Disclaimer: Buffy/Whedon HP/JKR OCs/Me

Chapter 38: Taken

Harry buttoned up his shirt. "Cass, stop panicking."

"Harry, we're going to be late." Cassandra tugged her dress back on. "Why did I let you do this to me again?"

"Again?" Harry queried.

"Harry, I've nearly been late for work every day since you got back and it's entirely your fault," Cassandra complained.

Harry kissed the back of Cassandra's neck. "You shouldn't be so irresistible." Harry then flicked his wand and the zip on Cassandra's dress did itself up. "And you shouldn't look so good in that dress."

Cassandra couldn't help but smile. "Harry, you're terrible."

"And you love it." Harry cast another spell and Cassandra's hair reverted to the carefully coiffed look it had had half an hour before. "Where did I put my shoes?"

"Accio Harry's wedding shoes," Cassandra called out and she ducked as they flew from the far corners of the room where Harry had thrown them. "If I'm late, Luna will kill me."

"The wedding doesn't start for well over an hour." Harry snaked his arm around Cassandra's waist. "Now take a deep breath."

Cassandra relaxed. "I still find it hard to believe that Luna's getting married."

"Xander has to go home, and it's the only way she can go with him. Can you imagine Grimstock Lovegood letting his niece live in sin?" Harry had met this world's version of Grim and found him to be a dour but good sort of fellow.

"No."

Harry chucked her under the chin. "Now stop moping and kiss me."

"Harry, that's how we ended up on the floor last time." Cassandra nevertheless did as Harry demanded, moaning lightly as Harry's mouth left hers and started to make its way down her neck. Coming to her senses, Cassandra pushed him away. "Harry, we can't."

"Okay, okay." Harry let go of her and dutifully finished putting on his shoes. "Let's go."

Cassandra took a deep breath as the international portkey kicked in. She groaned as they landed at USAD, New York, bypassing Customs. "I hate those things."

"Do you want a minute before we go again?"

Cassandra just wanted it over and done. "No, let's go."

Harry operated the secondary portkey, arriving this time in USAD West, Cassandra clamping a hand to her mouth.

"You did remember to take your potion, didn't you?" Harry asked in concern.

His question was answered as Cassandra threw up. Harry sighed and fished in his pocket for an anti-nausea potion. "Take this."

Cassandra took it quickly as Harry cleaned up. "You distracted me."

"Let me look at your dress." Harry checked her dress over. "It's fine. A breath freshening charm, and we'll be on our way."

"Give me a minute." Cassandra felt the whoosh of the charm as it cleansed her mouth. "I'll apparate myself."

"Do you know where the Hotel Del Coronado is?" Harry asked.

"No but I don't want to be side-apparated," Cassandra whined.

"Tough." Harry took her arm. "Take a deep breath."

Cassandra did as Harry ordered and staggered as they arrived. "Don't move me."

Harry waited patiently as Cassandra took several deep breaths before straightening up.

"I'm okay now."

"Let's go then." Harry led Cassandra towards the area that had been designated for the wedding. Before they got there, they found a very nervous Xander pacing up and down, a red-headed girl trying to calm him down. "Xander, you look worried."

"Harry, what if she doesn't show up?" Xander had worked himself up into a frenzy.

"She'll show up." The red-head turned to Harry. "Tell him."

Harry patted Xander on the back. "Luna will be here. Cass is going to join her now."

"Sorry but after screwing up my first wedding, I'm a little afraid that karma is going to come and bite me in the ass." Xander then took a deep breath and did the necessary introductions. "Willow Rosenberg, these lovely people are Harry Sebastian and Cassandra Black."

"Ooh!" Willow's face lit up. "Witches."

"I'm a wizard actually." Harry smiled widely. "Pleased to meet you."

"Hi, Harry." Willow then turned to Cassandra. "Hi, Cassandra. I know we've only just met but Xander refused to let me near anywhere Luna, so can we get together and talk about magic?"

Cassandra was a little taken aback at Willow's enthusiasm. "Okay…"

Xander put his arm around Willow's shoulders. "You'll have to forgive Willow. She's a practicing Wiccan and gets overexcited when she's around you magical folk."

Cassandra suddenly realized exactly who Willow was. "I could talk about some simple spells but that's about it, I'm afraid."

