Hello all! Here is Chapter Two!
Before getting down to business, I thought that I'd clear some things up that I'd forgotten to mention.
1. Leaving Robin and Kennedy is Cleveland was meaningful. Their relationships with Faith and Willow respectively are over. Didn't care much for the Robin/Faith pairing (she needs a guy of her own, not someone who showed interest if Buffy first…) and I happened to pretty much hate Kennedy, so she's history.
2. Ages. I always thought that Faith was about 15 when she arrived in Sunnydale, so I'm making her nineteen in this fic. Buffy, Xander and Willow are 22. Dawn is seventeen as are Fred and George. Harry, Ron and Hermione are 15/16 (Harry being within a month of his birthday at this point in the story) Ginny is 15. I think that's all the ages that will have a bearing at this point…
3. Pairings. To be perfectly honest, I haven't completely decided on all of them yet. Snape is not being paired with anyone, that is for sure. Ron and Hermione are a definite, as I said before. Ginny may be paired with a certain Slytherin Spy (yes, he's revealed in this chapter) at least for a little while;)
I'm actually leaning towards a Dawn/Fred pairing at the moment…
Someone on TTH mentioned Harry/Faith… and I gotta tell you, I'm very interested in trying that one out… It seems like it would be hellafun!
As for Buffy, well, there's a pairing that I've always wished they had explored on the show… but I'm kind of nervous about attempting it… Buffy/Xander. Now, that would be way in the future and there are bound to be flirtations for both of them before I would dream of trying it… And it might never happen, especially if I find a pairing I like better for either one of them… I'm just putting it out there…
I am looking for some input here, so let me know what you think! And don't take any pairing that I mentioned too much to heart… There are going to be a lot of shakeups in this story… and more than one breakup…
Of course, there will likely be makeups as well… (I like to keep people guessing…LOL!)
4. I had planned to spend more time leading up to this chapter, letting The Scoobies get to know The Order 'onscreen' so to speak. But I decided that I wanted Harry at Headquarters and then I would spend more time with the two sets of characters interacting... so that's what I'm doing:)
Now that I've spouted off for far too long, on to the 'Thank you's".
Thanks for the reply goldenshadows! Here's the next chapter!
Thanks for the reply Katilwen! I'm glad that you're enjoying the story! Harry will definitely be acting more mature… Most of the time… But really, he wouldn't be Harry if he weren't reckless occasionally;)
As for the pairings, see above… and don't worry, no love for Snape;) I don't think he'd survive such a thing…hehehe… Thanks again for the reply! I hope you enjoy chapter two…
Thanks for the reply IsiwaruOfCkoloatia! Here's the update!
Thanks for the reply Susan! I'm glad that you like it! I've never really liked the magical creature description myself… I prefer Mystical Warriors… as I'm sure the slayers do;) Here's your update! I hope you like it!
Previous disclaimer applies. I own nothing!
On to Chapter Two!
Snowie
Chapter Two:
Malfoy Manor…
Draco Malfoy was in a rare state…
It had been a week since that night and he was still having nightmares.
And he was quite sure that at least on this night, he'd woken up screaming.
Which was why he was now propped up against his pillows at 4 am shaking and sweating.
And thinking. Thinking about his life and where it was headed. Thinking about what he'd done… and what he hadn't done.
Thinking about the next trip of Death Eater 'initiation' that his father had scheduled for him the following night…
And he didn't want to go.
In fact, there was nothing in the world that he wanted to do less… except of course the final step of 'initiation', during which he'd be branded for life.
Thankfully that step wouldn't come until the end of his sixth year… on his seventeenth birthday.
"Yeah, happy birthday," he muttered bitterly. "And here's your disfiguring and painful permanent brand. Yeah, thank you so much. I really appreciate it!"
It was lucky that he was alone in the house on this night. All that he would have needed to make the night complete would have been for one of his parents to have heard his screams.
As it was, his father was off somewhere doing something that was likely immensely illegal. His mother was… god knows where, doing god knows what… but she wasn't there and that was all that was important.
Based on the other 'initiation' activities, he was sure to be doing something quite illegal that night as well…
Another girl maybe.
Another innocent life torn apart and extinguished.
And for the first time in his life, Draco Malfoy cared.
He had spent his early years content to follow his father. Content with the promises of power and control that came from the dark arts.
He'd been happy to use his knowledge and his nasty sense of humor to torment the people around him. Torment those who stood against the Dark Lord and his followers.
Now, the very thought of following in his father's footsteps made him ill.
For all his actions of the past, he had never truly hurt anyone… never seen them struggle and scream and cry.
He'd never known how much pain could be expressed with a simple sound… or that such a sound could produce such emotion in him.
He'd never seen the way that agony could change a person's face.
Now he had.
Never known that someone could take such pleasure from something so foul.
But now he did.
He'd watched as his father and his fellow Death Eaters had kidnapped and tortured a Muggle girl.
He'd just stood by and watched as they laughed at her pain, her screams only prompting them to increase the agony…
Increase it until, in an instant, it was over.
As her life was over.
Draco threw off his covers and struggled to his feet. He stumbled into the bathroom and stood before the mirror, staring at himself.
He looked terrible.
Eyes bloodshot and red… his face even more pale then usual.
In some ways he was still his father's son. That night, he had managed to keep his smirk in place, his true feelings about what was happening hidden.
At least until he was home, locked away in his own room.
And then he'd spent the next few hours either being ill in the bathroom or trying to sleep, only to be woken by nightmares.
Nightmares!
He was having nightmares.
It was a new experience for him. Even as a child he had never been plagued with night terrors.
The next morning, the family had enjoyed breakfast together on the patio, as if nothing had happened.
And his father had smiled at him with pride.
He had conducted himself in the manner expected of a Malfoy.
When his father was done eating and Draco was done picking at his food, Lucius had instructed him to join him in the Library.
Draco sat down across from his father and tried not to look nervous, though his stomach was sour and his palms were sweating. His father remained silent for a moment before speaking.
