"Do I have to?" Anya whined. "It's not my fault. This time."
"Anya," Xander said patiently, putting a hand on his girlfriend's shoulder. "I thought you understood the importance of stopping the world from ending."
" 'Cause, if the world ends, we all die," Buffy said. She reached into her trunkof weapons she had brought from home and pulled out a crossbow. Would this be enough to stop a throng of pure demons from hell? She shrugged and loaded it. At least it would stop one of her enemies…
"Any word from Angelus?" Willow asked cautiously. Buffy looked at her best friend and almost smiled. Sometimes it was like Willow could tell what she was thinking.
"None," Buffy said. "It's kinda giving me the wigs actually. It's not exactly like to him to be Mister Stealthy Pants."
"Maybe he went home," Xander said almost hopefully. "Maybe he found some other person to make miserable."
"Or," a British voice called. "Maybe he's standing right behind you."
Buffy, Willow, Xander, and Anya whirled around so fast some of Giles' papers blew off the table.
"Made you look," Spike joked as he walked over to the group. "So, you're afraid of old Angelus? Really, Slayer, I thought you'd moved on to bigger and badder things than that old foe."
"I'm not afraid," Buffy said bitterly. "Leery maybe, but not afraid. I can deal with Angelus."
Spike was staring intently at one of the Magic Box's crystal balls and either didn't hear her, or just didn't care. "I don't see anything," he muttered.
"Guess you don't have the vision," Xander said sarcastically. "Is there a point to this chat or are you here just to remind us you're still undead."
"Just thought you Scoobies might want to know what's about to happen in good ol' Sunnyhell."
"We know. The Kedisha Variex. The world's ending," Buffy informed him.
"I meant, Angelus is rallying the troops. He has something planned. Almost staked me when I said I wouldn't have any of it," Spike stated. "Says the chip's made me go soft. Me!"
Xander and Willow looked like they were trying not to laugh.
"Angelus is planning something?" Giles said as he walked over to the group from the back room. "Tell us everything you know." He glared at Spike.
Spike smirked at Giles before putting on a fake innocent expression. "I couldn't possibly remember everything. It was all so traumatic. Perhaps some nice green slips of paper will bring back a few memories." He paused. Did he dare to… "Or, the eternal love and ownership of the Slayer would work too."
Buffy glowered at Spike. "You're a pig."
A look of hurt briefly touched Spike's face, but the smirk quickly replaced it. "And suddenly my mind's a total blank."
Giles reluctantly pulled out his wallet. "How much?"
"Well, this is an awfully important piece of information I have. It would take at least-" Giles shoved fifty dollars in his hand. Spike shrugged. "That'll do." He put the money in his pocket. It was enough to keep him in blood for a week! "You all know Angelus. He doesn't stoop to the amateur level most vampires work on. He thinks big and it has to have a certain finesse to it."
"So, is he going to end the world with big pretty things?" Anya said. "I knew a demon who tried that once. He was planning to unleash killer flowers on the world. Unfortunately, or fortunately for mortals at that time, the flowers wilted before he remembered to let them out."
"Killer flowers?" Willow asked, an amused look on her face. "How can flowers kill? They don't exactly have movable body parts."
"Except for those plastic singing ones that were all the rage in the '80s," Xander pointed out. He scrunched his face up and started belting out, "You are my sunshine. My only sunshine-"
"Stop!" Anya squealed as Xander spun her around. She couldn't stop laughing which just made him spin her faster and sing louder and further of key.
"Ahem," Giles cleared his throat, causing the couple to stop. Turning to Spike, he asked, "What is Angelus's plan? Tell us everything- and I mean every detail- you know. That is what you are getting paid for afterall."
Spike got a smug look on his face and opened his mouth to say something, but Giles stopped him. "And, none of your games."
"Well, for starters, he's going to open the Hellmouth."
* * *
Two Ravenclaws walked by with their parents. The four wizards were eagerly discussing the event he had just described. The parents were nervous about it, but the students seemed excited.
Professor Dumbledore shook his head as he watched them go to the park where several families had set up camp for the night. The Muggle police officer had given up trying to stop them by himself and had called for reinforcements. A group of six or seven officers were shouting at the mob of wizards to get out of the park, but their voices could not be heard over the rumble of voices. After an hour of shouting, the officers gave up and left.
"Is he here?" Dumbledore asked Tara as she apparated near him.
She nodded. "I think so. Or, he will be. I told him about the Kedisha Variex. He was very interested in it."
Dumbledore looked around thoughtfully. "Perhaps it was not the best plan to have Voldemort come here now. Well, what is done is done. He should not be as much of a threat as usual." Dumbledore looked nervous for a moment before continuing. "You have to be careful, Tara. If Voldemort learns you are working against him-"
"He'll kill me," Tara finished. "I know. People who doublecross Lord Voldemort don't generally live to tell the tale."
"Just be on alert. He will be after you before too long."
"Are you sure his magic will not work here?" Tara asked hesitantly. "I have never had any major problems with it."
"You have continued practicing magic here?"
"More Wiccan magic than our kind. I don't stand out that way."
Dumbledore looked around thoughtfully for a moment. "His magic will be weakened here. As will all of ours. That is why we need so many of our kind. The combination of the Hellmouth's energy and the Kedisha Variex are a enough to weaken even the strongest wizard." Tara jumped slightly as a man apparated in front of them. "Remus!" Dumbledore exclaimed happily. "Did you have a nice flight?"
The man laughed as he walked away with Professor Dumbledore.
Tara wandered around dowtown Sunnydale for awhile after that before sitting down on a bench. Her thoughts were confused and she was trying desperately to sort them out. She had always known this day would come. Ever since her mother left.
Tara could still remember the last words her mother told her before she left thirteen years ago. "There will come a time, when you too will need to choose what's right for you," her mother had said. "Only you know which path is the right one."
Her mother had then patted her head and left. Tara never saw her again, but she read about her in "The Daily Prophet". The newspaper continued to come even after her mother left. Tara hid them from her father each day. He would've been furious if he knew she had a connection to the wizard world. Everyday, she read about Voldemort's attacks. Her mother was often mentioned as one of his most devoted followers. She was killed by a Dementor a month before Voldemort fell from power.
On Tara's eleventh birthday, she received an Owl from Hogwarts saying she had been accepted. She had been excited at first, but then realized her father would never let her go. Tara had somehow managed to convince her father it was just a normal boarding school.
Once at school, Tara had been sorted into Slytherin. She did not know what this meant at the time, but regretted telling the Sorting Hat Slytherin was fine when it couldn't decide to put her in there or in Ravenclaw. At first, Tara was respected and liked among the other Slytherins because of her mother. When she told them she thought her mother was a horrible person, she lost all of her potential friends.
After her seventh year at Hogwarts, Tara had been unsure about where she wanted to go. Professor Dumbledore suggested she go to a Muggle University. He told her the Slayer lived in Sunnydale and it would be helpful if they had a Hogwarts graduate there- just in case.
Tara stood up and walked in the direction of the Magic Box. Her mother had been right, of course. She was the only one who knew the right path for her. She just hoped she had chosen well.
* * *
"Professor Lupin!" Ron cried in surprise as Professor Dumbledore and Lupin walked over to where the Weasleys, Harry, and Hermione were standing.
Lupin grinned and greeted everyone.
"Hedwig found you ok?" Harry asked. "Did she have another stop to make after she left you?"
Lupin shook his head. "She brought both notes to my house."
"Erm, how's-?"
Lupin smiled slightly. "He's fine. He sent this for you." Lupin pulled a piece of paper out of his robe. Harry placed it in his pocket to read later.
Dumbledore cleared his throat. "I have informed Remus of the events which will take place tomorrow. I think it would be best if we got some sleep. We will need to be in position early tomorrow morning."
