Notice: I do not own Harry Potter, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Angel, V.I.P., or Barb Wire. I am just borrowing the characters and plots for entertainment purposes.

Author's note: I hope you guys like what I've written out so far. It's been a bit difficult. I changed the dates for Buffy and Angel. As for V.I.P. and Barb Wire, I haven't watched the first one in years, and as for the second one, I'm just borrowing the character and persona.

Eternia:

Harry Potter and the Immortal's Knight

Chapter 5: Allies and the Mob:

Earlier that morning, in another part of England, a blond haired girl was awakened y her lover.

"Buffy, wake up. Come on. We have to go to the London Underground, remember?" the slayer's dark haired lover reminded her.

With the sweet comfort of sleep slowly leaving her, the slayer groaned, "Urrgh. What time is it?"

The dark haired man answered, "It's eight o'clock in the morning. So, come on."

"Alright, I'm up," Buffy answered while getting up. She walked over to the bathroom before calling out, "Angel, did Harry call, yet?"

"Yeah, he called yesterday. He asked about your sister," the ensouled vampire informed her.

"Which one?"

"Who do you think?" was the sarcastic reply.

"Is she in trouble again?" Buffy asked irritatedly.

"Well, he didn't exactly say it so much in words. But he did suggest something along those lines."

"Damn it all! I thought Dawn was bad! She's getting out of hand. What did she do this time?" the blond asked angrily.

"Look, Buffy," Angel calmed her down, "You finish your bath, and I'll worry about your Rogue of a sister. Okay?"

"Fine."

"I'll be downstairs," Angel told her and left the room.

Half an hour later, Buffy got out of the bathroom and got dressed. She got out her trusty stake, "Mr. Pointy," from her bedside table and pocketed it. Taking out a pair of bracers, she tied them to her arms. She went out the door, through the stairs, and headed strait to the kitchen.

Upon entering the kitchen, she found her friends eating breakfast.

"Hey, Mom," a young man greeted her.

"Conner," she returned.

You hear it correctly, ladies and gentlemen. Conner O'Conner, son of the former Scourge of Europe and the vampire with a soul, just called her "Mom." It was a long story actually. After the battle with the Senior Partners' dark army, the Angel Investigations crew was reunited with the Scooby Gang. To make the long story short, the Romeo-and-Juliet couple rekindled their romance which eventually led to Conner coming to see the original slayer as his mother. The relationship between stepmother and stepson were odd at first, but everyone worked through it.

"So, what's today's agenda?" Buffy asked as she got herself some breakfast.

Willow looked through the planner besides her and answered, "We have to do a quick meeting with some of the department heads in half an hour. After that, we have to go to the London Underground to meet with the Trio."

A tall middle-aged man with brown hair, glasses and medium built came in and asked, "What time to you have to meet Mr. Potter, Mr. Weasley, and Ms. Granger?"

"By noon. Aren't you coming, Giles?" Willow asked.

"Well, originally, yes. But I read this article last night written by Ms. Granger. It talks about spells and runes and how they could possibly mix each other."

"Isn't that already being done, Giles?" the one-eyed Xander questioned.

"It is already being done, Xander," the British accented Wesley informed, "But the new ways she theorized the mixing of spells and runes could be done and used have never been thought of before. I must admit, like Mr. Giles here, that I am very curious by how Ms. Granger came by them. She published the article when she was barely fifteen!"

"Actually, Wesley," Giles started, "she was only fourteen and a half years old. There were mistakes done in her theory, but none that couldn't be fixed easily. One just needs to do a little adjustments here and there and …"

"Giles, you stopped talking in English a while back," Buffy interrupted.

"What? Oh, yes. Anyways, can you ask her if we could meet in person to talk about this article sometime? I'm sure Wesley would like to meet her as well," asked the watcher.

Buffy nodded her head saying, "I'll ask."

Hollywood, California, U.S.A.:

It was night, nearly eight o'clock. Vallery and her crew are at the V.I.P. office drinking the night away after a long day.

Everyone was laughing the night away until the ever watchful Tasha Dexter realized that their blonde haired leader was acting more distant towards her companions. She thought this was odd considering Val usually had an upbeat personality. She asked her boss, "Is something wrong, Val? You haven't said anything all night."

The blonde didn't answer. She appears to not have heard or seen anything that's going around her.

"Vallery?" the dark haired Maxine De La Cruz shook her best friend to get her attention.

"Huh?"

"Is something wrong? Something seems to be bothering you," Tasha repeated.

Vallery shook her head no, "I don't know. Something in the back of my mind has been bothering me lately. Whenever I think about it, it just keeps slipping away."