"I noticed that you weren't very hungry this morning, Draco." Draco had just shrugged, hoping that he'd looked unconcerned. "It's to be expected, I believe." A quick glance had told him that he hadn't heard wrong. His father was smiling at him benignly… almost fondly. "I remember my first night... The feelings that came after. Such a heady feeling of… power. And I knew… I knew that girl would give you a taste for this."
Draco struggled to hold back a sound of frustrated disbelief. Yeah, terrible nauseating taste…
"Pretty wasn't she? Well, for a Muggle…"
And without doubt sweet and innocent until they'd gotten their hands on her…
He had known for a long time what being a Death Eater entailed… what it meant.
But he'd never truly understood it, not until that moment.
And now, standing in his bathroom, staring at his reflection, he wished, for the first time in his life, that he was someone else.
But wishing never got anyone anywhere.
That night he would go with his father, follow him into whatever depraved situation the elder Malfoy saw fit.
And he would play along, because when it came right down to it, what else could he do?
Phoenix Headquarters…
Almost a week had passed since that first night and the Scooby gang was settling in to life at Grimmauld Place. Giles was busy trying to get the Council up and running. Buffy and Faith made frequent visits to the Council building and Giles had taken to spending most afternoons at Order headquarters, researching and helping out however he could.
The four girls and Xander had been spending a lot of time with the teenagers and certain members of The Order, learning about the Wizarding World and the fight against Voldemort. Most of the stories seemed to center on Harry and the Scooby Gang found that they liked him already.
It was hard to hear about a twelve year old who'd faced a giant basilisk and lived to tell the tale without coming to like him…
They also hated Draco Malfoy, Pansy Parkinson, Crabbe and Goyle (they always seemed to be talked about as if they were one person… the Scobbies hadn't quite figured that one out yet) and Dolores Umbridge due to the same stories.
Severus Snape they came to dislike all on their own.
Willow found him particularly disagreeable and as did Dawn. They were both such perky upbeat people that his cranky and miserable attitude really irked them. Dawn had taken to calling him Mr. Poopy Pants, much to Buffy's disapproval… and embarrassment.
That wasn't to say that she liked him… she just found the nickname to be… impolite.
Faith thought it was hilarious and had joined Dawn in her crusade to annoy the Potions Master... Though Willow seemed to be the one able to annoy him the most… without even having to try.
A prime example of this occurred as they started their sixth afternoon at 12 Grimmauld Place.
It was what Buffy soon started calling the 'Eep' heard 'round the world.
The sound of the explosion that had followed Willow's exclamation of surprise had brought most of the household running.
They found Snape and Willow involved in a glaring contest… And stood around them, most gaping in astonishment.
"I didn't mean to!" Willow said darkly, ignoring the stampeding hoard that had descended on them. She was meeting the Potion Master's scowl with an impressive one of her own. "You shouldn't surprise someone like that!"
"I surprise students all the time," Snape growled. "And it never caused even Neville Longbottom to create such a catastrophe!"
It was just about then that Fred and George got a good look at Snape… And began to roar with laughter… And they were soon joined by most of the other people in the vicinity.
It was obvious that Willow had been mixing some sort of potion when Snape had surprised her. The resulting explosion had sent it flying throughout the room. Willow looked completely normal, the potion having somehow missed her completely…
But Snape's hair was a shade of pink that put Tonks' to shame…
That said nothing of the little ringlets that now bounced above his shoulders.
"Well, obviously you've never interrupted them in the middle of mixing a powerful metamorphosis potion…" Willow said snidely. "By the way, Sevvie, I think curls are really the look for you."
"What?" Snape roared. He spun on his heal and stalked to the mirror on the wall.
The resulting rant was near indiscernible through the sputters. They did manage to pick out the words pink, curls, travesty and a pretty clear 'damnable American witch' before he swept from the room, no doubt in search of an antidote.
"Ah Severus!" Lupin called after him. "Where's your sense of humor? Besides, I quite agree with Willow. Curl's are a good look for you!"
Snape ignored him as a fresh wave of laughter echoed through the room.
"Damn, I wish Harry were here!" Ron exclaimed, wiping tears of laughter from his eyes. "That was bloody brilliant!"
"Ron! Don't swear!" Hermione exclaimed. She looked around worriedly. "And we really shouldn't laugh. He is a professor after all."
"Oh lighten up Hermione," Fred said. "I mean, it's Snape. If you don't keep your sense of humor about the guy he'll drive you nuts!"
"Willow," Lupin asked. "How did you manage to escape unscathed?"
"Giles taught me well," Willow said with a shrug. "Shielding charm, works wonders. Unfortunate for Sevvie, he didn't have one up."
Xander laughed. "That's my Willow. Always thinking ahead."
"Yeah," Buffy said slyly, knowing that there was more to this situation than met the eye. "Too bad she didn't think to put up a ward on the door to prevent herself from being surprised."
Willow looked over at her best friend quickly and answered the slayer's smirk with one of her own. "What can I say? I'm a rebel!"
Xander gasped lightly. "Willow Rosenberg!" He said with mock disapproval. "I'm surprised at you!"
Willow pouted. "Well if he weren't so damned disagreeable all the time! Besides, he should learn to keep his always-negative opinions of people I care about to himself! The next time he says something negative about Dawn or Faith it'll be a hell of a lot worse than pink hair, I promise you that!"
He'd said something bad about Dawn? All humor left Buffy's face. "And what did that slimy, kinda evil bastard say about my sister?"
"Oops," Willow said softly, looking to Xander for help. Xander just shrugged. No way he was getting in the middle of that one.
Faith stepped in. "C'mon B," she said, pulling her sister slayer from the room. "Let's go grab the brat and talk to Giles about going out to kill something tonight. What do you say?"
"Well, okay," Buffy said, shooting a look in Willow's direction that let the redhead know that the conversation wasn't over yet. Lupin followed them out; off to inform Molly about what had just happened.
