I want to make a reference to the first story where I had Voldemort appear and called Severus to him. Although this was not something that the books showed, I kind of assumed he would have the power to do such thing in spirit form. Readers have since pointed out to me that wasn't the case, but for my story, I think having him appear in spirit just worked. I hope it didn't bother anyone too much, but I wanted readers to be aware that I know what I wrote deviated from the story. From here on out, things will deviate from the books more and more as Buffy's presence has altered too much.

Chapter 7: Made Flesh

*****The Next Day*****

Harry woke up to pain—it coursed through his body. Then he heard a mad cackle, and then there was more pain. Just as everything started to go black, a voice said, "That's enough."

"What shall I do with you, Potter?"

Harry was finally able to focus on the voice and realized that it wasn't a bad dream—Voldemort was alive. Peter and Bellatrix were standing on each side wearing smiles of unholy joy.

"You should let me try this spell I know that allows the skin to strip slowly from the body," Bellatrix said eagerly. "It will be delicious fun."

Harry looked around and saw that he was not outside any longer, but he was in a room.

"We cannot kill him yet," Voldemort said. "I want more witnesses. Too many in the wizarding world believe that Harry Potter is a threat to me. We will show them he is but a boy who cannot compare with my power."

Lucius Malfoy came into the room. "My Lord, breakfast is ready if you would join us," he said. He barely glanced at Harry.

Disgust burned in Harry—of course, Malfoy would welcome this monster. He must be at Malfoy Manor.

Would his friends know? Would they be able to find him here?

Despair filled him.

Upstairs, Lucius' wife, Narcissa was utterly rattled to be hosting two wanted criminals and the formerly dead Dark Lord. She put on her best hostess face and tried not to show her disgust as her sister fawned all over her master.

"We should round up all your supporters, my Lord. Let them know you are risen," Bellatrix urged.

"In due time," Voldemort assured her. He looked at Narcissa. "Where is your son?"

"At Hogwarts," she said.

"He is sixteen now, correct?" Voldemort asked.

"He is not yet fifteen, my lord," she said.

"Well, I expect him to take my mark as his father has," Voldemort said.

"Of course," she said. "However, he is not of age yet."

Voldemort waved his hand dismissively. "He is old enough. Severus' daughter and niece will take theirs at the same time," he declared.

Narcissa's stomach dropped as she tried to keep the look of horror of her face.

"I will let him know," Lucius said. "When do you want this to happen?"

"I think assembling my supporters and pledging new recruits while we put an end to Harry Potter will be a perfect occasion," Voldemort said.

Bellatrix clapped her hands. "Wonderful!" she exclaimed.

"Yes, my lord. It will be perfect," Peter said.

Narcissa couldn't think of anything more awful, and she prayed that Severus would have a plan to keep his girls out of it.

Her sister kept speaking of all the ways she was going to hurt Harry, and she felt a bit sick.

"My lord," she said to Voldemort. "Do you think when you finally put Potter to death it will be nearly as satisfying if you have allowed my sister to turn him into a blubbering idiot by the time the day arrives? Killing a clearly recognizable Harry Potter would be much better than one who has been so tortured no one even recognizes him."

Lucius nodded. "That is a good point, my love," he said, smiling at her in approval. "We don't want it to appear that you are just putting him out of his misery. That will take away much of the pleasure."

"Very well," Voldemort said. He glanced at Bellatrix. "Stay away from Potter. No one is to harm him until the day arrives."

Bellatrix pouted but didn't argue.

Narcissa kept the relief off her face—at least she could spare the poor boy that much. She wasn't sure, however, her niece would think that it was nearly enough.

*****Hogwarts*****

Buffy was fuming as Harry was still missing, and Dumbledore was sitting on his hands.

Everyone was gathered in Giles chambers after breakfast. "We have to do something, Giles!" she said.

Willow, Xander, Cordelia, and Harry's best friends as well as the twins were crowded in Giles' space.

"Where's your father?" Giles asked.

