I do not own Buffy the vampire slayer or Harry potter
Chapter 32 is finally here
Harry flopped onto the bed and sighed in relief when the cushions met his sore back. He had spent the last few days bent over musty tomes trying to find out what Dawn was. Besides Xander and Giles the rest of the Scooby's were still kept in the dark about Dawn. They didn't want them to freak out and push the girl away. Xander and Harry had decided that they would be the ones to tell Dawn that she wasn't quite...normal. They would tell her before the others so she had some time to adjust. Probably in a few days or a week or two in between. Harry hoped she took the news well. She was a strong girl, but he still worried.
Xander climbed on the bed besides Harry and moaned around the pillow he had stuck his face in. Harry giggled and shifted his head a bit to look at him. He briefly wondered how Xander could breathe, but decided that thinking was way too much effort. He drifted off to sleep.
Xander POV
Xander groaned and stuck his face in the pillow. With effort he rolled onto his side and looked at Harry and snorted. The smaller boy was asleep already. Well, he didn't blame him. They had been researching for days on end. Xander had quit his job about two days ago. He figured that something big and Dawn related was going to go down soon. Might as well make sure he wasn't exhausted from flipping burgers. At the time he didn't count on researching for hours on end.
Despite their best efforts they had yet to find anything. They researched almost all day and a good portion of the night. They only stopped for bathroom breaks, food, patrol and Scooby meetings. Harry was also reading up on wards. He had already warded the other Scooby's houses and they were strong enough to keep powerful demons out. Spike had to be invited back into the house to get in. There would be no more Draculas coming around to mess with them. Xander just hoped that they were powerful enough for whatever was coming. Harry had also started learning more offensive rune magics. Thankfully, they did not draw on the energy of the Hellmouth and it was safe to use them. Using rune magic on the Hellmouth wouldn't corrupt Harry which was a really good thing because Harry did not have the time for the cleansing bath. He had dived into his studies and research head first and didn't sleep much unless Xander forced him too. All of Harry's instincts screamed that something bad was coming and he wanted to be prepared for it. Xander trusted Harry's instincts and he was glad that the other boy was trusting himself more. Harry needed to believe in himself.
Their, ah, physical relationship didn't have much time to grow with all of the research that they were doing. They had stolen a few kisses and soft caresses but other than that they hadn't found time to further their relationship. Xander wasn't complaining though, for now the kisses were enough. He wanted their first time to be special. He wanted Harry to feel loved and desired. He wanted to caress, stroke and taste every inch of his beautiful green eyed mate. He wanted Harry to scream his name until his voice was hoarse, but he could be patient. Xander could wait until after this unknown, maybe apocalypse type, event was thwarted.
Xander reached out and stroked Harry's cheek.
Yes, he could wait. Harry was worth it.
Harry POV
Harry hadn't expected Dawn to react this way. He thought there would be tears, or screams of denial or possibly anger. Instead she jumped up and down squealing excitedly. Apparently, she had wanted to be something...special since she had learned about Buffy being a Slayer. She was going to see if she had the potential to be a witch, but she hadn't had the time to talk to Willow or Giles yet. Harry had advised her to wait until they figured out exactly what she was before she started learning magic. Her unknown status could interfere with the magic and distort a simple spell into something dangerous. Dawn had pouted for a few minutes and then agreed. Xander had told her that she could be special girl in a different way. She had a knack for researching and learning different languages. Xander was already teaching her how to write in Greek when he found the time. She was actually picking it up very quickly and they thought that she could learn the rest on her own without any problems. She had been thrilled to pieces that she had found her niche in the group. Despite how perplexed Harry was of her reaction he was glad that she had not taken the news badly. Xander had grinned knowingly and said that seeing Giles clean is glasses furiously had been almost as good as Dawn's reaction.
Currently, they were all researching the new demon of the week. It wasn't a big bad, it was actually pretty low class and easy to kill. They just needed to find out what weapon was best at killing the demon. Giles had Harry working on the Dawn research bit again instead, but he wasn't complaining. He knew that figuring out Dawn's status was more important than anything else.
That didn't stop him from being bored, cranky and tired though. He glared at the book and willed it to either give up all of the important information or to spontaneously combust. It did neither. Harry scowled. Harry looked up startled when he felt a hand on his shoulder. Xander was looking at him concerned and Harry blushed and gave him a sheepish smile. He stood up.
"I think I'll be heading home now. I'll see all of you tomorrow; good luck with the demon, Buffy." Harry said.
"Thanks and be careful." Buffy waved at him with stake in her hand.