"Phew," Willow let out a breath of relief as the Slayers disappeared. "If he thought pink hair was bad…" She muttered.
"You did that on purpose?" George asked, his voice full of awe. That was the kind of prank that he dreamed of…
Willow laughed. "I'm not that nervous or that clumsy… anymore," she said. "I knew the approximate results should I mess up on that part of the potion. He came bursting in here bitching about Faith and Dawn… and my hand just… slipped."
Fred was also staring at her with awe. "Do you think we could get that in an oral form? Pink hair and curls… what a prank! We'd sell out!"
George nodded in agreement. "And Snape would have pink hair and curls all year long…"
"It would be beautiful…" Fred said, his voice full of wonder.
"Beautiful…" George echoed.
Willow shrugged. She pointed to the book next to her demolished cauldron. "Spell's in there. I'll show you where I was and you can see what you can cook up."
Hermione gasped. "You can't mean to encourage them!"
"Ah, Hermione, lighten up!" Ron said, grabbing her arm and dragging her from the room. "Your prefect duties don't extend to the summer holidays… 'sides, Fred and George aren't in school anymore. They're adults and they can do whatever the hell they want!"
"Don't swear… And you just want people to be slipping that thing into Snape's food…"
Fred and George shook their heads as Hermione's voice faded out. "Those two ought to just get it over with and start dating…"
"Because they already sound like an old married couple…"
"Constant bickering…"
"Annoying tiffs…"
"They should at least be snogging for all their trouble." They both shrugged and turned their attention back to Willow.
"Thanks for the book Willow," Fred said. "We appreciate it."
Willow shrugged. "I'm all for a good joke every now and then…" She looked at them sternly and wagged one finger at them. "As long as they're not being played on me, you hear?" The twins nodded and Willow's mind drifted back to Ron and Hermione. They had an interesting relationship and she couldn't help but wonder… "So how does Harry fit into their dynamic?" She asked the twins. "It's kind of weird for me to think of them with a third."
"It won't once you see them," George said with a shrug. "The three of them have been best friends since first year."
Fred nodded. "They'd do anything for each other… and Ron and Hermione would follow Harry anywhere."
"Follow him?" Willow asked, wrinkling her nose. "What? He's like their leader?"
Fred shrugged. "In a way… Harry's never had much opportunity to follow. He sticks out… and pretty much everything usually comes down to him, whether he wants it to or not. So yeah… they follow him. And they're not the only ones."
"Right," George said, nodding in agreement. "I'd follow the guy to hell if he asked me to. After all, he saved Ginny's life… and Dad's."
"He's family."
Xander and Willow looked at each other. Now that sounded familiar. Fighting the good fight, battling evil, saving people… Harry was soundeing a heck of a lot like Buffy.
"I guess that makes sense," Xander said. "But what about the arguments?"
George laughed. "They bicker around him. Sometimes he takes Ron's side, sometimes Hermione's… though all in all, he tends to think more like Ron."
"Yeah, and he'd be on Ron's side in this one," Fred said. "Though he wouldn't be quite so vocal about it. He'd say something quiet to calm the situation… or change the subject."
"Unless he was in one of those moods," George added.
"Oh yeah," Fred said. "Then he'd just tell 'em to shut up."
"So he'd approve of me letting you have the book?" Willow asked.
Both of the twins laughed at this. "Of course!" George said. "Harry doesn't much care for rules, in case you couldn't tell from the stories we've told you about him… And don't tell Mum, but Harry gave us our start up capital for the shop. He's the reason we have it in the first place."
"And anything that would leave Snape in pink curls would be on Harry's list of good ideas…"
In the Hall…
Faith and Buffy slowed as the bickering couple approached them. They turned around and looked at the two teens with amusement.
"What are you guys arguing about now?" Buffy asked.
"Yeah," Faith said. "And don't you ever do anything else?"
"Funny," Hermione said with a sniff.
"Ignore her," Ron said, rolling his eyes. "She's just fuming because Willow gave Fred and George her Spellbook. They want to try and figure out an oral version of that side-effect for their joke shop."
"Wicked," Faith said with a grin. "I take it that the kids at Hogs-whatever…"
"Hogwarts," Hermione provided.
"Hogwarts," Faith amended fluidly, not breaking stride. "Would put that to good use… Old poopy-pants won't know what hit him!"
Buffy sighed. "Faith, I really wish that you wouldn't encourage Dawn in using that damned nickname!"
"Why not?" Faith asked. "I think it describes him perfectly."
"It's just… rude," Buffy said.
"I think it's bloody hilarious!" Ron said. He sighed. "Though Mum would have my hide if I even thought about using it."
"And she'd be right," Hermione said. "He's a teacher Ron!"
Ron shrugged. "He's a prat, Hermione."
"So," Buffy said, interrupting them before they could hit their stride. "When do you think Harry will be showing up? We're looking forward to meeting him."
Hermione sighed. "I don't know. They won't tell us anything. I think that they're afraid that we'll try to tell him and the message will be intercepted."
"Well, would you?" Buffy asked.
Ron and Hermione looked at each other. "Last week I would have said no," Ron said. "But Harry… well, his letter's have been a little weird lately."
Hermione nodded. "He's too… calm."
Faith and Buffy exchanged a look.
"What do you mean?"
"Well, Harry can be…" Hermione paused. "I don't want you to think badly of him. He's a wonderful person and very charismatic… when he isn't in a pissy mood."
"And last year he was in a pissy mood pretty much all the time," Ron said. "Of course we had that Umbridge woman to deal with… and no one would ever tell him anything about what was going on. No one believed him when he said that You Know Who was back. They were calling him a liar and crazy."
"He was angry a lot," Hermione said. "And sullen. He felt like the world was ganging up on him… and in a lot of ways it was. He was fighting The Ministry, V-Voldemort and even, in some ways Professor Dumbledore and The Order."
"And then that whole thing at The Ministry happened… and Sirius died."