"He is speaking with Dumbledore," Buffy said. "I want to contact the Devon Coven and get them to do a locator spell on Harry. I can't believe that wand witches and wizard can't seem to do such a thing."

"There's spells for just about everything," Hermione said. "Locating a person requires a delicate touch and some of their blood."

"Too bad no one thought to keep a vial of his blood around," Xander said.

Fred snickered.

"I'm surprised no one has thought to lojack him to begin with," Cordelia said.

"What's that?" Ron asked.

"Put a tracking device on him," Cordelia said. "Cell phones have them. Surely, there's a magical equivalent someone can come up with."

"Yes, well, I will be speaking with the Order about that post haste," Giles said. "In the meantime, you all have class as do I. Buffy, your first task in the tournament is coming up soon, and you need to be prepared. We will find Harry."

"I could care less about that tournament, Giles," Buffy said.

"She can't possibly be—" George said.

"A true Slytherin," Fred said.

"She hasn't the ambition," George said with a smug smile.

Buffy glared at them. "Come on, Cor," she said.

Fred sighed. "She's so beautiful when she's angry," he said.

Xander shook his head. "That's messed up. Let's go," he said.

Draco was at breakfast with his cousin and Buffy, trying not to be annoyed by Buffy's distraction. "Why's she in such a foul mood?" he asked Cordelia.

"She's worried about Harry and doesn't think Dumbledore is doing enough to try to find him," Cordelia said.

"What does she think he should be doing that he's not?" Draco asked.

"She wants him to use the Devon Coven to do a locator spell on Harry using hairs from his hairbrush," she shared.

"What's the Devon Coven?" Draco asked.

"It's a coven of wandless witches," Cordelia said.

Draco snorted. "Parlor tricks. No real power," he said.

"They don't have the power that we have, but they do have power," Cordelia said. "They managed to remove the mark that the so-called Dark Lord put on Harry that gave him access to Harry's mind and vice-versa. It was under the scar."

Draco's eyes widened. "Really? Dumbledore let them?" he asked.

"He didn't have any choice as his godfather gave permission," Cordelia said. Then she glared. "I'm telling you this in confidence, so don't go snitching to your Death Eater father, got it?"

Draco nodded, happy that she trusted him but disturbed by what she revealed. Owls began delivering morning posts, and he got a letter.

"Who's it from?" Cordelia asked.

"It's always from my parents," he said with a shrug. He opened it up and read the letter from his mother.

Draco,

Your father would like you to come home this weekend for a special dinner with a special guest. However, I am scared for you as he has expectations that I am not sure you are ready for. Your cousin and godcousin, though, will also be there as Severus is getting an invitation to come and bring them.

Know that I love you no matter what choice you decide to make.

Love,

Mother

Cordelia noticed his frown and asked, "Is everything okay?"

"I don't know," he said. He showed her the letter.

"That is strange. Who do you think the guest is? One of your father's evil cronies?" she asked.

Draco gave her a sour look. "Can you be more circumspect?" he asked.

"Probably. But I'm an American. We have a low tolerance for pretense and bullshit," she said with a smirk.

"What are you guys talking about?" Buffy asked, leaning over Cordy.

"Draco's mom is having a dinner this coming weekend, and we're invited," Cordelia said.

"Cool," Buffy said. "Harry better be found by then."

*****Several Days Later*****

Harry still hadn't been found, and Buffy had barely contained her rage at the fact. She'd yelled at her father and Giles more than once. Then she'd cornered the headmaster, demanding to know why they hadn't found Harry. She just knew horrible things were happening to him, and she felt like as the slayer it was her job to protect him. Pictures of Jesse kept flashing in her mind. Every time, she looked at Ron and Hermione her guilt and anger grew.

"Buffy, he has been shielded by powerful magics," Albus told her. "Professor Giles did contact his coven, and not even they could find Harry."

