Sorry about the long wait!!

Chapter Fourteen

The Outside World

Mrs Weasley sat at the kitchen table, a worried frown on her face. She kept looking at the clock on the wall, waiting for Arthur to get back.

"Don't worry mum," said Bill calmly. "Dad will be back soon".

"I know, you're right. It's just, after what's happened out in Romania, and what's going on up at the school, I just fear for this family. And no one's seen Percy in weeks. Not since…you know….that night at the ministry".

Bill scowled at her for a moment. "I think the less said about Percy the better, don't you mum? Git can't make up his mind. First he says his disowned us because we're telling the truth. Now he says he'll do what ever the ministry decides. No matter which way this goes, his still not talking to us. Apparently - we're just an embarrassment to him," he said to her, a little more sharply then he'd meant to.

Suddenly they both heard the reassuring sound of the front door being opened, and Arthur appeared before them. "You're ok!" gasped Molly, hugging him tightly.

He smiled a little sheepishly. "Well - why wouldn't I be?"

"Arthur. I haven't seen you in days, off on all those missions for Dumbledore. And then that meeting up at the castle….your sure you weren't seen at all?"

Arthur shook his head reassuringly. "No, molly. Don't worry". He looked up at his oldest son with a grim smile. "Read this…" he chucked bill a copy of the Daily Prophet.

Bill's eyes widened as he continued to read.

We have discovered news of a tragedy out in Romania, covered up for reasons unknown. Charlie Weasley has disappeared, following the strange and alarming behaviour and ultimate escape of the dragons in his care. Has he gone on a reckless goose chase to retrieve them? Has he been gravely hurt in their escape? The compound that they have called their home for the last several years is now badly damaged and burned. A team has been sent out there to investigate, and so far all have been found except Charlie. This is an extreme coincidence to happen so soon after the recent attack on the ministry of magic. The Weasley family continue to wait anxiously for news…but we have to wonder at why this tragedy hasn't been heard of until now……

"What the…" Bill murmured.

"What is it?" asked Molly, snatching the news paper from him. "No," she whispered. "Oh no. How did they find out? I didn't want anyone knowing, they have enough problems to deal with. What will Ron think Arthur? I didn't want him to worry…this is one of the most important of his school years…"

"Ron will be upset," agreed Arthur sadly. "But he is in the best of care dumbledore can provide".

Bill glanced up at this. Although he wanted nothing more then to jump up and go searching for his brother, he knew that the order….and his family would need him. There were now plenty of people searching for Charlie…he had no choice but to leave it to the experts. "You've met them then?" he asked.

Arthur nodded. "The slayer and her friends are really everything Dumbledore ever said they were. They've fought some great evils. They'll do the job they were bought here to do or die trying". he decided to leave out the part that harry was now the only one who could defeat the dark lord.

"Lets hope it doesn't come to that," sighed Molly.

"I'm sure we'll be seeing them in the paper any minute now" said Bill darkly. "Someone's obviously keen to spread news".

"I guess I should prepare a letter to Ron." Molly continued, ignoring him.

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Sunnydale

Spike sat in the magic box and listened with very little patients left as Tara and Anya talked. Never thought I'd see the day, he thought, that I'd fight beside an Ex vengeance demon and a white witch.

It had been fairly quiet since Buffy had left Sunnydale. The odd vamp attack here and there. Very boring. "I'm going out," he said to them then.

Tara glanced up at him. "Spike, there's no point," she said quietly.

"Yep," agreed Anya. It's totally dead out there. Has been all month."

"That's what I'm worried about. Ever since news that that Dark lord thing has risen it's been a graveyard here. And I haven't heard anything from the slayer. So I'm going to go ask Willy if his heard anything".

"How you can even think of going in that bar makes me ill," complained Anya.

Tara stood up. "Maybe we can contact Buffy somehow. Spike makes a good point. What if…was it Voldemort? What if his got vampires on his side?"

Spike raised his eyebrows. "That wasn't the point love. Wasn't making a point. Besides, he can't just make that sort of thing happen just like that. Takes work. Vamps need to be persuaded. Treasure, power, whatever. They don't just choose a master when someone tells them too".

"So maybe this plans been going on a lot longer then we thought?" said Anya. "Maybe voldemort knew about us and the Hellmouth long before we knew anything about this? Maybe his sent someone here to do his dirty work?"

"We should definitely contact Buffy," said Tara.

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LA

"This is getting stupid," said Fred. "Angel can't expect us to hold off the whole world of evil for this long, he just can't!"

"We've only heard from him once," said Lorne as he fed baby Connor.

