A Second Chance
Chapter 31 – Willow and Tara.
DISCLAIMER: Buffy the Vampire Slayer belongs to Joss Whedon, and Harry Potter to J.K. Rowling. I don't own anything.
TIMELINE: AU. Set ten years before (Around 1988) "Harry Potter and the Philosopher's stone", during and after Harry Potter book 5, "Order of the Phoenix"(2003). During and after BTVS season 7, "Chosen". Pretend HP book one happened in 1999 during Buffy season three )
SUMMARY: BTVS/HP crossover. After James and Lily reappears, seemingly alive and well, mysterious things start to happen. New allies are made, prophecies revealed...and people keep rising from the dead. What's going on? And what has Voldemort got to do with it? Are the Scoobies and the Potter's second chance at life enough to stop the Dark Lord from spreading darkness across the country? Or is the world in need of more miracles?
PAIRINGS: Too many to count.
Thanks to my beta: Charmed Chick
"So...you're leaving? Now!" Buffy asked incredulously. Spike sighed, but nodded.
"Have to, pet. Apparently, tall, dark and forehead can't manage his little evil law firm without me." Spike smirked. "Plus, I look better in a suit than he does."
Buffy raised her eyebrows, and tried to picture Spike, sitting in a suit, eating grapes, and discussing clients. It didn't work. Angel, however, she could see. "Yeah, right..."
Spike sighed again. "Look, I'm not sure what you want me to say? That I still love you? I do. But if you're happy with Charlie-boy, then I guess I'm not going to be in the way. He's better than Angie-pooh, at least."
Buffy smiled at this. "So...was this your way of telling me I've got your blessing?" She asked.
Spike snorted. "Hell no! I'm just waiting for when the redhead will screw up - because he will - your men can never be normal. And when he does - I will be back here sooner than you can say 'I'm done baking'."
Buffy rolled her eyes. "Alright, I get your point." She stood up on her toes, and gave Spike a quick kiss on the cheek. "Take care, Spike," she said softly.
She turned around, walking away. Spike looked after her for a long time.
"You too, pet. You too," he muttered.
Willow sat on her bed, a small, brilliant ball of light floating in her hand. Dumbledore was moving quickly - he'd wanted her to do magic days ago. But she hadn't been ready. She wasn't ready now, either. "I'm facing my fears, I'm facing my fears..." she muttered to herself, focusing all her good will power on the ball, which grew brighter and brighter for each second.
"You're sure that's a good idea?" A harsh voice were suddenly heard from the door opening. Willow dropped the ball in surprise, and it disappeared into the air with a gentle sweep of white smoke.
"D-Dawn..." she whispered.
Dawn glared at the witch, arms crossed. "I just wanted to tell you that I hate you. A lot," she began. "You killed my sister. I can deal with the fact you turned evil. But not that. Friends don't do that. I, for one, don't think you will ever be in control of the magic. I'm not even sure you want to. You seem to get a rush by the black stuff. Maybe you like it," Dawn finished, raising an eyebrow slightly.
Willow's eyes widened at Dawn's accusations.
"No!" Willow exclaimed. "That's not - "
" - True. Right. I knew you would say that." The tall brunette rolled her eyes, snorting. "But just so you know, I won't be able to forgive you. Probably never will. Just so you know."" She sighed. "Do you want to be good?" She asked, watching as Willow nodded her head slowly.
"Well, it's best for you that you stay that way," Dawn warned. "Or I'll kill you. I mean it. I may not look like it, but I can throw some pretty good spells. And punches. And if you ever hurt my friends or family again...I will. Don't think I won't."
With that, Dawn turned her back to Willow, and left. Willow was just standing there, in shock, shaking slightly. What Dawn had said had upset her - she had no idea that she hated her that much. What if everyone did? Was it worth this? All the pain?
Willow bit her lip, and remembered her conversation with Tara...it was supposed to hurt. It had to hurt. Her eyes narrowed in determination, and she conjured up the ball again, taking a deep breath.
"I'm facing my fears, I'm facing my fears...I will defeat my fears..."
When Willow went to sleep that night, she felt some kind of satisfaction. Dawn's anger...it had helped. The redhead now truly wanted to prove she could be good...was good. Would always be good.
