i in no way or form own Harry dresden or the dresden universe they are owned by Jim Butcher

i in no way or form own BTVS i'm not sure who does to tell you the truth

"Ahhh! Dammit!" What you currently hear is the shouted cursing frustations of a young Wizard this particular Wizard Xander Harris was cursing for several reasons. Xander was practicing his new style of Magic* gotten from the book on Eastern Magic's that Lea had recommended she said it was in the Library but of course not named what book she was talking about it took two weeks to find but it was worth it. He'd at first subtly asked Giles about Magics other than the Western ones like say. "Hey Giles just outta curiosity, Where's the stuff about Indian Sex Magic?" After much sputtering and an explanation of how dangerous such Spells really were he was told books like that were mostly assigned to Watchers by region except on request his only Foreign Magic collections were personal books kept at home for theoretical reference and that all Watchers were expected to be Taught before assignment the Broad strokes of other Magics. It made no sense at the time if that was true where was that damn book! she mentioned. He'd even resorted to when looking to coming back to the Library at night after Slaying he knew it was a risk and he shouldn't do it he might be discovered by Giles one night and what with this being a Public building the Vampire's could walk in but he needed magic fast he was pissed when he found the book accidentally one night after Slaying putting back his borrowed axe the book he'd been looking for was a small manual kept at the bottom in a small trunk with the weapons it turned out Lea was being vague when she said Eastern Magics and there was a reason she'd chosen to emphasise the word Fighter' while in stance of raising fists. Some Slayers it seemed showed Magical aptitude and so the Watchers had long ago written a manual for them to learn from he wouldn't get the best out of it as it pre-assumed the reader was a Slayer who knew of course all about how to fight to a black belt level in all forms something he'd never be good at he'd tried Martial arts defensively when he was twelve practiced hard for a year but it just didn't take for him no matter what but 'Arcane instruction' still had its uses without the fighting styles complimenting. At the young point of aged Fifteen Harry Dresden felt himself good enough at Telekenisis he could Summon, Repel and with concentration move things about he needed no more improvement was his view. Oh how wrong Harry was. The book 'Arcane Instruction' was fairly new for a real Magic book written in the 1940's it described how to gain control of Magic done by Hand Gestures mostly and how to infuse it in the body if mastered and very few could gain the skill proper' then for cost of less power in the spell he could cast with no actual Focus time it did mean though he would have to take some human Magic users though as a rated threat as much as the Demons. This style also helped as he wouldn't always be able to use a Blasting Rod to fight this way his Magic use while with others would be more inconspicuous it would be less powerful but still there which was good because he was hiding his actions from the other Scoobies a very suspicious bunch for a very good reason. The skill required a lot of intense practice but it was just an advanced version of what he was already doing Meditation while doing the Basic Spells but instead of doing the Spells on objects he had to focus them on him, Self levitation for Balance, Telekenesis as a way to physically build yourself up pressing your muscles and bones against themselves without breaking them, and Elementism to know your magic with clarity warming and cooling yourself while trying not burn, freeze or cut yourself with Wind it wasn't a Perfect book but none was it lacked on Illusions area and technical understanding of Symbology, Rituals, Wards, and lots of other stuff but it did the job for him. The cursing heard by the way was because Xander just set himself on fire again something about controlling that element now eluded him he could light the Fire for a small flame control a spark at most anything more blew up on him or as just happened went out of control in unexpected ways it made no sense his alignment was still mostly fire based his foci' ritual said so research failed options exhausted so he needed help finding out what was going on? and annoying though she may be she knew more than he did about what was going on probably, maybe, hopefully, because he was calling her anyway something he'd prefer not to do. "Lea we need to talk," Not a shout she would hear it or she wouldn't and then she was there different look this time hair put up chinese dress bowl of noodles in hand she looked surprised at her own prescence obviously her bosses dragged her here from wherever without warning it was good to know he wasn't the only one being played with. "Hello Lea," "Oh Alexander! how nice to see you again I'm so glad you called" she talked in a tone of voice that he was a longtime friend she hadn't seen in awhile that made him blink when comparing there last meeting what was she bipolar. "Yes well i've been busy practicing my Magic" "yes I saw very impressive." He had to bring it up though with all the frustration now had a target "and looking for a certain book you mentioned you couldn't of been more specific than the Library!" "Don't get snippy with me Alexander! it was their plan." She pointed up, "Not mine Alexander" "Xander! my name is Xander! learn it!" "But Defender of Man is such a better name than a childish nickname." 