A/N Last chapter, although there will be an epilogue. Thanks to everyone that has read and/or reviewed my little tale. As always, I have no proprietary rights to either the works of JK Rowling or to BTVS.

What Have You Got, At The End Of The Day

Amelia Bones knew that one of the prices of being the Minister of Magic was dealing with days like this one. Her office was filled to overflowing with an unusual variety of people. Four members of the Wizengamot and the Chief Auror were front and center, but they were all both unconscious and restrained. Somehow Amelia knew that she wouldn't like the explanations behind that one. Auror Delacour was there along with her sister, Harry Potter and his usual coterie of followers, minus Miss Lovegood. Standing right behind Auror Delacour was a large man with an eye patch; from her discussions she knew this to be Alexander Harris. The man was a muggle, however there was quite a bit of residual magic in him. However all of these distractions paled in comparison to the young women who were currently pacing in her office, reminding her of hungry lionesses. Their obvious strength and inability to keep still told her that they were slayers, although how there could be more than one wasn't something she understood. Right now it was taking every bit of control she possessed to not whip out her wand and start stunning as many of them as she could. Well, control and the realization that they would disarm her (possibly literally) if she tried something like that. With many a sideways glance at these young women, Amelia turned her attention to the young Frenchwoman. "I don't suppose there is a quick and rational explanation for all of this, Auror Delacour?"

"No ma'am, at least nothing quick, but it is rational," she added with a small smile.

"Before you get to that, could you please introduce your guests," she asked indicating the slayers and company.

Fleur did, then the young Auror launched into the complete story of what had happened that night with Gabrielle, Harry and Dawn all adding their bits as well as various insights into the whole matter. Fleur was right when she had said that it wouldn't be quick. It was a lot for Amelia to take in. As Fleur had been explaining the events leading up to her kidnapping, several conversations were taking place, one was significant.

"What did that girl say to you Harry?"

"What?"

"After the fight, that older girl, the one who looks like a trollop talked to you for a bit; what did she say?"

"Why do you want to know, Gin?"

"Because ever since then, your head has been everywhere but here."

Harry just looked at the girl for a moment, deciding if he wanted to go down this road; finally he nodded to himself. "She asked me if I wanted to work with them."

"Who, those little girls that supposedly fight demons?"

"Yes, the people that fight things like Voldemort every day."

"Harry, they're crazy. Hermione hasn't even heard of most of the things they were talking about."

"Those things are real," Harry replied quietly. Then at Ginny's look he continued, "Hermione hasn't seen some of the books that I have, trust me Gin, those things are real, we've just forgotten about them."

Ginny stood there a moment, digesting what Harry had told her, then got back to her point. "So what did she say when you told her no?"

"I haven't."

Ginny looked astounded, "why not?"

"Because it sounds like something that I could do that would make a difference."

"But you've got your whole life here," Ginny fired back.

"Doing what," Harry replied just as quickly. "My entire life was aimed at beating Voldemort. Now that he's gone, what can I do? I can't leave Grimauld place without being mobbed, I can't teach and I can't even play Quidditch because I would be too distracting."

"Who told you that?"

"McGonagall and every Quidditch captain I talked to," Harry snapped back. "I've got you and my friends, but honestly Gin, all I'm doing right now is surviving, and I want to live."

Ginny just looked at him for a moment, peering into his eyes and indeed, she could see that he was more animated than she'd seen him in some time. Realizing the truth, she pulled him close and put her mouth to his ear. "Now you listen to me Harry Potter. I'll be damned if I had to watch you risking your life for seven years to save a bunch of wankers that probably didn't deserve it only to watch you get yourself killed playing demon killer. So if you say yes to them, make sure they realize they're getting two for one on this deal because I'm coming with you." She put her finger over his mouth to keep him from speaking, "and if the next words out of your mouth are anything other than 'Yes Ginny,' you won't be out of St. Mungo's for a month, do you understand me you great stubborn git?"

Harry just looked at the young red head and smiled, "Yes Ginny," he said quietly, then he kissed her; it was a warm kiss, full of both promise and admiration. Things might have progressed a bit from there, but unfortunately it was time for Harry to tell his part of the tale.

Another conversation wasn't quite so crucial.

"Sorry D, it sounds like Junior Red there has a claim on Mr. Studley with a wand."

"I figured as much, no big deal actually."

"Really, I figured you'd be all over that."

"Nah, he's cute, I'll give you that. But he's got the whole savior complex that Buffy has, along with the 'angsty, King of Pain' vibe that Angel had. So cuteness aside, I think I can do better."

Faith started to say something, but then closed her mouth and thought, it didn't take long. "The tall kid that doesn't say shit and blushes whenever he sees any skin? Really?"

