A/N: Well, writing this is becoming too much fun. It was the only one willing to itself out in my head anyway, so must continue it. Haven't had the chance to see if anyone's reviewed it since the twentieth. I know who's gonna be in this, and there's no one else from Angel, but as the story gives it away, there will be a few people from the Buffyverse. As Always, how did I do?
Chapter Three: Well, We're Just Chock Full Of Surprises, Aren't We?
Rupert Giles had never been more shocked than when he heard her voice.
Of all of the children associated with the Slayer, Cordelia Chase had always been the last one he'd considered to be ringing him up. Last he'd heard, she was still in a coma, fighting for her life. He removed his glasses as she spoke very rapidly to him.
"Giles, you still there?"
"Erm, yes. Sorry."
"Look, I know we've been kinda out of touch over the last few years, but I wouldn't be asking this if it weren't totally important."
"Yes, of course. I'll help any way I can."
"Great. Cuz I kinda need some back up. You know, like a slayer or watcher guy you can spare? Hell, I'd even take Xander." She laughed into the phone.
"I'll see who I can spare. What was that address again?"
As he was speaking on the phone, the office door burst open. He turned and held up a hand. The person nodded and waited for him to finish his call. As the older English man hung up the phone, the newcomer began speaking.
"Ya know, whoever said, hey wouldn't it be a nifty idea to send someone to the origins of the slayer was a stupid, stupid man."
"I do believe you were the one to suggest it."
"I blame the puppets. They had me all swayed."
"The way I heard you tell of it, it was a damned frightening experience."
"Still, with the blaming of the African Shadow puppets."
"That and Kemba was called there, and you felt the urge to strike out and -"
"Not so much liking know-it-all Giles. Loving the days when we used to pick on Wesley for being a stick in the mud, and having fond urges to do the same to you."
"Then you recall I am your boss and have the use of both of my eyes?"
The dark haired man chuckled as he sat in front of Giles. Yeah, he'd really missed the days when he could pick on the G-man and not be worried of getting fired. Not that Buffy would let him, but she was in Rome.
"Low blow, G-man. Low blow."
"And I do recall telling you never to call me that."
"Whoa, all of this power stuff is killing the humble librarian I knew and loved. Not loving it."
"Why are you here Xander? I thought you were planning on staying in Africa?"
"Nah. Wood decided to visit Africa. That and Faith just gave him the big axe here, so he's not much liking the whole London scene. Sides, me not likey the hot hot sun of the Sahara. Kemba's there with a few other slayers. And I think he kinda has a thing for her."
"Really?"
Xander Harris nodded as he tested the twirl of the chair. Ah, the simple pleasures of civilization. There had been so much he missed. Like corn dogs and working showers and bugs that if they bit you they didn't actually kill you. His brief love affair with Africa over, he was ready to take in the whole London scene, and hey, no bonus dust in the old eye socket to worry about. He nodded his head to the phone.
"So, who was the mysterious phone call from?"
"Cordelia."
"Cordy?" His voice hit that high frightened pitch. Not something he'd come to associate with himself. Andrew, possibly. Himself, king of all cretins? Never.
"Yes."
"What'd she want?"
The door burst open and another dark haired figure strode in. She plopped down into one of Giles' chairs and winked over at Xander. He rolled his eye at her and looked at his boss.
"Hey, you buzzed me on up, boss man. What's the sitch?" Faith smirked up at the head of the Watchers Council.
* * * * *
Harry didn't feel much like talking that day. Especially not to Dumbledore. This was how everything had started last summer. Dumbledore had purposely kept him at arms length and what did it gain in the end? The death of the one person who made him feel like he was finally part of a family.
Hermione tried. Ron tried. Ginny and the twins even gave it a good show of trying to talk to him. He just wasn't ready to listen. The adults were keeping another secret. Harry rose. He knew where they had sent her. She'd be at the Leaky Cauldron. He knew Tonks would be with her. Why they ever sent the only person with Black blood from the home, he'd never understand. Especially so if she were the only real reason they were even able to be in the place. But as he was passing the ruined portrait of Sirius' mother on his way to the door, he heard Dumbledore speaking.
" . . . really wise to send her with the Muggle woman . . . . Black heir is yet to be found?"
Harry instantly recognized Severus Snape's voice through the closed kitchen doorway. Giving the front door one last glance, he hurriedly crouched beside the door.
" . . . but the heir has been found . . . . " Harry could barely hear what Dumbledore was saying.
"Where?"
"Here, in London. Quite a spot of luck actually. I've already dispatched an owl. Any moment now, the heir should be receiving the news."
