Part 22 Plans
The next morning the other professors covered classes for both Willow and Fred so they could say goodbye to their friends. Faith's class wasn't until later in the day so she had no problem meeting the others after breakfast. Professor Mcgonagall had arranged portkeys to return everyone to their homes.
"Will I have to ask again if you're sure about this plan?" Buffy asked.
"Yeah, Will I'm with Buff. The last time we did this we all almost died," Xander agreed.
"Gee thanks for the support guys," Willow frowned, "I'm sure. And there aren't a lot choices. If Harry has to go in, it's the only way."
"Send for me and Angel before you go in Willow," Buffy insisted, "Don't do this alone."
"I will," She promised hugging each of her friends. "I miss you guys so much."
"Miss you too," Xander said returning her hug.
"Willow when do you plan on." Giles asked.
"Soon, so Buffy be prepared in could be in the next week."
"Got it," Buffy smiled.
Dawn and Andrew walked in, followed by Wesley, Gunn, Angel and Lorne. Lupin had already returned their luggage to their homes. The older four men were glad that they would soon be away from Andrew. Angel wondered how it was that neither Faith nor Buffy had hurt the boy yet.
"Andrew, I got him to leave you alone what else did you want me to do?" Dawn asked as Angel pushed the door closed.
"But you were laughing," Andrew whined.
"That's because it was funny," Gunn pointed out grinning at the memory of Peeves once again chasing Andrew down the hall, this time with water balloons that magically sought out its target.
"No it wasn't," Andrew turned to face the other man.
"Why are you wet?" Buffy asked frowning.
"Peeves," Dawn said smiling, "I'll tell you later."
"Everyone have everything?" Willow asked, "Not like you can pop back and forth like Remus or Charlie."
"We'll talk to all of you soon 'kay?" Willow hugged new arrivals, followed by Fred who was also saying goodbye and hugging everyone.
"Don't mind if I skip the hugging part of the program do you?" Faith asked from the couch, "Angel, B, see you in few days right?"
"As soon as you get it all worked out," Angel agreed.
Everyone finished their goodbyes and gathered around their respective portkeys. With one last wave from Willow and Fred they disappeared.
"So Red, when we telling the others about your plan?" Faith asked.
"You know Harry isn't going to like it," Fred asked, "Hermione says he'll throw a fit."
"Severus isn't going to be any happier," Willow shrugged, "And we'll tell them tonight so we can work out the final plans. Have you gotten anywhere on rewriting the spell?"
"I think so," Fred said, "Hermione and I have been working on it."
**********
"Are you finally going to tell us what's going on?" Harry asked when everyone was seated in Snape's sitting room.
"Yeah, and you aren't going to like it," Willow sighed, she was ready for a battle on this, "But hear me out before anyone objects okay."
Hermione and Ginny already knew the gist of the plan and had a good idea how angry Harry, Ron and Professor Snape were going to be. The plan was dangerous, the spell Professor Rosenberg wanted to use was volatile at best. When everyone nodded their agreement Willow continued.
"Let's start with the prophecy, it says clearly 'either must die at the hand of the other'. That means Harry you have to kill Voldemort. Not me, not Dumbledore, not Professor Snape. You have to do it," Willow said quietly, "Faith and I could go in and probably get Dumbledore out alive. Particularly if we bring Buffy and Angel back. But it won't stop anything, not really. He'll be back again, if a few days or months or even years. But he will come back."
"One of you has to kill the other Harry," Fred agreed, "We'd rather it be you doing the killing. But it also says you have power he doesn't know about."
"But I don't," Harry said.
"Actually you might," Willow smiled, "You have friends."
"What?" Harry asked, not sure what his friends had to do with it.
"Friends are powerful," Willow smiled, "The power you have will come from your friends literally. If Hermione and Professor Snape can pull off the spell."
"What is this spell?" Snape asked, he hadn't been able to get much information from Willow. Given the girls tendency to babble he was sure he wouldn't like this plan.
"It's an adjoining spell," Willow said quietly, eyes on Harry, "With this spell we can connect you to Ron, Hermione, and Professor Snape."