"My fearsome reputation goes before me." Willow sighed pitifully and gave the couple a hopeful look. "I promise I won't try to take over the world."

Harry laughed. "Well, as long as you've kicked the habit, I don't see why Cassandra can't show you a few spells."

Willow looked from one to the other. "Are you two dating?"

Both shook their head at once.

"No!"

"Absolutely not," Harry said more sedately, confirming Cassandra's answer. "I'm Cass' friend as well as her boss."

"In that case, you won't mind if I take Cassandra and show her to Luna's room then." Not giving Harry a change to respond, Willow slipped her arm around Cassandra's waist and dragged her away.

Harry turned back to Xander. "Where's H.J.? I thought together with Willow, he'd be trying to calm you down."

"He's helping seat the guests out on the lawn." Xander nodded in the direction that Harry had originally intended to go in. "Harry, I messed up so badly the last time I tried to get married. What if something does go wrong?"

"Nothing's going to go wrong." Harry put his arm around Xander. "Let's go get a drink. Normally I wouldn't recommend this for someone who's about to get married but I'm worried you'll explode if you don't get something to calm you down. And perhaps a corn dog."

Xander was diverted somewhat at the thought of a corn dog. "Perhaps I'm mistaking hunger for nerves."

"Perhaps you are." Harry laughed as he led Xander off.

Ninety minutes later a slightly bemused and completely relieved Xander found himself kissing his bride as the Minister announced them husband and wife.

Harry, however, had had a very unpleasant thirty minutes as Thomas had chosen to sit next him as Mione was acting as a Matron of Honor. Harry could feel pain prickling throughout his shoulder where Thomas' arm was touching Harry's as they watched the ceremony, Nat sitting quietly on Harry's lap. Eventually though, it was over and Harry stood up. "Nat was very well behaved."

"He's a good boy." Thomas placed a hand on Harry's free arm, unknowingly sending worse pain shooting through Harry. "Are you all right, Harry?"

"Just feeling a little off color," Harry answered truthfully.

"I'll take Nat and his sister back to Theresa," Thomas offered. "You should go and get yourself something for that."

"I'll be okay." Harry passed Nat back to Thomas.

"Thanks for holding him." Thomas walked off until he was out of sight before reaching a designated apparition area and disappearing with the two children.

Harry soon felt better as Thomas left, and he watched as the main wedding party had their photos taken. He then joined the rest of group when asked, before waiting until Cassandra wandered over to him. "You look tired, Harry. I wonder why."

Harry tweaked her nose. "It's not for the reason you think it is. I had Thomas right next to me for the whole service."

Cassandra winced. "Do you need anything? I have some painkilling potion in my handbag." Cassandra lifted the small beaded purse up.

"No, thanks." Harry held out his arm for Cassandra to take. "So did Luna say who you'd be sitting with for the dinner?"

"She didn't." Cassandra followed everyone else to the boards where the seating arrangements had been laid out. "I didn't realize that Xander and Luna knew so many people."

"Watchers' Council, family, friends... they soon add up." Harry groaned. "Of all the people…!"

Cassandra scowled. "They put you between Buffy Summers and Ginny Weasley?"

"It could've been worse, they could've put me next to one of the stuffed shirts from the Council." Harry sighed. "Where are you?"

"Between Bill and Charlie Weasley." Cassandra was just as annoyed. "I suppose I should be grateful it isn't Harry Potter."

Harry scanned the tables. "Well, Fred and George are definitely here. And joy of joys, Ginny is already sitting down. Even better, I see Blaise Zabini right next to her. Hopefully she'll ignore me."

"I'd conveniently forgotten that Luna knows the Weasleys," Cassandra said in a dismal voice as she had hoped to be seated with Harry.

"I'll walk you to your table." Harry followed Cassandra over to her designated seat and greeted Bill. "Hello again, Mr. Weasley."

"Mr. Sebastian." 'Bill' was slightly cold. "Miss Black." He then turned his attention to the young woman next to him.

Charlie, however, beamed at Cassandra. "I told Luna to seat me next to someone pretty. I'm Charlie Weasley."

"Cassandra Black." Cassandra blushed. "So who's sitting on the other side of you?"

"That would be the youngest bridesmaid, I believe." Charlie also smiled widely at Harry. "I'm sorry, I know who you are but I don't believe we've ever had a proper introduction."