"And, it is very late," Mrs. Weasley said in a motherly voice. She turned to Harry and Hermione. "You can stay with us for the night. We have enough room in our tents."
Hermione gulped as she remembered the tents they had slept in at the Quidditch World Cup. Luckily, they were not being guarded about their magic this time and the tents were up quickly. Hermione climbed in the tent she was sharing with Mrs. Weasley and Ginny. While they got ready for bed, she collapsed on a cot and fell asleep right away. It had been a long night.
* * *
It always amazed Buffy how comfortable a book looked when she was tired. She put her head down on the book for a moment as her eyes started to shut. It was almost four in the morning. Giles had made her stay and help him research all prophecies dealing with the Kedisha Variex. Buffy lifted her head up again. Xander was asleep across the table from her. Anya had gone home around midnight and Willow around three.
Buffy walked across the shop to the coffee maker Anya had set up. She poured herself a cup and sat back down as Giles came over with another pile of books.
"I believe these may have what were are searching for," He told her. "Did you find anything in those?"
"Just the same old stuff," Buffy replied. "It's the beginning of the end. The Mouth of Hell will open and Satan's Spawn will arise. Blah blah bladdy blah."
Giles frowned. He hated it when Buffy showed disrespect to his books. "Perhaps, we are not looking for the right information. I'll go see if there are books on Satan's Spawn."
"You do that," Buffy said and put her head back down on the table.
"What?" Xander shouted as he bolted upward. "I'm up!"
Buffy raised her head up yet again. "Do you mind? Some of us are trying to get a minute of sleep before-" Giles walked back over with more books.
"More books?" Xander joked. "I feel like I'm back in high school."
Giles looked thoughtful for a moment. "Perhaps, we should go back to the high school."
"You mean, what's left of it," Buffy added.
"It is where the Hellmouth is," Giles continued. "We may be able to stop both Angelus and the Kedisha Variex at once if Spike was telling the truth for once."
"If I'm gonna do any slaying, I need to do some sleeping first," Buffy said and yawned for emphasis. She stood up and headed for the door.
"Be back by ten," Giles called after her.
Buffy was just out of the door when Giles and Xander heard her scream. They rushed out the door to find her gaping at something in horror.
Tara was lying on the sidewalk outside the shop- a knife through her chest and a pool of blood on her clothes.
* * *
"My Lord," Lucius Malfoy said as he bowed to Voldemort. "It is done."
Voldemort looked at Malfoy proudly. "Was it violent? Did she scream?" He said it with almost a childish glee.
Lucius was taken aback by his Master's strange behavior, but calmly replied, "She screamed loudly, My Lord. I did it the Muggle way, so as not to draw attention to us. I left her body where her friends stay."
Voldemort smiled at this. "It is a shame really. Her mother was so devoted to our cause."
"It is, My Lord."
"Do you have any other information for me?"
"The Kedisha Variex is today. My son told me. Dumbledore sent for all of the parents to come fight it."
"Any word from Angelus? Did he get the charm I planted on Wormtail?" Voldemort inquired.
Malfoy nodded. "He is planning to open the Hellmouth."
"He has the charm, then. Maybe he will kill a Slayer in the process. A Slayer's blood would give my immortality potion a necessary ingredient, which I would have if you had obeyed my original orders concerning this matter."
"My Lord," Malfoy started. "I am sorry. I will kill the girl."
"It is too late for that," Voldemort said coldly. "She is under the full protection of Dumbledore now."
Malfoy gasped quietly and backed away. "Please forgive me, My Lord. I did not mean to disobey you."
"Too late, too late," Voldemort muttered. "I hate to loose my Death Eaters, but one must not keep those who disobey them." Malfoy's eyes widened in horror.
"Avada Kedavra!"
* * *
"Angelus?" Darla called as she walked through the mansion. Angelus had taken Drusilla and her back to the mansion he lived in when Sunnydale had been his home.
She felt his arms wrap around her. "There you are," She mumbled. "Is it time?"
"Almost," He whispered. Then, in a louder voice, "Dru, bring our guests in here."
Drusilla danced into the room followed by a group of about thirty vampires. "It is time, is it not?" She said in a sing-song voice. "The earth stirs with fire. Sssh sssh. Do you hear it?"
"Now, it is," Angelus answered. "To the sewers then."
* * *
"It is time," Professor McGonagall told Hermione as she walked into the tent. "Get your bag, we are about to go to the old High School."
Hermione put her hair brush down and walked over to her teacher. She had given up trying to tame her impossibly frizzy hair.
Hermione swallowed hard and picked up the bag McGonagall had given her that morning. The bag had all of the things a Slayer should need, McGonagall had told her. It held 2 stakes, 2 bottles of Holy Water, a knife, 3 magical neverending, unbreakable ropes, and Hermione's wand.
"Professor," Hermione asked meekly. She was feeling strange. More nervous than she had ever felt before. "You never told me, how did my parents know I'm a Slayer?"
"We don't have time now-"
"Please," Hermione asked. "I might die in there. I want to know."
McGonagall sighed, and answered, "Truly, I am not positive how they know. The most reasonable answer would be that your mother shared some of your dreams. This has happened a couple of times with Vampire Slayers and their mothers."
"My parents were very concerned about my safety this year," Hermione noted.
"You should ask her yourself next time you are home. And, you will make it home. Just try not to worry. Think of this as a final exam without all of the studying."
Hermione smiled in an attempt to look calm. Inside, she felt like she was going to throw up. She had only killed one vampire. How was she supposed to stop a swarm of pure demons from taking over the world?
At least, Buffy would be there.
* * *
"Oh God!" Buffy cried as she collapsed in a chair at the Magic Box. It was almost noon now. The police had taken Tara's body away hours before and Giles, Xander, and she had gone to the station for questioning. They had just returned to the shop to meet Willow and Anya before going to the High School. "What are we going to tell Willow?"
"Tell me what?" Willow asked as she walked in with Anya. "Buffy, Xander, w-what's wrong?" Willow looked at Buffy's tear stricken face with concern.
"N-nothing," Buffy lied and glared at Xander, urging him to follow her lead. "We were, um, we were just talking about-"
"The plan for today," Xander supplied. "It's gonna be huge. We're going to kick some major demon ass."
"But you said 'What are we going to tell Willow?'" Anya stated bluntly. "That wasn't for Willow. That was for everyone."
"Everyone ready?" Giles asked as he came in toting as many weapons as possible. Xander opened his mouth to say a joke, but shut it again. This wasn't the time to be funny.
"Yup," Buffy answered. "Let's go save the world."
* * *
Sunnydale High School had been chaotic when it was still a school. After the graduation of the class of 1999, the walls became charred and the school was in ruins, as schools often are after someone blows them up.
Today, the school was chaotic once again. Hogwarts students and their families roamed the hallways waiting for Professor Dumbledore to tell them what to do. Buffy and her friends stood out from the crowd as the entered their former alma mater.
"School, gross school," Xander stated. "Don't ya just love the stench of burnt concrete and stinky gym socks?"
"Feels like home," Buffy said. "If home was a torturing, life-or-death place filled with depressed, hormonal, weird people."
"Ok, am I the only one who actually thinks that sounds like home?" Xander joked.
"So, what's the plan?" Willow asked brightly. Buffy felt guilty watching her. She did't want to tell her about Tara yet. Not until the Kedisha Variex was done.
"We're all going to die!" Anya exclaimed hysterically. "I have cheated death too many times. It's going to get me this time." She looked at Xander and cried, "Hold me!"
Willow bit her lip to keep from laughing at Anya. "I told Tara to meet us here. Do you see her anywhere?"
"You won't find her here," Whistler called as he sidled up to the group.
"Because she called the Magic Box earlier and said she was sick," Buffy blurted out.
"Where was she?" Willow asked. "She never came home last night."
