Chapter 52
Soliloquy
- - - - -
"Lovers are always allowed the comfort of soliloquy." --Spectator.
- - - - -
Buffy was awakened the following morning by what seemed like the wind playing with her hair. She blinked and stared up at the familiar ceiling above her and smiled.
And then the wind in her face seemed to whisper and her eyes flew open. Sitting up quickly, she jumped out of bed and raced out of the room, leaving Cordelia in her place on the other end of the large bed. Racing downstairs while pulling on her bathrobe, she made her way into the living room.
Joyce was already awake and reading the newspaper in the dining room when Buffy appeared, looking slightly confused as she made a little circle before darting in the opposite direction.
Joyce stood up and followed Buffy before freezing, her eyes wide.
There was a head inside the fireplace.
She was glad she was holding onto her cup so tightly, or else it would have fallen and shattered. Buffy was already kneeling in front of the fireplace, talking to the head inside of it in a quiet, urgent whisper.
"Percy! What's going on?" she asked, leaning forward. She saw Joyce's reflection in the emerald-green flames and in case something terrible had happened, she didn't want Joyce to know about it or worry.
"It's bad," he said, his face tense. He glanced past her. "Is that her?"
"Yeah," Buffy said, moving slightly so that Percy could get a good look at Joyce. "Uh, Joyce, you want to come closer so I can do an intro?"
Joyce took one miniscule step forward, looking extremely apprehensive, but with good reason. "You have a friend who is a talking head?" she asked doubtfully.
"Actually, he's pretty full grown in person," Buffy said, leaning back on her ankles. "Joyce, this is Percy. Percy, this is my... Joyce Summers."
"It's a pleasure," Percy said with a charming smile at Joyce, who still looked as though she'd love nothing more to do than run away. "I can see where your daughter gets her sparkling personality."
That seemed to break the ice slightly. Joyce relaxed and set her coffee cup down before she could shatter it. "Thank you," she said, with a slightly relaxed smile of her own. "Were you a classmate of Buffy's?"
"Mom, perhaps I didn't say this right," Buffy said, turning back to look at Joyce, smirking.
"He isn't your... beau, is he?"
Both Buffy and Percy burst into laughter then.
"Oh, I haven't laughed like that in so long," Buffy said, clutching her side. "Uh, no... we're not together."
"Not like that, anyway," Percy said, sounding greatly amused. "Speaking of beaus, Fred and George were wondering if you were going to stumble into the Burrow anytime soon."
"You're dating... two?" Joyce asked behind her.
Buffy grimaced slightly and turned back to her adoptive mother. "Okay, explanations are due, I guess. Percy is pretty much one of the coolest friends I have from England. He has five brothers. Two of them are twins and a royal pain in my ass."
"Elizabeth over there, if she'll stop foaming at the mouth, is partially correct. She would be my best friend."
"Oh," Joyce said, still looking confused. "Oh..."
Turning back to the fireplace, Buffy said, "Do you want me to get Harry? I think he's still upstairs sleeping."
"Let him sleep," Percy said, his face tightening. "Dad had a hell of a night last night. Apparently some of the Death Eaters decided to put a charm on one of the summer festivals. The next thing you know, the fountains are sprouting blood and there are dead animals coming out of the fireworks. It was pretty much an unqualified disaster..." His voice trailed off.
"So that's what it meant," Buffy said, her hand unconsciously grazing her tattoo.
"Did you feel something?" Percy asked, sounding concerned about her now.
"We all did," Buffy said vaguely. "You know, Faith and Harry, too." She paused. "It's getting more intense, Perce. I'm worried that the next time it burns like that, the Death Eaters will be surrounding me."
"I guess it's a good thing you're not going to be in England much longer, eh?" he asked, his eyes turning somewhat sad.
"You'll still be able to nitpick me, no matter where I am," Buffy assured him. "Is Arthur all right? You do know he's one of my favorite people over there, right?"
"He's okay," Percy said, although his voice wasn't very convincing. "There was something else last night... there was an attack at Privet Drive."
"WHAT?" Buffy shouted. She heard voices upstairs and the sounds of people moving. "Percy, what happened?"
"Dementors," Percy said heavily. "Apparently they were after Harry, and since... you-know-who doesn't exactly know he's in your care... your family is fine, Buff. Don't worry about it."
Buffy just shook her head as she fell back onto the floor. "It's going to keep getting worse and worse, isn't it?" she asked sadly.
"I'm afraid so," Percy said, smiling apologetically. "You're all right there? You got in safely? Ron wants to know how Harry is..."
"Harry's fine," Buffy told him. "I think he's enjoying his first ever overseas excursion. I'm taking him to Los Angeles this weekend, so we'll see how it goes."
"Really? Dad will want you over so you can tell him everything," Percy said, making a face.
"B? Who's that?"
Buffy quickly turned around, glimpsing Faith in the doorway. The moment she saw who was in the fireplace, she bounded into the room.
"Peter!" she called cheerfully.
"Honestly, woman, do you have a memory at all?" Percy asked irritably.
"Aww, did you miss me?" Faith asked cheekily as she dropped down on the floor next to Buffy.
"I had such high expectations for you, too," Percy said dryly. "Now, if you'll excuse me, I should be getting back to work."
"All right," Buffy said, rising up and yanking Faith with her. "I'll see you soon, unless you have another emergency to tell us about. You're welcome in the fireplace anytime."
"Goodbye," he said, before disappearing with a small 'pop'.
Faith turned curiously to Buffy, her eyes darkening at the hasty expression on the older girl's face. "So what exactly was that about?"
- - - - -
The week continued on, and Harry found himself very much enjoying his first ever overseas vacation. Being with Buffy in her hometown was something like a relief, since she knew it even better than she knew the back of her own hand. Patrolling with her and Faith was always a delight, even though he stayed behind, his wand in his hand just in case. He was completely legal now to do magic outside of school, but he had no idea how the Ministry would enforce magic on the other side of the world.
Now that he was no longer underaged, really.
All in all, watching his sister fight was like watching something on the television he'd been deprived from for so many years. Not anymore, though. Joyce had cable, and one of Faith's favorite things to do after a fight, besides eat vast quantities of food, was to plant herself on the couch and stare at the television set until the sun came up before she went to bed.
