As Strong As We Are United

Chapter 4 –Death Eater Attacks

            Angel sat at the desk in his office at Wolfram and Hart, his eyes surveying his most trusted allies who were sitting around the room – Fred, Gunn, Lorne, Wesley, Cat, Genevieve, and Spike.  Fred and Gunn had been working tirelessly by Angel's side for the past year to use Wolfram and Hart's resources in their fight against evil.  Lorne had returned to once again take leadership of the Entertainment Division, after finishing a six-month run of his Vegas show.  Spike had aided their fight more times than Angel cared to count since being rescued from Voldemort's clutches.  Genevieve had worked by Spike's side, having left her life in Las Vegas several months earlier.  Wesley had returned to help out during his summer holidays from teaching at Hogwarts, bringing Cat along with him.  Angel had initially found Cat to be the most difficult to trust, being the only child of the darkest wizard of the time; however, she proved herself to be on the side of good by nearly sacrificing herself to save Fred during her first week in Los Angeles.

            The group was once again reviewing client files.  They had succeeded in ridding themselves of their most evil clients and were now working to determine whom among some of the lower demons would continue to be clients and who would be cut loose.

            "Ew, yuck," commented Fred, reading through the file that was perched on her lap.  "This demon eats the skin of his victims."

            Angel looked up from his own reading.  "Should we get rid of him?" Angel asked.

            Fred looked up wearily.  "No, says here that he only enjoys the skin of the most blood-thirsty of demons.  Sounds like he kills and eats the demons that we really want gone."

            "The enemy of my enemy and all that," smiled Spike.

            "Well, at least we've got one client we can keep," commented Gunn.

            "Merlin, I don't believe it," Cat interrupted, finally looking up from her own pile of client files.  "After my father's first fall, Wolfram and Hart defended Death Eaters.  Looks like most of them got off."  She tossed the file aside disgustedly.

            "Wait.  Let me see that," said Genevieve.  Cat handed the file to the female vampire.  Genevieve perused it quickly.  "You know it is possible that some of these wizards were in fact innocent.  Voldemort did use the Imperius Curse quite often to force people to do his bidding."

            Cat snorted.  "Yeah, but look at how many of the guilty were set free.  They couldn't rejoin Voldemort quickly enough.  We saw how many of them there were during our battle a few months ago."

            "Yes, but there were those who were innocent who should have had a proper trial and good representation," added Wesley.  "Sirius Black for one.  We know that he was wrongfully imprisoned, and now his memory will always be tarnished."

            "It's a shame that it's not possible to identify if someone has been under the Imperius Curse, because when the current war is over, you can bet that those Death Eaters are going to make the same claims yet again," commented Cat, who had discarded the Death Eater file and moved on to the next folder on top of her pile.

            "Why can't they tell if the Imperius Curse has been used?" asked Fred.  "It must leave some trace, if not physical then at least mystical.  It would be interesting to study."

            "That's not a bad idea," said Angel, looking meaningfully at Fred.  "Do you have the resources in the lab right now to begin some preliminary research on the Imperius Curse?"

            Fred looked genuinely excited.  "We could get started on it right away.  This is going to be so much fun."  The group all turned to stare at Fred.  "Well, I think it's fun," she murmured.

            "You might want to get some help with the mystical side of the curse from Wesley, Cat, and Genevieve before they leave at the end of the summer," suggested Angel.

            Before Fred could reply, Harmony, Sunnydale High School student turned vampire turned Angel's secretary, threw open the door and walked into the office.  "I thought I said, 'no interruptions,' Harmony," said Angel exasperatedly.  Harmony was not one to always take instructions well, though she had proven to be a capable secretary to Angel's great surprise.

            "I know, boss, but this is important," she replied.

            "Are we under attack?" asked Angel.

            "Well, no, but. . ."

            "Then whatever it is can wait," said Angel. 

            Spike stood to usher Harmony out of the office.  She turned and pushed him away.  "Back off, Spike.  You have someone new to push around now."  Harmony glared at Genevieve, who ignored the younger vampire.  "Besides, this is important."

            Angel let out a sigh.  "Okay, what is so important, Harmony?"

            Harmony puffed out her chest importantly.  "Cordelia just woke up."  Angel was on his feet and halfway out the door, before Harmony could continue.  "She's screaming something about Buffy."  The rest of the group followed Angel out of the office with Spike in the lead.