'Xander already knew the True Definition of his name it didn't make him like it any better.' "Only my Piss of a Drunk! Mother calls me Alexander!" "very well Xander it is then" 'she was obviously close enough to being a Fae that she'd never give an apology.' "Why didn't you just tell me where the book was I took two weeks searching through the goddammn Library!" He couldn't help it he was sore about going through all that for nothing the response though stumped his anger. "Some doubted putting our trust in you so they thought it was a good way to test you to see if you had Patience, To see if you had Control, Things that you know and I know are indeed very important sometimes. Dresden's biggest problem was he didn't have those Factors, We had to see how much of his personality you took on, how much you took into yourself." And it might of all been so frustrating! This stupid test but it had merit he didn't have the Strength of Harry he couldn't act like him he had to be Smarter than that. More often than not Harry caused more problems with his charging in than he fixed so he accepted this test and just hoped there weren't anymore like it "Fine it was a test did I pass?" "Yes it was a close thing the vote the test was seeing if you would take my reccomendation to heart realise the importance of the information I give you what the point in us helping if your not going to listen to us if you'd found another magical framework and used it out of laziness or haste we would of withdrawn our protection." Xander had been close to doing just that several times. "It wasn't a full pass however as you forgot my other reccomendations but that was judged as tunnel vision prioritising is something you'll have to learn" 'Oh shit her other advice ,Angel's Soul Curse Wards and the origins of Sunnydale syndrome,' how could he have forgotten he'd been so caught up practicing his new shiny Magics "Oh boy i'll get right on those right soon but! now that your here as I called um' you wouldn't happen to know why my fire is going Whiff Whaffy would you?" "Whiff Whaffy? I suppose that is one way to describe it yes I know the reason and i'm afraid its not an easy fix for you." Just what he expected nothing's simple, "The reason you see is Fire unlike the other Elements whether Natural or Magical it is never truly owned control of by anyone it is a wild thing you direct not control if a person can use Fire Magic at all it's because they have been allowed by the ultimate Fire Spirit something akin to the Primal in you, only millions of times more, it is the one Element who was at the beginning of all referred to as the Living Flame you i'm afraid have been refused the right of Fire." "But i've read about the living flame it doesn't refuse any it goes to all who have fire based leaning and I have that," "No Harry Dresden has that the imprinted Magic inside of you has that but you before the Chaos Spell you were a Null no Magic no Leanings and your Soul still is only through a communing will you gain fire as your element and you can only do a communing if you accept all that is in you including the Hyena" Xander was stunned she expected him to just be at peace with that thing! "There's gotta be another way I mean no just no!" "You need the Flame Xander it was Harry's trump and will be yours without it you will never reach full potential in any power fire as a main ability is a big thing it means to be adaptable to use fire is to be able to draw on other powers something you might just need for your future." Her hint meant he'd probably have to do this he couldn't accept being less than he was meant to be and she knew it doing so would be an insult to Magic itself. "How? I doubt such knowledge is kept here anymore I looked Giles removed those books probably hiding them from me in case I decided I liked the Hyena strength the buzz of constant adrenaline" he scoffed he'd avoid this subject altogether if he had the option to do so safely "It's not a nice thing of course and is in fact very dangerous, Two Rituals you could go insane with the first taken over once again by the Primal and the second could burn you and not little singes you've had so far but burn you alive not a nice way to go." "Lea I have to ask how is the Hyena still in me Giles said-" she cut him off. "You humans." She sneered coldly, "Think you know everything by the fact they could no longer detect the Primal the writers of his books thought the Primal was gone but another term for Primal would be Old Gods the First Pantheon they make the mark on your soul like any follower of a God." That meant he was going to talk with a God another level of scary but at least he now had answer to why he felt the Hyena on Halloween Janus was encroaching on another's believer it wasn't returning or taking over that night but through this Ritual it could he asked anyway. "How? How do I do the Rituals" voice shaky but he was intent to do this watever it was. "Go to the Zoo stand in front of the Hyena cages open the third eye and do a soul Stare it will awaken the Primal within if you live and are sane once you've fully healed because you must be at 100% for the Fire communning Ritual call me again and I shall tell you the second ritual." Ominous 'once you've healed this wan't going to be nice' When he looked again Lea was gone.

