Okay, here's the next chapter, since I am feeling oh so happy that I have no more GCSEs!
Read on!
Chapter 3
Everyone stared at her.
"You're joking, right?" Harry asked.
"I've never been more serious. No one else knew you had a twin sister. And since Dawn was created from Buffy's blood, she too, is your sister."
"Twin?" Harry asked. "We look nothing alike."
Minerva nodded. "It is true. You look almost exactly like your father but for your eyes, they look like your mother, but for their hair. And the nose. They have your father's nose."
"I'm sorry, but we are not his sisters. We're the daughters of Joyce and Hank Summers." Buffy informed them.
Minerva shook her head. "Joyce Evans took you in. She was Lily's sister, a Muggle. She married Hank not long after she took you in Buffy, and they made the records so everyone thought you were their daughter. Dawn, of course was created from your blood, but even so, she is still the daughter of the Potters, even though they now lie dead."
"I – I can't believe this. It isn't possible." Buffy said.
Harry, on the other hand, looked furious. "My mother had another sister? Why didn't you tell me?"
"Harry, we couldn't..."
"I SPENT THE FIRST TEN YEARS OF MY LIFE BEING MENTALLY, VERBALLY AND PHYSICALLY ABUSED!" He roared. "EVERY SUMMER AFTER THAT WAS JUST AS BAD EXCEPT THEY PREFERRED MENTAL TORTURE, OR KEEPING ME LOCKED IN A ROOM, PASSING MEAGRE MEALS TO ME ONLY LETTING ME OUT THREE TIMES A DAY TO USE THE BATHROOM! YOU LEFT ME IN THE DURSLEYS' CARE FOR WHAT WAS SUPPOSEDLY MY SAFETY! IT'S A WONDER I WAS STILL ALIVE WHEN HAGRID FOUND ME!"
Everyone in the room paled.
"What?" Minerva McGonagall whispered.
"Didn't you wonder why I got so angry I inflated dear old Aunt Marge until she was floating? Didn't you wonder why the Weasleys had to fly an enchanted car to Surrey and back and pull the bars off my window? Didn't you wonder why, every time Mrs Weasley saw me, she said I needed fattening up? I don't suppose you wondered why I turned out to be out in the dark when I had to run Dementors off Dudley? Or why I had to use the threat of my murdering godfather Sirius Black just to allow my owl out of her cage? Or why I turned up at Grimmauld Place before Sixth-year taller, musclier and tanned, yet extremely malnourished? And how about, when I finally left them, I left a pack of Wheezes' Sweets that would suddenly appear in their food every so often?" Harry informed them. His voice was icy. "And now you inform me I had another aunt, with whom the blood protection would have worked, and wouldn't have left me in the cupboard under the stairs as soon as she found me on the doorstep?"
"Harry, we lost all contact with Joyce. She moved to America and we couldn't find her." Dumbledore explained.
"Did you try?" Harry wanted to know.
"Wait a minute!" Buffy snapped. "Am I really his sister? How do you know? Why wasn't I kept?"
Minerva smiled. "You are his sister. Both of you. Lily and James told me, shortly after you were born. There was an ancient prophecy. They would birth the Hunter and Slayer, but would not be alive when the Key entered their family. The Slayer would grow up in a different land with one of her blood, but not as close as she believed. She would be protected from Voldemort, for if he found out her destiny, he would kill her."
"He tried to kill me instead." Harry stated.
"Yes. When he found out the prophecy from his Death Eater, he knew it was you, because he also knew that when you reached sixteen, you would become the Hunter. He also watched both you and Neville and must have sensed the innate power you have within you. That which destroyed him." Minerva explained.
Harry groaned. "I don't have any extra power! You keep going on about it, but I don't! I just used a Muggle weapon. I used his weakness to my advantage, that's all!"
"You have the same power Buffy does." Dawn suddenly stated.
"What power?" Buffy frowned.
"He tried to save Sirius, he told us before. You took spells for your friends. You even took Avada Kedavra, you said, for Hermione. It bounced off because of your mother's protection. You keep saying it's because of her force, but it isn't. You have the same power. You and Buffy are related. Because you both have a hero complex with a twist."
"What?" Buffy asked. "Dawn, I'm the one who took psych. Admittedly my teacher turned out to be a psychopath, but still..."
"Buffy, you're both willing to die to save someone you love. You died to save me. Harry took the Killing Curse to save Hermione. You've both got the power of love."
Buffy and Harry exchanged a look and burst out laughing.
Dawn stamped her foot, annoyed. "What's so funny?"
"Sorry, it's just... The power of love? You couldn't have made it sound more corny if you tried." Buffy laughed.
"Oh dear Lord." Remus muttered.
"Do all British men in their forties say that?" Willow asked Giles.
"Sorry, but I think Buffy might turn out to be a little like James. Which isn't always a good thing." Remus explained. "Was she a troublemaker?"
"Sort of." Willow grinned. "She had the whole big destiny thing, but trouble sort of found her. She got kicked out of school. Twice." She noticed Buffy and Harry sobering up quickly. "Burned down a gym, blew up the school."
"You two don't do anything by halves, do you?" Remus asked, eyes wide. "You've got James' quality of making trouble and Lily's of making it very, very big."