Buffy shrugged and looked at Xander and Giles for help.
"I think it is time-" Giles started, but was interrupted by Whistler.
"Actually, this is where I take over," He said. A weird look crossed his face. "I can't let you stop this. I never meant for it to go this far."
"What are you talking about?" Buffy asked him.
"No one ever gets me," Whistler sighed. "I'm not supposed to let you stop the Kedisha Variex."
"But, then all these people will die," Willow exclaimed.
"Does it matter?" he replied.
"What the hell are you talking about?" Buffy shouted angrily. "If you don't get to a point in the next thirty seconds, I swear I will rip your overused voice box out of your throat."
The crowd stopped and stared at them. Professor Dumbledore pushed his way through.
"What are you doing?" He asked. "I have everyone in position."
"Tell them to leave," Whistler stated. "The Powers do not want it to be this way."
"People are going to die!" Willow exclaimed. "Am I the only one who realizes that?"
"You cannot do anything," Whistler said weakly.
"Just try to stop me," Buffy challenged him. She started for the old library, but Whistler seized her arm. "Let me go!"
"The Powers-" He said helplessly.
"You know, I have a real bone to pick with the Powers," Cordelia's voice called. "First of all, why me? The visions! Hello? That was bad enough. Now, they let Angelus come back and they want to set free a race of super demons. My head won't stop warning me about them. Oh, and Buffy make sure you don't fight one with a really pointy horn. I saw it slashing your stomach."
"Thanks for the warning," Buffy said.
"Yeah, man," Gunn said as he, Cordelia, Wesley, and Spike walked over to the group. "Why are you trying to let them out? I thought you were on our side."
Whistler looked truly upset for a moment. "It was not my idea. They ordered me to stop you."
"Who are they?" Buffy asked.
"I am," a perky voice stated. "Except there's just one of me. Now, give me my Key or I will kill you all!"
"And, this must be Glory!" Wesley guessed confidently.
"You're smart," Glory cooed as she wrapped her arms around his neck. "Do you know where my Key is?"
"Well," Wesley started. But, Cordelia pulled him away from here.
"Get your hands off him, sister. He has a girlfriend." Buffy, Willow, Xander, and Giles looked horrified. "It isn't me!"
"You are very rude!" Glory declared. "Do you know where my Key is?"
"No. Maybe on your keychain."
Anger flashed through Glory's eyes. "I can kill you then."
"Umm," Cordelia jumped behind Gunn for protection.
"Look, I have something you want, you have something I want. Tell me where my Key is and I will stop the Kedisha Variex for you," Glory offered. "You know you can't fight me. You can stand there and watch all of these people die or it can all stop. All you have to do is give me my Key."
"Don't listen to her, Buffy!" Hermione shouted as she rushed up to the group with Professor McGonagall, Harry, Ron, Fred, George, Neville, and Ginny. "We found a spell that will kill the demons."
"I can kill them all at once," Glory smiled. "You wouldn't have to any work. Just tell me where my Key- AAHHH!" Glory screamed hysterically as a mouse jumped onto her.
"Oops!" Nevilled called.
"Caley!" Ginny cried. "Neville, what'd you do with my baby?"
"Get it off! Get it off!" Glory shouted and flung the mouse off herself. Caley scurried away quickly.
Gathering a little of her dignity, Glory tossed her hair and stalked out of the school, causing the whole school to shake as she slammed the door.
Neville and Harry dropped to the ground to find Caley for Ginny.
"Come on," Buffy said to the others. "We have an apocalypse to stop." She turned to Whistler. "You going to stop us?"
"Can I help?" He asked. "My debt to Glory is paid now."
"Debt?" Buffy asked.
"Glory and I go way back," Whistler told her as they walked to the library. "I owed her some money, but she insisted I help her instead."
"How did you help her?"
"I tried to stop you from going in there. Glory was never one for calculating what people owe her."
* * *
Angelus stepped out of the shadows and cast a look at his group. The Hellmouth was about to open. The mob of wizards stood around the old library with their wands stretched outward ready to attack anything threatening looking. Angelus pulled out the charm he had taken from Wormtail and yelled "Open!"
The crowd gasped as the charm spun wildly in his hands. Finally, it exploded and a crack formed across the room. The Hellmouth was open.
Buffy jumped off the balcony and landed by Angelus' army. Spike was right behind her. They took out the group in record time with the overhead assistence of Giles, Anya, Xander, and Willow's crossbows.
Hermione rushed through the crowd of wizards and stood in front of the Hellmouth. Ron, Ginny, Fred, and George stood behind her waiting for directions. Professor McGonagall and Professor Dumbledore were standing at the head of the crowd yelling instructions.
"I'm going in." She told them.
"What?" Ron shouted. "You can't!"
"I have to. They can't get all of the demons from up here."
"Someone should go with you," George said.
"Two people can come," Hermione said hopefully. She didn't really want to jump into the mouth of hell by herself.
"I will," Ginny offered.
"I will too," Ron said. If his younger sister was going, he would too.
"We'll hold the ropes, so you can get back up," Fred volunteered.
"Thanks," Hermione said.
They hooked the magical ropes to their pants and handed the other ends to Fred and George.
"Ready?" She asked Ron and Ginny. They nodded bravely at her. Hermione clutched her wand and stood at the edge of the Hellmouth. Finally, she climbed in with Ron and Ginny right behind her.
* * *
"Neville?" Harry called. He stood up and glanced around. Somehow he had wandered off to another part of the school while looking for Caley.
"We meet yet again, Harry Potter," a familiar voice said behind him.
Harry turned around and faced Voldemort. "You!" he cried in shock.
"Yes, Harry. Me."
"What are you doing here?"
"Isn't it obvious?" Voldemort said coldly. "To finish what we started before."
"Professor Dumbledore's here," Harry stated. It was a weak defense, but it was something. Harry cursed himself for giving his wand to Ron while he looked for Caley.
"He will not hear you when you scream. The Kedisha Variex is far more important than Harry Potter." Voldemort fixed his wand on Harry. "Crucio!"
Harry screamed fell to the ground in pain.
"I have some questions for you, Harry. You are friends with a Hermione Granger, are you not?"
Harry pulled himself back up. The pain was starting to go away. He simply glared at Voldemort, refusing to answer.
"I am not a bad person, Harry," Voldemort said as nicely as he could manage. Harry would have snorted if he was not scared. "Do not make me force the answers out of you. Your last minutes will be painful if you do not answer me."
"Hermione is my friend," he whispered. His eyes darted around desperately for something to help him escape.
"And, she is the Vampire Slayer?" Harry nodded.
"Did you know your mother was a Vampire Slayer?"
Harry shook his head.
"Then, you did not know I was her Watcher?"
Interest flickered in his eyes, but he simply shook his head.
"Your mother was one of the best Slayers of the past century. She fought well, was careful and precise, and very smart. I had only just begun an interest in the Dark Magicks when I joined the Watcher's Council. Your mother was my first and only assignment with them. She was sixteen years old when she became the Slayer. I was the one who told her. She was very surprised and frightened by her destiny, as many Slayers are. I admit, I took advantage of her naivete. I ordered her to get information out of people by telling her it was for her own good. Lily never suspected I was not working for the same side as her until she realized what I was doing with the information I gathered. The information came from vampires, werewolves, and those sort. Each kind had a certain knowledge of Dark Magic. Vampires were especially helpful with my search for immortality. The very idea that you can live forever if you continue to have fresh blood has been the basis for several of my attempts. Everything was fine until Lily realized what my plans were. She told someone who told someone else and the rest is history."
Voldemort paced in front of Harry for a moment. "You and I are a lot alike Harry. I suppose you have realized that." Harry did not answer. "I see parts of your mother in you. You have her stubbornness and will to succeed. Your mother was a good person. She would have been an asset to my group if she had listened. She had strong morals and refused to help me. I did not mean for her to die that night. She brought it on herself." Voldemort was silent for a moment. Harry leaned against the wall shaking. "I will kill you now, Harry, the same way I killed her."
