Wahoo I'm back!
Q&A
Goddessa39:Pairings are going to change a lot in this story but I think you'll like the final one for Buffy.
Hollow Nighmare: Yeah the kiss was a fairly spontaneous thing. They wont be together because I'm a huge Ron-Hermione fan but I don't like pairings being the same all the way through stories so it was just to mix things up a bit.
Thank you to everyone who reviewed. Sorry I took so long updating but lots of stuff has been going on.
Hope its worth the wait.
xxx
Sunnydale:
It was a murky twilight and a threesome was out walking the cemetery. It was an odd threesome but then what else would you expect of people in a cemetery at dusk, especially in Sunnydale where the occupants of its numerous cemeteries were not known for peaceful slumbers.
"Shall we finish off for the night?" Giles asked his two younger companions. "It all seems rather…well fairly quiet doesn't it?"
"Yeah you'd think the old vampires would be throwing a bit of a party with the buffster away." Xander replied.
"Xander." Willow hissed hitting him in the stomach.
"What?" He asked indignantly. "All I said was…" He was cut off by a cough from Giles who said dryly,
"Lets try and keep it so that they don't realise she is away and don't take up your idea of a uh party."
"Oh, right yeah, so home anyone?" Xander muttered sheepishly.
"I like that idea." Willow said simply. "Patrolling just isn't the same without the others."
"No." Xander agreed dreamily and it was obvious Anya was forefront in his mind. They began walking towards the cemetery gate when a small, winged creature flew suddenly at them from behind a skeletal tree. "Demon, demon." Xander shrieked, flapping his hands around and ducking behind Willow.
"It's an owl Xander." Willow said calmly, rolling her eyes.
"Owl, owl." Xander yelled as Giles and Willow looked at him. "Oh, owl." He said more calmly. "Why is there an owl?"
"Good question." Willow said, staring at the brown bird hovering directly in front of Giles' face. "It seems to want Giles for some reason."
"Thinking we were too hasty in rejecting the demon theory." Xander said half jokingly, half serious.
"It seems to be delivering a letter. Look, it has my name written on it." Willow and Xander peered at the small scroll tied to the owl's leg as Giles untied it and unrolled it. A second later he exclaimed, "It's from Buffy."
"What does she say?
"How is she?"
"Where is she?"
"Is Mrs Summers ok?"
"What about Dawnie?"
Giles held up his hand against the flood of questions. "She is, they are all alright. It appears though that Buffy has already made enemies in England. She needs us to look them up."
"Let's go then." Xander suggested and began walking military style towards the gates.
"So what exactly are we looking for?" Anya asked at the Magic Box where they sat around the circular table which was piled high with books.
"Anything about someone called Voldemort or Glory." Willow supplied looking up from her laptop.
"Voldemort?" Anya repeated sounding nervous.
"Yeah. Why?" Willow asked curiously.
"Well he's not a very nice guy."
"You know him?" Giles exclaimed.
"We've met once or twice. He was very interested in vengeance. Lots of people sought it against him but that wasn't really my field. I'm not sure what happened to Bella, she was the one who tried to curse him. I don't think it ended very well. He's so…powerful. Evil and powerful. And so pale."
"He's not at all like Dracula is he?" Xander asked looking nervous.
"Oh no." Anya said simply. "He's not nearly so handsome. And he's human."
"Human?" Giles repeated. "So why is Buffy concerned with him?"
"Well when I say human I mean wizard." Anya explained and Willow suddenly looked more interested.
"Do you mean a warlock?"
"No. Wizard. Don't tell me you don't know about wizards for crying out loud." The blank faces of the others were enough to answer her question. "Well there's this whole world, in our reality but hidden from us in which there are all magical people. Demons and vampires can be part of it and magical creatures like unicorns and centaurs but mostly its witches and wizards. They are mostly good but Lord Voldemort, well he wasn't called the dark lord for nothing."
"You're sure he's not another Dracula?" Xander asked again.
"He has no thrall." Anya answered as Giles began searching through a particularly large book which had been lying in a large packing crate. "He's probably the most evil wizard who ever lived but he disappeared about 14 years ago."
"Well he's back." Giles said and Anya paled.
"No. He can't be."