Zoo

It was Two O' Clock in the morning now same day he just wanted to get this over with he stuggled over the wire mesh fence with a doormat on top of the barb wire intead of using pliers to cut through not wanting to leave even a trace of his prescence once he was gone he was wearing a black jumper and balaclava just in case of camera's it was stifling it took him ten minutes of convincing himself to do this once he got to the enclosure theses weren't the same Hyena's as last time this was only a pair shipped from San Francisco a special one week exhibit! obviosly the Powers set this up so he couldn't back down or put it off easily 'bastards' hoping thet heard him he went for the female one knowing that Hyena Alpha's were Matriarchal and it would be an insult to the Primal if he chose to go for the lesser in its eyes opening the third Eye the impression he saw wasn't a violent one like he expected but showed the Hyena's playfully running maybe this wouldn't be so bad he locked eyes with the Hyena things went bad.

Yep' this is more what he expected on the bad scale memories came to him memories of his Pack he watched as they ate the school mascot was them and participated in the death of Principal Flutie he would no longer need to imagination for his nightmares of the bad way it went he saw now first hand multiple angles flashing in and out of focus like a strobe all blood red tinted it was like a finely produced scene from one of John Carpenter's best Horror movies in surround sound blood spatter his heart was thumping trying to tear out of his chest he would of puked he would of screamed! he would of clawed out his eyeballs to get away but this was a dream in which he had no control not over what he saw nor what he could do and then it stopped and there was darkness he had control he was sweating and out of breath like he'd just ran a marathon at full tilt. "You truly thought this would be such a simple thing talking to me?" Xander turned to the voice the person there was an older version of himself wearing the same clothes Spike would wear 'what the,' "You saw Spike as a threat so I chose his clothes they do the job i'm older as a way to asert my dominance my alpha-ness you would say I am as she the Mesenger said a God, you should respect and fear me this is my territory now you have no power here Wizard no mental fortitude will save you've opened yourself up throat first to be torn out if I so wish it. Here is the test you saw and experienced it all what would you say of your Pack did you do right by them?" This was both easier and more difficult than he expected a fight it seemed would of been impossble but justification was equally hard it knew his true thoughts so no lying and he had to phrase things in a way it would accept was the only way to go on this."They weren't my! Pack! I didn't choose this! and I didn't choose! them if I would choose anyone it would be the Scoobies." "Ah that's true but you lie to them decieve them why should I respect you enough to let you go if you lie to Pack!" he snarled. "I protect myself first but am willing to sacrifice myself for them if it means more than one will live. I protect them to my best and I see no reason to tell the truth if a lie doesn't harm them so yes I do right by my Pack." It nodded using his whole body doing a weird bobbing affect "Good answer," I shall let you go today but leave a small mark small enough to not matter to the fire Magic's it will guide you, help you build your True Pack the one's you need hide nothing from go well go happy." This last sounded formal like a thing needed to be said so Xander reciprocated "Be well be happy." The World faded back to the Zoo Xander now knew what wounds Lea expected his whole body hurt like it was covered in bruise and scratches that vision had affected the real world this was not a good thing as he tried to get up he felt like his muscles had overtensed from use like he'd used the Gym too much he was gonna be sore in the morning 'damn animal Spirits.'