The floating ball of light had taken a lot out of her...it seemed like all the white magic she could do had been pushed away, until it was hidden deep inside her, by all the evil. Even small spells like that hurt, and took a lot of energy out of her. It seemed like even her magic inside her doubted she could do it. And the black magic was always waiting around a corner, for a chance to emerge. But she wouldn't let it - she couldn't let it. Slowly, Willow drifted off to a worried sleep."I, um...I'm having all sorts of... I'm dating, I'm having serious dating with a werewolf, a-and I'm studying witchcraft and killing vampires, and I didn't have anyone to talk to about all this scary life stuff."
xxx
" You're really enjoying this whole moral superiority thing, aren't you?"
"It's like a drug!"
"Fine! Okay. I'm the bad. I can take my lumps... for a while."
"All right. I'll stop giving you a hard time. Runaway."
"Will!"
"I'm sorry! Quitter."
"Whiner."
"Bailer."
"Harpy."
"Delinquent."
"Tramp."
"Bad seed."
"Witch."
xxx
"I worship Beelzebub. I do his biddings. Do you see any goats around? No, because I sacrificed them."
xxx
"This world's no fun."
"You noticed that, too?"
xxx
"I ... tinkered with the Tinkerbell. It was easy."
xxx
"Teleportation spell. Still working out the kinks."
"Where'd you send her?"
"Don't know. That's one of the kinks."
xxx
"You've been practicing witchcraft way longer."
Oh, but you're way beyond me there! In just a few- I mean ... it frightens me how powerful you're getting."
"That's a weird word."
"Getting"?
"It frightens you? I frighten you?"
xxx
"I ... owe ... you ... pain!"
xxx
"You're right. The Magicks I used are incredibly powerful. I'm incredibly powerful. And maybe it's not such a good idea for you to piss me off."
xxx
"Amy. If you really are my friend ... you better stay away from me. And if you really aren't... you better stay away from me."
xxx
"Bored now."
xxx
"I am the magicks."
xxx
"Oh, Buffy. You really need to have every square inch of your ass kicked."
xxx
"And there's no one in the world who has the power to stop me now."
xxx
"I can kill a couple geeks all by myself."
xxx
"You called me a rank, arrogant amateur. Well, buckle up, Rupert, 'cause I've turned pro."
xxx
"Willow doesn't live here any more."
xxx
"I think it's time to show them what happens when you mess with me."
xxx
"Look what we have here. The slayers, and their friends. Let's see what they can bring."
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"Warren was a loser with funny toys. I don't need toys to play. Warren is dead. I killed him, remember? I like to kill. I enjoy the killing. So that's why I'm going to kill you too."
xxx
"I am more powerful than you'll ever be...When you're trying to be good, Faith - you're bad. But when you're trying to be bad- you're pathetic."
xxx
"I could have killed any of them, whenever I wished it- but I wanted to play first. Killing isn't fun if you don't get to play..."
xxx
Willow woke up with a gasp. Then, she started to cry. 'I don't know if I can do this...' she thought, her chest heaving with every shuddering breath she took. 'I'm just bringing destruction...what if I can't be good?' she thought desperately.
"A-alright. Today, I t-thought we should do more than just read and t-talk about the theory," Tara said, as she stood in front of her wiccan class. But even though she was talking, and her body was here, her mind was elsewhere. With Willow. She hoped she would be okay. That Willow could redeem herself. For everyone's sake. For her sake...for Willow's own sake...
'I wish we could go back to what we had in college...' Tara couldn't help but think.
They'd had their share of problems, of course...but if Tara could have gone back in time, she would have. And she would have done so much differently. She would have done other stuff with Willow than just the wicca stuff. She would have talked to her about how easily the magic could take control...she would have made sure she and Willow weren't in that room when Warren came...she would have made sure she wouldn't die...so she could be by Willow's side, and save her from herself...
"Professor? Professor McClay?" One of the students, a Hufflepuff- Tara couldn't remember her name for the moment. Her head was spinning with all thoughts and memories. She wished Willow was there to help her...so they could help each other. Make sure they made new memories...better than the old ones.
"Professor?"
