Part 11.
"You're Responsible For This Travesty."
By OldScout.
One of the new arrivals was an older man, make that an old man. He wore long flowing purple robes, with a soft pointed hat that drooped to the side. He had long white hair and matching long white beard. While the other wizards held their wands pointed at the two women, this man held his to his side.
"Auror Dawlish," the old man said. "Why has the intrusion alarm been activated? Is the Ministry being attacked by Death Eaters?"
"PP.Professor Dumbledor," Auror Dawlish stuttered, not expecting him to answer the call. "These women apparently were able to override the charms on the lift to the street. That must be what set off the alarms."
"Really?" Dumbledor asked softly. He turned to the two women. "I'm Professor Albus Dumbledor and who might you.." he stopped and looked at Dawn's companion for a second then continued. "Ladies be?"
"I'm Dawn Summers." Dawn replied.
"I am.." the other started, but Dawn interrupted.
"She's a friend of mine." Dawn ignored an evil glare from the strange woman.
"Does your friend have a name?" Dumbledor pushed.
"Yes she does." Dawn replied. "Now, can you have somebody go get my sister, Buffy, and her friends? We really don't want to look for them ourselves."
Dumbledor smiled and almost laughed then turned to Auror Dawlish. "Do you know where Miss Summers and her friends are?"
"Miss Summers is being held for questioning pending an investigation into the deaths of three alleged Death Eaters this afternoon." Auror Dawlish responded formally.
"Ah, yes. I'd heard there was an incident." Dumbledor turned back to Dawn. "Perhaps you'd like to wait in the visitors' lounge while I have somebody look into the status of your sister?"
Just then the lift doors opened again and six young women stepped out.
The one Dawn had called Kennedy spoke first. "Dawn, you should have seen it, it was so cool the elevator just kept getting bigger to allow everybody in."
One of the girls was carrying three large flat boxes. "Okay, who ordered pizza? You owe me fifteen pounds including what I tipped the delivery guy."
"Ah, that would be me." Auror Dawlish said. He looked at the women, what did they expect to accomplish? He was sure they weren't witches, and there weren't enough of them to really do anything. He looked again; all the new girls were wearing long coats that some were opening to reveal swords and other weapons as they took up perfectly spaced positions on either side of Dawn Summers.
"No," Dawn replied and smiled sweetly at Dumbledor. "I think we'll wait right here while you have somebody go GET my sister and friends. I think ten minutes should be enough time."
Several of the other Wizards stepped forward. "Professor Dumbledor, you should not be playing games with these muggle intruders." A tall middle aged wizard with short salt and pepper hair said as he approached.
"I believe I know how to handle this situation." Dumbledor replied, "Now Auror Dawlish if you will...."
"So do we; by the book." The new arrival said and all of the surrounding wizards raised their wands. "Incarcerous!"
"NO!" Dumbledore yelled but it was too late.
Dawlish watched in shock as the gathered wizards started firing the Incarcerous spell at the intruders. Dawn and her friend where the first hit but the other six girls were also quickly enveloped by thick strands of rope many of them including Dawn quickly lost balance and fell to the floor. One, the odd friend that stood next to Dawn, shrugged and the air around her seemed to shiver and the ropes disappeared. The woman had the wizard who had started the attack by the neck. How could anybody move that fast?
"Release Oriens from your curse or yours will be the first spine I take as a trophy." Her deep even voice resonated with promise. This was no idle threat.
"Don't call me that." Dawn said under her breath then said louder. "Illyria, back off, I'm not hurt."
As Illyria started to release her grip on the wizard more spells were aimed at her. The room began to flash with red streaks as the wizards called "Stupefy!"
Blasts of red hit Illyria and the air around her shimmered like it had before. Her head turned with snap to the source of one of the attacks and she flung the wizard she was holding at her attacker. The man tumbled through the air like a rag doll before hitting the other solidly in the chest causing both to skid across the dark hardwood floor.
"Dawn are you okay?" One of the girls who had been struck by the Incarcerous was already free of her magical ropes and kneeling at Dawn's side. Dawlish heard the sound of swords being drawn as the other girls broke lose of the spell.
"I'm fine but stop Illyria before somebody gets killed." Dawn said.