Hermione nodded, her eyes filling with tears. "Sirius was the closest thing that Harry had ever had to a parent and I can't even tell you what it did to him. After the fight at The Ministry, Dumbledore told Harry something. And neither one of them will tell us what it was… But after that… well, Harry barely said a word during the end of the term at school. And he hasn't said anything in any of his letters since. 'Hi. I'm fine. How are you?' and that's it. And that's just not like Harry."
Ron nodded. "Normally he'd be demanding to know when he was coming here. Demanding to be told what was going on. Ordering Hedwig to peck at us because we aren't telling him anything… But all he's saying is that he's fine…" Ron glanced over ate Hermione. "Well, we kinda reckon he's up to something."
Hermione sighed again. "And that means that within the next few days, he'll probably get into some kind of scrape… So we'll likely be seeing him by the end of the week."
Ron nodded. "And hopefully, it won't be through bars. If he has to go on trial again, Mum'll flip her lid."
Buffy and Faith looked at each other. That didn't sound good… it also sounded a bit familiar… Faith laughed. "I like the sounds of this kid," she said. "Seems like he gets into just as much trouble as we always manage to."
Buffy smiled. "Oh and the stories about giant three-headed dog, basilisks, creepy undead-like things in cloaks, dragons, duels, death and destruction hadn't clued you in to that fact before?"
"Well yeah," Faith said. "But the more I hear, the more I like! C'mon B, tell me you haven't been as bored around this joint as I have? Sounds like trouble follows Harry and that means when he shows, so comes the fun!"
Buffy shook her head. "I happen to like the calm Faith… and hopefully tonight will cure you of your boredom."
They were interrupted as Dawn suddenly appeared on the stairs. "Is it patrolling time? Huh? Is it?"
Buffy and Faith laughed. "Pretty soon, brat," Faith said.
"You're going patrolling?" Hermione asked.
"Dawn gets to go patrolling?" Ron added.
"Yeah," Faith said. "As I said, we're going stir crazy here. Gotta get out and kill something… and Dawn gets to go because there's nothing in London that compares to a slow night on the Hellmouth."
"Not to mention that I've got mad skills," Dawn said, winking at Ron and Hermione.
"Yeah," Buffy said. "What with the shrieking and the running."
"Don't forget hiding," Dawn said. "I'm awesome at hiding."
Ron and Hermione laughed and then Ron sighed. "I'd ask to go along, but I already know the answer… And even if you guys said yes… Well, I can hear Mum already." Ron shuddered slightly. "Yeah, letting it go."
The girls laughed.
Giles stepped out of the Library. "Buffy? Faith? Dawn? We have some things to go over before patrol tonight. Are you ready?"
"Sure Giles," Buffy said.
"Hey brat," Faith said as the three of them followed Giles into the Library. "Where've you been? You missed Poopy-pants' new 'do."
Dawn gasped. "What do you mean?"
"Pink, Dawnie," Buffy said.
"With curls," Faith added.
"What?" Dawn shrieked. "Why do I miss all the good stuff?"
Ron and Hermione laughed as the door shut behind the group, then they headed in the general direction of the kitchen. Ron had a feeling that dinnertime was getting close…
Patrolling, Muggle London…
Two demons and a vampire had been the extent of the nights yield. None of them had put up much of a fight. Dawn had even been allowed to stake the vamp, which she was quite proud of… despite the fact that Faith had been holding on to him at the time.
"So where to now?" Dawn asked, bouncing slightly on her feet. She loved it when Buffy and Faith allowed her to go patrolling with them. It made her feel closer to her sister... And less threatened by the bond that was growing between the two slayers.
Of course, that was suddenly made less important by a series of loud pops. "Um, who're they?" Dawn asked, stopping suddenly.
Buffy cursed softly, looking around to assess the situation. Not good. Not good at all.
"You had to jinx us," Buffy said hissed in Faith's direction as groups of Death Eaters closed in on them from all sides. She dropped into a fighting stance, her eyes continuing to scan the crowd.
"What'd I do?" Faith asked defensively, as she too prepared to fight.
"'There's nothing in London that compares to a slow night on the Hellmouth.'" Buffy mimicked sarcastically.
"Oh yeah," Faith said with a small sigh. "Shit."
"Dawnie, get against the wall," Buffy said as she and Faith took up positions back to back. The let their weapons fall to the pavement, knowing that for all their magic, these were people… And slayers didn't kill humans.
"'Kay," Dawn said, complying immediately.
The first spell caught Buffy in the chest and sent her down on one knee. She took a shuddering breath and bounced back to her feet, shaking off the pain. Okay, not so bad. Maybe her slayer blood offered a bit of protection… She ducked as another curse headed her way. Yeah, really wasn't liking that…
"Make 'em fight you hand to hand, B," Faith said, ducking a curse and forcing Dawn to the ground. "Stay down Dawnie," she muttered before turning and grabbing the Death Eater closest to her. "Hiya, punk." She picked him up and threw him at two of his friends. "Déjà vu, much?"
Buffy had taken Faith's advice to heart and waded into the pack of Death Eaters, spinning, kicking and punching with such force and speed that the Wizards had a hard time aiming curses at her, some getting hit by 'friendly' fire. Others fell to the ground unconscious before the slayer's fists.
Faith was having similar good fortune. But there were just so many of them…
And neither Buffy nor Faith noticed the small group of Death Eaters breaking apart from the larger group…
One of them sneaked between the two Slayers and grabbed Dawn, clapping his hand over her mouth. She struggled against him, but he pulled her along, away from the fight, into a dark alleyway down the block. Four others joined him.
Lucius Malfoy dropped the Muggle girl by the wall, a quick spell keeping her in place. He then looked around. "Ah, Draco," he said, waving his son over. "We have some information that we need from this girl. Would you like to do the honors?"
Draco stepped forward, forcing his sluggish feet to work normally. He'd known that his father would ask…
But he couldn't…
"Show me how it's done, Father," he said indolently. "Then I shall give it a try." 'Or maybe by then I will have figured a way out of this…'
"Ah, very good, my boy," Lucius said, turning his attention back to the girl.
