Authors' Note: We are sorry for any complications you've been having while reading this. A few things. DeOgan is a character we created and will explain a bit more about in this chapter. The part in chapter 7 when the Death Eater's began their attack was left out for specific reasons. Finally there is no specific Pov in this story, it's constantly third person but can shift being it's omnipresent. We're trying to make it more understandable too so we understand your concerns and will address them, as needed, thank you all for you criticism and comments.
Prelude to Destruction
Wolfram and Hart, L.A.
Flashback
Prior to Privet Drive Incident
(Chapter 4)
Lorne sat on the couch in Angel's office wondering what he would do without Fred. He had really liked her for who she was…a friend. When that entity…thing…
Illeria took her away from his family, Angel, Gunn and Wesley, they all took it hard.
"Hey Lorne, you okay?" Angel asked as he entered his office.
"No…I miss her!"
"Fred? …We all miss her, Lorne," Angel said.
"I'm taking off for a little while Angel… I'm going to see Dawnie."
"Ummm…Lorne we don't get along that well with the Slayers now. It…it may not be a good…"
"I'm going Angel…I'm leaving for Cleveland in the morning," Lorne said as he got up and walked out of Angel's office.
Running his hand through his hair, Angel realized he should call them, but…Ahh, hell, a little time with some friends should do him good.
At that moment Harmony walked in and said, "Hey you're hair's messed up, let me get a camera…I over heard what was said in your office, because the door was open…"
"The door was not open, Harmony."
"The Intercom was stuck in the 'on' position and I…"
"The intercom was busted last week when Illeria threw Spike through the door."
"Okay, okay…geeze I was at the door being nosy and over heard, okay! Anyway I could use a vacation, how about I…"
"No!" Angel said.
"I could take Spike with me?"
"Okay."
The SlayersMansion
London. England
The tied up Death Eater, Phineas Bogg struggled against his restraints. "I shall never tell you of Voldemort's plans, not even torture will bring them out of me."
Buffy smiled. "Phineas…right, …torture is not an option, and we aren't even going to ask for your plans, we have something better for you to do and then we'll let you go."
The Death Eater stared, disbelieving. "Are you insane?
Buffy smirks at that. "Naw, just a blonde. Now tell me…how do you like Aretha Franklin…?"
"Honestly…I like Steve Tyrell better, …why do you ask?"
The SlayersMansion
London. England
Later
"If that guy wasn't so evil, I'd ask him to sign a contract… I mean, his voice is one of the best I ever heard for a guy, I mean, he could revive Motown Baby-face"
Xander shook his head. "Lorne we called you here for info, not so you can do some talent scouting. And besides, with Willow, he won't even remember he was captured."
"Sorry, Baby-face. From what I can tell, their lord seems to have his sights set on Hogwarts this Halloween."
Xander nodded. "We had better get ready then. It may be a few months away but still…we need a plan."
"I agree Xander lets get the others together and come up with some type of plan, tomorrow," Giles said.
SlayerMansion
London, England5:55 am
He woke up slowly appreciating the warm body that cuddled next to him. Upon opening his eyes he saw Faith lying on his left side. He slowly extricated himself from her hands and arms and feet, he rose and took an early morning trip to the restroom.
Xander was going to make his way back to his room when he decided to make a stop at the medical wing. Ms. Pomphrey and several slayers who had taken nursing were there helping with the wounded. Ms. Pomphrey had called in a doctor that she knew, while Buffy had called another doctor in town.
As he was making his way past several of the wounded he heard talking up ahead. Xander saw kneeling next to a body covered with a sheet was Spike. He looked up, but didn't seem to care that he was there. Xander moved closer and lifted the sheet, under the sheet was Kate, and she didn't make it. He slowly lowered the sheet and helped Spike up by the shoulders and had a nurse escort him out of the room. He then noticed a spiky haired female sitting in the corner, her legs up and her head down lying on her arms.
Tonks didn't realize anyone was next to her until she was picked up in some strong arms and he was walking down the aisle. He was half way upstairs when she looked into the face that held her. Xander…they called him Xander…
"Please…please, I don't want to sleep just yet."
"Okay, how about a snack or some coffee?" She nodded her head as he continued to carry her to the kitchen.
Entering she noticed Mr. Weasley in a chair against the wall and the blonde girl who was thrown through the wall…Buffy. Xander let her down and she sat while he looked in the kitchen for something to eat.
"I…I…froze. I was ready for magic, but when it came I…"
"You didn't freeze Tonks, if it hadn't been for you … Mr. Granger would be dead and Albus would be too. You remembered your first aid, and helped Hermione with both of them." Mr. Weasley said.
She looked up smiling with a tear stained face.
