Title: Seeing the Light (8/?)
Author: QueenC
Feedback:
Rating: R
Pairing(s): Cordelia/Lucius. Mentions Draco/Hermione.
Disclaimer: AtS belongs to Joss Whedon and the Potterverse is J. K. Rowling's playground. Any original characters belong to my muse. I'm making no money from this so please don't sue me.
Distribution: Anywhere I send it. Anyone else wants it just let me know.
Spoilers: Goes way AU after 'Birthday' on AtS. All four HP books, although this takes place long after Harry and co. graduate from Hogwarts.
Summary: Five years later, the PTB decide to intervene once again. Sequel to 'Shadows and Glimpses'.
Author's Notes: Okay, as stated above in the summary, this fic takes place five years after 'Shadows and Glimpses'. If you haven't read that fic already, you might want to do so before reading this one. Otherwise, you'll probably be a little confused. The same basic changes apply here that did in that fic. No Cordelia/Angel romance, no Holtz, no Quor-toth, no ascension. I think that pretty much covers it for the Angelverse. Now, about the Potterverse. Basically, I'm making up everything after GoF. Anything you need to know between their fifth year and now, I'll explain in the fic. As always, Angel is Spike's sire. Words in *'s are emphasized, words in /'s are thoughts, words in ~'s are dreams, and words in ^^'s are flashbacks. Enjoy!
Dedicated: To Child for all the help. You rock my face off, hun!
Special Thanks: To the wonderful people who reviewed 'Shadows and Glimpses' and gave me the encouragement to continue. Especially to 'houses', who gave me one of the nicest reviews I've ever received. From the bottom of my heart, thank you.
******
She was angry.
She was shaking. She, Cordelia Chase, was actually *shaking* with anger.
Standing in the Malfoy library, which she'd only found courtesy of a house elf, the young woman was positively livid. How *dare* Hermione say those things to her. How dare she accuse her of lying about her visions, or deliberately hurting Draco. How dare she!
Okay, so maybe she and Draco hadn't exactly been on the best of terms. But, that didn't mean she would keep quiet if she'd had a vision about him. She had changed since high school and was no longer that shallow, right?
And, so what if she'd been just a bit *too* happy when her children had begun showing signs of being magical? She would have still sought out Lucius if they had been 'normal', wouldn't she?
Sighing, Cordelia couldn't honestly answer either question with a yes.
The truth of the matter was, she had serious issues with Draco Malfoy. He had tried to hex her the first time they'd met, and had done virtually nothing since then to show he was anything more than a spoiled brat. He obviously resented her, very likely resented her kids, and was probably willing to do just about anything to keep his father all to himself.
And, as for her children...while she hadn't been hoping they would turn out to be a wizard and a witch, she had certainly been relieved when they were.
The fact of the matter was, the wizarding world was in some ways very much like the medieval times. If you didn't have power, you had virtually no place in this world. Which had meant if the only thing her children had inherited from their father was their eyes, they would have most certainly been outcasts. And she wouldn't wish *that* on them for all the shoes at Nieman Marcus.
Now, Cordelia didn't think there was anything wrong with wanting your children to fit in. Nor did she believe she was a bad person for dragging them halfway across the world to meet a man they'd never known in the hopes that he could teach them control. After all, it had been that mixed with a vision from the PTB that had finally sent her packing.
However, there was one thing that was bugging her. One little bit of information that she really didn't even want to admit to herself, much less to anyone else.
She had lied about who the visions were for.
Shaking her head, the young woman forced that thought away. She'd done the right thing, fudging the truth a bit. Silently, she reminded herself that none of these people were like Angel. They couldn't leap across buildings, or take out an entire nest of vamps with only a stake, two fists, and a couple of snapping remarks. They lacked heightened senses that would enable them to follow a microscopic trail of blood for miles, and they wouldn't know an Apocalypse if they'd helped create it themselves.
They were just a group of kids, no... *young adults*, who waved around tiny sticks and said stuff in Latin. Granted, they were brave. And, they worked well together. But, if you took away their wand and their friends, Cordelia was willing to bet that none of them would or could survive an honest to God battle for their lives. And, besides Draco, what could they possibly need to atone for?
