Part 24 Time to Move
The week went quickly, everyone making preparations and practicing. Buffy and Angel had both been notified of the plan and would be ready to leave early Saturday. Lupin and Charlie would bring them here for a short time, just long enough to make sure everyone knew their parts then they would use the hidden passages to go to the shrieking shack. Once it was dark Lupin would take them to a point as close as was safe for them to watch the camp.
Ron and Ginny helped Harry practice the spells Willow had taught him. Willow had even taught him the spell she had used to kill Warren, though it was the one spell he couldn't practice. So they were hoping he wouldn't need it. All he had to do was make sure that once Buffy gave him his wand he didn't lose it. And let Snape do what was needed. Harry still wasn't sure he liked the idea of allowing Snape to control his body even for a short period but Professor Rosenberg was right, he didn't have the amount of cruelty in him to kill someone, or even to effectively perform the Cruciatus curse.
Hermione and Professor Snape had gone over the spell together several times. If they didn't succeed Harry may not be able to kill Voldemort. As Willow had told them, failing was not an option. Even Professor Snape was forced to admit that Hermione would not allow failure in this, it wasn't in her to fail at anything she tried.
Snape had met with Voldemort on Wednesday and told him the two girls were not only ready to join him but had promised to deliver Harry Potter. He had also told him they would come to him on Saturday evening but he would need to send someone for them, as it would look suspicious if he were to leave school grounds the same time as the two new teachers disappeared with the school's Golden Boy. Voldemort had agreed and promised to send Lucius Malfoy at Sunset on Saturday to pick them up. They would meet him at the edge of the forest.
Charlie and Lupin would stay at the school on Saturday as a safety measure in case Willow's plan failed and Voldemort tried to enter the school. They were still helping the students Ron had recruited earlier to improve their defensive skills.
Fred was also working on her magic skills, she had even suggested a back up plan of opening a portal to get rid of Voldemort if he made it to the school. It wasn't an option anyone liked, a student could accidentally stumble into a portal. But as a last resort she was checking into spells to accomplish the task.
Faith was working out as often as possible. She hadn't been training as hard as she normally would have since they had arrived here. But the time had come that she needed to pick up her training. She didn't have magic to fall back on, she had to be faster than a bunch of Death Eaters that wanted her dead.
Willow was working with Hermione and Severus on the spell whenever possible as well as Harry and Ron on the magic. Practicing her own magic was put to the back of her mind. It was too risky for her to practice the spells she needed practice on. She couldn't risk the dark magic controlling her. Xander wouldn't be here this time to pull her back.
Everyone gathered in Professor Snape's rooms on Saturday morning to wait for Remus and Charlie to return with Buffy and Angel. They were going to have to Apparate into Hogsmeade and then use the passageways to get here. Harry and Ron were in a corner playing Wizard's Chess, Willow had suggested they do something to keep their mind off the nights events until everyone was here. Hermione and Ginny were sitting at the large desk in the corner of the room doing homework. While Willow, Fred and Faith nervously paced the room.
"That answer's incorrect," Professor Snape snapped at Hermione as she was looking over her Herbology homework.
"Which one?" Hermione asked.
"There," he pointed to a spot on her parchment, "Double check your notes."
Hermione quickly pulled out her notes and made the necessary changes. She pushed back the surprise at Snape bothering to point out her mistake.
"Calvary's here!" Buffy said pushing the door open and walking in the room, causing every person in the room to jump.
"Wow, little tense?" Buffy smiled at the room.
"Some people get that way in life or death situations Buffy," Angel pointed out quietly.
"Really?"
"Yeah, you see some people, when they die. They stay that way," Angel answered.
"Right, keep forgetting that," Buffy said before going to hug Willow. "We ready?"
"I think so," Willow hugged both her friends, "Remus and Charlie fill you in?"
"Yeah, they said they'll be here in a few, they stopped at the kitchen for breakfast first," Angel answered.
The spent the next few hours discussing possible problems with their plans. All had finally agreed that if the adjoining spell didn't seem to be working Angel would get Harry out of the line of fire. Saving Dumbledore with no casualties was the priority. If they couldn't kill Voldemort they would deal with him later.
**********
Buffy and Angel followed Lupin in the trees behind the Shrieking Shack he had said Apparating was too risky, they could be heard. But even if they made some noise in the trees it would probably be assumed it was an animal. The sun had just set when Lupin had come through the tunnel to lead them here. No one knew when exactly Willow and the others would be brought in so they had to be ready.
Ron, Hermione and Professor Snape had entered the Shack minutes after Angel and Buffy had left. They had planned on arriving earlier but Draco Malfoy had once again caused problems by harassing another student and he had to be dealt with first. The quickly began setting up their supplies. Willow had said she would let Ron no when it was time to start the spell. She told them to just trust her, they would know when she did.