Buffy, on the other hand, was starting to get edgier and edgier. The prospect of seeing Wesley again so soon after the last time they had seen one another in a life-threatening situation wasn't too appealing. Neither was the prospect of seeing him after she had been the one to find both his sister and his father. It was still painful to think about Professor Pryce, who had been one of her favorite teachers at Hogwarts.
More terrifying still was the prospect of coming face-to-face with Angel after a year of separation. He had declared his love for her when they'd parted and now, with her heart given to someone else, it was going to be torture to say goodbye. But he had to let her go. Buffy was happy with the choice she had made and after everything that had happened, she wasn't about to change her mind. Again.
Lastly, there was Hank, or the man she had come to know as Dad. Since James Potter's trip through his daughter's mind while she was imprisoned with Voldemort, she hadn't heard his voice or her mother's at all. But she knew they were there in her subconscious, speaking for the conscience she knew she had, but the Dark Mark had irreversibly tainted.
Friday finally arrived and with it, the last three days of their vacation in California. They would be returning to England from Los Angeles, so the time had come to say goodbye to Joyce one last time.
It was the second hardest thing Buffy had ever had to do; look the woman who had raised her in the eyes and tell her that she may never see her again.
Joyce seemed to know it was coming. Her first goodbye went to Willow, who would be accompanying them to Los Angeles. After a brief hug and a comical retort from Willow about her parent's lack of caring of her decision to go to Oxford, Willow disappeared.
Harry was next. Joyce put her arms around him and held him to her for a long moment, closing her eyes.
"I never had a son," she told him quietly. "But if I ever had one, I imagine he'd be a lot like you." Her eyes glistened sadly as she pulled back. "I just wish we'd gotten there a year later... we could have had both of you, and you wouldn't have been separated for sixteen years."
Harry just smiled at her. She was the perfect mother, he realized. She had raised Buffy rather well.
It was apparent by the way the two women were just staring at each other now across the entryway. Words couldn't even begin to speak the connection between the two. It lasted maybe two minutes before Buffy rushed into Joyce's arms, holding the woman she saw as her mother as though her very life depended on it. Joyce clung to Buffy in return, tears now openly pouring down her cheeks.
When Buffy pulled back, she too was crying. "I don't know what's going to happen," she said, brushing the tears away. "I just want you to know that you'll always be my Mom. I may have been a horrid brat, but I still love you, and I wanted you to know that. Whatever happens..."
"Things are going to get bad, aren't they?" Joyce asked, glancing from Buffy to Harry and seeing the same dark look in their eyes.
"Let's just say this year isn't going to be such a picnic," Buffy said tightly. "I don't know what's going to happen, but..." Her voice trailed off as she glanced at Harry, and the tears started again. "We both have a destiny, and..."
"It'll be a miracle if they both survive it," said a voice from the stairs behind them. Faith appeared and stepped down next to Buffy. "She's a Slayer and he's supposed to be some hero."
Joyce looked even more concerned until she saw the determined expression on the faces of the Potter siblings. She knew Buffy was strong enough to take on whatever was coming. But Harry was someone she didn't know so well, and her heart went out to him. He had obviously inherited Buffy's sense of duty and obligation, and it showed in their eyes.
"I just wish I was going back with you," Faith said to Buffy, pulling her aside. "But that would be playing right into V's hands."
"I think it's safer if you stay here," Buffy told her apologetically.
"Some safe haven," scoffed Faith, glancing around the house. "I fight demons for a living and have to live with a very irritating fangless moron. But the lodging is more than adequate, so faster demons come, is what I say."
The two Slayers stared at each other for a moment before hugging briefly.
"I hate this," Buffy wailed as she pulled back. "This is the third time I've had to say goodbye to you in a year."
"Someday, when this war is over, we won't have to say goodbye anymore," Faith assured her, patting her arm with some level of comfort.
A horn honked outside, signalling the arrival of Giles. Buffy bent down and pulled her duffel over her shoulder before glancing back at both Joyce and Faith. Then, taking Harry's arm, they left the house behind and walked out into the warm morning light.
Giles was waiting for them in his candy-apple-red convertible.
"Whoa, Giles!" she said, cheerfully stowing her bag in the backseat before taking the passenger seat. "I like it."
"It's perfect for one in a mid-life crisis, don't you agree?" he asked her, backing out of the driveway.
They chatted easily for the fifteen minute ride to the bus station. Once there, Buffy seemed reluctant to get out of the car.
"I can't believe we're really here again," she said, glancing uneasily at the long lines of busses waiting to depart.
"Do you three have your tickets?" Giles asked, ever the Watcher.
"I have them," Harry said, hopping over the top of the backseat, since Buffy really wasn't going to move.
"Giles..." Buffy said softly, her voice a plea. She looked at him with uncertainty in her eyes. "Am I ready for this?"
"You knew you had to face him sooner or later," Giles told her with his reassuring air of confidence in her. "It won't be as bad as it could be, I'm certain."
"But he's my Dad, or he was... it all gets so confusing," Buffy said, making a face as she stared once again at the busses in the distance. "I heard my Dad's voice, Giles, when I was imprisoned in that tower. My real dad. It was so strong and he believed in me enough to know that I didn't want to be there no matter how much power I had."
"I hate to break up this party," Willow said, following Harry's path out of the car, "but we gotta move. The bus leaves in exactly seven minutes. You know, nine in the morning, not at night?"
"Giles, I don't know if I'll be coming back," she said, finally opening the door and accepting the bag Willow handed her.
"We'll be fine here," Giles told her with his reassuring smile. "We still have one Slayer on the Hellmouth."
"Giles..."
"And don't worry about Joyce. Faith and Cordelia have looked after her long enough. She'll be okay."
Harry was tugging Buffy backwards now, away from the convertible and the last trace of a safety blanket she possessed in this world.
"Giles!"
"Go," Willow said, pulling away. She and Giles had said their goodbyes the night before. As the convertible took off, Buffy, resigned, led the way into the station.
The ride began slowly enough. Harry sat across the aisle from Buffy and Willow. He dozed on and off, finally opening his backpack around midday and finding a few of the snacks Joyce had secretly stowed. Smiling, he opened a pack of Ritz crackers and extended the package across the aisle for Willow, since Buffy appeared to be sound asleep.
"I don't think she slept much last night," Willow said, finally stepping over Buffy and taking the empty seat beside Harry. "She's been having nightmares about this weekend all week. Not just about Hank or Wesley, but Angel, too."