"Connect how?" Ron and Harry both asked. Snape was staring at Willow, he had heard of spells like this but they were dangerous and to suggest the children.
"Each of you have something that can help Harry," Fred answered, "Harry has to be the one that's actually there. But Hermione is, I'm sorry Harry, better at charms and spells."
"Don't apologize, I know she is," Harry answered.
"Ron, is your friend, your support," Faith added.
"And Professor Snape is," Willow hesitated this was where she knew everyone would be objecting and he was the one that could not be changed, "You told me that Bellatrix told you that for the Unforgivables to really work you had to mean them. And you can't Harry, you don't have that in you. Which is a good thing usually. But let's face it Severus has no problem with cruelty."
"So how do we join exactly?" Harry asked.
"Hand, spirit, mind, and heart," Hermione explained, "You're the hand, I'm the spirit, Ron's the heart and Professor Snape will be the mind."
"Professor Rosenberg that spell is." Snape finally spoke, the dangers of that spell were too much. They were children, he may not like them very much but they were children.
"Dangerous," Willow agreed, "We know, do you have any other plan."
"I guess I understand why Professor Snape has to be there, but if it's dangerous, Ron and Hermione shouldn't.." Harry said quietly, "I mean he's as good at magic as Hermione and. Why do we have to put them in danger?"
"Harry the magics we'll be using are so strong, they can," Willow looked at him, she knew better than anyone what calling these magics could do, "Harry when you call on this kind of magic you could.they're to help you."
"They are to make sure the magic doesn't overtake you Potter," Snape said quietly.
"Harry you'll be using dark magic for this," Fred said, "A lot of it. You need to have your friends to anchor you, keep you from being sucked into that magic."
"Are two willing to do this?" Faith asked the other two kids, they should at least have some say in the plan.
"Yes," Both answered at once.
"Great," Willow grinned that hadn't been nearly as bad as she thought it would be. "Now we need a way to get you, me and Faith into the camp."
"Right, that should be easy," Harry frowned, "And I thought I had to do it alone?"
"You are so not going alone, I can't kill him, but I can hurt him," Willow said, "And Angel and Buffy are coming to help too."
"So we need to get five of us in to Voldemort's camp unnoticed?" Harry asked staring at Willow. There was no way that could work.
"Kinda," Willow said quietly.
"Not necessarily," Snape said. He had gotten up and was now pacing the room. "He wants Faith and Willow. He isn't expecting you for months but it would make him extremely happy to get you early. And Potter, well the whole reason for taking Dumbledore was to draw Potter to him."
"Good point," Faith said, "Problem is, he expects you to bring us to him, and you have to be with them performing the spell."
Snape stopped walking and turned to look at the others in the room. Lupin was frowning now doubt he had heard of this spell as well, and was not eager to watch his favorite little children attempt it. Fred and Charlie were sitting quietly, they were in the least danger in this little plan. They would be staying here incase anything went wrong, so would the youngest Weasley. It was the rest of them putting their necks on the line.
"I can.arrange for someone else to take you to him," Snape said, "Potter too."
"How?" Willow asked, this had been the biggest problem with her plan. How to get there without Severus?
"Next week when I give my report, I tell him you are willing," He hesitated, "And that you'll bring Potter. But I can't bring you to him, can't draw too much attention."
"So he sends a different Death Eater?" Fred said, "That could work."
"It would most likely be Lucius Malfoy," Snape turned his attention to Harry, "He is the one that would draw the least attention at the school."
"Okay I'm liking this so far," Faith smiled, the plan was starting to come together, "How do we get Buffy and Angel in?"
"I could apparate them close enough to see the camp," Lupin suggested. "They could hide until they were needed."
"Great so the only other problem is you guys are going to need someplace quiet and close to do the spell," Willow said, "Any suggestions?"
"The Shrieking Shack would be the closest," Snape offered, "It should be close enough."
"How far?" Fred asked, she had done a lot of research on the distance they could do this from.
Lupin gave her an estimate on the distance. Fred quickly did the calculations in her head, before agreeing it would work.
