Author's Note: Well, time to break out this my obnoxiously large tome (Order of the Phoenix) that I shall follow for most of the rest of the fic- 'cos now you more-or-less know what the dealings are. You know who's with whom and everything that I want you to know- you know. The end, however, is meant o be really unexpected...that's why I'm telling you so that ya'll can be intrigued and want to know what the hell is gonna go down. -grin- So...be excited, 'cos *I* found my ending to be...brilliant. So did Shellie, (Right, Shell?) Anyway- here's the chapter ya'll wanted...
(Reviews will be answered at the end of the chapter)
--Eternity--
"Wait!" Draco demanded. Anyone who said that in his tone of voice would have been told that they were whining. A Malfoy, however, could not be considered to be whining. Whining was simply not allowed by the family and would not be tolerated. Therefore, when Tara laughed at her brother, he sent a glare at her and poked her.
Tara just laughed harder. "Sorry! Sorry! It's just...you're making this more complex than it is."
The blonde boy looked taken aback. "*I* was making it more complex than it is in actuality? It's *your* story, not mine. How am *I* making it complicated?"
"Complications are you gift," Tara shrugged. "Okay, so what don't you understand."
"Forget it," Draco grumbled. "Just keep going."
"Okay, so I basically was walking down the street and I knew Willow and the group was following me because I had to lead them to Glory and everything. It was insane. All these crazy people, in a matter of days, had built this huge tower, right? And on top of it was Dawn, that's Buffy's sister, and she was yelling and I just couldn't control my own mind because it...well, 'cos it wasn't there. I mean, Glory had it. And I got there and just stood there looking up at the think and I suddenly heard-"
"Shpadoinkle!" a voice exclaimed from behind them.
Tara nodded with a glance at her brother. "Yeah, how'd you know?"
Draco gave her a strange look. "That wasn't me. Some guy that looked, disgustingly enough, like Potter sort of had a panic attack or something of the sort."
"What?" Tara scrunched her nose. "What are you talking about?"
Both Malfoys turned around to find that a man that resembled Harry Potter indeed stood behind them seemingly frozen; the real Harry Potter also stood there, shaking his arm. "Xander..."
"Xander?" Tara stared at her friend in shock. She had never felt any sort of magick from him but here he was in Hogsmeade as if it were the most natural thing. She was utterly baffled. "What are you doing here?"
Xander made a few vowel sounds and squeaked. Harry, Hermione and Ron burst out laughing while Draco observed him coolly. "Tara, you know him?"
Tara nodded slowly. "Yeah, he's a good friend of mine."
After a couple more minutes Xander finally calmed down enough and managed to speak coherently. Harry, however, had also realized that this girl that his cousin knew was with Malfoy. Why she would want to hang out with him was beyond him. He simply waited for Xander to explain.
Xander didn't upset him. "I'm...I'm actually visiting my cousin. Er- Harry, this is Tara Maclay. She's a good friend from Sunnydale. Tara, meet my cousin. Harry Potter."
Tara smiled at Harry and held out a hand. "Nice to meet you, Harry. I've heard so...well, honestly enough I haven't heard anything about you. Sorry. It was probably just my mind. It tends to wander when Xander starts talking," she teased.
Xander laughed, albeit feebly. "What about you? Why are you here? I said that Willow and you could take over my condo in Sunnydale and- oh! Is Willow here, too?"
Tara shook her head. Xander noticed her sudden withdrawal and decidedly switched subjects. "Sorry. Why are you here, though? I mean, you never really mentioned...anything at all..." Xander's eyes widened. "I take it back! I know you mentioned something about a brother. Is that him?"
"Yeah!" Tara grinned. "Draco is my little brother! Isn't he cute?"
The moment those words came out of her mouth neither Tara nor Xander could tell who's relatives were looking more horrified, Harry and his friends, or Draco. When they reflected on the moment later on, this part would be erased. More students rushed by them headed back towards the school.
A few of the students looked from Harry, to Draco, and then to their relatives in pure shock. Well, it was more confusion but had they known what was going on, it would've been shock.
Crabbe suddenly (and seemingly out of nowhere) barreled into Xander, who in turn crashed on top of Draco and they all landed sprawled on the ground.
Tara wasn't to do. On the one hand she could only see Draco's expensive-looking shoe and thought that maybe she out to help him up. On the other hand she really wanted to just laugh and the expression that was sure to be on her brother's face. Before she could do much, Harry had already muttered a spell and the huge boy that had started the pile-up in the first place started floating off of them. A couple of feet away about ten feet from the ground, Harry dropped him then ran over to Xander.