"Stupefy!" One of the girls fell back to the floor from the impact of the curse. But did the unthinkable, got right back up and charged her attacker. She ducked another Stupefy and landed a solid round house kick to his chin sending him sprawling across the floor.
The girl checking Dawn turned to Dumbledor who hadn't had a chance to react since everything had just happened so quickly "Release Dawn. She can control Illyria."
The girls and wizards were now fighting. The stupefy curse was hitting them but not stopping them. The incarcerous curse was slowing them down but they had already learned to break it and the wizards just couldn't get enough distance between themselves and the girls to put up protection barriers. In the middle of it all Illyria was being bombarded with curses as she tossed wizards left and right.
"Ennervate." Dumbledore said releasing Dawn from the incarcerous spell.
Dawn immediately jumped to her feet but had to duck a stupefy curse that was sent her way. She saw Illyria drop the wizard she was getting ready to toss and head straight for the one that had sent the red curse toward her. The look in the ice blue eyes told Dawn one thing. "NO!" she screamed at the top of her longs.
The hidden magical lighting dimmed for a second then the fighting stopped. Even Illyria hesitated as all of the wands flew from all the wizards' hands and the swords and other weapons of the slayers slammed to the ground as if a giant magnet had been activated.
Dumbledore watched dumbfounded as everybody was neutralized. A group of people were walking down the middle of the atrium toward him. The leader was a young woman dressed like a muggle with red hair that had white streaks pulsating through it. Behind her were two more muggle dressed women. Behind the muggles came Minister Fudge and Director Bones followed by Auror Tonks and that American Auror whose name Dumbledore just could not remember. As they passed, the young women including the one identified as Illyria, followed.
--
Before the group could leave the Ministry Of Magical Law Enforcement's conference room the lights turned blue and started blinking.
"What's going on?" Faith asked looking at the lights.
Wizards and Witches were suddenly running down the hallway to the lifts. Many already had their wands out.
"Somebody has forced entry from the street through the phone box." Director Bones replied as she drew her wand. "Only Death Eaters could and would do such a thing."
"Oh, ah, no they're not." Willow replied.
"What?" Director Bones asked.
"I left a locator spell and override charm on the phone box." Willow clarified. "Dawn's nothing if not prompt."
"That's not possible." Fudge said. "That phone box was designed and cast by our top security wizards."
"Hey don't get me wrong." Willow chirped. "I didn't say it was easy."
"Yea," Faith added. "It must have taken her almost the whole ride down to get the spells right."
Willow leaned over and whispered "You're not helping."
"I still don't see why you're so worried." Director Bones said. "Our Aurors should be able to neutralize your girls, even if they are slayers and not actually hurt anybody."
Buffy stopped and glared on Bones. "I was hit by what, two, three of your Cheerio curses how long did that keep me down?" She headed to the lifts again. "Besides, it's not the girls I'm worried about, it's your people."
"Why our people?" Fudge asked. "Can't your damn slayers control themselves?"
"It's hard to say what a slayer is going to do when she's attacked by somebody who she deems not human. Besides, it's not the slayers that pose the biggest threat; it's my sister's, ah, companion, Illyria."
"Who's Illyria." Tonks asked.
"Dangerous." Buffy replied.
The group rode the lift to the eighth level to find pandemonium. There was a mob of wizards at the far end by the lift to the street and others scattered about as they continued to arrive answering the alarm. Curses were flying left and right and the bright red stupefy seemed to be the most used. The center of attention was a strange woman dressed in a leather body suit with blue streaked hair and blue lines down either side of her face. The curses hitting her just shimmered and dissipated as she flung wizards in all directions.
"By Merlin!" Fudge said. "Is that Illyria?"
"You can always count on my sister to make an entrance." Buffy replied. Buffy couldn't see Dawn but knew she had to be at the far end somewhere.
Suddenly Illyria dropped the wizard she was about to throw and headed toward another.
Dawn's voice cried out. "NO!"
"Stop this now." Buffy commanded.
"It's too late." Fudge said. "It's already out of hand."
"No it's not." Willow said from behind him.
Fudge looked back in time to see Willow step past him as her hair lifted from an unseen wind. He could feel the magic stir around her as she lifted her hands and the lights in the hall flickered and nearly went out.
"That's not possible." He thought. The lights are perpetual magic, they never went out, never dimmed, they just were.
