Chapter 33: A Bit of Time
HP-BTVS-HP-BTVS
They made it back to the tents without issue, though they did have to work their way around a lot of people headed the opposite way. The Weasleys seeing that everyone else was trying to port out, decided to wait until morning. Bill volunteered to go home and tell Molly. Charlie and Arthur stayed up to keep watch.
The Weasleys left the first thing in the morning. It was an unhappy group that said their goodbyes. Not that they were upset to be going home, more like they were still thinking of the night before.
Xander, Sal, Luna and Harry stayed at the campgrounds. They had paid for a few more days to be here and saw no reason to leave. Everyone else was gone so they had the place to themselves.
The newspaper told of the disturbance but didn't name names. It was more concerned with the Dark Mark than a bunch of purebloods entertaining themselves with muggles. There was a small blurb about a healthy donation to St. Mungo's, which Xander took to mean that they would get off anyway.
The whole thing pissed him off. He knew that Amelia would be biting nails too. It made her department look bad when criminals bought their way free. She was not one to be corrupted, but those above her were. Xander knew he'd have to be there for her when she needed to rant. Probably soon.
The campground attendant and his family had been healed and then Obliviated. They still remembered the weirdos, but not the torture. Well, not so much torture, since Harry, Sal and Xander had stopped it before it truly began, but the harassment and the unscheduled flying were merely dreams to them.
The stadium was being taken down as they watched. The non-magicals couldn't see it, so there were no worries on that front. It didn't take long for them to finish, and soon enough it was just Xander, Sal and the kids.
"How is Godric handling sitting in Minerva's office?" Xander asked Sal, while the kids were exploring nearby.
"He's okay with it. He said he is used to it, but he did say that he's concerned that Dumbledore brought back the Tri-Wizard Tournament," Sal answered, sipping his cup of coffee.
"This tournament has me worried too," Xander said as he cooked breakfast on a fire. The sizzling of the pan and the popping of the flames calmed him down a little, but he was concerned with what had happened the night before and the tournament. He just knew they were connected somehow.
"Why? I mean, I know why I'm worried, but why are you?" the man asked, stretching his legs out in front of him. He watched as Xander cooked. It reminded him of years gone by. Long before there was electric or gas stoves. Adapting to the new way of things was not as easy as Whistler had made it out to be.
"You know the rumors about the tournament being deadly?" Xander asked, tapping his finger on his leg. Keeping his eyes on the pancakes, and the kids. They seemed to be poking at some stuff laying around. Nothing harmful, hopefully.
"Yes, I heard such, but Mum is really excited. She started it when we were kids. Something about the Olympics from your world," Sal said, sitting up and grabbing the coffee pot off the rack above the fire. "There were no deaths back then," he added, "and Godric says they've changed the rules this year."
"I think, not know mind you, but think that someone is going to interfere with the drawing," the yellow-eyed man said, leaning over and flipping the pancake he was making.
"You think Harry will be picked?" Sal asked, looking to where the kids were playing. The place was a mess, there were downed tents, discarded bags, and tons of garbage everywhere. He was sure someone from the government would come and clean it up, but right now it looked like a war zone after a battle.
"Not if I can help it, but something along those lines, yeah," he confessed. His eyes narrowed at the thought, and he was determined to not let that happen. With his brand of magic, it would be easy, but it would take constant vigilance.
"We, and I mean everyone, will do what we can to prevent that," the older man said, waving the kids who were looking their way. Breakfast would be done soon.
"I'm going to have Joyce stand over that cup 24/7," Xander promised, knowing she'd agree. She loved the kids. "Are you taking up the DADA post?" he asked, hoping that the man would.
"Yes, I've studied up on the modern classes. Even passed my exams, so I'm a Defense Against the Dark Arts Master again," Sal said, puffing up his chest a bit at that accomplishment.
"I'm glad. I know you worked hard on that. You can ask Remus about where he left off. So, find a lady friend yet?" Xander asked, changing the subject again.
"No, I've been on a few of those date things, but I'm too old-fashioned for them," Sal said with a sigh. "I've tried to be more open to them, but years of breeding that women were delicate flowers is hampering me."
"Yeah, I can see that. Maybe your soap opera addiction will help. Just pretend to be like the lead actors on them. Sure, they're corny, but it might help," the Xandman suggested, giving him a nudge on the shoulder.
"Maybe," Sal said thoughtfully.
"Can't hurt," Xander said, and then called out, "Breakfast."
The kids came running, dropping whatever they had been looking at.
"Thank goodness," Harry said as he sat by Xander, while Luna took up the spot by Sal, "I'm starved." He was glad he didn't have to prepare the meals unless he wanted to. And he had never cooked over an open flame before.