Lucius, on the other hand, was a completely different story. She'd seen first-hand how brave he was capable of being without his wand, any knowledge of magic, or anyone assisting him. Granted, he had a dark past. However, he felt guilty, and wanted to make amends.
And that alone was the reason that she had claimed him to be one of her new Champions.
Pulling a few books off the shelf, the brunette made her way to one of the overstuffed chairs by the fireplace. Curling up in it, she placed her pile on the floor. Picking up the top book in her selection, she sternly told her brain to stop thinking so much.
She could focus on her guilt later. Right now, she had to find out what this shadowy thing was that had attacked Bella. Something told her that it was more than a coincidence that Draco, the only other person besides her children that was known to have come in contact with the thing, was now lying unconscious down the hall.
Her mind now back on the task at hand, she began skimming through the pages, hoping to find something that would catch her eye. After a few minutes, though, she was interrupted.
"My dear, you never cease to amaze me. Didn't I tell you not two hours ago that I had no books that contained the knowledge which we seek?"
Cordelia shrugged, glancing up at the man that had entered the room. Giving him a small smile, she replied, "Yeah, well, you *are* human. And humans are known to make mistakes once in a while." Sighing, she added, "And besides, this is definitely better than sitting around feeling helpless and being accused of withholding information."
Lucius nodded, dropping into the chair beside her. Glancing at the book in her lap, then the others that were at her feet, he quietly said, "I apologize for Ms. Granger's comments. She tends to become rather...emotional at times of great stress."
Cordelia laughed softly, turning her attention back to the passage she'd been reading. "That's probably one of the reasons that Draco is in love with her," she commented.
The blonde smiled. "I wasn't aware that you'd spent enough time around my son to realize the full extent of his feelings for her. I've only just noticed it recently," he stated softly.
She rolled her eyes. "Oh, please. It was obvious to me five years ago. The way they worked together while attacking me in my apartment?" Suddenly, she stopped, a pained expression crossing her face. "Sorry," she whispered.
Lucius frowned. "Why?" he wondered in confusion.
Cordelia sighed heavily, raising her eyes to his. "I guess I just figured you didn't want to talk about that. I mean, it *was* pretty intense. Not to mention awkward and painful," she explained.
Lucius shook his head. Reaching across the small distance between them, he gently took her hand in his. Staring into her hazel eyes, he gave her a genuine smile.
"Cordelia, the only regret I have about our time together was that it was far too short," he stated softly. "Every day I questioned my decision to return here rather than stay with you."
She raised an eyebrow, giving him a hard look. "Really? Funny, I guess I couldn't tell what with you not bothering to contact me and all," she snapped, pulling her hand from his. All of the anger and pain she'd kept bottled inside of her for the past five years was bubbling to the surface, and she knew she was far too emotionally drained right now to bite her tongue.
Lucius' eyes widened slightly at the hostility. Silently, he observed her, wondering what he could say. Finally, he managed a weak, "Considering the way with which we parted, I had assumed you didn't wish to hear from me. However, had I known that you felt this way, I assure you. I would have made *every* effort to have you in my life."
Cordelia blinked, her anger deflating at his confession. "Really?" she asked quietly, her voice sounding almost like a frightened child's. Seeing his nod, she bit her lip, fighting back tears. "Oh. Well, in that case..." The man shook his head, once more gently grasping her hand. "I am not accustomed to this, my dear. My wife and I..." Trailing off, he felt a wave of pain at the thought of Narcissa. Forcing it away, he continued. "We were scarcely the type to discuss our feelings. In our circle, it simply isn't done. Emotions such as love and tenderness are viewed as weaknesses."
Cordelia nodded. "I get it. Really, I do. I guess I just thought that, since you'd obviously changed..." Shaking her head, she sighed heavily. "Nevermind. Look, the point is, it's all in the past. I'm here now, and I'm *not* going anywhere," she stated.
Then, swiping her other hand at her eyes, she groaned, "God, look at me. Manic-depressive Cordy at your service."
Lucius couldn't help but chuckle. "Nonsense," he assured her quietly. Then, sighing heavily, he grudgingly released her hand and stood up. "I should check on Draco's status."
