Disclaimer: The characters from Harry Potter books and Buffy the Vampire Slayer do not belong to me. I merely use them in my plot for fun.

"Speech"

'Thoughts'

Chapter Fourteen:

ooo

Sunnydale, California:

Giles observed as Faith trained with the crossbow. She had not been as excited as Buffy but she was just as good as the blonde Slayer with it.

He was sad that he couldn't train the new slayer more, but he was happy to be going to see Buffy again. They had sent him to miserable replacements. He had recognized Gwendolyn post for what she was, a fake. When he contacted the Watcher's Council they had informed him that she had been fired and she was to be kept an eye on until their men could come and retrieve her. Then Wesley Wyndham-Price appeared. Apparently his family were watcher's going back so many centuries that his family was practically royalty where the Watchers' Council were concerned. They would not listen to him when he had tried to inform them that he was a worthless twit that acted like he knew everything when the truth was that he knew very little at all. He had delayed leaving to try to train him up a bit. It was going nowhere, if he was lucky, he would leave for England by Christmas.

Things were almost normal on the Hellmouth and he got regular mail from his Slayer. He had contacted her about what was going on with the Watcher's Council and asked her to contact her parents' on his behalf. That had gone well she had been excited to be able to see him again. She had asked her parents and they had agreed. Probably only because of the fact that he cared so much about Buffy. That he was part of the reason that she had stayed alive on the Hellmouth. Buffy had given him directions to the "local" wizarding stores. Local meaning it was in LA. That was the closest community on this side of the country. He had purchased an owl that could travel internationally. He kept it at his home because hardly one intruded on his privacy here. If they had, they probably would have noticed his apartment starting to look awfully bare as he had started to move most of his things back to England. It was on the Council's dime which he was proud of.

Willow entered the library then, Oz a step behind her.

"Oh, hello you too," Giles put his notes aside. He noticed the long looks on their faces and commented on it.

"Well, Oz was at Willie's," the red head started.

"I heard from a Vampire that something is up in Europe," Oz admitted. "I asked Willie and he told me that many Vampires are returning to Europe. Someone or something is gathering them all there."

Giles frowned. "A gathering of Vampires? Did you hear where in particular?"

"United Kingdom," Willow replied.

"Bloody hell!"

Britain:

Hogwart's castle:

Gryffindor Tower:

"Ron!" Ginny yelled. "Gather up your stinky socks!" she ordered when she visited the boy's dorms.

"They are not stinky!" Ron yelled.

The rest of the house watched the match between the sibling.

"One sickle that he gets hexed," Dean offered.

"Two she hexes him before five minutes," a seventh year girl offered.

The betting pole continued and Hermione shook her head.

Harry looked up from the letter he was writing to his godfather.

"You okay?" Hermione asked him.

"Yes, can't wait to get home," the teen replied.

DADA:

Remus smiled at the anxious students. It was the last class of the year and that very night was the last dinner before the students had their Christmas holiday.

"You will be happy to know that you all did very well in your assignments."

There were smiles and cheers from the eager students.

"Yes, yes, congratulations to all of you. Now, as promised, the best assignment gets a prize. Crystal Malfoy, please claim your prize." He pointed at the large chocolate bar he held in his hands.

Buffy beamed. "Chocolaty goodness! Yum!"

The class laughed.

She went back to her seat and Draco pretended to steal her prize.

"Down boy," she warned.

"Now, fun aside, I really want us do to a last lesson before this is all over."

Now there were groans.

Remus chuckled. "You knew there was a 'but'."

Next day:

Malfoy Manor:

"Narcissa!" Lucius was exasperated. "We are going to be late!"

"Patience darling. We'll just apparate to the station," Narcissa called out as she took care of her newly styled curls.

Lucius fixed his gloved. "That is not the point my dear," he told her.

She huffed and stood. "Come on then."

Platform 9 and ¾:

Buffy stepped down the train and stretched. It was good to have two full weeks without classes. Her enthusiasm was shared with Blaise and Draco, though her brother was not as expressive.

