Summary: Darth Willow makes an appearance and finds a mirror complement.
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~*~ Conflict & Carnage ~*~
Dawn stifled a small scream as she ducked an explosive hex. The stacks of terracotta pots provided a very fragile barrier.
"We have to get out of here." She whispered to Luna who had refused to leave her.
"I agree."
The two girls turned startled at a cowboy with untidy black hair and bright green eyes behind round glasses.
"Harry you idiot! What if they catch you!"
"And what about you?" Harry countered. "I'm a pretty good duelist and you are going to need one to 'cover you'."
Dawn groaned.
* * * * *
Tom Riddle, currently known as Voldemort, was torn between fury and reluctant admiration of his enemies. It had cost him most of his followers but he was going to win. His oldest bane and current desire were both within his grasp.
"Do not fail me." He told his remaining followers as they left to carry out his instructions.
Severus Snape shivered. He hadn't been given a role in the Capture. Severus wasn't sure if it was because the Dark Lord didn't trust him or because he wanted to keep his 'spy' as a reserve.
A few minutes later one Severus Alain Snape was torn between two conflicting desires: the desire to live and the desire to protect the children, especially the Key.
Lucius Malfoy, Edwin Avery, Henry Goyle and Edgar Nott had returned holding one twisting irate Dawn Summers and an unconscious Luna Lovegood. They were the only ones who returned from a group of ten Death Eaters. Somehow this American Muggle child managed to neutralize the rest by herself or with help. Was help coming? Where were the Aurors? Where was Albus and Minerva for that matter?
Harry Potter watched torn between shame and relief. Dawn had managed to distract the Lucius Malfoy with her smart ass rants enough to let him escape. Now he was just about ready to forget his fear and remember his hate to attack the Dark Lord armed with just his wand.
"Don't be a fool!" Hermione hissed. "Do you want to make her sacrifice a complete waste?"
And so he waited and watched Dawn Summers do what Summers women did best – put down the Big Bad with smart aleck comments.
"Do you know who I am?"
"Yep, you're a wizard who needs a stick to do magic and a lot of assistance to find an elephant in a living room." Dawn replied in bored tones unafraid she was floating paralysed by a partial Body Bind spell.
Several Death Eaters shivered at those words.
Severus Snape was torn between laughter and fear at her blasé comment.
Voldemort threw back his hood to reveal the reptilian face with slitted red eyes, thin nonexistent lips, forked tongue, scaled skin and a vaguely reptilian head. That sight was enough to terrify experienced Aurors. Dawn Summers didn't even flinch.
"Is that face supposed to terrify me? The Master was uglier. Though I must confess it is enough to give me doubts about it being enough for anyone, even a mother, to love."
"Mudblood bitch!" Voldemort snarled torn between the desire to Ava the teen or to use her as a plaything, to break her spirit.
"I am so getting tired of everyone calling me bitch. Yeah, I enjoy acting like a bitch but it doesn't make me one. Giles always says resorting to insults is the sign of a petty mind. You have got to be creative in your insults or no one is going to take you seriously." She gave him an uncompromising once over without any hint of fear or concern. "You know I've met more evil wizards than you. Heck, I've met more capable wizards than you. Even Ethan Raynes is better at using magic to cause trouble than you with your goons and your Big Bad reputation. Hah, on the Big Bad scale where 1 is a repairman that charges a fortune and 10 is a Hell Goddess I'd rate you a 2. Hello, even the Three Geeks get a higher rating; they gave Buffy more trouble. And what is it with your 'loyal followers'? Anya always complained it was hard to find good help these days. Heck, Spike always said finding good minions was an art like tax planning so the IRS blood suckers couldn't get at his assets."
That was enough to shred the Dark Lord's control.
"Crucio."
The Death Eaters around ducked out of the way.
Dawn refused to scream as the energy flayed her nerve endings. She had felt worse emotionally. Angel had felt worse in Hell. Willow had sunk to depths no one could comprehend.
"Is that all you can do? Even Angelus was more creative. And now he is an impotent demon chained in the worst prison imaginable." Dawn threw the taunt without concern. She wouldn't have risked it if Hermione hadn't told her Death Eaters used bloodless pain inducing and killing curses. It took blood to access her power. Dawn would prefer taunting the Dark Lord into killing her in a fit of rage rather than to risk him using her.
He saw something that gave away her intent, her willingness to die than be used.
"No. I will have the Key. Where is it?! Give me the Key and I will let you have this Mudblood bitch Albus!"
"No you won't Tom. You will take what you want and kill her out of spite."
Minerva McGonogall remained silent, waiting.
"Then perhaps I should begin by killing this one…" Voldemort waved at the unconscious Ravenclaw student.