"Harry Sebastian." Harry shook hands with the stocky young man.

"Charlie Weasley." Charlie immediately took a liking to the dark-haired man with a firm handshake. "I suppose her father told you to keep an eye on her."

Sirius had declined to attend as Faith hadn't been up to making the trip as she was now just over seven months' pregnant. Harry smiled. "You know how it is. And now that I've seen Cassandra safely to her seat, if you'll both excuse me, I should go take my own."

After seating Cassandra, Harry watched resentfully as Charlie put his arm around the back of Cassandra's chair and said something about overbearing parents to her, making her laugh. Harry had to resist the temptation to walk back over there and to tell Charlie that Cassandra was off limits, but as he and Cassandra had decided to keep their relationship quiet for the time being, he couldn't.

Making his way over to the table he had been placed at, he nodded politely at Ginny and Blaise, who returned the gesture before sitting down next to an empty space. Harry politely got up again a few moments later as a diminutive blonde started to pull out a seat.

"I'm going to kill Xander."

"What's he done now?" Harry couldn't resist asking as he courteously helped the girl sit down.

"You need to ask?" Buffy glanced at the man to the side of her and she lowered her voice. "That guy to my left hates me, and Xander's obviously trying to set me up with you." Even though she had been in London for a while, and Harry had worked for the Council, the two had never met before.

"Well, you can rest assured that you're perfectly safe from me." Harry held out his hand. "Harry Sebastian."

"Buffy Summers." Buffy shook Harry's hand firmly, a little surprised when he didn't even flinch but simply returned the handshake. "You are one of Luna's lot, aren't you?"

"I am. I used to teach at Luna's school."

"A bit young, aren't you?" Buffy estimated Harry to be twenty-five or twenty-six at the outside.

Harry raised an eyebrow. "And you're a bit small, aren't you?"

"Point taken." Buffy ignored the starter on her plate. "So seeing as you obviously no longer teach, what do you do now?"

"I'm the Assistant Head at British Auror Division." Harry watched a startled look cross Buffy's features.

"I didn't connect the name but I suppose I should have." Buffy took a mouthful of wine. "I simply thought that Auror Sebastian must be your father."

"My father is dead. And before you say anything, it was a long time ago. My brother is H.J."

"The other best man." Buffy looked over to where H.J. was seated at the top table.

"Sort of." Harry smiled. "I don't think Xander wanted Willow at his bachelor party, hence H.J. stepping in to help."

Buffy smirked. "Nothing like a woman to cramp your style at a bachelor party." She glanced at the curly haired woman on the table next to theirs. "That's his wife, isn't it?"

"She's called Hermione, and yes, she is," Harry confirmed. "Their daughter was a bridesmaid. Why didn't you act as one?"

"Too old." Buffy topped off her glass as well as topping Harry's up. "So tell me, Harry Sebastian, how does someone who barely looks old enough to have finished high school manage to hold the position you do?"

Harry used his usual line. "I could tell you but then I'd have to kill you."

Buffy decided that she quite liked Harry, and grinned as she gave her own line in return. "I'm harder to kill than I look."

"So I've heard." Harry was well aware of what Buffy was capable. "Mostly from Remus."

"He's a really nice guy." Buffy could see the head of the Council seated on the far side of the lawn.

Harry winced as a hand came to rest on his shoulder. "Thomas, I see you made it back."

Thomas removed his hand. "I'm sorry to disturb your conversation. I just wanted to see if you felt any better."

"Much, thanks." Harry stood up. "Sorry, I'm forgetting my manners. Buffy Summers, Thomas Seville."

Buffy shook hands with Thomas. "Hi."

"Ms Summers. Harry. I'll leave you two to your conversation." Thomas headed off to join Mione.

Buffy watched him go. "Now why couldn't Xander have put me next to him?"

"Thanks," Harry retorted more than a little sarcastically.

Buffy grinned. "You've already said I'm perfectly safe from you, so I'm free to weigh up my options."

Harry had to smile. "Well, I'm afraid he's taken already. I thought you'd have recognized the name."

Buffy's mouth fell open. "He's that Thomas Seville?"

"Yep." Harry laughed. "And he's married to a friend of mine."

"I didn't realize." Buffy quickly finished off her glass of wine again. "So are you single?"