"Accio virga." The words were whispered but the power was in the thought and the will of the caster. Willow spread her hands and released the power of the spell and a streak of white showed briefly in her bright red hair. Wands suddenly flew from the hands of the witches and wizards. Small missiles flew passed the group standing with Willow and clattered against the back wall behind the security station.
"That's not possible." Fudge finally said as he watched the last of the wands land and roll across the floor near him. "Nobody is powerful enough to summon a wand from a trained Wizard when casting. It's just not done."
Willow started walking forward as the wands continued to clatter around them. She drew her hands in and held them out again as she whispered "Stillo arma." The atrium was filled with clattering as the swords and knives dropped from the slayers' hands.
Everybody followed Willow as she walked down the middle of the atrium. She kept her hands by her hips, palms held out and whispered. "Arma permaneo." Effectively gluing the weapons to the floor.
The women followed Willow and the group soon stood in front of the old Wizard dressed in purple robes similar to Hicklock's only without the cowboy theme.
Dawn stood with her arms crossed waiting for her sister. "We were supposed to have dinner." Dawn said in greeting.
"Sorry, I got distracted." Buffy replied sheepishly.
Every witch and wizard stared at the odd muggles for their petty arguing in the middle of such a situation.
"Nice shoes." Dawn replied glancing at the new pumps Buffy was still wearing. "I guess distracted by shopping is enough of an excuse if you bought me something."
"Of course." Buffy smiled and tossed Dawn a small box. She sniffed the air. "Hey, I think our pizza's here."
When Dawn caught the box, the crystal on the bracelet inside glowed green briefly and the plain silver of the bracelet began to change. "Wow! It's beautiful." Dawn said opening the box.
"The crystal is supposed to detect vampires by turning red." Buffy looked at Dawn's expression. It was a nice, simple piece of jewelry, but she didn't expect that reaction. "Let me see it again."
"Here's the cheese and pepperoni." Faith said from the stack of pizzas dropped by the lift door. She folded a piece and shoved it in her mouth.
Dawn held up the bracelet. The simple silver band had turned into a band of intricately woven ropes and Celtic knots. The only thing that was the same was the clear crystal.
"Ah, Willow, is it my imagination, or has that thing changed since I showed it to you?"
"It is different." Willow confirmed. She held out her hand. "Can I see it?"
Dawn dropped it into her hand. As it fell, the designs melted away and it changed back to the plain silver band it was when Buffy bought it. Willow held the bracelet and this time concentrated harder. Her hair swirled about her face from an unfelt breeze. "All I feel is the same Gypsy magic I felt before. Nothing bad or evil."
"Might I have a look?" The old man standing by Dawn asked.
Willow looked at the man. "And you are?"
"Oh, forgive me for not introducing myself." He said sincerely. "I am Albus Dumbledore, headmaster of a local school for young witches and wizards."
"I'm sorry Albus." Dawn said and pointed out the new comers. "That's my sister, Buffy and her best friend Willow."
Dumbledore nodded to Willow who smiled shyly while still glaring at him. Was that possible?
"Over there already on her second piece of pizza is Faith." Dawn pointed to the brunette surrounded by young women. "That's Kennedy approaching us." She pointed to another brunette carrying a pizza box. "And the others are.." Dawn pointed out the remaining girls saying names in quick succession. She then turned to the creature who had returned to the place at Dawn's right. "And this is Illyria."
Illyria glared at Dumbledore. "Are you the master of this strange place? Your disciples have much to learn and little discipline."
"I am just an elder." Dumbledore said as he turned back to Willow, "If I might have my wand back, I could tell you a little more about Miss Summers's bracelet."
"Your wand will come to you now." Willow replied without doing anything obvious.
"Accio" Dumbledore said holding out his hand. A single wand was pulled by an invisible force and flew back across the atrium to him. "Thank you." He looked at the bracelet, "If I may?"
Willow opened her hand palm up show him the bracelet.
Dumbledore tapped it with his wand "Praefero." The plain silver band briefly changed into the ornately carved bracelet Dawn had found in the box. "It is charmed to reveal its design only to its true owner." He said.
"Why wasn't it like that when I bought it?" Buffy asked.
"Did you buy it with the intention of giving it to your sister?"
"Yea."
"Then it knew it wasn't home yet."