"Avada Kedavra!"
* * *
The side of the Hellmouth seemed to wobble as Hermione, Ron, and Ginny climbed down to the ledge where hundreds of pure demons were preparing to jump out. Several had already left, only to be exterminated instantly by the combined forces of the group of wizards above them.
"Ron!" Hermione called up to her friend, who was a few yards above her, as she landed on the ledge. "Tell Fred and George I made it down."
Hermione yelled the curse Professor McGonagall had given her, "Keta Fret", at a group of demons near her and they died right away.
Ron and Ginny landed beside her and yelled at curse at various groups of demons. Their powers were stronger in the Hellmouth than they usually were since the Hellmouth was working in their favor.
Within ten minutes, all of the demons were gone. They had not had any trouble killing the demons. It had felt almost too easy.
Hermione sighed with relief as she climbed up the Hellmouth. It wasn't over yet. There were still many that had escaped, but she had been to hell and back. Literally.
* * *
"Well done, Buffy," Angelus laughed behind her. "You are in good shape for a Slayer your age."
"Angelus," Buffy said. "Long time no see. Where have you been?"
"I've been around. Still saving the world, I see. When are you going to realize it's a lost cause. You really should just give it up."
"Well, if I keep getting put off this easily I might. That army of yours really was not a challenge," Buffy stated.
"Really, mate," Spike scoffed. "Maybe you're the one going soft."
Angelus smirked. "The day I go soft is the day the world really does end. I will always be this way. You need me-"
"Unremovo Soul!" Professor McGonagall shouted, pointing his wand at Angelus.
Angelus fell to the ground. When he stood up, his face looked calmer, more angelic.
"No!" Darla cried flinging herself on him. Drusilla stomped around behind them crying.
"Angel?" Buffy asked cautiously.
"Buffy?" Angel asked in surprise. "Where am I?"
* * *
"Neville!" Harry cried. His friend was standing over Voldemort's body looking shocked.
"I didn't do that, did I?" Nevilled asked nervously. He was clutching his wand in one hand, Caley in the other.
Harry grinned at him. "I think you did. You just saved my life!"
Neville blushed. "Is that really You-Know-Who?"
"You've never seen him?" Harry asked.
Neville shook his head. "I can't wait to tell my grandmother. She won't believe this."
"Come on. Let's go find everyone else," Harry said.
Remus Lupin watched the boys walk in the direction of the library from around the corner before taking the shortcut he had just used back to the library. He placed his own wand back in his robe's pocket. Neville was about to be celebrated beyond anything he could imagine. He would go down in history as the boy who had defeated Voldemort.
Not that Lupin minded. Afterall, it had been a dual effort.
* * *
"This was a happy day," Willow said as she walked out of the old High School with Buffy, Xander, and Anya.
"It was?" Buffy asked. "Did I miss something?"
Willow smiled. "Yeah it was. Angelus is back to Angel. The Hellmouth is closed and stable. Voldemort has been defeated. No one died."
Buffy and Xander exchanged a strange look.
"Will," Buffy said slowly. "Someone did die."
"Who?" Willow asked.
Buffy looked at the ground. This was going to be one of the hardest things she ever did. Finally, after a minute's silence, she whispered, "Tara."
Willow's eyes widened. "What?" She asked.
Xander nodded. "This morning."
Tears ran down Willow's face. "No, no. You're lying." Buffy put her arm around Willow.
"It's ok. It'll be ok," Buffy told her as Hermione, Harry, Ron, Ginny, and Neville walked over to them.
"I want to go home," Willow said. Her whole body started to shake as she cried harder.
"We'll take her," Xander mouthed to Buffy. Then Anya and Xander walked off with a sobbing Willow.
"It's hard, isn't it?" Dumbledore asked Tara.
They stood on top of the old High School watching Willow walk away with Xander and Anya.
"It's weird," Tara replied. "It's like watching my life go by and I can't be a part of it."
"What are you going to do now?" He asked.
She sighed. "I'm not sure. Maybe I can haunt the college."
"You're always welcome at Hogwarts," Dumbledore told her.
"Can I share Myrtle's toliet?" Tara joked.
"I don't think she'd like that."
"I guess not. Do you really have room for another ghost?"
"Of course," Dumbledore said. "You can help keep Peeves in line."
Tara laughed for the first time since she had died.
"Angel!" Cordelia called as she walked over to him with Whistler, Wesley and Gunn. "We just wanted to let you know we're not mad at you."
"Why would you be mad at me?" Angel asked.
"Because you were an evil, insane creep again."
"Cordelia, that isn't going to get him to rehire us," Wesley hissed in her ear. Then, in a louder voice, "We just wanted you to know we are not upset, though we could be."
"Yeah, no hard feelings," Gunn summed up.
"Good," Angel said. The sun had finally set and he climbed into his car to drive back to LA.
"Where'd Darla and Drusilla go?" Wesley asked.
"That's what I'm going to find out," Angel said before driving off.
"Is it just me or is he obsessed?" Whistler asked.
"So, how does it feel to have stopped your first apocalypse?" Buffy asked Hermione.
"It feels weird," Hermione said. "It hasn't really sunk in yet."
"Did you really kill You-Know-Who, Neville?" Ron asked the hundreth time.
"Erm, I think so," Neville said. It had all happened so fast, he wasn't sure. He remembered shouting the curse, but he also heard someone else shout it at the same time. Oh well.
Ginny held Caley up to her face. "She's acting strange. She keeps giving me these strange looks. What'd you do to her?" Caley tried to jump out of her hands onto Harry. "Stop it!" She scolded her mouse, but the mouse kept clawing at her and trying to get to Harry. Ginny rolled her eyes and went to find her mother and get Caley's cage.
"Neville!" Rita Skeeter shouted as she apparated in front of him. "I have a few questions for you."
"What?" Neville asked as she grabbed his arm and dragged him off for an interview.
"Poor Neville!" Harry laughed.
"She better not use a Quick-Quotes Quill," Hermione muttered.
"Buffy!" Joyce Summers shouted as she pulled up in her car. "Where have you been? Dawn and I have been looking everywhere for you."
"Hey!" Dawn exclaimed as she leaned over her mother to look at Harry. "Harry Potter fan?"
"What?" Harry asked.
"Your scar. You like the Harry Potter books?" Dawn asked.
"Erm, I am Harry Potter," Harry said, looking very confused.
"Riiight," Dawn winked at him. "And, let me guess, these are your friends Ron Weasley and Hermione Granger."
"Erm, yes," Harry answered.
"And you all go to Hogwarts where you fight the evil Lord Voldemort for fun," Dawn continued.
"It isn't exactly fun," Harry replied.
"Dawn!" Buffy exclaimed, a touch of annoyance in her voice. "What are you talking about?"
Dawn scoffed at her sister. "Jeez, pick up a book sometime."
The End.
Author's Notes:
Phew. I'm done. Yea! I hope that wasn't too horrible. Sorry for all the grammatical and spelling errors. I'm sure there were a bunch.
Also, I made one fairly big mistake when I wrote this. I realized it after I had posted the first part. The times are all messed up. Going by the Harry Potter dates, the two groups should actually be about the same age. Oh well. I guess it doesn't matter.
I'd also like to apologize for some of the characters not being really in character all the time. I tried. I hope you enjoyed this. Thanks for reading it. Please write a review if you have a chance. I'd like to know what people think about it and if I should bother to keep writing fics.
Also, I hope the ending wasn't too confusing. I'm really tired now since it's 2 a.m. and I've been writing on and off all night. I skimmed over it and it makes sense to me, but that probably means it's really confusing.
Once again, thanks for reading this and please write a review.