"Not exactly," Harry said cryptically.

"Are you engaged or married?" Buffy held up her glass so that Harry could refill it.

"No. I'm seeing someone but it's complicated."

"Try dating a guy that's more than two hundred years older than you." Buffy picked up an asparagus stick and bit into it. "Now that's complicated."

"Okay, you win." Harry glanced behind him as he felt waves of dislike emanating from both Ginny and Blaise. Deciding he had already had enough, he made an excuse. "I'm really not enjoying this food. Will you excuse me?"

"You're not leaving me here with this lot." Buffy picked up her handbag and followed Harry. "You don't like the couple who were behind you, do you?"

"Not in the slightest," Harry admitted. "And I hate weddings."

"Me too." Buffy waited until they were in an open space before asking a humdinger of a question. "So when were you planning to tell me that you're a werewolf?"

Harry stopped walking in surprise. "How did you know?"

"The strong handshake and I can just tell." Buffy didn't really know how her senses worked, just that they did. "So getting back to your love life, Mr. Complicated, are you going to tell me who you're seeing?"

Harry avoided telling her the truth as they began walking again. "Someone I shouldn't be."

Buffy grinned conspiratorially. "A little like me then."

"I thought you were free to weigh up your options," Harry challenged.

"My relationship isn't exactly what I'd call serious."

"In that case, are you going to tell me who you're seeing?"

Buffy bargained with Harry. "If you tell me who you're seeing first."

"Cassandra Black."

"Remus Lupin."

Harry was totally stunned. "How long?"

"About three months on and off." Buffy let Harry open the door to the bar for her.

Harry sat down at a table. "Can I buy you a drink?"

"A glass of white wine," Buffy told him. "Actually as I've got no intention of going back to the table you may as well order a bottle. We can go Dutch."

"I'll buy the bottle, but we can share it." Harry then did as Buffy requested before leaning back against his chair. "So what's your story?"

"One girl… you know the bumph. To sum it up, I fell in love, died, fell in love again, saved the world, fell in love, saved the world yet again, boyfriend died then came back as a ghost, got new boyfriend who was a half demon who ditched me for a younger model." Buffy summed things up after the bumph comment in one very abbreviated but at the same time, long sentence.

"So how did you and Remus get together?"

"I was having problems dealing with what had happened with Carlos, my former boyfriend, and I think Remus was fed up with having to replace everything I kept breaking. I also think he was worried that I'd end up breaking something more serious than a table or chair, so he came over to San Francisco to talk to me." Buffy played with her hair. "One thing led to another and a few weeks later we ended up in bed together."

"And you're not serious about each other?" Harry glanced up as the waitress brought their wine over and Harry sampled it. "That's fine, thank you."

"Every love affair I have I mess up, so for the first time this one's purely a relationship of convenience. Besides, he's in love with someone else."

"Anyone I know?" Harry smiled up at the waitress as he signed the check for the wine.

"Someone he works with," Buffy absently answered as she took a sip of her wine, before remembering that Remus had actually told her that Sirius' number one had once worked for the Council.

Harry thought about the various women he had briefly known at the Council, before groaning slightly as he put two and two together. "Please tell me that it's not Mione."

"I can't tell you who it is." Buffy realized that she had said too much as Harry was obviously more au fait with who worked at the Council than she thought.

"You've got to do better than to lie to a werewolf," Harry said wryly, aware that he had guessed correctly as guilt flooded through Buffy. "And as I've already said, she's married."

Buffy's mouth fell open as she made the connection. "Mione Seville. I didn't click. She the friend who's married to the hottie, isn't she?"

"She is," Harry confirmed. "Poor Remus."

Buffy decided she'd better change the subject. "So how serious is it with you and this Cassandra?"

Harry poured himself a glass of wine. "We've only been seeing each other for just over two weeks."

"So I can safely assume that there are no wedding bells on the horizon," Buffy deduced.

"Absolutely not." Harry shook his head as he answered. "And besides I've been married twice already."

"You are older than you look," Buffy remarked in surprise. "So what went wrong?"

"My first wife died. And I left my second wife as I never really loved her in the way she deserved to be." Harry laughed wryly. "This is beginning to get a little heavy."

"Hey, you could have dated two vampires like me..." Buffy didn't finish what she had intended to say, as she looked behind Harry. "I think you're being followed."