Dawn had been watching the scene between the two masked figures silently, her eyes wide with fear. She knew very well how precarious her position was… but she just had to hold on until Buffy and Faith could reach her…
"Tell us about the wandless witch, girl!" Lucius demanded.
Dawn was silent for a moment before taking a deep breath. "No," she said clearly, forcing the tremor out of her voice.
"Very well," Lucius said softly. Draco could hear the smile in his father's voice… and he shuddered. Lucius raised his wand. "Crucio."
It was a pain unlike anything that she had ever felt before. Her body contorted as wave after wave of agony rolled over her…
And she screamed…
A horrible, wrenching scream…
Draco paled behind his mask, his horrified eyes locked on the girl in front of him.
It was happening again…
And again, here he was, standing by and letting it.
"Finite Incantatem." Lucius watched for a moment as the spasms of pain receded. "What about now girl? Where is the witch!"
Tears were rolling freely down Dawn's face and she was struggling to retain consciousness… She steeled herself against the pain. "No," she said again.
The spell that Lucius used this time was not the Cruciatus… He instead used Pugnus Cruentum…
The girl collapsed as blows from invisible fists reigned down on her, forcing her closer to unconsciousness.
Lucius ended the curse. "What about now?"
"Never," Dawn gasped.
Draco looked at his father and then back at the girl, unable to believe what was happening…
But what could he do? What…
There was really only one answer to that question…
Heroics simply weren't his style, which is why, out of all of the people in the alley; he was the most surprised by what he ended up doing.
He stepped in front of the Muggle girl as his father sent another Cruciatus curse her way.
And fell to his knees, screaming in agony.
Back With The Slayers…
Buffy threw her latest 'victim' to the ground and had a sudden bolt of fear run through her. Something was very, very wrong.
She spun around, her eyes skimming the area behind her. Faith was there, fighting desperately with the other group of Death Eaters.
But Dawn…
Dawn was nowhere to be seen.
"Faith!" Buffy yelled. "Where's Dawn?"
"What?" Faith screamed back. She threw the Death Eater that she'd been fighting away from her and spun around. "She was right there!" She exclaimed, pointing to the wall. She felt, rather than saw, a spell being aimed her way and ducked. She swept around, knocking the offending Wizard off his feet.
"Behind you, B!" She yelled.
Buffy spun around, quickly disarming the Wizard that had been about to curse her.
"They took her somewhere," Buffy said, her voice far more calm than how she was feeling. Her hand shot out, grasping the Wizard in front of her by the throat. She raised him up till his toes were skimming the pavement. "Where's my sister, you cretin!"
She dropped him as Dawn's agonized scream ripped through the night. She turned towards the sound, starting to move towards it.
And was hit by a curse from behind. And another. And another.
Buffy fell to the ground, darkness overtaking her.
"B!" Faith shouted. Okay, that was it. She grabbed her sword from the ground where she'd dropped it. "Next person who throws a curse loses a hand!"
A few wands were swung around her way and she lunged forward, swinging the sword before her.
More screams filled the night around her, from the men around her, from the alley some distance away…
And Faith fought.
She couldn't help Dawn until these damned Death Eaters were toast!
She didn't stop moving until a series of pops filled the night as Aurors arrived on the street.
Alleyway…
Lucius stared at his son in disbelief. What was the boy doing? He ended the curse quickly.
"Draco? Stand aside boy!"
Draco gasped for breath as the curse wore off. "I'm sorry Father, but that's something that I simply cannot do."
"What?" Lucius exclaimed. "Have you lost your mind?"
Draco shook his head, pulling off his mask and throwing it to the ground. "No Father… I think I've finally found it. You shan't hurt her again. I won't let you."
Lucius was silent for a moment… And then he shrugged. "Very well," he said, his voice dark.
"What?" Draco asked. That sounded almost like his father was giving in…
But he knew better…
"Oh, not to worry boy…" Lucius said silkily. "The fact that you are my son has absolutely no bearing on this situation. You've made your choice." Lucius raised his wand.
"Pugnus Cruentum…"
One of the other Death Eaters aimed his wand at Draco as well. "Crucio!"
The two curses hit Draco as one…
And he screamed…
And screamed…
He barely noticed a third Death Eater raise his wand, unleashing the Cruciatus curse on Dawn.
Diagon Alley, Some Time Before…
Harry slipped out of Flourish and Blotts and made his way to the nearest alleyway. He placed the bag of books that he had just purchased at his feet and pulled on his invisibility cloak.
Sneaking into Diagon Alley was a bit of a risk, as was removing his invisibility cloak in order to buy books at Flourish and Blotts.
But in Harry's mind, it was a necessary risk.
The bag at his feet held all the books that he had been able to find on Occlumency and Legilimency. And he had every intention of mastering Occlumency by the end of the summer… before getting started on Legilimency…
He shook his head slightly. If Hermione could only see him now.
A whole summer stretched out before him and all he was planning to do was study.
Yeah, best not to mention that to her. She'd probably insist that he get checked out at St Mungo's.
Harry picked up the bag of books and slipped it under the cloak with him. When he was sure that there was nothing showing to give him away, he cautiously approached the end of the alley.
He peered out, looking around to make sure no one would run into him, before exiting the alley. He made his way to the Diagon Alley exit and waited somewhat impatiently for someone to approach and open the wall. It wouldn't do to open it himself… Having it open and no one exit was bound to make someone suspicious.
And that was something that he couldn't afford. He let out a silent breath of relief as a Witch approached the wall and opened it. He followed her into The Leaky Cauldron, taking special care not to make any noise. Luckily she was on her way to Muggle London, because she continued to the front door and Harry was able to escape out into the night.
He had hidden his Firebolt a few blocks away. He'd been flying into London, having decided that taking the Knight Bus was just too risky.