****************

            Buffy sat with Professor Dumbledore in his office.  She was recapitulating everything that Ethan had told the group at Narcissa's.

            "We always knew that Voldemort would eventually try to take over Hogwarts," commented the old wizard.  The new war with Voldemort was already beginning to take its toll on Dumbledore.  Though his eyes still twinkled merrily, he was looking older every day.

            "He can try," said Buffy forcefully.  "But we won't let him succeed."

            Dumbledore smiled at the Slayer.  "At least we have been warned that he will try by the end of the school year.  This gives us some time to prepare.  I assume that you will be helping us in the preparation."

            It was not a question, though Buffy answered anyway.  "Absolutely.  I've been thinking that it wouldn't hurt to step up some of the physical training with all the Hogwarts students."

            "Yes, that would be a very good idea," agreed Dumbledore.  "I also think that this year Defense Against the Dark Arts classes should focus on practical defense as much as possible, though I am quite certain that our new instructors will be doing just that."

            "Instructors?  As in more than one?" questioned Buffy.  Dumbledore merely smiled.  "Are you ever going to tell me who'll be taking over for Giles?"

            Dumbledore ignored her question.  "Since you are missing dinner with your friends, would you like to join me for a bite to eat?  Before your arrival, I had just asked the house-elves to send up some dinner.  They always prepare enough for several people."

            Buffy shook her head at the headmaster's refusal to answer her question, but was happy for the dinner invitation.  She did not want to barge back in at Narcissa's, when everyone was halfway through their meal.  "Actually, dinner sounds nice."

****************

            Angel was the first to enter Cordelia's hospital room, followed closely by the rest of the group who had been working in his office.  He visited the room almost daily, always hoping to be there at the moment when the dark-haired seer would awake.  After more than a year, Angel had almost given up hope.

            Several nurses were attempting to restrain Cordelia, who was shouting loudly for Angel.  "No, get off me.  I need to talk to Angel.  Let me go."  Her shrieking came to an abrupt halt, when her eyes fell on the vampire at the door.  "Angel?"

            Angel quickly crossed the room and sat on the bed at her side.  The nurses backed away now that their patient was calm.  Angel gently brought his hand up to cup Cordelia's face.  "I was beginning to think that you would never come back to me."

            Cordelia swatted Angel's hand away from her.  "We don't have time for that now," she said.  Her voice was raspy from lack of use.  "I had a vision.  The Scoobies are in danger.  Giles, Xander, and Faith – I saw them lying on the ground with some other people – Dead.  Buffy came through a fireplace and was killed instantly by a green light.  People were holding sticks that they were pointing at her.  I think they were people.  The were dressed in dark hooded robes and were wearing masks."

            "Death Eaters," gasped Cat.  She and the others had quietly entered the hospital room and were standing silently by the door.

            Cordelia looked up, noticing the group for the first time.  "Who are you?" she asked Cat.  "What are Death Eaters – some new demon or something?"

            "I'll explain later," assured Angel quickly.  "Where were they?"  He needed to get this information if they were going to stop their friends from being killed.

            "I don't know," said Cordelia.  "It looked like someone's living room, but there were odd things."

            "Describe them," urged Angel.

            "When Buffy came out of the fireplace, she walked out of bright green flames."  Cordelia looked confused, but Angel nodded at her to continue.  "There was a picture on the mantel over the fireplace – a teenage boy, pale blonde hair, wearing a dress – kind of reminded me of Spike – but the picture was moving."

            "Dawn's bloke, Draco," said Spike softly.

            "They must be at Narcissa's in Hogsmeade," concluded Genevieve.  "We need to get to them."

            Angel looked at the group gathered by the door.  "Spike, Genevieve, go.  Warn them to get out of the cottage.  The fireplace in my office is connected to the floo network.  The powder's on the mantel.  Go."  But Angel did not need to tell them again.  The two vampires had already turned and begun to run down the corridor to the elevators.

            Cordelia was looking questioningly at Angel.  "So what have I missed?"  She looked at the group of people still standing in the doorway.  "And, where's Connor?"

            "Who?" asked Wesley.

            Cordelia looked confused.  "I'll explain everything," assured Angel.  He turned to the others.  "Why don't you guys take an early day for a change."

