I do not own Harry potter or Buffy the vampire slayer

Chapter 35

"Harry I'm sorry."

Harry turned away from the runes he was carving to look at Xander questioningly. Xander took a deep breath and met Harry's eyes.

"For last night...when I didn't come home. I just-"

"Xander. Shut up." Harry said. Xander flinched.

Harry studied Xander his expression. His posture, his very being radiated misery. Harry couldn't for the life of him figure out why. Xander had done nothing wrong. He reached out to his boyfriend and cupped his cheek.

"Xander there was no way you could have known what I was planning for us last night. You are not at fault."

"But-"

"No." Harry shook his head at him. He leaned up and kissed Xander lightly on the lips before pulling away.

"It'll happen when it happens." Harry murmured. Xander smiled slightly and kissed Harry just as gently before stepping away. Harry smiled and then turned away to complete his work.

Harry was working on four slabs of wood. He was carving runes for the containment spell on each piece of wood. A change here and a tweak there and the barrier would be able to contain Glory long enough for Xander to go after her. Luckily, Spike woke up a few hours ago and described where he had been held. He was very familiar with it. Apparently, the hideout had once belonged to Angel. Coincidently, it was another mansion. What was with all the baddies and hiding in mansions? Harry wasn't quite sure.

The girls would have to place the carved runes on each direction of the house. North, south, east and west. Harry would then be able to use a bit of magic, say a short spell and power up the runes. Their plan was simple, and it should have been easy. Obviously, something had to go wrong.

-time skip sunset-

"Okay, everything is set up Harry." Willow chirped. She seemed bubbly right now, but Harry could feel the undertone of fear and anxiousness. He smiled at her reassuringly.

"Thank you, Willow."

They were all outside in the surrounding grounds of Angel's old mansion/hideout. It was surrounded by trees which was a very good thing for them. Glory couldn't see them, and as long as they didn't draw her attention they were safe.

Buffy was leaning against one of the trees with her arms crossed. She still didn't like this plan, but it was the best they had. If Xander...if Xander failed than Buffy was their backup plan. They would find a way for the slayer to take out the goddess instead. Harry thought that they trusted Xander a lot more than they let on if they gave him this chance. Harry hoped to god that they didn't need Buffy, because if they went to plan B than Xander had failed. Plan B meant that Xander had...died. Harry couldn't live with himself if Xander died because of him. Harry clenched his jaw, it wouldn't happen. He wouldn't allow Xander to die.

A hand on his shoulder startled him from his deep thoughts. He looked up and smiled.

"Xander."

Xander smiled back at him, but it didn't reach his eyes. Xander was afraid and by Merlin he had every right to be. He had never faced anything like this before. Harry drew him down for a deep kiss. They kissed like they would never see each other again. They kissed like it was their last few seconds on earth. Their kiss was filled with fear, love, but above all else hope because if they lost hope than they were doomed. Harry drew back gasping for breath. His lips were tingling and felt swollen. Xander's were swollen.

Xander smiled again, but this time it reached his eyes. They filled up with trust, hope and love for Harry.

"Are you ready?" Xander asked. Harry nodded.

It was finally time.

Xander stepped some distance away from Harry, inside the perimeter of the wards. They locked eyes as Harry began chanting.

"-insert spell here-"

Harry waited for the barrier, for the snap of magic so he could begin his next step, but nothing happened. Harry paled this wasn't good.

"Harry. What h-happened?" Tara asked.

Harry swallowed. He walked up to Xander who was watching him just as confused as the others.

"I thought this might happen. Some of the changes I had to the spell must have done this." he said as he finally stood next to Xander.

"Done what?" Giles asked. He examined the runes. Nothing seemed to be wrong with them. Exactly what was Harry talking about?

Harry shook his head and repeated the spell.

"-insert spell here-"

This time the magic snapped into place and a shivering light green barrier was created between the two groups. Tara and Willow gasped.

"Harry, what are you doing?" Xander grabbed Harry's shoulders and made him face him.

"I'm sorry but, the changes I made have forced me to be inside of the barrier as well. I have to complete the spell from here." He smiled at Xander.

"Don't worry about me Xander. I'll be fine." Harry reassured him. He closed his eyes and began chanting again to power up the other runes and to finish the spell. Harry swayed and Xander steadied him before he fell. He tried to take Harry to the others but the barrier wouldn't let him.

"What's going on?" Buffy asked pounding on the barrier.

"The barrier won't let me leave until Glory is taken care of. It feels her prayers trying to get to her. When she is dead then it will fall and I will be freed." he said quietly. Xander looked down at the pale, green eyed boy in his arms. His eyes hardened in determination. He would NOT fail Harry. Harry's breathing evened out and Xander laid him down on the ground gently. He stroked his cheek.

"Don't worry, Harry. I'll be back and I'll get you out of here. Heck, we can even go for ice cream or that tea you like."

Harry chuckled weakly before closing his eyes. Xander watched him for a moment before turning away. He had business to take care of.

Xander barely made it through the front door when he heard a shriek of rage. It seemed like Glory had found out what they had done or the very least knew her powers were on the fritz. Xander was going to need to keep her ignorant about her mortality. She would be more careless if she thought she was still immortal.

"Something wrong up there?" Xander called out almost sounding concerned. It was quiet before Glory in all her...glory stomped down the stairs. She held out her hand in front of her.