Harry looked round to see an unhappy looking Cassandra coming his way. Harry got up and went and put his arm around her. "Cass, this is Buffy Summers. Buffy, this is Cassandra Black."

Cassandra politely shook hands. "Was there something wrong with where you were sitting?"

"Your boyfriend didn't like the company." Buffy let Cassandra know that she aware that they were dating. "Neither did I, so I used him as an excuse to escape. I take it you did the same."

"No, I was just going to fetch a wrap. It's a little chilly out," Cassandra lied. She had been beside herself when she had spotted Harry and Buffy walking off together, seemingly wrapped up in each other.

"I'll get it for you." Not wanting to embarrass Cassandra by calling her out on her lie, Harry walked off to get the wrap.

Buffy smiled at Cassandra. "Harry told me that you've been seeing each for a couple of weeks."

"I'm surprised he told you," Cassandra owned. "We haven't even told our friends we're seeing each other as Dad would have a fit if he knew."

"Sometimes it's easier to talk to a stranger." Buffy decided to be frank with Cassandra. "Look Cassandra, I'm not interested in Harry, just in case you were worried. He warned me off the minute I sat down, and I'm already sort of seeing someone."

Cassandra felt relief flood through her. "Thanks for telling me."

"You're welcome." Buffy pointed to Harry's glass. "Help yourself."

Cassandra refused the offer. "I'd better not." After her experience at the Minstrel, she now tried to limit herself to only drinking alcohol while at home.

"So how are you getting along with Faith?" Buffy enquired after Cassandra's stepmother.

"She took some getting used to but going through a near death experience with someone has a tendency to bring you closer together." Cassandra had grown to like her stepmother. "I was with her when Siri was born."

"She does take a little getting used to," Buffy remarked as she spotted Harry coming back. "Here comes your wrap."

Harry handed it over. "You're only here for two days, Cass. There's enough in that trunk to last you a month."

Cassandra shrugged. "I didn't know what I'd need so I planned for every eventuality."

Harry then noticed yet more people coming their way. "I spy your dinner partner, Cass, and one extra."

Charlie, who was chatting to the girl by his side, walked into the bar. "I was getting worried, Cassandra."

"Sorry, Charlie." Cassandra picked up her wrap. "It took a little longer than I thought."

"Hi, Uncle Harry." Cammie hugged Harry. "Charlie said I could come and look for Cassandra with him."

Harry could see that Cammie had already taken to Charlie. "Charlie Weasley, Cammie Sebastian, this is Buffy Summers."

Cammie's mouth fell open. "You're the Slayer."

Buffy smiled at the young girl. "I'm just a slayer now."

"That's not what my history teacher said." Cammie grinned in delight. "Wait until I tell my friends who I met."

Over Cammie's shoulder, Harry could see a concerned H.J. heading his way. "Did you remember to tell your dad where you were going?"

Cammie gulped. "I forgot."

H.J. marched into the bar. "Camille Sebastian, the next time you disappear, please be so good as to tell someone where you're going."

Charlie stood up. "I'm sorry. It's my fault. I said she could come with me to look for Cassandra."

"Cammie knows better." H.J. glared at his daughter. "You're to return to the table and stay there."

"I'll walk back with her." Cassandra put her arm through Cammie's.

Cammie gratefully smiled at Cassandra as they left together. "I'll race you back."

Harry hid a smile as the two ran off, Cammie in front.

Sitting down, H.J. let out a deep sigh. "I'm sorry but ever since she was bitten by a snake, when she's not at home or in school, I'm on edge every time she's out of my sight. Not that I'm worried about snakes here, unlike my daughter who is, but there are plenty of other things I do worry about."

Charlie apologized again. "It's my fault. I shouldn't have simply presumed that she was okay to come with me especially as you have no idea who I am."

"You're Charlie Weasley." H.J. smiled and held out his hand. "I'm H.J. Sebastian. I teach at Hogwarts."

Charlie beamed his friendly smile. "You're the flying instructor, aren't you?"

"Yes, I…" H.J.'s voice trailed off as he heard Cammie scream. Climbing to his feet, H.J. turned to see eight masked men, seven in white and one in silver, standing in front of Cammie and Cassandra, right at the end of the pathway before it turned to go back towards the area where the wedding was being held. "Cammie!"

