AN: I don't own Harry Potter or any other story mentioned!

Written: 3/17/14

The Ultimate Crossover

by Kassien

Chapter 18

"What the hell?" came the exclamation of surprise from a light brown haired young man probably around Harry's age, but looked much younger as Harry popped into existence in the middle of the Hyperion lobby with a tied up and unconscious Angellus over his shoulder.

"You found Angellus?" came Wesley's relieved question, completely ignoring the still stuttering and shocked brown haired teenager.

"Yup ...so who are the newbies?" answered and asked Harry, referring to the relatively attractive dark brown haired girl about his age that looked kind of prissy and bitchy, the shocked boy everyone seemed to be ignoring, and the wide eyed little red head that felt a lot like a Wiccan and resembled Ginny Weasley a bit.

"This is Cordelia, she works with Angel," spoke Faith as she motioned to the attractive bitch without looking at Harry purposefully to which had Harry smiling. "These two work in Sunnydale with Buffy, she's the other ..."

"Slayer, yeah," interupted Harry and causing Faith to look at him instead of the floor, and her eyes to narrow in anger at being interupted. "Is she as hot as you?"

"That's Xander," Faith continued practically growling at Harry and ignoring his question, "and that's Willow, she's a ..."

"Wiccan, yeah ...I got it sweetie, thanks," interupted Harry again with a lopsided grin and wink at the fuming Slayer, that had the two Sunnydale newbies watching on with shock, wondering how this guy got away with pissing Faith off so much without her retaliating painfully.

"How did you know she's a Wiccan?" asked Wesley curiously, but also trying to change the topic and get the attention away from the weird sexual flirting between the wizard and Slayer.

"She feels Wiccan," shrugged Harry easily, still looking at the scowling Faith hoping to unnerve her further. "I dated one back in Virginia ...about a year ago now ...not nearly as attractive as sweetie here," he answered while motioning to Faith, "but they have the same feel of earth based magic ...it's pretty noticeable."

"How ...what ...who?" muttered Willow in shock as she looked at the rather attractive stranger who was flirting pretty obviously and blatantly with Faith, and wondering how he could know or feel her magic.

"My apologies Willow," spoke Harry as he turned his undivided attention and eyes on the red head causing her eyes to widen and a slight blush to appear on her cheeks as she realized that he was actually very attractive, "my name is Harry Potter, wizard and currently spoken for by sweetie over there."

Faith's angry shout of protest was almost drowned out completely by Willow's shriek of excitement at discovering that Harry was a wizard, not that she knew exactly what that was. Harry didn't want to have to explain too much to all of these people, but decided to answer some questions and conjured himself a very comfortable looking chair and taking a seat while pulling out the bottle of scotch from his pocket. He asked if anyone wanted some and got three affirmative answers, so he conjured four glasses and filled three half way passing them out to Wesley, Xander, and Faith and filled his own glass to the top.

What followed was a relatively long telling of Harry's story and about magic in general, although he didn't go into too many details and was saved from doing so by Willow who was much more interested in the theories and especially the other classes of vampires. He described the three classes and the differences and similarities they shared, before ending his tale with his defeat of Beast and tracking of Angellus. He learned that Willow and Xander had come from Sunnydale to see if Faith was really working with Angel's group and hadn't just broke out of prison, and said that Buffy and Giles were holding things down back in Sunnydale.

They then began to discuss options for restoring Angel's soul, and most of the group seemed to favor Willow's spell which was really a ritual while Harry's ideas were looked at skeptically. Harry was fine with it, and spent most of the discussion sipping on scotch and flirting with Faith, than contributing on the how's and why's of doing it one way or the other. He did offer to cast a containment ward around the ritual site so that Angel's soul couldn't leave permanently causing everyone to look at him with wide eyes having not thought of that possibility.

In the end, the containment ward was a stroke of genius as it took several attempts of Willow's ritual to coax Angel's soul back into his body and the ward allowed that to happen without disrupting anything and kept his soul close. Angel was thankful to everyone when restored to his body, and curious about what they were going to do about the Beast until he learned that the very powerful stranger already took care of it. After filling Angel in on his past and powers, Harry offered a way to permanently affix his containment ward to his body through runic tattoos that would prevent his soul from ever being removed again.

Angel stared at him in shock with genuine hope shining in his eyes, wondering if that would prevent the curse the gypsy's put on him preventing him from ever experiencing true happiness without the threat of losing his soul. Harry explained how it should work just as the runic symbols he drew to set the containment ward, only localizing the containment to within his body by putting the runic symbols on his skin, and tattoos would give it permenancy. Both Angel and Willow were instantly excited and on board with attempting the unusual and unique ward to protect his soul, both knowing what it could mean for him and Buffy while everyone else seemed to have reservations.