Xander glanced at Buffy and then told her about Kate. The strong blonde suddenly hugged Xander and sobbed continuously for what seemed like a long time. Faith entered wiping the tears from her eyes realizing that he had told B about Kate. She told everyone that Giles had left earlier with several people to get some food at the grocery store. They would have to notify him when he gets back.
Harry, Ron, Luna and Hermione stepped into the kitchen as Giles walked in the door with several slayers and Harry's Uncle Lupin carrying bags of groceries. Buffy told them to lay them in the dining room. Several people including Ron and Harry helped the others carry in more groceries while the girls arranged the food in the dining room. While everyone else went to eat, Xander decided to hit the showers before anyone else.
The SlayersMansion
London. England
Next Day
Giles's RoomHe could no longer keep himself composed. This was the second time he had lost someone. Kate had been shot in the head saving Spike and died earlier that morning from blood loss. There was nothing they could do.
It seemed that the only thing Giles knew about love was that it was constantly avoiding him. Ms. Calendar, Kate, and whoever else knows seemed to die when he just was getting to know them.
A slight knock at the door brought Giles back to reality. He walked to the door to answer it. Upon opening it he discovered the elder witch, Lirio.
"Ummm…hi…this really isn't a…" He Began.
"I…I'm sorry. I didn't know her that well. She seemed like a nice person…and can I come in?" Lirio asked.
"Oh…oh yes, please do. Would you care for a drink?"
"I really don't drink…but if you could hand me a shot of whiskey that will do." He looked at her oddly. "Were you two dating?" she asked.
"Well…I was going to ask, but things…you know… I'm surprised Xander hasn't shown up yet. He's the psychologist in the family…hmm…should have a PHD by now…," Giles trailed off wiping his eyes and glasses.
"I caught him before his big entrance and asked if I could help. Sorry no PHD, but I listen well. So if you want to talk…"
SlayerMansion
That Night
"So, Lorne, is that all you got?"
"Uh huh Buttercup. Halloween is when the Ministry is having a meeting there. That's when good old Voldy will attack, hoping to bring down the big cheese." Lorne answers Buffy.
"Then we should start on a plan B, as Xander suggests, any ideas?" Faith replied.
Andrew raised his hand. "Ooooh. They need entertainment right? Put on a play for the Ministry so when the Death Eater's attack, you can just jump down and start…
to…" He looks around then stays quiet.
Xander starts laughing. "Right…like what…a…musical? How about The Wiz?"
The others started laughing.
Lorne looked up his eyes gleamed, "I…met this guy in my bar once and he had this great idea for a play…okay he was a demon. Anyway…I'll see if I can get hold of him and you know…see if its anything we can use."
Looking better than he did this morning "A play? You…you can't be serious Lorne." Giles starts, mouth agape.
"No listen. It's a wizard's world. A normal human play wouldn't do much but something this different might just work." Buffy said.
SlayerMansion
Two Month's Later
Giles and Xander were in the gym working out with the wizards, Harry, Ron, Fred, George and the others, who were just back from taking classes at Hogwarts, using hand weapons and hand-to-hand combat. Harry and Xander were dueling in the back with katanas. Harry wasn't looking to bad, while Xander, under the tutelage of Giles and the Slayers, was looking better and better.
Ron and the others waited for their turn at swordplay, while Lupin talked with DeOgan and Giles. Some Slayers were working out in the other corner of the room lifting weights and sparring. Mr. Granger and Mr. Weasley were on the mats sparring, but it looked like Mr. Granger was holding back.
"Hey Sweetie!"
"Gahh!, Oh Lorne don't do that. You scared the…"Lirio said smiling, while watching the others, "you're back!" Giving him a big hug. "Did you get the umm…play?"
"I'll tell you in a little bit, but what's with the ogling?" Lorne asked grinning.
"What do you mean, ogling?" She said embarrassed.
"You know what I mean 'the ogling'? Of a certain headmaster of the Slayer school…you know…as in Rupert Giles."
"I've been meaning to ask her that for the last month Mr. Lorne?"
"Ohh, Professor Dumbledor it's good to see you up out of bed at last." Lorne said.
Sitting in his wheelchair, Albus chuckled thinking that he never would have thought that in all his life he would he be in a Slayers mansion talking to a Wiccan witch and a green skinned demon from Pylea, but here he was! Again turning to his friends he smiled curiously at Lirio and tilted his head.
"Ohhh alright," she said flushing uncharacteristically, "Rupert and I are umm…dating. You two aren't going to say anything are you?"
