Chapter 5
"Your... sisters?" Arthur Weasley looked completed nonplussed. "While it is possible that the elder may be your sister, the younger... Harry, she's too young."
Harry nodded and looked at Buffy. "It's true. Buffy is my twin sister. Dawn, um, well I'm still not clear on it..."
Buffy knew he wanted her to explain it, if there was a reason for them not to tell him. And it was a good idea not to advertise Dawn's being the Key.
"Dawn was an ancient priestess." Buffy informed him. "She was sent forward through time for protection from an enemy. Since he died in that time, she is now safe. The group who sent her through created false memories of her for us, and a new body from my blood. She didn't know of her true identity. The only clue was her affinity for ancient languages. Since she was created from my blood, she is my sister and therefore Harry's."
Dawn and Harry looked at her, surprised, but quickly hid it. Harry just grinned. "How come she gives a much easier to understand explanation to the Minister of Magic?" He asked Dawn.
"You're her brother, her twin. Even though she's only known it for about twelve hours, she feels it's her duty to torment you." Dawn replied. "Try being her little sister."
Arthur merely looked excited. "Well, this is an incredible turn in events. There have been few priestesses who've disappeared completely and that disappearance being the reason for evil's downfall, but still... This is exceptional. The group must have been very powerful. I've never heard of a spell to do that." He frowned.
"It was Ancient Magic. Few know of it, let alone can utilise it. There are more branches of magic than we realised. We had never heard of wand magic until yesterday." Buffy explained.
Harry nodded. "Wand magic is that which we use. There's Wiccan Magic, which calls upon the Earth, or gods, or elements for power. There's Ritual Magic, that requires a lot of time and energy and lengthy rituals and incantations in various languages, frequently Latin. I believe a lot of Gypsy magic used it. Wiccan and Ritual Magic are generally exclusive to Muggles, but while many may practise it, few have the power to do much more than create slightly more powerful herbal remedies. Willow Rosenburg, a friend of Buffy's, is a practitioner of Wiccan Magic. And extremely powerful. You can meet her, I hope." Harry grinned. "Ancient Magic... I've heard of that. It has similarities in some senses to Wiccan and Ritual Magic, but employs use of a powersink in the Earth, one's own natural power and the power of Light itself. Some can even use it when they don't know they have..." Harry was frowning. Then his eyes widened. "Crap."
"What?" Dawn asked.
"I... The spell... To bind Voldemort to his body... To slay his evil... It wasn't wand magic... I gave a spell, in English... And Hogwarts is it's own powersink... A protective one, not destructive... I think..." Harry stammered.
"You used Ancient Magic to defeat Voldemort?" Buffy asked. "How powerful could he have been?"
"Powerful enough to call the plants and trees of the Forbidden Forest to his aid. Powerful enough to let them walk and talk. Powerful enough to let vampires walk in sunlight. Powerful enough to raise the dead. He was powerful. Too powerful..." Arthur frowned.
"Raise the dead?" Buffy asked.
"No, not resurrection like yours. He gave them life, true life, but they were bound to obey him. Some came back as zombies. Others as vampires. Most as human slaves. And he delighted in bringing back his victims." Harry spat bitterly.
"Who?" Buffy wanted to know.
"Mum and Dad. And then I... I had to kill them. But it wasn't them. It wasn't!" Harry punched a wall in frustration. Arthur paled when his hand went straight through. "Crap. I've gotta control myself..." Harry stated.
"Harry, calm down. They weren't your... our parents. Just as a vampire isn't the person they were when they were alive. You didn't explain this to us. You just said you thrust Gryffindor's Sword through his chest. What happened?"
"I made up a spell. Three sections. The first to bind Voldemort and his powers to that body. So he couldn't escape like last time. The second to end his evil as his life ended. The last to kill him. Of course, the last was done in conjunction with Gryffindor's Sword. I used it as a conduit for the power. And I thrust it into his chest." Harry explained.
"So not Muggle means to a Magical problem after all, eh?" Dawn asked.
"I guess not." Harry sighed. "Anyway, Buffy and Dawn need to be signed officially as my sisters. They were living with my mother's other sister in America. They thought she was their mother. She died two years ago."
"I'm sorry." Arthur looked at the girls.
"It's okay." Buffy smiled. "I'm sorry about Ron."
Arthur looked down. "I know. Five years nearly. At least we only lost him."
"And Percy." Harry pointed out.
Arthur shook his head. "We lost Percy long before that when he sided with Fudge. He never came back to us. It hurt... But it wasn't the same."