"Think about it. I crushed on Xander for most of my life, and I've always liked guys that had hidden depths to them. I think he fills the bill on that score."

"Maybe, but if it gets serious, you'd have to change your name to Dawn Longbottom. I can't even imagine the amount of shit you'll catch for that."

"Who said anything about marriage," Dawn hissed as she smacked Faith in the shoulder. "I'm just talking about getting to know a potentially very cool guy."

"Sure you were," Faith replied with a smirk.

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"That is quite a story, Auror Delacour."

"One that we will willingly repeat under Veritaserum."

Amelia Bones thought for a moment, "that won't be necessary. I have no reason to doubt either your or Alexander's veracity, not to mention these other people. We will take these miserable wretches off your hands if you don't mind."

"Actually Minister," Alexander cut in, "with all due respect, these four are ours to deal with."

"What do you base this assertation on, Alexander?"

"The Wizengamot/Council accord of 1418," he replied. He then handed her a parchment that Dawn had produced, "Article 3 clearly states that the injured parties shall have a free hand to administer such punishment as they feel appropriate."

"So it does," Amelia allowed, looking up. "If I may ask . . . ?"

"Nothing lethal, my word on that," Alexander replied.

"Would you be willing to tell me what you have in mind?"

"Certainly," Alexander said, "actually, it would probably be best that you know exactly what is going to happen so that you can properly prepare yourself." He then proceeded to spell out exactly what would happen to the four.

When he finished, Amelia looked stunned. Finally she found her voice, "could you do this before the entire Wizengamot?"

"Of course."

"Well then, tomorrow will be enlightening for many." She glanced down at the four conspirators, "no offense, but do you have facilities to hold these four?"

"Certainly Minister, compared to what we normally deal with, these four won't be any trouble."

"You won't allow . . . ?"

"No," Alexander cut her off, "to use your words, it will be and enlightening experience for them, but they will come to no harm."

"Well enough then," Amelia said, glad that this distasteful business was out of her hands. "We will see you tomorrow then, Auror Delacour knows the time and place."

"I do indeed, thank you Minister," Fleur replied.

"OK kids," Xander said, clapping his hands for attention. "Time to go and we're taking the four dipshits with us plus it'll be an early day tomorrow." This was greeted by groans of protest as Willow and Dawn quickly set about creating a teleportation circle. When it was finished, four of the slayers gathered up the prisoners and they all stepped in, this included Fleur and Gabrielle. "Till tomorrow," Alexander said with a wave and a smile, then they all vanished.

"I do wish I knew how they did that," Hermione muttered.

"That is what I would like for you to find out Miss Granger," Amelia Bones told the startled Witch. "It is not that I don't trust them," she said to Hermione and the rest, "but I don't want to be so in the dark concerning them. Do you all understand?"

Five nods answered her, and then five separate cracks told her that she was alone with Kingsley. She looked down at his unconscious form and muttered, "now what am I to do with you, my friend?"

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After everyone was safely back in Scotland, everything was efficiently dealt with. The prisoners were taken down to the detention area where they would all share a cell; however their neighbors might be a bit disconcerting. The injured and those caring for them were taken to the infirmary and the patrol reports of those slayers that had not been in on the rescue were perused and filed. As for Fleur and Alexander, they retired to his quarters, accompanied by a few smirks and knowing looks and even a couple of cat calls; this time they weren't interrupted.

After taking a shower together (to save water of course); and giving each other a thorough examination to insure that everything was healing well, the two of them were surprised to find that they were still awake. They were lying in Alexander's bed, with Fleur's head on his chest. "She will recruit a couple of them to spy on you, you know that don't you?"

"Yeah, my money's on the brown haired girl, and maybe the red headed guy."

"Hermione and Ron, they would be my guess too. Don't underestimate them, she's brilliant and he's very good with strategy and planning but he hides it well."

"Don't worry, we'll be ready. I figure as long as we keep them away from the summoning rituals and the whole divine magic area, there shouldn't be anything that they can use to cause a lot of trouble."

"So start them both with Wicca?"

"Yeah, I can just imagine their reaction to some of the rituals."

"You mean the ones where you have to be naked?"

"Yep, you Wizarding types tend to be a bit of a Victorian lot. For most of you a bit of nudity freaks you out, present company excluded of course."

"Of course," Fleur replied, snuggling down into the bed covers and holding Alexander tighter. "Good night Alexander."

"Good night Fleur," Alexander managed around a yawn, "I love you."

"I love you too, Alexander," she murmured in reply. Then sleep took them both.