"I don't see mother," Draco commented as he scanned the crowd.

"Relax," Buffy told him. "Oh, hey! There's Hermione. I gotta say goodbye. Wait here."

"Like hell," Draco replied as he followed after her.

Mrs. Weasley had latched onto Ron and hugged the boy much to the teen's embarrassment. Draco smirked at the scene, glad that his mother had never done so, in public at least.

"Hermione!" Buffy greeted. The Gryffindor girl came to greet her and the two started chatting and exchanging mail addresses while the elder Weasleys and several Order members that were there to escort Harry.

The green eyed wizard was also happy to see the Malfoy girl and he too greeted Crystal.

"Merry Christmas Harry!" Buffy sauntered over to the Boy-Who-Lived.

He smiled at her and then stopped when he felt her brother's scowl.

"Malfoy," he nodded at Draco.

"Whatever," the blond said but Buffy's elbow in his gut made him grunt. "Yes, yes, Merry Christmas."

Hermione smiled at the siblings.

"Crystal! Draco!" Narcissa's voice called out. Lucius followed after her muttering about something.

"That's our cue," Draco said as he took Buffy's arm and dragged her away.

Crystal shrugged at the Gryffindors.

"Was that Crystal Malfoy?" Molly Weasley asked her children.

"Yes, that was she," Harry replied.

"We need to get going," Remus reminded them.

Malfoy Manor:

"Home again," Buffy commented once she was home.

"We are on a tight schedule," Narcissa told her daughter. "We have to do so much shopping. I got you an appointment with my French tailor and…"

Narcissa dragged Buffy away leaving Lucius and Draco to stare after them.

"I'm glad I'm not in her shoes anymore," Draco commented.

"Shall we go watch the Quidditch match of Ireland against China?" Lucius offered.

Draco brightened up and followed his father to the study.

December 20th:

No 12, Grimmauld Place:

Harry smiled when Sirius finished his joke. The twins were laughing hard and Remus shook his head at them.

"Don't give them any ideas," Remus warned the Animagus.

"It won't hurt," Sirius whined. "They like it!"

"Molly will kill you," Remus offered and Sirius considered it for a mere second.

"Well, there was this other time…"

Harry shook his head. "He's impossible," he told his DADA professor.

"He sure is," Remus replied. "Are you happy to be with us here?"

"I've never had Christmas with family before. I really look forward to it."

Remus frowned. "One of these days I'm going to seek Sirius on your relatives."

"He'll have way too much fun," said Harry.

"That's the plan. No let me ask you something. Are you and Crystal Malfoy close?"

"Not really. She hangs out with Hermione from time to time and her brother tags alone. He's acting like she's going to disappear in any second," Harry commented. "But Crystal, she's okay for a Slytherin, and a Malfoy."

Remus chuckled. "That she is."

"Why are you asking?" Harry asked.

"Just curious." At the teens inquiring face he added. "If anything comes up I will tell you."

Harry nodded and went to join Ron and the twins, eager to spent time with his godfather.

Alone Remus frowned. The whole Order had been informed by Snape that the Dark Lord had ordered Lucius Malfoy to present him his daughter over the holidays. Many were worried for the fate of the young girl. And now that Remus knew of her Slayer status he was more concerned. It also irritated him that Dumbledore was calm about it. the girl could be the best Slayer ever, but even that would not be enough to save her from Voldemort.

December 24th:

Malfoy Manor:

Buffy was officially, and for the first time in her life, tired of shopping. She had a wardrobe that would make Cordelia green with envy. For the first time she thought she had too many shoes and not wanted to enter another shop. They had returned to the Manor tired and met an excited Draco. He and Lucius had a lot of father/son bonding time. Good for them; from what she had gathered from talking to her brother they had needed it.

"Crystal?" Lucius asked her from her doorstep.

"Come on in," Buffy told him.

