Blood of Enemies, Blood of Friends
Chapter 43 – Counting Down
The weekend after all the Scoobies returned to Hogwarts, Giles called a meeting of everyone involved in the prophecy. Professors Dumbledore, McGonagall, Snape, the Scoobies, and the students gathered after breakfast in the Scooby common room. The only person who was missing was Andrew. When everyone else had taken seats, Giles began the meeting. He would have to inform Andrew of his responsibilities later.
"We have three weeks left before the equinox," said Giles.
"Twenty-two days to be exact," interrupted Willow.
"Yes, twenty-two days," agreed Giles with a nod toward Willow. "It is time to turn our full focus to the battle that is ahead. As I see it, there are several things that we still need to accomplish."
"What's left, G-man? We have the gem, know the spell. Don't we just need to do the thing?" questioned Xander.
"You of all people should know by now that things never go that simply," replied Giles. "And please, do stop calling me that," he added exasperatedly.
Hermione raised her hand, only to lower it a moment later after reminding herself that she was not in a class. "Excuse me," she said looking from Giles to Dumbledore, "but I do have one question." Both men nodded for her to continue. "Where are we supposed to perform the ritual with the gemma sanguinis? Don't we need to be wherever Voldemort is?" Hermione asked. "Oh, grow up Ron," she added under her breath, having noticed her boyfriend visibly shudder at the Dark Lord's name. Ron shot his girlfriend a disgusted look for her comment to him.
Wesley, who like the other adults in the room had completely ignored the interaction between Ron and Hermione, answered the question. "Willow, Cat, and I have done extensive research into the final part of the ritual that Voldemort will need to perform to complete the mandata habere ab primo malo. The final part of the ritual requires a large amount of dark magic, more than even Voldemort and his followers possess on their own. Therefore, they will need to be located in one of the darkest places of mystical convergence to pull enough power."
"So they need a hellmouth," said Buffy, understanding immediately to what Wesley was referring.
"Where will they go then? We permanently closed Sunnydale," said Xander.
"How many others could there possibly be?" asked Faith.
"Giles, didn't you mention something about a hellmouth in Cleveland?" asked Dawn.
"Yes," replied Giles, "but there are several located throughout the world."
"And according to our research, the closest one is in Ireland just west of Belfast. There are only two other hellmouths located in Europe, one in Spain and one in Bulgaria. They are both far enough away that it is unlikely Voldemort will use them for the ritual," explained Willow.
"See, another reason to never go near Bulgaria," Ron whispered to Hermione. He was puzzled by her reaction to his comment. She actually giggled. All she could thing was how ironic it would be if the Watcher's Council someday stationed Ron in Bulgaria of all places.
"Aren't there a lot of bombings and stuff around there?" asked Faith.
"I wonder how many supernatural deaths are attributed to terrorists?" thought Dawn aloud.
"Terrorists at least sound more reasonable than gangs on PCP," commented Buffy.
"I agree with Professor Rosenberg," said Dumbledore, effectively bringing the group back on track. "It is most likely that Voldemort will perform the final part of the ritual on the hellmouth in Ireland."
"So, we go to Ireland," said Robin. "We will need portkeys to get there."
"Of course," replied Dumbledore. "Portkeys will be provided to all who are going."
"So who is going?" asked Anya.
"That is another point, we must discuss," said Giles. "The ten of us who are needed to perform the ritual will obviously have to go, but we will also need additional backup. We don't want Voldemort's Death Eaters to interfere with our ritual."
"Well, I am definitely in as backup," said Faith.
"Me too," added Robin.
"We should also get some of the seventh year Slayers. They girls who helped us rescue Spike would be good," added Faith.
"Speaking of Spike," said Buffy. "It wouldn't hurt to have him and Angel helping out as well."
"You'll also need magical help, wizard who can help to hold off the Death Eaters," added Wesley, "which is why Cat and I will be going as well."
"Me too," said Anya. "I need to protect Xander."
"I am going, as well," said Draco.
"No," said Snape. "Only those students who absolutely must be there to perform the ritual should go. We cannot in good conscience put students in danger."
"No one want to see you get hurt," Narcissa quietly told her son.
"I don't want to see me hurt either, but I have gone against the Death Eaters before and survived. I cannot just sit back, when I can actively protect Dawn and everyone else who will be occupied with the ritual," replied Draco, his voice even.
"Neither can we," said a girl's voice from the portrait hole. Everyone turned to see Ginny. She, Luna, and Neville had accompanied Andrew to the Scooby common room, after he slipped about the upcoming ritual.
"Miss Weasley, I must agree with Professor Snape. We cannot allow you to place yourselves in danger," said Professor McGonagall.
