort killing outright than putting people in ghettos and prison camps. There are three types of magical people: Muggleborns, who have no magical parents; Half bloods, with one magical parent; and Pureblood, who have only magical parents and ancestors. Voldemort wanted only purebloods in the magical world. He wanted to wipe out Muggles specifically but anyone not pureblood would be controlled."
"Muggles?"
"People without magical cores," Harry replied. "There's a lot that Dee isn't mentioning right now but the important thing is that Voldemort is gone and the wizarding world is rebuilding. We're hoping that the bigotry that he and his followers had will fade away with time and our society can live peacefully.
"Now that that's out, can you explain to me why this vampire is so different than the others we faced."
"They stuck a chip in my head that keeps me from hurting humans. If I do, blinding pain. Still can kick a bit of demon butt though. Can't hunt, can't feed, can't even maim," William sighed.
"I am part of a team who dealt with hostile sub-T's, ah demons. We would capture vampires and implant this chip within their brains that would keep them from hurting humans," Riley said.
Hermione gasped. "You were killing them. I'm not for vampires but it sounds like this chip wouldn't let them feed and while a vampire can go long periods of time without feeding, it would also send them into a frenzy. It has been documented that some vampires when in a frenzy such as this have killed themselves."
"The less hostile sub-T's, the better in my opinion."
I looked around the room at the faces of my friends. One set was trying to think over what they had been told and the other was ready with more explanations if needed.
"What's your stance on werewolves?" Oz asked.
"Yes, Harry. Will you please indulge us on what you think of werewolves," I joked.
"It's a furry little problem that only lasts a couple days of the month," he shrugged.
I saw Willow's eyes brighten with that so I explained about Remus and that eventually went to the Wolfsbane potion. I asked about Teddy just as my own baby delivered a swift kick. I grabbed my bump in discomfort. Everyone was on edge and ready.
"Just a kick. I still have another month or so. Luna, accompany me to my room and I'll show you the mobile that I got from your aunt."
The blond girl followed me up the stairs to my room and after showing the magical mobile, I sat her down to talk.
"Spill."
Her blue eyes scanned the room briefly before settling on me.
"He proposed after we found out. Bill and Fleur are pregnant so Molly is all about grandbabies but we're worried," she replied.
"Everyone will be thrilled. You and George are, right?"
"Of course."
"Then it doesn't matter what they think. You two have been together for nearly a year. Some may think it sudden but if they are dumb enough to say it, then they have to deal with me. Us soon to be mothers have to stick together."
I hugged the smaller woman and pulled her up off the bed. Her eyes landed on something and she went over to it.
"A Crumple-Horned Snorkack! His horn was broken off. Where did you find him? Why isn't he moving?" she exclaimed.
"His horn isn't broken off, Luna. He never had one. His name is Ferby and you can have him if you want."
The blond clutched the Ferby doll and I was glad that I hadn't replaced the batteries or else she would be questioning why it was talking. We headed back downstairs to find the group mingling. Harry and Buffy were talking about the different battles they had been in. Willow had Hermione and Ginny discussing the different spells. Ron, Riley, George, and Dad were huddled in a group. Oz was contently sitting there listening to everything. Xander was eating a second helping of dinner. Luna went to sit with George and I went into the kitchen.
"Neville, is everything alright? You have been quiet," I asked as I saw him staring out the window.
"Are you happy, Deedra?"
"As much as I can be. You aren't, are you?"
"There are times when I wish everything hadn't happened. I would have grown up with my parents and had a better life at Hogwarts. Not growing up with my parents locked in a hospital and dealing with Death Eaters and Voldemort."
"While your younger years might not have been great, you have the next 100years to make up for it. If you find a woman whom you love and have children, then make sure their lives are what you wanted yours to be like. Give them everything you wish you had.
"You know that my mum was a Watcher and while she was a great mum, there were times that she acted more like a Watcher than a mum. I may not have known at the time but she always made sure that I was capable of protecting myself. I spent my childhood learning fighting techniques, then demons, then battle strategy. That was all before I even went to Hogwarts. While there I was glad I had the knowledge. Now, there's times I wish, like you, that I had a regular childhood.
"We can't change the past, Neville, but we can live the future we want to live."
I pulled the tall Gryffindor in for a hug. I held his face in my hands and gazed into his eyes.
"You'll make a wonderful husband and father, Neville Longbottom. Any woman would be lucky to have you," I said as I kissed his cheek.
He escorted me back into the living room where our friends were still talking.