"Don't be silly, Harry, you will never starve again," Luna said, taking the plate Sal handed her.
"I know, I just meant that I'm hungry," Harry said, knowing Luna was a literal person.
"Well, enjoy," Xander said when they all had their plates of pancakes and hash browns. Syrup was warmed by the fire and used liberally. Coffee and juice were also had, much to everyone's pleasure. To Xander, morning didn't start without a good cup of coffee. Sal found that he enjoyed it too. The kids were just happy that they had something besides pumpkin juice.
They talked about the night before, and how they had reacted. Xander praised the kids for their clear-headedness. He also was thankful that Luna stayed out of it. For some reason she didn't learn his brand of magic. She kept saying she didn't need it. That worried him. He heeded the words of Firenze and was thinking on what they meant. Nothing that came to his mind was of the good. He wasn't sure how to approach it with Luna though. He'd deal with it later, right now he had to talk to Harry.
"Harry," he said, putting his empty plate down, "there's an event happening next year. I have a bad feeling that someone is going to try and enter you in it. It's supposed to be for adults, well, seventeen-year-olds, but I'm worried."
"I'll keep an eye out," Harry said, knowing Xander didn't worry about things needlessly. "Maybe we can turn it around on the perpetrator. I mean, make it so they have to do whatever it is that they are trying to make me do." He too put his plate down and noted that everyone was done with breakfast. "I have a question. Why are we staying here?" he asked his father.
"I figured you'd want to stay for a while. I mean, there's little chores, it's the great outdoors, and I can teach you some more survival stuff. You and Luna both. And let's not forget that Sal used to live like this. Well, not exactly, but he could probably teach me a thing or two," Xander explained, waving to the smiling Sal.
"Indeed, I can," the man said, and then launched into the tales of his younger years when they had to walk miles to find anyone, and towns were days apart, and how they lived off the land. Even though he was born in gentry there were still times when they hunted and traveled.
The stories had fascinated the kids, and they hung on every word. Spike had told them stories from the time he was alive. Well, he told Luna and she told Harry, but both were enamored with the past thanks to the two men that lived with them. Rick also contributed, but he didn't hang around the 'house' as much as Sal and Spike did.
The next two days followed that pattern, they were simply one with nature. The only bone of contention was that Harry had a strange dream about Voldemort, which worried both the adults.
"It was really strange; I think I was the snake and seeing what it did. I mean, I saw this babylike thing that was Voldy. It was talking to two men about something happening at Hogwarts. Then they killed the non-magical caretaker," Harry said, rubbing his scar as if it hurt.
"That is a strange dream. Do you think you were really seeing what you saw?" Sal asked, being a bit more familiar with things like this.
"He was," Luna said from her place in the doorway. No one had heard her enter. "What he saw was real," she finished in her airy voice as she drifted to Harry and sat next to him, putting her head on his shoulder. "His scar is the connection," she added as she drifted off.
"That is very disturbing," Sal said, looking carefully at Harry's scar.
"You think Luna's right, he's connected somehow?" Xander asked from where he was pacing.
"With magic anything is possible," was the concise answer.
"You two go back to bed and try to sleep. We have a full day tomorrow, so try to forget this. Sal and I will take care of it," Xander said as he gently pulled the children to their feet and led them out the door. "So, what do you think?"
"I'll have to do a bit of research, but if he's connected with that scar that can't be good. The problem is that it is unprecedented. I mean, no one has ever survived the Killing Curse," Sal said, running a hand down his face.
"I'll hit the books with you. I don't want my son linked to that madman," the irate father stated, his tone firm.
"Well, there's nothing to be done tonight. Let's head to bed and tackle it later," the older man suggested as he got up to do just that.
"Yeah, you're right. Goodnight, Sal," Xander said as he went to his room.
The next day, the dream was all but forgotten by the kids as they played and hiked all day. Sal and Xander showed them how to magically survive in the wild. How to distinguish good plants and water from bad. How to hunt small animals, which they had for dinner. How to keep your body at a decent temperature. How to keep insects from eating you alive, and many, many other things that were useful.
It was fun. But all things must come to an end, so the next day they traveled home via Harry Air. To the house in the non-magical world, where even Sal had a room.
He didn't stay though. He preferred the castle. So, after getting everyone settled back home, he Winked himself home. He was the only other magical outside of the kids that knew Xander's brand of magic. Joyce had her own type of magic, being a building. Rick was dead, technically, and Spike couldn't do magic. Though, Xander was willing to teach Sirius and Remus. He could do that the days after the full moons, or they could visit the castle. Either way was fine with him.