"So we can plan this for next weekend?" Faith asked, "Cause gotta tell you I need to stop sitting around doing a whole lot of nothing."
"Next weekend should work," Willow agreed, "I'll owl Buffy and Angel. Charlie, Remus you can get them on Saturday morning right. Just remember to apparate someplace dark so Angel doesn't become a big pile of dust."
"We'll take care of it," Charlie agreed.
"So we need to make sure everyone knows their jobs, Hermione, Severus which of you want to do the spell?" Willow asked.
"I'll do it," Hermione offered, "I've been doing all the reading on it anyway. And we'll need Professor Snape free to do concentrate fully on Harry right?"
"Great then you and I can work on the spell, and Harry I want you to practice without a wand," Willow added. "We can work on that this week too."
"Let's get some sleep tonight then," Lupin said, "Because starting tomorrow we have to work seriously on preparing for this."
Everyone quickly said their goodnights and headed out of the room. When the last person had left Snape turned to face Willow.
"Are you sure Miss Granger can do this?" He asked.
"I have to be," Willow shrugged, "Failing really isn't an option."
"Potter isn't going to be happy about letting me into his mind once the idea fully sinks into his head."
"Yeah, kinda expected you both to object more," Willow smiled.
"You're not going to listen to me anyway. And you were right, he will keep coming back until one of them is dead." He sat on the couch next to her.
"I need to know how many people we're going in against?" Willow asked leaning against him.
"Bellatrix and Lucius will be there," he said wrapping his arm around her, "They will be your biggest threat. Get their wands and you should be fine. Neither is very strong without it."
"Anyone else?" She settled herself more comfortably against him.
"There are always a few Death Eaters around. Most won't be hard for you to deal with."
"Any other scary stuff I need to know?" Willow asked quietly her eyes drifting shut.
Snape watched quietly, no point in answering she had already fallen asleep. He sighed adjusting her so he could move and lift her off the couch. He gently set her on the bed, kissing her cheek. He was much more concerned about this girl than he should be. He quietly headed to his bathroom grabbing a pair of pajama pants on the way through.
The next morning the other professors covered classes for both Willow and Fred so they could say goodbye to their friends. Faith's class wasn't until later in the day so she had no problem meeting the others after breakfast. Professor Mcgonagall had arranged portkeys to return everyone to their homes.
"Will I have to ask again if you're sure about this plan?" Buffy asked.
"Yeah, Will I'm with Buff. The last time we did this we all almost died," Xander agreed.
"Gee thanks for the support guys," Willow frowned, "I'm sure. And there aren't a lot choices. If Harry has to go in, it's the only way."
"Send for me and Angel before you go in Willow," Buffy insisted, "Don't do this alone."
"I will," She promised hugging each of her friends. "I miss you guys so much."
"Miss you too," Xander said returning her hug.
"Willow when do you plan on." Giles asked.
"Soon, so Buffy be prepared in could be in the next week."
"Got it," Buffy smiled.
Dawn and Andrew walked in, followed by Wesley, Gunn, Angel and Lorne. Lupin had already returned their luggage to their homes. The older four men were glad that they would soon be away from Andrew. Angel wondered how it was that neither Faith nor Buffy had hurt the boy yet.
"Andrew, I got him to leave you alone what else did you want me to do?" Dawn asked as Angel pushed the door closed.
"But you were laughing," Andrew whined.
"That's because it was funny," Gunn pointed out grinning at the memory of Peeves once again chasing Andrew down the hall, this time with water balloons that magically sought out its target.
"No it wasn't," Andrew turned to face the other man.
"Why are you wet?" Buffy asked frowning.
"Peeves," Dawn said smiling, "I'll tell you later."
"Everyone have everything?" Willow asked, "Not like you can pop back and forth like Remus or Charlie."
"We'll talk to all of you soon 'kay?" Willow hugged new arrivals, followed by Fred who was also saying goodbye and hugging everyone.
"Don't mind if I skip the hugging part of the program do you?" Faith asked from the couch, "Angel, B, see you in few days right?"
"As soon as you get it all worked out," Angel agreed.
