Notice: You will definitely want to re-read this.  It's the most changed.

Title: A Broken Beginning Ch 8

Author: Nicki C.

Email: Nimacu@yahoo.com

Disclaimer: "It's all been done before"- Barenaked Ladies.  I don't own Buffy.   Nor do I own the world of Harry Potter.  They both belong to Joss and J.K.

Summery: Something happens that causes the Scoobies to head to England.

Feedback: I used to think that I didn't need it and it wasn't very important, but then I got some and I really liked it, in fact the more feedback I got the more I wanted. I think you get the idea.

Setting:  Ok, this is set during the middle of September. Harry and the gang are in their sixth year and in the Buffy verse it's set after a couple of weeks after episode 7.3, after that it's AU.  Willow has been home recovering from the loss of blood.

A/N* Sorry this took so long; I've been really busy with work and unpacking.  And then there was Valentine's Day.  I got really distracted.

Thanks to…

Wild- This one's about three times as long.  I honestly enjoy writing the longer chapters better too.

Setting: Order of the Phoenix Headquarters

        In a crowded study in London a Redheaded man sat behind a desk looking at all the papers covering it, he began to pick them up muttering "I'll worry about paperwork after he's caught." Just as he'd finished shoving all of the papers into his bottom desk drawer an owl flew in the open window above his head.  "Great; more mail! He said to himself."

"Well what do we have here? Aren't you Dumbledore's owl?" He detached the folded paper from the owl.  The owl looked at him with expectant eyes.  "There's water and food on top of that shelf, he pointed to some bowls on top of a book shelf.  He watched the owl drink for a few moments before he remembered the letter in his hand.  He opened it and read:

Dear Arthur.

            We recently received a visit outside our gates from a group of Death Eaters and they left a guest at Hogwarts courtesy of Voldemort.  The woman that he left here is a very powerful American Witch.  She is currently unconscious. We have no idea if we need to guard her from Voldemort or if we need to guard ourselves from her.  Although we normally have more than enough qualified wizards here, I will shortly be leaving for a trip to America, and considering everything else I think it necessary that you send one or two of your best men to help us.  If what we heard about her is true she could have powers that rival Voldemort himself.  Please respond quickly as my trip to the United States in imminent.

Sincerely

Albus Dumbledore

Arthur stared at the paper on his desk thoughtfully.  He casually picked up a paperweight from the desk and started tossing in back and forth between his hands.  "Who should I send, who should I send?"  He chanted to himself.  He could think of several possibilities.  But in his heart he knew that there were only two men he thought capable enough and that he trusted enough to protect Hogwarts.  The only problem was that they weren't speaking to each other.  He didn't think there was any way to convince them to go any place where the other would be.  Pride wouldn't let them forgive each other and it wouldn't let them work with each other…

Arthur thought back to an evening two months earlier at the Burrow.

Percy and Charlie were sitting on the Davenport glaring at each other late one night when he'd walked in after apperating home from a long day work.  "What is the matter with you two?" He'd stupidly asked.  They'd only continued to sulk. It irritated him that they were wasting precious free time sulking "You're both home and that happens so rarely since Percy  moved back home and  Charlie joined in the fight, shouldn't you be enjoying each other's company?" He continued, but then Charlie had broken in.

 "I shouldn't be here now, but I needed to talk to him.  I needed to know!"

"You NEEDED to know!" Percy yelled in reply. Arthur had never seen Percy this emotional before. "You WANTED to know why I haven't gone and volunteered to get myself killed fighting in a war that the minister of magic barely even acknowledges."

"You Traitor! Bill, Fred, George and I are out there risking our lives to make our world safe and you dare bring that idiot's name into the conversation in front of our father.

How is your precious Minister helping us now? I don't know why I expected anything better of you. You've always hid behind your books and your papers; a real Wizard would be out there protecting and defending everything his family stands for. A real wizard would have been out there doing it from the beginning, instead of hiding behind the ministry waiting for an official annoucement"

"How dare you accuse of me of being a traitor.  You think that I don't care about what your doing.  How in the bloody hell is my being out there going to make things any different?" Percy had paused for a moment with a glare in his eye colder than Arthur had ever seen. " Yeah because when I end up dead like the rest of you will, it'll make things all right!" Percy's voice had been dripping with sarcasm.

"At least your life would have meant something!" Charlie snapped as he apperated out of the room.

Arthur tried to say something to Percy but he stormed out of the room. He'd stood there looking at the spot where his two children had stood wondering how long the animosity had been building.  Were he and Molly too busy trying to save the world to notice their family falling apart? Had it really ever been back together since the night Percy left home.?  He just didn't know, he'd slowly climbed the stairs to join Molly in bed promising himself he'd try and fix things in the morning when he wasn't as tired.