"See you, Harry."
"Bye."
"Do be careful."
"B-bye."
Harry said his goodbyes to the others and left the shop. Not long after he left Xander was right behind him.
"How are you feeling?" Xander looked at him concerned and hugged him around his waist. Harry allowed himself to enjoy Xander's embrace for a few moments before reluctantly pulling himself away.
"I'll be fine. Just a bit tired."
Xander nodded and they started off towards Harry's house. Halfway there Xander's hand slipped into his. He smiled and tightened his fingers around the other boy's hand, enjoying the contact.
He and Xander hadn't been able to further their physical relationship, but they both knew that they would not have time given the circumstances. Harry was all for throwing Xander down and ravishing him, but he felt as if they did not have much time. Every second studying and researching counted because something was coming. Something big and bad and Harry wasn't quite sure if they were all going to survive it.
He glanced at Xander, studying his face. Trying to memorize it. If something happened to them, if Xander died Harry knew he would never forgive himself. If Harry was the one to die...he could only hope that Xander would be able to move on. Harry had sworn that he wouldn't let Xander die and he would keep his promise, even if it meant that he died instead.
Harry blinked back into focus when Xander took the keys out of his pocket and opened the front door. He blushed at his inattentiveness. When they entered the house Xander walked ahead of him and into the kitchen. Harry followed him and sat down at the table while the other searched through the cabinets for something. A few minutes later Harry had mug of hot chocolate with mini marshmallows in front of him. He sipped it and nodded gratefully. Xander sat across from him on the other side of the kitchen table drinking his own hot chocolate. Halfway through his mug Harry looked up at Xander. He took in the tanned skin and shaggy brown hair. The lush lips and the curve of his jaw. Harry never wanted to forget Xander; he never wanted to forget what he looked like or his personality. He never wanted to forget about his laugh or his lame jokes. He never wanted to forget the way he smiled or his appreciation for a home cooked meal. He never wanted to forget Xander and suddenly Harry realized how stupid he had been. If he was going to die soon he at least wanted to just once see Xander in the heat of passion. He wanted to know what he liked, what made him moan. He wanted to know how to make the other boy gasp and pant his name. Harry stood up from the table. He walked over to Xander and before he could talk himself out of it he grabbed a handful of that thick brown hair and crashed their lips together.
If he was going to die soon, he would have at least experienced everything he could with Xander.
Xander POV
Xander gasped in surprise and moaned in Harry's mouth, surprised that the smaller boy could be so forceful. He broke the kiss after a few moments and stood up. He leaned down and kissed Harry, wrapping his arms around him trying to hold the black haired boy closer. Harry wrapped his arms around Xander's neck and jumped up and wrapped his legs around Xander's waist. Xander groaned and cupped Harry's ass, grinding them together. He reveled in the small moans that poured out of Harry's mouth. He took one step and then two and then three and before Xander knew it he was in the bedroom, their bedroom. He laid Harry down on the bed and covered him with his body. Harry had loosed his hands from around his neck and was now grasping at his shirt desperately trying to get it off. Xander pulled back from the kiss gasping for breath.
"Harry? What-"
"No talking. More kissing. I need you Xander please. I want you inside of me." Harry arched his body up, rubbing his against Xander.
Xander pulled the last shreds of his self-control around him.
"Harry? Are you sure? I-" he wasn't sure if he could resist Harry. He had wanted to wait until after all of this Dawn drama was over, but if Harry wanted him now...Xander wasn't sure if he could hold out. He wasn't sure if he even wanted to.
"Please." Harry pleaded. Harry knew that Xander wanted him and damned if he didn't use that to his advantage. It wasn't fair that Harry could look so damn cute and needy and so fucking sexy. Xander gave in. If the shit was going to hit the fan pretty soon, he wanted to at least make sure that they would have one night together.
Xander leaned down and kissed Harry.
-ring ring-
Xander pulled back and groaned. Harry grabbed his shoulders and pulled him down into another kiss. He ran his tongue along Xander lips and he opened his mouth letting him in.
-ring ring ring-
Xander broke the kiss and cursed. He sat up ignoring Harry's protests and answered his phone.
"Xander here." He couldn't help the annoyance in his voice.
"Xander! I have found out what Dawn is and we are all in great danger! I found an older book in a box that I had never unpacked from when I first moved here. I thought I had lost it, but I merely misplaced it I was quite glad-"
"G-man you're babbling."
"Good lord! I am babbling I have spent way too much time with you kids. I-"
"Giles!"