"Val," Maxine patted her hand, "It's probably all the stresses of what's happened lately getting to you. Now that everything's calmed down, I'm sure whatever it is will settle itself."

Just then, the door opened to reveal a stranger. No one can see her face since she had her hood on.

As she entered the office, everyone save Vallery stood up. The stranger's presence had immediately put tension in the once lively office.

"Hi, I'm Quick Williams, one of the people who work here. Is there anything we can help with?" the dark colored man welcomed the stranger.

The stranger didn't appear to have noticed him as she kept her intense gaze on Vallery.

"Vallery Irons?" the shadowy figure stated more than asked.

"Yes?" Vallery replied cautiously.

"Or do you prefer Barbara Kopetski?"

Vallery's eyes opened wide in surprise as her co-workers looked at each other in confusion. Maxine looked at the stranger warily and sent a fearful look towards her friend.

Vallery's whole body was tense as she leaned forward. Her muscles were taught with readiness at a moment's notice. With a malicious glare and a vicious tone she demanded, "How do you know that name?"

Her co-workers were surprised by their boss's sudden change in demeanor. They have never seen her like this.

"How I know doesn't matter. What I'll do with what I know is what you should worry about. You have nothing to worry about, or you friends, for that matter, as long as you do what I tell you to do."

"If you need me to do something, you could have just asked me instead of blackmailing me," Vallery's harsh tone bit the air.

"I would have if I hadn't known ahead of time that you would reject the job immediately after hearing it. Besides, I heard you retired," the stranger continued in her matter-of-fact tone.

"Vallery, what is she talking about?" Johnny interrupted the two.

Nikki continued, "Yeah, and who'd Barbara Kopetski?"

Kay surprised everyone save the stranger by answering, "Barbara Kopetski is the real name of Barb Wire, one of the best bounty hunters in the world. She supposedly died over five years ago." As she finished, she turned her gaze towards her boss who was still in a staring match with the stranger.

Realization hit the stunned group as the shifted their gazes from Kay to Vallery to the stranger then back to Vallery. Tasha was the first to break the silence, "You can't seriously mean…"

"I do not need Vallery Irons, celebrity bodyguard to the celebrities," the stranger interrupted, "I need one of the best hunters in the world. I need Barb Wire. There is a war going on out there, dozens of wars in fact. Barb Wire could really help."

"If I say yes, then will you keep my friends out of this?" Vallery bowed her head resigned knowing that there was no way she can get out of this without her friends getting hurt.

"I give you my word that I will leave you and your friends once your contract with me is finished," upon hearing this, Vallery sighed. "But what your friends choose to do is their own. If they want to help you, then I won't stop them."

"Look here," Maxine protested to the stranger, "You come in causing trouble and then you expect us to help you?"

"Us?" Vallery looked up at Maxine curiously.

"Yes, us," Maxine repeated, "I'm your best friend Barb. We've known each other since we were kids. I'm not about to let you go off on your own when you are in trouble."

Quick exchanged glances with the rest of the group and spoke up, "Vallery, or Barb Wire, or whatever your name is really, you are our friend and our boss. You have always been there for us when we are in trouble or in need of some help. None of use here," he gestured at everyone, "understand what is going on, but we're helping you whether you like it or not."

Tasha, Nikki, Kay, and Johnny nodded in agreement.

Vallery, or rather Barb Wire, let out a long sigh and asked, "What do you need me to do?"

The stranger dropped a folder in front of Barb Wire saying, "That's your first assignment."

London Underground, The Leaky Cauldron:

"Well, here we are," Hermione thought out loud, "We have about an hour until our appointment. Let's go shopping until then." The bookwork finished by grinning at her best friends. The two boys just groaned while Hedwig hooted like she was laughing at them.

"Hermione," Ron and Harry complained.

"What?" the girl turned around laughing at them. "It's just a little summer shopping. No big deal."

The three entered the Leaky Cauldron with Hermione leading the way.

"Mr. Potter! Mr. Weasley! Ms. Granger!" the bartender and owner of the pub, Tom, greeted them with a cheerful smile. "You'll have the usual, I take it?"

"Good to see you, Tom," Harry greeted, "And yes. Can you have our rooms readied for the night? We're off to go do some summer shopping, and then we'll have an appointment at noon. We don't know when we'll be back, but we'll have a late lunch when we return."

"Right, Mr. Potter."

The three went off to the small courtyard at the back where Ron tapped the wall three times with his wand. The wall opened to reveal Diagon Alley.

Almost immediately, they were mobbed by people screaming for their attention. The trio held on to each other tightly so they wouldn't loose each other to the crowd.