Cordelia gave him a small smile. "Sure thing. I'm just going to sit here and see if there's anything in these books." Watching as he raised his eyebrow, she shrugged. "Hey, if you *are* right and there's nothing here, then at least I get to have some colorful reading," she stated.
Holding up the book, she pointed to a page. "See? 'Fifty common curses to obtain revenge on your enemy'. They've even got pictures." Then, she suddenly froze, her eyes widening. "Oh God," she whispered. "Look at me. I've turned into *Willow*!"
Before he could ask what she meant, there was a knock at the door. Turning, Lucius stared at Ron, who was looking quite embarrassed to be interrupting the conversation.
"Sorry to bother you, but I thought you should know that someone is at the front door," he said quietly.
Lucius frowned slightly. "Why were you answering the door?" he questioned.
The redhead shrugged. "I wasn't. I was waiting for the mediwitch and this bloke just came walking up. He...er...he said that you're expecting him. I tried to tell him you were busy, but he said he didn't care..."
Cordelia raised an eyebrow, rising from her seat. "Wow. I want to meet the person who had enough guts to tell *you* to stuff it," she commented, brushing past both men and exiting the room.
Then, she stopped in the middle of the hallway, gasping softly at the person that was standing there.
Giles gave the woman a faint smile, placing his bag on the floor. "It's a pleasure to see you as well, Cordelia. I trust from your lack of hysterics that Bella and Korben are well?" he asked.
Cordelia grinned, enveloping him in a tight hug. "Yeah, they're fine. Oh, I *missed* you," she murmured. Taking a step back, she gave him a once over. "And, you sure got here awfully fast. What happened to the whole 'research from a distance first, rush into danger later' theory?"
Giles shrugged slightly. "Yes, well, I decided that there was no reason not to research at the same place that the incident had occurred," he replied. Then, glancing past Cordelia, he locked eyes with his former classmate. "Provided, of course, that I'm welcomed."
Lucius gave Giles an unreadable expression, trying to ignore the slight jealousy he felt at the casual way the other man and Cordelia interacted. Finally, he tipped his head slightly. "Of course. It's good to see you again, old friend," he stated calmly.
Giles returned the nod. "Likewise, Lucius." However, before he could say anything more, a voice interrupted.
"Excuse me, but I believe someone called for a mediwitch?"
For a moment, no one said anything to the slight redhead that was standing just inside the door. Cordelia was taken aback at how much the girl reminded her of Willow, Giles was busy trying to figure out why she looked so familiar, and Lucius was just shocked.
Finally, Ron stepped around the flabbergasted blonde, giving the young woman a grim smile. "Hey, Gin. Draco's in there. It doesn't look good," he commented, motioning to the closed door down the hallway.
Ginny nodded. Giving the man and woman she didn't know small smiles and nodding once at Lucius, she walked past them and disappeared into the room, Ron following in her wake.
Once the door was shut once more, Giles glanced at a stricken Lucius. "I'm assuming she is Arthur and Molly's. And, what's this about Draco being in bad shape?" he wondered.
Lucius shook his head to force his thoughts away from the memories of Tom Riddle's diary. "Yes, she is the youngest of the Weasley children. And, we aren't quite certain *what* is wrong with my son. Which is the reason that we summoned a mediwitch," he explained. Turning toward the door to the study, he added, "Although, why *she* was the one who responded I don't quite understand."
Cordelia frowned, watching as Lucius disappeared inside the room. Sighing, she looked at Giles. "Well, *that* wasn't weird or anything," she commented. Shaking her head, she continued, "You know, you'd think that, with all the visions I get about total stranger's lives, the PTB would see fit to send me one about the stuff going on around me once in a while."
Giles nodded. "Yes, well. Be that as it may, I believe we have more important things to worry about right now than the habits and reasoning of the Powers That Be."
Picking up his bag once again, he fixed her with a serious look. "In the letter you sent, I believe you mentioned something about a shadow?"
******
A/N: Yes, I know. Short part. Sorry about that. But, this seemed like the best place to end it for now, considering the next part kind of all links together. *g*
So...I've done my part..how about doing yours and feeding my muse?