"No my dear we won't say anything…" Lirio sighed in relief. "But Dawn and Willow had already started a pool two weeks ago." Albus stated, while smiling at Lorne, as they both turned and left a very dumbfounded Wicca standing next to the gym doors. "So…we split the take like we said…"
SlayerMansion
Conference Room
In attendance: Rupert Giles, Faith Williams, Buffy & Dawn Summers, DeOgan, Lirio,Willow Rosenburg, Xander Harris, Albus Dumbledor, Spike, Kennedy, Lorne & Mr. Weasley
"So Lorne, what do you have for us?" Giles asked. Everybody turned to Lorne to hear what he had to say.
"Well Bubal a, the play is really not a play, but a musical…oh I love a good musical, the songs, the dancing its just so…"
"Lorne!"Everybody shouted.
"Oh…oh yeah, well anyway it's a musical called Once More with Feeling'. Here I have some scripts that I wrote for it. Hope you like it." Lorne said as he handed out the scripts.
After a few minutes, Xander looked up, "Hey wow this is so cooool, some girl starting to kick ass in the cemetery, huh Buff."
"Yeah, cool," Buffy says looking strange.
"Buffy, she…she's kinda like you with all the a poundin' and gruntin' and…that so didn't come out the way I wanted it too." Willow says flushing.
"Uh Yeah, Wills."
"Ohmygod, she's singin' too and demons are dancin' as she's beatin' them up, B."
"I think I'm going to be sick…" Buffy says.
"Hey guys if you turn to page twenty, there's these two…engaged people singing and dancing and…"
"Oh sht…" everybody looks at Xander suddenly. "It's Sweet."
"No…no I wouldn't say it's that goo…"
"No Lorne it's Sweet, the demon, I called. This…this play is about our life! Xander said throwing the script to the floor. "We can't do this play…it's about…us!"
"Hey, look I'm singing in here…"said a smiling Spike showing Harmony.
"Umm…guys we have to do this musical, Once More With Feeling." Buffy pipes in.
"Why!" everybody yells.
"We don't have time for anything else…and besides we all know the words." Buffy said.
"I…I…agree, as much as I don't want go through this again, we have too, for the sake of the kids going to Hogwarts," states Willow.
"This really happened?" Kennedy asked.
"Yes, it really happened," Xander stated. "Not one of my better ideas."
"Ummm…I think I could do a spell for us to remember, but we need some people to fill in…you know," Willow said in a small voice.
"So we need to fill a few spots. Lorne, put up a notice, tryouts start tonight." Buffy said.
A knock was heard from outside and Giles told whoever it was to come in. As the door opened, Andrew appeared informing DeOgan that some people were here to see him. When asked who was looking for DeOgan by Buffy, Andrew said, "Three people, a dwarf by the name of Gimli, an elf named Legolus, who says he's your grandfather and a tall older gentleman dressed all in white with a long beard who could be Albus Dumbledor's brother. Anyway they are in the lobby and you better hurry because the dwarf was making comments about some of the girls."
DeOgan's face grew into a large smile as he launched himself from where he sat and ran from the room, with Buffy and then several people behind him. Running down the hall passing slayers in training and others on his way, he suddenly came to a stop outside the lobby. Everyone comes to a stop a little bit away from DeOgan and waits to see what he does. Opening the lobby's door he enters, while the others wait.
Buffy moves past the others until Giles grabs her arm. Troubled Buffy glances at Giles who shakes his head. So, she waits holding Xander's hand, while trying to determine what she should do.
Faith and Willow stood to either side of Xander with Faith holding Xander's hand and Willow holding Buffy's hand. Both were concerned about they're friend DeOgan.
When the door did open, out walked a smiling DeOgan and a smiling blonde haired elf of about the same height. He was dressed in leather jerkins and leather breaches with worn black boots. Next came a grumpy dwarf who wore basically the same type of clothes, but he had a full black and gray beard. The last person through was a smiling tall white bearded man dressed in white robes and carrying a staff.
"Hey B, Red … I need your help with something."
"What's up Faith, is it Xander, he took the whole musical thing a little hard two nights ago." Buffy said, as she and Willow started to walk with Faith.
"Yeah…yeah he did and I just wanted somebody to talk to him yah' know?"
"Faith, you know he lo…"
"Yeah Red I do. We had this discussion after the meeting. He told me it was over with Anya, but he just assumed that she would still be around to bug him. When she died, a little bit of him died. As for me, he told me that I would still be here beside him." She said smiling. "But what bothers him the most is that…"
"Spike survived, even after being dead, and she just died, not coming back." Buffy finished.
"Yah' got it in one B."
"He's not our best friend for nothin' F." Red replied snickering.
"Okay where is he? What with Dawn telling me she wants to be a Watcher and Xander…"
"She finally told you B, hell I knew that before I was engaged."
"Yeah…I knew that back when we were at the Magic Box Too." Willow said.