Harry shrugged. "Well, it's not..." He stopped. His eyes swam and his head pounded with a woman's shrieks. "Aargh!" He stumbled to the floor.
"What is it?" Minerva asked.
"Harry?" Buffy asked. She couldn't deny that he was her brother. There was a definite connection.
Harry's eyes and head cleared enough for him to say one thing. "Hermione."
Ginny, who was just entering. "Is Hermione in trouble?" She asked.
"If that bastard's hurt her..." Harry began and swept out of the room, running from the house.
"Who? What?" Buffy stammered.
"Hermione is Harry's best friend. She, Harry and my brother Ron were really close in Hogwarts. Ron died in the war against Voldemort. He was Voldemort's last victim. Harry killed him moments later." Ginny swallowed. "Hermione's living with her boyfriend, Darren Shore. Harry doesn't like him. At all."
"But Hermione's supposed to be smart, isn't she?" Buffy frowned.
"Is anyone when it comes to love?" Was Ginny's reply.
They sat and waited anxiously for Harry to return. In the meantime, Minerva convinced Buffy and Dawn that they really were Harry's sisters. Meanwhile they recounted what they knew of each other's worlds. Dumbledore was especially interested in Wiccan magic and also the magic they had used to call the first Slayer. Willow was equally interested in Wand magic (A/N: For want of a better name.) while Giles was more interested in the creatures, effects of spells and magical instruments they had.
Dawn was surprised when Minerva commented, "You have a great potential for magic, you know."
"What?"
"You and your sister. I know Lily and James were dead when you would have been born, or 'created' if you prefer, but you are their daughter. They were very powerful. It's strange how not one of you gained your mother's red hair though." Minerva frowned.
"I wish. I always wanted red hair. How come Buffy's blonde then?"
"Your aunts and grandmother were blonde. That's what made the appearance of Buffy being Joyce's daughter so perfect. Your hair comes from your other grandmother, James' mother. Harry got the Potter penchant for the first-born son looking like his father except for maybe one feature, almost always the eyes."
"So is Harry oldest then?"
"Yes. He's twenty minutes older than Buffy."
"And she was born Buffy?"
"Yes, your mother always liked that name. Do you know what it means?" Minerva grinned wickedly.
"No, what?" Dawn asked, checking her sister was still talking with Remus and Ginny.
"Little rabbit." The Transfiguration professor grinned.
Dawn laughed. "So that's why she always like stuffed rabbits! Ha!"
At that moment the door downstairs banged open.
"Ginny?" A male voice called.
"Neville, up here!" Ginny called.
Moments later, a young man appeared. He was shorter than Harry, equally muscly with honey brown hair and mild blue eyes. His face shone with friendliness, but also suggested he was dangerous when messed with.
Ginny went over to him, kissing him hello.
"Hello to you too." Neville grinned. "Hi, Dumbledore, Minerva, Remus, um... who are you?" He asked the Americans.
"My sisters, their friend and their Dumbledore-figure." A voice growled from behind him.
"Harry?" Ginny asked, and then screamed when she saw the figure in his arms.
"Ginny, get Madam Pomfrey. Now!" Harry ordered, and went through the door at the other side of Dumbledore's office.
"Mother of Merlin, what happened?" Remus gasped.
"That bastard attacked her. From the looks of things, he tried to rape her. Not to mention that she's got traces of the Cruciatus all over her. I don't know what happened, but he's going to get life in Azkaban." Harry informed him as he laid the bundle in his arms gently in the other room, what Dumbledore called the 'Healing Room'. "Neville, you'd best go pick him up. He's in the house. Looks like Hermione put up a bit of a fight. And I struggled to get him under control. He's tied up, under the Full Body Bind complete with anti-everything wards. I didn't want him getting away."
Neville kissed Ginny on the cheek and left. Harry shut the door to the Healing Room, waiting for Madam Pomfrey.
No one could hear him, so he thought.
"God, Hermione. How could he do that? Why would he do that?" Harry moaned, creating a camera to take pictures of her injuries. He sat down beside the bed, taking one bloody, bruised hand in his. "I'm so sorry. I should've known sooner. I just wish you'd listened to me!" He put her hand down and began pacing. "Why didn't you? I told you he was bad news! But you didn't listen to me! You said I couldn't cope! Said I was jealous!" He snarled, then felt tears brush his cheeks as he stopped and took her hand again. "Of course I was jealous. I've been in love with you since... I don't know. Maybe since you fixed my glasses on the train. Or when you got us out of trouble when we saved you from the troll. Not that you'd have needed saving if Ron and I hadn't locked the thing in with you." He gave a derisive laugh. "I didn't recognise it, of course. In fact, I only recognised it in Fifth-year, funnily enough when Cho accused me of liking you instead of her. I realised she was right. I mean... there was something special about you I couldn't place. Something I couldn't define. Your intelligence. Your bravery. Your personality. The fact that you were quite happy to smack Malfoy round the face, perhaps. God, Hermione, please, just pull through this. Wake up."
He put his head down on the bed, his eyes closed, silent tears streaming from his eyes. Both his hands clutched hers tightly.
However, someone did hear his words.
"Buffy, get away from the door!" Dawn hissed.
"Uh-uh. He's my twin brother, I can do what I want." Buffy grinned, definitely liking the fact that she now had a brother, it was someone new to tease, after all. She pulled away. "Did you lot know he's in love with her?"