            After Wesley, Fred, Gunn, and Lorne had taken turns hugging Cordelia, the group left her alone with Angel.

            "Why didn't Wesley remember Connor?" Cordelia asked.

            "It's a long story," replied Angel.  He proceeded to tell her the highlights of everything that had happened since she had slipped into a coma.

****************

            Giles, Narcissa, Xander, Anya, Faith, and Robin retired to the living room for desert and coffee.  "I was hoping that Buffy would be back by now," commented Narcissa.

            The flames in the fireplace turned bright green.  "Guess she made it," noticed Xander. 

            But Buffy did not exit the fireplace.  Instead, Genevieve stepped out gracefully.  She was soon followed by Spike who landed hard on his knees.  "I hate floo travel," he grumbled, as Genevieve offered her hand to help him to his feet.

            "What are you two doing here?" asked Faith.

            "Cordelia had a vision," explained Genevieve.  "Death Eaters are coming here."

            There was a moment of ringing silence, which was soon broken by Xander.  "Cordy's awake?" he asked.  "Is she okay?"

            "Yeah, woke with a vision of you lot dead and Buffy being killed," explained Spike.  "She seemed okay once she saw Angel."

            "We don't have time for this," interrupted Genevieve.  "The Death Eaters are coming.  We need to get out of the house."

            "Where are the kids?  And where's Buffy?" asked Spike.  "Seer said she got blasted coming out of the fireplace.  We need to prevent her from coming here."

            "The kids are at Harry's, having a birthday party for him," answered Faith.  "And Buffy's at Hogwarts talking to Dumbledore."

            Everyone began talking at once, trying to figure out the best course of action.  "Quiet," yelled Giles.  All eyes turned to him.  "Xander, Robin, and Spike, you can't Apparate.  Take the floo network to Hogwarts and stop Buffy from coming back here.  We need somewhere safe – Order Headquarters.  Tell Dumbledore what's happening.  He can give you three and Buffy a portkey to get to Headquarters."

            Xander, Robin, and Spike nodded.  They quickly grabbed floo powder and one at a time stepped into the fireplace saying, "Hogwarts."

            Giles turned his attention to those who remained.  "We need to make sure the children stay put until we can arrange to get them to safety."

            "I know how to get to Harry's." said Faith.  "I went with Shannon, when she first got back to England."

            "Good," replied Giles.  "Explain to Genevieve and Anya where you're going, and you three Apparate there.  Keep everyone in the house until we send word.  Voldemort can't touch anyone there because of Harry's family protection."  Faith nodded her understanding.  She quickly explained where they were going, and the three women Disapparated.

            Narcissa turned to Giles.  "What do we do?" she asked.

            "We go to Order Headquarters and wait for word from Dumbledore," replied Giles.  He and Narcissa pulled out their wands and Disapparated.

****************

            Xander, Robin, and Spike burst through the visitors' fireplace in the entry hall at Hogwarts.  Without saying a word, the three men sprinted toward Dumbledore's office and came to a halt outside the large stone gargoyle.  None of them knew the current password and so began shouting things at random.  "Lemon drop."  "Fizzing Whizbees."  "Chocolate Frogs."  "Cockroach Clusters."  The gargoyle stood immobile.

            Professor McGonagall, having heard the commotion, came running down the corridor.  "What is going on here?" she asked sternly.  "You three are louder than the students."

            "Minerva, we need to see Dumbledore," Robin practically shouted.  "It's a matter of life and death."

            Professor McGonagall shook her head but did not hesitate to speak the password.  "Singing Sweets."

            "I hate those things," commented Xander, as the three men sprinted up the moving stairs, followed closely by Professor McGonagall.

****************

            Faith, Anya, and Genevieve Apparated into the foyer of Number 4, Privet Drive.  They only sounds they heard were coming from a bedroom upstairs.  "That better not be Dawnie," commented Faith.  "Buffy'll kill her."

            "It sounds like someone is getting some nice orgasms," added Anya.

            Genevieve rolled her eyes at the other two women.  "That only sounds like two people.  Where are the others?" 

            Faith answered the question quickly, when she opened the door to the living room.  With the door open, the sound was able to break through the silencing spell and spill out into the foyer.  "Neat trick," Faith commented, as she entered the room, followed by Anya and Genevieve.

            "What are you doing here?" asked Dawn.  "Buffy said that we didn't have to be home until midnight, and it's barely 9pm."