At the look of surprise on Harry's face, Willow started. "She didn't tell you that we're staying at his hotel, did she?"
"I never realized how glad I am you're with us," he told Willow, who gave him a small smile before taking another cracker.
"If I had to put up with five more minutes of my parents not caring if I go across the ocean, well, I'd be ready to make a statement," Willow said, half-smiling as she turned her head to stare out the window. "I think my Mom was all too happy to pay for the shipping on my things."
"You don't know how lucky you are," Harry said in a low voice, "to actually have parents."
"Oh, Harry, I didn't mean it like that," Willow said, immediately looking guilty. "It's just that... I've lived with the ignorami most of my life and it isn't fun. I suppose not having parents is worse than having them only they kind of, you know, ignore you."
"Things got better," Harry said quietly. "When Buffy came, things got better for awhile... and then she had to go off on her own vendetta..." He still spoke bitterly of this, one of the rifts between the Potter siblings that was still as existent as a freshly opened wound.
They didn't speak again until they reached Los Angeles, and to no one's surprise, it was Cordelia who picked them up in Angel's black convertible.
Buffy seemed even more withdrawn and tense now, and kept staring at the seat in front of her sourly. Willow sat next to her best friend, occassionally giving her a sympathetic look, but most of her excitement was spent on watching Harry, sitting in the passenger seat next to Cordy, pointing and exclaiming as he saw the different sights of the big city.
The car eventually came to a stop in front of the Hyperion Hotel. Buffy slowly got out, her hand on her bag as she moved, staring at the large structure in front of them. She didn't seem to want to go any closer. She just stared at it, as though waiting for it to come to her.
Harry reached out and took her hand. "It'll be all right, really," he said, trying to convince her. She just smiled sadly and put one foot in front of the other.
"Oh, good, you're back," a crisp, British voice spoke as a figure behind the front desk looked up, before his smile froze. "And you brought company."
"Yeah," said Cordelia, noticing that Buffy had frozen next to her, her eyes wide. "Speaking of guests... we have that thing to do." She turned and grabbed onto Harry. "Come on, Potter, let's go do that thing. Willow?"
With the usual level of Cordelia-like subtelty, she dragged both Willow and Harry backwards out of the Hotel, leaving Wesley and Buffy facing one another.
"Uh, hi," Buffy finally said, dropping her bag on the circular sofa and moving closer to the front desk. "Guilt, party of one, checking in."
"How have you been, Buffy?" Wesley asked, a slight coolness to his tone.
"I've been okay," she replied, leaning onto the heavy wooden desk. "It hasn't really been easy, you know."
"And your brother?" Wesley continued in his slightly formal tone.
"He's been good," Buffy replied, feeling her heart start to sink. Wesley still wouldn't look at her again, keeping his eyes on the book he was trying to read. "Wes..."
"I don't want to sound like I'm ungrateful," Wesley said quietly. "I just never imagined coming face to face with the woman who killed my father's murderer so soon."
"As I said, guilt party of one," Buffy said miserably. "Look, I know--"
"You don't know," Wesley cut in, standing up and glaring at her. "You don't know what it's like to lose someone you never really thought of in the first place as a father. My father and my sister were not good people, Buffy. You don't know how many times I really wished they were dead, and now that they are..."
"You want them back?" Buffy asked, glancing down. "I get that. I would give anything to have your father back. You know he told me about you?"
"My father didn't give a damn about me," Wesley said bitterly, closing his book with a sharp snap. "All he cared about was his duty and you, for once, were following that duty."
"He protected me," Buffy said softly. "He could have sold me out to the Council and to Quentin but he didn't because he was fighting for something more. You have to believe he was a good man. I did."
"I'll never be able to tell him how I felt," Wesley said darkly. "He's gone now, isn't he?"
"Maybe you don't know," Buffy said forcefully, walking around the desk and standing in front of the former Watcher. "You don't know what it was like to see him trying to kill me and knowing it really wasn't him. You don't know how I felt when I found his body... do you even know half of how horrible it was? It was like losing my own Dad all over again. My dad's been dead almost sixteen years. Funny, huh? I never knew my Dad. I'd give the world to know him. I knew yours. He was a decent man, he earned his passages. He didn't earn your hate."
Wesley turned away from her. "It hasn't been easy on me either," he said quietly. "I'll never have the chance to let him know I didn't hate him."
She shrugged. "Maybe he already knew in some funny little way. But it's only the tip of the iceberg on what's to come. People die in wars and people are going to die. Good people, bad people, anyone is game. I'm the one trying to make sure it's not my brother. I can't stand to lose someone else. I sure as hell don't want to lose you, too."
"You never really thought of me as anything but incompetent," Wesley said snappishly as he turned back to his books and started collecting them in his arms. "You and Faith."
"We're both connected to the world of darkness," Buffy said, leaning against the wall. "What we need is a Watcher. Faith has two of them. She's a lucky girl."
"I quite agree," Wesley replied, stacking his books on the desktop. "She's also a very dangerous girl."
"That's why she's not in England with her brother," Buffy replied. "That's why she came back. If we were there when He calls..." She shuddered, not wanting to finish her statement. "Anyway, I just wanted to let you know I was in town for the weekend. Is Angel around?"
"He's upstairs in his suite," Wesley replied, his back still to her. Buffy left without being dismissed, took her bag, and climbed the stairs. As soon as she was gone, he set down his last book and pulled off his glasses, sighing deeply.
"If only you knew how I truly felt, Elizabeth," Wesley said quietly. "You would know why my father earned my hate. He was different before you met him. And then the world was changed. My guilt changes nothing. I see you as someone who brought him honor but to me, he never had it. He wasn't a good man. He wasn't anything worthy. He doesn't deserve his pedestal. And you'll soon see why."
Outside, Cordelia was driving Willow and Harry to her apartment.
"Why are we going?" Harry asked, glancing behind as the Hotel disappeared from view.
"Because it's one thing that Buffy and Wes have issues to work through," Cordelia replied, adjusting the rearview mirror. "It's another thing with her and Angel. They'll be at it all night. When are you meeting Hank?"
"Tomorrow at lunch, I think," Harry replied.
"Good," Cordelia said, glancing behind her at Willow. "You doin' all right back there?"
"Just peaches and roses," Willow muttered as Cordelia sped through the intersection.
Buffy paused at the top of the stairs, setting her bag on the floor.
The door at the end of the hallway opened and he appeared.