Remus nodded. "I suspected something. When he jumped in front of her to deflect that Killing Curse. Voldemort sent it, but he had enough sense move after he had. I think his own love for Hermione created a shield, not just his mother's love for him. In any case, the Killing Curse that rebounded burnt the three Death Eaters who had been standing behind Voldemort to ashes."
"Why didn't he tell her how he felt?" Buffy asked.
"Harry has this major guilt complex. Especially since Ron's death. Ever since. He believes everyone he gets close to will die, because of him, because of being his friend. Especially after he found out about the prophecy. He saw it as being the reason his parents were killed. Cedric. Sirius. Ron. Not to mention Moody and Snape. Snape turned out to be a good guy in the end. He died at Voldemort's hand when he refused to give up the location of Harry's whereabouts after graduation." Remus explained. "It's only just starting to abate. In fact, he might just be getting over it. But he didn't want to risk Hermione any more than he had to. He let the entire wizarding world believe he was no more than her friend, including her."
"What about Hermione?" Dumbledore suddenly asked. He had never realised this.
"Hermione believed it. She's in love with him. Ginny told me." Remus answered. "It was when Hermione was debating whether or not to move in with Darren."
"Don't tell Harry that. Or he'll feel even guiltier." Buffy warned.
At that moment a woman appeared, swiftly followed by Ginny, both holding large bags.
"I came as soon as I heard, Albus. Who is it?" Madam Pomfrey asked.
"Hermione Granger. Harry's with her now. Talk to him carefully. Hermione appears to have been attacked by her boyfriend." Dumbledore explained.
"Merlin." The nurse breathed. She opened the door quietly.
At that moment, Harry shouted, "Live, damn you! I love you!"
Instantly, something began to happen. Golden light spilled from Harry's hands to Hermione, bathing her body in a wondrous glow. Skin knitted, bruises faded, blood ceased flowing. The glow was accompanied by what sounded like phoenix song. The light then whirled round him, almost as though on a wind.
"Heal." A voice whispered.
Another voice spoke. "We have heard your words, boy. Your love conquers all, including wounds."
And then suddenly, everything vanished. Hermione, still stained with blood in a torn nightdress, gasped in air.
"What...?" She began. She saw Harry and burst into tears.
"What... What's wrong?" Harry asked.
"I didn't tell you! If I did..."
"Why, Hermione? Why did he do this?" Harry asked, pulling the sobbing young woman in close in a hug.
"I told him I couldn't do this. I was ending it. Since it was my house, he had to leave." Hermione explained.
"And then?"
"He attacked me. He tried to... to rape me. He didn't succeed. He just got too possessive. Like I belonged to him. But I didn't love him. I was living a lie."
"Why, Hermione?"
"Because I love someone else."
"Who?"
Hermione didn't answer. She pulled away from his hug and sat up on the bed, swinging her legs down. Harry stood, frowning, confused. He looked into her eyes searchingly. Suddenly, Hermione's hand shot out and grabbed the collar of his shirt, pulling his face down to meet hers as she kissed him. Harry was only confused for a moment before settling into it, his hands slipping round her waist.
A giggle startled them.
Ginny, Buffy, Dawn, Neville and Remus all stood peering in at them. Madam Pomfrey, Dumbledore, Giles, Willow and Minerva were talking quickly in hushed whispers.
Harry went scarlet.
"You going to ask her out then, bro?" Buffy asked.
Harry grinned at the use of the nickname, while Hermione looked confused. Then his face hardened. "He's in custody?" He asked Neville.
"Yes. Do you have photographic evidence?" Neville asked.
Harry pointed to the camera on the table by the wall. "Those hold pictures of Hermione's... injuries."
"Who attacked you, Hermione?" Neville asked.
"Darren Shore, that's who." Hermione snarled.
"Why?"
"I told him I wanted to end it. Then to leave."
"Did you provoke him in any other way?"
"No. I told him he could spend the night if he wanted, but I wanted him out of the house by the next morning. He was becoming too possessive. He was crazy." Hermione told him flatly.
"Thanks, that's all I need." Neville took hold of the camera and the copy of her answers and sent them to the Aurors in the office, where they were dealing with the case.
"I'm sorry, Hermione." Harry told her.
"Why?"
"I should have known. I should have said something..."
"You were scared. I know. That's why you've never had a girlfriend." Then she pursed her lips. "Unless you count Cho, but you only went on one date and that ended rather badly..."
Harry laughed.
Buffy raised a brow. "You've never had a girlfriend?"
"You've only had two proper boyfriends. Two left town. And then there was Spike, but... Well, your relationship with him was kinda warped. And he's dead anyway." Dawn stated.
"Your boyfriends left town?" Harry asked her.
Buffy shrugged. "I never said I was good in relationships. Anyway, what the hell happened? Why isn't she still comatose? Not that I'm not glad you're not anymore." She explained to Hermione.
"We think we know." Minerva stated.
"What was it?" Harry asked.
"Does anyone believe in the theory of soulmates?" Willow asked.
"You mean two halves of a whole?" Hermione asked. "I mean, I've read about the theory. Supposedly means that incredible things can happen if one wants it badly enough, especially to do with healing." Then her eyes widened.
"You don't mean..." Harry began.
"You and Hermione are soulmates? Sure do, bro." Buffy grinned.