QueenC
Author: QueenC
Feedback:
Rating: R
Pairing(s): Cordelia/Lucius. Mentions Draco/Hermione.
Disclaimer: AtS belongs to Joss Whedon and the Potterverse is J. K. Rowling's playground. Any original characters belong to my muse. I'm making no money from this so please don't sue me.
Distribution: Anywhere I send it. Anyone else wants it just let me know.
Spoilers: Goes way AU after 'Birthday' on AtS. All four HP books, although this takes place long after Harry and co. graduate from Hogwarts.
Summary: Five years later, the PTB decide to intervene once again. Sequel to 'Shadows and Glimpses'.
Author's Notes: Okay, as stated above in the summary, this fic takes place five years after 'Shadows and Glimpses'. If you haven't read that fic already, you might want to do so before reading this one. Otherwise, you'll probably be a little confused. The same basic changes apply here that did in that fic. No Cordelia/Angel romance, no Holtz, no Quor-toth, no ascension. I think that pretty much covers it for the Angelverse. Now, about the Potterverse. Basically, I'm making up everything after GoF. Anything you need to know between their fifth year and now, I'll explain in the fic. As always, Angel is Spike's sire. Words in *'s are emphasized, words in /'s are thoughts, words in ~'s are dreams, and words in ^^'s are flashbacks. Enjoy!
Dedicated: To Child for all the help. You rock my face off, hun!
Special Thanks: To the wonderful people who reviewed 'Shadows and Glimpses' and gave me the encouragement to continue. Especially to 'houses', who gave me one of the nicest reviews I've ever received. From the bottom of my heart, thank you.
******
She was angry.
She was shaking. She, Cordelia Chase, was actually *shaking* with anger.
Standing in the Malfoy library, which she'd only found courtesy of a house elf, the young woman was positively livid. How *dare* Hermione say those things to her. How dare she accuse her of lying about her visions, or deliberately hurting Draco. How dare she!
Okay, so maybe she and Draco hadn't exactly been on the best of terms. But, that didn't mean she would keep quiet if she'd had a vision about him. She had changed since high school and was no longer that shallow, right?
And, so what if she'd been just a bit *too* happy when her children had begun showing signs of being magical? She would have still sought out Lucius if they had been 'normal', wouldn't she?
Sighing, Cordelia couldn't honestly answer either question with a yes.
The truth of the matter was, she had serious issues with Draco Malfoy. He had tried to hex her the first time they'd met, and had done virtually nothing since then to show he was anything more than a spoiled brat. He obviously resented her, very likely resented her kids, and was probably willing to do just about anything to keep his father all to himself.
And, as for her children...while she hadn't been hoping they would turn out to be a wizard and a witch, she had certainly been relieved when they were.
The fact of the matter was, the wizarding world was in some ways very much like the medieval times. If you didn't have power, you had virtually no place in this world. Which had meant if the only thing her children had inherited from their father was their eyes, they would have most certainly been outcasts. And she wouldn't wish *that* on them for all the shoes at Nieman Marcus.
Now, Cordelia didn't think there was anything wrong with wanting your children to fit in. Nor did she believe she was a bad person for dragging them halfway across the world to meet a man they'd never known in the hopes that he could teach them control. After all, it had been that mixed with a vision from the PTB that had finally sent her packing.
However, there was one thing that was bugging her. One little bit of information that she really didn't even want to admit to herself, much less to anyone else.
She had lied about who the visions were for.
Shaking her head, the young woman forced that thought away. She'd done the right thing, fudging the truth a bit. Silently, she reminded herself that none of these people were like Angel. They couldn't leap across buildings, or take out an entire nest of vamps with only a stake, two fists, and a couple of snapping remarks. They lacked heightened senses that would enable them to follow a microscopic trail of blood for miles, and they wouldn't know an Apocalypse if they'd helped create it themselves.
They were just a group of kids, no... *young adults*, who waved around tiny sticks and said stuff in Latin. Granted, they were brave. And, they worked well together. But, if you took away their wand and their friends, Cordelia was willing to bet that none of them would or could survive an honest to God battle for their lives. And, besides Draco, what could they possibly need to atone for?