"Why not?" Willow asked simply.
"Because he's so horrible." Anya exclaimed, then went on to expand this statement. "He killed so many people, did such terrible things. He was like Hitler with magic. He had this whole anti-muggle thing, very very prejudiced and power issues too. He had like a mini army of followers and he convinced them to kill and torture people just for fun. I know vengeance work hurt people but it wasn't just for amusement."
"How did he disappear?" Giles asked, polishing his glasses.
"He tried to kill a baby. Harry Potter. The curse backfired and he disappeared. Maybe killed, probably not. That day was one of the best parties I've ever been to, it was almost a miracle he was gone."
"And now he's back." Willow said sombrely.
"Indeed." Giles said distractedly as he stared at a page in the book. He pause then said more urgently. "I think we need to get in touch with Buffy as quickly as possible."
"Err…How?" Xander asked.
"Well we-" Giles began then stopped. "I have no idea."
"Why so urgently all of a sudden?" Willow asked curiously. "What have you found out?"
"Mostly what Anya just said but the little boy Lord Voldemort tried to kill was called Harry, correct?" Anya nodded. "And his parents were called Lily and James." Willow gasped, realising the link Giles was drawing between the names in the book and that Joyce had mentioned. "Not only that but Buffy's letter said Lord Voldemort is often referred to as 'He who Must not be named.'"
"Yes. Because most people are great big scaredy cats and too frightened to say his name." Anya interjected.
"Indeed. Well the point is that the purpose of the sphere of Dagon is to ward off that which can not be named.." Giles finshed.
"So how do we get it to Buffy?" Willow asked and there was a very silent pause.
"I think we are going to have to do it the old fashioned way." Giles suggested. "Aeroplane it."
"We're going to England?" Xander exclaimed. "We don't even know where Bufy is. I know it's a teeny weeny little island but I don't think we can cover all of it before Voldeort attacks."
"We will fly to London." Giles said. "That's where Buffy flew to and in all likelihood she is still there. Once there we can do a locator spell. It will be far more accurate from a smaller distance away."
"So we're really going to London?" Xander asked again. "Will I have to wear tweed?"
Grimmauld Place:
When Buffy stood up out of the fireplace she saw a large kitchen crammed full of people. There was a large group of red heads, Buffy spotted Tonks in there somewhere along with a Professor Snape and a whole crowd of people dressed mostly in wizarding robes. There were a few exceptions Buffy noted though. One man, surprisingly large and shaggy, was wearing a long overcoat, country kind of trousers and sturdy boots. A group of teenagers were wearing ordinary clothes, they were arguing vociferously with the red haired couple.
"After everything that happened you're still not letting us! That's crazy." A red haired boy was shouting.
"Ron we have discussed this already." An older man who looked like the boy's father replied. "You will be allowed to take part in whatever we see fit as long as Dumbledore agrees. This however is not the time. Dumbledore has something extremely important to talk about and he does not wish you or Harry to be present."
"Right." The dark haired boy next to Ron said snappily and with a jolt Buffy realised that this was Harry. She couldn't believe how different he looked from her, didn't understand how he could be her brother. Then she heard him speak, heard the hurt in his voice and knew it to be the same as hers. "Dumbledore doesn't want us to hear anything. He knows that keeping secrets was the worst thing he could do. It helped kill Sirius. What little I didn't do he did and all because he couldn't tell me that Voldemort might control me." There was a general shudder at Voldemort's name but Harry ploughed right on. "And now he's ready to put people in danger again, he's ready to hide more things from me and…" Harry trailed off as Dumbledore strode over to the corner where the argument was taking place. Buffy noticed a pretty girl with bushy hair look nervously at the approaching headmaster but Harry looked at him with fire and ice in his blazing eyes.
"What seems to be the problem?" Dumbledore asked in a voice that indicated he was aware of no trouble. Buffy noticed a steely look in Harry's eyes as he looked away from Dumbledore, towards her. Ron looked faintly nervous as the girl spoke.
"We would like to be part of the Order Professor." She spoke steadily but Buffy's sharp eyes darted from Harry's face long enough to notice her fists clenching and unclenching nervously.
"Miss Granger that is not a matter to be discussed at the present time." Dumbledore said.