On the pathway, Cassandra pulled out her wand, pushing Cammie behind her. "Cammie, stay behind me."

Cammie held on to Cassandra's dress. "Cassandra, I'm scared."

At Cammie's scream, their chairs flying to the floor as they got up, Harry and Buffy had both shot out of the bar, almost neck and neck as they raced towards Cammie and Cassandra. Harry had withdrawn both wands as he ran and was firing off spells towards the men, causing the area to become airless, something one of the Death Eaters counteracted almost immediately. As he was still some distance away, Harry didn't dare use anything too dangerous as he was afraid of hurting the two girls.

H.J. swore as he ran behind them, unable to keep up and unable to apparate as this was an area that had been deemed off limits to apparition and portkeying as it was predominantly Muggle. Being fairly well built, Charlie was even slower.

Then, without warning, on the other side of the clearing, Remus, Thomas, and Mione broke through the bushes, and as they did so, several of the Death Eaters closest to them automatically swung their wands around and took aim. Remus just avoided a Reductor Curse by dropping to the floor but a spell hit Mione, blasting through the partially erected shield she had only just begun to raise. She crumpled unconscious towards the ground, Remus rolling over to catch her before she hit it.

Seeing Remus grab Mione, Thomas returned fire. "Propius Dolens Nex".

The Death Eater the spell hit screamed as pain ripped through him.

As the Death Eater began screaming, Cassandra heard a boom and she knew that the wards had been brought down. Not having much choice except to ignore it, she continued to take aim at the Death Eaters. "Reducto."

Cassandra's efforts came to an abrupt end as an object was thrown at her, causing her to vanish, taking Cammie with her. The silver masked Death Eater also vanished. Remembering their orders to dispatch anyone who got in their way and if possible to acquire Harry, the remaining six turned to face Harry and the others.

Seeing his daughter vanish, H.J.'s face contorted with anger and he threw a spell, which hurtled past Buffy and Harry, who by now had almost reached the scene. The Killing Curse hit the nearest Death Eater and he flew through the air. Thomas decided that Harry, H.J., and Charlie could deal with his remaining men, and he stopped firing to erect a shield to protect Mione from any further curses, thus freeing Remus up from protecting Mione bodily.

Opposite, Harry easily dodged a small ball that was thrown at him, guessing it was a portkey.

As H.J. sent yet another spell at the six remaining Death Eaters, all six of whom were now focused on him, Harry, and Buffy, Charlie lagging quite a way behind, Thomas sucked in his breath upon hearing a spell that he had invented, and had only used twice in his life: the first time to kill his former girlfriend's lover, and the second time on the boy who had claimed to be an alternate Harry Potter.

Under Harry's constant bombardment, one of the Death Eater's shields failed, and the spell sent by H.J that Thomas had recognized hit the hapless Death Eater firmly in the face.

Now in the thick of things, Buffy dodged a green spell she knew wouldn't be good if it hit her, before launching herself at a Death Eater, who went down under the force of her kick. Harry meanwhile used the threefold spell that he favored to blow a hole through the shoulder of one of the other Death Eaters.

As Thomas, Remus, and Charlie joined H.J. in attacking the remaining Death Eaters, Harry stopped firing so that he could erect a new ward to stop apparition. However, moments before he finished conjuring it, four cream and brown clad Aurors popped into existence beside the group, their wands out. "Drop your wands."

At the sight of the Aurors, five of the now seriously injured Death Eaters vanished, one by grabbing the ball that had missed Harry, just as Harry's ward rippled into existence, leaving behind a body and the one Death Eater Thomas had hit first. Harry swore loudly. "Fuck it!"

He turned on the Aurors, who he knew had been sent out in response to the magical activity in a very public Muggle area. "I'm Harry Sebastian, British Auror Division."

"Sir, put down your wand, so that we can ascertain that you are who you say you are," the lead Auror instructed Harry. "We can deal with the injured once you've all dropped your weapons."

Around Harry, everyone else was surrendering their wands. Thomas just ignored the Aurors and took Mione from Remus, who also handed over his wand. "Get these wards down now, Harry."