That mollified Buffy some, but she was still feeling sick with worry as was Ron and Hermione. When two Slytherin boys commented that Buffy seemed too concerned about a Gryf, she physically assaulted both boys, earning her a week's detention from her horrified father. Luckily, they weren't hurt too badly.

"This has got to stop, Buffy Anne!" Severus exclaimed as he dragged her down to his classroom.

"They're going to learn to shut their mouths, or I'm going to shut it for them," she said crossly.

"You are an impossible brat!" he railed. What was he going to do with her?

"You aren't doing enough to find Harry, Father. I know one of your Death Eaters took him. Why aren't you talking to Draco's father? He has to know something!" she said.

"We will see him tomorrow at the dinner, and I promise to find out where Harry is," he said.

"Are you going to bring one of your truth potions and make him 'fess up?" she said.

"I doubt Lucius took Harry from Hogsmeade as that kind of thing is beneath him," Severus said.

"Who do you think the special guest is? If it's Harry and Lucius has got some type of Death Eater plot going on, I'm so going to slay him!" Buffy declared.

"Buffy, he's human, and you cannot kill him," Severus said. "Not to mention, he's Draco's father. Do you want to kill Draco's father?"

"Well, what are we going to do?" Buffy asked.

"How about you work on cleaning my cauldrons, and I will speak to Albus and Rupert," Severus said.

"Hey, I'm the slayer! You can't keep me out of this!" she said.

"You will be there, Buffy Anne. I cannot keep you out of it no matter how much I would like to," he reminded her. At this rate, his daughter was going to give him his as much gray hair as Albus.

Buffy was somewhat satisfied with those words and began cleaning the cauldron. Severus watched her for a few minutes, and then he went to Albus' office where Rupert and the other Council man Professor Wyndam-Price were waiting.

"Why is he here?" Severus asked, indicating the Council's man.

"He is the Defense Against the Dark Arts professor," Albus said.

"He's also a trained Watcher, Severus," Giles reminded him. "He's not a member of the Order, but I wanted him here as he does have contacts we might need."

"Buffy Anne just physically assaulted two house members who insulted her for caring too much about Harry's disappearance," Severus said.

"Oh dear," Albus said.

Giles took off his glasses and began to clean them. "I take it you punished her for her display of temper?" he asked.

"She is serving a week's detention and is currently cleaning my cauldrons," he said. "But she is highly suspicious of Lucius' dinner invitation tomorrow and said she would slay him if he's involved with harming Harry. I reminded her that he was human, and Draco's father."

"I will speak to her," Giles said.

"Actually, it is within her power as a slayer to put down a dark witch or wizard who threatens human lives," Wesley said.

"She is too young to begin making such choices," Giles said.

"It may very well come to that," Wesley said. "Would you have her die because she hesitates to kill those who would kill her? I've been told that one of the Death Eaters, a Bellatrix Lestrange, is quite mad. Would she hesitate to kill children?"

"No," Albus said grimly. "She would not. However, she derives unholy pleasure out of torturing others."

"Well, we cannot allow you to take Buffy and Cordy into a dangerous situation without backup," Giles said.

"The Malfoy house magics will not allow people to enter uninvited," Albus said.

"Should you not have the authorities on standby?" Wesley said.

"Yes, I will have Tonks ready a team of Aurors," Albus said.

"I can have a team of sharp shooters from the Council watching the place," Wesley said. "They have telescopes that magic cannot interfere with."

"That's a good idea," Giles said.

Albus frowned in disapproval. "We do not need to involve muggles," he said.

"The Council is hardly typical muggles. They've been safeguarding humanity against supernatural threats for generations," Wesley said. "It is to your detriment that the Wizarding Community refuses to evolve and acknowledge the scientific advancement in the non-magical community."

"I agree," Giles said.

"As do I," Severus said. "Buffy Anne's life must be safeguarded at all cost. As does Cordelia's. This is my family, Albus. If the Council wishes to aid in the protection of my girls, we should not stand in the way."

"Fine," Albus said in resignation.