Professor Mcgonagall, not completely aware of the plan, had helped Charlie usher all the students back to their houses. She didn't know exactly what the plan was but she hoped that Professor Rosenburg new what she was doing. She had agreed to stay with the Gryffindors until she heard from Willow, Faith or Professor Snape. Charlie was going to stay near the Hufflepuffs, Fred had the Ravenclaws, and Lupin was charged with watching the Slytherins when he returned.
Willow and Faith walked quietly to the edge of the forest, Harry moving quietly between them. They had decided that they would give the impression they had tricked Harry into coming with them. That he had no idea where they were going. As they reached the trees a dark figure stepped out, pushing the hood back from his head. Willow sighed, another blonde evil thing. What fun.
"Miss Rosenberg?" The man questioned, "Faith?"
"Yes, and you are?" Willow answered.
"Lucius Malfoy, the Dark Lord sent me for you," He replied then looked at Harry, "I see you brought Potter."
"I said we would," Willow replied softly.
At this point Harry began to struggle as Faith grabbed his arm. The plan was that he would now he would fight them 'forcing' Willow to put him under the imperious curse.
"I'm not.what's he.you tricked." Harry shouted at Willow.
"Imperio," Willow had pulled her wand out of her robes and pointed it at Harry.
Once he had stopped struggling Willow turned her attention back to Malfoy. Draco really did look a lot like him. Faith was also looking at the wizard. This was the part of the plan she didn't like the part where she had to patiently wait for the right time. She was much more into the attack now, deal later theories.
"You understand I have to take your wands," Malfoy said, "Until he meets you, once you have spoken to him we will return them."
Willow silently handed him her wand. It wasn't as if she needed it anyway. Faith let him search her for a wand. She didn't have one, so it was pointless. He also searched Harry quickly finding the fake wand Ginny had gotten from George and Fred.
"Well then we can go," He motioned them further into the forest.
Once they were deep in the forest he moved them all close to him and apparated back to Voldemort's camp. Willow found herself standing in a large clearing just as Severus had told her. Time to let them start the spell, she thought.
Faith was quickly looking around counting the number of Death Eaters. It wasn't as bad as she expected there were only about a dozen people there. Between her, Angel, and Buffy they could take them leaving Willow and Harry free to deal with Voldemort. Buffy had already told her she wanted the woman named Bellatrix, it seems Buffy had talked to Neville Longbottom and had a great desire to make the woman pay for hurting Neville's parents, and Harry's godfather.
Harry stood quietly, waiting for the spell to kick in, pretending to still be under the imperious curse. Willow had told him to wait for a signal before he did anything.
**********
Ron, Hermione and Snape were sitting quietly in the dark shack. They had all the ingredients set up and were now waiting for the signal Willow had promised them.
"Maybe she can't." Hermione began. Willow hadn't been clear on how they would know when to begin and it seemed like they had been sitting her for ages.
'Ron,' Ron jumped as he heard the voice in his head. 'Ron, can you hear me?'
"Yeah," Ron said out loud ignoring the looks from the other two, who obviously could not hear the voice in his head.
'It's Willow, we're here, start the spell,' the voice told him before disappearing.
"It's time," Ron told Hermione. And they quickly began the spell.
**********
"Can you see them?" Buffy asked Angel they were depending a lot on his vampire senses right now.
"Yeah, they're waiting for Voldemort," Angel said, they were close enough that he could make out some of what was being said.
"I hate waiting," Buffy complained.
"Really because you've always been so patient in the past."
"Channeling Spike now?" Buffy said quietly, ignoring the scowl she received from the vampire.
*********
Willow kept her head down as Voldemort approached them. She could feel the magic seeping into her here. It did at Hogwarts too, but this was not good magic. She knew her eyes had changed to black and was hoping not to have to look up and give herself away before the spell kicked in.
"Miss Rosenberg, Faith," Voldemort said when he reached them, "Potter, nice of you to join us tonight."
"So you the head guy?" Faith asked, patience running thin.
Willow sighed, she had known Faith's patience wouldn't hold out. Harry just stared at the man before them.
"Very direct aren't you?" Voldemort hissed.
"Yeah, find it saves time, So we get be Death Eaters now?"
**********
"Accept us in the power we possess," Hermione read the words in front of her, "Make us mind and heart and spirit joy. Let the hand encompass us. Do thy will."
*********
Willow watched as the other robed figures gathered closer, they obviously weren't use to anyone rushing Voldemort's plans. Of course they had never met Faith.