"Way too much time," he heard Giles mumble and he was sure that the man was blushing. Giles cleared his throat before continuing, "It seems as if Dawn is the key to opening portals to different dimensions. An old prophecy recorded in the times of the old council states that the key will go to a protector, a warrior of the good. A goddess of hell will use the key to tear down the barriers between the dimensions. If the dimensions are torn down then the world will be pulled into chaos. Our world will be consumed by hell. I'm afraid that we do not have much more time. According to the book, if Dawn has been sent to us then the goddess is already looking for her."
Xander paled and looked down at Harry. From the troubled look on his face he had heard. Harry sat up.
"Everyone will be informed tomorrow of Dawn's, uh, status. Please be careful and if you get in contact with Harry pass along the news. I'm afraid that I don't have his number."
"Okay, Giles. I'll see you tomorrow at the magic box." Xander said goodbye and hung up the phone. He stared at it for a minute and looked at Harry. He tried to crack a smile, but it seemed kind of flimsy.
"So a hell goddess. Never fought one of those before." his light tone did not hide his apprehension.
Harry POV
Harry forced Xander to lie down and cuddle with him. He knew something bad was going to happen, but a hell goddess? Xander rearranged them and drew the covers over them from their place on the foot of the bed. Neither of them were in the mood anymore. Harry snuggled into his chest and listened to the calming sound of Xander's heartbeat. He was afraid and he knew that Xander was too. He hoped that they both survived this.
-time skip-
Xander POV
Xander entered the shop nervously. Giles was at the front at the cash register ringing up a purchase and he knew that he and Harry were the first ones to arrive. He wasn't sure how they were going to do this. Was Giles going to tell the others or would he do it or Harry? He didn't think they would take the news rather well. They would probably freak out, well Buffy and Willow might. Tara would just nod and smile or something. She was kind of peaceful and sage like in the way that Oz was.
He felt Harry slip his hand into his and give it a quick squeeze before moving past Xander.
"Are you ready, Mr. Giles?" Harry asked.
Giles sighed and took his glasses off, cleaned them and replaced them back on his face before answering.
"Not really, but it must be done. I hope Buffy does not overreact and listens to us. Sometimes you can never tell with Buffy. Sometimes she's stake first and ask questions later and others...well she almost seems to go into denial of some sort. The second reaction is what we want the most. We should be able to convince her of the truth about Dawn. Speaking of Dawn, she will be here in about five minutes or so. You two please head into the back while I close the shop down."
Xander nodded and he and Harry headed to the back Scooby meeting room.
"How do you think Buffy will take it?" Harry asked.
Xander slumped down into his chair and the other boy sat next to him.
"Giles is right, you can never really know with Buffy. I see the best case scenario as this; Buffy treats Dawn like she is Angel. As in she can do no wrong and it doesn't matter what her humanoid type classification is. That way she will still care about and protect Dawn without going all emo and act as if the world is out to get her."
Harry sighed and closed his eyes.
"I hope that you're right, Xander."
Not long after their short discussion Dawn came in followed by Willow, Tara, Spike, Buffy and Giles. Giles locked the door behind him and waited for everybody to take their seats before speaking.
"I have brought all of you here today for a matter of the utmost importance."
"Another apocalypse?" Willow chirped. Giles blinked at her in surprise before continuing.
"Well, yes, but that is not all. If this event comes to pass all of the world will be thrown into hell."
Giles gave them a rundown of the story he told Harry and Xander the other day.
"So we like find the key and then kill the hell goddess right?" Buffy asked twirling a stake.
"Indeed, but we already have the key."
"That's great!" Willow exclaimed, "so all we need to do now is hide it and then we're fine right?"
Giles shook his head.
"It's not that easy. The key isn't an object, Willow, it's a person."
The room was dead silent. Xander looked over at Dawn, but she didn't seem like she was going to spill the truth anytime soon.
"It's Dawn isn't it?" Tara said
"Huh?"Buffy and Willow exclaimed in unison. Dawn looked down at the table and seemed to be gathering her courage.
"Well, um, that is to say...yes. Dawn is the key? How did you know Tara?" Giles asked.
Tara looked down at the table a bit and blushed.
"I'm able to read auras. Dawn's is very different from everybody else. Her aura, her very being, glows green. It's very pretty."
Everybody blinked at Tara in shock before Spike let out a snort of amusement.
"Only you, Glenda."
Buffy opened and closed her mouth a few times before huffing and looking at Dawn to see her reaction. Dawn did not seem very surprised at the news and Buffy glared at her.
