Disclaimer: I still don't own HP or BtVS or AtS or Frodo who makes absolutely no appearance in this story. Yup.
The Necromancer
Chapter 7: Safe House
"This is awkward," Hermione commented.
She squirmed, her spot on the sofa consisting of only a few, uncomfortable inches between a protective Harry and Remus. Her leg was still propped on the coffee table, even though Remus had performed a simple but effective healing charm several minutes ago. However the awkwardness of which she spoke had nothing to do with her best friend and former teacher's elbows jabbing her in the side. She was referring, instead, to the muggle spectators sitting across from them.
Each group had exchanged simplified versions of the events of the evening, careful to give just enough information about their worlds. This hadn't worked very well considering that Rupert Giles had known rather a lot about the Wizarding World and that Remus Lupin had been given numerous reports on The Slayer. However, the "kids" in the room still seemed to be partially in the dark as far as these concepts were concerned.
Hermione's 'rescuers' were staring, rather rudely. For some reason, she couldn't stand those eyes on her, judging, wanting an explanation for the book balanced on her knees. Mr. Giles had attempted to no avail to study it earlier and had made no comments on it since. She had an odd feeling that the group before her had seen something similar in the past.
"I concur," answered the young man, straightening his eye patch. Mentally, Hermione wanted to refer to him as Mr. Harris, but he had been very affronted when introductions had come around, insisting they all call him Xander.
"Giles, I need to talk to you," Buffy stated, suddenly pushing off from the chair she'd been leaning on. She led the older gentleman away into another room without giving them a second glance.
Xander watched them go, looking as if he was rather upset about being left with their guests. "So. . . You're a teacher at this wizard's school?"
"Was," Remus answered and, with a cocked brow, inquired, "And you train slayers?"
"More like baby sit and volunteer to make distractions for them. I also go for donuts." Xander leaned forward. "Yup, quite the resume, I have. I'd probably be the only person in my position to include past love interests under work experiences." The room was silent. "As the lady said, 'Awkward.'"
POP!
1
"Giles, I want info. Now." Buffy crossed her arms, butt-kicking-chick pose a go. "You said we'd talk, so let's talk. Those people in the other room, Xander aside, seem to have a good knowledge of magic. Funny thing is, I don't know any Wicca who wave wands."
Buffy released a sigh as she watched Giles remove his glasses and rub the bridge of his nose. Add a cloth swiped over the lenses and the evening was definitely not going well.
"It's more complicated than that, Buffy," Giles stated, his voice soft.
"It's pretty easy—you speak, I listen. See? Two 'easy' steps," the Slayer snapped.
Nostrils flared, Giles didn't dare look her in the eyes, instead pacing the room. "There is more than one type of magic, Buffy. Some people are born with a natural ability to harness their powers through an equally powerful object. For the past few thousand years, most wizards and witches have been using wands. A more primitive example would be a staff or scepter with mystical properties. Other magicks, such as summons and basic Wiccan practices can be used by those otherwise skilled. A person without the ability to use wand-based magic is called a 'muggle'."
"Wow." Buffy stared at him a moment. "You really can make any subject boring." She cut off her ex-watcher before he could reply. "Now tell me what all of this has to do with our situation. Oh, and could you give me the cliffnotes on those badly dressed baddies we ran into."
"Wizards have a running society, one established in secret. They even have their own government and education systems. The wizard who led tonight's attack was one of the most villainous men to ever live. He is often referred to as He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named or the Dark Lord, but he calls himself Lord Voldemort. He was born one Tom M. Riddle."
"What's with all long nicknames?" Buffy muttered.
"Over the years he has overseen the torture and murders of several members of
both muggle and wizarding society. He's quite infamous. For years, he was thought to be dead, but now, it seems, he's back."
"Evil guys are like that. Immoral cockroaches. So, those grim reaper guys were his followers?"
"Death Eaters." Giles turned Buffy. "They are dangerous, Buffy. I know."
"Buffy!"
"That was Xander," Buffy stated, running past Giles toward the living room. She came to a halt at the entry way, stopped by the presence of a tall, purple robed wizard being hugged by the young witch.
"We have a guest," Xander finished, cocking his brow in amusement. "Thought you should know."
And you had to shout across the house like you were being attack by zombies? Again? Buffy thought, jaw clenched.
"Oh, yes," stated the man. "We've already met. Had anytime to rest your feet yet, Miss Summers?"
Buffy blinked, surprised. Fire man! "Dumbledore, right?" She turned, seeing Giles at her side. "It's for you."
"Professor," Giles began. "I'm afraid we were too late to aid. . ."
"No time for that, Rupert. Miss Granger has been filling me in on the evening's events. Sadly, there is no time to grieve our losses," Dumbledore stated, frowning. "I'm afraid we must get this bunch somewhere safe, and soon. I know a family who will be more than happy to see them in for the night, until more suitable accommodations can be made."
"But. . . We, sir?" Giles asked. "I'm sorry, Professor, but I have things to do here. And I doubt Buffy will want to deal with the Ministry bureaucracy that will no doubt come into play."
"I must insist this involve you and Miss Summers, Rupert," Dumbledore interrupted. "You may not know it, but the Lord of the Dead will affect you and your slayers as much as it will our world. It would be best if two representatives of your Council could make an appearance and give the Ministry their opinion when we request that it is asked in the next day or so. This could mean that they take the say of the slayers before ever acting against them. Could you spare the time?"
Buffy narrowed her eyes. "You can't honestly be asking us to come with you? That wouldn't be very smart. . ."
"Of course, sir," Giles said, a hand on his slayer's shoulder. "Of course we can."
"Giles?"
"Later, Buffy. I promise," he hissed. "Headmaster, I don't know if it will be so easy. I left on, shall we say, rocky terms."
"Your past restrictions are being lifted as we speak. Now, there's little time, and I will not be joining you on this journey."
"Professor?" It had been the first time Buffy had heard the young, black haired wizard speak to someone besides his two companions and Xander. She watched him carefully, studying his thin frame. (With hundreds of girls to care for, she had found herself keeping an eye out for boys who might threaten her slayers—even if it was in a rather attractive sense.) "We're going without you?"
"I will see you and Hermione sooner than you might expect, Harry," the old wizard smiled. "However, I will need to go straighten some other business out at the moment. Remus, I will need you to come with me." Dumbledore pulled something from his robes, a tiny sack from the looks of it. He tossed it in Rupert's direction. "I expect you still know how to use floo. One of the children can help you if you don't."
Buffy tilted her head. We're flying?
"But, Professor Dumbledore," Hermione said. "What about Malfoy?"
Dumbledore looked dumbfounded for the moment. "Oh, yes," he said slowly. "Good question. He's being restrained at the moment?" At Hermione's nod, he continued, "Then take him with you. Molly will, likely, be less than thrilled, but that's just another mouth to feed, I suppose."
"Professor? Where are we flooing to?" Giles asked.
"For tonight. . . The Burrow."
End Note: Sorry. That chapter was a bit crappy and rushed, but I couldn't fix it at the moment. I did have reasons for the out of character statements from Giles. Anyhow, the next one should be interesting. Enter shipping and confrontations (not to mention less people to talk through). Review with comments or suggestions.