"Why does she keep calling you bro? Who is she and the other three anyway?" Hermione asked.
"That's Buffy, she's the Vampire Slayer, the brunette, Dawn, is the Key. The redhead is Willow, a Wiccan witch. The man is Giles, a Watcher and what I fondly refer to as their Dumbledore-figure." Harry grinned.
"And the nickname?" Hermione asked.
"That's the complicated bit. See Buffy and Dawn are my sisters."
Hermione stared at them. "Dawn's too young."
"She's the Key. She was created from Buffy's blood, and Buffy is my twin sister, making her my little sister as well." Harry explained. Then looked at Minerva. "Who's oldest?"
"You are. You're twenty minutes older than Buffy." Minerva answered.
"Ha! You're the oldest now, you're the responsible one. Life can be fun again!" Buffy grinned.
"You are definitely James's daughter." Remus affirmed.
Hermione just looked confused.
"Don't worry, we'll explain tomorrow. I think we all need some sleep." Harry stated. "You might want to borrow some clothes."
Hermione's nightdress was only a thin cotton and very torn. She nodded. "Are there rooms free?" She asked Dumbledore.
"There are always rooms free for you." He stated. He turned to the Americans. "You are welcome to stay the night."
Buffy nodded. "That'd be great."
As Ginny escorted them to their rooms, Buffy suddenly gasped.
"What?"
"If Harry's my brother, does that mean I'm English?"
# # #
A/N: Sorry, but I had to put that phrase in somewhere. It's great, isn't it?
Okay, to my marvellous reviewers:
Selene: Okay, maybe it isn't a cliffhanger if you'd already guessed. Never mind. I love Sirius too, but nope, not him, I'm afraid.
Yeah: What a name! Sorry, it just tickled me! Glad you liked it. I thought, if I was going to make them related, I was not going to do the birth certificate thing. It's been done a few times now, so no. I wanted to be original. Yep, should be fairly long. But I actually have to work out what evil they're going to face now. Should've done that earlier, I know.
Anne-Janet: Sorry, I know, I killed Ron off. As it is explicitly explained in this chapter. And also, there's the reason Joyce had Buffy. Protection.
manticore-gurl1071134: If you look, Lupin already has a door. Nope, not Sirius I'm afraid. He may just stay dead, but I'm not entirely sure. McGonagall, well, she gets her door next chapter. After all, Hermione's unlikely to be wanting her own room now...
Ivy Tearen: Why am I a meanie, pray tell? Glad you like it though. I've been called a lot worse than meanie in my time!
Draco's Slytherin Vampiress: Buffy, single? Maybe. I'm not entirely sure. She certainly won't be paired with anyone soon. Maybe one of the twins, I'm not quite sure yet.
Imp17: Yeah, I figured McGonagall would surprise people. I mean, everyone would expect Dumbledore or Lupin or someone with a story like that, wouldn't they?
Kandice: Intrigued? Wow, my story's intriguing! Does crazy victory dance. Uh, sorry 'bout that.
meenyrocks: Actually, true parents known only to one was meant to be McGonagall, since she knew the truth, but I guess Harry does as well! Oh well, either interpretation is still correct! Sorry about Ron, but I couldn't see a place for him in the fic, I'm afraid. PoA was good, but there you go. Yeah, exams are awful. I've finally finished, but last week I had three days all together where I had two exams each day, and most were long. I mean, I wasn't home until quarter past, half past four a couple of days! Since we finish at ten past three and I'm twenty minutes walk away, that's late! Updates will hopefully be more regular, but I can't say where the muses will pull me next!
hellmouth princess: Here's your answer. Lily and James were most definitely the real parents!
zee: Huh? Buffy and Dawn are Harry's sisters, no one else's.
Megz01: Here's the chapter!
DevilsTears: Glad you liked the damage comparison. I can just see it happening! If Harry had destroyed the Quidditch pitch and Malfoy Manor, of course! Also glad to hear that reading my fic is worth the effort! And as for the door, alas, 'tis not Sirius! I love him, but he might have to stay dead. Mind you, maybe I'll raise him from the dead at a later stage, after the owner of the door is revealed.
Don'tbeme: Sorry 'bout Ron. Funnily enough, that's very like how I see Sirius and Remus as well. If only Remus wasn't a werewolf... If he wasn't, he'd be the kind of guy with tons of kids and managing to keep them all under control, dontcha think?
Chrios: You don't like Ron then? I'll have no part in torturing Ron unless it makes a good story. Actually, my sister was annoyed at me for killing him off, but I do have a tendency to kill characters off. Or cause them immense torture. The chapters I haven't written, but plan to of 'Curses, Prophecies and the Elemental Guardians', my HP fic, (note shamless advertisement) have some of that in. Some already do, but not in the spades those will! The shame!
BrokenSkye: Another person shocked by McGonagall's dramatic entrance and revelation! Yay! Ron, nope, not coming back. Sorry.
Ishtari: Glad you like it. Hope this was interesting enough! I think it's fun, at least!
Damned Angel: Name change by any chance? Sorry you found it confusing, but glad you liked it! And, excuse me, but I've just updated two fics in one day, so meh! to you too! And Seer of Faith hasn't even posted, let alone updated!
Thanks everyone, and remember that if you review, I will try and read a fic of yours!