"Miss Rosenberg I understand you are very powerful," Voldemort said, "Not afraid of using torture to get what you want."
"Nope, torture's proven effective for me before," Willow said quietly.
"Faith, you too have fallen to the dark side before. Even spent time in a muggle prison due to your.magical crimes," he asked, "You are I believe wanted by the Watcher's Council?"
"Yeah,"
**********
"Spiritus," Hermione laid a card in front of her, "Spirit."
"Animus," Ron laid his card down, "Heart."
"Sophus," Snape muttered as he laid his card down, "Mind."
"The Hand," Hermione laid the last card down. "We enjoin that we may inhabit the vessel. We implore thee, admit us, bring us to the vessel, take us now."
*********
Harry's head shot up as he felt the others join him. He looked at Willow quickly and lowered his head hoping no one else had noticed.
"You brought me Potter as a gift of your allegiance and are now ready to become one of us," Voldemort said motioning Bellatrix forward to take Harry.
"Well, you know now that you mention it," Willow looked up eyes now a solid black, "I kinda changed my mind."
"Me too," Faith smiled, about damn time.
"Thicken," Willow said raised her hand toward the Death Eaters raising their wands. Laughing as the light shooting from a dozen wands bounced back at their owners. Causing several to fall back. Voldemort and retreated to the small building in the far corner. Not good, she thought, that's gotta be where Dumbledore is.
'Buffy now!' Willow shouted in her mind, hoping the connection to Buffy was there, it's hard when you don't have an exact location.
Faith launched herself at a group of four Death Eaters that were just coming to their feet as Buffy and Angel emerged from the trees at a run. Buffy threw the wand at Harry and ran toward another group of Death Eaters coming to their feet.
Willow raised her hand shouting something Harry didn't understand and several wands belonging to Death Eaters turned into flames causing them to release their grips.
"Harry help them, remember to let Severus in," Willow yelled, "I'm going after Voldemort."
Faith turned to see where the other's were and what had happened to the wand the man she had just knocked out had been holding.
"Faith," Angel yelled tossing a small knife toward the slayer. They hadn't been able to bring many weapons, too hard to walk with but he and Buffy had both managed to grab a few small knives and swords.
"Thanks," Faith said, throwing the knife as soon as she caught it catching another hooded figure in the chest. The quickly heading over to grab the knife back.
Angel's attention had already returned to the man he was fighting, he had dropped his wand when Willow had set some on fire, but was now picking it back up.
"I don't think so," Angel plucked the wand from the man's hand before he had a chance to aim it, breaking it in half before hitting them man in the face.
"Expelliarmus!" Harry shouted when he saw Bellatrix heading toward Buffy. She had already taken out the three of the Death Eaters and was heading after Malfoy who was quickly making his way to into the trees. He had lost his wand in Willow's spell. "Buffy behind you!"
Buffy turned in time to see Bellatrix stumble as her wand was yanked from her hand and landed several feet away. "Bellatrix?" Buffy asked when she saw the woman Neville had described last week.
"Yes," The woman sneered as she tried to look for her wand and keep one eye on the blond slayer.
"Been wanting to meet you," Buffy said as her fist connected with the other woman's stomach.
Harry stood watching for a moment, Professor Rosenberg had said to help them but they didn't seem to need his help. They had successfully disarmed the remaining Death Eaters on their own. He turned and headed toward the building he had seen her go into as Faith and Angel took out their last opponents and were heading over to help Buffy.
Harry entered the small building and saw Voldemort wand raised facing someone he almost didn't recognize as Willow. Her hair was now black and she was staring at the robed wizard.
"Harry," Dumbledore said quietly.
"Professor," Harry spotted the man tied in the corner. He quickly went and release the ropes binding the older man but found he had been magically bound as well, "I don't know."
Dumbledore quickly told him the proper spell which Harry repeated and finally let himself relax slightly when Dumbledore was freed.
"We need to help Profe."
"Give her a moment," Dumbledore whispered, "You will have to destroy him but let her weaken him."
"Imperio!" Voldemort pointed his wand at the girl in front of him.
"Tried that already," Willow sighed as the spell bounced off her, "You know what, bored now." She waved her hand and the other mans wand flew to her own hand. "Still think you can destroy me?"
"You can't kill me," Voldemort said quietly. "You can't."
"Kill you, yeah I know. Damn prophecy," Willow smiled, "But as luck would have it I brought the one who can. Harry."
"Don't even try it," Willow said waving her hand at Voldemort again, this time several ropes shot out of the ceiling and ground and wrapping around his wrists and ankles.
Harry stepped forward, Dumbledore moving behind him.