Dawn was torn between her desire to protect her new friend and the necessity to thwart the Dark Lord.
"Perhaps a little pain. I find it is easier to get what I want by torturing another. Crucio!"
Luna screamed as the Unforgivable seared every nerve ending to life.
"Stop it!" Dawn screamed as she watched the teen writhe, every muscles spasming so hard Dawn was afraid. "Stop it!"
After several seconds he stopped.
"People go mad after the Crucio. It takes a strong mind to remain whole. I've made Aurors break after five minutes of treatment." Voldemort purred sensing he had the upper hand.
Dawn settled for glaring at him impotently. She didn't want Luna to get hurt. She didn't want him to get the Key. Dawn began to understand what Buffy must have felt every time one of the Scoobies was kidnapped, when she was forced to trade with the Mayor for Willow's life. She could see the conflict in one black clad Death Eater who stood still torn between action and inaction. Hermione had given her a brief history on the man she met in the Headmasters Office, Severus Snape, ex-Death Eater and spy for the Order of the Phoenix.
The need for choice was taken out of her hands by an unexpected appearance.
"Thicken!"
Everyone within a hundred metre range stiffened under the influence of the curse intoned by a deep throaty female voice.
The people under the influence of the hex and the staff, students, Order members out of range watched in shock as a slim form emerged out of the Forbidden Forest.
A female in her early twenties with dark red hair floating in an unfelt breeze streaked with bands of black and white with the black deepening and dominating the white as though alive. Her eyes were dark green pools set in a pale composed heart shaped face dominated by a wide glossy mouth and a pert nose. The gauzy gray skirts floated around her slim legs clad in opaque green tights and black dress shoes. The white peasant style blouse was shaped to her curves by a green silk and velvet corset from under her breasts to her hips that moved with feminine grace as she made her way unhurriedly.
"My my, someone has been very naughty." She purred in a low darkly sensual tone. Her glossed mouth quirked into a sly smile. "Snakes don't share their toys, don't they." She laughed seductively.
Everyone with a Y chromosome and some females felt a shiver at that husky sound as the red-head moved before kneeling beside the Ravenclaw student. Willow Rosenberg frowned as she touched Luna at the temples. The spasming muscles unknotted and the pain wracked expression smoothened as the girl slipped into a natural sleep.
"That was a very mean thing to do Mr. Snake." The red head commented as she rose and moved towards a still floating Dawn Summers. A slim finger traced a pattern in mid air neutralizing the spell allowing the teenager to settle on her feet. "Are you all right Dawnie?" She asked in more concerned, lighter, natural tones as she stroked the American teens face studying it for signs of damage or pain.
"I'm fine Willow. Now that you are here."
"Now tell me, what on earth have you gotten yourself into?" There was a hint of exasperation and concern in the red head's voice.
Dawn squirmed. "It's a long story."
"When is it isn't missie?" A hint of darkness crept into the gentle tone. "You caused a great deal of concern for a lot of people who care about you. Xander was just about ready to fly in from Texas to help look for you when the first set of scrying spells failed to locate you."
"I didn't plan on getting chased by a bunch of evil wizards!" Dawn whined feeling more relaxed and safe with the Wiccan practioner nearby.
Willow stiffened. "Evil wizards?"
"Snake dude used to be a human. They call him Voldemort." Dawn explained briefly. "He's looking for the Key."
A strong wind picked up tossing fallen leaves into the air about the pair.
"He is looking for the Key." The light tones lowered. The streaks of black widened framing the pale face. "And they helped him." Willow waved at the black robed men. Green irises bled into black as Willow's protective instincts fuelled her rage. Kill the source of pain. Flay him alive. Everyone shivered at the surge of dark intent, the building power, the unrelenting force.
Dawn latched onto Willow when she saw the black bleed into whites so green eyes were pools of inky black. "You can't kill them Willow!" She cried out. "Remember Tara!"
Dark Willow sighed. "Perhaps. But I can hurt them. A lot." She quantified with an evil expression of barely veiled glee.
Dawn considered that. "Hurting is good. Hurting is okay. But not one."
Dark Willow frowned. "Which one?" She asked. The intense winds died.
Dawn moved towards Severus Snape who felt the over whelming desire to run and hide from the patently powerful wandless witch. But he stayed... because he couldn't move.
"This one." Dawn spoke decisively.
Curious Willow removed the silver mask to stare upon a pale not-handsome face dominated by black eyes and framed by untidy black hair. There was something compelling, decisive, solid about him with his harshly planed face, oversized nose and thin but sensual looking lips. She rested her fingertips against his temples and prepared to skim his mind. She wasn't going to let him go if he could be a future threat.
"Do not fight me or it will hurt." She told him.
She could see the rage and silent threat in his eyes but ignored it in favour of what she could see about him and his past.
