Harry Potter and the Vampire Slayers

Chapter 47 – The Sacrifice.

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. There are always 'what ifs', and what 'could've happened'. What if the supposedly dead James and Lily Potter find themselves lyingbeside a shattered hellmouth? What if Buffy Summers and the rest of the Scoobies had found them? Surprised the couple was when they found out that they had unknowingly traveled forward into the future and that they would finally get a chance to see their now grown son. With the Scoobies following them, they have no idea of the impact of what they will find out when they step foot into the Wizarding World after many years of absence. War, love, death, betrayal, happiness, and despair are just six of the many things they will stumble upon.

PAIRINGS: Buffy/Charlie, Ron/Hermione, Harry/Dawn, James/Lily, Oliver/Vi, Faith/Remus, Willow/Tara, Sirius/Amy, etc.

Reviews respond:

Naitch03: Sacrifice Voldemort to bring back Harry? Heh. Yeah, I guess that would be cool. But can you really see Voldemort letting himself be captured so they can kill him in a ritual to bring back his mortal enemy? Nuhu.

etraya: So happy you like it! And I'm very proud to be crazy, 'cause crazy people are often brilliant people in a very crazy way, so... -Grin-

SiriusSpikeLover: Thanks!

gabrieldarke: -Smirks- But I just love to write cliffhangers!

Katrina Marie Pace: Puh, thank God for that! LOL.

Nixinox: Uhu...as long as you believe that. -Grin-

TTrunks: Happy you liked it! And I think this one is longer.

Sailorsaturumon: -Blink- Umm...maybe?

Papa Wheelie (ch44-46): Thanks! I'm starting to feel the pressure from inclosing term-start, you know? I want to get this story finished before Monday. Wish me luck! As for your guesses...I'm sayin' nuthin!

wackycavegirl: I'm gonna take that as a compliment! And yeah...I guess the romance has been a little lacking...but that's what happens when you've got too many pairings! And why would I stop writing cliffies? I love them so! LOL.

laffinpebbles: Heh. The one with the power tosacrifice him/herselfwill be dead as New Year's eve fade... (very poetic, neh?)

Buffy-CrazyaboutAngel: Well, wish granted. I won't tell you if it's Dumbledore who dies or not. You'll have to read and find out! LOL.

Beth512: Thanks! And I managed to surprise you and leave you all confused - YAY!

Thanks to:

...my beta - Charmed Chick

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"Yes. Sometimes, a sacrifice has to be made for the greater good."

"And speaking of sacrifices...who will sacrifice their life for Harry's in the ritual if we go through with it?" Charlie said quietly.

"I'll do it." Dawn said.

"NO!" Buffy said. "You are not!"

"Umm...guys...can we...have this discussion later?" Tara said. "Why don't we decide on who's to perform the ritual...and who the focus peopleare going to be...before the sacrifice?"

"Yes, good idea, Tara," Giles said, and started to polish his glasses.

"Can't we just sacrifice a goat or something?" Xander asked. Everyone turned to stare at him.

"Just a suggestion..." He muttered.

"No. We need a human sacrifice," Dumbledore said. "Because Harry is human. And just taking a random muggle wouldn't be very good either â€" A) We're not that cruel, and B) Harry is a powerful wizard- we need a powerful sacrifice, i.e. a witch or wizard, or someone with a magical core. And the sacrifice needs to be alive."

"So...right. Focus people. Best would be those close to Harry. And they need a connection, so it becomes some kind of chain."

Hermione and Ron gave each other a look, before stepping forwards.

"Good, that's two."

"Dawn, you're the third," Buffy said quickly, thinking that if she already had a role, she wouldn't risk becoming the sacrifice. Dawn rolled her eyes, but stepped forwards.

"That's three."

James, Lily, Remus, Amy and Sirius stepped forward.

"That's eight."

Ginny, Luna and Neville did the same.

"That's eleven. One more."

"I'll do it," Faith said, and gave Remus a smile.

"Good. Now, theperson to performthe ritual," Dumbledore said. "I am suggesting Willow."

Willow looked around wildly.

"Me? What? Nononononono. A big no. A capital 'N' No- DumbleD can do it."

"Yes I could. But I would rather be on the sidelines, watching, and ready to interfere if something goes wrong. And you are the one with most ritual-experiences."

Willow's eyes darted to one person to the other, but everyone was staring at her expectantly.

"You're kidding, right?"

No answer.

"Okay...so you aren't kidding..."

"Great! Willow will perform the ritual!" Dumbledore said, clapping his hands together.

"What?" Willow exclaimed. "But- " She finally sighed as she realized no one was listening. "Fine..."

"Okay...over to the sacrifice...anyone willing?" Buffy asked.

Lily, James, Sirius, Remus, Ron, Hermione and Dawn all stepped out of the focuscircle.

"Except Dawn," Buffy added. Dawn just glared and held her ground.

Dumbledore sighed.

"Well...let's hear your arguments."

"Well, Lily and I have already been dead once before- because we died for Harry." Lily said. "Maybe this is the reason we were brought back- so we can do it again."

"Well, Harry has never had any parents- he wouldn't want you to die," Sirius argued. "Me, on the other hand- I was never there for Harry when I should have been because I was in Azkaban -I want to do this for him."

"Well, if you die, you definitely won't be there," James said. "And you're actually closer to Harry than me and Lils."

Sirius opened his mouth to argue, but was stopped.

"James is right- you are not an option," Dumbledore said. Sirius' eyes narrowed, but finally sighed, and stepped back.

Remus spoke up.

"Well, I- "

" - NO!" Four voices said at once. Remus blinked.