"Professor Dumbledore?" Willow said turning her attention to the older man.
"Miss Rosenberg," He smiled, "I knew my confidence was well placed."
"Can you help him with this, Well Professor Snape is really going to be dealing with most of it, but I guess supervise," Willow handed Voldemort's wand to Dumbledore.
"Let him in Harry," She said quietly before heading out to help her friends.
"Hey Will," Faith said as Willow walked up behind her, "Like the evil look."
"She all that's left?" Willow questioned, she had known her friends could handle the group but she hadn't expected this.
"Yeah, well some ran for the hills after your little fire show," Faith smiled, "But most are dead or injured. And I think B's just playing with this one."
"She is," Angel said quietly. Buffy had allowed the woman to retrieve her wand so Angel was ready to step in but the blond slayer didn't seem to need his help.
"Avada Kadavra!" Bellatrix once again pointed her wand at Buffy, she was tired of playing games with this girl.
Willow started to step forward, she was all for letting Buffy deal with the woman but not at the cost of her life. Before Willow could move the red light from the wand hit Buffy. Angel lunged forward only to be hit with the same spell and he too fell. Willow raised her arm and started to shout when Buffy stood back up. Followed quickly by Angel.
"Let me guess?" Buffy said smiling at the sputtering woman uselessly waving her wand and plucking it from her hand. "Killing curse right? Will told us about that."
"But you should probably know," Angel took the wand from Buffy's hand and snapped it in half, "Can't kill vampires with it, because we're already dead."
"And I just have this problem with dying," Buffy smiled, "It never sticks."
"Bored now guys," Willow pouted, "Are you done playing?"
Buffy and Angel both nodded and Willow smiled and muttered a spell they couldn't understand and Bellatrix fell to the ground where several vines came out of the ground and wrapped around her. She then waved her hand at the remaining Death Eaters and similar vines covered them.
"They are all so going to prison," Willow muttered, "At least the one's still alive."
They all headed back to the building to see how Harry and Dumbledore were fairing.
*********
Hermione and Ron were staring at Snape who was smiling and staring straight ahead. They were all still connected to Harry but the two teen-agers were really just spectators. Snape was the one doing all the work and he seemed to be enjoying it.
"Crucio," he muttered smiling as he saw through Harry's eyes Voldemort once again cry out in pain. Not able to move because Willow had left him tied in the center of the room.
He knew he should just kill the man and be done with it. But years of suffering at this man's hands were coming back to him now. He was an outsider in school but Voldemort had made it worse. He had encouraged him to be cut off from the other students.
**********
Harry heard the curse leave his mouth again. It wasn't his voice though it was Snape's. He was torturing Voldemort and enjoying it. If he was being honest he would have to admit he was enjoying it too. Snape was making him pay for everything he had done. He could feel Ron and Hermione watching in horror at what they were doing. It had to end.
"Harry, Severus," Dumbledore touched Harry's shoulder, "End it now."
Willow and Faith had just walked in followed by Buffy and Angel. Everyone was now watching as Voldemort screamed in pain. Willow waved her hand and the ropes holding him fell away. He collapsed to the floor.
"Harry it's time," Willow said quietly.
"Avada Kadavra!" Harry waved his wand at again as the curse came out in Snape's voice.
They all stood in silence looking at the body on the ground. They had done it. Voldemort was dead.
"Where are the others?" Dumbledore asked.
"Death Eaters, tied to the ground outside," Faith said, "Others in Harry's head are at the shrieking shack."
"Faith?" Dumbledore asked.
"Yeah," Faith said, "This is Buffy and Angel."
"Can he come back again?" Willow asked she had been staring at the body in front of her.
"No," Dumbledore assured her. "He is gone for good."
"Then we best go to the others," Willow said, "And I'll let the school know."
'Fred, it's over,' Willow said silently.
'He's gone?' Fred's voice appeared in her head.
'yeah, all but Malfoy.'
'I'll tell the others.'
"Hey can we get going so I can get Snape out of my head?" Harry asked impatiently.
"Professor Snape Harry," Dumbledore reminded him, before waving his wand.
Seconds later they all appeared in the Shrieking Shack. Hermione jumped up breaking the spell the second she saw them. Quickly followed by Ron.
"You're okay Professor!" Hermione said, "We were so worried. And this spell was so dangerous."
"Yes, it was," Dumbledore was looking at Snape who was now on his feet staring at Willow whose hair was slowly returning to its natural color. "But you've all preformed admirably."
"Is everyone okay?' Willow asked now that she was returning to normal she realized once again the dangers involved in her spell.
After Willow was assured that everyone was okay then began to make their way back to the school. It had been a long night. Buffy and Angel would wait to return home until morning.