Severus Snape fought the intrusion. This bloody witch was breaking down all his barriers as though they were nothing. Not even the Dark Lord had ever been so thorough. He had a nasty feeling she could take him apart and put him together as she wished if she wanted to, but she didn't. Even so he wasn't willing to give in to a Muggleborn even if she was so much more powerful.
After fighting through his surface memories Willow decided to try a different give-and-take approach. For everything she glimpsed in him she gave him a favour.
His physically abusive father. Sheila Rosenbergs lack of concern for her child.
Growing up practically alone in an isolated manor house. Looking after herself between her parents infrequent visits.
The Maurauders taunts. The Cordettes.
Hating Lily's choice, James Potter. The pain of watching her childhood friend look through her and favour her best friend, her worst enemy, anyone but her.
Going through Hogwarts feeling isolated by his intellect and House. Her inate shyness and brilliance putting off everyone except two until the Slayer arrived.
His fear of werewolves after Sirus Black got off nearly killing him. Her nightmares after Veruca nearly ate her and the pain after Oz abandoned her.
Falling into the Death Eaters looking for companionship. Eyghon coming out of Giles past. Getting addicted to magic induced highs.
Killing directly indirectly, the Dark Revels and poisons he brewed. Hurting her friends while addicted, killing Warren, planning to destroy the planet to get even, to stop the hurt.
Confessing to Albus. Xander talking her out of her grief.
Losing Lily to death. Losing Tara to a bullet.
Losing acquaintances and comrades. Friends and lovers hurting in equal measure: Jesse, Jenny, Mrs Summers, Tara, Spike, Anya.
All the subsequent losses in the fight against Voldemort. The never ending struggle on the Hellmouth until Sunnydale was destroyed.
The thin line he walked every day during his spying days. The struggle she lived through to hold the Darkness within in check.
Hating the students who had no idea about what he lived through. Hating the Council that tried to control the Slayer and ended up killing her several times over.
Dawn watched torn between fear and delight. Since Willow decided to walk through the ex-Death Eaters mind the Hogwarts staff and students had come out and secured the Death Eaters. Right now Dawn was more worried about her guardian. The two had been locked in the mind-blend for several minutes now. What was taking Willow so long?
"What is she doing?" Hermione whispered in hushed tones. The students remained a safe distance away but continued to observe the American witch and their Potions Professor curious.
Green eyes fluttered open and stared into black. The black tresses had receded so the white streaks dominated her red hair.
"I am so sorry." Willow whispered out loud. Without concern to their audience she wrapped her arms around him pulling his head down to her shoulder.
Severus wrapped his arms around her just as tightly and stood still rocking on the balls of his feet, savouring the warmth and feel of someone who understood and accepted without distaste or fear.
"Thank you." He whispered in a low muffled voice.
Dumbledore let out a long held breath. He had been afraid the American witch would be unforgiving of Severus' mistakes.
"You'll pay mudblood!" A shrill voice screeched. "Ava Kedavra!"
Willow spun about pushing the taller man to the grass and held out her hand to cast up a quick defensive shield.
The green energy of the Killing curse struck the golden barrier and dissipated.
The green orbs bled into black. The black streaks in her hair surged covering the red tresses from root to tip.
"My turn bitch!"
A flash of blue energy surged from Dark Willow's hand and struck Bellatrix Lestrange. The female Death Eater fell to the ground screaming in agony.
Dark Willow smiled a dangerously psychotic smile.
"I don't like children who cannot play nicely with others." She told the Death Eater with a small smile.
Lestrange raised her wand to cast a curse but Willow was quicker. The wand flew out of the Death Eaters hand and into Willow's waiting one. Without a second thought Willow snapped the length of polished wood in two.
The watching wizards and witches shrank back at that ruthless act.
"I don't like people who hurt those I am responsible for." Dark Willow continued in a darkly caressing voice. "I don't like those who kill without thought, those who attack the defenseless for the pleasure of causing pain." A wicked smile quirked the glossy pink lips. "Not unless they invite me." The Sunnydale witch laughed loud and long as she proceeded to selectively maim the immobilized Death Eaters whimsically dealing out pain to punish; breaking bones and shedding blood.
Edgar Nott's hand bones were crushed into powder. "Justice must be dealt with an even hand, even by an executioner." She told him.
Dawn moved in front of the Hogwarts staff who had moved to stop Willow.
"Don't," she told them sternly. "They deserve whatever Willow gives them."
Lucius Malfoy's knees were shattered and a long jagged gash was opened from the corner of one eye to the jawline on his left cheek. "Angels can be cast out of Heaven. Fallen Angels must be marked so those around do not mistake them for Angels."
