Disclaimer: Harry Potter, Charmed, Buffy the Vampire Slayer Angel are properties of JK Rowling, Aaron Spelling Joss Whedon. Except for the occasional 'original character' that might crop up every now and then. I don't own any rights to the aforementioned titles or its characters, I am merely borrowing them to cure this nagging plot bunny in my head.

Summary: Future Wyatt Halliwell concocted a time traveling spell and returned to 2003. Lord Voldemort was defeated in 1998 by Harry Potter, but he never really died. A mystical being and the spawn of the damned plays an important role in Voldemort and Wyatt's rise to power.

PhoenixRae's Notes: Wow, I am starting the third chapter now and I have yet to post this fic online! LOL Well, it's better to have a few chapters done and out in case the dreaded writer's block decided to get in the way - as usual. I sure hope you're liking the fic so far. Please, please, please let me know what you think of it. This is my first time writing a crossover and I am really looking forward to hearing some feedbacks from you wonderful readers you.


III. Home Sweet Home Burning Marks

Hogsmeade, somewhere in Scotland

THE AMERICANS' JAWS DROPPED WHEN THEY saw the state of the 'house' chosen to be their temporary headquarters while they think of a plan to prevent Voldemort and his accomplice's attack. It was an old, rickety place that looked like it hadn't been used for centuries. One strong wind and the whole thing would fall apart!

"You have got to be kidding me!" Exclaimed a flabbergasted Cordelia when she saw the state of the house they were to call home for the next little while until this impending doom passed.

"The place looks so damn small! It's not gonna fit all of us," complained Dawn, her nose wrinkled in disgust at the sight of the filthy place.

Ron and Harry exchanged a look. Apparently none of these people has seen the inside of bewitched tent.

Hermione cleared her throat and moved to the front of the queue. They took the route, in the dead of the night to avoid any sudden bursting into flames by two of their night-dweller companions, to the famous Shrieking Shack in the small village of Hogsmeade via the least conspicuous way and now they stood at the barricaded front door.

"It only looks like this on the outside. Consider it a camouflage in case some unwanted people decided to wander here," she explained. "But inside you'll see that it'll fit at least fifty people at a time."

"Now that remains to be seen," snorted Connor, his arms crossed firmly over his chest while he leaned against a tall post support the barbwire fence.

Hermione shot the teenager a quelling look which was then returned by him. Since their arrival in London the boy had been nothing but an obnoxious snot, lacing everything he says with sarcasm and challenging everyone who dared speak to him. What was his problem?

"Then I suggest we go inside and find out if Hermione's lying or not," announced Harry over the top of everyone's heads. He and Ron decided to stay at the back of the group to keep an eye out for unwanted traveling companions.

"There's no way I'm setting foot in that house," Anya backed away and in to Xander's arms. "What if there are rabbits hiding inside?"

Anya's out of the blue comment snapped Hermione out of her glaring contest against Connor and turned to an obviously afraid Anya. Hermione chuckled and shook her mop of curly dark brown hair. "Don't worry, Anya, we made sure to get rid of any unwanted rabbits that inhabited the place since it was last used," she assured the former Vengeance Demon.

It took them a good five minutes before they convinced the stubborn Americans that the Shrieking Shack was a safe place to inhibit despite of its less than attractive exterior. Anya was adamant she'll check herself into a hotel if she so much as sensed a rabbit's presence in the house. Cordelia complained about the dust and whatnot they'd have to clean to make the place look livable - or until it passed her standards.

Hermione showed them the other passage they created to avoid using the front door. It was barricaded for a reason and they mustn't alert the villagers that humans are living in the shack. They want to maintain the myth that the shack was haunted.

There were still murmurs of complaints from the majority of the group until Hermione unlocked the secret passage door and pushed it open, revealing a state-of-the-art modern-day home complete with hardwood floor that looked like it had just been recently polished. There was a winding staircase leading to the second floor landing where the bedrooms were located.

"Holy crap! Now this is what I call nice digs!" Faith pushed aside the people in front of her and was the first to step over the threshold.

"It beats the Manor, that's for sure," observed Paige as she stepped through the threshold and circled the large entryway.

"Now I'll know not to judge a book by its cover," commented Buffy as she entered the house.

"Aw, this place beats out my apartment in LA!" whined Cordelia as she stared at the high ceiling where a large chandelier hung from it and lit up the room.

"The Hyperion ain't got anything to this first-class beauty," Gunn commented, taking inventory of the furniture and decorations adorning the walls of the extremely spacious house.

One by one the Americans entered the shack, each marveling at the transformation from its outer look and what it was boasting inside. Harry and Ron did a quick patrolling of the premises before joining the others inside the shack and closed the door after them. They found Hermione pulled on the side by the Charmed Ones and the two slayers while the men were gathered around the living room, discussing amongst themselves. Upstairs they heard some giggles followed by a burst of surprised shrieks. Whomever just squealed like a school girl must've seen what they did to the bedrooms that was to be shared by two people.