The next day he had rings around his eyes and his muscles were indeed aching like he thought they would, He looked like a cocaine junkie by his palour but felt energised by Hyena's Magic. When asked by Willow why he stayed up so late he'd be that tired he just answered with one word "Playstation." She gave him a lecture about how sleep was important and how he should be careful as he might screw the bodies clock up and become an insomniac. He wasn't really listening Willows nag's had become a more frequent thing with him ignoring' the Teachers so much he was instead concentrating on the Magic's he was weaving right then he was doing a projected Glamour his most practiced Magic that he was best with at the moment the Glamour he'd made was targeted down the hallway it wouldn't be noticed much all it was too little a difference a distortion of about four centremeters so instead of the Football player Dave giving Nerd Liam a black eye Liam was spun around and Dave punched a brick wall full force Xanders good deed for the day. The rest of the day was a boring one like all school days since Halloween, he kept trying to distract himself from the monotony he drew pictures of exploding vamps, projected spitballs at others, and dreamed up new Spells writing how to possibly achieve the effects he wanted now he had chosen style of Magic but it didn't work he was slowly going stir crazy he wasn't ready for the fire ritual yet he still had wounds but maybe some other projects could have a green light this would not be subtle.

Lunchtime at the Library

"Giles I got a question" "Oh what now? what random subject shall you bring up today?" Xander had indeed been throwing out random questions recently establishing himself as curious more intelligent less the comedy prat but there was no need for such sarcasm it wasn't said in a humurous manner but a derogatory one. "Well you see G-man" Giles winced at the comeback for his rudeness it always got to him. "I was wondering see remember during the Fordham thing when I was warning Willow about Angel." Giles nodded yes of course he knew he was there. "Well I was just thinking about my own words from then about what I said you know about how all Magic's break." Dawning horror went across Giles face. "How do we know that Magic won't break tomorrow?" The group had immediately been dragged in and caught up on the concerns of Angel's curse after school they were researching Soul Magic's but there wasn't much to go on Giles had forbid Buffy from associating, communicating in any way at all with Angel Buffy hadn't taken that well saying they should "Just trust' Angel he's a good guy." sometimes he wondered if she truly was a bottle-blonde or not in the moment of Giles wavering indecision Xander retorted. "He's a Vampire who know's everything about us and is Legendary Evil, and stupid insane even among Vampires." Giles reaffirmed his decree for no contact Buffy screamed and objected for half an hour but GIles just kept saying "you aren't to see him." There was no give or negotiation for once thank God she stalked off blaming Xander shouting about "Just jealousy." He suspected she went to see Dead-Boy anyway. All this time Willow was quietly flipping through the pages of books Giles had lain out before her not wanting to be involved either way obviously rooting for Buffy and her star-crossed romance but not wanting to object to an authority figure. In relation to Angel's Curse they'd found nothing of use on that front how could they? What did Lea expect of them of him the dificulty to of done the spell pulling that kind of Magic off was obviously really up there a one time original Spell there was a reason there was only one Vampire with a Soul. All they truly knew about it was it was Gypsy Vengance Magic not even the name of the Clan** who Cursed him. What did Lea expect him to find? 'Maybe thats the answer' could this be something only he knew the answer to because of the memories given to him. 'Ok lets give it a breakdown' he took the component ideas of the Spell apart what it did what it was what its target goals were and what went against them.

'Gypsy Magic' Not written anywhere but within the clan if a copy of it still exists archives.

'Vengance magic' always Emotional based like thaumaturgy a thing he was very goood at negative emotions Hate! to be precise.

'Soul magic' Something he personally knew nothing of that was a dead end what else?