Lucius, on the other hand, was a completely different story. She'd seen first-hand how brave he was capable of being without his wand, any knowledge of magic, or anyone assisting him. Granted, he had a dark past. However, he felt guilty, and wanted to make amends.
And that alone was the reason that she had claimed him to be one of her new Champions.
Pulling a few books off the shelf, the brunette made her way to one of the overstuffed chairs by the fireplace. Curling up in it, she placed her pile on the floor. Picking up the top book in her selection, she sternly told her brain to stop thinking so much.
She could focus on her guilt later. Right now, she had to find out what this shadowy thing was that had attacked Bella. Something told her that it was more than a coincidence that Draco, the only other person besides her children that was known to have come in contact with the thing, was now lying unconscious down the hall.
Her mind now back on the task at hand, she began skimming through the pages, hoping to find something that would catch her eye. After a few minutes, though, she was interrupted.
"My dear, you never cease to amaze me. Didn't I tell you not two hours ago that I had no books that contained the knowledge which we seek?"
Cordelia shrugged, glancing up at the man that had entered the room. Giving him a small smile, she replied, "Yeah, well, you *are* human. And humans are known to make mistakes once in a while." Sighing, she added, "And besides, this is definitely better than sitting around feeling helpless and being accused of withholding information."
Lucius nodded, dropping into the chair beside her. Glancing at the book in her lap, then the others that were at her feet, he quietly said, "I apologize for Ms. Granger's comments. She tends to become rather...emotional at times of great stress."
Cordelia laughed softly, turning her attention back to the passage she'd been reading. "That's probably one of the reasons that Draco is in love with her," she commented.
The blonde smiled. "I wasn't aware that you'd spent enough time around my son to realize the full extent of his feelings for her. I've only just noticed it recently," he stated softly.
She rolled her eyes. "Oh, please. It was obvious to me five years ago. The way they worked together while attacking me in my apartment?" Suddenly, she stopped, a pained expression crossing her face. "Sorry," she whispered.
Lucius frowned. "Why?" he wondered in confusion.
Cordelia sighed heavily, raising her eyes to his. "I guess I just figured you didn't want to talk about that. I mean, it *was* pretty intense. Not to mention awkward and painful," she explained.
Lucius shook his head. Reaching across the small distance between them, he gently took her hand in his. Staring into her hazel eyes, he gave her a genuine smile.
"Cordelia, the only regret I have about our time together was that it was far too short," he stated softly. "Every day I questioned my decision to return here rather than stay with you."
She raised an eyebrow, giving him a hard look. "Really? Funny, I guess I couldn't tell what with you not bothering to contact me and all," she snapped, pulling her hand from his. All of the anger and pain she'd kept bottled inside of her for the past five years was bubbling to the surface, and she knew she was far too emotionally drained right now to bite her tongue.
Lucius' eyes widened slightly at the hostility. Silently, he observed her, wondering what he could say. Finally, he managed a weak, "Considering the way with which we parted, I had assumed you didn't wish to hear from me. However, had I known that you felt this way, I assure you. I would have made *every* effort to have you in my life."
Cordelia blinked, her anger deflating at his confession. "Really?" she asked quietly, her voice sounding almost like a frightened child's. Seeing his nod, she bit her lip, fighting back tears. "Oh. Well, in that case..." The man shook his head, once more gently grasping her hand. "I am not accustomed to this, my dear. My wife and I..." Trailing off, he felt a wave of pain at the thought of Narcissa. Forcing it away, he continued. "We were scarcely the type to discuss our feelings. In our circle, it simply isn't done. Emotions such as love and tenderness are viewed as weaknesses."
Cordelia nodded. "I get it. Really, I do. I guess I just thought that, since you'd obviously changed..." Shaking her head, she sighed heavily. "Nevermind. Look, the point is, it's all in the past. I'm here now, and I'm *not* going anywhere," she stated.
Then, swiping her other hand at her eyes, she groaned, "God, look at me. Manic-depressive Cordy at your service."
Lucius couldn't help but chuckle. "Nonsense," he assured her quietly. Then, sighing heavily, he grudgingly released her hand and stood up. "I should check on Draco's status."