Hpbtvshpbtvs
For the last week of summer, Xander went on a few dates with Amelia, and they were getting along well. He understood her career, and she understood his worries. They both commiserated over the fact that the Death Eaters got a 'get out of jail free' card. Xander lamented that it was foolish of the Minister to do this, and he was going to do everything he could to get the man out of office. She agreed.
He was right, he had listened to her rant, and even agreed with most of what she said. It brought them closer together.
They only had three dates in all, but they were good dates, so they considered themselves a couple. She would call him, and they would discuss their days and wish each other goodnight. So far, it was a platonic relationship, but that might change soon. Xander was the one who wanted to wait.
His past relationships had all ended explosively. There was never an amicable ending, just disaster in the end. Not counting all the demons that he hooked up with accidentally, and once purposely.
Ah, Anya. She was the main reason he wasn't jumping into anything, especially sex. Anya had called him a Viking in the sack, and he didn't want that to get in the way of what they now had. Therein laid badness.
The small family hooked up with the Grangers and went school shopping. Nothing of note happened, and soon it was time for every magical to head back to Hogwarts. Xander Winked ahead to talk to Joyce before the train left.
"It's good to see you, Joyce," he greeted her with a small kiss on the cheek.
"And you," she said back, giving their joined hands a squeeze and then letting go. "Sal told me your worried about the Tri-Wizard Tournament," she added, looking at his face in a confused manner. "Why?"
"Call it a hunch, that and Harry had a weird dream. I mean, there's always something strange happening around here. Usually on Halloween, which was the same back home. I know that the drawing takes place on that day. I just want us to be prepared. Because I gotta tell you, if Harry's name comes out of that cup, I'll destroy it and call the whole thing off," he explained again, his face was set in stone to show how serious he was. He had no doubt that he could pull it off, ancient artifact or not.
"We'll do everything we can to stop that from happening," she reiterated Sal's words. "I will make sure that no one interferes if I have to sit on that cup the whole time it is here," she stated in a firm voice.
"I know. It's just…" he left it hanging. He still wasn't sure he wanted all those people in the castle it would be hell for security. Which he was the only member of.
"Albus, before you fired him, hired Alastor Moody to be extra security this year. He was going to hire him for DADA, but Sal took up the position before he could," she said as if she read his mind.
"I've heard of him from Dora. She said he's a paranoid old bastard," Xander said as he started walking to the main doors. He could Wink from here, but decided that he was just getting lazy, and went to the gates.
"Oh, he is, believe me. But he is a good man," she said, following him out.
"I'll take your word for it," was all he said as he kept walking. They walked in silence until Xander got to the gate. "I'll see you soon," he said, and then disappeared.
"I hope he's wrong," she mumbled to herself as she teleported back to the castle.
Hpbtvshpbtvs
School started like most years. The sorting and the feast were the same as usual, until McGonagall told the school about the Tri-Wizard Tournament. She let them know that there would be Quidditch, but if they were picked as champion, they could not play. She introduce Alastor as added security. Her explanation on why Dumbledore was not there, was that he felt it was time to retire.
The students cheered for Quidditch, but they still were confused over Dumbledore not being there. Most didn't think he would ever retire. They thought he'd be headmaster until he died. Still, they were kids, and they'd bounce back.
Harry left them to it and shared a look with his father, who nodded and stood.
"Thank you, Headmistress," Xander said as he walked to the podium. "I know everyone is excited to know that Quidditch will not be canceled. Since Madam Hooch will not be participating in setting up the tournament, she has agreed to referee the games. Give her an applause."
The students stood and clapped for the flying instructor, who stood and bowed with a red face.
"Also," the Head of Security said, holding up his hands for quiet, making everyone sit and go silent, "if I find out an older person put a younger person's name in the drawing, they will be expelled. Actually, if you put a name in that is not yours, you will be expelled. This is not a joking matter. It is a dangerous game, and only an asshole would do that. If you are such, I don't want you here. If an adult does so, then the gloves are off," he finished glaring at the older students and the staff. Not that he was worried about the current staff, but he wanted to make his point clear.
"Now, Mr. Harris, there is no need to scare the children," Flitwick said from his chair as he looked at the nervous children. While he agreed with the man, Xander was being rather heavy-handed.
"I think there is. This is serious," Xander said, his eyes still roaming the room, as if to pick out the troublemakers. "If they don't do it, they have nothing to fear."
"Filius," Minerva said, putting her hand on his arm, "let it go."
"Very well," the diminutive man said, seeing it was important.