"I knew that when I told mom I was a Slayer and Giles was my Watcher. You should have seen Dawn's eyes light up. After all this time I was hoping she might change her mind, but I guess if that is what she wants, I'm not holding her back."
Walking past the horse stable the two Senior Slayers and the Witch look up suddenly as a twelve hundred pound horse walks by on the shoulders of a fifteen year old Slayer.
"Debbie! I told you girls not to do that any more, or you would have to clean out the stalls!" Willow yelled. "So tomorrow along with Allison and Geneva, I will inform Xander of your duties! Do you hear me?" The three girls looked down and then took off running after Debbie put down the horse.
Shaking they're heads the three girls continue their conversation. "So B, what do you think of our knew tenants?"
"Oh, you mean Gandalf, Legolus and the adorable little guy…umm…whats his name…"
"GIMLI!" Willow and Faith say in unison.
"Oh yeah…anyway their really kind of nice. Yah' know."
"Yah' think it's a good idea for Gandalf to help out Albus?" Faith asked.
"Umm…what does she mean Willow?"
"HellifIknow. What do you mean Faith?"
"Xander told me that Professor D asked Gandalf to lend the school a hand and take the position of Defense Against Dark Arts class."
"Whew, I'm glad he asked him and not me!" Willow and Buffy stated at the same time. "Did…did he accept?"
"Yeah, I think he did, starting tomorrow." Faith replied as they continued they're talk.
Hogwarts
The Next Day
Three Days before Halloween
Professor McGonnagal walked up to the front door. The year had been thus far eventless but her stress was begging to get to her having to take over Albus's job while still doing her own in his absence, plus DADA. Opening the door she was surprised to see Buffy standing there with Xander and a tall handsome bearded individual in white robes and a very infectious smile.
"Ms. Summers, what on earth…"
Buffy smiles, "we heard you were lacking entertainment for the Ministry. We have the remedy."
McGonnagal just stares at Buffy as Xander enters behind her followed by the tall bearded man in white. Xander puts his hand on McGonnagal's shoulder. "Ms. M, we've got a lot to talk about…Oh by the way this is Gandalf your new DADA Professor. Gandalf this is THE GORGEOUS Minerva McGonnagal, temporary Head Mistress of Hogwarts."
"My pleasure, surely," he said bowing, while the Head Mistress flushed like a schoolgirl.
"I'll…I'll need to see his credentials…"
"Don't worry I have a letter from Albus explaining everything."
Taking her eyes off of Gandalf, and taking the letter she said, "so Buffy you were saying something about entertainment for the school and the council…"
"Yes, we're doing a musical called 'Once More With Feeling' on Halloween night after the tricks and treats that is."
"Will we have time…"
"Willow and the other Wicca's are setting it up a couple of hours before the show."
"Ummm yes…knowing Willow it should be no problem at all. What about cast members?" Minerva asked.
"Yes Buffy 'What about cast members'?" asked Xander with eyebrows raised, while Minerva and Gandalf looked at them with questions.
"Ummm…well Xander…"
"Nobody has told me anything about casting, when I try to talk to somebody they make an excuse and run away and I do mean run away."
"Errr…well you know about all of us…"
"Yes Buffy, go on…"
"Some of the Watchers in training and some of the Slayers will fill out the rest of the cast…"
"But who will fill…"
"FAITH! Faith is going to play Tara. She has a great voice you know and…and"
"I knew she'd turn into a lesbian after I kissed her…" as Xander groaned. Buffy and the others just snickered. "What about Anya…who's playing her?"
"LORNE!" Everybody jumped back.
"Lorne's playing Anya!!?" Xander asked.
"No…no Lorne's playing Sweet and Stanley gets to play a demon in the musical too!" Buffy said nervously.
"Buffy! Who's playing Anya?"
Buffy moved closer to Xander and said in a small voice, "You won't kill me will you. I'm just the messenger yah' know. I love you dearly…"
"Buffy, I'm not going to kill you, I just want an answer, Faith has been avoiding me lately along with everybody in the school. In fact she hasn't slept in our room. I once went down to breakfast with the place packed full of people, got a bowl of cereal asked where the milk was, turned around and nobody was there. What's going on?"
"I'll whisper in your ear. By the way it wasn't my idea how the hell did we know she took acting lessons when she was younger." She leaned in and whispered a name into his ear…
It was nice and quiet up in Trelawny's part of the castle. The students were working hard on their meditation when they all heard a…
"OH MY GOD! BUFFY I'M GOING TO KILL YOU!" followed by a loud "Squeek" and the sound of feet running for the front door and it slamming. The students rushed from their desks to the windows throughout the school and watched as a maniac with a sword was chasing a slim blonde haired girl around the school grounds.