Everyone finished their goodbyes and gathered around their respective portkeys. With one last wave from Willow and Fred they disappeared.
"So Red, when we telling the others about your plan?" Faith asked.
"You know Harry isn't going to like it," Fred asked, "Hermione says he'll throw a fit."
"Severus isn't going to be any happier," Willow shrugged, "And we'll tell them tonight so we can work out the final plans. Have you gotten anywhere on rewriting the spell?"
"I think so," Fred said, "Hermione and I have been working on it."
**********
"Are you finally going to tell us what's going on?" Harry asked when everyone was seated in Snape's sitting room.
"Yeah, and you aren't going to like it," Willow sighed, she was ready for a battle on this, "But hear me out before anyone objects okay."
Hermione and Ginny already knew the gist of the plan and had a good idea how angry Harry, Ron and Professor Snape were going to be. The plan was dangerous, the spell Professor Rosenberg wanted to use was volatile at best. When everyone nodded their agreement Willow continued.
"Let's start with the prophecy, it says clearly 'either must die at the hand of the other'. That means Harry you have to kill Voldemort. Not me, not Dumbledore, not Professor Snape. You have to do it," Willow said quietly, "Faith and I could go in and probably get Dumbledore out alive. Particularly if we bring Buffy and Angel back. But it won't stop anything, not really. He'll be back again, if a few days or months or even years. But he will come back."
"One of you has to kill the other Harry," Fred agreed, "We'd rather it be you doing the killing. But it also says you have power he doesn't know about."
"But I don't," Harry said.
"Actually you might," Willow smiled, "You have friends."
"What?" Harry asked, not sure what his friends had to do with it.
"Friends are powerful," Willow smiled, "The power you have will come from your friends literally. If Hermione and Professor Snape can pull off the spell."
"What is this spell?" Snape asked, he hadn't been able to get much information from Willow. Given the girls tendency to babble he was sure he wouldn't like this plan.
"It's an adjoining spell," Willow said quietly, eyes on Harry, "With this spell we can connect you to Ron, Hermione, and Professor Snape."
"Connect how?" Ron and Harry both asked. Snape was staring at Willow, he had heard of spells like this but they were dangerous and to suggest the children.
"Each of you have something that can help Harry," Fred answered, "Harry has to be the one that's actually there. But Hermione is, I'm sorry Harry, better at charms and spells."
"Don't apologize, I know she is," Harry answered.
"Ron, is your friend, your support," Faith added.
"And Professor Snape is," Willow hesitated this was where she knew everyone would be objecting and he was the one that could not be changed, "You told me that Bellatrix told you that for the Unforgivables to really work you had to mean them. And you can't Harry, you don't have that in you. Which is a good thing usually. But let's face it Severus has no problem with cruelty."
"So how do we join exactly?" Harry asked.
"Hand, spirit, mind, and heart," Hermione explained, "You're the hand, I'm the spirit, Ron's the heart and Professor Snape will be the mind."
"Professor Rosenberg that spell is." Snape finally spoke, the dangers of that spell were too much. They were children, he may not like them very much but they were children.
"Dangerous," Willow agreed, "We know, do you have any other plan."
"I guess I understand why Professor Snape has to be there, but if it's dangerous, Ron and Hermione shouldn't.." Harry said quietly, "I mean he's as good at magic as Hermione and. Why do we have to put them in danger?"
"Harry the magics we'll be using are so strong, they can," Willow looked at him, she knew better than anyone what calling these magics could do, "Harry when you call on this kind of magic you could.they're to help you."
"They are to make sure the magic doesn't overtake you Potter," Snape said quietly.
"Harry you'll be using dark magic for this," Fred said, "A lot of it. You need to have your friends to anchor you, keep you from being sucked into that magic."
"Are two willing to do this?" Faith asked the other two kids, they should at least have some say in the plan.
"Yes," Both answered at once.
"Great," Willow grinned that hadn't been nearly as bad as she thought it would be. "Now we need a way to get you, me and Faith into the camp."
"Right, that should be easy," Harry frowned, "And I thought I had to do it alone?"