Harry knew what the spell that had hit her was doing to Mione, and he therefore dropped to the ground, collapsing his ward at the same time. Thomas and Mione vanished. Harry then rolled over just as several stunning spells hit the spot he had been lying in. More pops sounded, and Harry suddenly found himself surrounded by even more brown and cream clad Aurors. The Auror, who had just missed Harry, moved closer. "Now hand over your wands, Sir."

Harry dropped the wands and held up his hands. "My badge is in my inside pocket. You won't be able to summon it though."

Two of the Aurors kept their wands trained on Harry, while the lead Auror told Harry what he wanted him to do. "Get up slowly, take off the jacket, and then use the thumb and first finger of your left hand to reach inside and take the badge out. Then drop the jacket to the ground."

Harry did as he was instructed, ensuring he made no sudden moves. He then dropped the jacket and opened up the badge before handing it over.

The Auror tapped it with his wand, and checked the information it contained. "Harry Sebastian, Assistant Head, British Auror Division." He handed the badge back to Harry. "I'm sorry, Sir, but I had to check."

Harry picked up his jacket. "That's quite all right, Auror. You can give them their wands back. They're with me."

"I need to tell Hermione." H.J. was white. "Let her know what's happened."

Charlie put an arm around H.J.'s shoulders. "I'll go with you."

The head of the group nodded towards his men who did as Harry had instructed. "What can we do, Sir?"

Harry quickly gave out instructions. "Obviously as this is a Muggle area, we need several Obliviation teams. And I want the screaming man on the floor taken into custody. He's going to die but get whatever you can out of him." Harry glanced over at the Death Eater that H.J. had killed. "I'll ask Chief Bradford or Chief Jenkins to sign off on any paperwork for both the dead man and the potentially dead one as no charges are to be brought against anyone here for use of illegal curses. I also need an international floo to contact Commander Black."

"Yes, Sir." Auror Mapp was glad when the screaming man was removed. "Marley here will show you were it is."

"This is for you, Sir." Jennifer Marley held out a portkey, not realizing that Harry already knew where the Western headquarters was situation. "You can contact him through our HQ in LA."

Buffy stood next to Harry. "I'm coming with you."

"So am I." Remus also moved to stand by Harry.

Jennifer refused permission. "I'm sorry, but you can't."

"Yes, they can." Harry grabbed both Buffy's and Remus' hands and, ignoring the portkey, apparated them all to USAD West.

The pair followed Harry through USAD's corridors until he reached a communication area. Buffy looked around with interest. "You seem to know this place well."

"I've been here before," Harry said tersely before throwing international floo powder into the fireplace. "Sirius Black, 12 Grimmauld Place, London, England."

As it was getting late in England, Sirius had been reading in bed and he therefore took some time to respond to Harry's hail. "Harry, what's..."

"Cassandra and Cammie have been taken, Sirius," Harry said quickly. "I need you over here. I'm in USAD West."

Sirius paled. "I'll tell Faith and I'll be there as soon as I can."

Five minutes later a white faced and stern looking Sirius portkeyed into USAD West. "What happened, Harry?

Harry explained. "We were just too far away. Remus, Thomas and Mione were closer; I think Cammie's ring must have alerted Thomas to the danger she was in."

Remus confirmed Harry's suspicions. "I think it did as I heard him tell Mione that Cammie needed him and that Mione should stay behind but she refused. I didn't hear Cammie scream but I knew something was wrong for Thomas to say what he did and so I followed them."

"If you didn't hear Cammie scream, the Death Eaters must've warded the wedding area and didn't expect resistance from the Muggle side," Harry deduced before continuing with his report. "There were definitely eight Death Eaters in plain view but I suspect there must have been another one hidden somewhere who brought down the anti-apparition and portkey wards. Of the eight I could see, one left as soon as Cammie and Cass vanished, two are dead or potentially that way, and we badly injured the remaining five. Unfortunately they got away before I could finish erecting a ward. Of the two major casualties I mentioned, H.J. used the Killing Curse on one of them and Thomas hit the other one, who's going to die as I know there's no counter to the curse he used."

"I take it you want me to second your decision to request that Chiefs Bradford or Jenkins not press charges against either Thomas or H.J.?" Sirius knew Harry well enough to predict how his number one had acted.

"I do." Harry then finished up. "Apart from Cass and Cammie, we had one injury on our side. Mione was hit by the Lentus curse. Thomas has already left with her."