The week went quickly, everyone making preparations and practicing. Buffy and Angel had both been notified of the plan and would be ready to leave early Saturday. Lupin and Charlie would bring them here for a short time, just long enough to make sure everyone knew their parts then they would use the hidden passages to go to the shrieking shack. Once it was dark Lupin would take them to a point as close as was safe for them to watch the camp.
Ron and Ginny helped Harry practice the spells Willow had taught him. Willow had even taught him the spell she had used to kill Warren, though it was the one spell he couldn't practice. So they were hoping he wouldn't need it. All he had to do was make sure that once Buffy gave him his wand he didn't lose it. And let Snape do what was needed. Harry still wasn't sure he liked the idea of allowing Snape to control his body even for a short period but Professor Rosenberg was right, he didn't have the amount of cruelty in him to kill someone, or even to effectively perform the Cruciatus curse.
Hermione and Professor Snape had gone over the spell together several times. If they didn't succeed Harry may not be able to kill Voldemort. As Willow had told them, failing was not an option. Even Professor Snape was forced to admit that Hermione would not allow failure in this, it wasn't in her to fail at anything she tried.
Snape had met with Voldemort on Wednesday and told him the two girls were not only ready to join him but had promised to deliver Harry Potter. He had also told him they would come to him on Saturday evening but he would need to send someone for them, as it would look suspicious if he were to leave school grounds the same time as the two new teachers disappeared with the school's Golden Boy. Voldemort had agreed and promised to send Lucius Malfoy at Sunset on Saturday to pick them up. They would meet him at the edge of the forest.
Charlie and Lupin would stay at the school on Saturday as a safety measure in case Willow's plan failed and Voldemort tried to enter the school. They were still helping the students Ron had recruited earlier to improve their defensive skills.
Fred was also working on her magic skills, she had even suggested a back up plan of opening a portal to get rid of Voldemort if he made it to the school. It wasn't an option anyone liked, a student could accidentally stumble into a portal. But as a last resort she was checking into spells to accomplish the task.
Faith was working out as often as possible. She hadn't been training as hard as she normally would have since they had arrived here. But the time had come that she needed to pick up her training. She didn't have magic to fall back on, she had to be faster than a bunch of Death Eaters that wanted her dead.
Willow was working with Hermione and Severus on the spell whenever possible as well as Harry and Ron on the magic. Practicing her own magic was put to the back of her mind. It was too risky for her to practice the spells she needed practice on. She couldn't risk the dark magic controlling her. Xander wouldn't be here this time to pull her back.
Everyone gathered in Professor Snape's rooms on Saturday morning to wait for Remus and Charlie to return with Buffy and Angel. They were going to have to Apparate into Hogsmeade and then use the passageways to get here. Harry and Ron were in a corner playing Wizard's Chess, Willow had suggested they do something to keep their mind off the nights events until everyone was here. Hermione and Ginny were sitting at the large desk in the corner of the room doing homework. While Willow, Fred and Faith nervously paced the room.
"That answer's incorrect," Professor Snape snapped at Hermione as she was looking over her Herbology homework.
"Which one?" Hermione asked.
"There," he pointed to a spot on her parchment, "Double check your notes."
Hermione quickly pulled out her notes and made the necessary changes. She pushed back the surprise at Snape bothering to point out her mistake.
"Calvary's here!" Buffy said pushing the door open and walking in the room, causing every person in the room to jump.
"Wow, little tense?" Buffy smiled at the room.
"Some people get that way in life or death situations Buffy," Angel pointed out quietly.
"Really?"
"Yeah, you see some people, when they die. They stay that way," Angel answered.
"Right, keep forgetting that," Buffy said before going to hug Willow. "We ready?"
"I think so," Willow hugged both her friends, "Remus and Charlie fill you in?"
"Yeah, they said they'll be here in a few, they stopped at the kitchen for breakfast first," Angel answered.
The spent the next few hours discussing possible problems with their plans. All had finally agreed that if the adjoining spell didn't seem to be working Angel would get Harry out of the line of fire. Saving Dumbledore with no casualties was the priority. If they couldn't kill Voldemort they would deal with him later.
**********
Buffy and Angel followed Lupin in the trees behind the Shrieking Shack he had said Apparating was too risky, they could be heard. But even if they made some noise in the trees it would probably be assumed it was an animal. The sun had just set when Lupin had come through the tunnel to lead them here. No one knew when exactly Willow and the others would be brought in so they had to be ready.
Ron, Hermione and Professor Snape had entered the Shack minutes after Angel and Buffy had left. They had planned on arriving earlier but Draco Malfoy had once again caused problems by harassing another student and he had to be dealt with first. The quickly began setting up their supplies. Willow had said she would let Ron no when it was time to start the spell. She told them to just trust her, they would know when she did.