"So you knew too huh? How long? How many years?"
Dawn winced.
"Actually Buffy, Dawn just found out not long ago herself." Harry said trying to get the attention off of the younger girl.
Buffy turned her sharp gaze to Harry.
"You knew too?"
Giles took his glasses off and cleaned them again. Xander thought it had to be some sort of record.
"Well, they were the ones to tell me." Giles muttered lowly as if trying to escape the slayers wrath.
"They?"
"I found out first and then I told Xander. We told Giles and we decided that we wouldn't keep this information from Dawn. We just found out last night about the...prophecy and what it actually held. We weren't quite sure what Dawn was."
"So no one decided to tell me? Don't you think I should know that my sister isn't quite human?"
"Buffy, when I was one year old my parents died and I was sent to live with my aunt and uncle. For ten years they treated me as a leper or something that they would rather wipe off the bottom of their foot then as their relative. When I was eleven a coven that my parents knew finally contacted me, I found out that day that magic was real and that I had it. I was never able to acclimate myself before I was thrown headfirst into their world. I never had the time to come to terms with myself. Why should I do the same thing to Dawn?" Harry confessed quietly.
Buffy looked down and seemed to be struggling with something. Xander sighed; it was his turn to try to make her understand.
"Buffy, just think. How would you feel if everybody around you knew that you were going to become a Slayer? How would you feel if your classmates or even your teachers new before you? Us?" She huffed, sighed and then nodded to herself. That seemed to do it. It seemed as if it was easier to convince Buffy of something when it was somehow related to her. Well, at least she understood now.
Buffy turned to Dawn.
"So…how are you taking it?" she asked.
Dawn smiled at her, pleased that her sister was treating her the same way she always had. Nothing was different between them.
"I'm doing pretty good. I'm actually kind of excited; well not about the whole hell goddess thing, but about the whole super special Dawn thing. It's kind of nice to finally join the special girl clique." She grinned.
Xander rolled his eyes.
"But…why now? Shouldn't you have known earlier Tara?" Willow asked her friend. Tara shook her head.
"I wouldn't have noticed it. It's almost new…but not."
"Why? What do you mean?" Willow asked.
"Well, technically…I'm only a few weeks old." Dawn said, "Everyone, including me, got some sort of magical download of well, me. I think it's pretty cool though, just think. I'm the smartest teenage newborn that you've ever known! I could be a celebrity or something, ya know, if the world ever learned about demons and stuff."
Willow, Buffy and Spike took some time to digest the information. Giles, Harry and Xander had already known and Tara just accepted it.
"Magical download or not, you're still Niblet. I got the memories, might as well not fight 'em. Got some good times stored up in here." Spike tapped his temple and Dawn giggled.
"Thanks, Spike."
"Okay…I think I can do this." Buffy took a deep breath and tried to think rationally. "So, Dawn hasn't been a pain in my ass for the last few years, instead she has been a pain for only the last few weeks. Okay, I think I can deal with this, but why was Dawn sent to us."
"Well Buffy," Giles said, "who better to protect her than us?"
"Point taken."
Glory POV (no Ben)
Glory sat on the outside of the magic shop waiting. She would have gone in, but the building was warded. The moment she stepped inside the doorway the owner of the building and the wards would have known she was there. She scowled, but as pissed off as she was, she was still patient.
Glory had been able to track the key down to the Hellmouth. Once she stepped inside the city limits the energy of the Hellmouth distorted her senses. She was unable to track the key any further. She had spent the last few days searching the city and harassing the local demon population. They hadn't known anything about the key, but they had pointed her into the direction of the slayer and her friends. Apparently, they were always in the middle of anything weird that went down in this stupid town. Every member of their 'gang' had been summoned tonight and she would bet money that they knew what or who the key was. She just needed to get one of them alone. Just one.
Glory smirked as a blonde headed vampire stepped outside of the shop. This demon was only a small bug compared to her, he would do just fine.
Harry POV
After explaining what they knew of Dawn's origins the Scooby's started researching the hell goddess. So far they did not like what they found. The goddess was incredibly powerful, but she did not retain all of her abilities. The ones that remained when she was banished from her dimensions were superhuman speed, superstrength, near invulnerability and the ability to drain a person of their mental energy i.e. make them go insane. Giles speculated that the energy from the Hellmouth would disrupt the rest of her abilities and she would be unable to use them. Apparently, it was a last minute addition to her banishment. Instead of the Hellmouth amplifying her abilities they would become weaker. However, the Hellmouth was the only place where she would be able to open the dimensional portal to her world.