For a moment, all they could do was stare at each other.
And then she turned away, going down another hallway. She really wasn't ready to see him so soon. She had thought she was, and it was only the thought of the warm-blooded comfort awaiting her in London that forced her to turn around.
He was standing right behind her and took her by the shoulders.
"Angel," she said, stepping out of his reach, his arms falling to their sides. "Hi."
"Hello," he said, watching as she moved past him and took her bag. "You looking for a place to stay?"
"Yeah," Buffy replied, glancing around the Hotel. "I like this place. It's very... fifties."
"Is he here?" Angel asked.
"Who, Harry? No... Cordy dragged him off," Buffy replied, taking her bag in her arms, putting some distance between them. "He'll be back later or something. Maybe."
"You look good," Angel said quietly.
"Thanks," Buffy said, pushing her hair off her face and staring down at her clothing. "Travel clothes not really my thing, I guess. Can I have a room with a shower?"
"Yeah, I'll take you," Angel said, moving past her and walking down an opposite corridor. "Right this way."
Fifteen minutes later, Buffy was stepping under the unbelievably relaxing tap of the hot shower. As she shampooed her hair, she closed her eyes in bliss. This really was something else.
"Are we going to stop driving in circles?" Willow asked from the backseat an hour later, a tiny cup of TCBY in her hands. "First we stop for coffee, and then for ice cream... we're not five anymore. We'll probably be dead by the time we get back to the Hotel."
Cordelia just smiled in the rearview mirror so Willow could see her expression. "I'm just trying to give them a few minutes to deal."
"Deal with the fact you've already bored Harry to death," Willow said, gesturing to his sleeping form next to Cordelia in the front seat. "And he had a double espresso."
"All right, all right, let's go back," Cordelia said, slowing down before making a wide U-turn in the street. Harry gasped and sat up, Cordelia's iced mocha flying across the car and landing outside. Willow shrieked as the car finally got back into a proper lane of traffic and started cruising the two miles back to the Hotel.
Buffy dressed slowly after her shower and brushed her long, wet hair from her eyes. Plugging in her blow-dryer, she hummed to herself as she dried her hair. Once she was done, she set it up and finished dressing, buttoning her blouse and adding her boots. Finally, she cast her duffel bag aside and stared at her reflection in the mirror.
"Not bad," she said, striking a few stupid poses. Hearing voices downstairs, she took off and saw Cordelia dragging a sopping Harry, a pissed off Willow and a slightly amused and completely unfamiliar other person inside.
"Ooh, company," she said, cheerfully walking downstairs.
Willow and Cordelia were arguing while Harry cleaned off his glasses, but the stranger walked forward and stuck out his hand.
"I'm assuming you're Buffy," he said in a crisp Irish accent.
"Yeah," she said, shaking his outstretched hand. "And you're--"
"Doyle," the man replied with a shrug. "I sort of... work here."
"You stupid moron, you could have killed us!" Willow was saying.
"What's going on here?" Angel asked, appearing in the walkway above them.
"What is all this racket?" Wesley asked, coming out of the back office.
"I didn't mean to try and kill you!" Cordelia shrieked. "Had I wanted to, don't you think I would have been more efficient at it?"
"Bloody hell," both Potter siblings muttered as Harry smoothed his dripping shirt.
"Did you try asking Harry that before you conveniently dropped your water on his head?" Willow demanded accusingly.
Buffy put up her hands in a sign of calm surrender and backed out of the room, taking the stairs until she appeared at Angel's side.
"I think we lost control," he said unnecessarily.
"Did you ever have any?" she asked, sighing. "Oh, by the way, the guy down there with the glasses is my brother. And it looks like he went through a carwash."
Dinner that night was an awkward affair. Once Harry had showered and changed, his mood had completely improved. Willow and Cordelia had informally apologized to one another, but refused to speak, occasionally glaring across the table. Doyle was rather friendly and kept firing rapid questions at Harry, while Angel stared hard at Buffy, who tried not to notice. Wesley on the other hand kept sighing, his eyes on his plate, not touching his food. All the while, a loud opera played in the background.
Buffy was the first to leave the table and walked outside into the gardens. The cool air was refreshing, a lot better than all of the tension inside.
"You okay?" Harry asked, appearing five minutes later.
"Yeah, just five by five," Buffy said from her spot on the bench.
"Things are kind of intense in there," Harry agreed as he moved to sit down next to her. "You know... maybe it was a bad idea to come down here."
"I was just thinking the same thing," Buffy replied.
"Just think, the day after tomorrow, we're going home," Harry said, his eyes glazing over.
This cheered her up some. "You know, I think I finally think of England as my home," she said, sounding wistful. "Cold, dreary England is finally my home. Did I ever tell you I grew up in L.A.? If we have time tomorrow, I'll show you the house."
"I'd like that," Harry said. "I don't know much about your life before you came to England, you know."
"You'll learn fast," she assured him. Rising, he walked back into the Hotel, leaving her alone under the bright light of the full moon.
"Maybe it's better if you don't know what my life was like, Harry," she spoke to the darkness. "Maybe it's better for both of us if you don't know anything at all. Who am I to say that you won't completely enjoy tomorrow, having a Dad for the first time in how long... he abandoned me before I met you. You don't know how much I want to get on that plane now and go home... but we have to get through tomorrow first."
Sighing, she went back inside.
Angel was the one waiting for her, sitting at the base of the steps. "Want to take a walk?"
"Not tonight," she said, putting her hands up. "I think I just want to sleep."
She walked past him, pausing halfway up the stairs. "Angel?"
"Yeah?" he asked, turning around to look at her.
"Thank you," she said, before turning and disappearing from sight.
once in her room, she changed into her nightgown and slipped inside her bed, resting her head against the pillows and feeling even more melancholy than before.
- - - - -
It happened just before she woke up.
Her arm prickled with such intensity she cried out before coming to her full senses. Leaping out of bed, she pulled on her robe and raced across the hall, knocking on the door to Harry's room. She heard him mumbling inside and pushed the door open with her hip, the doorknob falling to the ground as Buffy rushed inside to find her brother thrashing restlessly on his bed.
"Harry! Harry!" she said, quickly pushing him down as his eyes opened and he stared at her, terrified.
"They're... they're..."
"Shhh, shhh shh shhh," she said comfortingly, bending down and putting her arms around her brother. "It's okay... it's going to be all right, Harry."