Lol, Tanydwr
Read on!
Chapter 3
Everyone stared at her.
"You're joking, right?" Harry asked.
"I've never been more serious. No one else knew you had a twin sister. And since Dawn was created from Buffy's blood, she too, is your sister."
"Twin?" Harry asked. "We look nothing alike."
Minerva nodded. "It is true. You look almost exactly like your father but for your eyes, they look like your mother, but for their hair. And the nose. They have your father's nose."
"I'm sorry, but we are not his sisters. We're the daughters of Joyce and Hank Summers." Buffy informed them.
Minerva shook her head. "Joyce Evans took you in. She was Lily's sister, a Muggle. She married Hank not long after she took you in Buffy, and they made the records so everyone thought you were their daughter. Dawn, of course was created from your blood, but even so, she is still the daughter of the Potters, even though they now lie dead."
"I – I can't believe this. It isn't possible." Buffy said.
Harry, on the other hand, looked furious. "My mother had another sister? Why didn't you tell me?"
"Harry, we couldn't..."
"I SPENT THE FIRST TEN YEARS OF MY LIFE BEING MENTALLY, VERBALLY AND PHYSICALLY ABUSED!" He roared. "EVERY SUMMER AFTER THAT WAS JUST AS BAD EXCEPT THEY PREFERRED MENTAL TORTURE, OR KEEPING ME LOCKED IN A ROOM, PASSING MEAGRE MEALS TO ME ONLY LETTING ME OUT THREE TIMES A DAY TO USE THE BATHROOM! YOU LEFT ME IN THE DURSLEYS' CARE FOR WHAT WAS SUPPOSEDLY MY SAFETY! IT'S A WONDER I WAS STILL ALIVE WHEN HAGRID FOUND ME!"
Everyone in the room paled.
"What?" Minerva McGonagall whispered.
"Didn't you wonder why I got so angry I inflated dear old Aunt Marge until she was floating? Didn't you wonder why the Weasleys had to fly an enchanted car to Surrey and back and pull the bars off my window? Didn't you wonder why, every time Mrs Weasley saw me, she said I needed fattening up? I don't suppose you wondered why I turned out to be out in the dark when I had to run Dementors off Dudley? Or why I had to use the threat of my murdering godfather Sirius Black just to allow my owl out of her cage? Or why I turned up at Grimmauld Place before Sixth-year taller, musclier and tanned, yet extremely malnourished? And how about, when I finally left them, I left a pack of Wheezes' Sweets that would suddenly appear in their food every so often?" Harry informed them. His voice was icy. "And now you inform me I had another aunt, with whom the blood protection would have worked, and wouldn't have left me in the cupboard under the stairs as soon as she found me on the doorstep?"
"Harry, we lost all contact with Joyce. She moved to America and we couldn't find her." Dumbledore explained.
"Did you try?" Harry wanted to know.
"Wait a minute!" Buffy snapped. "Am I really his sister? How do you know? Why wasn't I kept?"
Minerva smiled. "You are his sister. Both of you. Lily and James told me, shortly after you were born. There was an ancient prophecy. They would birth the Hunter and Slayer, but would not be alive when the Key entered their family. The Slayer would grow up in a different land with one of her blood, but not as close as she believed. She would be protected from Voldemort, for if he found out her destiny, he would kill her."
"He tried to kill me instead." Harry stated.
"Yes. When he found out the prophecy from his Death Eater, he knew it was you, because he also knew that when you reached sixteen, you would become the Hunter. He also watched both you and Neville and must have sensed the innate power you have within you. That which destroyed him." Minerva explained.
Harry groaned. "I don't have any extra power! You keep going on about it, but I don't! I just used a Muggle weapon. I used his weakness to my advantage, that's all!"
"You have the same power Buffy does." Dawn suddenly stated.
"What power?" Buffy frowned.
"He tried to save Sirius, he told us before. You took spells for your friends. You even took Avada Kedavra, you said, for Hermione. It bounced off because of your mother's protection. You keep saying it's because of her force, but it isn't. You have the same power. You and Buffy are related. Because you both have a hero complex with a twist."
"What?" Buffy asked. "Dawn, I'm the one who took psych. Admittedly my teacher turned out to be a psychopath, but still..."
"Buffy, you're both willing to die to save someone you love. You died to save me. Harry took the Killing Curse to save Hermione. You've both got the power of love."
Buffy and Harry exchanged a look and burst out laughing.
Dawn stamped her foot, annoyed. "What's so funny?"
"Sorry, it's just... The power of love? You couldn't have made it sound more corny if you tried." Buffy laughed.
"Oh dear Lord." Remus muttered.
"Do all British men in their forties say that?" Willow asked Giles.
"Sorry, but I think Buffy might turn out to be a little like James. Which isn't always a good thing." Remus explained. "Was she a troublemaker?"
"Sort of." Willow grinned. "She had the whole big destiny thing, but trouble sort of found her. She got kicked out of school. Twice." She noticed Buffy and Harry sobering up quickly. "Burned down a gym, blew up the school."
"You two don't do anything by halves, do you?" Remus asked, eyes wide. "You've got James' quality of making trouble and Lily's of making it very, very big."
Harry shrugged. "Well, it's not..." He stopped. His eyes swam and his head pounded with a woman's shrieks. "Aargh!" He stumbled to the floor.