"Are you okay?" Harry asked, helping his cousin up.
"Yeah, I'm all good. That might've hurt, though if like, one more of him had run into me instead."
Draco pulled himself up and sent a dark glare at Xander. "Yes, fortunately for us, I cleverly used my spine to break our fall."
Xander glanced at Tara with a grin. "Your brothers all British humour-y"
Draco ignored the man and stalked over to Crabbe. "What are you, blind?"
The other boy struggled to stand up and Draco simply moved to the side waiting for him to stand up. After a moment he managed and shrugged sheepishly. "I thought you might want a distraction."
"A distraction?" Draco lowered his voice to a deadly tone. "Why would I need a distraction? To what point and purpose would this distraction be for?"
"I just thought-"
Tara coughed a couple times and looked from Crabbe to Draco. "Erm..Draco, I think we should be heading back to the castle. Xander said that we have about twenty minutes or so."
"Alright. Let's go." Draco turned around and left with his sister leaving a rather confused (although, who would have known, anyway?) Crabbe. Goyle suddenly ran up to him with a grin. "I just stole a couple of cockroach clusters from Honeydukes. Want some?"
"You didn't mention that your friend is Draco Malfoy's sister." Harry mumbled.
Xander looks at him apologetically. "I didn't know. Although I'm also lost on why that's so bad. I mean, I saw the look on your faces when she said he was her lil' brother."
Ron made a strangled sort of noise. "The whole wizarding world knew that the Malfoy's had a daughter as their first child. I mean, my mum said that there was a reception and...it was obviously a big event. Then I think twelve or something years ago she disappeared-"
Hermione frowned. "What do you mean?"
"Well, Narcissa isn't Lucius' first wife. She's his second. Malfoy's mum is also Tara's, and she disappeared, too. No one knows why. Not like they were cursed and disappeared, either."
Xander narrowed his eyes slightly. "They came to the US because Tara's grandma was sick, I think. They never came back here. She mentioned it once. I mean, we all kinda figured she might be a bit English because sometimes you could hear a slight accent but...that's all I know about it, really," he suddenly laughed. "Anyone care to sing 'It's a Small World After All' with me?"
At that moment Tara and a very reluctant Draco joined the group and they all headed back to the castle. Most of the talking was between Xander and Tara about Sunnydale and how everything was going. Ron kept sending Draco dark looks and glancing suspiciously at Tara. Hermione listened to the conversation between the two friends and found that either they were one brick short of a load, or all the myths she head read up on were a bit more fact than fiction. Needless to say, she was intrigued by learning all this information and was shocked by their easiness in speaking of the incidents. Harry found that he was also paying rapt attention to what Tara and Xander were discussing. He knew the general idea of everything when Xander had spoken about it before, but he only now realized that Xander played a much bigger role in life than simply "donut guy" as he had so eloquently put it. Harry was also mystified that his cousin got along so well with a Malfoy.
"Wait, he didn't call her Malfoy. He said Maclay?" Harry thought to himself. The thought was shaken off but for some strange reason his cousin trusted this girl. They were friends and she was trusted, but she was a Malfoy. Harry shook his head to clear it slightly. He couldn't just trust in her though, not yet. Surprisingly Harry already trusted Xander, but this was a bit different. Anyone affiliated with Lucius Malfoy in any way wasn't really high in Harry's book of trust.
Meanwhile Draco was also listening closely to Tara and Xander retelling their memories to each other. "Brilliant. My sister is friends with Potter's family." He would have sighed, but decided against it and instead inconspicuously studied his perfectly manicured nails. He stopped that almost immediately as well and just focused on shooting glares back at Weasley.
"An decided to talk to Dumbledeer and-"
Ron cut him off with a snort. "Dumbledore."
Xander shrugged and grinned at Ron. "My bad. Anyway, she decided that she'd go with him and they'd catch up on what's been going on in their lives and stuff."
Tara's smile widened. "That's a scary thought. Anya and Dumbledore 'catching up'?"
"Hey! I thought you were the one of our group that didn't have their mind in a gutter!" Xander exclaimed with a teasing tone.
Tara shrugged. "I can't always be a good girl. So where are you staying?"
"Oh, Giles is letting us stay in his flat in Chelsea...which is close enough to London," Xander rolled his eyes. "Well, he called it a flat. It's more like a castle. I think Merlin owned it at one point or something. G-Man is like, a direct descendant of his."