Gunn looked from one to the other. "Look, I trust that Angel did the right thing. Maybe he didn't think he'd be gone this long. But you guys are right. Me and my crew - we're barely holding on".

"Maybe we should try and contact him," said Fred. "Although he didn't use a phone before. I guess they don't work where he is".

Gunn sighed. He didn't know what was best. When he had been leader of his crew back in the day, decisions had been easy. Die or survive. But now…everything wasn't black and white anymore. Hell, he worked for a vampire with a soul. It didn't get any greyer then that. Should he contact Angel to get back here, or were they better off on their own. Humans vs. evil, the way it had always been before? Or should he go and join Angel himself, leave LA even more undefended then it was?

"Fred, you better start thinking of a way to get in touch with him," he said finally, when the phone started to ring.

Fred answered. "Angel investigations, we help the helpless," she said automatically. "Tara?" she looked up at the others in confusion. "Oh, right. Buffy's friend. Have you heard…no? Neither have we. I meant, we haven't heard from Angel. That's not a good sign….ok…let us know what happens ok?"

When she hung up the phone, she looked at the others grimly. "Sunnydales practically deserted of vampires," she said. "That means they've probably joined the army".

"Why just from sunnydale though?" asked Gunn.

Fred shook her head. "It's not. Apparently vamps and demons are disappearing all over. I guess The Hellmouths evil central though, so that's why voldemort's little spy went there to negotiate. Word gets around I guess".

"The army can't have been assembled yet though, right?" asked Lorne. "I mean, it takes ages to work out that sort of thing. And the vamps have to travel safely across the big blue don't forget".

"Well, that's that decided then," said Gunn. "Lorne, I'm sorry. This is a big thing to ask but…"

"Don't worry. Me and Junior will be in hiding till this thing blows over. I'll start packing bags. Just….." he paused for a moment and looked at them both. "Make sure you win".

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San Francisco

"Any news from Piper?" asked Cole as he, Daryl and Leo sat in the manor.

Leo shook his head. "This whole thing was a mistake I can feel it. We're in way over our heads. I shouldn't have just sent her off like that!"

"It's her duty, remember?" said Cole. "You think I'm happy that phoebe's off fighting a war we don't understand? They had to go Leo. Besides, they're with the slayer. And The vampire with a soul. They have all the back up they need".

"And how come we didn't know about them before?" asked Daryl. "Those are names I'd have remembered the sisters talking about".

Leo shook his head, too worried about his wife to think about anything else. "We should have heard from them by now," he muttered.

"hey, you're the one with inside information," said Cole. "You're the one who should know about what's going on. Why there have been less demon attacks then usual lately ever since they left. Go ask the elders".

"I asked them about half an hour ago," Leo protested. "if they had any new information…"

"Well go and ask them again," said Cole. "Because I'm running out of pateints my friend. And if I don't hear from Phoebe within the next day - I'm going to go and find out myself what's going on".

"Why didn't we just go with them in the first place? If this Lords so powerful he can gather evil to him from across continents - which is what it's looking like his plan is. If this army's going to end up destroying the world - why didn't we just go to England with them?"

Both Leo and Cole looked at Daryl at the same time. "Don't say things like that if you want to live Daryl," warned Cole.

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England

Lucius Malfoy looked at the Daily Prophet with a smile. So far so good. Yet more chaos added. That fool Dumbledore may have convinced the teachers and students that they are safe and protected, but the outside world is fallling into ruins. And once I have conformation of who exactly the newcomers are in that school, then even Hogwarts will not be safe for much longer.

He looked up to see a large owl flying towards him. He opened the letter dropped in his palm and smiled.

"The dragons will be here shortly," said a voice. Lucius looked up briefly and nodded. "The trolls and giants have been notified, as well as other members of the dark lords old army. The vampires will also be here within the next couple of weeks".

"Thank you Percy," said Lucius as he finished reading. He looked up at the Weasley brother. His eyes were glazed, and there was no emotion in his voice. The young man would remember nothing of this conversation, nothing of any of their conversations in fact, or where he was or what he had been doing. The curse was still in effect then.

"Percy," continued Lucius. "You have worked hard for a long time to come out from beneath your family's disgraceful shadow, haven't you?" Percy said nothing. "You have worked so hard against us as well. But this is really an opportunity Percy. The only choice you could have made. To prove yourself to the world of magic, that you are someone. You have chosen the winning side you know. I myself would have killed you when you first strayed into our clutches - but I see the dark lord's point. You have had your uses haven't you?"

"I know sir," answered Percy.

"Give this letter to Lord Voldemort. Tell him that the new teachers who I saw in Hogsmeade village are who we thought they were."

"Yes sir," answered Percy obediently.

TBC