"What is it?" Minerva asked.
"Harry?" Buffy asked. She couldn't deny that he was her brother. There was a definite connection.
Harry's eyes and head cleared enough for him to say one thing. "Hermione."
Ginny, who was just entering. "Is Hermione in trouble?" She asked.
"If that bastard's hurt her..." Harry began and swept out of the room, running from the house.
"Who? What?" Buffy stammered.
"Hermione is Harry's best friend. She, Harry and my brother Ron were really close in Hogwarts. Ron died in the war against Voldemort. He was Voldemort's last victim. Harry killed him moments later." Ginny swallowed. "Hermione's living with her boyfriend, Darren Shore. Harry doesn't like him. At all."
"But Hermione's supposed to be smart, isn't she?" Buffy frowned.
"Is anyone when it comes to love?" Was Ginny's reply.
They sat and waited anxiously for Harry to return. In the meantime, Minerva convinced Buffy and Dawn that they really were Harry's sisters. Meanwhile they recounted what they knew of each other's worlds. Dumbledore was especially interested in Wiccan magic and also the magic they had used to call the first Slayer. Willow was equally interested in Wand magic (A/N: For want of a better name.) while Giles was more interested in the creatures, effects of spells and magical instruments they had.
Dawn was surprised when Minerva commented, "You have a great potential for magic, you know."
"What?"
"You and your sister. I know Lily and James were dead when you would have been born, or 'created' if you prefer, but you are their daughter. They were very powerful. It's strange how not one of you gained your mother's red hair though." Minerva frowned.
"I wish. I always wanted red hair. How come Buffy's blonde then?"
"Your aunts and grandmother were blonde. That's what made the appearance of Buffy being Joyce's daughter so perfect. Your hair comes from your other grandmother, James' mother. Harry got the Potter penchant for the first-born son looking like his father except for maybe one feature, almost always the eyes."
"So is Harry oldest then?"
"Yes. He's twenty minutes older than Buffy."
"And she was born Buffy?"
"Yes, your mother always liked that name. Do you know what it means?" Minerva grinned wickedly.
"No, what?" Dawn asked, checking her sister was still talking with Remus and Ginny.
"Little rabbit." The Transfiguration professor grinned.
Dawn laughed. "So that's why she always like stuffed rabbits! Ha!"
At that moment the door downstairs banged open.
"Ginny?" A male voice called.
"Neville, up here!" Ginny called.
Moments later, a young man appeared. He was shorter than Harry, equally muscly with honey brown hair and mild blue eyes. His face shone with friendliness, but also suggested he was dangerous when messed with.
Ginny went over to him, kissing him hello.
"Hello to you too." Neville grinned. "Hi, Dumbledore, Minerva, Remus, um... who are you?" He asked the Americans.
"My sisters, their friend and their Dumbledore-figure." A voice growled from behind him.
"Harry?" Ginny asked, and then screamed when she saw the figure in his arms.
"Ginny, get Madam Pomfrey. Now!" Harry ordered, and went through the door at the other side of Dumbledore's office.
"Mother of Merlin, what happened?" Remus gasped.
"That bastard attacked her. From the looks of things, he tried to rape her. Not to mention that she's got traces of the Cruciatus all over her. I don't know what happened, but he's going to get life in Azkaban." Harry informed him as he laid the bundle in his arms gently in the other room, what Dumbledore called the 'Healing Room'. "Neville, you'd best go pick him up. He's in the house. Looks like Hermione put up a bit of a fight. And I struggled to get him under control. He's tied up, under the Full Body Bind complete with anti-everything wards. I didn't want him getting away."
Neville kissed Ginny on the cheek and left. Harry shut the door to the Healing Room, waiting for Madam Pomfrey.
No one could hear him, so he thought.
"God, Hermione. How could he do that? Why would he do that?" Harry moaned, creating a camera to take pictures of her injuries. He sat down beside the bed, taking one bloody, bruised hand in his. "I'm so sorry. I should've known sooner. I just wish you'd listened to me!" He put her hand down and began pacing. "Why didn't you? I told you he was bad news! But you didn't listen to me! You said I couldn't cope! Said I was jealous!" He snarled, then felt tears brush his cheeks as he stopped and took her hand again. "Of course I was jealous. I've been in love with you since... I don't know. Maybe since you fixed my glasses on the train. Or when you got us out of trouble when we saved you from the troll. Not that you'd have needed saving if Ron and I hadn't locked the thing in with you." He gave a derisive laugh. "I didn't recognise it, of course. In fact, I only recognised it in Fifth-year, funnily enough when Cho accused me of liking you instead of her. I realised she was right. I mean... there was something special about you I couldn't place. Something I couldn't define. Your intelligence. Your bravery. Your personality. The fact that you were quite happy to smack Malfoy round the face, perhaps. God, Hermione, please, just pull through this. Wake up."
He put his head down on the bed, his eyes closed, silent tears streaming from his eyes. Both his hands clutched hers tightly.
However, someone did hear his words.
"Buffy, get away from the door!" Dawn hissed.
"Uh-uh. He's my twin brother, I can do what I want." Buffy grinned, definitely liking the fact that she now had a brother, it was someone new to tease, after all. She pulled away. "Did you lot know he's in love with her?"