He held onto her tightly as she finally set him back.
"Was it your scar?" she asked softly.
He nodded, tears in his jade eyes as he glanced at the sunlight spilling into the room. "I'm scared, Buffy... this is the worst it's hurt since... since..."
"Shhhhh," she said, rising from his bed. "Do you want anything? Tylenol? I have Midol, but I don't think you need it--"
She was rewarded as his pillow sailed through the air and smacked into her shoulder.
Relaxing, she set it back on his bed. "Do you want me to stay?" she asked as he leaned back against his pillow, closing his eyes with the faintest of nods.
She watched him drift back to sleep then. As she did, someone picked up the knob and brought it into the room. Buffy turned and saw Wesley standing there.
"Is he all right?" he asked, concerned.
"He'll be okay," Buffy replied, rising as she watched her brother sigh into a deep rest. "Can you just watch him? I need to make a contact."
Rushing downstairs into the empty lobby, she ran over to the edge of the room where a fireplace was. Digging into her robes, she found her small bag of portable Floo powder and tossed it into the fireplace. "Ministry of Magic, England, Percy Weasley's office," she said.
A moment later, Percy's head appeared.
"It's back," she said quietly. "I felt it not an hour ago."
"I know," he said in a voice filled with exhaustion. "There's been another murder."
Buffy sighed and hit the ground with her curled fist. "It's coming, isn't it?" She paused. "Gather them."
"I understand," he replied, and then he disappeared. Rising, Buffy went upstairs and dressed quickly before going back into Harry's room to rouse her brother awake.
"Come on, Harry. If you sleep anymore, you're going to miss lunch," she said, prodding him until his eyes finally blinked and he turned to her in annoyance.
Leaving him be, she glanced around the hallway for a moment before returning to her own room. She gathered a few things before falling back on her bed, frowning. Her hand was clutching her arm as it prickled again. There was something about it that... it was beyond joy she had felt in this stinging pain.
Voldemort was happy because something had been discovered. She paused for a moment... was it the Slayers? Were they being watched? Frowning again, she pulled on a long-sleeved shirt to cover the tattoo because she really didn't want to explain anything to Hank Summers. Knowing she had a tattoo would only give him more reason to see her as nothing more than a trouble-maker, which she was anything but.
Harry was dressed and downstairs when the fireplace in the corner prickled back to life. Cordelia actually screamed and Doyle dropped the box he'd been carrying, and herbs and jars of pickled items went rolling across the floor.
"Buffy? Buffy? Buffy!"
"Oh, for crying out loud Percy," she muttered, dropping her purse and walking over to the fireplace and glaring down into it.
"You were right," he said, stopping her storm with a clatter. She froze, her jaw slackening.
"Thought I was," she said, frowning again.
"See you in two days."
"Right."
"What did he want?" Harry demanded as she stopped to help Doyle pick up all of the things on the floor.
"Just... it's Ministry stuff, Harry," she replied casually as she handed the box back to Doyle, who uttered his thanks and continued on his way. "We should probably get--"
"Buffy?" a soft voice asked from the doorway.
Buffy turned around at the sound and paused, seeing Hank Summers for the first time since her sophomore year of high school.
"Hank," she said quietly, her voice full of emotion.
"You've never called me that before, sweetie," said the man, walking over and enveloping a stunned Buffy in his arms. "What is it?"
"Did... did Mom ever tell you what happened?" Buffy asked, still solid as a statue as Hank pulled away, concern flashing in his eyes. She hadn't moved, even when he had embraced her.
"All she said was that you had gone off to England, which, no big surprise there," Hank replied, turning to the man standing slightly behind his daughter. "And you are..."
"Harry Potter," Harry replied casually. "Her brother."
"Oh, dear," Cordelia muttered behind them.
- - - - -
Lunch turned out to be the Dodgers game, which Buffy didn't really mind, considering the fact that Hank had managed to wangle a few beers for them. Sitting in their skybox, since Hank had first-class connections with the baseball world, she and Hank were finally able to talk about what had happened a year ago.
"I wish you could have told me," he said after a long pause in which a foul ball was hit carelessly in their direction but dropped a hundred feet below.
"I wish Joyce had said something to you," Buffy replied darkly. "It would have made this past hour a hell of a lot less awkward had she."
"I don't know, Buff," he replied, raising his drink to his lips. "Sometimes we take the bad with the good."
"It's the story of my life," Buffy said, watching as a player trotted out across the field to catch the ball hit at him.
"What is your life like in England, then?"
Buffy hesitated. Hank Summers never knew about the Slaying gig. He probably would think she was crazy if she told him. Telling him that she was a half-blooded Wizard was going to be an interesting switch, but he would probably think she was even more crazy and have her carted off to the nearest psych ward.
"It has its ups and downs," she said vaguely, wrapping her arms around her knees.
"How about Henry? What does he do?" Hank asked curiously.
"It's Harry and he's sitting right there," she said, pointing to the seat in front of her, where Harry was pressed to the glass, watching everything with avid curiosity in his eyes. "Ask him yourself."
"I go to school," Harry said vaguely, realizing that Buffy didn't want Hank to know everything.
"What sort of schools are over there in England?" Hank asked, mildly interested.
Buffy sighed and dropped her feet back to the ground. "We might as well tell him, Harry," she said, shrugging. "He's gonna have to know sooner or later."
Harry reluctantly pulled back from the glass and glanced at the man who was his sister's adoptive Father. "All right," he said quietly.
"What is this?" Hank asked, glancing from one Potter to the other. "What are you going to do?"
"Hank... Dad..." Buffy said, turning to him, her face quite impassive. "Harry and I... we're not like normal kids. See, neither were our parents. Our real parents, the ones that you and Joyce conveniently never told me about before now. So..."
"The thing is, we're Wizards," Harry replied.
"Well, he's a Wizard, I'm a Witch," Buffy said, grinning.
Hank just stared at them, bewildered. "What? Are you both out of your friggin' minds?" he asked finally, his eyes popping out.
"Apparently not," Buffy said, easing off, her hand reaching down into the top of her boot, her fingers clutching her wand. She saw Harry's hand move to his own leg and within a moment, they were both holding out their wands.
"You have got to be kidding me," Hank said, blanching at the sight of two thin sticks of wood now being pointed at the floor in front of him.
"Does this look like I'm kidding?" Buffy asked in a bored voice as she lifted her wand, aimed it at the tray heaped with food at the table behind them, and said, "Accio!"