            "It's a long story," said Genevieve.

            "Cordelia woke up from her coma.  Had a vision that Death Eaters were going to attack us at Narcissa's.  Spike and Genevieve came to tell us.  Everyone got out of the cottage before they got there.  I think that they're all at Order Headquarters.  Giles sent us to stay with you until they could come up with a safe way to get you all to Headquarters too."

            "Okay, not that long," said Genevieve under her breath.

            "You said everyone's safe?" asked Draco.

            "Yes," replied Faith.  "The guys went to find Buffy at Hogwarts.  She was there to tell Dumbledore about our meeting with Ethan.  We came here, and Giles and your mother went ahead to Headquarters."

            "Hey, if all of you are here," said Anya, looking around the room, "then who is making with the orgasms upstairs."

            "That Millicent chick hooked up with Harry's cousin," explained Shannon.  Harry once again looked ill at the thought.

            "Well, she needs to go," stated Faith, who left the room and quickly mounted the stairs.  The group in the living room heard loud pounding, presumably on a door, followed by Faith shouting.  "Millicent, your mother wants you to Apparate home now."

            Faith returned to the living room.  "Don't know if she listened to me, but she really isn't our problem."

            "So, what do we do now?" asked Neville.

            "We wait," stated Genevieve, who had begun flipping through the stack of CDs beside the stereo.

****************

            Buffy and Professor Dumbledore had finished a delightful chat about her summer in Las Vegas and troubles with the Apparation test.  Buffy had just said a farewell to the headmaster and was about to throw a handful of floo powder into his fireplace, when she heard a loud racket coming from outside the door to the office.  She turned toward the door still clutching the floo powder, as the door burst open and three men tumbled onto the floor.  "Buffy," yelled Spike.  "Wait.  It's not safe."

            Buffy raised an eyebrow at the tangle of limbs on the floor.  "What's not safe?" she asked.

            The three men extracted themselves from the floor, as Professor McGonagall entered the office.  Dumbledore motioned for them to all take seats, as Buffy returned the floo powder to the jar at the side of the fireplace.  In less than three minutes they managed to explain that Cordelia had a vision of Death Eaters coming to kill them at the Malfoy cottage.

            "But everyone got out?" asked Buffy.  The three men nodded.  Buffy's eyes grew wide with fear.  "What about the kids?  If Draco comes home – if Dawn and Shannon are with him?"

            "No worries, pet," said Spike.  Buffy shot him a nasty look.  She hated his nicknames for her.  Spike smiled smugly at Buffy.

            Robin explained that the teens were not in any immediate danger.  "Giles was sending someone to make sure that they stayed put at Harry's.  I'm pretty sure that Faith went."

            "Anyway," interrupted Xander, "Giles said that Professor Dumbledore could make us a portkey to get to Order Headquarters.  We're supposed to meet there and figure out how to get the kids to safety."

            "A very good plan," stated Dumbledore.  He took an old shoe from a drawer in his desk, waved his wand at it, and said, "Portus.  Now before you go, Spike, listen closely.  The Headquarters of the Order of the Phoenix is at 12 Grimmauld Place.  Understand?  12 Grimmauld Place."

            However, before the group could touch the portkey, a small crystal ball on the headmaster's desk glowed red and the head of Kingsley Shacklebolt appeared.  "Albus?" he called.

            Professor Dumbledore leaned toward the crystal ball.  "Kingsley, I was just about to contact you.  Seems that a seer friend has just thwarted a potential Death Eater attack on some of my faculty members."

            "At least one attack was prevented," said Kingsley wearily.

            "What do mean?" asked Dumbledore.  "Has there been another attack?"

            "Not one," replied Kingsley solemnly.  "We've gotten word of four attacks on private residences and several Death Eaters attacked the Hog's Head pub.  Aurors have been dispatched to all the locations." 

            Dumbledore closed his eyes, hanging his head for a moment.  The room was eerily silent, even Fawkes did not make a sound.  Dumbledore's voice sounded strained as he uttered his next question.  "How many casualties?"

            "The Aurors are still reporting in from the private residences, but three were killed at the Hog's Head.  The Death Eaters went for specific targets.  They were all members of the Order."

            "Who?" asked Dumbledore, his voice full of worry.