Not that flying wasn't dangerous in it's own right, but a broomstick flying through the air a couple hundred feet above the ground really wasn't that noticeable when the person on it was invisible.
The walk to where his broomstick was hidden took him close to Grimmauld Place. As he got close to Order Headquarters, he was struck by a sudden desire to go and knock on the door.
If it weren't for the fact that doing so would get him a scolding the likes of which he'd never seen, he would have done it. Just to be able to talk to Ron and Hermione and find out what had really been happening with the Order all summer.
Harry sighed softly. If only they'd just let him leave the Dursley's. What good did it do to lock him away there? Sure, there was the whole blood kin protection thing, but staying with the Dursley's made him crazy.
And he happened to think that his sanity was more important than a little added protection.
He wandered somewhat aimlessly towards his hiding spot, not paying much attention to where he was going.
And then suddenly, he stopped dead, his thoughts interrupted as a scream ripped through the night.
Harry regained his ability to move as another scream joined the first. He pulled his wand from his robes and ran towards the sound, dropping his books on the sidewalk as he reached the alleyway from which it had originated. He entered silently, taking in the scene before him.
Four Death Eaters arranged around two hunched figures on the ground.
One of the Death Eaters was speaking and Harry recognized the voice instantly.
Lucius Malfoy.
Harry couldn't say that he was surprised that the guy was already out of Azkaban, not with the Wizarding World being in the state it was in. No, that wasn't a surprise at all.
What was a surprise was the young man who was using his body as a wall between the Death Eaters and an unconscious muggle girl. A bruised, bloody and barely conscious… Draco Malfoy.
Yeah, there had to be a story there. One that he had every intention of hearing. Later though. There were more pressing things that needed to be done at the moment.
His eyes narrowed. Like… "Stupefy!" He cried, moving noiselessly to the right as his curse hit its mark… The Death Eater that had been about to Crucio Draco.
The Death Eaters had been taken by surprise, but recovered quickly; two of them sending off curses in the direction that Harry's voice had come from.
The third was knocked flat by a second Stupefy as Harry continued to move silently (except when he was actually cursing someone) around the alley. Another curse was thrown in the direction that he had been only moments before.
The next curse he threw was a Petrificus totalis. It was rather gratifying to watch the man fall to the ground in a full body bind…
"Accio invisibility cloak!"
And suddenly Harry was exposed. Luckily for him, he was already a few feet away from where Lucius Malfoy expected to see him. That and Malfoy's complete and utter surprise at seeing who it was that had attacked him gave Harry all the opportunity he needed. His Stupefy curse landed quite nicely, sending Malfoy tumbling to the ground.
It was a bit anticlimactic, but all in all, it had gone much better than he had expected it to going in.
He pointed his wand at each man in turn, thin cords shooting from the end of his wand, binding the men securely. Thank heavens he'd gotten Lupin to teach him how to do that spell last summer. He'd known it would come in handy eventually.
He looked around the alley. There was just one more thing…
"Accio wands!"
At that, five wands flew from the ground into his outstretched hand.
"Good," he said softly, quite pleased with himself.
At least he hadn't gotten himself killed. That would have put him in for quite the number of I told you so'sfrom the members of the order. And the whole being dead thing… that would have been bad as well.
He hurried over to where Draco Malfoy was even then kneeling beside the muggle girl. He looked as though he couldn't have stood, even had he wanted to.
"I couldn't let them hurt her," Malfoy muttered softly, his breath coming in short, wheezing gasps. "I don't know why… I just couldn't let them hurt her."
"Who is she?" Harry asked, crouching beside her. He touched her face gently before checking her pulse. It was strong and steady. He let out a sigh of relief. Her chest was rising and falling evenly. She'd be okay.
"I don't know," Malfoy said, still looking down at her, his face awash with confusion and disbelief. "I have no idea who she is. They just… They want someone she knows." He finally looked up at Harry, horror shining in his eyes. "The way she screamed…"
This was a side of Draco Malfoy that Harry had never seen before. One that he hadn't believed existed.
There wasn't much time, but Harry hadn't been put in Gryffindor for no reason. He was well versed in the art of brashly jumping into situations without thought of self-preservation. This seemed the perfect time for just such an action.
He sorted through the wands that he'd stuck hastily in one of his pockets and separated out Draco's. He handed it to the other boy wordlessly and got to his feet.
"Wha…?" Draco started, looking at the wand in disbelief.
"If you curse me in the back with that thing, I'm going to be really pissed," Harry said shortly, even as he pulled out his own wand and approached the nearest bound Death Eater.
"Exsculptum Memoriae Absolutum…" A blank look entered the man's eyes and Draco's eyes widened in response. Where the hell had Potter learned that spell? And how had he managed to practice it enough so that it actually worked?
"Potter!" Malfoy exclaimed, struggling to his feet. "What in the hell are you doing?"
Harry looked at Malfoy like he'd gone mental. "Erasing their memories," he said wryly. And set about doing just that to two more of the downed Death Eaters.
Malfoy couldn't help rolling his eyes. Damned wanker. Obviously that wasn't what he'd meant. "That I'd noticed. My question was more along the lines of why?"
"I'd think that would be just as obvious Malfoy," Harry said, his wand at ready over the last of the Death Eaters, one Lucius Malfoy. "So they don't remember that you 'betrayed' them, of course. What's the point in my saving your life if your father and his mates kill you tomorrow anyway?"
"And you think they'll be able to do that how?" Draco asked. "Auror's will likely be here in a few moments… They'll be taken to Azkaban."
Harry snorted. "Now Malfoy, I know you're not that stupid. How long did your father stay in Azkaban after attacking The Ministry last month?"
Malfoy sighed. "Two weeks." But he didn't want to be any more indebted to Harry Potter than he already was. "Why do you care anyway?" He asked, going back to the unpleasant thought of his father killing him. "Wouldn't it make your life a little easier if they were to kill me?"