A box of popcorn flew through the air and landed perfectly in her hand.
Harry repeated the motion, this time catching a large bag of peanuts.
Hank didn't know what to say. He just turned back to the game before pressing his hands over his eyes.
"At least he knows," Buffy said, tucking her wand away and opening the box of popcorn. "Want to trade?"
"Why not," Harry replied, extending the open bag of peanuts towards her.
"And how about some more beer?" she asked, glancing at the wand still in Harry's left hand.
"Accio beer!" Harry said, and the pitcher that was nearly empty flew straight into her hand and she poured what remained into her empty glass.
"Hey, Hank?" she asked, turning around. Hank Summers was still sitting there, his head in his hands, barely breathing. "You doing all right?"
"My daughter is a freak," he muttered, his hands moving down his face as he glanced up. There was a lot of anger in his eyes. "My daughter and her birth brother are both insane."
"Told you," she said dryly to Harry, sipping her beer. "Hank... Dad... Joyce knew about this a long time ago and she accepted this and got over it. We need you to do the same. I know you don't know what happened to James and Lily, our real parents? They're both dead."
His eyes grew troubled as he glanced from one Potter to the other. Neither one of them held a lie in their faces.
"What happened to you once we... we...?" His voice trailed off as he glanced at Harry, who was sipping from his own glass and making obscene faces.
"I lived with our Aunt and Uncle," he said, and Buffy groaned.
"They're the most horrible Muggles... err... human beings I have ever met, and that includes the fact I had Snyder as a principal," Buffy retorted, draining her beer.
"See, I've never had a Dad," Harry replied, sitting down next to Hank. "I've always wanted one, and this way I guess I have one. If you don't mind... sir... I really would like for us to part on good terms, considering the history you have with Buffy." He glanced at his sister and she smiled at him. "You did well by her, and look how strange she turned out."
Her smile turned to a vengeful look of fury in the blink of an eye. "Why you little..."
"Okay, stop," Hank said, standing up before the Potters could do any more magic in their tiny booth. "I'm going to go and get some beer... and probably some Prozac... and I'll see you both in about ten minutes." Collecting the empty pitcher, he moved out.
"That was easy," Buffy said, taking Hank's abandoned chair next to her brother, still munching from her box. "Popcorn?"
"Please."
And they continued to watch the game in silence.
After the game, Hank treated them to a bistro, and after an amazing meal, he finally drove them back to the Hyperion.
When he turned off the engine though, neither Buffy nor Hank moved.
"When are you going back to England?" he asked her.
"Our flight leaves tomorrow afternoon," Buffy replied, staring at her lap, where the remains of her dinner were in a plastic container. "I don't know when we're coming back," she said quickly, answering his next question.
"Is it... is it safe for you over there?" Hank asked delicately.
Both Harry and Buffy turned to him then, and he saw the truth in their eyes.
"Take care of yourselves, both of you now," Hank replied, leaning over and hugging the woman who was his daughter rather tightly. "Take care of him, too. I want to see him again. I never told you this, but I wanted a boy. And now, through some weird irony, I finally have a son."
He hugged Harry next and both siblings got out of the car and began the long walk back to the Hyperion. Halfway to the door, Angel stopped them.
"How about that walk?" he asked.
"Okay," Buffy replied, handing her leftovers to Harry. "Can you bring these to Wil?"
"Sure," Harry said, patting his sister's arm and disappearing into the darkness.
Turning, Buffy fell in step beside Angel. "So, why are we walking again?"
"Because when we fight, it's usually my ass you're kicking."
"Oh, right," she said, with a fond, reminiscent smile. "I guess we're talking then."
"Or we already are."
"If this is going to be the extent of our conversation, then I'm going back," she said, turning away. But before she had taken a step in the opposite direction, his hand reached out and caught her arm.
"Not tonight, not now, and not in my city," Angel replied, pulling her back to him.
"Please," she said quietly. "I don't want this... to be like... what are you doing?" she asked, turning to face him. There was anger in her eyes now. "What are we doing? Do you even know what you feel? Are you thinking? Are you doing anything intelligent?"
She stormed off then, and he ran to catch up to her. "I'm sorry," he said quickly. "It was an old habit."
"It has to stay that way," Buffy said.
"Why? Why do you have to be so cold? Why do I have to be the one who holds back?"
"Because I'm in love with someone else," Buffy snapped, turning to him. In the street light above them, she was bathed in a bright, orange light. Her eyes were hard, but he could see the emotion in her face. "You once said you wanted me to be with someone who takes me into the light... I am."
"Did you come all the way to my city just to tell me that?" Angel demanded.
"No," she said, shaking her head. "I came to say goodbye."
For a moment, they stared at each other. She broke first, and hurried off. He let her go, watching as she stormed away. So, it really had come to this. The love he had carried for her, hoping she would make the right decision to come home and the faith he put in her for her skills, it had all been in vain. She had gone off and found love with another. And he was stuck with the broken pieces of his cold heart.
The back door burst open and Buffy came in, looking thoroughly miserable.
"Buffy, what--" Willow started, but Buffy just shook her head at her and bolted upstairs and out of sight. "Angel," she said quietly.
Harry, who was sitting next to her, going through some of Wesley's extensive Library, glanced up. "I really don't know what's going on between the two of them."
"Harry, you don't want to get involved," Willow said tiredly.
"I'm already involved," Harry muttered, dropping the book and rushing out the back door.
Willow just sighed and buried her face in her hands.
Harry found Angel near the gardens, staring up at the stars twinkling far above them.
"What the hell did you say to her?" Harry demanded.
"You'd be surprised," Angel replied, turning around to glance at the younger brother. He wasn't as tall as Angel was, but he wore a coldness about him that could beat his vampire side to the core. Not to mention the fact he was some 'wicked, powerful Wizard' according to Willow.
"You know, I never liked you, even when everyone was just dying to tell me how good you were," Harry said conversationally, taking a few steps closer. "I just thought you to be some moron who fell for the wrong girl. Here's my advice: get over it."
Angel looked at Harry in surprise. It seemed as though this boy had a dark, intuitive side after all. "What if I don't?"
"She's got some big friends, and a really protective family watching out for her," Harry replied coldly. "Not to mention me, and I'm pretty strong for my size. If you ever do anything to hurt her again... I'll kill you. And that is not a warning or some threat, it's a promise."
