Summary: Giles shows up and defends his 'children'. More on Willow and Severus' blooming relationship.
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~*~ Aftermath ~*~
Rupert Giles stumbled as he appeared in the middle of Hogwarts Great Hall with a pop. It had taken a great deal of Ripperish threats and Council influence to find out who was after Dawn, where she was, and to get permission and a portkey to get there. For the hundredth time in the past few hours he prayed for the safety of his children.
"Excuse me. I'm looking for someone. Two someones actually."
Minerva McGonogall tensed at the appearance of this stranger, this obviously British Muggle in his tweed suit but travelling by wizarding means. Who is he? A friend or a threat? How did he get here? Did the Ministry know? Did they sanction this?
"Giles!" Twin girlish squeals of pleasure.
The Transfiguration teacher watched as both American girls ran past her. Willow Rosenberg slowed to a more decorous pace but Dawn Summers ran straight into the open waiting arms of the stranger Giles.
"Giles! I'm so sorry I disobeyed you. I was just so bored cooped up in that dusty old townhouse. I didn't mean to attract attention. Attracting attention bad." Dawn babbled in a quick rush as she hugged the man who was more of a father to her than the man whose blood, as it were, flowed in her veins. She buried her nose in the scratchy tweed revelling in the familiar scent of Old Spice, dusty parchment, and spiced tea. "I missed you so much Giles." She confessed in a small voice. "I didn't know others in Britain knew about the Key."
Severus Snape and the other mobile staff and students including several Aurors and Order members emerged from the shadows. Severus watched tensely and waited for the two people who shone so bright, unafraid of the dark, to depart leaving him in the dark.
Harry and several other students watched slightly afraid and wary. Willow was powerful. Secretly each of them felt relieved she would be leaving taking with her the chaos that came in the form of the Key, Dawn Summers.
"Hush Dawn." Giles reassured the American teen stroking her hair and patting her back reassuringly while his inquiring hazel eyes met bright green ones. "It's all right, you are safe now, aren't you?"
"Yes." Willow confirmed with a shallow nod. "One more Prophecy fulfilled."
That struck Giles interest.
"Really? Which one? The Pengraman Codex doesn't mention any that are due soon."
Several staff members and intellectual students including one Hermione Granger perked up. Pengraman Codex? This Muggle had a genuine Pengraman Codex that he deciphered and used regularly?
Albus Dumbledore stroked his beard smiling benignly. His part in the play was over. He just had to give his blessings and allow the next generation to carry the torch.
Willow shook her head. "From what I've been told it is more recent. A Seer spoke it about twenty years back. It required a teenage boy to defeat the wizard."
Giles didn't accept that. "And did he? What did you do?"
Willow shrugged tossing her red locks back. "Handled the wizard followers. Pinned him down so the boy could put the bastard down." A flash of darkness that did not scare Giles; it reminded him of his Ripper days, the laws of the jungle. "I incinerated the body and purified the ashes with holy water." Giles nodded amicably.
"Good. Good. Now, did anyone have an issue with you…" He trailed off.
"Using Dark magic?" Willow concluded wryly. "Yes. But they are too afraid to say anything. After all I did do most of the work in killing their Big Bad."
Giles sighed. "That does seem to be the case doesn't it?" He removed his glass and polished them absently. A habit that bought him time to think.
"That nasty police wizard tried to arrest Willow but the Principal Albus Dumblebore stopped him." Dawn added with vicious glee. "The fool insisted on following until I threatened to push him through a portal into a demon dimension. After that everyone stopped badgering us."
"Dawn!" Giles was properly horrified but secretly proud. "You shouldn't threaten others with your talents."
"It wasn't a threat; it was a promise." Dawn replied bluntly. "I'm not going to let them put Willow through any crap!"
"Sweetie…" Willow was pleased and awed by this unstinting support from this girl she had once hurt.
"You saved me Willow. You saved the world too many times. They have no right to judge you. You are far above them. Only the Powers That Be have the right to judge you. And they will when you die. Many years in the future." Dawn added the qualifier fiercely.
Giles nodded silently reaching out to the red-head. Dawn moved out of Giles arms without question. Willow fell into the British Watchers arms and cried silently her fingers crushing the heavy tweed material.
"I was so afraid Giles." She confessed in-between hitched sobs. "I was so afraid. So alone. I promised Buffy I would take care of Dawn."