None of the others present after seeing the effectiveness of Harry's containment ward thought that it wouldn't work, but all had reservations just the same. Most worried about the future of Angel Investigations when the souled vampire would go back to Buffy as they all felt was inevitable and some didn't want that to happen for a variety of reasons but mostly felt that they would lose Angel. Xander felt that Buffy deserved better than Angel namely himself and was jealous he would lose out on his relationship with Buffy even if it was only a freindship. Faith was a mixed bag as she too didn't want to lose her friendship with Angel, and also didn't want to see Buffy happy and getting everything that she wanted while Faith had to continually struggle for everything and come up short by comparison.

Through a little surface legilimancy scanning, Harry could tell the other people's reservations even if he thought most were selfish, but still wanted the decision to be Angel's as it was his life he would be changing. He told Angel to talk about it with everyone and really make sure it was what he wanted, but to listen and accept his friend's opinions and advise and that he would return tomorrow to cast the ward if that's what was agreed upon. He then said goodnight to everyone wanting to go back to his hotel and get another shower and some sleep, and gave another flirtatious wink to Faith telling her where he was staying if she wanted to join him.

Harry didn't think she would take him up on the offer, so when he got back to his room he decided to go straight to bed as it was now just past three in the morning and he was exhausted. The next morning , which started much later than was his usual, he went to the hotel gym to workout and then go for a swim before returning to his room to so some reading and studying on the containment ward and the animagus transformation. He was actually getting very close to completing his animagus transformation, but was very weary to try the full change without anyone else around that could help him if he got it wrong and just continued to practice the parts separately without going for the full transformation.

In the late afternoon, he called to check in on Duncan who he found was planning another trip to Scotland in May to visit his birthplace, and asked if he wanted some company since it would give him a perfect chance to visit his old friends from the magical world. Duncan was excited to have him as a travelling partner, and said that he'd make arrangements and would see Harry in about six weeks so they could leave from NYC. He then called Logan to find out that everything was going well for them, although he did admit that Ororo still was a little down and would probably love to see him as would he. His memories had almost completely returned all the way back to his childhood with only small bits and pieces still being filled in as the days progressed, and while most of the memories were by no means happy, he was glad to have them and felt better off knowing and not feeling like he was always searching for answers he never could find.

Next he spoke with Damon, whose life was still insanely drama filled in Mystic Falls, but was doing alright even if he felt a bit lonely and without direction at the moment with Stefan and Elena always spending so much time together. Harry told him about all the demon class vampires he was dealing with lately, and invited him to come out west for a little vacation if he was interested and wanted to get away for a bit. Finally he called Lois, but only got her voicemail and left a short message that he was thinking about her and to call him when she got the chance, and hoping she was making good use out of the apartment he left for her and Chloe.

Before leaving for dinner, he also penned a letter to Luna mentioning that he may be back for a visit in May, and would try to contact her again before he came to make arrangements to see her. He then left his hotel for a rather nice and quiet meal as the sun set, before slowly making his way to the Hyperion Hotel to meet up with Angel's group and get his decision. Deciding to have a little fun once he got close, he masked his scent, silenced himself, and cast a disillusionment spell before slipping into the lobby unnoticed and creeping slowly into position directly behind Faith.

"Miss me sweetie?" he whispered in the dark haired Slayer's ear after cancelling the silencing charm but not the others, and causing her to gasp and practically jump out of her shoes and spin around quick as a flash with her fist flying.

Harry cast a quick impediment jinx that froze her body in mid swinging motion before letting his spells fade and materializing right in front of her still wide eyes and giving her a lopsided grin. He then leaned in close and planted a solid kiss on her lips before taking a step back out of her range and cancelling his jinx, letting her fist pass harmlessly in front of him. Her narrowed eyes and growl of anger however, couldn't completely distract him from the very faint blushing of her cheeks, causing his grin to widen and to throw her a wink.

"Well ...I'm here, the party can now begin," spoke Harry as he looked around the group until he noticed two more new people causing him to sigh exageratedly, "more new people ...sweet Merlin! Who invited the cheerleader and her dad?"

"Giles isn't my father," shouted the short blonde quickly getting very angry as he hit a sore spot with her even as Faith snickered slightly in amusement, causing the short blonde to spare a moment of her glare on the dark haired Slayer before returning it to the obnoxious stranger.

"Is he your sugar daddy? Pimp? Creepy Uncle? What's the deal?" asked an amused Harry with a struggling straight face at the blonde's increasing anger, as Faith's quiet snickers became louder and were joined by a few others to lesser degrees while the tiny blonde now looked totally pissed.

"He's my Watcher you asshole ...I'm the Slayer," she shouted growing red in the face and glaring at the messy black haired stranger.

"That sounds like a Creepy Uncle or Pimp to me," continued Harry as he gave the blonde a confused look as she finally blew her temper, began growling, and charged at Harry ignoring Angel's, Willow's, and Xander's frantic yells to stop or Faith's now all out laughter.