Remus nodded. "I suspected something. When he jumped in front of her to deflect that Killing Curse. Voldemort sent it, but he had enough sense move after he had. I think his own love for Hermione created a shield, not just his mother's love for him. In any case, the Killing Curse that rebounded burnt the three Death Eaters who had been standing behind Voldemort to ashes."
"Why didn't he tell her how he felt?" Buffy asked.
"Harry has this major guilt complex. Especially since Ron's death. Ever since. He believes everyone he gets close to will die, because of him, because of being his friend. Especially after he found out about the prophecy. He saw it as being the reason his parents were killed. Cedric. Sirius. Ron. Not to mention Moody and Snape. Snape turned out to be a good guy in the end. He died at Voldemort's hand when he refused to give up the location of Harry's whereabouts after graduation." Remus explained. "It's only just starting to abate. In fact, he might just be getting over it. But he didn't want to risk Hermione any more than he had to. He let the entire wizarding world believe he was no more than her friend, including her."
"What about Hermione?" Dumbledore suddenly asked. He had never realised this.
"Hermione believed it. She's in love with him. Ginny told me." Remus answered. "It was when Hermione was debating whether or not to move in with Darren."
"Don't tell Harry that. Or he'll feel even guiltier." Buffy warned.
At that moment a woman appeared, swiftly followed by Ginny, both holding large bags.
"I came as soon as I heard, Albus. Who is it?" Madam Pomfrey asked.
"Hermione Granger. Harry's with her now. Talk to him carefully. Hermione appears to have been attacked by her boyfriend." Dumbledore explained.
"Merlin." The nurse breathed. She opened the door quietly.
At that moment, Harry shouted, "Live, damn you! I love you!"
Instantly, something began to happen. Golden light spilled from Harry's hands to Hermione, bathing her body in a wondrous glow. Skin knitted, bruises faded, blood ceased flowing. The glow was accompanied by what sounded like phoenix song. The light then whirled round him, almost as though on a wind.
"Heal." A voice whispered.
Another voice spoke. "We have heard your words, boy. Your love conquers all, including wounds."
And then suddenly, everything vanished. Hermione, still stained with blood in a torn nightdress, gasped in air.
"What...?" She began. She saw Harry and burst into tears.
"What... What's wrong?" Harry asked.
"I didn't tell you! If I did..."
"Why, Hermione? Why did he do this?" Harry asked, pulling the sobbing young woman in close in a hug.
"I told him I couldn't do this. I was ending it. Since it was my house, he had to leave." Hermione explained.
"And then?"
"He attacked me. He tried to... to rape me. He didn't succeed. He just got too possessive. Like I belonged to him. But I didn't love him. I was living a lie."
"Why, Hermione?"
"Because I love someone else."
"Who?"
Hermione didn't answer. She pulled away from his hug and sat up on the bed, swinging her legs down. Harry stood, frowning, confused. He looked into her eyes searchingly. Suddenly, Hermione's hand shot out and grabbed the collar of his shirt, pulling his face down to meet hers as she kissed him. Harry was only confused for a moment before settling into it, his hands slipping round her waist.
A giggle startled them.
Ginny, Buffy, Dawn, Neville and Remus all stood peering in at them. Madam Pomfrey, Dumbledore, Giles, Willow and Minerva were talking quickly in hushed whispers.
Harry went scarlet.
"You going to ask her out then, bro?" Buffy asked.
Harry grinned at the use of the nickname, while Hermione looked confused. Then his face hardened. "He's in custody?" He asked Neville.
"Yes. Do you have photographic evidence?" Neville asked.
Harry pointed to the camera on the table by the wall. "Those hold pictures of Hermione's... injuries."
"Who attacked you, Hermione?" Neville asked.
"Darren Shore, that's who." Hermione snarled.
"Why?"
"I told him I wanted to end it. Then to leave."
"Did you provoke him in any other way?"
"No. I told him he could spend the night if he wanted, but I wanted him out of the house by the next morning. He was becoming too possessive. He was crazy." Hermione told him flatly.
"Thanks, that's all I need." Neville took hold of the camera and the copy of her answers and sent them to the Aurors in the office, where they were dealing with the case.
"I'm sorry, Hermione." Harry told her.
"Why?"
"I should have known. I should have said something..."
"You were scared. I know. That's why you've never had a girlfriend." Then she pursed her lips. "Unless you count Cho, but you only went on one date and that ended rather badly..."
Harry laughed.
Buffy raised a brow. "You've never had a girlfriend?"
"You've only had two proper boyfriends. Two left town. And then there was Spike, but... Well, your relationship with him was kinda warped. And he's dead anyway." Dawn stated.
"Your boyfriends left town?" Harry asked her.
Buffy shrugged. "I never said I was good in relationships. Anyway, what the hell happened? Why isn't she still comatose? Not that I'm not glad you're not anymore." She explained to Hermione.
"We think we know." Minerva stated.
"What was it?" Harry asked.
"Does anyone believe in the theory of soulmates?" Willow asked.
"You mean two halves of a whole?" Hermione asked. "I mean, I've read about the theory. Supposedly means that incredible things can happen if one wants it badly enough, especially to do with healing." Then her eyes widened.
"You don't mean..." Harry began.
"You and Hermione are soulmates? Sure do, bro." Buffy grinned.