"When is it time Professor?" Harry snapped, dragging his eyes away from Buffy. "When it's all over? When Voldemort kills me or when I kill him? When we're in the middle of a war and I don't know what to do because you haven't shared with me information about my life, my destiny, my job. You're willing to put me up against Voldemort whilst you all sit here and talk about strategy."
"Harry." Dumbledore interrupted calmly. "I have no intention of making you face Voldemort at the moment." Harry changed tack with the speed of lightening.
"So you're just going to ignore it then, the whole prophecy. You're going to continue to hide me from what has to happen. I'm not a child any more. I've seen too much for that, I know what Voldemort can do now and I want to fight it, I have to fight it anyway, you may as well help me."
"Harry, it is not that we will not help you but we must decide how best to do it. This is a situation we have never come across before, we have no pre-tested plan to use but must make it up as we go along. Sometimes we make mistakes as I have told you I did last year but we are learning from them.
"May I present an alternative argument headmaster?" Snape said in his oily voice. Buffy opened her mouth to cut off the repulsive intonations with a typically witty put down but Dumbledore shot her a look which stemmed her intended mockery making. Snape continued pausing only to allow a triumphant smirk time to form at the corner of his lips. "This…discussion…is largely irrelevant as Mr Potter will not only be at school for all future Order meetings" (Buffy got the distinct impression Snape was not looking forward to this) "but will not be welcome to this one as its nature is by very strict invite anyway, one of the conditions being a long-term involvement in Order activities which unfortunately Mr Potter lacks." Buffy was aware of Snape's pleasure in saying this, the sadistic smirk still twitching at his lips.
"So what do five years fighting Voldemort not count for anything then?" Harry retorted angrily. "Does that not make any difference at all in the immense schemes of the anti-Voldemort league."
"It is not that we do not want you here Harry but Professor Snape has a point." Dumbledore said pacifying. "The meeting now is only for a very select group of Order members, even Misters Fred and George Weasley will not be attending. I cannot therefore invite you or Miss Granger or Mr Weasley to join us. One rule must apply for all. We will of course let you know anything of relevance to you, perhaps at the party I believe is to be held immediately afterwards."
"Screw your party." Harry yelled. "And damn your stupid meeting." With that he stormed out the room, followed closely by Ron and Hermione both looking worried. Buffy watched them leave, her face blank but her mind turning summersaults as she built up a picture of her brother. Dumbledore turned to the assembled group and wearily said,
"I suppose I must bring this meeting to order then." He took a seat at the head of the long kitchen table and all the others sat down along the sides. There was immediately an air of business, as if everyone at once accepted Dumbledore's authority, though he did not declare it in any way. He merely cleared his throat softly and began to speak. "Before we hear all the usual business I would like to draw your attention to the matters which have brought me to call this special meeting. There are three reasons, firstly it was brought to my attention that Lord Voldemort had developed a plan to ascend. For those of you who don't know that means he was planning to transform into a pure demon, larger and more powerful than any of the hybrids on earth." There were a few gasps from the assembled crowd and Buffy saw several faces grow steely. "This plan has been foiled, for the moment at least, which brings me to my second point." Dumbledore indicated for Buffy to step forwards. She did so, aware of all eyes looking at her. "This is Miss Summers. She is the Slayer." At this the gasps and exclamations were louder, several people stood up sharply, scraping their chairs back along the stone floor. Dumbledore stood up and the murmuring faded. One voice spoke clearly from the back of the room.
"Dumbledore surely it is not a wise idea to bring the Slayer to an Order meeting."
"On the contrary. Its is probably the biggest step forward we have made in years." Dumbledore said lightly. "I realise that fear of the Slayer is widespread and we all have memories, or have heard stories of the last one known to the wizarding world. I say now once and for all that no prejudice is to be held against Miss Summers. She has already proved of the most valuable assistance both through her abilities and her experiences. It was she who succeeded in obtaining the object Lord Voldemort required in order to complete the ascension rituals and it is thanks to her that it is now safely in my possession.
"Not to sound disrespectful Dumbledore but it is undeniable that the Slayer's power is rooted in darkness." An elderly man wheezed and a murmur of agreement sounded.
