Chapter 38
Arthur Weasley was sitting in his shed tinkering with the radios he made during the war to keep everyone informed of what was happening in their world. Lee Jordan and Dennis Creevey still ran the wizarding wireless station every Saturday with the week's news which became much more upbeat since the war.
He had just finished screwing the back onto the radio when his wife came in.
"Arthur, we need to talk." She said.
He knew this was coming. She hadn't spoken to him since Harry left. He knew she was angry at Harry and therefore himself for not being angry at Harry for leaving their little girl, his wife to rot in prison.
"How could you? How could you just let him walk away from his responsibility to his wife? Our daughter is suffering in that hell hole of a hell hole."
"It's been over two weeks since Harry left and all of the sudden you decide this is important?"
Molly began to hit him for that remark. "There hasn't been a moment that's gone by that I haven't worried about her."
"And yet your parenting tips article was sent to witch weekly on time. That's a joke. I wonder how long the public will keep reading those with our children making a mockery of you."
Molly began hitting him again. "If Harry would have stayed and kept pushing he could have gotten her out of there."
"Harry did all he could to get her out. There was just nothing else he could do. You shot down the only other option that would have seen her in a comfortable bed in a St. Mungo's."
"Our daughter is not insaine?" She hissed. "If Harry would have treated her properly and sat his arus at home like a loveing husband should have she wouldn't have taken this to such extreams."
"Then you think it was perfectly acceptable for her to have used and unforgivable on a bank manager as long as he's a muggel."
"Yes…I mean no. I mean… I'm just telling you that our little girl is not around the twist. This was all Harry falt from the beginning."
"Let me tell you something, if you treated me the way our daughter treated Harry I would leave you to live in a the shrieking shack. Harry wasn't allowed to do his job if it ment talking people like Mundungus Fletcher nor could he be seen talking to muggels she saw as unworthy of Harry's time. That is not a way of life I would find expectable. No one should have to live that way. He isn't a trained pet or a porcelain doll she could just put away when she was done displaying him."
"How can you side with that monster? What the hell is he doing that is more important than trying to get our little girl out of there? How could you just let him go like that and then thank him for it?"
"Harry has made many powerful connections since the war but only in this country. His feats and fame don't mean squat anywhere outside it."
Molly looked into his eyes as she seemed to be searching for something and all of the sudden she began sobbing. Aurthur took the two steps it took to reach her and held her in his arms.
"It's too bad she got five years."
Molly pushed herself away from her husband. "Are you saying she deserved more?"
"What? Of course not. It's just that…."
"It's just what?"
"I've been hearing things… in the muggel world. They say that the world is going to end and that we may only have untill the end of the year before that happens. I would hate to think that our little girls last days were going to be in that place."
"Oh Merlin, Arthur listen to yourself. You've been playing with your muggle devices for so long that your starting to belive their silly jaw waggings. Prehapes you need to start letting this muggle obsetion go. I don't want another of our family being labled odd."
This was suppose to be how Arthur was going to break the news to the rest of his family and it wasn't going so well. He tested the waters and it was to cold. But he had started the prosess of warning her so he would continue little by little untill she started to listen. They walked back to the house. Once inside Molly broke away to go into the living room where Ron was. Arthur washed the coffee cup he brought with him from the shed. When he was done he heard his wifes low murmers as she spoke secretly to their son. Arthur moved closer to have a listen. He almost wished he had one of the twins extendable ears. God how he missed Fred. As he lisend he was surprised at what he heard.
"He's going mad I tell you. He's talking about the end of the world like he beives that muggel rederick. I would hate to find out he was becoming unhinged. I don't think I could handle it. I swear Ronald if he starts speaking like that in public I may have to leave him so his mental ideas don't make me look bad."
"After that you could call a mind healer from St. Mongo's. You could claim it was the stress of you leaveing him that broke him." He heard Ron say.
Arthur couldn't belive what he had just heard. It was hippacidical. Where does she get off saying those things…and to the son whose made her look worse because of his stupidity. This was an eye opener to Arthur. It was a mistake to even intertain the thought of saveing his wife and son and he would be damned if he was going to let them try and make his life miserable. He would have to nip this in the bud befor they could do anything foolish.
/Scene Break/
Dawn called a Scoobie meeting which included the Sunnydale slayers and Hermione. Dawn had been really excited. Once everyone entered the room and were seated Dawn blurted the happy news.