She broke both of Henry Goyles upper and lower arms, thighs and shins. Edwin Avery had both forearms and shins shattered. "It will do you good to learn how to manage without hands, to depend on the good will of others."
Bellatrix Lestrange received the same treatment as Warren. "I flayed the man who killed my lover. He was still alive when I finished." Willow told her in a dreamy voice as she magically peeled layers of skin exposing muscle and flesh to the air. The witch writhed screaming in agony as nerves were exposed to the air. "What is with you folks? Can't handle a little pain. Spike tried to explain the principles of a good torture session to me. 'Red, you can't let them pass out, that defeats the purpose. Me, I prefer a good set of railroad spikes. It is hard to ignore iron nails hammering into the joints. Leave them in, if you pull them out the bloke bleeds like a stuck pig and passes out.'" Willow giggled as she mimicked Spike's British Cockney accent. "I miss Spike. I miss Anya. She would be a good source of ideas right now. I mean D'Hoffran didn't make her a vengeance demon out of the goodness of his heart. I wish I listened more carefully to the types of punishments Ahn handed out; she was really creative, a true artist." The Death Eater lay quivering on the grass with large patches of exposed pink flesh on her limbs and torso.
Those watching looked away feeling slightly sick. Only Severus Snape stood still and watched dispassionately, to witness judgment and punishment.
Her voice darkened as she turned to Peter Pettigrew and Barty Crouch. "Now, what do I do with you two? Betrayal of a friend, of trust, is the worst crime possible. It rates above murder in some cultures you know." She murmured with a considering expression. "Amish folk shun those who break their laws. They are outcast, denied the comfort of familiar surroundings and relationships. What do you say Dawnie?"
Dawn Summers stepped up with a hard unbending expression. "Guilty."
"And the punishment?" Willow murmured whimsically.
"Let Angel deal with them." Dawn replied. A bloodthirsty gleam burned in her eyes. "I'm sure they still have that book that can open a portal to Pylea. They deserve the experience of being treated as cattle by demons."
Willow laughed clapping her hands. "Perfect." She wrote a note on paper she conjured up and pinned it on the two wizards. A softly murmured spell and hand waving and the two vanished. She turned to Voldemort who lay quivering. "Now what do we do with Old Snake-face here?" She clenched her hands. Voldemort gasped spasming arching as Willow's metaphysical hand tightened around his heart literally squeezing the life out of it. After a few seconds she frowned. "What is protecting him?"
"Voldemort is linked to Potter." Severus spoke in an even voice that did not disguise his admiration of the witch. "According to prophecy only Potter can defeat him."
"Then get this Potter out here." Willow snapped irritated.
Harry Potter found himself being pushed to the forefront of the crowd and the focus of intense scrutiny by a pair of opaque solid black eyes that made him feel like a child.
Willow did not soften her stance one bit despite his obvious youth. She had gone through several apocalypses and prophecies by the time she was his age and he had the obvious benefit of being properly educated in magic.
"What do you need? A sword? A knife? An axe? I can retrieve any weapon from the Council weapons armoury. Or do you use a spell to kill?"
The adults and teens watching stiffened in shock at the blunt uncompromising words.
Harry glanced at the immobilized form on the grass and shrank back. "I can't! It's not right. The Ministry should--."
Willow's eyes darkened. "Not right? Not right?! Not right?!" Her voice rose into a shrill crescendo. "Was it right for him to attack us?" She waved at the people around. "Was it right for him to torture Severus and hundreds of others? Was it right for him to try to kidnap Dawn?"
Dawn stepped forward her expression as set and unforgiving as Willow.
"Don't you dare shrink back from your responsibility Harry Potter." Her hazel eyes were hard and unmoving. "Buffy never asked to be Called as Slayer but she was and so she did her best. She was the best Slayer, she survived opponents that destroyed others. Willow never shrank from paying the cost of magic to save others. Do you want to let the bastard go? If you do it is all for naught. Every single death he caused, every torture he performed, every single evil deed he did would go unavenged!" Her eyes flashed. "The Powers chose you to defeat this Evil! Oldest law of civilization Harry, an eye for an eye! Kill the bastard!"
Harry stared at Dawn frozen, shocked at the uncompromising words from someone his own age. After several seconds he nodded and pulled out his wand.
* * * * *
TBC...
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AN: If the Death Eaters listed here were caught by the Ministry in OotP sorry. Assume they made it out on magical bail or something like claiming they were under the Imperius (lame excuse I know).
AN: Harry is still a teenager, he's only faced death in its rawest form twice (Cedric and Sirus) and fought non-humanoid monsters (Basilisk). A 'good' 'normal' person has second thoughts about killing, making the moral call - that makes us human, to doubt the right to cast stones, to be judge/jury/executioner.
Please read and review. (sarhea1980@yahoo.ca)
Raves and constructive criticism please.