Hermione spoke at that. "Actually, Merlin's line died out back in the 17th century, his home, was bought by the Crowley family and the land around is still in the London division of Crowley Park. The Giles name inherited the estate in the 19th century when the inheriting person should have been Angeline Crowley. However, she was not only female, but also two at the time and so the land passed onto the closest family to be in care of it until the girl was of age. However, sixteen years later they refused to give anything back and so it remained in the ownership of the Giles', which apparently it remains to this day. However there is also a Crowley Park in Bath, which is to this day owned by the family of that name."
Everyone, except Draco, stared at Hermione. Xander coughed. "Let me take this moment to say- that was kidna scary."
"I had to do a project on Merlin last year for Muggle Studies," she explained.
Tara looked at her brother. "Why is that name so familiar?"
"Our father and Anthony Crowley conducted business until three years ago when he was disappeared."
"What do you mean he disappeared?" Xander demanded. Disappearances usually had reasons behind them. Bad reasons.
Draco shrugged elegantly. "As in he fell off this Earth and cannot be found. Find a dictionary, look up disappear and there you go. It isn't quite as difficult as you're making it."
"Malfoy-"
Tara interrupted Harry. "And the estate was left to..."
"His daughter, Kali," supplied Draco with a tiny, practically unheard except by Xander and Tara, hint of bitterness.
Hermione's voice also held the same hint of bitterness in it when she spoke up. "Kali Crowley is said to be a Venific."
Xander, Harry and Ron gave her blank looks. She continued, "an enchantress."
"Which is different from 'witch' how?" Ron questioned.
"A Venific is very powerful. There is only one in a generation. Kind of like how a Slayer is supposed to be only one in every generation. Most don't even know that they are one until about twenty-five or so. It's one of those gifts that can be used for good or bad. Ultimately the Venific decides his or her destiny." Tara explained slowly. "Anyway, why are we talking about this?"
Xander pointed at Hermione. "She was giving us a history lesson of Giles' place."
By this point the group had come to the Entrance Hall. It was empty and they all realized that everyone was already at dinner. Draco muttered something to himself that made Tara smile.
"Looks like everyone is already eating." Ron stated.
Draco gave him and incredulous look. "Thank you Captain Obvious."
"Don't be mean, Drac." Tara admonished lightly.
"Don't call me that ever again," this time Draco sighed. "Let's go."
They entered the Great Hall and everyone looked up wondering who the straggler was. They all got quite a shock to see that the Gryffindor golden Trio and Draco Malfoy were standing in very close proximity and not hexing each other into the next day. Dumbledore smiled and stood up. He motioned for Xander and Tara to come up, which they did. Meanwhile, Draco took his seat at the Slytherin table and Harry with his friends sat down with their other housemates.
"I see you two have met already!" Dumbledore's eyes twinkled merrily.
Xander smiled. "Actually, we know each other from Sunnydale."
Anya hugged Xander at that moment and added, "Yeah, Tara's one of the Scoobies."
Tara blushed at being called one of the Scoobies. She was happy that everyone accepted her into the group and now smiled. "Hello, Professor."
"Ms. Malfoy, I don't believe I've seen you in over thirteen years."
The "Ms. Malfoy" wasn't heard by the students although they were still focused on the three visitors, the staff however, heard the name and most members gasped. McGonagall even looked quite stunned.
Dumbledore hushed the table and looked out at the students and smiled broadly. "I would like to introduce my guests for the evening. This is Ms. Anya Jenkins. Mr. Alexander Harris and Ms. Tara Macl--"
Tara glanced at Draco to find that he was looking back at her. His gray eyes sparkled like broken ice crystals and it was as if he was speaking to her.
"You come back into this life, so which name do you keep?" he asked.
Tara glanced up at the old wizard and shook her head. Dumbledore smiled. "I apologize, I meant Ms. Tara Malfoy. Slip of the tongue. I fear odl age is finally catching up to me?"
"I very much doubt that, Albus." Anya put in.
The Great Hall suddenly filled with noise as one by one everyone realized what Tara's last name was. Some students were turning around and sending scared glances in Draco's direction. Some people were openly staring at either Draco or Tara. The Slytherin table looked questioningly at their leader and he simply looked back at Tara with a smirk. It wasn't mocking, simply there to make a point.
"What, am I worthy now?" Tara thought with an inward smile.
Draco turned around but she was shocked to hear his voice in her head. "Just try leaving again, and this won't be so easy next time."
"I'm not leaving," she chuckled to herself, turned around and sat down next to Xander and on the left hand side of Dumbledore. He was still smiling as if he knew exactly what had just gone on. She reflected on that thought and decided that he probably did.