Professor Mcgonagall, not completely aware of the plan, had helped Charlie usher all the students back to their houses. She didn't know exactly what the plan was but she hoped that Professor Rosenburg new what she was doing. She had agreed to stay with the Gryffindors until she heard from Willow, Faith or Professor Snape. Charlie was going to stay near the Hufflepuffs, Fred had the Ravenclaws, and Lupin was charged with watching the Slytherins when he returned.
Willow and Faith walked quietly to the edge of the forest, Harry moving quietly between them. They had decided that they would give the impression they had tricked Harry into coming with them. That he had no idea where they were going. As they reached the trees a dark figure stepped out, pushing the hood back from his head. Willow sighed, another blonde evil thing. What fun.
"Miss Rosenberg?" The man questioned, "Faith?"
"Yes, and you are?" Willow answered.
"Lucius Malfoy, the Dark Lord sent me for you," He replied then looked at Harry, "I see you brought Potter."
"I said we would," Willow replied softly.
At this point Harry began to struggle as Faith grabbed his arm. The plan was that he would now he would fight them 'forcing' Willow to put him under the imperious curse.
"I'm not.what's he.you tricked." Harry shouted at Willow.
"Imperio," Willow had pulled her wand out of her robes and pointed it at Harry.
Once he had stopped struggling Willow turned her attention back to Malfoy. Draco really did look a lot like him. Faith was also looking at the wizard. This was the part of the plan she didn't like the part where she had to patiently wait for the right time. She was much more into the attack now, deal later theories.
"You understand I have to take your wands," Malfoy said, "Until he meets you, once you have spoken to him we will return them."
Willow silently handed him her wand. It wasn't as if she needed it anyway. Faith let him search her for a wand. She didn't have one, so it was pointless. He also searched Harry quickly finding the fake wand Ginny had gotten from George and Fred.
"Well then we can go," He motioned them further into the forest.
Once they were deep in the forest he moved them all close to him and apparated back to Voldemort's camp. Willow found herself standing in a large clearing just as Severus had told her. Time to let them start the spell, she thought.
Faith was quickly looking around counting the number of Death Eaters. It wasn't as bad as she expected there were only about a dozen people there. Between her, Angel, and Buffy they could take them leaving Willow and Harry free to deal with Voldemort. Buffy had already told her she wanted the woman named Bellatrix, it seems Buffy had talked to Neville Longbottom and had a great desire to make the woman pay for hurting Neville's parents, and Harry's godfather.
Harry stood quietly, waiting for the spell to kick in, pretending to still be under the imperious curse. Willow had told him to wait for a signal before he did anything.
**********
Ron, Hermione and Snape were sitting quietly in the dark shack. They had all the ingredients set up and were now waiting for the signal Willow had promised them.
"Maybe she can't." Hermione began. Willow hadn't been clear on how they would know when to begin and it seemed like they had been sitting her for ages.
'Ron,' Ron jumped as he heard the voice in his head. 'Ron, can you hear me?'
"Yeah," Ron said out loud ignoring the looks from the other two, who obviously could not hear the voice in his head.
'It's Willow, we're here, start the spell,' the voice told him before disappearing.
"It's time," Ron told Hermione. And they quickly began the spell.
**********
"Can you see them?" Buffy asked Angel they were depending a lot on his vampire senses right now.
"Yeah, they're waiting for Voldemort," Angel said, they were close enough that he could make out some of what was being said.
"I hate waiting," Buffy complained.
"Really because you've always been so patient in the past."
"Channeling Spike now?" Buffy said quietly, ignoring the scowl she received from the vampire.
*********
Willow kept her head down as Voldemort approached them. She could feel the magic seeping into her here. It did at Hogwarts too, but this was not good magic. She knew her eyes had changed to black and was hoping not to have to look up and give herself away before the spell kicked in.
"Miss Rosenberg, Faith," Voldemort said when he reached them, "Potter, nice of you to join us tonight."
"So you the head guy?" Faith asked, patience running thin.
Willow sighed, she had known Faith's patience wouldn't hold out. Harry just stared at the man before them.
"Very direct aren't you?" Voldemort hissed.
"Yeah, find it saves time, So we get be Death Eaters now?"
**********
"Accept us in the power we possess," Hermione read the words in front of her, "Make us mind and heart and spirit joy. Let the hand encompass us. Do thy will."
*********
Willow watched as the other robed figures gathered closer, they obviously weren't use to anyone rushing Voldemort's plans. Of course they had never met Faith.