Buffy wisely chose not to ask.
They sorted out the papers and Dawn's identity (by the story which Buffy gave) was confirmed. They included blood tests and this further proved that both girls were the daughters of James and Lily Potter.
"I wish Mum was here to see this." Harry smiled.
"What?"
"She died saving me. Her love saved my life. I think she would have loved to have seen us all together. She knew about Dawn. Before Dawn's presence was even conceived, she knew about her." Harry explained. "She was a very compassionate and loving person."
Buffy smiled at him. "You are definitely her son then."
"What?"
"Only someone who loved as much as you would have accepted this so easily. And someone like you who would have survived those years with the Dursleys with the code of honour and the love you possess. Nurture does not seem to have changed your nature at all." Buffy informed him.
"Is it just me, or is everyone being scarily philosophical today?" Dawn asked, lightening the mood.
Harry laughed. "I think I could get used to a little sister."
"Famous last words." Buffy grimaced.
"Two little sisters." Harry grinned.
"Two?" Arthur asked as they performed the last piece of paperwork.
"Harry was born first. Which means he's the oldest with all the responsibilities. It means I can foist any punishments Dawn needs off on him."
"Hey!" Dawn and Harry yelled in unison, both annoyed.
"Dawn, might I remind you of an incident with kleptomania?" Buffy asked.
"What?" Harry asked.
"There were issues!" Dawn replied. "Mom's death, and you dying, and being resurrected and the whole 'let's leave Dawn out of everything', and..."
"Dawn, I kidding." Buffy smirked.
Dawn rolled her eyes. Harry shrugged. "Kleptomania's preferable to getting into the kind of trouble I did at school. And distinctly unadvisable in the wizarding world. If you nick some things, they have a tendency to trigger nasty little curses. Or even nastier big ones."
Arthur was examining the last of the paperwork. "That's all in order. Here are your papers..." He passed them to Buffy and Dawn. "And your IDs..."
He handed them each a ring.
"Huh?" Dawn asked.
"The ring contains all necessary information about you. It's much easier than it used to be. The ring also responds to thought signals and will change into the design you want." He explained. "Everyone has them. Some look great."
Harry held up his right hand. A band of gold stretched over his ring finger. "They're pretty good. And they make my job a lot easier. We can find out exactly who someone is. Only problem is that people are now attempting to make fakes. Luckily, only a select few know the exact combination of spells to make one, or the unique spell that links to our files."
Buffy blinked as she slid hers on. Instantly it became a thin band with an amethyst embedded. "Cool!"
Dawn's, which she slid on her thumb, appeared in a Celtic knot design. "Wicked."
"You've been hanging with Faith again, haven't you?" Buffy asked.
Dawn shrugged. "So have you. Besides, it's not like I've started saying 'five by five', is it?"
Arthur Weasley smiled. "You are free to go."
"Oh, right." Buffy gave a sheepish grin.
"C'mon. Arthur, there may be a meeting in the next few days. It depends on what I find out today."
"About?"
"Buffy and her friends. They're not normal Muggles. And Buffy and Dawn are our kind of witches. I've no idea why they weren't invited to a school." Harry explained as they left.
Hermione rushed towards them. "You were ages! What took so long?"
"Stories, paperwork, ID rings." Harry explained. "The usual. Remind me, and I'll get round to fixing a communication charm into the rings."
"What?" Buffy asked.
"Special charm Aurors know. For when we're on a job or need assistance. Regular methods of communication, or even magical phones, take too long when you're tracking a suspect."
"Oh."
"Right, next stop, Diagon Alley." Harry grinned.
"Wow, this place is amazing." Buffy observed.
Harry grinned. "Pretty much my first impression, except you aren't that articulate when you're eleven."
Dawn stared at him. "Did you just say Buffy's articulate?"
"Nah, I was struck dumb." Harry grinned.
Buffy whacked her brother. He just grinned.
Buffy then frowned. "Harry, how come you're so strong?"
"What? Oh, you mean that, er, hole in the wall now in Arthur's office?" Harry asked, blushing.
"What? Oh, Harry, tell me you didn't punch a hole in the wall again!" Hermione wailed.
"He makes a habit of it?" Buffy asked.
Hermione nodded. "First time he did it, we were in Grimmauld Place. Punched his fist right through Mrs Black's face."
"She was annoying me. And insulting Sirius wasn't exactly the best way to get on my good side at that time." Harry pointed out.