-Hope
"Anya," Xander said patiently, putting a hand on his girlfriend's shoulder. "I thought you understood the importance of stopping the world from ending."
" 'Cause, if the world ends, we all die," Buffy said. She reached into her trunkof weapons she had brought from home and pulled out a crossbow. Would this be enough to stop a throng of pure demons from hell? She shrugged and loaded it. At least it would stop one of her enemies…
"Any word from Angelus?" Willow asked cautiously. Buffy looked at her best friend and almost smiled. Sometimes it was like Willow could tell what she was thinking.
"None," Buffy said. "It's kinda giving me the wigs actually. It's not exactly like to him to be Mister Stealthy Pants."
"Maybe he went home," Xander said almost hopefully. "Maybe he found some other person to make miserable."
"Or," a British voice called. "Maybe he's standing right behind you."
Buffy, Willow, Xander, and Anya whirled around so fast some of Giles' papers blew off the table.
"Made you look," Spike joked as he walked over to the group. "So, you're afraid of old Angelus? Really, Slayer, I thought you'd moved on to bigger and badder things than that old foe."
"I'm not afraid," Buffy said bitterly. "Leery maybe, but not afraid. I can deal with Angelus."
Spike was staring intently at one of the Magic Box's crystal balls and either didn't hear her, or just didn't care. "I don't see anything," he muttered.
"Guess you don't have the vision," Xander said sarcastically. "Is there a point to this chat or are you here just to remind us you're still undead."
"Just thought you Scoobies might want to know what's about to happen in good ol' Sunnyhell."
"We know. The Kedisha Variex. The world's ending," Buffy informed him.
"I meant, Angelus is rallying the troops. He has something planned. Almost staked me when I said I wouldn't have any of it," Spike stated. "Says the chip's made me go soft. Me!"
Xander and Willow looked like they were trying not to laugh.
"Angelus is planning something?" Giles said as he walked over to the group from the back room. "Tell us everything you know." He glared at Spike.
Spike smirked at Giles before putting on a fake innocent expression. "I couldn't possibly remember everything. It was all so traumatic. Perhaps some nice green slips of paper will bring back a few memories." He paused. Did he dare to… "Or, the eternal love and ownership of the Slayer would work too."
Buffy glowered at Spike. "You're a pig."
A look of hurt briefly touched Spike's face, but the smirk quickly replaced it. "And suddenly my mind's a total blank."
Giles reluctantly pulled out his wallet. "How much?"
"Well, this is an awfully important piece of information I have. It would take at least-" Giles shoved fifty dollars in his hand. Spike shrugged. "That'll do." He put the money in his pocket. It was enough to keep him in blood for a week! "You all know Angelus. He doesn't stoop to the amateur level most vampires work on. He thinks big and it has to have a certain finesse to it."
"So, is he going to end the world with big pretty things?" Anya said. "I knew a demon who tried that once. He was planning to unleash killer flowers on the world. Unfortunately, or fortunately for mortals at that time, the flowers wilted before he remembered to let them out."
"Killer flowers?" Willow asked, an amused look on her face. "How can flowers kill? They don't exactly have movable body parts."
"Except for those plastic singing ones that were all the rage in the '80s," Xander pointed out. He scrunched his face up and started belting out, "You are my sunshine. My only sunshine-"
"Stop!" Anya squealed as Xander spun her around. She couldn't stop laughing which just made him spin her faster and sing louder and further of key.
"Ahem," Giles cleared his throat, causing the couple to stop. Turning to Spike, he asked, "What is Angelus's plan? Tell us everything- and I mean every detail- you know. That is what you are getting paid for afterall."
Spike got a smug look on his face and opened his mouth to say something, but Giles stopped him. "And, none of your games."
"Well, for starters, he's going to open the Hellmouth."
* * *
Two Ravenclaws walked by with their parents. The four wizards were eagerly discussing the event he had just described. The parents were nervous about it, but the students seemed excited.
Professor Dumbledore shook his head as he watched them go to the park where several families had set up camp for the night. The Muggle police officer had given up trying to stop them by himself and had called for reinforcements. A group of six or seven officers were shouting at the mob of wizards to get out of the park, but their voices could not be heard over the rumble of voices. After an hour of shouting, the officers gave up and left.
"Is he here?" Dumbledore asked Tara as she apparated near him.
She nodded. "I think so. Or, he will be. I told him about the Kedisha Variex. He was very interested in it."
Dumbledore looked around thoughtfully. "Perhaps it was not the best plan to have Voldemort come here now. Well, what is done is done. He should not be as much of a threat as usual." Dumbledore looked nervous for a moment before continuing. "You have to be careful, Tara. If Voldemort learns you are working against him-"
"He'll kill me," Tara finished. "I know. People who doublecross Lord Voldemort don't generally live to tell the tale."
"Just be on alert. He will be after you before too long."
"Are you sure his magic will not work here?" Tara asked hesitantly. "I have never had any major problems with it."
"You have continued practicing magic here?"
"More Wiccan magic than our kind. I don't stand out that way."
Dumbledore looked around thoughtfully for a moment. "His magic will be weakened here. As will all of ours. That is why we need so many of our kind. The combination of the Hellmouth's energy and the Kedisha Variex are a enough to weaken even the strongest wizard." Tara jumped slightly as a man apparated in front of them. "Remus!" Dumbledore exclaimed happily. "Did you have a nice flight?"
The man laughed as he walked away with Professor Dumbledore.
Tara wandered around dowtown Sunnydale for awhile after that before sitting down on a bench. Her thoughts were confused and she was trying desperately to sort them out. She had always known this day would come. Ever since her mother left.
Tara could still remember the last words her mother told her before she left thirteen years ago. "There will come a time, when you too will need to choose what's right for you," her mother had said. "Only you know which path is the right one."
Her mother had then patted her head and left. Tara never saw her again, but she read about her in "The Daily Prophet". The newspaper continued to come even after her mother left. Tara hid them from her father each day. He would've been furious if he knew she had a connection to the wizard world. Everyday, she read about Voldemort's attacks. Her mother was often mentioned as one of his most devoted followers. She was killed by a Dementor a month before Voldemort fell from power.
On Tara's eleventh birthday, she received an Owl from Hogwarts saying she had been accepted. She had been excited at first, but then realized her father would never let her go. Tara had somehow managed to convince her father it was just a normal boarding school.
Once at school, Tara had been sorted into Slytherin. She did not know what this meant at the time, but regretted telling the Sorting Hat Slytherin was fine when it couldn't decide to put her in there or in Ravenclaw. At first, Tara was respected and liked among the other Slytherins because of her mother. When she told them she thought her mother was a horrible person, she lost all of her potential friends.
After her seventh year at Hogwarts, Tara had been unsure about where she wanted to go. Professor Dumbledore suggested she go to a Muggle University. He told her the Slayer lived in Sunnydale and it would be helpful if they had a Hogwarts graduate there- just in case.
Tara stood up and walked in the direction of the Magic Box. Her mother had been right, of course. She was the only one who knew the right path for her. She just hoped she had chosen well.
* * *
"Professor Lupin!" Ron cried in surprise as Professor Dumbledore and Lupin walked over to where the Weasleys, Harry, and Hermione were standing.
Lupin grinned and greeted everyone.
"Hedwig found you ok?" Harry asked. "Did she have another stop to make after she left you?"
Lupin shook his head. "She brought both notes to my house."
"Erm, how's-?"
Lupin smiled slightly. "He's fine. He sent this for you." Lupin pulled a piece of paper out of his robe. Harry placed it in his pocket to read later.
Dumbledore cleared his throat. "I have informed Remus of the events which will take place tomorrow. I think it would be best if we got some sleep. We will need to be in position early tomorrow morning."