"That is true Elphias." Dumbledore agreed "However, as you know I am not one for regarding where a person comes from very highly. I prefer to review a person's choices and actions and in Miss Summers' case I have assurance from a very reliable source that she has used her abilities very much for fighting evil."
"Hence the title Vampire Slayer." Buffy couldn't stop herself saying. "See, slays vampires, demons, evil things. Not people!"
"Yes thank you." Dumbledore said, his eyes twinkling. "Now, I hope in this meeting to determine how we will utilise Miss Summers' strength as Lord Voldemort is still growing stronger. His attempt to ascend may be halted but he has been drawing strength from somewhere and I believe that it is imperative we find out where or who it comes from."
"Unicorn blood again?" Snape suggested.
"No, I believe it is perhaps more powerful." Dumbledore said worriedly. "Unicorn blood may have strengthened him once but the power he is gaining so rapidly now is," He paused for a moment, "is frightening. I had not believed such power could exist on earth."
"What do we know about it?" A tall black wizard asked, wearing an expression of worry which matched that of every occupant in the room.
"Not a lot." Dumbledore sighed. "I have merely been able to detect a presence of some being with incredible strength intermittently. Couple this with Lord Voldemort's hasty gathering of power and I would infer that one feeds the other. Very recently I detected some significant change in the source of this power. It was as if the energy it possessed had been somehow channelled and its source trapped. I fear the energy has been displaced and I see no place for it to go other than straight to lord Voldemort. I don't need to tell you how much damage Lord Voldemort could do with such power." There was a breathless silence for a few moments until a small red haired woman asked nervously,
"How much power exactly?"
"At times only as much as a muggle fortune teller, sometimes as much as a powerful wizard, when I felt the channelling, the multiplying force of compressing the energy it was almost the power of a deity." Again the silence fell as everyone struggled to accept what had just been said. Suddenly Dumbledore lifted his head and spoke much more enthusiastically. "That is something we will deal with. I have now warned you and I ask you to be especially vigilant. Now I will move onto my third item of business which is much more joyful. It is not merely longstanding service to the Order which qualify you all to attend this meeting. You will probably not have noticed but a common feature you all share is the fact that you knew Lily and James Potter to some extent."
"What's that got to do with anything Dumbledore?" Growled a man sitting to Dumbledore's right who had one brilliantly blue eye which was whizzing around in its socket and a chunk of nose missing. "Potters are long dead, it's Harry we need to be worrying about."
"Ah, Alastor we have been deceived. Until most recently I would have agreed with you but a plan has come to light, a most ingenious plan which has remained unfoiled for years but is now being unveiled." The silence was absolute as Dumbledore spun his story, weaving a sort of magic which held his audience spellbound. "I don't think there is one among us who could believe it when we heard of Lily and James' death, not least because of the circumstances under which it occurred. Now I do not know of anyone who would dispute the fact that they are dead yet it seems that we were right to be disbelieving, we were right in denying that Lord Voldemort could have got hold of them both."
"What do you mean?" Was a unanimous gasp.
"Albus, you don't mean…" Mrs Weasley trailed off.
"Lily Potter is alive."
The silence was absolute. No one seemed to be breathing and Buffy realised exactly how dramatic this revelation was to them. She suddenly hoped Dumbledore wasn't about to reveal that Lily's all-forgotten daughter had also turned up.
"How did Harry take it?" Moody said at last, breaking the silence. Dumbledore looked awkward
"I was unsure of how to break the news to him."
"He's not going to be best pleased Dumbledore, if the whole Order knows before him."
"Maybe I should…go?" Buffy suggested suddenly. "Y'know tell him." Moody looked at her as if she was crazy.
"No offence but maybe you're not the best person to talk to the boy. He doesn't even know you."
"Actually. I think I'm the best person to do it." Buffy said and turned, leaving Moody oggling after her with both magic and normal eye.
Buffy marched through the entrance hall, past Mrs Black's sleeping portrait and began ascending the stairs. At the landing where Harry's bedroom was she stopped and stood in front of his door. She took a deep breath and knocked.
There you go peeps, next time Harry meets Buffy…maybe I'll actually get there some time. Reviews'll help!!!!!