Ron pulled his best friend aside and asked, "Do you really think Voldemort's back?" He'd been itching to ask his friend that question since they left the Ministry to escort their guests up north to Hogsmeade.

Harry kept his eyes on their guests but answered his friend's question. "It looks like it if two of the three people who had visions of the so-called attack were powerful people. I mean, the strongest vampire Slayer and a Charmed One. They battle demons, Ron, demons - monsters you can only imagine."

Ron's gaze wandered to where Hermione stood with the two people Harry just mentioned. They were deep in conversation discussing whatever they could possibly discuss. Hermione being the Junior Assistant to his father meant that she was gathering as much information as she possibly can to report back to the Minister.

"Are you worried?"

Harry looked at his friend then and raised an eyebrow. "Of course I am worried. Voldemort rising back to power and somebody equally powerful or more alongside him as an ally? Wouldn't you be worried yourself?"

"I'd be. But what I can't help but wonder is, how did Voldemort survive?"


Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, somewhere in Scotland

DRACO MALFOY DISMISSED HIS LAST CLASS OF THE DAY fifteen minutes earlier than he was supposed to. He wasn't able to concentrate on what he was explaining to his fifth year students since that damnable mark on the inside of his forearm just below the bend of his elbow started bothering him. At first it started as as a pin-prickly feeling that turned to an annoying itch and now it was starting to burn a hole through his arm. He was surprised at how rapidly the pain grew, from a pinprick to an all-out inferno on his arm!

He needed to talk to Severus about this. Why the heck was this damned mark burning his arm? Was it suppose to hurt like hell even after the person who branded him with the mark was dead?

Locking his classroom up, Draco headed straight for the dungeons where he knew the Potions professor was just wrapping up his last class for the day. He needed answers right away before he went out of his mind from the scorching pain.


Headmaster's Office
Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, somewhere in Scotland

A MAN WITH LONG, WHITE BEARD DRESSED IN BLUE silk robes and has half-moon specs perched on the bridge of his nose sat behind a desk cluttered with rolls of parchment and an open book. He had four visitors in his office, two of which were part of some higher being while the other two were former members of the formidable Watchers Council.

Albus Dumbledore listened intently to what the four people in his office were saying. Arthur Weasley sent him an owl explaining the situation before the arrival of these four people in his office. Dumbledore was the one who suggested to the Minister to use the Shrieking Shack as headquarters and safehouse for their American guests for the duration of their stay in the UK.

If Lord Voldemort was indeed back, the last place he'd expect his targets to hide was at Hogsmeade. He'd expect them to be either at the Ministry of Magic or tucked away somewhere in the Watchers Council's offices, but the thought of them seeking help from Dumbledore would be far from it. Nevertheless, Dumbledore was inclined to put a concealing charm around the shack's premises; they couldn't afford to risk alerting the villagers that the Americans were staying at the abandoned, haunted shack.

"So," Dumbledore searched the faces of all four men before him, "we still have no idea who Lord Voldemort's ally is?"

"Phoebe had a clear view of his face in her vision and gave us a rough sketch on what he looked like. We showed it to everyone, but his face didn't ring a bell," explained Leo.

"Our resources in the Council ran the sketch over for comparisons, but came up with zilch," Giles informed them.

"I had a meeting with the other Elders, asked them who the man in Phoebe Halliwell's vision was, but we came up with nothing close to relating the mystery man to," Zola, an Elder and Leo's closest ally, informed the group.

"And you asked everyone in your groups if they recognized the man?" Dumbledore directed his question to Leo. The mischievous twinkle in the elder wizard's eyes said he knew something none of the others knew.

"Yes, we did." Leo nodded, but the way Dumbledore aimed the question at him made the Elder wonder. Albus Dumbledore was an odd man, but his oddity often served a purpose; a riddle that needed to be solved was often hidden underneath his oddness.

"I suggest you ask them again, Mr. Wyatt," Dumbledore winked.

The doors to the Headmaster's office opened and two figure - a greasy dark haired man and a younger platinum blond haired man - swept into the room, their dark robes billowing behind them. They went straight to the Headmaster's desk, each clutching their forearm.

"Pardon the intrusion, Headmaster, but this matter Professor Malfoy and I need to speak to you with cannot be ignored," apologized the greasy-haired man.

One look at where the two men's hands were and Dumbledore didn't have to ask. Speaking in an undertone that only his two professors who barged in to his office unannounced could hear, the other four men present were confused at what just happened. Dumbledore and the eldest of the men that entered were deep in discussion; the blond haired young man with them had his face set to a deep scowl. After five minutes or less discussing the matter of grave importance, Dumbledore got up from seat and addressed the rest of the people present.

"Gentlemen, I'm afraid I have bad news totell you..."


To Be Continued...

A/N: I know this chapter is shorter than the previous one. I didn't mean for it to be this short, it just ended up that way. I hope you enjoyed this last three chapters so far. The next chapter(s) will be done at the rate I'm at. LOL Feedbacks are always welcome. Constructive criticism counts a lot to me. Thanks!