"And, it is very late," Mrs. Weasley said in a motherly voice. She turned to Harry and Hermione. "You can stay with us for the night. We have enough room in our tents."
Hermione gulped as she remembered the tents they had slept in at the Quidditch World Cup. Luckily, they were not being guarded about their magic this time and the tents were up quickly. Hermione climbed in the tent she was sharing with Mrs. Weasley and Ginny. While they got ready for bed, she collapsed on a cot and fell asleep right away. It had been a long night.
* * *
It always amazed Buffy how comfortable a book looked when she was tired. She put her head down on the book for a moment as her eyes started to shut. It was almost four in the morning. Giles had made her stay and help him research all prophecies dealing with the Kedisha Variex. Buffy lifted her head up again. Xander was asleep across the table from her. Anya had gone home around midnight and Willow around three.
Buffy walked across the shop to the coffee maker Anya had set up. She poured herself a cup and sat back down as Giles came over with another pile of books.
"I believe these may have what were are searching for," He told her. "Did you find anything in those?"
"Just the same old stuff," Buffy replied. "It's the beginning of the end. The Mouth of Hell will open and Satan's Spawn will arise. Blah blah bladdy blah."
Giles frowned. He hated it when Buffy showed disrespect to his books. "Perhaps, we are not looking for the right information. I'll go see if there are books on Satan's Spawn."
"You do that," Buffy said and put her head back down on the table.
"What?" Xander shouted as he bolted upward. "I'm up!"
Buffy raised her head up yet again. "Do you mind? Some of us are trying to get a minute of sleep before-" Giles walked back over with more books.
"More books?" Xander joked. "I feel like I'm back in high school."
Giles looked thoughtful for a moment. "Perhaps, we should go back to the high school."
"You mean, what's left of it," Buffy added.
"It is where the Hellmouth is," Giles continued. "We may be able to stop both Angelus and the Kedisha Variex at once if Spike was telling the truth for once."
"If I'm gonna do any slaying, I need to do some sleeping first," Buffy said and yawned for emphasis. She stood up and headed for the door.
"Be back by ten," Giles called after her.
Buffy was just out of the door when Giles and Xander heard her scream. They rushed out the door to find her gaping at something in horror.
Tara was lying on the sidewalk outside the shop- a knife through her chest and a pool of blood on her clothes.
* * *
"My Lord," Lucius Malfoy said as he bowed to Voldemort. "It is done."
Voldemort looked at Malfoy proudly. "Was it violent? Did she scream?" He said it with almost a childish glee.
Lucius was taken aback by his Master's strange behavior, but calmly replied, "She screamed loudly, My Lord. I did it the Muggle way, so as not to draw attention to us. I left her body where her friends stay."
Voldemort smiled at this. "It is a shame really. Her mother was so devoted to our cause."
"It is, My Lord."
"Do you have any other information for me?"
"The Kedisha Variex is today. My son told me. Dumbledore sent for all of the parents to come fight it."
"Any word from Angelus? Did he get the charm I planted on Wormtail?" Voldemort inquired.
Malfoy nodded. "He is planning to open the Hellmouth."
"He has the charm, then. Maybe he will kill a Slayer in the process. A Slayer's blood would give my immortality potion a necessary ingredient, which I would have if you had obeyed my original orders concerning this matter."
"My Lord," Malfoy started. "I am sorry. I will kill the girl."
"It is too late for that," Voldemort said coldly. "She is under the full protection of Dumbledore now."
Malfoy gasped quietly and backed away. "Please forgive me, My Lord. I did not mean to disobey you."
"Too late, too late," Voldemort muttered. "I hate to loose my Death Eaters, but one must not keep those who disobey them." Malfoy's eyes widened in horror.
"Avada Kedavra!"
* * *
"Angelus?" Darla called as she walked through the mansion. Angelus had taken Drusilla and her back to the mansion he lived in when Sunnydale had been his home.
She felt his arms wrap around her. "There you are," She mumbled. "Is it time?"
"Almost," He whispered. Then, in a louder voice, "Dru, bring our guests in here."
Drusilla danced into the room followed by a group of about thirty vampires. "It is time, is it not?" She said in a sing-song voice. "The earth stirs with fire. Sssh sssh. Do you hear it?"
"Now, it is," Angelus answered. "To the sewers then."
* * *
"It is time," Professor McGonagall told Hermione as she walked into the tent. "Get your bag, we are about to go to the old High School."
Hermione put her hair brush down and walked over to her teacher. She had given up trying to tame her impossibly frizzy hair.
Hermione swallowed hard and picked up the bag McGonagall had given her that morning. The bag had all of the things a Slayer should need, McGonagall had told her. It held 2 stakes, 2 bottles of Holy Water, a knife, 3 magical neverending, unbreakable ropes, and Hermione's wand.
"Professor," Hermione asked meekly. She was feeling strange. More nervous than she had ever felt before. "You never told me, how did my parents know I'm a Slayer?"
"We don't have time now-"
"Please," Hermione asked. "I might die in there. I want to know."
McGonagall sighed, and answered, "Truly, I am not positive how they know. The most reasonable answer would be that your mother shared some of your dreams. This has happened a couple of times with Vampire Slayers and their mothers."
"My parents were very concerned about my safety this year," Hermione noted.
"You should ask her yourself next time you are home. And, you will make it home. Just try not to worry. Think of this as a final exam without all of the studying."
Hermione smiled in an attempt to look calm. Inside, she felt like she was going to throw up. She had only killed one vampire. How was she supposed to stop a swarm of pure demons from taking over the world?
At least, Buffy would be there.
* * *
"Oh God!" Buffy cried as she collapsed in a chair at the Magic Box. It was almost noon now. The police had taken Tara's body away hours before and Giles, Xander, and she had gone to the station for questioning. They had just returned to the shop to meet Willow and Anya before going to the High School. "What are we going to tell Willow?"
"Tell me what?" Willow asked as she walked in with Anya. "Buffy, Xander, w-what's wrong?" Willow looked at Buffy's tear stricken face with concern.
"N-nothing," Buffy lied and glared at Xander, urging him to follow her lead. "We were, um, we were just talking about-"
"The plan for today," Xander supplied. "It's gonna be huge. We're going to kick some major demon ass."
"But you said 'What are we going to tell Willow?'" Anya stated bluntly. "That wasn't for Willow. That was for everyone."
"Everyone ready?" Giles asked as he came in toting as many weapons as possible. Xander opened his mouth to say a joke, but shut it again. This wasn't the time to be funny.
"Yup," Buffy answered. "Let's go save the world."
* * *
Sunnydale High School had been chaotic when it was still a school. After the graduation of the class of 1999, the walls became charred and the school was in ruins, as schools often are after someone blows them up.
Today, the school was chaotic once again. Hogwarts students and their families roamed the hallways waiting for Professor Dumbledore to tell them what to do. Buffy and her friends stood out from the crowd as the entered their former alma mater.
"School, gross school," Xander stated. "Don't ya just love the stench of burnt concrete and stinky gym socks?"
"Feels like home," Buffy said. "If home was a torturing, life-or-death place filled with depressed, hormonal, weird people."
"Ok, am I the only one who actually thinks that sounds like home?" Xander joked.
"So, what's the plan?" Willow asked brightly. Buffy felt guilty watching her. She did't want to tell her about Tara yet. Not until the Kedisha Variex was done.
"We're all going to die!" Anya exclaimed hysterically. "I have cheated death too many times. It's going to get me this time." She looked at Xander and cried, "Hold me!"
Willow bit her lip to keep from laughing at Anya. "I told Tara to meet us here. Do you see her anywhere?"
"You won't find her here," Whistler called as he sidled up to the group.
"Because she called the Magic Box earlier and said she was sick," Buffy blurted out.
"Where was she?" Willow asked. "She never came home last night."
Buffy shrugged and looked at Xander and Giles for help.