Lucius stepped inside the room.

"You want something?" Buffy asked. Seeing him nervous and almost hiding it she winced. "Oh-oh."

"What?" Lucius asked.

"What's the deal? Something bad, right?" the girl hit the mark straight on.

"I'm afraid so."

"Just tell me. No half truths or sugar."

Lucius sighed. He was doing that a lot lately. "I'm not a good guy Buffy."

The Slayer lowered her body on the ground and made herself comfortable. "I know you're no wizard of Oz."

The wizard blinked, the reference lost on him. Buffy shook her head and signaled him to continue.

"Do you know what a Dark wizard is?" Lucius asked her.

"Someone who delves deeper in magic than supposed to and abuses it for selfish needs."

"That too, in Wiccas. For us wizards it is a much worse brand of magic that causes harm and needs blood to be spilt, be that animal or human, at one point at time. I enjoy violence and blood. I'm vicious and unforgiving," Lucius said, going from general to his specific case.

"I gathered that," Buffy offered.

"Have you ever heard of the Dark Lord?" Lucius asked then.

"No."

The wizard then started telling her the tale of the Boy-Who-Lived.

December 25th:

Malfoy Manor:

Draco ate his breakfast half heartedly.

"Is Crystal coming?" Narcissa asked.

"I had a talk with her last night," Lucius stated.

Mother and son stared at him.

"I told her about me being a Death Eater."

Narcissa gasped. "You explained everything?"

"Yes."

"How is she?" Draco asked.

"She asked me for some time," Lucius replied.

The atmosphere was heavy.

"We'll get through this," Narcissa said then.

"I am not a good man," Lucius told his wife. "I don't want to be. It is a hard fact to accept."

"I think she will," Draco opined.

"How can you be so sure?" Narcissa asked.

"I am not. But we'll know by lunch. We'll be opening our presents then," Draco told them.

And he was correct. Buffy left her room. She joined the rest of the family in the family drawing room were a cozy atmosphere was created and the medium sized Christmas tree was overflowing with presents.

"Crystal!" Narcissa was on her feet, hugging the young girl.

Buffy smiled and hugged back. The she walked over to Lucius and drew him for a hug too.

"Are you sure?" Lucius asked her. "I won't change my ways."

"You could mellow down a bit," Narcissa told her husband.

"I understand, it's in your blood," Buffy told her father. "I am a predator by nature, being a Slayer means that. I'm not all sunshine either." She drew a deep breath. I want to tell you a few things, but it is still early for me."

"So, everyone is fine?" Draco asked.

He received nods.

"Good. Now what did you get me?" he asked his family.

"Prat," Buffy swatted him and purposely missed.

Draco laughed.

December 30th:

Malfoy Manor:

"So Moldyvorts wants to meet me?" Buffy asked.

Her parents winced at the way she butchered the name and Draco covert a snicker with a snort, or at least tried to.

Buffy threw her hands in the air. "I'm not doing it on purpose you know!"

"Sure," Lucius replied and went on telling her about the invitation from the Dark Lord.

Buffy listened and considered it. it would be best if she met the bad guy in his own terms. She knew nothing of evil wizards and did not want to see her family hurt.

"I'll meet this guy."

"Just call him Lord," Lucius told her. "Less chances of slipping and making him angry."

Buffy nodded.

"And I know just what you should wear," Narcissa added.

"You'll get to meet the rest of the family," Draco said with fake cheer.

Buffy blinked. "Isn't that a good thing?"

"Well, Auntie Bellatrix is crazy," Draco started.

Narcissa rolled her eyes. "Draco?"

"What? Oh, and Dolohov is like a second cousin or something, avoid meeting him in a dark corner, Avery is a bit coo-coo…"

"Is anyone all there up there?" Buffy asked.

"It rhymed," Draco grinned.

"No more wine for you," Lucius told his son. Then he turned to Buffy. "It is best you keep your guard up."

"Will do," Buffy agreed.