Severus felt a sting of pain for the wandless witch who had shared her strength and experiences unstintingly. In the hours after the attack she had listened to his raw explanations without reservation or judgment very much like a confessor. And she had forgiven him unconditionally.
Minerva McGonogall shifted uneasily. She knew what it was like, the helpless panic of a mother cat determined to protect her kittens. The difference was the younger witch had used the Dark Arts without remorse to make her point and defend her cause. Minerva had been brought up to regard any use of Dark Arts as anathema.
Harry shifted feeling guilty. Why did he hate Willow for forcing him to do what was necessary? To do what had to be done to protect his friends, the innocents? Did he secretly resent the strength she had to act as she chose? To make her own moral judgments, to be judge and executioner of evil that crossed her path? In her world there was no Wizengomot. There was no Azkaban. Evil had to be killed or banished or it would continue to kill and hurt innocents.
"And you did Willow. You did." Giles reassured the young woman in low soothing tones.
"I tortured them." She confessed in raw tones. "I saw what they did to Severus. What they did to other non-magicky and magicky people. They killed Harry's parents. They framed then killed Harry's uncle."
"Then they deserved it." Giles responded in fierce tones.
Willow laughed, a choked sound.
"Ahn and Spike would be so proud of me." She confessed between quick shallow breaths. "Make the punishment relevant to the crime. Make them feel. Hurt them so it doesn't fade, so it cannot be ignored. D'Hoffram would be so proud of me. Do you think he will stop by and ask me to be a vengeance demon again?" She asked in a child-like voice.
Remus Lupin froze in abject horror. This fragile looking witch had enough passion to attract the attention of D'Hoffram, Lord of Arashmahar, He that turns the air to blood and rains?
Severus Snape smiled proudly. Catching the eye of D'Hoffram had to be considered as a compliment. He would only watch over mortals who had the knowledge, skill, passion, power, and imagination to wreck havoc. What most wizards never realized was that individuals with such characteristics also had the potential for greatness.
Giles smiled slightly. "I believe he will. And you will give him the same answer: Thanks, but no thanks." He teased the redhead.
Willow sighed. "It's nice that someone appreciates my efforts. I thought Sunnydale was bad with the ostrich-in-the-sand denial syndrome. These people know of magic and still they refuse to see the darkness, the reality." She noted in disapproving tones.
"Humans are flawed Willow. Weak, fragile, foolish." Giles explained patiently. "Those of us who work in the dark have to tolerate their foibles and childish denials while we protect them. Just as adults protect the children."
The wizards and witches stiffened. They did not appreciate being called children.
Dumbledore merely smiled. Being called a child at his age was a compliment. He preferred being called a child than an old fool.
"Mmmm." Willow rested her cheek against the stiff tweed. The soothing regular steady thump helped her to regain her centre.
After sometime Giles felt more secure to ask the question that was nagging him. "Willow…?"
"Hmmm?"
"Who is Severus?"
Willow jerked back and blushed bright red. Dawn snorted trying to keep from laughing.
"Severus?" Willow's voice was shrill and high with nervous defensive tension.
"Yes. Severus." Giles replied firmly.
"Well… You see… There's this…" Willow fumbled trying to explain to her substitute father what exactly was her relationship to the British Potion Master. There was the sexual attraction that both of them ignored in favour of intellectual companionship. He was one of the most knowledgeable men she had met. She had spent a great deal of time avoiding others by talking to him about demonology and all things magical, Watcher, Slayer and DADA related. She wasn't certain what was the relationship herself so Dawn answered for her.
"He's this scary looking wizard with a nasty personality like Spike and a guilt complex like Angel." Dawn explained brightly. "He did a 'Ripper' and dabbled in Dark magic like you when he was a teenager and joined the bad guys. After he wised up he spied for the other side. Willow scanned his mind to make sure he was on the level."
Severus choked at this less than complimentary comparison. Being compared to two infamous vampires known as the Scrouge of Europe, no less. But strangely enough he believed that to Dawn it was a high compliment. She had been raised on the Hellmouth and fought evil he had only read about in his DADA research. Spike and Angel fought Evil, despite their less than pristine past, using less than conventional means of fighting said Evil, just like he did.
"Dawn!" Willow blushed even brighter. She wished she could disappear.
Giles hid his smile. "I see." He polished his glasses. "Can I meet him?"
Severus took it as his cue to make his presence known.
"I am Severus Snape."
* * * * *
TBC...
============================================================
Please read and review. (sarhea1980@yahoo.ca)
Raves and constructive criticism please.