'Bindings of Spell' A Bloodline based so long as someone of the clans descendants still lived but that meant nothing as they may not know of the curse or even as a family still be gypsies. This was so bloody annoying it was a priority from the Powers that he find this out but even with the Watchers resources they were getting nowhere yet as a group they started researching at Three it was Nine O' Clock now and they'd got nothing to show for it but maybe that was what they were doing wrong looking in the traditional places for knowledge the hidden book he'd found showed not to make assumptions when looking for something "Giles if we can't find anything do you know someone who might? maybe a friend of friend whose a Gypsy?" "Oh I wish Xander but no In this day and age that any Large Clan that had Magics settled down among us hiding in plain sight they have buisness's owned and run solely by family, Communities that segregate but don't say why so no, no Gypsy friends" 'Doh' "How about other Practitioners? I mean someone must know something?" "Hmm a good idea in theory but what do we say anyone who knows of the Supernatural and about Angel would feel obliged not to help or to try and dust him," that was a problem. "Ooh! oooh! ooh! I know Jenny's Cyber group its anomynous and I know you won't but they already scanned a lot of magic books we could use their databases." That was actually a great idea he might just use that for himself he wouldn't become a Techno-Pagan as his type of Magic sometimes shorted out technology random but the database was open house safe. "Yes I'll phrase it to Jenny tomorrow get her to look about but until then we soldier on with hardy reliable books." He was bored now what did Giles hope there was going to be a Eureka moment there wasn't Gypsies kept Magic in the family nothing to find he could be practicing his own magics in the music room right now Wind Spells, Ice, Glamours in front of a mirror or more work on his foci' ritual the Material for which were sitting in a broken drum against the wall he was nearly ready to go shopping at the Magic Box tomorrow maybe or the day after he didn't want to miss out on while the others searched the datbases not now he was actually interested he put the books back in the cage ready to go home nothing would be found no matter how much they stared at the pages. "Giles I'm going," a small nod from both him and Willow. "Do lockup properly someone stole two of my books already it wasn't Willow or Jenny borrowing and I know it wasn't Buffy or you so I'm quite worried." 'Crap he found out, wait two?' "Which books? Giles." Willow's polite curiosity could be quite helpful, "Atlas Archaica which is a Supernatural Index and DuLac's Chronicles which is a collection of obscure and unique Vampire Empowerment Rituals made by the Author who was excommunicated for their invention." 'Thats not good' and he said so' "Giles shouldn't we be more worried and less calm about that second one missing? You know the last time we tangled with Vampires and Magic we ended up with the night of St Vigeous you know? super vamps, parent teacher night no? ooh I know how about the time those minions wanted to ressurect The Master that wasn't nice was it?" He just smiled and said "Oh don't worry Xander in this case the book is useless without the Cross of Dulac a lost artifact only one exists there were 15 others but they were destroyed by DuLac himself before his death no it was probably some student took it as a way to make a profit not realising how often I do inventory. 'Oh perfect cue for second research subject.' "Why don't we have magic defenses? you know like are mentioned in some of these books you know Wards and stuff." "Actually most wouldn't work here and no defensive ones at all I tried to set some up when I first got to Sunnydale and they seemed to just erode far quicker than they should have done unless they had constant and I do mean constant upkeep I then Learnt of the Hellmouth here which explaint things the Energy is different here then most other places you'd need either Demon Wards, or Wards designed speciffically for the Hellmouth which don't work anywhere else and they're hard to get, The only people who know those Wards have been on the Hellmouth for decades and are usually dark practitioners unfortunately they've never shared the secret. 'Well that cleared that up it wasn't incompetency on Giles part for the bad security' But as he himself intended to be here for a while as well he'd have design his own Wards for Hellmouth use never a simple task from Lea but at least he was aware of problems that might arise. 'only one more project to look up' *** "Night Giles, night Willow" all he got in return was a half-hearted wave from both.