Cordelia gave him a small smile. "Sure thing. I'm just going to sit here and see if there's anything in these books." Watching as he raised his eyebrow, she shrugged. "Hey, if you *are* right and there's nothing here, then at least I get to have some colorful reading," she stated.
Holding up the book, she pointed to a page. "See? 'Fifty common curses to obtain revenge on your enemy'. They've even got pictures." Then, she suddenly froze, her eyes widening. "Oh God," she whispered. "Look at me. I've turned into *Willow*!"
Before he could ask what she meant, there was a knock at the door. Turning, Lucius stared at Ron, who was looking quite embarrassed to be interrupting the conversation.
"Sorry to bother you, but I thought you should know that someone is at the front door," he said quietly.
Lucius frowned slightly. "Why were you answering the door?" he questioned.
The redhead shrugged. "I wasn't. I was waiting for the mediwitch and this bloke just came walking up. He...er...he said that you're expecting him. I tried to tell him you were busy, but he said he didn't care..."
Cordelia raised an eyebrow, rising from her seat. "Wow. I want to meet the person who had enough guts to tell *you* to stuff it," she commented, brushing past both men and exiting the room.
Then, she stopped in the middle of the hallway, gasping softly at the person that was standing there.
Giles gave the woman a faint smile, placing his bag on the floor. "It's a pleasure to see you as well, Cordelia. I trust from your lack of hysterics that Bella and Korben are well?" he asked.
Cordelia grinned, enveloping him in a tight hug. "Yeah, they're fine. Oh, I *missed* you," she murmured. Taking a step back, she gave him a once over. "And, you sure got here awfully fast. What happened to the whole 'research from a distance first, rush into danger later' theory?"
Giles shrugged slightly. "Yes, well, I decided that there was no reason not to research at the same place that the incident had occurred," he replied. Then, glancing past Cordelia, he locked eyes with his former classmate. "Provided, of course, that I'm welcomed."
Lucius gave Giles an unreadable expression, trying to ignore the slight jealousy he felt at the casual way the other man and Cordelia interacted. Finally, he tipped his head slightly. "Of course. It's good to see you again, old friend," he stated calmly.
Giles returned the nod. "Likewise, Lucius." However, before he could say anything more, a voice interrupted.
"Excuse me, but I believe someone called for a mediwitch?"
For a moment, no one said anything to the slight redhead that was standing just inside the door. Cordelia was taken aback at how much the girl reminded her of Willow, Giles was busy trying to figure out why she looked so familiar, and Lucius was just shocked.
Finally, Ron stepped around the flabbergasted blonde, giving the young woman a grim smile. "Hey, Gin. Draco's in there. It doesn't look good," he commented, motioning to the closed door down the hallway.
Ginny nodded. Giving the man and woman she didn't know small smiles and nodding once at Lucius, she walked past them and disappeared into the room, Ron following in her wake.
Once the door was shut once more, Giles glanced at a stricken Lucius. "I'm assuming she is Arthur and Molly's. And, what's this about Draco being in bad shape?" he wondered.
Lucius shook his head to force his thoughts away from the memories of Tom Riddle's diary. "Yes, she is the youngest of the Weasley children. And, we aren't quite certain *what* is wrong with my son. Which is the reason that we summoned a mediwitch," he explained. Turning toward the door to the study, he added, "Although, why *she* was the one who responded I don't quite understand."
Cordelia frowned, watching as Lucius disappeared inside the room. Sighing, she looked at Giles. "Well, *that* wasn't weird or anything," she commented. Shaking her head, she continued, "You know, you'd think that, with all the visions I get about total stranger's lives, the PTB would see fit to send me one about the stuff going on around me once in a while."
Giles nodded. "Yes, well. Be that as it may, I believe we have more important things to worry about right now than the habits and reasoning of the Powers That Be."
Picking up his bag once again, he fixed her with a serious look. "In the letter you sent, I believe you mentioned something about a shadow?"
******
A/N: Yes, I know. Short part. Sorry about that. But, this seemed like the best place to end it for now, considering the next part kind of all links together. *g*
So...I've done my part..how about doing yours and feeding my muse?
QueenC
