Disclaimers, etc, see part one.
.
.
.
… … …
.
Xander woke suddenly. He was pulled out by the subconscious thought that this was not his, or Anya's bed, and nerves about the fact that at the meeting in the morning he would have to announce his and Anya's engagement.
It was still dark when he opened his eyes, and he was tired, so he assumed it was the middle of the night.
"Xander! It's eight o'clock, we're having the meeting," Anya said.
She pulled the back the hanging around the bed, startling him with the sunlight. When he groaned she poked him.
"You have to get up now, or we won't be able to eat breakfast before we have to go to the Ministry. They won't take you seriously if your stomach grows at them. And you should probably get dressed, too."
"Marry me?" he asked.
"I already said yes," Anya said. "Only you haven't told anyone. I might have to change my mind."
"Please marry me? You have to say yes again or I won't be able to tell the others today."
"You're going to tell them?" Anya demanded, beaming. "Really today? You'll have to get up."
Xander struggled out of the thick bed coverings and shivered. It was cold here. He pulled his dressing gown on quickly and grabbed a towel. Anya grinned at him coyly and kissed him lightly before shooing him out to the shower with his robes.
Dawn and Spike were sitting next to each other. Spike was grinning, Dawn was giggling. Giles was watching them warily.
When Xander emerged, dressed in dark bronze robes again, Buffy and the Anya were there as well.
"Willow and Tara shouldn't be too long," Buffy said.
Her tone gave the suspected reason why. Xander tried to act nonchalant as he sat down. Buffy grinned wickedly at him. As he turned away her grin slipped. Spike ran his thumb over her knuckles.
Willow and Tara looked slightly guilty when they appeared in complementary robes, both half silver and half green.
"So, guys, where're we at?" Willow asked brightly.
Xander stood up. Willow and Tara sat down.
"The plan for today is Anya, Giles and I all go separately to the Ministry. Anya's going to testify to the Wizengamot. I'm going to be officially registered as Sirius's son. Giles is going to do something."
Giles looked slightly confused at the curious glances he got from the others. Only Spike seemed to have some idea of what might be happening. Buffy didn't want to think about the secrets in Giles life.
"But before we go and have breakfast, I have an announcement to make."
He ran his fingers through his hair and took a deep breath. He looked at his friends, his family, the people in his life (Spike was not a friend). They were looking at him expectantly, except Anya, who was trying not to grin. He wondered what Willow's reaction was going to be, and Dawn's, and Spike's, too actually, given that he didn't like him. Best way to find out, just tell them.
He gestured for Anya to join him and put an arm around her waist.
"Anya and I are engaged."
Anya took her ring out of her pocket and gave it to Xander to put back on her finger.
The first person to recover from the shock was Spike. Followed closely by Dawn, which was just as well, given the expression on Spike's face as he opened his mouth.
Dawn squealed.
"Oh, my God, guys, congratulations!"
Buffy blinked a couple of times, then nodded.
"Congratulations," Tara said.
Everyone else managed to say 'congratulations,' even Spike. Then silence fell again while everyone tried to think of what they could say.
"Since – ?" Spike began to ask. He stopped himself when he saw Xander looked uncomfortable. He knew.
Willow leaped up and through her arms around Xander.
"Oh, wow wow wow," she said, squeezing him tight.
"Will, still need to breathe," Xander said.
Willow stepped back, and much to Anya's shock, hugged her too.
"You have to be good to him, or we'll come after you with shovels."
Anya nodded. "That's fair," she said.
"Have you set a date?" Giles asked.
Xander looked abashed. Anya pulled hard on Xander's arm so she could kiss him.
"When we're ready," she said.
Xander's goofy grin was probably his worst yet. He kissed Anya soundly. Buffy leaned back in her seat and watched out of the corner of her eye with a soft smile. Dawn was fascinated. Spike was watching Buffy.
"Okay, guys? Congratulations, and all that, but, don't we have things to do today?" Willow reminded them.
They broke off the kiss, looking mildly sheepish.
"We can celebrate, tonight, can't we? A proper engagement party?"
"Party!" Anya agreed, smiling at Xander again.
"Yes, of course," Giles said, quickly. "I'm sure the kitchen can supply something suitable."
They agreed to all be back there for a party at eight o'clock, Giles was in charge of getting the food; he was the only one who had any idea how it might be done. They left for breakfast together. Giles followed a few paces behind them and took his place next to Umbridge after the others had filled their plates.
"He's sitting next to her again," Harry whispered, glaring at Rupert Giles. "I thought that he might have just made a mistake."
"Harry, let it be," Hermione said. "If Umbridge thinks you're glaring at her, she'll give you more detention. Think what Angelina would say about that."
Harry glanced down the table towards the Quidditch captain and the Weasley twins. He sighed.
"Xander doesn't seem to be talking to him," Ginny said.
"Is that a good thing?" Hermione asked.
"He's cute," Ginny said, with a shrug.
Harry glanced quickly at Ginny.
"He's engaged," he said. "He's marrying Anya."
Ginny shrugged again. Harry frowned. She had turned mysterious on him. She hadn't been more than embarrassed before.
"Dawn's not speaking to him, either," Ron said, as if that settled the matter.
Hermione sighed. Ginny reached across the table to pat her hand. Hermione looked thankful for a moment before she forced herself to look confused. Ginny smiled sympathetically. Harry was confused. Ron missed the entire exchange.
Hermione sighed again and went back to studying the blonde couple. She knew that they were related somehow, but she couldn't remember where she'd seen their pictures.
Dumbledore stood up and the hall slowly became silent.
"I hope you are enjoying breaking your fast on such wonderful food," he began. "Several of our guest will be joining today's classes. Please try not to scare them away."
Quite a few people chuckled. Harry caught site of Malfoy sneering at the visitors. He hoped they would be as all right as Xander seemed to think. He was going to point it out to Ron, but his friend was too busy trying work out how many classes Dawn might have with them. Harry felt like banging his head against the table.