Lily, James and Sirius started to speak at the same time, while Faith was giving him a murderous glare from afar.

"Don't even..."

"...think about it."

"...You've never been..."

"...happy, and now..."

"...your furry little problem..."

"...is not a problem..."

"...anymore, so..."

"...you should enjoy..."

"...life now when..."

"...you are healthy..."

"...and have a job..."

"...and friends and a..."

"...GIRL!" They all finished at once.

"I can't believe people are actually fighting over who should be the one to die," Anya muttered. Andrew nodded.

"Yeah...it's almost like when Frodo is ready to sacrifice his life to take the ring to Mordor and- "

"- Shut up, Andrew."

"Shutting up."

Remus sighed as Dumbledore chuckled.

"Your friendshave a point. You can join Sirius in the not-an-option-anymore-corner."

Remus scowled, but did as he was told- only to be met by a slap from Faith.

"I can't believe you were even considering it!" She hissed.

"But- "

"- No! I'm talking!"

For five minutes, the occupants had a very good time listening to Remus being scolded by Faith's ranting."

"Right. Who was next?"

"Us!" Ron and Hermione said. "We have been friends with Harry from the beginning and we want to do this."

"Well, do you think Harry will be happy when he comes back and finds one of his two best friends in the entire world dead- for him? No. I don't think so. He would only feel guilty- not the power to destroy Voldemort." Lily said.

Hermione's eyes narrowed.

"Do you think he would feel less guilty or care less if you were the ones dead?"

Lily opened her mouth to speak, but no words came out.

Ron smirked.

"Didn't think so."

"Well, then both Ron, Hermione and James and Lily are out."

"And since Dawn is not allowed to make this decision," Buffy said. "We are back at square one."

"Hello!" Dawn exclaimed. "I can speak for myself!"

Buffy glared, but Charlie sighed. "Let her speak. I doubt her arguments are better than the others."

"Fine."

"Yes!" Dawn exclaimed. "Alright. First thing first. I think Harry will feel guilty no matter who it is who dies, so that is one thing we just have to deal with. Okay. Love. The power the Dark Lord knows not, right?"

Dumbledore nodded.

"And I love Harry. And that love is what Harry needs to destroy Voldemort. So if I sacrifice myself in love, just like Harry's mother-" she gave Lily a look and a smile. " - Once did, that should do the trick, right? Give Harry the advantage he needs? And the ritual needs a willing sacrifice- the more willing, the better result. Plus, I'm just a green mystical ball of energy- the human me wasn't meant to exist. So how can me dying for Harry hurt? As far as I go, I can only see positives."

Silence.

Several of the room's occupants tried to come up with something to say, but no words came out.

"She does got a point," Dumbledore finally said.

"NO!" Buffy exploded. "Dawn - if Harry looses you..."

"...If he looses me, he will feel guilty, yes. We went over that. And he will get sad. But he doesn't know me enough to be sad forever, even if we love each others. I think you should witch the 'Harry' to 'I' -because that's what it's all about. You will get sad and devastated if I go. But it's my decision- mine. My own."

"...My precious..." Andrew hissed. "Ouch!" He mumbled, as Xander out an elbow in his side.

"So then it has beendecided," Dumbledore said heavily.

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New Year's Eve.

Those who would be in the ritual all watched silently as Dumbledore paced three times outside the tapestry of Marmas the Barmy. As they entered the room, they saw the Room of requirement had been changed into everything they needed for the ritual.

Twelve candles were standing in a circle, and in the middle, a pentagram was painted.

The focus peopleplaced themselves behind one candle each (Buffy took Dawn's place), and grabbed each other's hands. Dawn sat down cross-legged in the middle.

No one said anything. No one's heart was really in it. No one wanted Dawn to die, and even Dawn felt her heart thumping painfully against her chest. Was she doing the right thing?

Willow placed herself on the north side of the Pentagram, and closed her eyes, before she started to chant, first on Latin, then in English.

Hear me now.
This Holy night.
Hear my prayer.
See my sight.

Night and day.
Black and white.
Death was wrong.
So turn it right.

From ashes rise.
We need an aid.
A Hero come.
So dark will fade.

Life is love.
Now watch and see.
Take our lamb.
And Mote it Be.

Willow started to glow, and everyone in the room could see how Willow seemed to be filled with a bright light, streaming out of her fingertips, into the focus peoplewhere it circled around and round, until it finally burst out from every direction and entered Dawn.

Dawn gasped as the light entered her. She had never felt like this before. All the power...It was too much. She lifted her hands and saw how she had started to glow in white. Then suddenly, the light started to turn green. White. Green. White. Green. For every change, she felt it as if her body was being ripped apart, changing. Dawn screamed in pain.

For those who watched, it seemed like Dawn was flickering in and out of existence. From human, to a glowing white human, to a glowing green human, to a glowing green ball of energy.

Dumbledore watched as Dawn suddenly started to get blurry. She was fading quickly...the white light had almost been entirely replaced by green...and her human form was almost invisible.

'Love is a powerful thing...' He thought. 'Truly powerful...But this will not help Harry...he needs to know he has people he loves to fight for...if Dawn is gone...that won't work. A protection of love...it's not the answer this time. And Dawn has her whole life in front of her, while for me, death is really nothing else but the next great adventure.'

He came to a decision.

Everyone watched in horror as Dumbledore suddenly jumped into the circle, pushing Dawn out, taking her place. Their eyes widened as the light suddenly burst outwards from Dumbledore, in all directions, blinding everyone. As they opened their eyes, they saw the great figure of Albus Dumbledore lying dead on the floor. The ritual was complete.

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A/N: So what do you think? Did it suck? PleaseREVIEW!

/Ida