"Giles just informed me that Xander and Harry have located some property and after the goblins check over the contracts to make sure everything is iron clad we can start shipping stuff to them. Giles will announce the future opening of a new school in Africa and start shipping materials by cargo ship so everything looks above board but we can ship the things Xander and Harry will urgently need by magic. That would be building materials and tools. Once they have them and they can securely store stuff where it won't be seen or stolen we can start shipping on a regular basis. Giles is already on the phone looking for grains and other food stuff to store. A team of slayer can go through a silo of wheat in a week so I hope he can get a lot."
"That's an exaggeration Dawn and you know it." Buffy said. "But this is great news. We can now move forward. Where is it located?"
"Giles was so excited he forgot to ask. All he heard was that they found the perfect place and how much it would cost. After giving his okay he hung up. The only information he got was that they would call us when the deal was done so we could start sending things to them, after they tell us where of course. What about telling your people Hermione?"
"I'll tell my friends on the weekend after everything is finalized I don't want to get them excited just yet. Some of them have to maintain a certain amount of decorum around others. They lived under the enchantment of document zero for so long they already find it hard to act normal. They're just so angry when they find something that could have been improved upon long ago had their minds not been messed with."
"I guess that's understandable." Buffy said. "Anyway we're at the starting line and the gun is about to go off. Is everybody ready?"
Everyone gave an affirmative answer. Buffy, Willow, Faith and Hermione knew that there was still many things they needed to collect and were already making plans that didn't include Giles knowing or approving of what they were doing. They had been making plans that they knew were going to upset him greatly and they would need precise timing to get the jobs done but it was going to be necessary in the long run.
"Well make of this information what you will. This meeting is adjourned." Dawn replied.
"Short and sweet just the way I like them." Faith said.
"See Buffy, Faith thinks I'm sweet." Dawn said reverting back to being Buffy's brat sister she sometimes liked to tease Buffy with.
"Have you been tasting my sister Faith." Buffy asked with a quirked eye brow.
"No, and I don't remember receiving any invitations ether." She replied.
Dawn rolled her eyes because she had been foiled again. "You two are just so juvenile."
"This coming from the woman trying to act like a brat." Vi replied.
Dawn considered sticking her tongue out but thought of several ways that it would be a bad idea so wisely turned up her nose and left the room with a smirk on her face.
"She'll never learn not to play with the big girls." Faith said with a smile.
"That's my sister." Buffy replied shaking her head.
Faith walked over to Willow and Hermione and asked if everything was ready for their next adventure to which they replied that they were.
"Then you were able to find the location of the place in the ministry records department?" Vi asked.
"Yes, we should land in the middle of a clearing."
Buffy came up behind Faith and asked what was going on.
"We're going to head to the island where Ming comes from and see if he can find a mate for him." Faith replied.
"Why is he getting frisky?" Buffy asked.
"No, but he'll need a mate at some point and if we're going to take him along with us to Africa he and his mate will be the last of their kind." Willow explained.
"He may need to find more than one for diversity." Hermione added.
"I bet Ming's excited." Buffy said.
"Actually he seems anxious and worried for some reason but he wants to go." Faith explained.
"I sure hope we can find a better way to communicate with him. Once for yes twice for no is getting old." Buffy replied
"Luna is already trying but we found out why he would never be able to speak a human language."
"And why is that?" Buffy asked.
"He has two tongues an upper one and a lower one and they both look like a bunch of squid legs."
Buffy blinked at that information not knowing how to respond.
"I had him tap out how long ago he was captured and was imprisoned under the ministry, he said two years." Vi said. "Upon another run threw of twenty questions we found that he left friends and family behind and that they were in some sort of danger. He seems almost to have given up on their survival but he still wants to do this."
"Well if there is some kind of danger maybe I could come with you. Do you guy have room for one more?" Buffy asked.
"I thought you were going to be on the phone all day making those last minute meet and greets with those sales people we need to talk to before the main event."
"Speaking of phone calls Jim, Blair, and Oz will cross the boarder from Canada in about a half hour and will drop the rental car at the nearest dealer before portkeying home. Anyway I don't want to be shut in my office on the phone all day while you guys are out having fun."
"Danger girl Buffy rears her head once more." Vi responded.
"Hey, my head is little and pretty Xander has told me not to worry it plenty of times and give me a break I've been doing office work since Giles found the prophecy. I need this."
"You'll get no argument from me." Hermione replied. "We have no idea what we'll be walking into. No humans have been on the island since they cloaked it."
"Actually someone must have been there two years ago to capture Ming." Willow corrected.