Turning, he stalked away, leaving Angel standing in the darkness, now completely baffled.
- - - - -
The next morning was yet another chaotic morning. Angel, Doyle and Wesley were out with a client, leaving Cordelia to help three others pack and get to the airport before noon.
It wasn't a pretty sight.
After the third time of tripping and falling down the stairs, Willow had sworn off the Hyperion forever. Buffy was still in a bad mood about her conversation with Angel the previous night, and Harry was in such a cheerful mood, he sang "Weasley is Our King" under his breath. After the third time, Willow wrenched her shoe off her foot and threw it, hitting Harry in the back of the head, causing him to drop his new birthday gifts over the side of the walkway and into the lobby below. After five minutes of the most frenzied object fight Buffy had ever seen, Cordelia was ushering them out into the hot Los Angeles morning, perfectly happy to just leave them on the curb after Harry had accidently set fire to her little black book with his wand.
The tension was highest at the airport. Cordelia and Willow weren't speaking to one another, Harry and Willow couldn't have a normal conversation without one of them throwing something at the other, and Buffy was still sullen and moody.
It all changed when they walked inside the Los Angeles International airport.
When Harry and Buffy walked in, they met a welcoming committee.
She felt her breath catch in her throat at the sight of both Faith and Xander standing near the security gate, waving a large banner and several bright, foil balloons.
"Couldn't let you get away without saying goodbye," Xander said, rushing over and pulling Willow into a huge hug.
The fact that they had made this an actual memory for Willow was so touching even to Buffy, who watched Willow tearfully hug Xander back.
"I'll always miss my little yellow crayon," Xander said, pulling back.
"Xander!" she said, rolling her eyes and sighing. "I'll always miss my little moose-hero."
"Sand thief."
"Whiner."
Buffy laughed and hugged Xander before he could continue with his insults. Surprised, he held her back before glancing up. "Uh, Buff?"
She pulled back and turned in the direction he was gazing.
Damn it.
Angel was standing there in the shadows.
"I think you owe him one, B," Faith said, nudging Buffy alone as she turned to say goodbye to Harry.
Buffy set down her bag and crossed the airport.
"I think I owe you an apology," she said quickly. "It wasn't how... I didn't want things bad between us, it's just that I... I didn't know how to say goodbye."
"That's a start," Angel replied, reaching over and taking her shoulders. "Are you all right?"
"I'm okay," she assured him quickly. "Trust me... I almost wish I could be here kicking your ass instead of going back there and facing what's to come."
"Is it bad?"
"The worst," she whispered. "But do me a favor, okay? Don't think about it. This is, after all, your city. It belongs to you. Over there, that belongs to the Potters. And so many asses are about to get kicked."
"So I guessed from your beautifully articulated words," he teased as he leaned back against the wall. "At least this time..."
"It's a proper goodbye," she said, with a smile. "Yeah, it is. I just..."
"Does he love you?"
She looked up, stunned at the question. "Yeah," she said softly. "He loves me."
"That's all I needed to know," Angel replied. "But if he ever hurts you..."
"Get in line," Buffy said, smirking. "I have more than just a big vampire lurking over my shoulder nowadays. It seems everyone's waiting for him to slip up... but the question is, can he stand the pressure?"
"I guess we'll find out."
"So this is it, then?" Angel asked, as Faith hurried both Willow and Harry forward to get their boarding passes.
"Yep, this is it," Buffy said. "Last stop on destination freedom. Soon to be landing on planet misery."
"You can handle it," he said. "You always could."
"Never hurts to have a little show of confidence," Buffy said, shrugging.
"You never lost mine and you probably never will."
"Thank you."
"You're welcome. Now you better get going before your plane to England leaves without you on it."
As she walked away, he stood there in the darkness, his arms folded.
"If only you knew what was to come," he said quietly under his breath. "If only you knew how strong your enemy has become. It starts with the death of your brother and the blood will never stop flowing until the end comes. You're going to die and I won't be able to save you, even when the time comes for me to make that choice. I can't forget what we had nor can I just walk away from what could have been... but if I have to the make the choice, it won't be with you. I have to fight the world for the better of it, not to save the life of a child. No, I won't be with you... I'll be against you."
Buffy joined Harry and Willow at the counter.
"Ready?" Harry asked.
"Let's go," Buffy said, and after a last quick hug to her friends, the three walked through their security gate and continued on their way until they passed out of sight.
- - - - -
Chapter 53... Returning to England.
Chapter 54... What we did on our summer vacation and more campfire tales
and Chapter 55... Hogwart's beckons... and the more things change...
- - - - -
Just as I finished typing those questions, more came to my head. I realize it leaves a lot in the air, but hopefully things'll just start explaining themselves. Unfortunately this chapter will be the last time we'll see Spike quite possibly ever, but I couldn't resist bringing him in. He was SO entertaining in Season 4 before he became all... fluff.
I know this was a longer chapter, too. I'm not apologizing for it (unless it gave you monitor jitters, in which case I'll offer water with the apology) because there was a LOT to get through in this chapter. I hope this answered some of your questions. There are a hell of a lot more, but I'll save those for a snowy day. Yes, I said snowy. It's almost 35 degrees outside now! I love winter... I don't think I'll ever get sick of it. I heart snow. Oh, and the northern lights tonight are spectacular.
Before I get to the comments though, I have some questions to ask of you, since some of you still appear to be reading this (yay!) --
1. Should I create this second part as a new story? I'm leaning towards the yes, but I'd like a popular opinion.
2. How dark should Draco get? Some of you have said time and time again you'd love him to be redeemed. Some say he should die. Others, well... I'll just say this: he's a newer, powerful person even though his father was nearly killed by the girl he liked. He's the head of the Slytherin "pure-blood" cult (bringing that over from my other fic, because I actually like the phrase) and he's out to make sure that Harry is always on guard... and while the enmity between Gryffindor and Slytherins is great... well... that leaves Draco as a loose end. Opinions are sought. Cookies are offered. Peace is won.
And, there are probably more, but my brain is kind of spazzing at the moment... too much inventory entries and data mining kills the senses.
Okay, to the reader's comments... some of which were quite interesting, mind you.