"As for getting through the wards," Severus said, "I will speak to Draco. We will need his help."

"I suggest you have the girls there when you have this talk," Giles said.

Severus knew he was right, and he did bring Cordelia and Draco down to his classroom where Buffy Anne was finishing up the cauldron.

"Is my torture over?" she asked.

"You will get four more days of this next week," Severus said, giving her a stern look. "You mustn't attack people simple because they insult you."

"Especially since you have that superstrength and can actually maim them," Cordelia added.

Buffy glared. "Shut up, Cordy," she said.

"Do not start, Buffy Anne," her father admonished.

"What's going on?" Draco asked. His head of house wasn't in the habit of dragging him down to his classroom before they retired for the night.

"Are you a hero or a villain, Draco?" Buffy asked, eying him.

Draco had seen her shove Goyle and deck Flint for his rude comment. Goyle hadn't been dumb enough to actually say anything, but he'd snickered when Flint questioned her house loyalty. He had an enormous crush on her and had no desire to disappoint her.

"I am not a villain," he said, answering honestly.

"Draco, you know both your father and I have taken the Dark Lord's mark," Severus said. "I took mine years ago when I was angry and foolish. You also know your father willingly served him and was not under any spell."

Draco nodded, looking wary. He was surprised Severus was speaking of this in front of the girls, and he had a feeling he wasn't going to like what they said next. When they finally told him, he cursed.

"Draco," Severus said in disapproval.

"Sorry, but it's the only word that fits this situation," he said glumly.

"Drake, let's hope it won't be necessary," Cordelia said. "But if the dinner turns into some type of death eater celebration of Harry's capture and torture, we can't let them get away with it. We will need your help opening the house and bringing in help."

"I also suspect there will be pressure to force the girls to take the mark," Severus said. "They are of age."

"They might make Draco, too, since he'll be there," Buffy pointed out.

Draco felt sick. Now his mother's letter made perfect sense. "I think you're right. Mother's letter makes more sense if that is the plan," he said.

Cordelia nodded, recalling it. "So what will you do?" she asked. "There's no way Buffy and I are going to take some evil mark."

"Giles said he and his friends played with the bad magics when he was young, and he got a mark of some Egg-on demon—it's bad mojo," Buffy said.

"Do you mean the demon Eyghon?" Severus asked, alarmed.

Buffy shrugged, and her father gritted his teeth. How his intelligent girl could butcher the name of everything was incomprehensible to him. "That is a dangerous mark," he said.

"No more dangerous than yours," she pointed out. Then she looked back at Draco. "So what's it going to be, Drake?"

Draco felt sick but nodded. "Yes, I will help. No, I won't take the mark," he said. "But what will I do when my father disowns me? What if he harms my mother?"

"Do you think he will?" Cordelia asked. "She is a Black, and Uncle Sirius will always give you sanctuary if you need it."

Draco was comforted by that, but he was not looking forward to what the next day would bring.

*****The Next Day*****

The trio stood in front of Malfoy Manor. "Well, this is it," Severus said. Draco had left that morning, so he would be there inside waiting for them.

Buffy was wearing her hair down and an earpiece that connected her to Professor Wyndam-Price and Giles. Cordelia was outfitted with a necklace that had a tiny camera and listening device on it. Before they had arrived here, they had tested the devices out at Sirius' warded house and found that the house magics did not interfere with the devices. Sirius was every bit as worried and upset as Harry's friends at his disappearance and just knew that Buffy's instincts were correct. The dinner they were going to would reveal Harry's presence, so he insisted on waiting in the surveillance van with Wesley and Giles.

"They have heavy drapes over most of the windows," Wesley said in Buffy's ear. "If things go south, do whatever you can to get the windows uncovered, so the Council's team can aid you." They had schematics of the house, so they knew where the dining room was located, and the Council's team was set up with scopes watching that room.

Buffy relayed his instructions to her father and cousin, and then they walked to the front entrance, knocking. Draco opened the door, looking terrified.