"So why is Miss Summers here?" Sirius had recognized the Slayer immediately, having met her several times. The two of them, however, had never hit it off. "I'd have thought you could leave your girlfriend at the wedding."

Harry hid his annoyance at Sirius' supposition but didn't disabuse Sirius of his incorrect notion, and neither did Remus nor Buffy. "She was with me when the attack happened and so she's a witness."

"Fair enough." Sirius marched towards the apparition point. "Let's get out there."

Tobias Jenkins, a short auburn haired man with a limp, came up to the group, briefly shaking hands with them before handing over a letter for Harry. "Auror Sebastian, this was just delivered for you."

Harry impatiently took the communiqué, read it and passed it to Sirius. "It seems that he knew I'd be here."

"You do know it's a trap, don't you?" Sirius held on to the note. "I'll go."

Harry refused. "He's asked for me by name."

Sirius overruled Harry. "Cassie's my daughter and I'm going."

"Sir, Dominus might kill her if you go instead." Harry knew too well how Voldemort operated. "I've got to go."

Sirius still tried to argue. "Harry, I can't let you…"

Harry took a deep breath. "Permission to speak freely, Sir."

"Granted," Sirius agreed reluctantly.

"Sirius, I know you're her father and you want to protect her but you'll end up killing her if you go." Harry kept his tone deferential but firm. "And this is not just Cass we're dealing with. He's got Cammie as well."

"I know that but I can't just sit back and let you die for my daughter." Sirius knew that whoever went wouldn't be coming back.

"You're going to have no choice, Sir."

Despite everything Sirius had said to Harry about objectivity, it was forgotten in the face of his daughter's disappearance. "I'm ordering you to…"

Sirius got no further as Harry lashed out with his fist. Sirius started to crumple to the ground, only for Remus to catch him before he hit it.

Deciding it was a matter that was none of his business, and that Harry's intent had not been malicious, Tobias said, "I believe I'm going to look the other way. Good luck."

Harry was grateful Tobias wasn't going to interfere. "Thank you, Sir."

As Tobias walked off, Remus lifted Sirius into his arms. "You do know that Sirius is going to be mightily pissed off with you about this, don't you?"

"As I don't expect I'll be back, I'm not going to have to worry about Sirius' feelings," Harry remarked shortly as he picked up the note that Sirius had dropped as he fell.

"If you know it's a trap, then why are you going?" Buffy asked, ignoring the little voice that reminded her that she'd probably have done the same if their positions were reversed and it was her friends in danger.

"Because I know that if I don't, then Cass and Cammie don't stand a chance of being released," Harry snapped, fear for the two girls making him short.

"Do you really expect a man who's going to kill you to release them just because you turned up?" Buffy asked incredulously as she followed Harry and Remus down to the medical bay.

"They're just the bait." Harry pushed open the doors. "I'm the one who pissed him off when I refused to join him."

"They're that important to you?" Buffy stood aside as a healer came over.

"Yes. Cammie's my niece, and Cass is the most important person in my life." Harry watched Remus lower Sirius on to a bed. "I've got to go. The portkey is due to go off in a few minutes and this area is warded." Harry hurried off, Remus following behind him.

When Harry reached the portkey and apparition point, he turned to Remus. "Tell Sirius I'll do my best to ensure that both girls are released."

Remus held out his hand, quickly shaking Harry's, reiterating Tobias' earlier comment. "Good luck."

"I think whatever luck I had has just run out." With his final comment, Harry let go of Remus' hand, and a few moments later the portkey kicked in, and Harry disappeared.

In the medical bay, Sirius groaned and sat up. "What happened?"

Buffy took great delight in telling him, cognizant of the fact that Sirius didn't really like her. "Harry hit you, and he's gone off to try and rescue the girls."

"Fuck!" Sirius hit the bed and let out a yelp as he bruised his knuckles on the hidden metal bar under the blanket at the side of the bed.

"So what can I do to help?" Buffy asked in a cheerfully annoying sort of voice that she knew would irritate Sirius.

"You can shut up and come with me." Sirius brushed off the healer and swayed as he got to his feet.

"Actually..." Buffy slid her arm around Sirius' waist as he teetered sideways. "…I think you'll be coming with me."

"Whatever!" Sirius snapped. "Let's just go."

The healer could do nothing as the pair left the medical bay in search of Remus.