Willow started to hand it back to Dawn when a leather clad hand covered the bracelet. Illyria held Willow's hand in place for a second. Willow could briefly feel her strange ancient magic.
"It is safe." Illyria declared and stepped back allowing Dawn to take the bracelet. The clear stone glowed green briefly and the knot and rope designs reappeared.
"Enough pleasantries." Fudge growled trying to assert his authority. "We have injured Wizards to care for and muggle trespassers to deal with."
"Willow, hon," Kennedy said as she approached. "This ones half pineapple, my guess is that you're responsible for this travesty."
"Everybody's okay?" Dawn asked Buffy. "You're sure?"
"We're fine." Buffy replied. "Miss Techno Nerd, just lost track of time and forgot you were coming."
"Hey!" Willow defended as she reached for pizza. "Nobody told me my watch wouldn't work down here."
"Then we'd better send somebody top side to tell Andrew." Dawn said. "He's up there with the rest of the girls and big red."
Buffy nodded and Dawn sent one of the slayers back up the lift.
"And what," Dumbledore asked with curious smile. "Is Big Red?"
"A weapon." Buffy replied.
"Ah."
"Miss Summers." Director Bones said as she approach after checking on the injured wizards. "Perhaps we can move this someplace more comfortable. There is a lecture hall near the security station." She looked at the empty pizza boxes and grumbling young women. "We'll even order more pizza."
--
Albus Dumbledore sat at the head table of the lecture hall watching the muggle women chat and joke with each other. Auror Tonks sat among them entertaining them by changing the length, style and color of her hair at will. "They're all Slayers?" He asked in disbelief after being quickly filled in on the situation by Director Bones.
They were waiting for different reasons. More pizza was top on the list and it was as good an excuse as any. The Ministry personnel were waiting for locator and identification spells to be cast. The same spells that would hold up in court if need be. Were these women really slayers? Would they each be identified as Chosen or just the two? Amos Diggory and Auror Hicklock had returned to the Magical Creatures department to prepare the spells while Minister Fudge had gone to the Department of Mysteries to have them start researching Illyria.
"Apparently all but Miss Rosenberg, Miss Dawn Summers and the one called Illyria." They both looked the young woman sitting next to Dawn Summers. She was no longer the creature they had fought in the atrium. She was now a normal looking young woman with a skirt, thin sweater, pretty long brown hair and glasses. But she didn't seem to be interacting with the other women. If they talked to her she would reply but otherwise she would just look around the room.
Seeing she was being watched, Illyria slid off the table and worked over to Director Bones and Professor Dumbledore. "How ya'll doin'?" she asked cheerily as she approached.
"Miss Illyria," Dumbledore started. "We had a few questions about yourself if you don't mind."
"You can call me Fred." She replied happily. "And I'd be more then happy to tell ya what ever I can."
"Fred?" Bones asked.
The woman's voice deepened and the Texas twang disappeared. "Winifred Burkle was the name of the shell." She replied as her mannerisms stiffened up somewhat.
"Shell?" Dumbledore asked. He was afraid of the answer.
"When I was summoned, my misguided human acolytes chose this shell for me to inhabit." She responded. "I can still access the memories and essence of Winifred Burkle."
Director Bones nearly choked. "You mean these slayers killed a woman to create you?"
"These female warriors were not involved in summoning me."
Dumbledore noticed one of the slayers point out to Dawn that Illyria or 'Fred' was here talking to them. Dawn was immediately part of the group.
"Hey, Illyria, why don't you leave these two nice wizards be." Dawn said. "I'm sure they have enough to worry about because of the slayers and all."
"It was a wizard named Vale who killed my first guide." Illyria responded. "I ripped his spine from his back and used it to hang the remains of his shattered decrepit corpse from the chandelier."
"Thanks, that was an image I could have lived without." Dawn responded. She lightly touched the woman's back and escorted her away.
Amos Diggory came in and stood across from Director Bones and Professor Dumbledore. "The spells are cast." He said and laid out a map of the ministry in front of them. "There are two Chosen Ones" He pointed to two dots blink white and red. "And the rest are Slayers." He pointed to the red dots.
"That is enough." Professor Dumbledore said quietly. "These women are potentially dangerous to our world. We need to tell them about the Tenets and forge a treaty with them. Perhaps we can enlist their help in our war; it's their war too whether we want to admit it or not."
To be continued.............