Author's note: Warning: Most of this series is gen or het. This particular piece, Xander's gay. So if not intrested in slash, don't read. Skip to the next chapter. In that one Xander is straight smirk. Also the piece of fanfiction used in here is real. You can find it here: http// www. greyblue. net/ MidnightBlue /Mirror /default. htm just take out the spaces.

17. Warmage Ash

"Come on Xander." Willow whined. "Please, please go as Harry Potter and I can go as Ginny Weasley. Come on!"

Xander regarded his best friend and sighed, "Alright, alright. You're my bestest bud. So, yes, I'll go as Harry."

Willow smiled happily and darted off to find the parts she needed for her costume. After she left, Xander sighed and thought, 'She's my best friend but I wish she'd catch a clue. Then again, it is my fault. I haven't told her where my true preferences lie.' He sighed again, 'and my "pursuit" of Buffy probably clouds the issue as well. I think it's time to reveal that I'm gay but in a subtle way. Willow's smart she'd get it if I present it in the right way.'

Xander wandered around, searching for the parts he needed for his costume. A fake tattoo set caught his eye and an idea hit him. Yeah, he'd be Harry Potter but not a canon Harry Potter. He'd go as Ash, Warmage Ash from Midnight Blue's "Mirror of Maybe." Willow was the one who had him read the fic when it was still on and like her; he followed it over to M.B.'s yahoo group. Willow would hopefully get the hint from his costume.

Xander swept into Buffy's house, robes swirling gracefully around him. "My, Xander, who are you going as?" Joyce asked.

Xander smiled, bowing gracefully, and replied, "Warmage Ashe, at your service my lady."

Joyce arched a brow, she recognized the name. "Oh my, so you're not really interested in Buffy at all, are you?"

Xander smiled and inclined his head in agreement. A gasp of shock came from the top of the stairs. Xander looked up to see Buffy and Willow looking at him in shock. "Xander, "Willow whispered. "Why didn't you . . . "

"I didn't know how to." He replied, "Not until today."

"OH."

"Shall we go, ladies?"

"Yep." Buffy replied cheerfully.

The spell swept over the city and Ash shook his head in confusion. 'Where the hell am I? And why do I feel so weird?'

"Excuse me, sir?" came a timid voice from behind him.

He whirled around, wanted extended and pointed at the red haired young woman in Gryffindor colors. Here eyes widened in surprise and then recognition flickered for a moment in her eyes. "Professor Ash?" she questioned tentatively.

"It's me, Ginny Weasley."

"No you're not. You don't look anything like her." He stated unequivocally.

"Well, you don't look anything like you should, either." She quietly stated.

He arched a brow and then searched the area for a mirror. Seeing a nearby car, he strode forward and peered into the side mirror and saw a strangers face. He quickly evaluated his body and quickly came to the conclusion that he was not in his own body. He looked deep into his psyche for clues and ran into someone else's mind. They shared their history and Ash knew who was responsible for this chaos and what he had to do now. "Miss Weasley, come with me. I know what's going on and how to fix it."

On their way to Ethan's they picked up a terrified young noblewoman that "Xander" identified as Buffy. They brought her with them. Ash blasted the door open and marched into the store, heading to the back room. He looked around, searching for the spells focus. He heard a door open and he swiftly turned around, crouching low, wand and gun extended. A man who "Xander" told him was Ethan stood there, looking at the three of them in surprise. "Well, who we have here?" he muttered.

"How do you break the spell? Ash demanded.

Ethan just smirked at him. Ash narrowed his eyes and made a quick decision. "Many children are being hurt maybe even killed because of this spell. If you do not tell me how to break the spell you will leave me no choice but to resort to extreme measures." Ash softly warned.

"And what can you do, dear boy. You can't kill me and I'm not done having my fun just yet."

"Fine," Ash whispered in response and then said, "Crucio!"

Ethan fell to the floor, screaming in pain. He waved his wand and said, "Finite Incantatem! Well have you changed your mind?"

"The bust of Janus. Destroy the bust." Ethan croaked out desperately.

Ash aimed his wand and muttered an incantation which caused the bust to explode. The three teens swayed dizzily for a moment and then all three glared at Ethan. Xander walked forward and knelt at Ethan's side. He leaned over and whispered to Ethan. "You'd best not return to Sunnydale if you know what's good for you." And then showed him the wand and gun which were still very real.

Ethan looked up into Xander's eyes and saw something in them that made him go white. "No," he whispered. "I won't be returning to Sunnydale, ever!"

Later on, at home, Xander pulled off his costume and looked down at himself in the mirror. Not only had Ash left him his memories and knowledge, and weaponry he had left his tattoos as well. The Gryffindor lion stretched out and purred on this chest. On his back he felt the Slytherin serpent move. He smiled; he would not let Ash down. He would use the skills he had left him to aid Buffy and to save the innocent.

Owari