"Without doubt," Harry said, shaking his head at the other boy. "'Cause you're being really bloody annoying. Shut up and let me concentrate! We don't have much time." He turned his attention back to Lucius Malfoy and concentrated on carrying out the last memory charm.
Draco watched silently as Harry placed the powerful memory charm on his father. When he was done, he repeated his earlier question. "Why are you helping me?" His tone was a mixture of disbelief, uncertainty and, oddly enough, fear.
Harry was silent for a moment. He gazed down at Lucius Malfoy, studying him as if his very life depended on it… Finally he looked over at Draco and answered him, slowly, his voice serious. "Because today, for the first time, I saw something in you that was worth something... Something worth saving. This is your opportunity Malfoy. Don't screw it up."
His opportunity? The guy must have bloody lost it! Had he forgotten who he was talking to? Harry Potter was actually giving him a second chance? "What in the hell are you talking about, Potter?"
"You have a choice." Harry paused, scoffing softly. "Well, you've always had a choice. I just always thought that you were too much of a bloody wanker to choose any other path than the one you were groomed for." Harry stopped talking and studied the other boy. "We don't really have time for this conversation right now, Malfoy. Aurors'll be here any second." He picked up his invisibility cloak from where it had fallen and tossed it to Draco.
Malfoy looked down at the cloak in shock, unable to process what was happening. Unable to wrap his head around the magnitude of what Harry seemed to be doing for him. It just didn't make any sense… unless the guy was a freaking loon… or that… Draco hated to even think it… but that brave and willing to overlook the past...
It was almost nauseating… Yeah, definitely nauseating.
His thoughts were interrupted as Harry handed him a small sheet of paper with an address on it and a key.
"Muggle London," Harry said, indicating the paper. "Go to that address, wear the cloak. The key opens the door to flat 314. Wait for me there. I'll meet you as soon as I'm able. There should be some helpful potions in the medicine cabinet… For healing and whatnot."
Draco just gaped at him, still not believing what was happening. The Harry Potter he knew would not be this willing to stick his neck out… not for the Slytherin prince.
"What?" Harry asked impatiently.
"Who in the hell are you?"
Harry sighed. "You don't know anything about me, Malfoy. Not really. You've never bothered to find out. I'm gearing up for a war here and I need all the allies I can get." He paused for a moment. "Even a ferrety git might come in handy, when it comes right down to it…" His tone was mocking, but, to the shock of both of them, it was mocking in an almost… friendly way. Harry shook his head. 'Best to think about such disturbing things at a later date…' "It's time for you to decide which side you're truly on."
Draco opened his mouth to speak again, but Harry grabbed the cloak and threw it over him as a number of pops sounded in the alleyway. Draco disappeared barely an instant before a legion of Aurors filled the alley.
There were several gasps as a few of the Aurors recognized him.
"Harry Potter!" One witch exclaimed, her voice aghast. It seemed to be all that she was able to say, for after his name left her lips, she began to gape at him in a most alarming manner…
"Nymphadora Tonks," Harry replied in kind, nodding to her. He looked at the man next to her. "Ahh, Kingsley, nice to see you again, mate." He hoped they didn't notice how distracted he was… or how loudly he was speaking.
God, what the hell was he doing? All this trouble for Malfoy? Once a stupid slimy git…
But that was just it.
Draco hadn't looked like a stupid, slimy git, kneeling in front of that Muggle girl, shielding her with his body…
He'd looked like a bloody hero, ferrety traits notwithstanding…
And one thing that Harry's Gryffindor soul recognized, however unwillingly, was bravery. He would see it rewarded. He would give Draco Malfoy this chance, no matter what the cost.
"Dawnie!"
And suddenly two young women were sprinting into the alleyway. They went directly to the side of the young muggle woman who was just beginning to wake up. Harry studied them for a moment. There was something slightly… off about them. Before he was able to consider them further a voice interrupted his thoughts.
"Harry! What are you doing here!"?
Ah! Tonks seemed to have found her voice again. Right good that was… Harry rolled his eyes and turned his attention to the Aurors before him.
"Cursing a few Death Eaters here and there…" Harry answered calmly, though he felt anything but. There was going to be a scene. He had known it going into this, but that didn't mean that he was looking forward to it.
"But how…" Kingsley said.
Harry grinned. "Well, see, I pointed my wand at them and then I said words like, Stupefy and Petrificus totalis…"
Kingsley was torn between amusement and annoyance. He hadn't remembered Harry as being this much of a wiseass. Sirius would have been proud…
Kingsley shook himself. "Not the how of the spells, Harry. More, how did you manage to leave your Aunt and Uncle's without anyone being informed?"
Harry shrugged. "Easy. No one knows that I'm gone."
Tonks gasped. He couldn't have! He couldn't have been so foolish and reckless! Not with everything that had happened.
"Harry!" She started, but stopped as he held up a hand.
"Please Tonks, can't we leave the scolding till later? There are Death Eaters littering the ground at the moment, you know." He looked pointedly over at the young women by the wall, one barely conscious, two others hovering over her with concern. "And there are injured Muggles to consider."
"Not Muggles," Tonks said quietly, glancing around cautiously, relieved that no one was within hearing distance. She was also relieved that the Auror who was attending to the three women was a recent addition to The Order.
Harry looked at her curiously.
Tonks sighed. "More on the side of magical beings… mystical warriors is the term, I guess. It'll be explained once we get you to Headquarters." If they managed to get him out of the Ministry without charges being filed…
One of the other Aurors had been using his wand to examine each of the Death Eaters in turn. He appeared to become more amazed by each one that he examined.
And his amazement had nothing to do with who they were.
Harry looked over at him and decided to get this out of the way. "I'm afraid you won't learn much from them," Harry said, looking down at the Death Eaters with disgust.
The Auror, who was now crouching next to the still body of Lucius Malfoy, looked up at Harry, his face a mixture of shock, awe and even a hint of fear.
"Where did you learn the Memoriae…?" It was a particularly difficult spell, and it left a mark unlike any other on the one receiving it. A mark that he'd recognized immediately.