            Kingsley appeared to take a deep breath before speaking.  "Mundungus Fletcher, Hagrid, and your brother Aberforth."  The eerie silence again descended on the room, broken only by a soft sob from Minerva McGonagall.  Buffy walked over the older woman and placed her hand around McGonagall's shoulders.

            "Wait a moment," said Kingsley.  "A report just came in identifying the owners of the homes that were attacked."  Kingsley's face disappeared from the crystal ball for several minutes.  When his face reappeared, everyone in Dumbledore's office recognized the sadness in his eyes.

            Dumbledore finally found his voice.  "Whose homes were attacked?" he asked softly.

            Kingsley responded in an equally soft voice.  "A muggle household – the Grangers."  Buffy and McGonagall both gasped.  "And three wizarding households – Lovegood, Longbottom, and the Weasleys."

            "My God," whispered Robin.  "All the students who helped fight."

            "At least none of the students were home," whispered Xander, afraid to break the silence of the room by talking in a normal voice.

            "What do you mean none of the students were home?" asked McGonagall, a note of hope in her voice.

            "They're all at Harry Potter's house," replied Buffy.  His aunt and uncle went on some kind of vacation; so, the kids decided that they should throw him a surprise birthday party."

            "And as I said before, Giles sent someone there to keep them all in the house until we can figure out how to move them safely," added Robin.

            "Kingsley," addressed Dumbledore, as he turned his attention back to the crystal ball.  "I am going to send these four to Order Headquarters, then I am going to retrieve the children from Harry Potter's residence and take them to Headquarters as well.  I should be there within the hour.  Could you and Minerva be so kind as to pass the word to our other members to meet us there as well."

            "I will get the word out," replied Kinsley, before his face once again disappeared from the crystal ball.

            Dumbledore returned his full attention to the people standing in his office.  Professor McGonagall pulled herself to her full height and wiped the tears from her eyes.  "I will go contact our members," she said stiffly.  Dumbledore nodded at her, and she left the room.

            "Now," said Dumbledore.  "If you would all touch the portkey."  Buffy, Xander, Robin, and Spike touched the old shoe and felt the familiar sensation of a hood behind their navels as they sped toward Order Headquarters.

****************

            A tangible tension had descended on the house on Privet Drive.  Shannon, Ron, and Hermione were upstairs with Harry, helping him to pack his things, though since Harry and Ron were still considerably drunk the girls were doing most of the work.  If they were going to Order Headquarters, it was likely that Harry would never be coming back to Privet Drive.  Harry, who was normally happy to leave his relative's home, did not feel his usual joy.  Rather, he felt apprehensive.  'At least, there are no more noises coming from Dudley's room,' thought Harry.  He supposed that Millicent had finally gone home, and that Dudley was staying away from the many wizards still gathered in the living room.

            Everyone else was waiting in the living room.  Dawn and Draco were talking with Genevieve about Cordelia's awakening from her coma.  There was not much to tell, but Dawn was thrilled that Cordelia was finally awake.  Anya and Faith were eating some of Harry's birthday cake, since they had missed desert at Narcissa's.  Andrew, Ginny, Neville, and Luna were occupying themselves with a game of exploding snaps.

            As Harry, Shannon, Ron, and Hermione entered the living room carrying Harry's things, a loud crack drew everyone's attention to Dumbledore's arrival.  He looked older than ever, tired, and sad.  "What's wrong, Professor?" asked Harry concernedly.

            "We will discuss it after we arrive at Headquarters.  Now is anyone else in the house?"

            "My cousin's upstairs in his room," replied Harry.  "And, I'm pretty sure that Millicent Bulstrode Apparated home."

            Professor Dumbledore closed the door to the room.  "We don't want anyone hearing us," he said.

            "No problem," slurred Ron.  "I did quarters silencio on the room at the beginning of the party." Dumbledore eyed the redheaded teen warily.  "Before the firewhiskey," Ron added.

            Dumbledore nodded, then spoke.  "We are going to take a portkey to Order Headquarters.  Those of you, who have not been there before, listen closely.  The Headquarters of the Order of the Phoenix is at 12 Grimmauld Place.  Remember that – 12 Grimmauld Place."  Luna, Neville, and Genevieve nodded.  Professor Dumbledore transformed one of Aunt Petunia's potted plants into a portkey.  "Now everyone touch this.  We will be going on the count of three.  One.  Two.  Three."