But in the morning while he was eating breakfast Percy had entered the room declaring he had decided to join in the fight against You Know Who.  And would take any training or assignment his father would give him.  Arthur tried to convince him he didn't have to fight just because of what Charlie had said but it didn't do any good.

        Percy had turned out to be an exceptionally skilled wizard, it seemed all the high scores he'd earned in school were an accurate description of his abilities.  He had a way of being cold, calculating and perfect that could scare even Arthur at times. Combined with Charlie's passion for the fight the two would make a perfect match.  But in theory only since they refused to work together and as far as he knew they hadn't seen each other since that night.  But they would have to get over it, Hogwarts needed protecting and he would only send his best.

       Arthur decided that if he could get them there they'd figure out the rest.  He'd have to order them both there without the other one knowing about it. But it would be for the best.  He settled down to write the letters.

Charlie,

            You're needed at Hogwarts immediately, you may apperate via Hogsmeade. They have a witch there that it is vital for you to protect. You'll receive further instructions upon your arrival at Hogwarts.

Your Father,

Arthur Weasley

Percy letter went much the same way.  And now that was done he responded to Dumbledore.

Dear Albus,

            Two of my men will be arriving shortly; as you requested I sent only the best.  Charlie and Percy Weasley.  I've only informed them that there is a girl there that needs protecting, you can provide them with the other details you see necessary to inform them of.

Sincerely

Arthur Weasley

Arthur sent Dumbledore's letter back with the owl that was perched on the bookshelf and sent the other two letters out with Molly to be mailed by owl post immediately.  As he sat back down at his desk Arthur silently hoped he'd made the right decision.

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It was a horribly cold Kyrgyzstan morning when Charlie awoke to find an owl beating rapidly on his tent.  "What in the world could it be now? Antarctica? The Sahara? Are they sending me on missions or is this some sort of torture?" He thought as fumbled his way out of the sleeping bag.  "Give it here." He growled at the owl.  The owl who was offended at Charlie's gruff manner haughtingly stuck out his foot for Charlie to detach the parchment. 

He wiped the sleep out of his brown eyes before he began to read the letter to himself. As Charlie read a slow grin spread over his face.  His next assignment was protecting a witch at Hogwarts; this was going to be a piece of cake.  The school's charms and spells would probably do all the work for him.  He needed a little vacation after all.  Maybe he'd even get a chance to contact the girl he run out on in California.  "Wonder if she'd be surprised to get a letter by owl post?" he chuckled at the thought of a Muggle getting owl post.  Fond memories of Hogwarts drifted through his mind as he packed up his tent and prepared to apperate to Hogsmeade.

Flashback..

"Really the sorting hat is very painful," A younger Charlie told a tiny nervous looking Percy as they were getting on the Hogwarts express. 

"Yes definitely the most painful thing I've ever experienced" Bill agreed. 

"But you guys will protect me won't you?" Percy asked. 

"Of course, it may get bloody but we'll do what we can to save you from the pain." Charlie answered as the two older boys could barely contain their laughter.  Percy didn't notice, he was too busy looking relieved.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Somewhere in Ireland..

     Percy was having breakfast at a little Pub. "The Lucky Broomstick" was the most famous Irish spot for Witches and Wizards, and Percy was busy eaves dropping on the conversation around him.  He'd followed a suspected Death Eater here last night and he was hoping that he'd lead him to "You Know Who" when he left in the morning.  But so far the man hadn't gotten up, and Percy was hoping that reports of this man's poor apperating ability were true.  Otherwise he shelled out perfectly good galleons for a room he didn't really want last night.  And Percy really hated wastefully spending money.      

      He'd decided to give the man ten more minutes when an owl came through the open window (which was open for just that purpose) and landed on his table.  The owl held out his leg just long enough for Percy to detach the letter and then immediately flew away.  "Now there's an owl that's got the post down to a exact science," Percy thought to himself as he unfolded the letter.  "Hmmm… Hogwarts; this could be interesting.  Shouldn't be too hard at all with Dumbledore and all the rest there. It's been over a year since I've been back; it'll be nice to catch up with some of my old teachers." Percy thought.  Percy quickly checked his fine red hair and freckled face in the mirror over the bar as he paid his bill.  Wouldn't want to show up looking bedraggled.  As he took down notes about the mission he was aborting so that someone else could keep an eye on man he'd been following a quick memory flitted through his mind, the night before he went to Hogwarts for the first time.