Flames will be ignored.
Cheers!
Sarhea
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~*~ Conflict & Carnage ~*~
Dawn stifled a small scream as she ducked an explosive hex. The stacks of terracotta pots provided a very fragile barrier.
"We have to get out of here." She whispered to Luna who had refused to leave her.
"I agree."
The two girls turned startled at a cowboy with untidy black hair and bright green eyes behind round glasses.
"Harry you idiot! What if they catch you!"
"And what about you?" Harry countered. "I'm a pretty good duelist and you are going to need one to 'cover you'."
Dawn groaned.
* * * * *
Tom Riddle, currently known as Voldemort, was torn between fury and reluctant admiration of his enemies. It had cost him most of his followers but he was going to win. His oldest bane and current desire were both within his grasp.
"Do not fail me." He told his remaining followers as they left to carry out his instructions.
Severus Snape shivered. He hadn't been given a role in the Capture. Severus wasn't sure if it was because the Dark Lord didn't trust him or because he wanted to keep his 'spy' as a reserve.
A few minutes later one Severus Alain Snape was torn between two conflicting desires: the desire to live and the desire to protect the children, especially the Key.
Lucius Malfoy, Edwin Avery, Henry Goyle and Edgar Nott had returned holding one twisting irate Dawn Summers and an unconscious Luna Lovegood. They were the only ones who returned from a group of ten Death Eaters. Somehow this American Muggle child managed to neutralize the rest by herself or with help. Was help coming? Where were the Aurors? Where was Albus and Minerva for that matter?
Harry Potter watched torn between shame and relief. Dawn had managed to distract the Lucius Malfoy with her smart ass rants enough to let him escape. Now he was just about ready to forget his fear and remember his hate to attack the Dark Lord armed with just his wand.
"Don't be a fool!" Hermione hissed. "Do you want to make her sacrifice a complete waste?"
And so he waited and watched Dawn Summers do what Summers women did best – put down the Big Bad with smart aleck comments.
"Do you know who I am?"
"Yep, you're a wizard who needs a stick to do magic and a lot of assistance to find an elephant in a living room." Dawn replied in bored tones unafraid she was floating paralysed by a partial Body Bind spell.
Several Death Eaters shivered at those words.
Severus Snape was torn between laughter and fear at her blasé comment.
Voldemort threw back his hood to reveal the reptilian face with slitted red eyes, thin nonexistent lips, forked tongue, scaled skin and a vaguely reptilian head. That sight was enough to terrify experienced Aurors. Dawn Summers didn't even flinch.
"Is that face supposed to terrify me? The Master was uglier. Though I must confess it is enough to give me doubts about it being enough for anyone, even a mother, to love."
"Mudblood bitch!" Voldemort snarled torn between the desire to Ava the teen or to use her as a plaything, to break her spirit.
"I am so getting tired of everyone calling me bitch. Yeah, I enjoy acting like a bitch but it doesn't make me one. Giles always says resorting to insults is the sign of a petty mind. You have got to be creative in your insults or no one is going to take you seriously." She gave him an uncompromising once over without any hint of fear or concern. "You know I've met more evil wizards than you. Heck, I've met more capable wizards than you. Even Ethan Raynes is better at using magic to cause trouble than you with your goons and your Big Bad reputation. Hah, on the Big Bad scale where 1 is a repairman that charges a fortune and 10 is a Hell Goddess I'd rate you a 2. Hello, even the Three Geeks get a higher rating; they gave Buffy more trouble. And what is it with your 'loyal followers'? Anya always complained it was hard to find good help these days. Heck, Spike always said finding good minions was an art like tax planning so the IRS blood suckers couldn't get at his assets."
That was enough to shred the Dark Lord's control.
"Crucio."
The Death Eaters around ducked out of the way.
Dawn refused to scream as the energy flayed her nerve endings. She had felt worse emotionally. Angel had felt worse in Hell. Willow had sunk to depths no one could comprehend.
"Is that all you can do? Even Angelus was more creative. And now he is an impotent demon chained in the worst prison imaginable." Dawn threw the taunt without concern. She wouldn't have risked it if Hermione hadn't told her Death Eaters used bloodless pain inducing and killing curses. It took blood to access her power. Dawn would prefer taunting the Dark Lord into killing her in a fit of rage rather than to risk him using her.
He saw something that gave away her intent, her willingness to die than be used.
"No. I will have the Key. Where is it?! Give me the Key and I will let you have this Mudblood bitch Albus!"
"No you won't Tom. You will take what you want and kill her out of spite."
Minerva McGonogall remained silent, waiting.
"Then perhaps I should begin by killing this one…" Voldemort waved at the unconscious Ravenclaw student.