Anita Blake/Buffy Fan -- thanks :)
Naitch03 -- Happy (belated) birthday! I do hope you enjoyed it. Let's try out these comments. I didn't say I would kill just one person off. I know it sounds sinister, but it's the truth. You mentioned a 'he'. It could very well be a 'they' by the time I'm done. To quote the First, I want the "big finish". I think whatever there was between Ron and Faith fizzled out (sort of like how Faith and Xander were in canon). This chapter explained things somewhat. As for Buffy dying if she didn't answer the call, all Death Eaters who don't answer Voldemort's call are as good as dead when they ignore their calling. That's partly the reason why Faith disappeared. It's also one of the reasons why Buffy took this one job. It isn't going undercover, because I think she's a better person than just that. No, her skills are better suited elsewhere. Willow is also quite experimental with the Wiccan, but as interesting as bringing her into this sort of story would be, it probably won't happen. I'm beginning to think she finds a good coven at Oxford and starts getting the magicks under control. I could give a large piece of the plot away right now, but I'll desist. Thank you for your long review!
Panther28 -- Hank only knew what Joyce told him, which wasn't much. There was a really early chapter, 3 or 4 I think, in which Joyce said she had to call Hank. This chapter pretty much summed it up. Harry, on the other hand, knows about Angel but like Buffy is absolutely clueless on the extent of Angel Investigations. So they get quite a few surprises in this chapter, and Buffy finally gets to let go of her one great love.
Kel -- So, you'd like to know what's going to happen to "poor, lonely Draco". He actually changed a bit over the summer. You're going to find that the Slytherins have become a lot more verocious and vicious, especially since Voldemort has gained a lot of power since we left off. Draco is basically their leader, and there is one person who could potentially be his downfall... and it isn't a Potter. I didn't feel like redemption could do him any good at this point, but when the end comes, he'll either be fighting by Harry or he'll be the one with the wand pointed at Harry.
Nixi Nox -- Actually, that's awesome. I'm glad you're still reading it. Don't worry about reviewing, either. Just the mere fact you read it means as much as any review.
Strawberry Child -- Thank you! As for the Faith and Ron comment, heh. It ran hot and cold and then died into nothing. You'll learn what happened when Harry finally asks Ron about it (because he isn't getting anything out of Faith).
scruffybunny-- I would really love Buffy to be happy in the end... I'll see if we can wangle it, because there's a hell of a lot of the bad to come before the good. And this was the closure. At least it kind of looks like closure.
CapriceAnn-- many many thanks :)
electric pancake -- oh, my... I really am out of it! It's about 12 degrees right now (in Fahrenheit, so probably minus some really miniscule number in Celsius). My house has no heat right now save my two tiny heaters, which keep my kitties warm, but that's about it. I think there was a more delicate post for handling the baby owls (who wouldn't have been so "baby" by then). As for the House/Quidditch cup thing... damn. I went back and fixed that. Yes, girls are mean. Yes, girls have a reason to despise Ron right now. And yes you'll soon see why. And you're probably right. My last name has five letters. If I were to get married tomorrow, my last name would have six letters. They sound completely stupid together, so I'd keep the one with six letters. My first name has seven. As for Evanescence albums, I bought Fallen a while back, got addicted to it, and then bought Origin. Basically my titles are random picks of whatever happens to be going through my head at one moment. Sort of like this chapter. I mean, geez, Soliloquy, just because I saw this random quote that fit it beautifully.
jim hawking jr -- why, thank you :)
Emba-- it's all right, really. Faith/Harry/Hermione is a little triangle I've been playing with since like.. oh, Chapter 38 or so. It'll finally play out here... with a few surprises in store. I'm not a BIG Harry/Hermione fan, but I'll work on it. Every couple has its problems, and Faith is one of those people who takes advantage of an already quirky situation. And absolutely no Willow/Draco. Besides the fact she's TWO years older than him... ick. Not in this fic. Draco goes dark and unless Willow wants a Requiem reprise, I'll just set her up with someone new, perhaps. I'm not sure who yet. Ideas are always a plus.
Annje-- thank you :)
Adrie -- thank you... I'm glad you're getting back to the warm climate, especially if you're not into the cold. If you want advance chapters, I'll gladly send them (once written), because I'll slow down posting now.
vixen519 -- thanks! And wish granted, sort of.
DarkAngelMali -- I'm kind of glad I'm back, too. As for Buffy/Oliver, you'll have to wait for the next chapter, I'm afraid. This one was purely Buffy/Angel closure.
silvernightshade -- Okay, to answer your comment first. I'm putting it to public forum, as I'm completely willing to do that. That way, it's easier to distinguish two very different pieces. The question is whether or not anyone would ever read them. Now, to your questions. 1) I hadn't thought of that, and Amy being a relative could fit in nicely with the Willow storyline I'm planning. Hell, everyone has a long-lost relative. Amy might as well get in the act. I'll consider it... and you'd be credited, of course. 2) James and Lily will ONLY be back in dreams. Slayers have prophetic ones, and James has something to say about his daughter being a "target" in this section... 3) That'd be a swell meeting. Maybe at the end. I'm not sure. 4) Yeah, since this section focuses more on Harry and not exactly on Buffy all of the time ala the first section. 5) Wouldn't that be cool? It'd also tie in rather well with a storyline... and it'd give me a good excuse to stake him (runs away from pissed-off beta).
A few other random comments...
- The last sentence from the previous chapter was supposed to be prophetic. Sort of.
- Emma Vance is the daughter of Emmeline Vance (from Order of the Phoenix) and has joined the Order with her Mother.
- Quidditch, while cancelled the previous year, will go on this year with a narrower circuit.
- Cornelius Fudge has been having a lot of problems controlling the world of magic, especially when Voldemort is trying to expose it to the Muggle world. This is only a partial reason why the Ministry is under first.
- Arthur Weasley, while a fantastic character, will not replace Cornelius Fudge, no matter how much he deserves it. He'll get a promotion, and it'll wreak havoc on his family.
- It'll be a miracle if all of the Weasleys make it through this fight, especially since one of them has nearly died.
- We'll learn more about Molly Prewitt, since she and Buffy will spend more time together.
- There will be more characters developing in this story, namely Luna Lovegood and Ginny Weasley (among others)
- The enmity between the Slytherins and Gryffindors will reach a critical point.
I think I'll stop there. As much as I'd love to give some things away, all I can really give you are some vague comments I've made in my notes. This story will probably be a hazed-over version of about six months, and it will end with the final battle of Voldemort, with (I hope) a happy ending. Just my line.