"Holy cricket your right!" Hermione realized.
"Everyone smiled as Hermione grew red with embarrassment from not thinking of that."
"Well let's get this show on the road." Faith said as the group move down to the gym where they would meet up with Ming who was beating on a punching bag made from an old metal water heater filled with sand and sawdust and dipped in layers of thick rubber. The only bag that wouldn't bust in a week after being subjected to slayer strength punches all day every day. The chains holding it up needed to be replaced more often then the bag. Even so they only would last a year before being replaced. It took a lot of trial and error for Xander to come up with that one.
"Hey Ming, are we ready?" Faith asked.
Ming rushed over with a look of worry on his face but he was ready.
"I've never seen him like this. He looks anxious and scared." Buffy noticed.
"Like we said, he doesn't hold out hope that his family had survived." Vi said.
Everyone entered the cage match enclosure weapons in hand. This would be the temporary transport sight where the wards would allow them access and have enough room for everyone coming back. Hermione laid out a rope for Ming to step on and the rest grabbed the other end of the rope this was their portkey back and forth to Ming's island. Hermione said the password and they all disappeared from the gym. Moment later they found themselves in a clearing in the middle of a forest. It took a moment for Ming to get his bearings. This had been his home but he hadn't been here in two years. Once her realized where he was he slowly led them through the forest scanning the area around them very cautiously. This action put the slayers on guard. Ming looked like they would be attacked at any moment so the slayers followed his example and put themselves on high alert.
Willow asked. "Do you think we should make ourselves invisible if there is something out here? I've been wanting to try that disillusionment spell."
"It wouldn't do a thing for Ming. He's magic resistant." Hermione explained. "But it would be a good idea for a scouting party."
Ming looked worried as he considered this. As this was happening Hermione disillusioned Faith and Vi and before Ming could object the two slayers had gone into the forest ahead of the group. Before they knew it they had gone deeper than they thought was a good idea. They stopped at a small crop of dead trees. Just ahead of them they saw wispy white threads stretched out across the trees. When they looked up Faith almost freaked. Not that she was scared but this was bad. They headed back to the others.
They stopped and told Hermione to take off the spell. Once Hermione was done they looked to Ming and Vi asked.
"Those things aren't native to this island are they?" Vi asked
Ming gave a negative response.
"Are there a lot of them?" Faith asked.
Ming gave a positive response.
"I take it they are what you're worried about. I'm guessing your people weren't able beat them back?"
Ming gave another positive response.
"Wait a minuet what are we talking about here? What are they?" Buffy asked.
"Spiders, Giant spiders, the size of automobiles." Vi announced.
"Acromantula's!" Hermione gasped in surprise. "If there is a nest around here then we could have a fight on our hands."
"I hate spiders. I don't know how much help I'll be in a fight against them Buffy. You know that's one of the things I'm afraid of." Willow said.
"We'll be alright Will. Hermione, tell me you know how to fight these things."
"Actually I can see how the Quintaped's on the island could be wiped out fighting them. If they got close enough to do battle with them the Acromantula would have the advantage. Besides having three more legs they can spin a web incasing the Quintaped's but the worst of it would be their poisonous bite. The Quintaped's wouldn't stand a chance."
"That isn't inspiring the rest of us with a lot of hope, Hermione." Buffy said.
"As witches Willow and I have a better chance of beating them back by firing spells at a distance. Blasting and fire hexes would be our best options. I wouldn't advise slayers to fight them without some form of weapon they could use at a distances. You may not be able to reload a crossbow fast enough should they attack in mass."
"Attack in mass?" Willow squeaked.
"If there's a nest near by there could be hundreds." Hermione said.
"Hundreds?" Willow gasped as she jumped back looking like she was physically hit. "Maybe we should get another witch or wizard and come back later."
It was then that they heard the sound of another Quintaped and Ming took off following the sound. The rest of the group followed Ming. They had a difficult time keeping up with him and they were worried that he would give them away and reveal their presents upon the island. In a desperate move Faith lounged at Ming diving upon him. Ming was frantic. At first he didn't know what hit him. He thought it was an Acromantula and thought his life was over but was angry to find it was Faith.
"You need to calm down." She said. "We can't give ourselves away yet. We need to sneak up and take them down before they know what hit them."
As they got to their feet they realized just how close to the sounds they were. As they heard a Quintaped cry out in what sounded like grief. They slowly made their way to a clearing to find a small cave at the base of a cliff face guarded by four Acromantula. Vi pulled out her throwing stars and said.