"Huh? Oh, s-sorry," Tara excused herself, shaking her head slightly to force herself to wake. "Umm...where was I?"
"You said we were done with the theory...?" A boy reminded her worriedly.
"Are you okay, professor?" A girl asked. "Should we get someone?"
"N-no. I-I'm fine," Tara assured them, smiling slightly. "R-right. No more t-therory. The easiest way to start is usually some simple floating spells. It teaches you control over a moving object, and it works in the same way as your wand, only you don't have a-anything to channel the magic through, only your own concentration. T-that way, it's harder." She took some feathers from her desk, and levitated them over to each one of the students.
"G-get started. F-focus on the feather, try to see it floating in front of you. Channel the magic through you, your eyes, your mind...use t-the magic you have inside you, a-and the magic around you, in t-the earth. I-it's all c-connected."
I really suck at teaching.' Tara thought. 'Damn me and my stuttering.'
"Knock, knock." Tara turned around to the door as she heard the familiar voice, her eyes widening.
"W-willow?"
Willow smiled weakly.
"Hi. I was trying to sleep. But suddenly - poof! The sun was up..."
Tara smiled. This reminded her of the geeky, unsure Willow she saw sometimes...she liked that part of her.
"C-come in and watch."
Willow smiled, and stepped inside, watching the students. None of them were doing much feather floating, but Willow saw one or two of the white objects moving slightly at the desks, if only a half inch or so. She guessed it could be the wind, or their breaths doing it, but she didn't think so.
She closed her eyes, and breathed inside the air, focusing on the magic in the people around her. It was a relaxing method, but also a way to get used to and comfortable with all the magic around her. She could clearly feel it working, feel it sweeping over each one of the students and their feathers. She opened her eyes.
"They're good," Willow said. "They're making a lot of progress...I wish I had been taught by someone - that I'd had someone to guide me...then maybe..." she stopped herself, and looked down. 'Maybe I wouldn't have lost control...'
Tara smiled at her, as if she knew what Willow was thinking. "I know. I w-wish I'd been taught more too...my m-mum taught me a little...but n-not much. Going to a magic school like t-these kids...what a dream that would have b-been."
Willow looked up, and smiled uncertainly. 'Yes, that would have been good...'
"W-when do Dumbledore think y-your ready t-to teach?" Tara asked.
Willow blinked. Was she ready? She sure as hell didn't feel ready. "I-I don't know. Maybe after Christmas. Dumbledore thinks I'll be ready before that...but I don't think I will be," she finished, suddenly finding her shoes very interesting.
Tara gave her a sad look. "Don't doubt yourself and w-what you can do, Will. I know you'll be ready. I b-believe in you. You're strong. L-like an amazon."
Willow smiled at this.
'Yeah...at least I hope I am...'
Two days later, Oliver was out teaching the first years to fly. None of them were doing too well, Vi noted. She saw Oliver looked really disappointed. She smiled, and walked up to him, as the lesson ended, and the first years stomped back up to the castle.
"Hi," she said. Oliver turned around, a big, silly grin on his face.
"Hello," he said.
"I couldn't help but noticing you looked a little disappointed before. Is something wrong?"
Oliver sighed.
"Well, that was the Gryffindor first years. I'd hoped I'd find someone with some potential, who can take over later...but it doesn't seem like it. Harry graduates in two years, which means Gryffindor will need a new Seeker...and a damn good one. Katie leaves this year, and Ginny Weasley in three...Ron leaves the same year as Harry, which means we need a Keeper as well, and the Beaters we have could be so much better...it looks dark for the Gryffs," Oliver said moodily, kicking at a small pebble on the ground.
Vi laughed. "It seems like you're still captain of the team," she joked.
Oliver blushed.
"It's a habit. And it's quidditch! You can't help but pick up these things..."
Vi smiled. "Well, don't worry about it. What happens happen. Maybe next year's first year-batch will be better. And there must be someone in Gryffindor with some amount of flying abilities, right?"
Oliver laughed. "You're right. I should be optimistic. But it's my old house, y'know? You can't help but want them to win."
Vi smiled. "It would be interesting if Bufaxawidaan got it's own team," she mused. "But that would probably be unfair...Slayer strength and all."