"I think it is time-" Giles started, but was interrupted by Whistler.
"Actually, this is where I take over," He said. A weird look crossed his face. "I can't let you stop this. I never meant for it to go this far."
"What are you talking about?" Buffy asked him.
"No one ever gets me," Whistler sighed. "I'm not supposed to let you stop the Kedisha Variex."
"But, then all these people will die," Willow exclaimed.
"Does it matter?" he replied.
"What the hell are you talking about?" Buffy shouted angrily. "If you don't get to a point in the next thirty seconds, I swear I will rip your overused voice box out of your throat."
The crowd stopped and stared at them. Professor Dumbledore pushed his way through.
"What are you doing?" He asked. "I have everyone in position."
"Tell them to leave," Whistler stated. "The Powers do not want it to be this way."
"People are going to die!" Willow exclaimed. "Am I the only one who realizes that?"
"You cannot do anything," Whistler said weakly.
"Just try to stop me," Buffy challenged him. She started for the old library, but Whistler seized her arm. "Let me go!"
"The Powers-" He said helplessly.
"You know, I have a real bone to pick with the Powers," Cordelia's voice called. "First of all, why me? The visions! Hello? That was bad enough. Now, they let Angelus come back and they want to set free a race of super demons. My head won't stop warning me about them. Oh, and Buffy make sure you don't fight one with a really pointy horn. I saw it slashing your stomach."
"Thanks for the warning," Buffy said.
"Yeah, man," Gunn said as he, Cordelia, Wesley, and Spike walked over to the group. "Why are you trying to let them out? I thought you were on our side."
Whistler looked truly upset for a moment. "It was not my idea. They ordered me to stop you."
"Who are they?" Buffy asked.
"I am," a perky voice stated. "Except there's just one of me. Now, give me my Key or I will kill you all!"
"And, this must be Glory!" Wesley guessed confidently.
"You're smart," Glory cooed as she wrapped her arms around his neck. "Do you know where my Key is?"
"Well," Wesley started. But, Cordelia pulled him away from here.
"Get your hands off him, sister. He has a girlfriend." Buffy, Willow, Xander, and Giles looked horrified. "It isn't me!"
"You are very rude!" Glory declared. "Do you know where my Key is?"
"No. Maybe on your keychain."
Anger flashed through Glory's eyes. "I can kill you then."
"Umm," Cordelia jumped behind Gunn for protection.
"Look, I have something you want, you have something I want. Tell me where my Key is and I will stop the Kedisha Variex for you," Glory offered. "You know you can't fight me. You can stand there and watch all of these people die or it can all stop. All you have to do is give me my Key."
"Don't listen to her, Buffy!" Hermione shouted as she rushed up to the group with Professor McGonagall, Harry, Ron, Fred, George, Neville, and Ginny. "We found a spell that will kill the demons."
"I can kill them all at once," Glory smiled. "You wouldn't have to any work. Just tell me where my Key- AAHHH!" Glory screamed hysterically as a mouse jumped onto her.
"Oops!" Nevilled called.
"Caley!" Ginny cried. "Neville, what'd you do with my baby?"
"Get it off! Get it off!" Glory shouted and flung the mouse off herself. Caley scurried away quickly.
Gathering a little of her dignity, Glory tossed her hair and stalked out of the school, causing the whole school to shake as she slammed the door.
Neville and Harry dropped to the ground to find Caley for Ginny.
"Come on," Buffy said to the others. "We have an apocalypse to stop." She turned to Whistler. "You going to stop us?"
"Can I help?" He asked. "My debt to Glory is paid now."
"Debt?" Buffy asked.
"Glory and I go way back," Whistler told her as they walked to the library. "I owed her some money, but she insisted I help her instead."
"How did you help her?"
"I tried to stop you from going in there. Glory was never one for calculating what people owe her."
* * *
Angelus stepped out of the shadows and cast a look at his group. The Hellmouth was about to open. The mob of wizards stood around the old library with their wands stretched outward ready to attack anything threatening looking. Angelus pulled out the charm he had taken from Wormtail and yelled "Open!"
The crowd gasped as the charm spun wildly in his hands. Finally, it exploded and a crack formed across the room. The Hellmouth was open.
Buffy jumped off the balcony and landed by Angelus' army. Spike was right behind her. They took out the group in record time with the overhead assistence of Giles, Anya, Xander, and Willow's crossbows.
Hermione rushed through the crowd of wizards and stood in front of the Hellmouth. Ron, Ginny, Fred, and George stood behind her waiting for directions. Professor McGonagall and Professor Dumbledore were standing at the head of the crowd yelling instructions.
"I'm going in." She told them.
"What?" Ron shouted. "You can't!"
"I have to. They can't get all of the demons from up here."
"Someone should go with you," George said.
"Two people can come," Hermione said hopefully. She didn't really want to jump into the mouth of hell by herself.
"I will," Ginny offered.
"I will too," Ron said. If his younger sister was going, he would too.
"We'll hold the ropes, so you can get back up," Fred volunteered.
"Thanks," Hermione said.
They hooked the magical ropes to their pants and handed the other ends to Fred and George.
"Ready?" She asked Ron and Ginny. They nodded bravely at her. Hermione clutched her wand and stood at the edge of the Hellmouth. Finally, she climbed in with Ron and Ginny right behind her.
* * *
"Neville?" Harry called. He stood up and glanced around. Somehow he had wandered off to another part of the school while looking for Caley.
"We meet yet again, Harry Potter," a familiar voice said behind him.
Harry turned around and faced Voldemort. "You!" he cried in shock.
"Yes, Harry. Me."
"What are you doing here?"
"Isn't it obvious?" Voldemort said coldly. "To finish what we started before."
"Professor Dumbledore's here," Harry stated. It was a weak defense, but it was something. Harry cursed himself for giving his wand to Ron while he looked for Caley.
"He will not hear you when you scream. The Kedisha Variex is far more important than Harry Potter." Voldemort fixed his wand on Harry. "Crucio!"
Harry screamed fell to the ground in pain.
"I have some questions for you, Harry. You are friends with a Hermione Granger, are you not?"
Harry pulled himself back up. The pain was starting to go away. He simply glared at Voldemort, refusing to answer.
"I am not a bad person, Harry," Voldemort said as nicely as he could manage. Harry would have snorted if he was not scared. "Do not make me force the answers out of you. Your last minutes will be painful if you do not answer me."
"Hermione is my friend," he whispered. His eyes darted around desperately for something to help him escape.
"And, she is the Vampire Slayer?" Harry nodded.
"Did you know your mother was a Vampire Slayer?"
Harry shook his head.
"Then, you did not know I was her Watcher?"
Interest flickered in his eyes, but he simply shook his head.
"Your mother was one of the best Slayers of the past century. She fought well, was careful and precise, and very smart. I had only just begun an interest in the Dark Magicks when I joined the Watcher's Council. Your mother was my first and only assignment with them. She was sixteen years old when she became the Slayer. I was the one who told her. She was very surprised and frightened by her destiny, as many Slayers are. I admit, I took advantage of her naivete. I ordered her to get information out of people by telling her it was for her own good. Lily never suspected I was not working for the same side as her until she realized what I was doing with the information I gathered. The information came from vampires, werewolves, and those sort. Each kind had a certain knowledge of Dark Magic. Vampires were especially helpful with my search for immortality. The very idea that you can live forever if you continue to have fresh blood has been the basis for several of my attempts. Everything was fine until Lily realized what my plans were. She told someone who told someone else and the rest is history."
Voldemort paced in front of Harry for a moment. "You and I are a lot alike Harry. I suppose you have realized that." Harry did not answer. "I see parts of your mother in you. You have her stubbornness and will to succeed. Your mother was a good person. She would have been an asset to my group if she had listened. She had strong morals and refused to help me. I did not mean for her to die that night. She brought it on herself." Voldemort was silent for a moment. Harry leaned against the wall shaking. "I will kill you now, Harry, the same way I killed her."