Harry's magic infused body had no problems as the tiny blonde charged and attacked him, simply batting her hands and feet away insignificantly only causing her to grow angrier. After several moments, Harry began adding color changing charms and minor transfigurations between blocks until her hair was a rainbow colored afro and she was clothed in an ugly multi-colored corset with fishnet stockings looking every bit the colorblind call girl. With Faith's increasing laughter now encouraging him even further, he also slipped in a few for the old Watcher until he too looked like a classic 1970's pimp complete with a Lucius Malfoy replica cane and tall platform shoes.

"I'm flattered that you're throwing yourself at me and all, but I belong to Faith," spoke Harry at the minute mark with no slowing down on the blonde's part, before banishing her directly into Angel's arms hoping he could take care of the girl.

That last comment had a laughing Faith instantly sober and send a glare at Harry, but it was only half-hearted from her usual one as she felt her feeling change even more towards the attractive green eyed wizard. Seeing him shamelessly flirt and antagonize Buffy, she realized that was just how he behaved and noticed that he did it to get a rise out of the girl and to throw them off. Also, seeing how ridiculous he made Buffy look, she decided to stop reacting so much and letting it get to her as it only seemed to fuel him to do it more, and was also incredibly pleased that he still wanted her over her blonde counterpart she was often jealous of.

"What the hell did you do to my clothes?" shrieked Buffy now that she had a moment to calm down and see her outfit, sending another glare towards the asshole stranger, "and who the hell are you?"

"This again," sighed Harry as he conjured a nice leather recliner before having a seat and then dispelling the transfigured clothes of Buffy and Giles, "my name's Harry Potter, wizard and wondering if sweetie would like to join me on this wonderful recliner."

"No, I'd rather stand all night," shot back a smirking Faith, thinking she had finally figured out how to handle the flirt.

"Suit yourself, but if you get tired ...her's something you can hold onto," replied a grinning Harry as he conjured a strippers' pole right next to the growling dark haired Slayer before turning to look at the rest of the group, "so Angel ...come to any decisions?"

He had in fact decided to let Harry cast a permanent containment ward on his body to hold his soul even after talking to everyone else including the recently arrived Buffy. He promised his friends that he would still be staying in LA and running Angel Investigations, and would also try to spend some time reconciling his old relationship with Buffy in Sunnydale when he could. Seeing that just about everyone outside of Faith and Xander were happy with the arrangement, and that he had decided to let it be Angel's decision he smiled at the vampire and promised to do his best to help.

Harry then pulled out and enlarged his traveling trunk with his potions supplies knowing they would help with the pain and healing afterwards, and set out a light blue potion and an off white paste before having Angel remove his shirt, oblivious to the looks of shock from his trunk. He warned the vampire that the proces would take about five minutes for him to burn in the runic symbols needed to set the ward and that it would probably hurt like hell before he could give him anything for the pain and to speed the healing. Everybody then made room for Harry to work on Angel, but not a one of them left the room all wanting to see this firsthand and many giving him doubtful and almost distrusting looks.

"I Harry James Potter swear on my life and magic that I do not intend to cause the vampire Angel any harm, and will only cast the agreed upon containment ward on his body, so mote it be," intoned Harry seriously as a bright flash of light sealed his oath and he then turned to the watching crowd. "I gave my oath to prove that I am not intending to hurt him, but it will be painful and I can not be interupted once I begin so please do not interfere ...do you all understand?"

After getting all yeses or nods of heads, Harry returned his attention to a wide eyed and nervous but hopeful Angel as he began to cast the runic containment ward. Luckily he remembered at the last second to petrify Angel so he couldn't move or struggle and mess up the drawing of the runes before he began. The pain was instant for Angel the moment Harry moved his wand and began burning runic symbols into his chest, causing several of the onlookers to flinch and understand the wizard's oath and warning not to interfere thinking something was wrong.

For five straight minutes Angel screamed himself raw as the runic symbols were first burned onto his body and then the magic they contained followed, seemingly setting his very blood and insides on fire like nothing else he had ever experienced. When the last symbol was drawn over top of the first symbol on his chest, the pain seemed to almost impossibly double as all the runes on his chest and back glowed an intense white as the magic was charged before slowly fading into his body leaving behind a still rather intense pain but not nearly as bad as moments before. Harry then conjured a stool removed his pertrification spell and eased Angel to sit on the stool as his entire body sagged from the effort and magic coursing through it.

Harry then helped him drink the light blue pain relieving potion that instantly took the worst of the pain away, letting the vampire sigh in obvious relief and settle even further onto the stool barely able to sit up straight. He then handed the off white paste to a silently crying Buffy and told her to heavily apply it all over his chest and back as it would further relieve his pain and speed up the healing skin now infused with magic. He then joked that he had plenty more of that cream for he and Faith to use later tonight if she took him up on his offer to spend the night with him at his hotel, earning him a glare from the blushing dark haired Slayer that had him smiling.