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It wasn't nearly so pleasant a night for Sarah Goldstein. She woke up, propped in the corner of a cell with one of the bars pressing painfully on her ear. Aside from her ear, her head felt like it was about to explode while the rest of her body felt like she'd been used as a target dummy in a dueling class. She could hear very little, but the smell and the general damp strongly hinted that she was in a dungeon of some sort. Slowly she opened her eyes and confirmed her suspicions about where she was. It was then that Sarah made a huge mistake because instead of looking at her own cell, she turned her head to the left and looked into the next cell. Unfortunately this allowed her to see the occupant of that cell from a distance of only a few inches. At first Sarah was concerned that she had lost her mind or there was the possibility that she was still unconscious because there was no way that she could be seeing what she was seeing. Whatever it was, was simply big with immense muscles and a jet black skin with patches that were a vibrant purple. This she could deal with, but the four arms and the six eyes were just a bit too much for her head. She closed her eyes and opened them again but whatever it was, was still there. She tried pinching herself, but that didn't remove the creature from her sight either. She was trying to figure out how she could be hallucinating this thing when it turned its head to face her. Sarah was starring in disbelief when the thing opened its mouth, one that had two sets of teeth she noted absently, and asked in a broad but definitely feminine Australian accent, "what you in for, Love?"

Sarah's understandable reaction was to start screaming, she didn't stop for some time.

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One of the advantages of being an Auror is that you know all of the entrances to the Ministry of Magic. Most people know one or two, but Aurors know all twelve, even the one that takes you directly to the Wizengamot chamber. Fleur had thought that this would be their best option since she didn't want to march all of the slayers, their prisoners, Alexander and herself through the ministry proper and risk a confrontation with someone that didn't know what was going on. They were met at the entrance by Amelia Bones herself who guided them to a side chamber where they would wait to be announced.

There was a bit of waiting which was rough on the hyperactive slayers, but soon enough they were called in. They walked into a chamber that Alexander thought resembled a scaled down version of the Coliseum in Rome. The Slayers, their four prisoners, Willow and Dawn began to prepare while Fleur addressed the assembly, with Alexander's support.

"Minister and members of the Wizengamot and distinguished guests. Yesterday, four members of this august body kidnapped both myself and Alexander Harris, who is the head of field operations for the Reformed Slayers and Watchers Council. The four perpetrators; Walter Abbot, Eloise Greengrass, Angus McMillan and Sarah Goldstein all tortured Alexander with several curses, including the Cruciatus. We were then rescued by a mixed group comprised of members of The Council and citizens of the Wizarding community. The guilt of these four is undeniable. Therefore, as is stipulated in the Accord of 1408, punishment shall be meted out by Alexander's organization as he is the injured party." Fleur fell silent and stepped back.

Before anyone could comment, Amelia Bones spoke up. "I have examined the evidence personally and it is true that the guilt of these four is without a doubt. By the Accord that was mentioned, it is the right of the injured party to determine and carry out whatever punishment they deem fit. Alexander has told me what is to happen, and I agree that it is both fitting and just. I have asked that it take place in front of you all so that you may see it to be so."

"Thank you Minister," Alexander said, stepping forward and inclining his head to Madam Bones.

The silence focused everyone's attention on the activity that was going on behind the two speakers. The prisoners could be seen as well as their captors, but something else was being prepared, something that no one there had seen before.

Cynthia Pappadiemos was a slayer; she was also a priestess of Artemis. Her family lived in a remote valley in mountainous, northern Greece where the people were officially Greek Orthodox, but the old ways were observed as well. All the women in Cynthia's family were trained as priestesses from a young age. When the awakening had gone out, Cynthia's family had regarded her increased strength and speed as being a blessing from the Goddess and didn't question it further. When the Council finally found her, she had eagerly gone with them so that she could better use that which the Goddess had bestowed upon her. Now, though, it was her role as priestess rather than slayer that was needed. Heedless of the onlookers, she began the rite of calling down divine retribution on those who had sought to harm those that aided the blessed. Cynthia did not ask for anything specific, she would not presume to do so. She knew what would hurt these people the most, and if she did then you could be sure that the Goddess did as well. As the rite continued and the sacrifice was made, a bright light began to fill the chamber. It was a golden green light, like sunshine that is filtered through leaves in summer and as Cynthia chanted, the light grew. As the ritual neared its end, the light dimmed a bit, but suddenly there was power in the room. Power that was so overwhelming it nearly brought everyone there to their knees. As Cynthia chanted the last passage, the power coalesced into a wind that whipped around the four prisoners. The last syllable was spoken, the wind died and the light faded and Cynthia was left with the knowledge of what the Goddess had done. She turned to face Amelia Bones. "Divine justice has been done. They have been cut off from magic forever and all. Even those types that are new to you, they cannot do, nor even use enchanted items. All of this the Goddess has taken for their offenses." She turned to the four, who were now being helped up by the slayers that had been keeping an eye on them, "our justice has been done, you are free from us now." Cynthia ignored the looks that they were sending her way and began, with Willow and Dawn's help, to clean up. Meanwhile the four were marched to the front of the chamber to stand next to Fleur and Alexander.