"That's all I have to say on the matter. Goodnight," Xander said, waving them away in a friendly manner.
They all got up whispering or talking loudly, as their personality dictated. There were a lot of things to discuss as they went to their common rooms. And as usual, Harry was the center of attention as people speculated at whether or not he would be caught up in the middle of it all. Most agreed that he would and decided that this time they would stick by his side. Xander had changed the minds of many of the students, and the staff, of Hogwarts.
"Harry, I'll catch up with you soon. Go say hi to your friends," Xander called out. He then turned to McGonagall, who was exiting the room. "Minerva, I want to talk to you about security," he said, following after his friend.
"Me too," the scarred, wooden legged man stated, as he stomped up to them.
"Me three," Joyce said as she popped in.
"Very well, let us go to my office," she said, knowing they would probably know more about security than she did. She held the wards, but they were not foolproof.
The four adults trooped up to the headmistress' office. Minerva sat behind the desk and sighed as the rest conjured up chairs in front of it. "I thought we had already discussed security," she said, leaning back in her chair.
"We did, but Harry had a dream about this tournament and Voldyshorts and that, to be frank, scares the hell out of me," Xander said, rubbing his hand down his face. "I'm not one for prophecy, but even Slayers had prophetic dreams. Usually when the Big Bad of the week was up to something. I can't tell you how many times we stopped the end of the world thanks to Buffy's dreams," he added, his tone was one of seriousness.
"Are you sure it was not just a nightmare?" Minerva asked, not wanting it to be true.
"Luna confirmed it," he said, rubbing his tired eyes. He had had little sleep since Harry's dream.
"Oh dear," McGonagall said, sagging her shoulders.
"I've already talked with Joyce and Sal, and between them the cup will never be unsupervised. However, I still think there will be a way that someone will get Harry's name in. If that happens, I will destroy the cup," he reiterated his threat.
"That cup is over a thousand years old," Moody said, rubbing one of his scars in thought. He didn't know Xander, or his brand of magic, so he didn't think the one-eyed man could do it.
"I don't care if it's millions of years old, if Harry's name comes out, that cup is history," Xander said, slamming his hand on the desk, making everyone jump. "Joyce?"
"Yes," she said, turning towards him.
"Where is that cup now?" he asked with a bit of impatience.
"It's not in the castle yet," she answered, her eyes going glazy for a moment as she searched the building.
"I want someone by it 24/7," he stated, trying not to make it an order, but failing miserably.
"I already told you we would," she huffed, but knew that he was just worried about Harry and the other younger students. But mostly Harry.
"If I might bring something up," the headmistress said, her face firm. "You may not be able to destroy the cup without killing all that are tied to it," she said, looking Xander in the eye.
"I'll find a way then. No one under seventeen years of age will participate in this tournament," Xander said, looking to Moody. "What about you, what are your thoughts?" he asked, looking the scarred man up and down.
"I think you're handling it just fine," the paranoid man said, shrugging his shoulders. "I didn't think I'd find anyone more suspicious than myself." He clapped Xander on the shoulder and laughed a bit.
"If you had grown up where I had, you'd be worse than you already are," Xander said, smiling at the man. He could see a kindred spirit in this guy. Given his past, he was surprised that the only thing he had in common with the ex-Auror was that they were both missing an eye.
Alastor Moody was a sight to see, with his fake eye, scars everywhere, and peg leg.
"You might be right," the scarred man said with a jovial tone. He had only heard a few stories since he'd been here, but they were doozies. He didn't know what was true, but if half of them were, he had great respect for the other man.
"You should come by my place, between the other adults staying there and myself, we can tell you some hair-raising stories," Xander suggested, thinking that there would be many nights of story swapping. Even Spike could join in.
"I can do that," was the agreeable answer.
"If we are finished, then I have much to do before I retire for the evening," Minerva said, already getting up from her desk. It had been a long summer and this night would be longer. She just had so much to do.
"I'll come back and help," Joyce said, getting up and patting the woman on the shoulder.
"Thank you, Joyce, you would be most welcome," the older looking woman said, sagging with relief.
"Yeah, I guess we're done, but heed my warning. I will carry out my threats," Xander said, getting up as well and heading for the door, which he held open for Alastor.
"I'm going to check the wards," was Moody's leaving comment.
"I'll join you," Joyce told him. "I can explain what we've done."
"Who are you?" the older man asked as they descended the stairs.
So, Joyce and Xander told him their stories as they went to the wardroom. They told him of all the extra wards that had been put up. After checking the stone and seeing nothing wrong with it, they separated and went to their own rooms. Everyone was satisfied that everything was okay, for now.