Harry thought that it was a good thing that Dawn was sent to them. It was easier to hide and protect her on the Hellmouth than on it which was kind of backwards when you think about it.
It would be difficult to kill Glory. They would need to make her human. Giles said that there were powerful curses that could make her human, but because she was so powerful they would only be temporary. The curses would also be difficult to locate, interpret and use. It would take time, time they weren't sure that they had.
Xander POV
Xander nodded to Spike as he left the shop. Willow and Tara left not long after and then Buffy left to take Dawn home. They helped Giles put up his books before taking their leave as well.
"Xander...do you think we should tell them about us?" Harry glanced at Xander as they walked. They were headed to his house because it would be easier to defend themselves and possibly escape than at Xander's apartment.
Xander stumbled over his feet for a moment and then resumed walking normally.
"I'm not sure. They took Dawn's almost nonhuman status pretty well. But you know it's kind of different with us. I think we might be able to. Willow might be upset because I didn't tell her sooner and Buffy would probably deny me being gay. I used to have a crush on her," he paused gathering his thoughts, " Tara won't mind, Giles will probably clean his glasses, blush a bit and then say something vague about his Ripper days and exploring and all that crap. Dawn will probably just think it's cute. I just hope she doesn't squeal. That would really hurt my ears." Xander grimaced and rubbed them as if trying to ward off any future attacks.
Harry giggled.
"Yeah, I can see Dawn doing that."
"I'm not sure about Spike though. Probably won't care, just call us a couple of poofters, whatever that means."
Harry grinned.
"It basically means the same thing as gay. And don't worry about Spike. He already knows."
"Huh?"
"Spike knew the first time he saw us together. He could smell us all over each other."
"I'm surprised he didn't say anything," Xander goggled, "usually he would have blackmailed me by now or at least tried too. I haven't heard a single snide or teasing comment thrown my way!"
Harry opened the door and motioned Xander in before locking it. He turned to Xander who still seemed to be in a state of shock.
"He would have, but I threatened him." Harry flushed as Xander gaped at him.
He shuffled a bit before muttering, "I told him that I would torture him if he ever told the others."
Xander laughed at Harry's sheepish explanation and scooped up the smaller boy in his arms. Harry laughed as Xander carried him up the stairs bridal style. Xander tossed him on the bed and then jumped on him before he could get up. Peals of laughter rang out as Xander tickled Harry. Harry squirmed and gasped trying to escape Xander's very wily fingers, but to no avail. He collapsed against the bed exhausted and laughing begging for mercy. Xander smirked and let him up after a few more moments. Taking pleasure in his flushed face and heaving chest.
"That's what you get for not telling me about Spike," he leaned down and kisses Harry softly," and that's what you get for telling that to Spike."
Harry leaned up and connected their lips again. He pressed against Xander gently, moaning as Xander's tongue snaked into his mouth.
They kissed for a few minutes, both leisurely exploring the others mouth; only parting for air. Xander pulled back first and gazed at Harry lovingly.
"I love you, Harry."
"I love you too, Xander."
-time skip-
Spike had been missing for the past week the other Scoobys exhausted every resource they had to find him, but to no avail. Spike had been taken. Tara and Willow tried to scry using Wiccan magic, Harry and Xander tried to track him down by scent and Buffy and Giles terrorized the demon community. It seemed as if something else scarier than them was out there and it had taken Spike. The Scoobys had no doubt that he was being interrogated and most likely tortured by the hell goddess for information on the key. They partially hoped that Spike would hold out and that the hell goddess would get bored with him. Xander and Harry were more realistic. They hoped that the goddess killed Spike; they knew that he had to be in extreme pain. If she freed him, that was fine and dandy, but if she was torturing him…
When Spike first went missing they created a buddy system. Xander and Harry; Giles, Dawn and Buffy; Tara and Willow. Joyce had been sent out of town for art dealings in L.A. they hoped for all of this to be over by the time she got back. Nobody wanted her to be in danger. The buddy system worked for the most part, until Tara was attacked.
Tara and Willow had been at a fair, trying to find something to be happy about in these miserable times, but it turned out horribly wrong. Tara had been on the other side of the park and Willow could not get to her. She didn't know anything was wrong…until she heard her scream.
Tara had been drained of most of her mental energy. She had to be institutionalized for insanity and the only thing they got out of her attack was a name. Glory.
A.N. oh my god. You guys have no idea how long it has taken me to write this chapter. I had to start and stop for days and days. I finally added everything in it that I wanted to. I hope you enjoyed it please read and review.