Oliver smiled.
"So, do you like flyin' then?"
Vi beamed. "Yes! It was really great when we played that game...especially considering we won," she added, grinning broadly.
Oliver growled, player instinct taking over. "Luck," he muttered. "We were the better team, and you know it...plus, you cheated. You distracted me, remember?"
Vi snickered. "I thought all was fair in love and war," she said with a wink. "But if you want, I guess you could try and distract me back." Vi blushed, as she said this. She hadn't dated a lot; she'd always been busy training with her watcher...until he was killed by the bringers, of course. Then she'd gotten to Sunnydale, and no one there had been exactly available...or in her tastes. Oliver, however, was an entirely different story. He was gorgeous, nice, sexy, smart, attractive, funny, brave (well, he had been in Gryffindor, after all), a weird obsession with Quidditch and competitions, and...did we mention sexy? Plus, he had that cute scottish accent, and that very infectious grin...
"Vi? Earth to Vi?" Oliver waved with his hand in front of her face. She blushed again, wishing she could sink through the ground.
"Sorry..."
Oliver smirked. "I guess I did pretty well on the distraction."
Vi blinked.
"Huh?"
Oliver gave her a half grin, lifting his eyebrows a little. "You really weren't listening, were you?"
Vi shook her head, and blushed again. "Sorry."
"It's okay. I just wondered if you wanted to go to the Halloween feast with me," Oliver said nervously. "I know it's awhile away, and you probably already have a date..."
"I'd love to go," Vi said smiling. Oliver looked surprised, then he grinned. "Great. So it's a...date, then."
Vi nodded, blushing again.
"Yeah, I guess it is..."
"Okay, Harry. We haven't really talked about this," Lily said to her son. "But it's about the prophecy."
Harry's mood sunk.
"Right," he muttered. "What about it?"
James smiled sadly. "Well...we all know what it's about...and...Dumbledore thought...we think...it's best you start your training."
Harry looked completely and utterly lost. "Training?" He asked stupidly, blinking slightly.
Lily gave her son a (what she hoped was) a reassuring smile. "Yes. If you're going to be able to defeat Voldemort, you need to have more practice...be more powerful...learn more than what you do in classes. So I'm afraid you will have to cut down your free time quite drastically," she said sympathetically.
Harry sounded panicked.
"Do I have to quit Quidditch?"
Lily rolled her eyes, while James looked terrified at the mere thought of his son quitting to play.
"No!" He said. "You won't have to. Absolutely not."
"Well," Lily said carefully. "If Dumbledore thinks so..."
"No!" Father and son said simultaneously. "Never," James said, glaring at his wife. "Harry won't quit Quidditch. Dumbledore can't ask that of him. He needs some fun, not just work. Plus, it helps him keep his reflexes, and build some muscles."
Lily raised her eyebrows at this, and looked at her (quite skinny) son. James seemed to know what she was thinking.
"Really, Lils. There's nothing but positives about playing Quidditch. He might look a bit skinny..."
"Hey, I'm sitting right here!" Harry exclaimed, offended.
"...But that's the Dursley's fault," James finished. "A term with food, Quidditch, fighting lessons, and extra stuff on top of that is all he needs."
Lily sighed, wondeing how it came that she got stuck with a qudditch manic family. "Fine. Anyway, just so you know, here's a schedule for your extra classes." She handed him a parchment. Harry's eyes widened. Would he have time for homework? Eating? Sleeping?
"I know it looks kind of tight," Lily began hesitantly.
"Kind of?" Harry scoffed. "Mum!"
"I don't like it either, Harry, but you have to learn. The sooner you begin, the better. I just wish it was all over with..."
A/N: How do you like? Finally some Willow & Tara...and Harry's getting to start his uber-training. LOL. We've got about twenty chapters left, and then this story should be over. And, this was thought to be a part song-fic chapter, but since that isn't allowed, I guess I'll just give you the titles on the songs. For Willow's thoughts (dream), we've got "Fallen" by Sarah McLachlan, and for Tara's thoughts, we've got "There You'll Be" by Faith Hill. Just so you know. I thought the lyrics really fit to what they feel.
/Ida