Hermione grinned. "Portrait of Sirius' mother. She was a real bitch, completely obsessed with blood purity and hated anyone who 'consorted with Muggles and Muggle-borns', except she used a different term for Muggle-born. Harry lost it one day."
Buffy grinned. "Don't worry. I've damaged my own fair share of property."
"They were having a contest as to who caused the most last night." Dawn told Hermione cheerfully. "It's kinda scary, knowing that you're in a family with two delinquents."
"Says the kleptomaniac." Buffy pointed out.
"Damn, I was hoping you'd ignore that." Dawn muttered.
"Not gonna happen." Buffy smirked.
"Okay, enough bickering you two." Harry ordered. "Come with me. We need to get some money."
They headed into Gringotts.
"Name please?" The goblin at the desk asked.
"Harry Potter. Are the keys to vaults 315 and 316 available?" Harry asked.
The goblin looked at him sharply. "We are only to give those to the twin and the magical daughter of James and Lily Potter."
"What luck I have them with me. Complete with rings." Harry grinned.
The goblin scanned the rings and found them correct. He handed them to Buffy and Dawn.
"We'd also like to visit the Potter family vault now that we are finally able to enter." Harry informed him.
"Of course, Mr. Potter. Follow me." The goblin ordered.
Before arriving at the requested vaults, they first stopped at Hermione's, vault 1007, one of the newest vaults, to collect some money for her.
Harry explained to his sisters on the way. "These are our personal vaults. They contain the money that our parents left us as a trust fund, as well as whatever money we earn. The rest of our parents money is within the family vault, and apparently there is a lot."
The girls nodded in understanding.
They soon arrived at the vaults, all three leaving the cart. Unlike Hagrid, they enjoyed the ride.
"What's the currency?" Buffy asked.
"Twenty-nine Knuts to a Sickle, seventeen Sickles to a Galleon. Not entirely sure what it corresponds to in Muggle currency. Hermione's more likely to know." Harry explained.
Once the girls had collected what Harry claimed was more than enough money, they headed down to the family vault while Hermione explained the currency. Harry also mentioned that he kept a proportion of his money in a Muggle account for Muggle purchases, like a TV, clothes and other such things. Harry, like a number of the younger generation of wizards, wore Muggle clothing rather than robes, or else robes over their clothing. Muggle clothing was also more practical for Aurors.
"The Potter family vault." The goblin stated.
The vault did not have a number on it. Instead, it had a massive lion with the motto beneath it, 'Defend the innocent, defeat the guilty, and try to make our hair neat.' The name Potter was at the top, but it appeared that it had been changed at some point.
"Nice family motto." Buffy smirked.
"And so fitting." Hermione agreed, looking at Harry's hair.
"Hey, you love my hair!" Harry replied smirking.
Hermione grinned wickedly. "Yes, well, I don't know about neat, but I can make it messier..."
"I thought you were the sensible practical person." Dawn frowned.
"Is anyone ever sensible when it comes to love?" Buffy asked.
"Well, from experience, you're certainly not." Dawn grinned and dodged away from her sister's swipe.
"Quiet, children." Harry told them, amused. He turned to the goblin. "Was this someone else's vault originally?" Harry asked, but he had a feeling why it was different.
"Oh no, it has always belonged to your family." The goblin informed him.
"Has our family name changed? From Gryffindor to Potter perhaps?" Harry enquired.
"Yes sir. It is well known that the Potters are the direct descendants of Gryffindor. The name was changed not long after Gryffindor became famous. His family's name became Potter."
"I thought so." Harry grinned. "Can we go in then?"
"There's a special case, sir, that your parents set up. You need to place your thumb on each of the lion's eyes." The goblin explained.
Buffy and Harry obeyed.
Buffy frowned. "Isn't it a bad idea to poke a sleeping lion in the eye?" She quipped.
"Probably." Harry grinned.
The twins pressed the lion's ruby eyes. A flash of magic temporarily blinded them, and then the door creaked.
Harry tugged it open and looked around the vault.
"This isn't a vault, it's a house!" Dawn stated as she followed her siblings in.
Hermione looked amazed, then saw a door to the side marked 'Library'. Harry swiftly grabbed her.
"What?" Hermione asked innocently.
"If I let you in the library, you'll never come out." Harry stated.
"This place is amazing." Buffy gasped.
It was. The vault consisted of a central room with a number of items of furniture. However, along the edge were labelled doors. 'Money' was one. They didn't enter it, having no need. 'Attire' was another. They entered this to find clothing – wizard and Muggle – from throughout the centuries, along with boxes of jewellery. Some were labelled. Others were not.
Harry noticed one box though. "Wedding and betrothal rings of Harold Potter and Ophelia McKinnon." He frowned, then gasped. "These are our grandparents' wedding rings!"
"Grandparents?" Buffy asked.
"Potter grandparents! They were killed by Voldemort in the First War! He was a hero. Died in a battle facing Death Eaters. She was killed when she visited her sister. The McKinnons are all dead now. Voldemort wiped them out." Harry sighed.
"Harold? You're not a Harold, are you, dear brother?" Buffy asked.
"Nah. Says Harry on my birth certificate." Harry replied. "Most definitely a Harry."
"Shame, I could've done with some ammo."
"Ammo?" Harry asked. "Remind me never to get in the way when you have a bow."
"I will." Buffy grinned.
"Does anyone want anything from here?" Harry asked. "We can come and have a longer look sometime. We've got things to do today."
"Sure. C'mon, Dawn, 'less there's anything ya want." Buffy informed her sister.
"Nah. But if I end up in Hogwarts and there's a ball, can I come here to get my costume?" Dawn asked.
Harry laughed. "Yeah, fine. C'mon."
They headed up to the 'land of the living' as Hermione put it. She had never been overly found of underground spaces.
"Okay, what now?" Buffy asked.
"Best start with wands."
Harry did not reveal that he had taken a small emerald pendant as well as his grandparents' wedding rings.
They headed into Ollivanders'.
"Ah, Mr Potter. What can I do for you? Wand hasn't caused any problems has it?" Ollivander asked, silver eyes glistening.
"No, no, it's my sisters." Harry answered.
"Ah, yes, Miss Potter, and the young one, yes, the Dawn." Ollivander stated. "Yes, I need some wands for you both. Now, Miss Potter the elder..."
"Buffy," she supplied.
"Buffy. Twins tend to favour wands with similar features. So, this combination..." Ollivander carefully chose a wand. "Phoenix feather core with the hair of the died-twice Slayer, holly, eleven inches."
Buffy took it and waved it. Red and gold sparks shot from the wand.
The girl frowned. "Died-twice Slayer? How did the hair...?"
"A vampire brought it to me. Said that the died-twice Slayer would need a wand. I had a feeling you would be Mr Potter's twin. He's had more lives than a cat." Ollivander smiled.
Buffy frowned, pondering the vampire who brought it. Never mind, she could figure that out later.
"Now you, yes, Dawn, the Key." Ollivander mused.
Instantly they all stared at him. "How did you know that?" Harry asked, his voice steely.
Buffy sniffed again. "He isn't fully human." She glared. "Part-demon."
"Yes, my dear. How else could I identify the appropriate wands for everyone? I have Frayan blood. They are demons of sight. Not evil, I assure you. Also very long-lived. I assure you, Miss Potter. I'm not evil." Ollivander told her. "Now, for the younger Miss Potter, a pure wand... Yes, juniper with unicorn hair, nine inches."
"Juniper?" Buffy asked.
"Native to Britain. Berries are used for flavouring. Also for making gin." Harry told her.
The girls stared. Hermione grinned.
"Potions means you learn a lot about ingredients. Harry just tends to remember the cooking and alcoholic ones." Hermione clarified.
"What can I say? I like my food." Harry smiled, his sisters staring at him.
Dawn snapped out of it first. "You shocked Buffy. That's unusual."
"And rare." Harry smirked.
Buffy just frowned. "I can understand why you and Xander might get along."
"C'mon, girls. I need to fill up on some potions ingredients. And I need a couple of new books. You need copies of all the books. And some robes and a cauldron or two would be good."
"We've got cauldrons. And loads of books. In that big house." Buffy explained.
Harry frowned. "Yes, that house has something odd about it, definitely. Have to look into that."
The girls dragged Harry into the robe shop, spending what seemed like forever to Harry selecting various robes, including plain black ones for Dawn for school.
Finally, they entered the Magical Menagerie for an owl for Dawn.
Harry felt something hit his head from behind. "What the...?" He stumbled. His hands reached off, far softer than Ron's when Crookshanks launched himself at him, and pulled off a cat.
Not just any cat. This was a cat with fur of deep red, like the Weasleys' hair, and it had large green eyes. Eyes identical to Harry, Buffy and Dawn's.
"Holy mother of Merlin." Harry breathed, nearly dropping the creature. She was beautiful, very delicate. "Oh, you're lovely."
Hermione smiled, looking at the cat. "Wow, Harry, she's beautiful."
"I know. I've got to get her." Harry strode up to the counter. "How much?" He asked.
"You want this one?" The shop owner looked surprised.
"Yes, why?"
"She's been in here for years. Ever since... Why, ever since Voldemort disappeared first time, Mr Potter. Hallowe'en. No one's ever wanted her."
"I do." Harry told him firmly, meanwhile frowning. 'Fifteen years,' he mused, 'But, that can't mean... No, of course not.'
Dawn selected an owl. A white snowy owl, like Hedwig, named Aurora.
"Very pretty." Harry approved.
They continued shopping, picking up things they needed, or wanted. Buffy found a wonderful book on magical creatures that she bought for Giles. He'd love it.
It wasn't long before they arrived back at Grimmauld Place.
"Is everyone here?" Harry asked.
"Everyone who?" Ginny asked.
"On the doors."
"Oh, Willow and Giles went back. Neville said he'll meet us there. Said he knew where it was." Ginny answered.
"Great." Buffy grinned. "Follow me then, and try not to look too obviously magical."
She was looking at Dumbledore and Minerva as she said it. They laughed, and an incantation later, were wearing surprisingly normal-looking Muggle clothing.
Ginny, Minerva, Remus and Dumbledore followed Buffy, Dawn, Harry and Hermione as they led the way. Half an hour later, they arrived.
It was Xander who first saw them.
"Hey, Buff, Dawn... Whoa, what's with the owl?" He asked.
"She's called Aurora, isn't she gorgeous?" Dawn asked.
"Lovely, but why...?"
"Oh, I'm a witch. So's Buffy. Wand witches, that is. We even got wands."
"And these people are?" Xander looked at the others.
"Well, Harry you know. That's Hermione, who just happens to be his soulmate, Remus Lupin, Albus Dumbledore, Minerva McGonagall and Ginevra Weasley." Buffy explained. "Come through into the Conference Room, guys."
"Isn't there one missing? Where's, uh, Neville?" Xander racked his brain for the other one.
"Probably still at the Ministry interviewing the bastard." Hermione spat bitterly.
"What?"
"Hermione's ex-boyfriend attacked her last night when she informed him she wanted to end it. He used the Cruciatus Curse upon her, an Unforgivable Curse that causes intense pain more excruciating than most can imagine, and attempted to rape her." Harry answered in monotone.
Xander looked taken aback. "Oh, I'm sorry."
"No need. Wasn't your fault, was it?" Hermione answered.
Buffy pushed a button to call the others.
Faith entered. "Hey, B, care to tell us why you 'n' Dawnie have got a new name?"
"And why Hermione Granger has moved in with Harry Potter?" Robin asked.
"Oh, we don't need to know that." Faith swatted him. "Someone obviously got lucky last night." She grinned wolfishly.
"You have a one-track mind, Faith." Buffy observed.
The others soon appeared.
"Hey, Buffy, nice day?" Willow asked.
"Yeah, good." Buffy grinned.
"Dear me, is that an owl?" Giles asked.
"Yeah, Aurora."
"So you're Dumbledore-guy?" Xander asked.
"Yes."
"So why've you got new names then, Buff?" Faith asked.
Buffy poured out the story.
"You're a witch? And Joyce wasn't your mom?" Willow asked.
"Sure as hell explains some stuff about my dad. Hank, rather." Buffy shrugged.
There was a sudden yowling.
"Oh, dear, I meant to let her out before this!" Harry gasped, jumping up and opening a cage.
Out sprang the beautiful young cat.
"Wow, she's gorgeous!" Willow exclaimed.
"What're you calling her, bro?" Buffy asked.
"Well, sis, I was thinking of calling her..."
"Lily?" Remus asked aghast.
"What? How did you guess, Moony?" Harry asked.
"No. Harry, that's Lily, her animagus form." Remus told him.
"What?" Harry demanded. "Mum wasn't an animagus! Someone would have told me! She can't be..." His voice trailed off as the cat on the table grew in size.
"Well, thanks for letting the cat out of the bag, Remus!" A petite redhead stated, annoyed.
Harry gasped. "Mum?"
A/N: Oh, evil cliffy! Couldn't help it. Of course, now I've actually got to explain this, and I can't remember exactly what I had planned!
Anyway, thanks for reviewing.
Lol, Tanydwr