"My aunt is here," he whispered.

"Bellatrix?" Severus asked.

He nodded. "I think that's the guest Mother was referring to, but she seems too scared, and my aunt seems too excited and giddy," he said.

When they got into the parlor, Lucius and Narcissa greeted them. "Severus, glad you could make it," Lucius said. "The other guests are already waiting in the dining hall."

"Other guests?" Draco asked. "What other guests?"

"We have several people here, Draco, as this is a very special day," Lucius said. "You will do your part to make the Malfoy name proud."

"Of course, Father," Draco said.

Buffy narrowed her eyes and moved before her father could stop her, grabbing Lucius by the throat and lifting him off the ground. "What have you done with Harry, you villainous fiend? I know he's here, and if he has been harmed, I will make sure you pay for your part in it!" she exclaimed.

Narcissa was shocked. "How is she so strong, Severus?" she asked.

"Well, there's somethings I've not exactly told you about her," he said. "Buffy Anne, release him!"

Buffy squeezed his neck one last time, and then threw him into the chair behind him.

Lucius looked at her in dismay, anger warring with caution. How should he play this? "It seems you have been keeping secrets, Severus. I'm not sure the Dark Lord will like that," he said.

"How exactly should I tell him that my daughter is a predestined vampire slayer, empowered with supernatural strength to slay monsters?" Severus asked, arching an eyebrow. "She senses and loathes evil. She died fighting a vampire on a hellmouth she was sent to safeguard. Her replacement has recently been killed already, so the Dark Lord is the least of my worries when America has a hellmouth that demons seek to open. If they succeed, it will destroy this entire world."

Narcissa and Lucius both were flummoxed by his revelation. Narcissa recovered first, seeking to use this revelation to sway her husband. "Oh, dear. This is unfortunate," she said, looking at Lucius. "There is no way, Buffy will be inclined to serve the Dark Lord."

"I kill evil monsters," Buffy said, looking at them in disgust. "After this dinner, I have to go to America and spend twenty-four hours on the hellmouth, so word doesn't get out it's unguarded, or it'll be open season on the place. Father's been taking me back and forth."

"Sounds exhausting," Lucius said, finally gaining his voice.

"I don't have the time to join your evil campaign. Nor do I have the inclination," Buffy said. "My Watcher's Council has sanctioned me to slay evil wizards without reprisal, so if you're going to be an evil wizard, or your insane sister-in-law tries to harm anyone I care about, I'll slay you all."

Lucius chuckled. "You are but a barely trained witch," he said.

"She can turn into a dragon, Father," Draco interjected.

"And Cordelia is a panther if she wants, and she won't be taking any dark mark either," Buffy said.

"Tattoos are so tacky," Cordelia said with a dismissive sniff.

"But first, I am a slayer, and you have no idea what I capable of," she said, giving him a cold look.

Lucius gave her an amused but calculating glance before looking at Severus. "Well, we are going to have a problem," he said to Severus.

The parlor door opened, and they looked up. It was Peter Pettigrew. "It is time," he said.

Lucius nodded. "I feel that things are in motion that can't be stopped," he said. He gave Buffy a regretful look. "I hope you will get to guard your hellmouth again, but we can't keep him waiting." He turned to follow Peter.

Buffy followed him, determined to find Harry, so Cordelia and Draco did the same.

Narcissa grabbed Severus' arm to stop him. "Sevvie, he's here! He's going to kill Harry and force them to take the mark. You have to take the children and go!" she whispered.

"Who's here?" Severus asked.

"Dear?" Lucius called from the doorway.

She moved away from Severus and put her carefully constructed mask back on, so Severus followed her into the dining hall. When the door opened, a long dining table was revealed.

Sitting at the head of the table, facing the door was Lord Voldemort. He was no longer in spirit form, but he had somehow been made completely corporeal.

Severus knew he was not getting out of the dinner alive, but he prayed his daughter and niece would survive.

*****To Be Continued*****