Dawn was torn between her desire to protect her new friend and the necessity to thwart the Dark Lord.
"Perhaps a little pain. I find it is easier to get what I want by torturing another. Crucio!"
Luna screamed as the Unforgivable seared every nerve ending to life.
"Stop it!" Dawn screamed as she watched the teen writhe, every muscles spasming so hard Dawn was afraid. "Stop it!"
After several seconds he stopped.
"People go mad after the Crucio. It takes a strong mind to remain whole. I've made Aurors break after five minutes of treatment." Voldemort purred sensing he had the upper hand.
Dawn settled for glaring at him impotently. She didn't want Luna to get hurt. She didn't want him to get the Key. Dawn began to understand what Buffy must have felt every time one of the Scoobies was kidnapped, when she was forced to trade with the Mayor for Willow's life. She could see the conflict in one black clad Death Eater who stood still torn between action and inaction. Hermione had given her a brief history on the man she met in the Headmasters Office, Severus Snape, ex-Death Eater and spy for the Order of the Phoenix.
The need for choice was taken out of her hands by an unexpected appearance.
"Thicken!"
Everyone within a hundred metre range stiffened under the influence of the curse intoned by a deep throaty female voice.
The people under the influence of the hex and the staff, students, Order members out of range watched in shock as a slim form emerged out of the Forbidden Forest.
A female in her early twenties with dark red hair floating in an unfelt breeze streaked with bands of black and white with the black deepening and dominating the white as though alive. Her eyes were dark green pools set in a pale composed heart shaped face dominated by a wide glossy mouth and a pert nose. The gauzy gray skirts floated around her slim legs clad in opaque green tights and black dress shoes. The white peasant style blouse was shaped to her curves by a green silk and velvet corset from under her breasts to her hips that moved with feminine grace as she made her way unhurriedly.
"My my, someone has been very naughty." She purred in a low darkly sensual tone. Her glossed mouth quirked into a sly smile. "Snakes don't share their toys, don't they." She laughed seductively.
Everyone with a Y chromosome and some females felt a shiver at that husky sound as the red-head moved before kneeling beside the Ravenclaw student. Willow Rosenberg frowned as she touched Luna at the temples. The spasming muscles unknotted and the pain wracked expression smoothened as the girl slipped into a natural sleep.
"That was a very mean thing to do Mr. Snake." The red head commented as she rose and moved towards a still floating Dawn Summers. A slim finger traced a pattern in mid air neutralizing the spell allowing the teenager to settle on her feet. "Are you all right Dawnie?" She asked in more concerned, lighter, natural tones as she stroked the American teens face studying it for signs of damage or pain.
"I'm fine Willow. Now that you are here."
"Now tell me, what on earth have you gotten yourself into?" There was a hint of exasperation and concern in the red head's voice.
Dawn squirmed. "It's a long story."
"When is it isn't missie?" A hint of darkness crept into the gentle tone. "You caused a great deal of concern for a lot of people who care about you. Xander was just about ready to fly in from Texas to help look for you when the first set of scrying spells failed to locate you."
"I didn't plan on getting chased by a bunch of evil wizards!" Dawn whined feeling more relaxed and safe with the Wiccan practioner nearby.
Willow stiffened. "Evil wizards?"
"Snake dude used to be a human. They call him Voldemort." Dawn explained briefly. "He's looking for the Key."
A strong wind picked up tossing fallen leaves into the air about the pair.
"He is looking for the Key." The light tones lowered. The streaks of black widened framing the pale face. "And they helped him." Willow waved at the black robed men. Green irises bled into black as Willow's protective instincts fuelled her rage. Kill the source of pain. Flay him alive. Everyone shivered at the surge of dark intent, the building power, the unrelenting force.
Dawn latched onto Willow when she saw the black bleed into whites so green eyes were pools of inky black. "You can't kill them Willow!" She cried out. "Remember Tara!"
Dark Willow sighed. "Perhaps. But I can hurt them. A lot." She quantified with an evil expression of barely veiled glee.
Dawn considered that. "Hurting is good. Hurting is okay. But not one."
Dark Willow frowned. "Which one?" She asked. The intense winds died.
Dawn moved towards Severus Snape who felt the over whelming desire to run and hide from the patently powerful wandless witch. But he stayed... because he couldn't move.
"This one." Dawn spoke decisively.
Curious Willow removed the silver mask to stare upon a pale not-handsome face dominated by black eyes and framed by untidy black hair. There was something compelling, decisive, solid about him with his harshly planed face, oversized nose and thin but sensual looking lips. She rested her fingertips against his temples and prepared to skim his mind. She wasn't going to let him go if he could be a future threat.
"Do not fight me or it will hurt." She told him.