"Avada Kedavra!"
* * *
The side of the Hellmouth seemed to wobble as Hermione, Ron, and Ginny climbed down to the ledge where hundreds of pure demons were preparing to jump out. Several had already left, only to be exterminated instantly by the combined forces of the group of wizards above them.
"Ron!" Hermione called up to her friend, who was a few yards above her, as she landed on the ledge. "Tell Fred and George I made it down."
Hermione yelled the curse Professor McGonagall had given her, "Keta Fret", at a group of demons near her and they died right away.
Ron and Ginny landed beside her and yelled at curse at various groups of demons. Their powers were stronger in the Hellmouth than they usually were since the Hellmouth was working in their favor.
Within ten minutes, all of the demons were gone. They had not had any trouble killing the demons. It had felt almost too easy.
Hermione sighed with relief as she climbed up the Hellmouth. It wasn't over yet. There were still many that had escaped, but she had been to hell and back. Literally.
* * *
"Well done, Buffy," Angelus laughed behind her. "You are in good shape for a Slayer your age."
"Angelus," Buffy said. "Long time no see. Where have you been?"
"I've been around. Still saving the world, I see. When are you going to realize it's a lost cause. You really should just give it up."
"Well, if I keep getting put off this easily I might. That army of yours really was not a challenge," Buffy stated.
"Really, mate," Spike scoffed. "Maybe you're the one going soft."
Angelus smirked. "The day I go soft is the day the world really does end. I will always be this way. You need me-"
"Unremovo Soul!" Professor McGonagall shouted, pointing his wand at Angelus.
Angelus fell to the ground. When he stood up, his face looked calmer, more angelic.
"No!" Darla cried flinging herself on him. Drusilla stomped around behind them crying.
"Angel?" Buffy asked cautiously.
"Buffy?" Angel asked in surprise. "Where am I?"
* * *
"Neville!" Harry cried. His friend was standing over Voldemort's body looking shocked.
"I didn't do that, did I?" Nevilled asked nervously. He was clutching his wand in one hand, Caley in the other.
Harry grinned at him. "I think you did. You just saved my life!"
Neville blushed. "Is that really You-Know-Who?"
"You've never seen him?" Harry asked.
Neville shook his head. "I can't wait to tell my grandmother. She won't believe this."
"Come on. Let's go find everyone else," Harry said.
Remus Lupin watched the boys walk in the direction of the library from around the corner before taking the shortcut he had just used back to the library. He placed his own wand back in his robe's pocket. Neville was about to be celebrated beyond anything he could imagine. He would go down in history as the boy who had defeated Voldemort.
Not that Lupin minded. Afterall, it had been a dual effort.
* * *
"This was a happy day," Willow said as she walked out of the old High School with Buffy, Xander, and Anya.
"It was?" Buffy asked. "Did I miss something?"
Willow smiled. "Yeah it was. Angelus is back to Angel. The Hellmouth is closed and stable. Voldemort has been defeated. No one died."
Buffy and Xander exchanged a strange look.
"Will," Buffy said slowly. "Someone did die."
"Who?" Willow asked.
Buffy looked at the ground. This was going to be one of the hardest things she ever did. Finally, after a minute's silence, she whispered, "Tara."
Willow's eyes widened. "What?" She asked.
Xander nodded. "This morning."
Tears ran down Willow's face. "No, no. You're lying." Buffy put her arm around Willow.
"It's ok. It'll be ok," Buffy told her as Hermione, Harry, Ron, Ginny, and Neville walked over to them.
"I want to go home," Willow said. Her whole body started to shake as she cried harder.
"We'll take her," Xander mouthed to Buffy. Then Anya and Xander walked off with a sobbing Willow.
"It's hard, isn't it?" Dumbledore asked Tara.
They stood on top of the old High School watching Willow walk away with Xander and Anya.
"It's weird," Tara replied. "It's like watching my life go by and I can't be a part of it."
"What are you going to do now?" He asked.
She sighed. "I'm not sure. Maybe I can haunt the college."
"You're always welcome at Hogwarts," Dumbledore told her.
"Can I share Myrtle's toliet?" Tara joked.
"I don't think she'd like that."
"I guess not. Do you really have room for another ghost?"
"Of course," Dumbledore said. "You can help keep Peeves in line."
Tara laughed for the first time since she had died.
"Angel!" Cordelia called as she walked over to him with Whistler, Wesley and Gunn. "We just wanted to let you know we're not mad at you."
"Why would you be mad at me?" Angel asked.
"Because you were an evil, insane creep again."
"Cordelia, that isn't going to get him to rehire us," Wesley hissed in her ear. Then, in a louder voice, "We just wanted you to know we are not upset, though we could be."
"Yeah, no hard feelings," Gunn summed up.
"Good," Angel said. The sun had finally set and he climbed into his car to drive back to LA.
"Where'd Darla and Drusilla go?" Wesley asked.
"That's what I'm going to find out," Angel said before driving off.
"Is it just me or is he obsessed?" Whistler asked.
"So, how does it feel to have stopped your first apocalypse?" Buffy asked Hermione.
"It feels weird," Hermione said. "It hasn't really sunk in yet."
"Did you really kill You-Know-Who, Neville?" Ron asked the hundreth time.
"Erm, I think so," Neville said. It had all happened so fast, he wasn't sure. He remembered shouting the curse, but he also heard someone else shout it at the same time. Oh well.
Ginny held Caley up to her face. "She's acting strange. She keeps giving me these strange looks. What'd you do to her?" Caley tried to jump out of her hands onto Harry. "Stop it!" She scolded her mouse, but the mouse kept clawing at her and trying to get to Harry. Ginny rolled her eyes and went to find her mother and get Caley's cage.
"Neville!" Rita Skeeter shouted as she apparated in front of him. "I have a few questions for you."
"What?" Neville asked as she grabbed his arm and dragged him off for an interview.
"Poor Neville!" Harry laughed.
"She better not use a Quick-Quotes Quill," Hermione muttered.
"Buffy!" Joyce Summers shouted as she pulled up in her car. "Where have you been? Dawn and I have been looking everywhere for you."
"Hey!" Dawn exclaimed as she leaned over her mother to look at Harry. "Harry Potter fan?"
"What?" Harry asked.
"Your scar. You like the Harry Potter books?" Dawn asked.
"Erm, I am Harry Potter," Harry said, looking very confused.
"Riiight," Dawn winked at him. "And, let me guess, these are your friends Ron Weasley and Hermione Granger."
"Erm, yes," Harry answered.
"And you all go to Hogwarts where you fight the evil Lord Voldemort for fun," Dawn continued.
"It isn't exactly fun," Harry replied.
"Dawn!" Buffy exclaimed, a touch of annoyance in her voice. "What are you talking about?"
Dawn scoffed at her sister. "Jeez, pick up a book sometime."
The End.
Author's Notes:
Phew. I'm done. Yea! I hope that wasn't too horrible. Sorry for all the grammatical and spelling errors. I'm sure there were a bunch.
Also, I made one fairly big mistake when I wrote this. I realized it after I had posted the first part. The times are all messed up. Going by the Harry Potter dates, the two groups should actually be about the same age. Oh well. I guess it doesn't matter.
I'd also like to apologize for some of the characters not being really in character all the time. I tried. I hope you enjoyed this. Thanks for reading it. Please write a review if you have a chance. I'd like to know what people think about it and if I should bother to keep writing fics.
Also, I hope the ending wasn't too confusing. I'm really tired now since it's 2 a.m. and I've been writing on and off all night. I skimmed over it and it makes sense to me, but that probably means it's really confusing.
Once again, thanks for reading this and please write a review.
-Hope