"Outrageous. Wizards depending on the bumbling stupidity of a muggle born of a squib line."
"It is neither for you nor I to discredit the direct blood heir of this home. It is the only way to insure that Harry remains safe."
"And this Muggle woman, who claims to be his Aunt? What of she?"
"She bears the blood of James Potter's mother. A sad, silly woman, if I was not mistaken by Ms. Chase's description of her. Robert Potter was always attracted to the silly beautiful types of women. Luckily, Anna married him and claimed his son as hers."
"That was more than I needed to know, Albus."
"Yes, well, I felt it needed to be said. If, for some reason, the Black heir decides to decline the birthright. . . then we shall have to find another place for the Order to call home. Tonks has been told to wait at the Leaky Cauldron to meet this, well, cousin of hers. I felt she would be the best to explain the situation."
There was a snort of disbelief inside the room, and not for all the knutts in the world would Harry have said he thought Snape was even capable of considering making that sound.
Harry decided he'd heard enough and made his way back to the room that he shared with Ron. The red-headed boy was shocked to see him up and about, and with a smile on his face no less.
"You ok, Harry?"
"Yeah. You up to a game of wizards chess?"
* * * * *
To say Rupert Giles was scared shitless of an owl bursting into his office would be a bald-faced lie. Xander Harris, however many demons and vampires he had faced over the years of living on a Hellmouth, was totally wigged out by the above mentioned fowl.
Faith and Giles both stared at him as if he'd grown two heads and was talking like a snake.
"You're scared of a little bird?" Faith mocked
"What? Willow's terrified of frogs. No one mocks her! Sides, mine have claws and beaks with which to peck and scratch out eyes. Did anyone else see Birds? And hey, one eye, so I'm kinda jumpy when one comes swooping at me."
"So, this is like a new fear?" Faith asked.
"Here I thought you were afraid of clowns." Giles said, taking the missive from the owl's leg and giving it a treat and a little bit of water.
Faith bust out laughing, her eyes going wide as she mocked the man sitting next to her. Xander, however, turned beat red, a sarcastic smile spreading on his lips.
"Thanks, G-man. You're fear made Buffy into a vampire."
"And here I thought you could sink no further." Faith said.
"Yes, well -"
"Oh, hey, I was talking to Xander. Not you." She turned to torment Xander some more. "Clowns? Dude, grow a pair."
"Yeah, well I beat the shit out of the clown, and gee, I did sleep with you, so obviously no, I can't sink any further."
"Bring it on, tough guy."
"Children! Will you cease this infernal bickering? Cordelia has asked for some help."
"Princess is in town? Last I heard she was in some hospital."
"Yes, well, she has recovered and has some urgent issues to be resolved. She phoned me, gave me the address of the pub she'll be staying in." He finished reading the letter. He blinked several times before looking up at the two of them. "It seems that one of you has business there already." He pushed the letter back into its envelope and slid it over to them. "Be ready to stay there for however long you're needed. Both of you."
Faith and Xander locked eyes. This couldn't be a good thing. They each stared at the letter before curiosity took over.
* * * * *
The Leaky Cauldron was kinda gross and dingy at first glance. It didn't get better on the second or third glance either. Tonks smiled reassuringly as she led the way through the pub, stopping when she saw the bartender.
"Hey, Tom. Dumbledore sent you the message. We'll be needing two rooms, if you have any left that is?"
"Yes, double beds in them. Two to a room."
"Wait, why do we need two rooms then?" Cordelia asked, speaking for the first time since she got off the pay phone.
"Oh, that guest I was telling you about. My good friend, coming up to stay here for a little while." Tonks was making a face that clearly said, hey-play-along-evil-spies-possibly-afoot.
"Right. Friends. Close, personal friends. Friends in high powerful places." Cordy said in a hush-hush kind of voice.
"Cordy." Tonks hissed, "Let's not exaggerate."
"Aww, but she was always so good at that, now weren't you, Cordy?" A male voice said from behind her. She closed her eyes and smacked her palm into her forehead. Hadn't Giles known that she was just joking when she'd said that? Stupid, stupid British man.
"Hey, Xander. Giles is a dead man." She turned, beaming at her ex.
A/N 2: AHA! yeah, that gets ya nothing. But still. End of chap three. *sigh* Its heir time. . . . that's all I'm saying.
A/N 3: Hehe, checked my reviews today. OK, Cordy was killed in the show, but nobody really knew that until the last minute. So she never ran back for the kiss, she just walked out the door and out of LA. So, that's how Cordy came to be alive still. And I think the chapter explains who the possible heir is. Till I finish chap 4!