She could see the rage and silent threat in his eyes but ignored it in favour of what she could see about him and his past.
Severus Snape fought the intrusion. This bloody witch was breaking down all his barriers as though they were nothing. Not even the Dark Lord had ever been so thorough. He had a nasty feeling she could take him apart and put him together as she wished if she wanted to, but she didn't. Even so he wasn't willing to give in to a Muggleborn even if she was so much more powerful.
After fighting through his surface memories Willow decided to try a different give-and-take approach. For everything she glimpsed in him she gave him a favour.
His physically abusive father. Sheila Rosenbergs lack of concern for her child.
Growing up practically alone in an isolated manor house. Looking after herself between her parents infrequent visits.
The Maurauders taunts. The Cordettes.
Hating Lily's choice, James Potter. The pain of watching her childhood friend look through her and favour her best friend, her worst enemy, anyone but her.
Going through Hogwarts feeling isolated by his intellect and House. Her inate shyness and brilliance putting off everyone except two until the Slayer arrived.
His fear of werewolves after Sirus Black got off nearly killing him. Her nightmares after Veruca nearly ate her and the pain after Oz abandoned her.
Falling into the Death Eaters looking for companionship. Eyghon coming out of Giles past. Getting addicted to magic induced highs.
Killing directly indirectly, the Dark Revels and poisons he brewed. Hurting her friends while addicted, killing Warren, planning to destroy the planet to get even, to stop the hurt.
Confessing to Albus. Xander talking her out of her grief.
Losing Lily to death. Losing Tara to a bullet.
Losing acquaintances and comrades. Friends and lovers hurting in equal measure: Jesse, Jenny, Mrs Summers, Tara, Spike, Anya.
All the subsequent losses in the fight against Voldemort. The never ending struggle on the Hellmouth until Sunnydale was destroyed.
The thin line he walked every day during his spying days. The struggle she lived through to hold the Darkness within in check.
Hating the students who had no idea about what he lived through. Hating the Council that tried to control the Slayer and ended up killing her several times over.
Dawn watched torn between fear and delight. Since Willow decided to walk through the ex-Death Eaters mind the Hogwarts staff and students had come out and secured the Death Eaters. Right now Dawn was more worried about her guardian. The two had been locked in the mind-blend for several minutes now. What was taking Willow so long?
"What is she doing?" Hermione whispered in hushed tones. The students remained a safe distance away but continued to observe the American witch and their Potions Professor curious.
Green eyes fluttered open and stared into black. The black tresses had receded so the white streaks dominated her red hair.
"I am so sorry." Willow whispered out loud. Without concern to their audience she wrapped her arms around him pulling his head down to her shoulder.
Severus wrapped his arms around her just as tightly and stood still rocking on the balls of his feet, savouring the warmth and feel of someone who understood and accepted without distaste or fear.
"Thank you." He whispered in a low muffled voice.
Dumbledore let out a long held breath. He had been afraid the American witch would be unforgiving of Severus' mistakes.
"You'll pay mudblood!" A shrill voice screeched. "Ava Kedavra!"
Willow spun about pushing the taller man to the grass and held out her hand to cast up a quick defensive shield.
The green energy of the Killing curse struck the golden barrier and dissipated.
The green orbs bled into black. The black streaks in her hair surged covering the red tresses from root to tip.
"My turn bitch!"
A flash of blue energy surged from Dark Willow's hand and struck Bellatrix Lestrange. The female Death Eater fell to the ground screaming in agony.
Dark Willow smiled a dangerously psychotic smile.
"I don't like children who cannot play nicely with others." She told the Death Eater with a small smile.
Lestrange raised her wand to cast a curse but Willow was quicker. The wand flew out of the Death Eaters hand and into Willow's waiting one. Without a second thought Willow snapped the length of polished wood in two.
The watching wizards and witches shrank back at that ruthless act.
"I don't like people who hurt those I am responsible for." Dark Willow continued in a darkly caressing voice. "I don't like those who kill without thought, those who attack the defenseless for the pleasure of causing pain." A wicked smile quirked the glossy pink lips. "Not unless they invite me." The Sunnydale witch laughed loud and long as she proceeded to selectively maim the immobilized Death Eaters whimsically dealing out pain to punish; breaking bones and shedding blood.
Edgar Nott's hand bones were crushed into powder. "Justice must be dealt with an even hand, even by an executioner." She told him.
Dawn moved in front of the Hogwarts staff who had moved to stop Willow.
"Don't," she told them sternly. "They deserve whatever Willow gives them."
Lucius Malfoy's knees were shattered and a long jagged gash was opened from the corner of one eye to the jawline on his left cheek. "Angels can be cast out of Heaven. Fallen Angels must be marked so those around do not mistake them for Angels."