"Miss Rosenberg I understand you are very powerful," Voldemort said, "Not afraid of using torture to get what you want."
"Nope, torture's proven effective for me before," Willow said quietly.
"Faith, you too have fallen to the dark side before. Even spent time in a muggle prison due to your.magical crimes," he asked, "You are I believe wanted by the Watcher's Council?"
"Yeah,"
**********
"Spiritus," Hermione laid a card in front of her, "Spirit."
"Animus," Ron laid his card down, "Heart."
"Sophus," Snape muttered as he laid his card down, "Mind."
"The Hand," Hermione laid the last card down. "We enjoin that we may inhabit the vessel. We implore thee, admit us, bring us to the vessel, take us now."
*********
Harry's head shot up as he felt the others join him. He looked at Willow quickly and lowered his head hoping no one else had noticed.
"You brought me Potter as a gift of your allegiance and are now ready to become one of us," Voldemort said motioning Bellatrix forward to take Harry.
"Well, you know now that you mention it," Willow looked up eyes now a solid black, "I kinda changed my mind."
"Me too," Faith smiled, about damn time.
"Thicken," Willow said raised her hand toward the Death Eaters raising their wands. Laughing as the light shooting from a dozen wands bounced back at their owners. Causing several to fall back. Voldemort and retreated to the small building in the far corner. Not good, she thought, that's gotta be where Dumbledore is.
'Buffy now!' Willow shouted in her mind, hoping the connection to Buffy was there, it's hard when you don't have an exact location.
Faith launched herself at a group of four Death Eaters that were just coming to their feet as Buffy and Angel emerged from the trees at a run. Buffy threw the wand at Harry and ran toward another group of Death Eaters coming to their feet.
Willow raised her hand shouting something Harry didn't understand and several wands belonging to Death Eaters turned into flames causing them to release their grips.
"Harry help them, remember to let Severus in," Willow yelled, "I'm going after Voldemort."
Faith turned to see where the other's were and what had happened to the wand the man she had just knocked out had been holding.
"Faith," Angel yelled tossing a small knife toward the slayer. They hadn't been able to bring many weapons, too hard to walk with but he and Buffy had both managed to grab a few small knives and swords.
"Thanks," Faith said, throwing the knife as soon as she caught it catching another hooded figure in the chest. The quickly heading over to grab the knife back.
Angel's attention had already returned to the man he was fighting, he had dropped his wand when Willow had set some on fire, but was now picking it back up.
"I don't think so," Angel plucked the wand from the man's hand before he had a chance to aim it, breaking it in half before hitting them man in the face.
"Expelliarmus!" Harry shouted when he saw Bellatrix heading toward Buffy. She had already taken out the three of the Death Eaters and was heading after Malfoy who was quickly making his way to into the trees. He had lost his wand in Willow's spell. "Buffy behind you!"
Buffy turned in time to see Bellatrix stumble as her wand was yanked from her hand and landed several feet away. "Bellatrix?" Buffy asked when she saw the woman Neville had described last week.
"Yes," The woman sneered as she tried to look for her wand and keep one eye on the blond slayer.
"Been wanting to meet you," Buffy said as her fist connected with the other woman's stomach.
Harry stood watching for a moment, Professor Rosenberg had said to help them but they didn't seem to need his help. They had successfully disarmed the remaining Death Eaters on their own. He turned and headed toward the building he had seen her go into as Faith and Angel took out their last opponents and were heading over to help Buffy.
Harry entered the small building and saw Voldemort wand raised facing someone he almost didn't recognize as Willow. Her hair was now black and she was staring at the robed wizard.
"Harry," Dumbledore said quietly.
"Professor," Harry spotted the man tied in the corner. He quickly went and release the ropes binding the older man but found he had been magically bound as well, "I don't know."
Dumbledore quickly told him the proper spell which Harry repeated and finally let himself relax slightly when Dumbledore was freed.
"We need to help Profe."
"Give her a moment," Dumbledore whispered, "You will have to destroy him but let her weaken him."
"Imperio!" Voldemort pointed his wand at the girl in front of him.
"Tried that already," Willow sighed as the spell bounced off her, "You know what, bored now." She waved her hand and the other mans wand flew to her own hand. "Still think you can destroy me?"
"You can't kill me," Voldemort said quietly. "You can't."
"Kill you, yeah I know. Damn prophecy," Willow smiled, "But as luck would have it I brought the one who can. Harry."
"Don't even try it," Willow said waving her hand at Voldemort again, this time several ropes shot out of the ceiling and ground and wrapping around his wrists and ankles.
Harry stepped forward, Dumbledore moving behind him.
"Professor Dumbledore?" Willow said turning her attention to the older man.