Ginny's features hardened into a perfect likeness of Willow's resolve face. "While I respect what you are saying, Professor, I must disagree. From what Andrew has told me, if Voldemort or his Death Eaters prevent our side from completing the ritual, he will become undefeatable. That would place us all in danger."
"See, even your baby sister isn't afraid to say his name," Hermione whispered to Ron, who was looking quite startled by what Ginny had said.
"Ginny has a very good point," said Buffy.
"You cannot be contemplating allowing these children to go up against Death Eaters?" questioned Professor Snape.
"I was Ginny's age, when I moved to Sunnydale and began battling everything that the hellmouth could throw at me," replied Buffy.
"But you are the Slayer," retorted Snape.
"This is true, but my friends were there every step of the way and they were nothing more than normal teenagers," replied Buffy. Willow and Xander could not help grinning broadly. After sharing a grin with the two original Scoobies, Buffy returned her attention to Snape. "These students, however, have their magic to fight with. Besides, I have a feeling that we will not be able to keep them here if they do not agree to stay, as we saw during the rescue of Dawn and Harry." Buffy looked at Shannon and Draco, who had jumped onto a portkey at the last minute after being forbidden from helping in the rescue effort. "It would be safer for all involved if we were to include them in our plan."
"I agree," said Professor Dumbledore. "However, I must insist that we also include a number of members from the Order of the Phoenix, especially Kingsley, Tonks, and Remus. Kingsley will also be able to recommend a number of trusted aurors to accompany all of you."
"I am going as well," said Narcissa.
"Mother, please don't put yourself in danger," pleaded Draco.
"I could ask the same of you," Narcissa replied. "However, I understand why you feel you must go, but I will not allow you to go alone." Draco was embarrassed to have his mother looking after him, but realized that there was no point in arguing with her. Once the woman made up her mind about something, no one could make her change it.
"Do we know when exactly this ritual is supposed to take place?" asked Dawn, taking the attention away from her boyfriend, who gave her a grateful smile.
"The prophecy says, 'when the night equals the day.' Ideally the ritual should be performed at either sunrise or sunset," explained Cat.
"And since we know that our big bads tend to hid under cover of darkness," added Willow.
"The ritual will be performed at sunset," finished Xander.
"Which fortunately keeps Angel and Spike in the game," added Buffy.
Shannon noticed Harry checking his watch. "Are we almost finished?" asked Shannon. "I don't mean to be rude or anything, but we have quidditch practice in twenty minutes and five of our seven team members are in this room."
"I just want to review what needs to be done in the coming weeks as final preparations," said Giles. "We need to contact our additional backup. Buffy, please contact Angel and Spike." Buffy nodded. "And, Professor Dumbledore, if you would be so kind as to contact the Order members."
"Of course," replied Professor Dumbledore. "I will also make prepare the portkeys that you will need to travel to Ireland."
"Thank you, sir," said Giles. "We will also need to step up the students physical and DADA training. I would like you to all meet here at 8:00pm each night for the next three weeks for added training." Giles looked around the common room. "If we move the furniture out of the way, we should have enough space."
"Professor Giles, I may have a better place," said Harry. "Last year, when I was running an illegal defense group, we used to meet in the room of requirements. It would be perfect for us for training."
"A very good idea, Harry," said Dumbledore.
"During our training sessions, those involved in the actual prophecy should also practice the spell to activate the gem," added Cat.
"Agreed," said Giles. "Then I will see you all in the room of requirements tomorrow night at 8:00." He pointedly looked at the Gryffindor quidditch players. "You may be excused now," he added with a smile.
The Gryffindor quidditch players immediately headed toward the quidditch pitch. Draco, Hermione, Andrew, Neville, and Luna walked with them.
"I'm really surprised that Professor Summers agreed to let us help," said Neville.
"I think she only did it because she knew that you guys would find a way even if she said, 'no,'" replied Dawn. "She's never succeeded in keeping anyone out of danger, if they wanted to help. When she was in high school, Xander followed her a bunch of times that she told him to stay behind. Last year, when everyone was preparing to battle the First, she tried to send me away but I came back anyway and fought. And then Shannon and Draco came after me and Harry, when we were kidnapped – not to mention that Ron and Hermione tried to do the same."
"Well, whatever her reasons, I'm just glad she agreed to let us help," said Luna.
"I'm actually more surprised that Dumbledore agreed with her," commented Ginny.
"And that Giles didn't argue with her," added Shannon.
"He wouldn't," explained Dawn. "After all, he was a Sunnydale High School employee, when he regularly took five students with him into dangerous situations."
"Five?" asked Harry. "I thought there was just Buffy, Faith, Willow, and Xander."