"You are so not going alone, I can't kill him, but I can hurt him," Willow said, "And Angel and Buffy are coming to help too."
"So we need to get five of us in to Voldemort's camp unnoticed?" Harry asked staring at Willow. There was no way that could work.
"Kinda," Willow said quietly.
"Not necessarily," Snape said. He had gotten up and was now pacing the room. "He wants Faith and Willow. He isn't expecting you for months but it would make him extremely happy to get you early. And Potter, well the whole reason for taking Dumbledore was to draw Potter to him."
"Good point," Faith said, "Problem is, he expects you to bring us to him, and you have to be with them performing the spell."
Snape stopped walking and turned to look at the others in the room. Lupin was frowning now doubt he had heard of this spell as well, and was not eager to watch his favorite little children attempt it. Fred and Charlie were sitting quietly, they were in the least danger in this little plan. They would be staying here incase anything went wrong, so would the youngest Weasley. It was the rest of them putting their necks on the line.
"I can.arrange for someone else to take you to him," Snape said, "Potter too."
"How?" Willow asked, this had been the biggest problem with her plan. How to get there without Severus?
"Next week when I give my report, I tell him you are willing," He hesitated, "And that you'll bring Potter. But I can't bring you to him, can't draw too much attention."
"So he sends a different Death Eater?" Fred said, "That could work."
"It would most likely be Lucius Malfoy," Snape turned his attention to Harry, "He is the one that would draw the least attention at the school."
"Okay I'm liking this so far," Faith smiled, the plan was starting to come together, "How do we get Buffy and Angel in?"
"I could apparate them close enough to see the camp," Lupin suggested. "They could hide until they were needed."
"Great so the only other problem is you guys are going to need someplace quiet and close to do the spell," Willow said, "Any suggestions?"
"The Shrieking Shack would be the closest," Snape offered, "It should be close enough."
"How far?" Fred asked, she had done a lot of research on the distance they could do this from.
Lupin gave her an estimate on the distance. Fred quickly did the calculations in her head, before agreeing it would work.
"So we can plan this for next weekend?" Faith asked, "Cause gotta tell you I need to stop sitting around doing a whole lot of nothing."
"Next weekend should work," Willow agreed, "I'll owl Buffy and Angel. Charlie, Remus you can get them on Saturday morning right. Just remember to apparate someplace dark so Angel doesn't become a big pile of dust."
"We'll take care of it," Charlie agreed.
"So we need to make sure everyone knows their jobs, Hermione, Severus which of you want to do the spell?" Willow asked.
"I'll do it," Hermione offered, "I've been doing all the reading on it anyway. And we'll need Professor Snape free to do concentrate fully on Harry right?"
"Great then you and I can work on the spell, and Harry I want you to practice without a wand," Willow added. "We can work on that this week too."
"Let's get some sleep tonight then," Lupin said, "Because starting tomorrow we have to work seriously on preparing for this."
Everyone quickly said their goodnights and headed out of the room. When the last person had left Snape turned to face Willow.
"Are you sure Miss Granger can do this?" He asked.
"I have to be," Willow shrugged, "Failing really isn't an option."
"Potter isn't going to be happy about letting me into his mind once the idea fully sinks into his head."
"Yeah, kinda expected you both to object more," Willow smiled.
"You're not going to listen to me anyway. And you were right, he will keep coming back until one of them is dead." He sat on the couch next to her.
"I need to know how many people we're going in against?" Willow asked leaning against him.
"Bellatrix and Lucius will be there," he said wrapping his arm around her, "They will be your biggest threat. Get their wands and you should be fine. Neither is very strong without it."
"Anyone else?" She settled herself more comfortably against him.
"There are always a few Death Eaters around. Most won't be hard for you to deal with."
"Any other scary stuff I need to know?" Willow asked quietly her eyes drifting shut.
Snape watched quietly, no point in answering she had already fallen asleep. He sighed adjusting her so he could move and lift her off the couch. He gently set her on the bed, kissing her cheek. He was much more concerned about this girl than he should be. He quietly headed to his bathroom grabbing a pair of pajama pants on the way through.