"Miss Rosenberg," He smiled, "I knew my confidence was well placed."
"Can you help him with this, Well Professor Snape is really going to be dealing with most of it, but I guess supervise," Willow handed Voldemort's wand to Dumbledore.
"Let him in Harry," She said quietly before heading out to help her friends.
"Hey Will," Faith said as Willow walked up behind her, "Like the evil look."
"She all that's left?" Willow questioned, she had known her friends could handle the group but she hadn't expected this.
"Yeah, well some ran for the hills after your little fire show," Faith smiled, "But most are dead or injured. And I think B's just playing with this one."
"She is," Angel said quietly. Buffy had allowed the woman to retrieve her wand so Angel was ready to step in but the blond slayer didn't seem to need his help.
"Avada Kadavra!" Bellatrix once again pointed her wand at Buffy, she was tired of playing games with this girl.
Willow started to step forward, she was all for letting Buffy deal with the woman but not at the cost of her life. Before Willow could move the red light from the wand hit Buffy. Angel lunged forward only to be hit with the same spell and he too fell. Willow raised her arm and started to shout when Buffy stood back up. Followed quickly by Angel.
"Let me guess?" Buffy said smiling at the sputtering woman uselessly waving her wand and plucking it from her hand. "Killing curse right? Will told us about that."
"But you should probably know," Angel took the wand from Buffy's hand and snapped it in half, "Can't kill vampires with it, because we're already dead."
"And I just have this problem with dying," Buffy smiled, "It never sticks."
"Bored now guys," Willow pouted, "Are you done playing?"
Buffy and Angel both nodded and Willow smiled and muttered a spell they couldn't understand and Bellatrix fell to the ground where several vines came out of the ground and wrapped around her. She then waved her hand at the remaining Death Eaters and similar vines covered them.
"They are all so going to prison," Willow muttered, "At least the one's still alive."
They all headed back to the building to see how Harry and Dumbledore were fairing.
*********
Hermione and Ron were staring at Snape who was smiling and staring straight ahead. They were all still connected to Harry but the two teen-agers were really just spectators. Snape was the one doing all the work and he seemed to be enjoying it.
"Crucio," he muttered smiling as he saw through Harry's eyes Voldemort once again cry out in pain. Not able to move because Willow had left him tied in the center of the room.
He knew he should just kill the man and be done with it. But years of suffering at this man's hands were coming back to him now. He was an outsider in school but Voldemort had made it worse. He had encouraged him to be cut off from the other students.
**********
Harry heard the curse leave his mouth again. It wasn't his voice though it was Snape's. He was torturing Voldemort and enjoying it. If he was being honest he would have to admit he was enjoying it too. Snape was making him pay for everything he had done. He could feel Ron and Hermione watching in horror at what they were doing. It had to end.
"Harry, Severus," Dumbledore touched Harry's shoulder, "End it now."
Willow and Faith had just walked in followed by Buffy and Angel. Everyone was now watching as Voldemort screamed in pain. Willow waved her hand and the ropes holding him fell away. He collapsed to the floor.
"Harry it's time," Willow said quietly.
"Avada Kadavra!" Harry waved his wand at again as the curse came out in Snape's voice.
They all stood in silence looking at the body on the ground. They had done it. Voldemort was dead.
"Where are the others?" Dumbledore asked.
"Death Eaters, tied to the ground outside," Faith said, "Others in Harry's head are at the shrieking shack."
"Faith?" Dumbledore asked.
"Yeah," Faith said, "This is Buffy and Angel."
"Can he come back again?" Willow asked she had been staring at the body in front of her.
"No," Dumbledore assured her. "He is gone for good."
"Then we best go to the others," Willow said, "And I'll let the school know."
'Fred, it's over,' Willow said silently.
'He's gone?' Fred's voice appeared in her head.
'yeah, all but Malfoy.'
'I'll tell the others.'
"Hey can we get going so I can get Snape out of my head?" Harry asked impatiently.
"Professor Snape Harry," Dumbledore reminded him, before waving his wand.
Seconds later they all appeared in the Shrieking Shack. Hermione jumped up breaking the spell the second she saw them. Quickly followed by Ron.
"You're okay Professor!" Hermione said, "We were so worried. And this spell was so dangerous."
"Yes, it was," Dumbledore was looking at Snape who was now on his feet staring at Willow whose hair was slowly returning to its natural color. "But you've all preformed admirably."
"Is everyone okay?' Willow asked now that she was returning to normal she realized once again the dangers involved in her spell.
After Willow was assured that everyone was okay then began to make their way back to the school. It had been a long night. Buffy and Angel would wait to return home until morning.