"Faith wasn't a student," replied Dawn, "but there were two other students who helped them: Cordelia, who used to date Xander in high school and worked with Angel in LA for the last few years until she went into a coma, and Oz, who was a werewolf who used to date Willow. He took off a few years ago to try and find a cure. I know he came back once, but other than that I have no clue whatever happened to him."
"Wait, Willow dated a guy?" asked Ron. "I thought she was gay."
"I think she is more bi than gay," said Dawn. "She was with Oz for almost two years and I think she did love him. She also was in love with Xander for years, though he only thought of her as a friend, well until the two of them hooked up for a short time, which would have been cool except that they were still dating Cordelia and Oz at the time. Cordelia dumped Xander, but Oz forgave Willow. Anyway, it was after Oz left to search for a cure that Willow wound up with Tara. It was a little less than a year after Tara died that Willow had a fling with Kennedy."
"The evil Slayer," Draco filled in. "Figures that she was the only Slayer sorted into Slytherin."
"She was always a bitch," stated Shannon.
"I never did understand what Willow saw in her," added Dawn.
"Tonks is way better for Willow," said Andrew.
"I'm just glad she is happy again. After Tara died, I wondered if she would ever find happiness," said Dawn.
The group had arrived at the Gryffindor changing rooms. Draco gave Dawn a quick kiss before heading back to the castle with Andrew and Luna. Hermione and Neville decided to stick around to watch the Gryffindor practice.
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The Scoobies and students met in the room of requirements each evening during the next three weeks. At the start of each meeting, Willow would remind everyone of how many days they had left until the ritual. Everyone divided into three groups for separate training: the nine friends involved in the prophecy, the wizards, and the Slayers.
During the first session, Cat passed out copies of the spell to activate the gemma sanguinis to the three sets of friends and Giles. "Everyone needs to memorize the words to this spell," she said. "Don't forget that there will be a lot going on around you, when you perform this."
Cat then proceeded to show the group the positions they would need to take for the spell. It took her several minutes of arranging and rearranging the group, before she was sure that everyone was in their ideal position. The three groups of friends formed a large triangle. At each of the three points the three individual friends formed three smaller triangles. Giles stood in the middle of them all.
"Now," said Cat, "everyone needs to remember these positions. You will each draw blood. All you need to do is slit your finger, nothing more dramatic than that. You should each have a knife with you. You will each touch your blood to the gem. Now, the way the prophecy is worded, 'three friends of three friends of three friends – three minds, three hands, three hearts,' is important to the order for activating the gem. So the order is: Willow, Buffy, Xander, Dawn, Shannon, Andrew, Hermione, Harry, and Ron. After you each touch the gem, you will take the position that you are standing in now. Ron, as the last you will hand the gem to Giles before taking your position. Giles will put the gem around his neck, and then the nine friends will recite the words that I gave you. When you finish your words, Giles says his, and then it's showtime."
Cat asked the group to disperse and then find their positions again quickly. So that they were not using landmarks in the room, she promised to catch them together off guard during the next few weeks and make them form the sacred space necessary for the spell.
During the next several weeks Cat did exactly as she had promised. In addition, she regularly asked each member of the group, whom they followed when touching the gem. Though all nine of the friends found Cat to be annoying, they were all prepared to do the ritual no matter how crazy things would be around them. While, Cat was focusing on order and position, the three minds, Willow, Dawn, and Hermione, hounded their friends to memorize the words of the spell. They were all ready to perform the ritual.
While the nine friends worked on learning the spell they would use to activate the gemma sanguinis, Giles practiced his meditation techniques. He would need high levels of concentration to guide the combined powers of his students against the First.
Draco, Ginny, Neville, and Luna worked with Wesley and Professor Snape on defensive spells and counterjinxes. Professor Snape acted as he always did, complementing the Slytherin, ignoring the Ravenclaw, and insulting the two Gryffindors. However, neither Ginny nor Neville complained. They were willing to take any abuse necessary, if it allowed them to help protect their friends. Ginny was surprised to find that she was learning a lot from Snape, and Neville's determination to help overshadowed his usual nervousness in Snape's presence. Surprisingly, Neville was doing very well in his training. His time in the DA the previous year gave him a solid background in defensive magic.
Faith and Robin worked with Rhona, Vi, Shelly, Choi Ann, Michelle, and Suzette. These were the same six Slayers who had helped rescue Spike, thus proving that they were capable of holding their own against a group of Death Eaters. Faith, Robin, and the Slayers spent some evening sparring and other nights focused on practical training by patrolling the Forbidden Forest. The last week before the ritual was to be performed, the Slayers trained with the four wizarding students. The students tried to hex the Slayers, who attempted to avoid the hexes.