"I broke a nail!"

Okay, so maybe she hadn't felt anything.

"So sorry about that. It's going to be a bitch for that to grow back." he said mimicking something he heard from Buffy.

"I know right?" she whined. She narrowed her eyes at him. "What are you doing here human?"

"I'm here to kill you." simple and straight to the point. Xander didn't have time to play around. He needed to get back to Harry.

Glory laughed at him.

"I'm going to squish you like a bug."

Glory form was a blur as she ran forward. She kicked Xander in the chest and he flew through a wall crashing down on the other side. Xander winced as he stood up. Glory may be mortal now, but she wasn't weak. That kicked would've killed Xander if he had been human.

"That's all you got?" he taunted her. She stepped through the whole in the wall and scowled at him. She blurred again, but this time Xander was ready he dodged to the side and out of her way. She just as quickly changed directions right into his fist. She winced in pain and clutched her nose. It was sore, but not broken. This boy was strong, perhaps just a bit stronger than that slayer girl. Glory didn't like to experience pain. It was time to kill him now.

Punches and kicks were flying, bodies thrown into walls and furniture broken. They both took hits, but neither of them were about to quit anytime soon. Glory and Xander were both facing each other breathing hard. Glory eyed the boy in front of her. There was no way he was human. He was keeping up with her! It seemed like he was getting stronger and faster every second. Was he just playing with her earlier? Glory felt something that she hadn't felt in a long time. Fear.

Xander, on the other hand, knew better. He wasn't getting stronger, Glory was just getting weaker. Harry's barrier was doing its job and she was being brought down to his level. Glory charged again out of fear more than confidence. She was getting desperate and instead of that fueling her it did just the opposite. She grew sloppy. Her swings were wild and didn't cause as much damage. She had tunnel vision and she was slow to block. Glory left herself wide open and Xander took advantage of it. Xander grabbed a metal pole that had come from one of the glass tables they had broken. Glory tried to block, but she was too slow. Xander did what he had learned nearly four years ago. He stabbed the metal into her heart. Glory screamed as blood poured from her chest, Xander shoved the metal in her harder and it broke through the other side. He let her go as she fell to her knees. Blood poured out the right side of her mouth and her breathing grew ragged and forced. Xander waited for her heart to stop and her breathing to slow down, but it didn't. She wasn't dying, but it didn't seem like she was getting up anytime soon. Xander stood there awkwardly. He scratched the back of his head, thinking. His eyes wandered around the room and landed on a case of swords in the corner. How convenient.

He broke open the case and grabbed the biggest, sharpest sword he could find. Walking over to Glory he stood in front of her again. He tried to summon up the anger he had felt earlier, the determination to kill her, but he felt nothing. Her glassy eyed focused on him, but Xander felt nothing for her. No fear. No anger. No pity. With one swift strike of the sword Glory was dead. He walked over to her head and stared into her empty eyes. Satisfied that she was finally dead he walked out the house to find Harry. The others could take care of Glory's remains.

Xander jogged over to Harry. The green eyed wizard was sleeping peacefully right next to the barrier. The others were standing around anxiously.

"Xander!" Willow cried out in joy when she saw him. He had a few shallow wounds, bruises and bloodstains, but other than that he seemed fine. Xander grinned at them. He leaned down and picked up Harry. The other boy didn't wake up. Instead, he clutched Xander's shirt and mumbled incoherent sleep covered words. Xander smiled down at him. Xander eyed the barrier warily and stuck his foot out, tapping it. His foot went through and he sighed in relief.

"Hey guys we're gunna head home now. Glory didn't dissolve or turned to goop so you're gunna have to figure out what to do with her body." he said. Immediately Giles began to direct the girls on what to do. Xander wondered how Giles knew how to hide a body, but then decided that the older man could just keep that bit of information for himself.

Willow gave him a half hug, trying not to jar Harry from his sleep.

"Thank you, Xander." Tara and Giles echoed her and Buffy just grunted. With a stern look from Giles she caved.

"Thanks." he grinned at her and nodded.

"I'll see you guy." and with that he took Harry home.

-time skip-

Xander moaned in pleasure as the warm shower water hit his sore back. Glory had put up a good fight and Xander had the feeling that he would be feeling it for the next few days, accelerated healing or not. he had laid Harry down in their bed upstairs. The other boy had slept the whole way there and didn't wake up even when Xander began stripping him down to his boxers. The spell had really exhausted him.

Suddenly, the whole night caught up to Xander. He had defeated Glory! He had defeated a hell goddess! Xander swayed and clutched the shower bar. Wow. Then the most important part hit him. His friends had actually seen his worth today. Xander sat down on the floor of the shower stunned. He began laughing. An incredulous, relieved and happy laugh. He had never imagined, never dreamed that they would actually see him as something other than the Zeppo. Xander blinked back tears, but to no avail. He began to crying. Tonight had been out of this world, he could only hope that they wouldn't suddenly 'forget'. Xander grinned to himself when he stopped crying. He looked up at the shower head and felt like laughing again. Instead, he stood up and rinsed off his tears and dried off. He went back to the room and a few steps from the bed exhaustion hit him. He crawled on the bed and lay down beside Harry. He fell asleep the moment his head hit the pillow.

It never occurred to Xander that he still needed to put on his night clothes.

AN. oh. I'm bad.