"Why does she keep calling you bro? Who is she and the other three anyway?" Hermione asked.
"That's Buffy, she's the Vampire Slayer, the brunette, Dawn, is the Key. The redhead is Willow, a Wiccan witch. The man is Giles, a Watcher and what I fondly refer to as their Dumbledore-figure." Harry grinned.
"And the nickname?" Hermione asked.
"That's the complicated bit. See Buffy and Dawn are my sisters."
Hermione stared at them. "Dawn's too young."
"She's the Key. She was created from Buffy's blood, and Buffy is my twin sister, making her my little sister as well." Harry explained. Then looked at Minerva. "Who's oldest?"
"You are. You're twenty minutes older than Buffy." Minerva answered.
"Ha! You're the oldest now, you're the responsible one. Life can be fun again!" Buffy grinned.
"You are definitely James's daughter." Remus affirmed.
Hermione just looked confused.
"Don't worry, we'll explain tomorrow. I think we all need some sleep." Harry stated. "You might want to borrow some clothes."
Hermione's nightdress was only a thin cotton and very torn. She nodded. "Are there rooms free?" She asked Dumbledore.
"There are always rooms free for you." He stated. He turned to the Americans. "You are welcome to stay the night."
Buffy nodded. "That'd be great."
As Ginny escorted them to their rooms, Buffy suddenly gasped.
"What?"
"If Harry's my brother, does that mean I'm English?"
# # #
A/N: Sorry, but I had to put that phrase in somewhere. It's great, isn't it?
Okay, to my marvellous reviewers:
Selene: Okay, maybe it isn't a cliffhanger if you'd already guessed. Never mind. I love Sirius too, but nope, not him, I'm afraid.
Yeah: What a name! Sorry, it just tickled me! Glad you liked it. I thought, if I was going to make them related, I was not going to do the birth certificate thing. It's been done a few times now, so no. I wanted to be original. Yep, should be fairly long. But I actually have to work out what evil they're going to face now. Should've done that earlier, I know.
Anne-Janet: Sorry, I know, I killed Ron off. As it is explicitly explained in this chapter. And also, there's the reason Joyce had Buffy. Protection.
manticore-gurl1071134: If you look, Lupin already has a door. Nope, not Sirius I'm afraid. He may just stay dead, but I'm not entirely sure. McGonagall, well, she gets her door next chapter. After all, Hermione's unlikely to be wanting her own room now...
Ivy Tearen: Why am I a meanie, pray tell? Glad you like it though. I've been called a lot worse than meanie in my time!
Draco's Slytherin Vampiress: Buffy, single? Maybe. I'm not entirely sure. She certainly won't be paired with anyone soon. Maybe one of the twins, I'm not quite sure yet.
Imp17: Yeah, I figured McGonagall would surprise people. I mean, everyone would expect Dumbledore or Lupin or someone with a story like that, wouldn't they?
Kandice: Intrigued? Wow, my story's intriguing! Does crazy victory dance. Uh, sorry 'bout that.
meenyrocks: Actually, true parents known only to one was meant to be McGonagall, since she knew the truth, but I guess Harry does as well! Oh well, either interpretation is still correct! Sorry about Ron, but I couldn't see a place for him in the fic, I'm afraid. PoA was good, but there you go. Yeah, exams are awful. I've finally finished, but last week I had three days all together where I had two exams each day, and most were long. I mean, I wasn't home until quarter past, half past four a couple of days! Since we finish at ten past three and I'm twenty minutes walk away, that's late! Updates will hopefully be more regular, but I can't say where the muses will pull me next!
hellmouth princess: Here's your answer. Lily and James were most definitely the real parents!
zee: Huh? Buffy and Dawn are Harry's sisters, no one else's.
Megz01: Here's the chapter!
DevilsTears: Glad you liked the damage comparison. I can just see it happening! If Harry had destroyed the Quidditch pitch and Malfoy Manor, of course! Also glad to hear that reading my fic is worth the effort! And as for the door, alas, 'tis not Sirius! I love him, but he might have to stay dead. Mind you, maybe I'll raise him from the dead at a later stage, after the owner of the door is revealed.
Don'tbeme: Sorry 'bout Ron. Funnily enough, that's very like how I see Sirius and Remus as well. If only Remus wasn't a werewolf... If he wasn't, he'd be the kind of guy with tons of kids and managing to keep them all under control, dontcha think?
Chrios: You don't like Ron then? I'll have no part in torturing Ron unless it makes a good story. Actually, my sister was annoyed at me for killing him off, but I do have a tendency to kill characters off. Or cause them immense torture. The chapters I haven't written, but plan to of 'Curses, Prophecies and the Elemental Guardians', my HP fic, (note shamless advertisement) have some of that in. Some already do, but not in the spades those will! The shame!
BrokenSkye: Another person shocked by McGonagall's dramatic entrance and revelation! Yay! Ron, nope, not coming back. Sorry.
Ishtari: Glad you like it. Hope this was interesting enough! I think it's fun, at least!
Damned Angel: Name change by any chance? Sorry you found it confusing, but glad you liked it! And, excuse me, but I've just updated two fics in one day, so meh! to you too! And Seer of Faith hasn't even posted, let alone updated!
Thanks everyone, and remember that if you review, I will try and read a fic of yours!
Lol, Tanydwr