Flames will be ignored.
Cheers!
Sarhea
============================================================
~*~ Aftermath ~*~
Rupert Giles stumbled as he appeared in the middle of Hogwarts Great Hall with a pop. It had taken a great deal of Ripperish threats and Council influence to find out who was after Dawn, where she was, and to get permission and a portkey to get there. For the hundredth time in the past few hours he prayed for the safety of his children.
"Excuse me. I'm looking for someone. Two someones actually."
Minerva McGonogall tensed at the appearance of this stranger, this obviously British Muggle in his tweed suit but travelling by wizarding means. Who is he? A friend or a threat? How did he get here? Did the Ministry know? Did they sanction this?
"Giles!" Twin girlish squeals of pleasure.
The Transfiguration teacher watched as both American girls ran past her. Willow Rosenberg slowed to a more decorous pace but Dawn Summers ran straight into the open waiting arms of the stranger Giles.
"Giles! I'm so sorry I disobeyed you. I was just so bored cooped up in that dusty old townhouse. I didn't mean to attract attention. Attracting attention bad." Dawn babbled in a quick rush as she hugged the man who was more of a father to her than the man whose blood, as it were, flowed in her veins. She buried her nose in the scratchy tweed revelling in the familiar scent of Old Spice, dusty parchment, and spiced tea. "I missed you so much Giles." She confessed in a small voice. "I didn't know others in Britain knew about the Key."
Severus Snape and the other mobile staff and students including several Aurors and Order members emerged from the shadows. Severus watched tensely and waited for the two people who shone so bright, unafraid of the dark, to depart leaving him in the dark.
Harry and several other students watched slightly afraid and wary. Willow was powerful. Secretly each of them felt relieved she would be leaving taking with her the chaos that came in the form of the Key, Dawn Summers.
"Hush Dawn." Giles reassured the American teen stroking her hair and patting her back reassuringly while his inquiring hazel eyes met bright green ones. "It's all right, you are safe now, aren't you?"
"Yes." Willow confirmed with a shallow nod. "One more Prophecy fulfilled."
That struck Giles interest.
"Really? Which one? The Pengraman Codex doesn't mention any that are due soon."
Several staff members and intellectual students including one Hermione Granger perked up. Pengraman Codex? This Muggle had a genuine Pengraman Codex that he deciphered and used regularly?
Albus Dumbledore stroked his beard smiling benignly. His part in the play was over. He just had to give his blessings and allow the next generation to carry the torch.
Willow shook her head. "From what I've been told it is more recent. A Seer spoke it about twenty years back. It required a teenage boy to defeat the wizard."
Giles didn't accept that. "And did he? What did you do?"
Willow shrugged tossing her red locks back. "Handled the wizard followers. Pinned him down so the boy could put the bastard down." A flash of darkness that did not scare Giles; it reminded him of his Ripper days, the laws of the jungle. "I incinerated the body and purified the ashes with holy water." Giles nodded amicably.
"Good. Good. Now, did anyone have an issue with you…" He trailed off.
"Using Dark magic?" Willow concluded wryly. "Yes. But they are too afraid to say anything. After all I did do most of the work in killing their Big Bad."
Giles sighed. "That does seem to be the case doesn't it?" He removed his glass and polished them absently. A habit that bought him time to think.
"That nasty police wizard tried to arrest Willow but the Principal Albus Dumblebore stopped him." Dawn added with vicious glee. "The fool insisted on following until I threatened to push him through a portal into a demon dimension. After that everyone stopped badgering us."
"Dawn!" Giles was properly horrified but secretly proud. "You shouldn't threaten others with your talents."
"It wasn't a threat; it was a promise." Dawn replied bluntly. "I'm not going to let them put Willow through any crap!"
"Sweetie…" Willow was pleased and awed by this unstinting support from this girl she had once hurt.
"You saved me Willow. You saved the world too many times. They have no right to judge you. You are far above them. Only the Powers That Be have the right to judge you. And they will when you die. Many years in the future." Dawn added the qualifier fiercely.
Giles nodded silently reaching out to the red-head. Dawn moved out of Giles arms without question. Willow fell into the British Watchers arms and cried silently her fingers crushing the heavy tweed material.
"I was so afraid Giles." She confessed in-between hitched sobs. "I was so afraid. So alone. I promised Buffy I would take care of Dawn."
Severus felt a sting of pain for the wandless witch who had shared her strength and experiences unstintingly. In the hours after the attack she had listened to his raw explanations without reservation or judgment very much like a confessor. And she had forgiven him unconditionally.