Everyone started easting again and talking. Anya was chatting animatedly with tiny Professor Flitwick. Xander, although he was trying to hold a conversation with Professor Sinistra (who kept seductively smiling at him), ended up being engaged in a staring contest with Snape every couple of minutes. Tara on the other hand was talking to Dumbledore and McGonagall on varying topics.
The two professors found her doings of the past handful of years very interesting and kept asking her many questions of all sorts of topics.
"So you seem to have more experience with magick than we teach here." McGonagall looked very intrigued. "I suppose your mother taught you some things?"
Tara nodded. "In the US, the moment you hit eleven and get accepted into a magick school you're allowed to do magick in and out of school so she taught me before she died."
"You also have experience in Wicca?"
"Yeah, I used to always misplace my wand after moving in with my Grandma. She's the one that taught me it."
They carried on for quite a while like this. Most of the students had gone when the door opened to admit Lucius Malfoy. Most of the teachers frowned slightly when they saw him and Xander started coughing on his pumpkin juice. Anya's eyes widened.
Lucius swept to the front of the Hall. Tara glanced at Draco and saw clearly that his demeanor had changed abruptly upon his father's entrance.
"Hello Lucius." Dumbledore greeted the man.
"Good evening, Dumbledore. I simply came to take my daughter back to the manor."
"Yes, I assumed."
Tara stood up smiling. "Thank you, Professor. Dinner was great. I'll see you later, Xander, Anya."
Her friends simply waved. A couple minutes later (after Tara had quickly said goodbye to Draco) all Malfoys were gone and the only people left in the Entrance Hall were Harry (who had stayed behind to talk t Xander before he left) Xander, Anya and Dumbledore.
"I guess we'll be going back, too. I mean...it's late-ish." Xander said.
Dumbledore studied Xander for a moment before replying. "Actually, Mr. Harris. The Hogwarts Express has been delayed. It will not be running until noon on Monday. I thought that perhaps you and your fiancée would like to stay at Hogwarts for the weekend. I can have rooms ready for you in five minutes and I'm sure you and Mr. Potter want to get to know each other better as you are family..."
"Well..." Xander hesitated. "I don't really want to cause any work for anyone or--"
Anya smacked his arm. "Of course we'll stay. Albus, we have lots to talk about. I mean, Harry and Xander have plenty to talk about, too. But your story was just getting interesting when suddenly you decided to cut off and go to dinner and--"
Xander looked at Harry and smiled. "Yeah, we can stay, then. It'll be fun. And I promise not to make a mess or anything."
Dumbledore laughed. "Wonderful! I will have Dobby set up some rooms for you both!"
With that the Headmaster instructed Harry to lead them to a portrait of Aimee Watairohtneal and said the password was, "eternity" then disappeared out of the Great Hall.
"Not big on information, is he?" Xander looked at Harry. "I hope you don't mind me bothering you until Monday."
"I think I'll somehow manage," Harry replied. "I could show you the grounds tomorrow-- and do you know about Quidditch?"
Xander blinked and shook his head. "Ron and I will show you it. Best sport in the world."
=== ===
ScruffyWes: You know, you reviewed like...ten minutes after I posted. It was kinda baffling to me how you managed to do that. I had some strange ideas and everything- Lol. Thanks for the review! And actually...I'll tell you right now that no one else from the Scooby gang will be in England that hasn't already been there. (Although that may change- I'm not having the whole group come by, you'll see why at the end) Darklight: I'm glad you like Tara and Draco! It makes me happy! And I hope you like the small amount of Tara Draco interaction in this chappy! Thanks for the review! russle: Dude, I agree. The Troika is awesome! GoddessEris: Lol. I'm paranoid? Possibly. Yay that you liked the chapter and the dialogue. Personally I found the thought that Lucius owned a wizarding strip club named, "Indulge" to be very amusing. Possibly the most amusing thing in the whole chapter. (I cannot be blamed for that, though. All Shellie.) Chocolate Kitten: What'll Warren want? He wants power. It's what he always wanted. And the things he'll do to get it... LeeVee of Team Socket: Hmm...well, as of this moment, no. Tara and Xand won't run into the Trio. But things change. Joss knows I'm the most indecisive person out there, so we'll just see. -grin- Courtknee: I dunno...imagine Voldemort doing the tango with Vernon...naked. Yeah, I'd be a bit more scared if I saw that then Voldy n' the Trio conspiring. Although I give you points 'cos yeah, them working together is also kinda a scare. sacred-soul: At the time...I was kinda "Grr...troika. Badidea." And now I'm the opposite of that. My troika. -huggles them- Glad you liked! Shellie: Yes, Shellie. INDULGE. It was great!
Feel free to REVIEW! -grin- And tell me whatcha think!