"I wonder were the most effective kill spots on a spider are?"
"I'm going to say the neck and head would be the most logical choices." Buffy replied pulling out some throwing knives.
"Make scene to me." Faith added removing the crossbow from her back.
"If it fails Willow and I can take out the ones that survive."
"We can?" Willow said in a worried voice.
"Whether you do it with a wand or as a Wicca you can throw fireball Willow." Vi encouraged.
"Right fireballs, I can do this. Willow replied trying to physic herself up for the challenge."
Hermione was concerned for her friend. She could see how shaken she was and knew she was one of the bravest people she knew. She took on a room full of demons without so much as a shiver but the Acromantula seemed to have shaken her.
"I'll take the one on the left." Faith said.
"I'll take the one next to it." Vi said.
"I'll take out the third." Buffy replied.
"And I'll get the last one." Hermione announced.
One the count of three they made their attack. The only problem they had was that Faith couldn't get a descent head shot and had to put an arrow into its neck. While it was effective it took longer for it to die Hermione used another blasting hex to kill it faster. Just to be sure Buffy pulled her sword and decapitated each of the dead Acromantula's. They then made their way into the cave, Ming leading the way. They found another Quintaped. They could see she was a female and was exhausted because it would seem she had just got done giving birth. This Quintaped had brown hair where Ming had red. Vi wondered if the color of their hair could be a way to tell the different between the sexes. Just then they found themselves under attack. Two more Quintaped jumped them as soon as they were far enough into the cave. A jet black one attacked Vi while a blond attacked Faith. The rest stood back not knowing what to do. They didn't what to hurt them because they were there to rescue them. The jet black one fighting Vi quickly maneuvered her in position for a piston kick. When Vi realized this she cursed herself but knew a maneuver that would avoid getting hit about forty percent of the time. She hoped it worked this time. She looked down to jump the kick but was surprised that while this Quintaped stood on two legs the third that would administer the piston kick to the solar plexus was missing. Vi quick counted the legs and realized that the females fifth leg was instead between what would be considered the arms and it was ready to administer an piston kick to her face. She immediately knew if it were to connect she would be killed. Vi moved her head to the side while at the same time jumped back. The kick still connected. Vi flew back and landed on the ground. The blows power lost its potential to kill Vi because of her maneuver but she was now unconscious with a broken jaw. The side of he face bruised and swelling. Ming had been too shocked from the surprise attack to immediately come to the rescue but jumped in to hold back the jet black Quintaped from attacking anyone else as he franticly spoke to the three Quintaped's in their language to try and stop the attack. The blond had listened and backed away from Faith. Faith didn't move to pursue. It wasn't her intention to fight the creatures she was here to save them. The Jet black Quintaped however seemed to be in too much of a frenzy to listen. Thanks to Ming training with the slayers he was able to become stronger then he had been and had picked up a few moves. Ming had swept her legs out from under her and proceeded to jump on top of her while yelling in her face. The Quintaped seemed to snap out of her frenzy and seemed to start arguing with Ming. It took a few minutes but the jet black Quintaped reluctantly relented. Buffy Willow and Hermione ran to check on Vi. They soon realized that she was only knocked out but wouldn't be waking up for the time being. Hermione put a stasis charm on Vi to make sure she was stable. Buffy turned to Ming and asked.
"Did you tell them that we're here to help?" Buffy asked.
Ming indicated that he did. And Buffy gave a sigh of relief. "Okay so how many are left on the island."
Ming asked and seemed to be shocked and saddened at the answer. He looked back at the nest that the mother Quintaped sat and saw the three babies. Ming tapped out six beats with his club foot.
Buffy looked around the cave and asked. "Are you telling me this is all that's left?"
Ming sadly gave a positive response.
Hermione was horrified. "We're too late."
"No, we're here and we found six. We'll save these six and pray for the best." Buffy said.
"Ming can they understand us?" Hermione asked.
Ming gave a negative response.
"Okay, so you'll have to translate until we can teach them our language. Am I correct to think that the adults are all female?" Hermione continued.
Ming gave a positive response.
"Will the babies be able to travel?" She asked.
Ming gave a positive response.
"Great lets get out of here and get Vi some medical attention." Buffy said.
"Okay but I need to do one thing before we go." Hermione said with steely determination as she waked to the mouth of the cave, the others following.
"What are you doing? You can't go out there. What about the spiders." Willow said in panic.
"They're the ones I want to see." Hermione replied.