"Mr. Potter! Mr. Potter! Are the rumors true about you being recruited to the Puddlemere United team?! Or the ones about Chuddley Cannons?"

"Mr. Weasley, what do you think about the Cannons' chances of winning this year?!"

"What do you think about the pamphlets the Ministry sent, Ms. Granger?!"

"Ms. Granger, what about…"

"Mr. Potter…"

"Mr. Weasley…"

BANG!

Harry had his wand pointed towards the sky sending off the loud explosion to get the crowd's attention.

"One by one, ladies and gents! We will answer a few of your questions," Harry commanded in a loud and clear voice for the crowd to hear.

"You, with the read coat, what's your question?" Ron pointed to a man at the crowd.

"About the Cannons, Mr. Weasley, do you think they have a chance of winning the cup this year?"

"No, unfortunately, I don't," Ron answered dejectedly, "There is real potential for a couple of the members of the team, but the coach seems to be rather ignoring some of their natural talents. If the Cannons could get a coach that could capitalize on the team's natural abilities and improve their teamwork, they would increase their chances of winning drastically."

"Thank you."

"You, at the front," Hermione stepped forward.

"What do you think about the pamphlets the Ministry sent out, Ms. Granger?"

Hermione shook her head saying, "I think that it's completely useless. The best way of surviving a Death Eater attack is by already having an escape plan readily available at the moment's notice. Having a few distractions to delay the attackers from reaching you would also help."

The reporter nodded her head and turned away.

"Next," Harry nodded at another reporter.

"There have been rumors circulating lately saying that Puddlemere United, the National English Quidditch team, and Chuddley Cannons have tried to recruit you?" the man asked Harry.

"The rumors are all true," answered Harry causing the crown to murmur in excitement, "But I haven't been able to send an answer because Madame Umbridge suspended me from playing the game indefinitely for attacking Draco Malfoy after he insulted my mother and Mrs. Weasley."

"She can't do that! It's not in her power to do so!" someone protested in outrage.

"Well, for the record, it isn't even legal for any of the Ministry to interfere with any of Hogwarts's businesses, but that didn't stop them from appointing a Head Inquisitor," Hermione stated causing the crowd to roar further in anger.

"Speaking of the Ministry, what to you think of the interim Minister?" a female reporter asked from behind the crowd.

When Harry, Hermione, and Ron looked to see who the familiar voice belonged to, they found Rita Skeeter coming up front with her ever present notebook, but with a regular quill in her hand.

At their astonished faces, the blonde reporter held her hands up and placated the three friends saying, "I swear just honest reporting. No embellishments or dramatics."

Hermione pointed to her in a condescending manner and warned, "I'm watching you."

"Of course. Now, about my question," Rita insisted.

Harry looked at her straight in the eye and said, "That man is just a braver version of Cornelius Fudge. He's pretending to do something about the threat of Voldemort, while driving possible allies like the giants, werewolves, and other magical beings to go over to Voldemort's side."

"He's too much of a pureblood elitist, like Voldemort, to be actually successful," Ron remarked. "I am proud of being a pureblood. There is nothing wrong with that. Being pureblood, though, doesn't give you the right to lord over other people and races. What the Ministry of Magic needs is a Minister who would be moderate and act fairly."

"Who do you think would be perfect for the position of Minister of Magic?" someone voiced out.

"Professor Dumbledore would be the most obvious," Hermione answered. "So would Arthur Weasley, Kingsley Shacklebot, Alastor Moody, and Amelia Bones. The Headmaster will never leave Hogwarts. And I really hope he never does. Mr. Weasley as the experience and eligibility for the position, but his deep appreciation of muggles might alienate some purebloods who are loyal to the Ministry. While Kingsley Shacklebot has the skills has the skills and standing for the job, he doesn't have enough experience for such a high seat of power. Alastor Moody would make an excellent war minister, but he is far too skilled of an auror to remove him from the Auror Corps. Madame Bones, on the other hand, is the most perfect for the position. She has the skills, the standing, the experience, and the authority that one would expect of a Minister of Magic. Her reputation for being fair, however, is her biggest advantage."

"Couldn't have said it better myself, Hermione," Harry agreed with her.

Ron spoke up, "If everyone doesn't mind, we have some shopping to do."

Without waiting for an answer the three left to do a quick shopping spree.

What do you guys think? I put a reference to Rogue in the Buffy/Angel bit. Who do you think is the stranger that visited Vallery and the V.I.P. gang? Just wait and see what I have up my sleeves next. It's going to be a wild ride!