She broke both of Henry Goyles upper and lower arms, thighs and shins. Edwin Avery had both forearms and shins shattered. "It will do you good to learn how to manage without hands, to depend on the good will of others."
Bellatrix Lestrange received the same treatment as Warren. "I flayed the man who killed my lover. He was still alive when I finished." Willow told her in a dreamy voice as she magically peeled layers of skin exposing muscle and flesh to the air. The witch writhed screaming in agony as nerves were exposed to the air. "What is with you folks? Can't handle a little pain. Spike tried to explain the principles of a good torture session to me. 'Red, you can't let them pass out, that defeats the purpose. Me, I prefer a good set of railroad spikes. It is hard to ignore iron nails hammering into the joints. Leave them in, if you pull them out the bloke bleeds like a stuck pig and passes out.'" Willow giggled as she mimicked Spike's British Cockney accent. "I miss Spike. I miss Anya. She would be a good source of ideas right now. I mean D'Hoffran didn't make her a vengeance demon out of the goodness of his heart. I wish I listened more carefully to the types of punishments Ahn handed out; she was really creative, a true artist." The Death Eater lay quivering on the grass with large patches of exposed pink flesh on her limbs and torso.
Those watching looked away feeling slightly sick. Only Severus Snape stood still and watched dispassionately, to witness judgment and punishment.
Her voice darkened as she turned to Peter Pettigrew and Barty Crouch. "Now, what do I do with you two? Betrayal of a friend, of trust, is the worst crime possible. It rates above murder in some cultures you know." She murmured with a considering expression. "Amish folk shun those who break their laws. They are outcast, denied the comfort of familiar surroundings and relationships. What do you say Dawnie?"
Dawn Summers stepped up with a hard unbending expression. "Guilty."
"And the punishment?" Willow murmured whimsically.
"Let Angel deal with them." Dawn replied. A bloodthirsty gleam burned in her eyes. "I'm sure they still have that book that can open a portal to Pylea. They deserve the experience of being treated as cattle by demons."
Willow laughed clapping her hands. "Perfect." She wrote a note on paper she conjured up and pinned it on the two wizards. A softly murmured spell and hand waving and the two vanished. She turned to Voldemort who lay quivering. "Now what do we do with Old Snake-face here?" She clenched her hands. Voldemort gasped spasming arching as Willow's metaphysical hand tightened around his heart literally squeezing the life out of it. After a few seconds she frowned. "What is protecting him?"
"Voldemort is linked to Potter." Severus spoke in an even voice that did not disguise his admiration of the witch. "According to prophecy only Potter can defeat him."
"Then get this Potter out here." Willow snapped irritated.
Harry Potter found himself being pushed to the forefront of the crowd and the focus of intense scrutiny by a pair of opaque solid black eyes that made him feel like a child.
Willow did not soften her stance one bit despite his obvious youth. She had gone through several apocalypses and prophecies by the time she was his age and he had the obvious benefit of being properly educated in magic.
"What do you need? A sword? A knife? An axe? I can retrieve any weapon from the Council weapons armoury. Or do you use a spell to kill?"
The adults and teens watching stiffened in shock at the blunt uncompromising words.
Harry glanced at the immobilized form on the grass and shrank back. "I can't! It's not right. The Ministry should--."
Willow's eyes darkened. "Not right? Not right?! Not right?!" Her voice rose into a shrill crescendo. "Was it right for him to attack us?" She waved at the people around. "Was it right for him to torture Severus and hundreds of others? Was it right for him to try to kidnap Dawn?"
Dawn stepped forward her expression as set and unforgiving as Willow.
"Don't you dare shrink back from your responsibility Harry Potter." Her hazel eyes were hard and unmoving. "Buffy never asked to be Called as Slayer but she was and so she did her best. She was the best Slayer, she survived opponents that destroyed others. Willow never shrank from paying the cost of magic to save others. Do you want to let the bastard go? If you do it is all for naught. Every single death he caused, every torture he performed, every single evil deed he did would go unavenged!" Her eyes flashed. "The Powers chose you to defeat this Evil! Oldest law of civilization Harry, an eye for an eye! Kill the bastard!"
Harry stared at Dawn frozen, shocked at the uncompromising words from someone his own age. After several seconds he nodded and pulled out his wand.
* * * * *
TBC...
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AN: If the Death Eaters listed here were caught by the Ministry in OotP sorry. Assume they made it out on magical bail or something like claiming they were under the Imperius (lame excuse I know).
AN: Harry is still a teenager, he's only faced death in its rawest form twice (Cedric and Sirus) and fought non-humanoid monsters (Basilisk). A 'good' 'normal' person has second thoughts about killing, making the moral call - that makes us human, to doubt the right to cast stones, to be judge/jury/executioner.
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Sarhea