Flashback…

"Are there really disappearing staircases? Doesn't sound very believable to me." He'd demanded of Charlie. 

"Of course there are, now stop asking so many questions and go to bed, you're going to be tired tomorrow if you don't." His brother had exasperatingly answered him. He'd gone into Charlie and Bill's room to get some answers to a few last minute questions he had, he didn't like feeling unprepared and he was scared to death of leaving home the next day.  In the end he'd bugged them so much that he'd ended up spending the whole night with the two of them listening to outrageous stories about Hogwarts.

~~~~~~~~~~~~

      Charlie and Percy arrived in Hogsmeade at almost the exact same time; fortunately they arrived on the opposite sides of the small town.  The both quickly headed towards Hogwarts, knowing by heart the road that would lead to the castle.  Neither was paying much attention to anyone as they walked out of town.  Luck would have that they both arrived at the path to Hogwarts at the same time.  Neither could quite believe their eyes. 

"What are you doing here?" They said at the same time

"You tell me first?" Again in unison

"Oh Bloody Hell." Charlie swore.  They stood there staring at each other.

"Not that it's any of your business but my newest assignment is at Hogwarts," Percy conceded as he started to head towards Hogwarts again.

"No it's not," Charlie countered as he followed him. "My newest assignment is at Hogwarts."

"You can't go around stealing my assignments," Percy voice started to get louder all the while they were getting closer to the gates.

"Who's stealing whose assignment?" Charlie was yelling now.

"I received a letter an hour ago urging me to arrive immediately at Hogwarts, Dumbledore needs a help protecting a witch. Obviously Father decided too send the better wizard to protect her." Percy haughtingly informed Charlie

"I received the same letter," the steam had gone out of Charlie's voice.

"Well obviously since I'm here you aren't needed." Percy informed him as they arrived at the gates.

"I think you've got that the wrong way around little brother, you're the one who is so clearly not needed." Charlie told him as he rang the bell outside the gate.

"I do think you're both needed, if you can manage to stop arguing long enough." Dumbledore softly spoke.  Neither man had noticed him approach them.  "We are in great need of both of you and I hope you'll be able to see why after I explain the situation to you.  But this is no place to be discussing such matters. Follow me men, into my office where I'll fill you in on the details."  Properly chastised but still sending glaring looks at each other the two redheads followed Dumbledore into the Castle.

~~~~~~~~~~

…. So you see she could be very dangerous or in a great deal of danger.  Charlie and Percy had listened to Dumbledore explain about the extremely powerful wandless witch from America.  "And as much as I hate to leave Hogwarts at this time, I really feel that my personal appearance in Sunnydale is needed." 

"Did you say Sunnydale?" Charlie asked.

"Yes, I did that's the location of the Hellmouth."

"I was just there following a lead on Voldemort."

"Well Mr. Weasley looks like you weren't too far off the mark.  Do you know anything about where the lead came from?"

"My father handles all of that."

"Well perhaps we'll have to look into it when I get back."

"Now boys, you know where the hospital wing is, will you go and wait there until you receive further instructions from Professor McGonagall, she'll be in charge while I'm absent."  Dumbledore instructed them.  As both boys left they ran into Professors Snape, Lupin and McGonagall heading to see Dumbledore.

"What do you expect to accomplish while you're in Sunnydale?" Minerva asked him as she entered the room. 

"I plan on alerting the slayer as to the whereabouts of her friend and I'm hoping that I can convince her to come here for a short time at least; these Americans could make powerful allies in the fight against Voldemort and we need all the help we can get." Albus answered. 

"What if they don't come?" Severus asked. 

"Well, then we'll have too see.  But they will come, fighting darkness is what they do, and her friend is here.  Hogwarts is the best chance Miss Rosenberg has of surviving. I have a few instructions for all of you before I leave." Dumbledore informed them.

"Severus, you need to find out why you didn't know what happened last night, but be careful; even if you can't be a spy you're still very important to the fight.  Remus, you need to get in touch with Moody, let him know that we may need him here soon."  Dumbledore instructed.  "And now if you can please excuse us I have several things I need to discuss with Minerva in private."  The two men left the office.

"Minerva, I'm leaving you in charge here but I need you to do a few things.  Keep an eye on the Weasley brothers; they are to answer directly to you.  Try and make sure that Potter and Company don't go looking for trouble and alert me immediately if anything changes with Miss Rosenberg's condition."  With that Dumbledore apperated directly into the Los Angeles National Airport Men's Room.  "Now about finding a cab."