Minerva McGonogall shifted uneasily. She knew what it was like, the helpless panic of a mother cat determined to protect her kittens. The difference was the younger witch had used the Dark Arts without remorse to make her point and defend her cause. Minerva had been brought up to regard any use of Dark Arts as anathema.
Harry shifted feeling guilty. Why did he hate Willow for forcing him to do what was necessary? To do what had to be done to protect his friends, the innocents? Did he secretly resent the strength she had to act as she chose? To make her own moral judgments, to be judge and executioner of evil that crossed her path? In her world there was no Wizengomot. There was no Azkaban. Evil had to be killed or banished or it would continue to kill and hurt innocents.
"And you did Willow. You did." Giles reassured the young woman in low soothing tones.
"I tortured them." She confessed in raw tones. "I saw what they did to Severus. What they did to other non-magicky and magicky people. They killed Harry's parents. They framed then killed Harry's uncle."
"Then they deserved it." Giles responded in fierce tones.
Willow laughed, a choked sound.
"Ahn and Spike would be so proud of me." She confessed between quick shallow breaths. "Make the punishment relevant to the crime. Make them feel. Hurt them so it doesn't fade, so it cannot be ignored. D'Hoffram would be so proud of me. Do you think he will stop by and ask me to be a vengeance demon again?" She asked in a child-like voice.
Remus Lupin froze in abject horror. This fragile looking witch had enough passion to attract the attention of D'Hoffram, Lord of Arashmahar, He that turns the air to blood and rains?
Severus Snape smiled proudly. Catching the eye of D'Hoffram had to be considered as a compliment. He would only watch over mortals who had the knowledge, skill, passion, power, and imagination to wreck havoc. What most wizards never realized was that individuals with such characteristics also had the potential for greatness.
Giles smiled slightly. "I believe he will. And you will give him the same answer: Thanks, but no thanks." He teased the redhead.
Willow sighed. "It's nice that someone appreciates my efforts. I thought Sunnydale was bad with the ostrich-in-the-sand denial syndrome. These people know of magic and still they refuse to see the darkness, the reality." She noted in disapproving tones.
"Humans are flawed Willow. Weak, fragile, foolish." Giles explained patiently. "Those of us who work in the dark have to tolerate their foibles and childish denials while we protect them. Just as adults protect the children."
The wizards and witches stiffened. They did not appreciate being called children.
Dumbledore merely smiled. Being called a child at his age was a compliment. He preferred being called a child than an old fool.
"Mmmm." Willow rested her cheek against the stiff tweed. The soothing regular steady thump helped her to regain her centre.
After sometime Giles felt more secure to ask the question that was nagging him. "Willow…?"
"Hmmm?"
"Who is Severus?"
Willow jerked back and blushed bright red. Dawn snorted trying to keep from laughing.
"Severus?" Willow's voice was shrill and high with nervous defensive tension.
"Yes. Severus." Giles replied firmly.
"Well… You see… There's this…" Willow fumbled trying to explain to her substitute father what exactly was her relationship to the British Potion Master. There was the sexual attraction that both of them ignored in favour of intellectual companionship. He was one of the most knowledgeable men she had met. She had spent a great deal of time avoiding others by talking to him about demonology and all things magical, Watcher, Slayer and DADA related. She wasn't certain what was the relationship herself so Dawn answered for her.
"He's this scary looking wizard with a nasty personality like Spike and a guilt complex like Angel." Dawn explained brightly. "He did a 'Ripper' and dabbled in Dark magic like you when he was a teenager and joined the bad guys. After he wised up he spied for the other side. Willow scanned his mind to make sure he was on the level."
Severus choked at this less than complimentary comparison. Being compared to two infamous vampires known as the Scrouge of Europe, no less. But strangely enough he believed that to Dawn it was a high compliment. She had been raised on the Hellmouth and fought evil he had only read about in his DADA research. Spike and Angel fought Evil, despite their less than pristine past, using less than conventional means of fighting said Evil, just like he did.
"Dawn!" Willow blushed even brighter. She wished she could disappear.
Giles hid his smile. "I see." He polished his glasses. "Can I meet him?"
Severus took it as his cue to make his presence known.
"I am Severus Snape."
* * * * *
TBC...
============================================================
Please read and review. (sarhea1980@yahoo.ca)
Raves and constructive criticism please.
Flames will be ignored.
Cheers!
Sarhea