"Three more Acromantula appeared to have taken up where the dead left off, with her wand in hand Hermione announced her presents.
"I know some of your kind are capable of speech. Can any of you understand me?"
One of the spiders came forward. "I can speak for my brothers and sisters." It said in a high pitched feminine voice.
Hearing it speak nearly made Willow freaked out. Buffy put a calming hand upon her shoulder.
"You speak English. I could ask where you came from but I think I already know the answer. I want to know how you got to this Island."
"We do not know. We were hunting in our forest and then there was a sudden storm that flung us about. We then found ourselves here. We were taken from our home but we made a new home here and I became the leader."
Hermione realized that they were transported by portkey. They were probably pressure sensitive and activated the moment they stepped on them. That would mean that wizards were responsible for this.
"How many of you were brought here?"
"There were almost fifty when we first arrived but because of our fight with the five legs. There are now less of us."
"How did the fight start?"
"We needed to eat. They made good pray."
"Why kill all of them?"
"We did not kill them all. We left the ones in the cave to continue producing more five legs."
"Well then you have a problem. All the five legs are female. There won't be any more five legs. Whatever you have stored in your ladder is the last of your food source."
"Then it is good that you creatures came to the shores of this island. You will reproduce and continue on as our pray."
"Sorry, that won't be happening. We are all female as well and we are leaving taking the last of the five legs with us. I suppose you'll have to eat your young to survive." Hermione said coldly.
"We wont let you leave you will be our pray." The Acromantula leader shrieked.
"You don't have a choice in the matter." Buffy said and turned to Hermione. "If you got the information you were looking for then let's get out of here."
With a nod Hermione agreed and went back into the cave. The Acromantula leader became agitated. They couldn't be allowed to leave. She ordered the other two spiders to seal the cave and the spiders began spinning a thick layer of webbing across the mouth of the cave. Hermione was glad that spiders were stupid.
"We will need everyone to touch the cord even the new born."
Ming relayed the information to the rest of the Quintapeds. It soon became evident that there was a problem. The females began arguing with Ming and Ming sighed as he wondered how to get his point across to the humans. Faith realized what the problem was almost immediately.
"I don't think the girls want to risk portkey travel on the young ones and quit frankly I don't know if I could blame them, it's like traveling by hurricane."
"What if you could make some sort of padded box to put them in, Hermione?" Buffy asked.
"They would still need to touch the rope."
"Not unless you make the boxes into portkey."
"If I start making them the ministry Auror's could start showing up."
"Hermione, do you really think they would show up on Monster Island. Besides isn't it cloaked?" Buffy asked.
"Oh… your right. It has protections that blind the ministry to all magic being used. Willow, this could be the place to start making portkeys without the ministry showing up and arresting us." Hermione said excitedly.
"I would sooner make them at the North Pole like we first planed. I really hate spiders."
"There's no way of telling if we'd be detected at the poles. We were only guessing that they wouldn't be alerted to someone making portkeys there. But here we can make them and know we're safe."
"But haven't you been making them right along?" Buffy asked.
"No, we have only been switching the destinations on portkeys we already had. Making new ones will tell the ministry where to look for us."
"Well if you have to come back here to make them in the future be sure to ask for a slayer protection detail. I don't want to find out the spiders attacked you will you were here."
"Actually I can make a portkey to drop us right here inside a sealed cave and do all the magic we don't want the ministry finding out about."
"Not to rush you guys but I'm worried about Vi and did I mention I hate spiders." Willow announced.
"Right," Hermione said and turned a couple of boulders into padded boxes big enough for the newborn Quintapeds. She then told Ming to explain what they intended. In the next few minuets they all portkeyed back into the G.C.'s gym. Faith went to the wall phone P.A. system and called for a medic to come to the gym. Katie Bell happened to be there today and when she heard the announcement for a medic she made her way to the gym to see if she could help. She momentarily stopped at the door when she saw three more adult Quintapeds but caught the sight of Vi's unconscious form laying on the floor and calmly walked in her direction so as not to startle the creatures in the room.
"What happened?" She asked.
"It was a misunderstanding with the female Quintapeds. Vi got a kick to the face. Her breathing and pulse seemed normal enough before Hermione put a stasis spell on her." Buffy said.
"Katie waved her wand up and down Vi's body and announced that she could fix everything and then give her a potion that would make her sleep. "Between that and her slayer healing she would be right as rain by morning."
A sigh of relief from Buffy and the mission was over. Mission accomplished. The last of the Quintapeds were safe and everyone would be alright. