A/N

Thanks to everyone who reviewed. Please tell me what you think of max it's important for me to know what you guys think, especially about Max. I've been having writers block so yeah apologies for the lateness of my chapters. As always keep reviewing and happy readings everyone.

Chapter Fifteen

Everyone had gathered in the Great Hall for lunch. In the time from lunch to dinner; Willow and Co., Max, Dumbledore and the Trio had been formulating plans in case of an attack. Willow had left periodically to set up the wards around the school for warnings sake; this time she didn't have time to limit the sound to just a selected few people, so everyone would hear the alarm if it went off. Dumbledore had decided to inform the school of the impending danger. In the middle of dinner Dumbledore stood to make his announcement. The hall fell quiet as he cleared his throat.

"Good evening to you all, first I must introduce our guests. First I must explain something. Allyson Hannigan is not who she appears. She is guardian employed by me; her actions were all guided by me. Her name is Willow, she may tell you more if she so desires. Now she has brought with three friends, they are Xander, Buffy, and Dawn. They will tell you something about themselves." Dumbledore finished and sat in his chair, up until this point people had been speechless and staring at Willow with mixed emotions. Xander was the first to rise.

"Hey, I'm Xander; I'm from America, California. I've known Willow since, forever. Umm yeah ok…" he sat down and Buffy rose.

"Hi, I'm Buffy, also an American, born and bred in LA but then moved to good old California. Ok this is my little sister Dawn." She sat down and Dawn stood.

"Hi there, I'm Dawn, commonly referred to as Buffy's little sister." She sat down not knowing what to say.

"Well they are three of our four new guests. The other is not an original friend brought by Willow." Dumbledore said indicating for Max to rise; Max did so solemnly. He was anxious about the impending doom.

"Hi I'm Max; just Max, I come from parts unknown, I'm a like a wizard/warlock if you like." Suddenly his watch started beeping quite loudly. "Sorry…" Max said quickly trying to push buttons. He sat down quickly his face reddening. Dumbledore rose again.

"I must know how you got electricity to work in Hogwarts Max." he said quietly.

"Sure…" Max said.

"Now I must turn to a much graver subject." Dumbledore said turning to the whole school again. "As you know Voldermort has risen to great power. There is to be no alarm, but he has massed forces in the forest, we presume he will attack much like he did on Halloween." There were many gasps and small chattering going on between students. "Yes, it is a troubling matter, but with the collaboration of students and our guest we hope to fend them off. We have devised a plan which we hope will work. We aren't certain they will attack tonight but Max will go on patrol to see if can find our assailants." With these words more chatter broke out, Max got up and made a loud whistle with his fingers and everyone shut up.

"I know your all thinking what cold a boy like him do to stop an impending doom, well truth to be told I don't know. But I know I can help and with Harry's and Dumbledore's permission I would like to fly out and see if I can find out where they are right now." Max said addressing everyone.

"Why do you need my permission?" Harry asked over the crowd.

"Well, I need your Firebolt, the school brooms aren't fast enough." Max said smiling.

"How many brooms have you flown?" Harry asked dubiously.

"One, but ill be fine, I always am." Max said gloomily.

"So it's settled the Harry if you would please get your broom and Max can be on his way…" Snape said smugly.

"Yes sir, Accio Broom!" Harry said waving his wand. The broom eventually swished into his hands. He handed the broom to Max who jumped on it. And shot out of the great hall, pushing open doors with his magic.

He flew high over the forest it was dark but he used his magic to see. At first he couldn't see anything then he realized it was much worse than he anticipated. He flew around over the forest and then it came. An arrow whizzed passed his head. He quickly started to dart around trying to throw off any other arrows aimed for him. He flew low and quick and realized something so much worse than an attack. He circled back and did another quick sweep, and then it hit him. Another arrow; in the leg it struck with a horrible force piercing his leg. He quickly turned and sped full blast back to the school he made one of the great hall windows disappear and shot through. He jumped off the broom and crumpled in pain.

Dawn, Buffy, and Xander rushed to his and helped him up. He chucked the broom to Harry who caught it deftly.

"What happened?" asked Willow.

"Wait, can you get it out?" Max asked Poppy, who had come to help him.

"Rimuova!" She said waving her wand, the arrow was gone and laid at his foot but it made Max yell very loud. The pain left him for the most part and he was able to stop the bleeding with his own magic. Poppy left and quickly came back with ointment and some bandages. She fixed up Max and he became more lucid.

"So what happened?" Buffy asked

"It's worse than we thought. They have decided not to attack." Max said.

"That's good isn't it?" Xander asked.

"Yeah, it is in its own way. But its shit news for us, if they don't attack they are free to just mass more and more fighters. I think they are trying to siege us." Max said gravely. With these words Dumbledore stood up and made an announcement to the whole school.

"Prefects are to lead students back to their common rooms, there will be order. As of now no one is to be out of bed after hours, and no one is to leave the school, not even go outside, until further notice. I would also advise that no one should owl their parents as the owls might be shot down. Tomorrow we will devise a plan of action."

Everyone exited except for the teachers, the Sunnydale crew and Max.

"What do you want us to do Headmaster?" McGonagall asked with trepidation.

"Everyone must patrol the hallways tonight. We will have to take shifts, but I think if we start of with whoever feels up to it."

"I'm in…" said Buffy

"Me too…" said Dawn

"Me three…" said Willow

"Let's mount up…" Xander said.

"I'm coming too." Max said.

"We'll come too…" said Angel and Cordy stepping forward.

"Well thank you for volunteering at midnight you may turn in and someone else will patrol in your place." Dumbledore said. Then Snape decided to say something.

"Headmaster you can't be seriously considering letting this boy patrol as well as a little girl." Snape said indicating to Dawn and Max.

"I wouldn't knock her; she has a good upper cut these days." Buffy said a-matter-a-factly.

"I hear she's quite good with a sword." Max said

"Be that as it may you are still children." Snape said indignantly.

"Professor, I am believe these children, as you put it are quiet capable." Dumbledore said trying to calm Snape. Snape just shut up and left in a huff. Everyone dispensed Max decided he wanted to talk to Angel. They had decided to just walk around in a pattern so they would cross each others path every so oftener. Max deiced to stay with Angel to talk for a while.

"Angel!" Max called as he jogged after the vampire.

"Max," Angel said back.

"So like I don't know if I'm aloud to talk to you about stuff but I just wanted to talk to someone, I donno I guess I picked you." Max said.

"Lucky me." Angel said devoid of any emotion.

"How's Conner?" Max asked Angel seemed to be a bit shocked by the question.

"I think he's doing ok, but how do you know about him."

"I know a lot more than that, but there's a lot I don't know."

"Oh?"

"Yeah, but I wanted to ask you about that time with the demon that you killed by smashing the crystal in its head. You know, how the first time it mixed with your blood and you became human. And the PBT like gave you a do over." Angel was shocked to say the least, anger welled up in him.

"Don't you ever tell anyone about that, I don't know how you know but if you tell anyone I will be very annoyed." Angel said with anger in his eyes.

"I know I wasn't planning on it the PBT don't want any revelations so yeah it's just our secret. I just want you to trust me; I know that you bought a lot of weapons with you." Max said.

"Yeah…" Angel said eyeing him suspiciously.

"Well I need some. This isn't blackmail, just another topic I need some stuff to protect me. Also I want fighting lessons, I know it's a lot to ask but I think I got a lot from the PBT, including muscles and I think some fighting skills."

"Well I guess that's ok, but this isn't the time to talk about it." Angel said.

"I know but I was wondering if I could get some weapons from you till I get some of my own." Max asked.

"I donno, if that's a good idea." Angel said worried.

"Come on, I need the protection." Max pleaded.

"Well maybe for a while till you get your own," Angel said giving in. By this time they had reached Angel Office. "Well if you're quick we can get one now." Angel said opening his door. Max stepped in after him and Angel headed for a closet in the corner. He opened it and inside there were various weapons. Max played his finger over the hilts of the swords. He swept over them twice eventually grasping what appeared to be a Samurai Sword. He then went to the daggers, and picked one with a ebony handle and a silver blade with ornate carving of a dragon on it.

"A good pick, be careful with them." Angel said.

"I will…" Max said strapping his new dagger to his ankle. "How do attach this?" Max asked about the sword.

"It can go on your back, or at your hip." Angel said.

"Back…"said Max. He pulled off his coat and Angel helped attached the sheath onto Max's back. It fitted snugly and Max was able to pull his coat back over the top. He left Angel's room with many thanks and a smile on his face. He ran to his route and started walking around the school. After two laps of complete quietness he pulled on his head phones and Linkin Park's "Breaking the Habit" started to play through. He made another lap and crossed the path of Dawn on the way. They were conveniently in front of the kitchen so they decided to get a snack and have a quick break. They found the house elves and got some deserts to eat. They went back out side and found a place to sit down.

"So how did you know where the kitchens were?" Dawn asked. Max just winked at her. "Fine keep your secrets, not like I care." Dawn said with a smile. Neither of them said anything they just ate.

"Well, this is the life huh…food, good company, and patrolling." Max said

"Yeah, story of my life." Dawn said, there was a pause, "So how much do you actually know about us?"

"A lot, not so much about Angel but I know quite a bit abut you and the rest of the Sunnydale crew." Max said he stuffed the rest of his chocolate finger in his mouth.

"Like what?" Dawn asked quizzically.

"Well, I know what you really are, and Willow and what happened after Tara, oh I know all the songs you guys sang when that demon that was summoned by Xander was around. I knew about who Glory was way before you guys. Umm, I know about your first kiss…" Max revealed; he hoped these wouldn't spark anger, or upset the PBT.

"Oh," dawn said quietly.

"Let's talk about something else…" Max said trying to divert the subject.

"Yeah...so do you know how to use the sword you have?" Dawn asked happier.

"Not really, I think I got some fighting from the PBT, but no experience, just like my magic. I hope Angel will train me later." Max said.

"Well pull it out lets have a look." Dawn said.

"Dawn I had no idea," Max said with mock outrage. Dawn caught on and playfully pushed Max. "Hey!" Max said as he fell from his sitting place.

"That's what you get for unnecessary, and not to mention gross comments." Dawn said smiling. Max blushed he had never been able to talk to a girl like this before. He then proceeded to pull her down from her sitting place and she landed directly on top of her. They were laughing so much and having fun while Dawn would playfully punch Max that they didn't see someone coming towards them.

"And what would be going on here." The voice said. Both stopped dead and looked up. It had to look bad. Dawn had straddled Max they were leaning very close. When they looked towards where the voice was coming from they saw an impatient Buffy tapping her foot. Dawn jumped of Max, while he just lay there. Her eyes trailed to where she had been sitting and she blushed a deep shade of red. Max followed her eyes, his eyes widened when she saw what he was looking at. He sat up quickly trying to cover up any…arising problems.

"We were just…playing." Max stammered out.

"I'm sure……come on Dawn we have to keep patrolling." Buffy said seriously. They walked off in the other direction, Max just hung his head. He sat where he had been sitting and then continued on his patrol. It came to midnight and there was still no movement. He decided to turn in, Professor McGonagall took his place. He got to his room and removed his clothes and jumped into bed. He placed his sword next to his bed and his dagger under his pillow. After a long hour he finally fell asleep.

Max was in the school Library, people were talking in groups everywhere. He saw Dawn and decided to go and talk to her.

"What's going on?" He asked her.

"Why did you do it?" Dawn asked a tear falling from her eyes.

"Why did I do what?" Max asked puzzled.

"You knew all along, and then you just went along anyway and hurt me." Dawn ran from the room. Max had no idea what was going on, he knew it was a dream but he couldn't do anything about that. He saw Willow and ran to her.

"You're a bad boy!" Willow said with anger in her eyes and Max approached her. She slapped him in the face. It sung, that was weird he always thought you couldn't feel pain in a dream. He ran out to where Dawn had gone. He pushed open the door and he was outside…in a cemetery. He looked at the tombstone in font of him, it read…

Dawn Summers

She was the key woman in our lives.

Max found it was odd that there wasn't a date but he broke down, he couldn't handle the grief. He looked up and found he was surrounded by the Scooby Gang and assorted Hogwart's people.

"You killed my sister!" Buffy spat with contempt.

"What…no. I" max stuttered

"You killed Dawnie! You'll pay for this Mr.!" Willow said her chest heaving with anger.

"Why did you do it, she didn't do anything to you!" Xander yelled. The people continued yelling and screaming at Max. The Yelling was so loud that Max had to hold his ears to block out some of the accusations. He did and couldn't believe that he would ever kill someone, especially Dawn. He screamed out loud, and then he jolted awake.

Sweat covered his body and he panted heavily. He looked out his window and some light could be seen outside. He got up, showered and dressed. He strapped his sword to his side this time and his dagger, up his sleeve. He walked around the school listening to his Ipod then he decided to go to Dumbledore's office. He found his way to the statue, then realized he didn't know what the password was. He decided just to teleport up there. But when he tried he found he couldn't. He knew he could but something was keeping him back. He thought for a moment he had lost his magic. But he was able to float some nearby rocks. With a sigh of relief he tried again, nothing, he tried again and again but each time he failed.

"This isn't good…" Max said to himself. He was able to push aside the gargoyle at Dumbledore's entrance and he floated up to the door. He knocked and someone called from within. He stepped in and went to Dumbledore's desk. And said something he didn't want to have to say.

"Headmaster we have a problem…"

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A/N

Well how was that? As always please review. I love the feed back. And if you have any suggestions please don't hesitate to tell me about them