Both Tonks and Kingsley rounded on Harry with shock. "You used the bloody Memoriae on them?" Tonks hissed. "What the hell were you thinking?"
Harry made himself look sheepish. "I didn't want them to remember that it was me that had cursed them. They hate me enough as it is!"
Well, that did make some sense. But the Memoriae! That could cause them all problems, especially if he hadn't done it right.
"Wood?" Kingsley asked, looking down at his fellow auror.
"It appears to be an excellent casting," Wood said, looking at Harry. He then addressed his fellow Aurors. "There shouldn't be any permanent damage. Their memories of tonight are gone, no one, not even You-Know-Who could retrieve them. But otherwise…" Auror Wood shrugged. "They'll be their normal, charming selves when they wake up…"
Tonks and Kinsley look relieved. Well, at least there was that…
Harry sighed in disappointment. "Too bad, that," he said, almost wishing that he had messed up the spell.
Everyone looked at him with questioning shock. "Oh please! Tell me it wouldn't be good to have a permanently damaged Lucius Malfoy walking around instead of the wanker we'll be getting!" A thoughtful light entered his eyes and he smiled slightly. "In fact, let me try the Catatonis… I'm not nearly so good at that one…"
Harry went to take a step forward but stopped when Tonks put a forceful hand on his chest. "Harry Potter! You stop right there!" Harry went still, staring at her with trepidation. She had that look about her… like she was two seconds from grabbing him by the ear and dragging him out of the alleyway… "No more cursing for you tonight! We're going to have a hard enough time getting you out of trouble for what you've already done!"
She stopped, glancing nervously over at Wood. They still didn't know exactly where he stood on anything… Well other than his hatred of Voldemort. It was just unclear if he was Ministry-type or Phoenix-type.
Apparently he was the latter. "Don't worry about me," he said with a slight laugh. "Just let me know if you need any help. It's not likely that Fudge'll do anything though. I think he has quite enough to worry about as it is."
There had been an uproar within The Ministry and throughout the Wizarding world when it became clear that Harry and Dumbledore had, in fact, been telling the truth about Voldemort. All of Fudge's energy was focused on preserving his position as Minister of Magic. Reason number one in Wood's mind that he should be removed. They needed someone who would devote all their energy towards defeating Voldemort… whatever the cost.
Like Harry seemed to be…
He stood and made his way over to the young man. "Harry, it's nice to meet you," he said, holding out his hand. "My brother's had nothing but good things to say about you…"
Harry smiled, shaking the offered hand. "You're Oliver Wood's brother?"
The man nodded. "Anderson Wood."
"Pleased to meet you," Harry said. He was about to say something further when a blonde bundle of energy hit him full in the chest. All that he managed to get out was a breathless 'oof'. He looked down in surprise at the petite young woman who had her arms wrapped tightly around him. "Can I help you?"
"Thank you!" Buffy said, her voice somewhat muffled. "For saving my sister."
Harry glanced over at the young woman now leaning against a brick wall. Her head was cushioned on the shoulder of the brunette that had entered the alley with the woman now squeezing the life out of him. He found himself blushing… and somewhat unable to breathe. "You're very welcome," he managed to gasp, his voice faint. "But air would be nice."
"Oh sorry!" Buffy exclaimed, letting him go immediately. Suddenly self-conscious, she started a Willow-worthy babble. "Auror what's his face over there told me that you had taken out those damned Death Eaters over there." She nodded to the men still scattered around the ally. "Faith, Dawn and I were out patrol…" She stopped at a quick look from Tonks and corrected herself. "Oh strolling… yes, we were out strolling when we were attacked. Faith and I were doing okay, but Dawnie got separated. If you hadn't shown up when you did…" She made as if to hug him again but Harry took a nervous step back. Hugging made him quite uncomfortable, especially when it was someone that he didn't know.
"Quite all right," Harry said. "Glad I could help." He looked at Tonks questioningly but she just shook her head. She would explain later. He looked back at the blonde, about to ask her what the hell was going on when another voice filled the alley.
"Transports are here!"
In short order the Death Eaters were placed in magical binds within a vehicle that looked strangely like a muggle bus, only… not. The Auror that was helping the women shuffled them off, saying that he would take them to St. Mungo's, though the look that he threw in Tonks' direction gave Harry the impression that they were headed somewhere else, like Order Headquarters…
And Harry was marched out of the alley and into a waiting ministry vehicle. He sighed as he took his place in the backseat. Yeah, this really wasn't how he'd planned to spend the evening.
Kingsley and Wood took their places up front and Tonks slid in beside Harry. They were about to leave when someone knocked on the widow. Kingsley quickly rolled it down.
"What is it?" He asked.
"Just got a communiqué from The Ministry. Director Bones is assembling The Council of Seven for an immediate hearing. You're to take Potter directly to the council room upon arrival at The Ministry."
Kingsley nodded, ignoring Tonks' faint intake of breath from the back. "We'll see to it." He rolled the window up again and swore softly under his breath as he pulled away from the curb and headed towards The Ministry.
That certainly didn't sound good.
"What's The Council of Seven?" Harry asked.
"New governing body of The Ministry," Wood answered from the front. "Ever since the goings on at The Ministry last month there have been quite a few shakeups. Fudge's position has been decentralized. The Council of Seven has taken over."
"Is that good for me, or bad for me?" Harry asked.
"Honestly Harry, I don't know."
Well, that was just great. At least with Fudge he had some idea what to expect. Trial before the Wizengamut, likely trip to Azkaban… Expelled from school…
Yeah, this Council of Seven was sounding better and better…
They certainly couldn't be much worse.
And Katilwen…
I'm just going to put out a wild guess and say that the spy is Draco.
Someone gets a cookie! Hehehe… You must reply in order to get your prize. (After all, I can't take requests that aren't made. And remember I said an 'eensy' request, so don't go all crazy on me;) LOL!)