Amelia Bones spoke to them, "Sarah Goldstein, Walter Abbot, Angus McMillan and Eloise Greengrass, you have been judged and punished by those that you harmed. As you now have no magic and no access to magic you are hereby banished from this governing body. You may continue to frequent Wizarding enclaves but your status will be officially changed to that of Squib and you will not be allowed to hold any office in Wizarding Britain." The four took this news with poor grace, but remained silent. Amelia then addressed the Wizengamot. "In order to fill the vacancies that now exist, I would like to nominate the following Witches and Wizards for your consideration; Luna Soliel Lovegood, Justin Finch-Fletchley, Blaise Zabini and Pavarti Patil. I also have to reluctantly announce that Kingsley Shacklebolt has been removed as head of Magical Law Enforcement due to differences that he had with Ministry policy. He has agreed to become the liaison to the Federal Bureau of Magical Investigation in the United States. With his departure, I will assume the responsibility as both Minister and head of Magical Law Enforcement until such time as the two new deputy heads are ready to operate on their own. Those deputies are Hermione Jane Granger and Ronald Billius Weasley."

Amelia turned back to face the group from the Watcher's Council. She was very pleased with herself. She had consolidated her power by re-assuming control of the MLE and brought in a group that would be very loyal to her. Not to mention the fact that all of her appointments had played notable parts in the war against Voldemort and none of the sitting members of the Wizengamot would challenge them.

"There is one more item of business I would like to entertain at this time," Amelia said. "Fleur Delacour, for your efforts as an Auror I would like you to be the official envoy between this office and the Reformed Slayers and Watchers Council. That way, situations like the one that has just been dealt with should no longer arise; do you agree?"

"I do, thank you Madam Minister for this honor."

"It is an honor that you have earned Auror Delacour. Please let me know in the next few days who will be on your staff."

"Of course Madam Minister," Fleur replied.

"Very well then," Amelia said, addressing everyone there, "if there is no further business then we are adjourned."

The witches and wizards present left quietly, some were stunned at what they'd seen happen to four of their number, but most were attempting to determine just what Amelia Bones was planning to do.

Gabrielle led the slayers and others back to the chamber where they had waited so they could collect their things and leave. Fleur, Dawn and Willow hung back, discussing who would likely be joining Fleur and Gabrielle on the Council. Alexander walked with them but didn't say anything. His mind wasn't on who would be joining them but on how to contain Amelia Bones. The woman was smart, politically savvy and ambitious. Xander smiled a bit as he considered the challenge ahead.

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"I appreciate the honor Minister, but are you sure . . . . ?"

"Yes Miss Granger, I am sure about your appointment. You and Ronald work well together, and yes, I do know that you are 'involved'. He has insight into the Wizarding World that you as a Muggle born do not and his presence will silence anyone who tries to bring up your non-Wizarding birth. You have insight into the rest of the world, a world that we desperately need to become more aware of and integrate into. I am determined to bring Wizarding Britain out of the Victorian era, and I believe that you and Ronald are instrumental in that."

"And the Watcher's Council?"

"They are our allies, but I dislike having allies that I know so little about."

"Especially since they know our magic but we don't know theirs."

"Exactly. I want you do take care of this personally. I want you to talk to their Watchers, those from Wizarding families and otherwise. Find out what they know and how they learned it. Make sure that we know what to expect from them in case the worst should occur even if we cannot duplicate what they do."

"That won't be easy, Minister."

"True, but I know what you are capable of Miss Granger."

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"So they're gonna snoop on us," Dawn asked.

"Without a doubt."

"Do you think they'll be able to perform Wiccan and Blood magic?"

"Fleur can, so I have no doubt that some of them will become quite good at it."

"So what do we do?"

"Like I said before, keep em away from Divine magic and summoning rituals."

"Divine I can understand, but summoning rituals?"

Xander just looked at Dawn, not saying a word.

"That's your Ace, isn't it?"

"What is?"

"If they become a problem then you can still hit em with something they don't expect and can't prepare for."

"Mostly," Xander replied with a feral smile.

"What else is there?"

"Technology. I want the Andrew and his crew to start analyzing the witches and wizards working with us, see if their magical signature is different from someone like Willow. That way, we can find em if we have to. I also want them to check out the feasibility of a device that will do what Cynthia did and cut em off from their power, even for a minute or two."

"So you don't trust em."

"Fleur and the gang joining us, sure I do. But Bones is a politician, and I've never trusted any of them."

"Good point," Dawn said with a sigh.