Xander's journey home broke his feelings of monotony and boredom he was later kicking himself for having taunted Murphy he was asking for this to happen in front of him on the corner of Laurensen Avenue as if waiting stood a man who was the stereotypical Voodoun priest he was the super cliche' could have been baron samiad himself out for a stroll, Dark skinned like Midnight he had a crooked top hat and cane and was wearing buisnessman's suede jacket open with nothing underneath showing his stomach bare with scars criss-crossing it where a blade had obviously travelled he also wore a pair of formal black trousers and combat boots it was a weird image that somehow fit he was obviously waiting for him this was not good a Voodoun Practitioner was this Universe's closest thing to a thaumatergist like himself a big risk he smiled showing a row of yellow teeth and spoke the words that increased the threat. "Hello little Mage man." A thick Carribean accent that meant this guy was the real thing or he was really playing the act to the hilt either way best to deny try and confuse him play the act he looked about wildly for a second using the time to scout other threats or witnesses there weren't any. "I don't know what you mean buddy? I don't want any trouble." Placating hands out front in a gesture of peace also good to be ready for casting what little he'd learned. The man smiled an laughed a deep baritone, "Oh please don't try to fake me out Mage man I am good and better than you call me Rack." 'Great a name for the face' "And denying is impossible as my personal gift is a rare one it allows me to shift and smell the magic of others even when unused it is part of my nature." He gave me a deep stare and licked his tongue along his lips "I come to you to ask for an alliance or possible deals you may want with myself it may be a profitable venture for both of us." And then Xander went still he now knew enough there was only one way to gain such a gift he knew of and it wasn't good that meant Rack there was a magical leech a canibal of sorts and casting against him would be futile the man would rip any magic from the surrounds before a Spell formed the Cane was almost certainly a Sword stick secondary physical protection any deal would be to Rack's benefit in the long run or a way to learn Xander's secrets running wouldn't help if he ran and let Rack live he was likely to get a lock of hair or a few drops of blood and the shit would hit the fan he would need to be taken out this was all deliberated in a few seonds Rack just stood there poised and relaxed but watching reactions then Xander himself relaxed "fine then lets talk and walk I need to get to home tonight early day tomorrow some of us have school you see? All buisness now Rack quirked a small grin happy to have the fish on the hook from his point of view not a good judge of character obviously or Xander was just that good. "If you would want or need it we could deal you and me, Better than that little shop downtown it is crap stuff I could deal you better more potent too." Now Xander was all smiles and intigue risky but worth it maybe, "So where'd you deal from? "Asked casually don't scare him don't warn him off. "I do personal for a while you contact me I get it if I feel your worth it after awhile I tell you more get you more." Obviously Xander now knew while Rack saying he can smell his Magic was the truth it wasn't the whole truth he could detect but not quantify thats why he wasn't more cautious he thought he was dealing with a new innitiate to magic who knew nothing of the dangers like himself Xander would of stringed him along but the meeting was the first face to face he couldn't risk Rack telling others of his identity he kept a wandering eye for witnesses there still were none it was after sunset after all then as they walked past a small alley Xander grabbed Rack in a surprise chokehold from behind beat his head repeatedly against the wall no concentration no spells was his aim dragged him too floor then staked him in the heart it was messier than Vampire's but there was no coming back from that the body was taken as far back as he could of the small alley between the shops where Xander hoped something would eat the body no evidence high chances of that Xander was then sick it was the first time he killed a human he'd even left that asshole Rayne alive afterall. This was a necescary thing he kept telling himself that Rack Needed to Die! it was a Justified thing he cleaned himself up dumping the now bloodstained jacket into his backpack he would clean it later the blood was all over him he needed to run to the safety of home he was a tasty treat right now he'd be safer swimming with sharks. with the Primal Communing and then Murdering Rack Xander had a fitful nightmares sleep he would be interrupted several times waking up from what he saw in them

* Magic users may learn more than one style of magic although it has high risk problems of sometimes driving casters insane from mental stress.

**because this is AU neither Angelus or Angel knew the clans name was Kalderdash

*** Xander's last project from Leas is the origin of Sunnydale Syndrome where people don't realise the supernatural exists no matter what they see

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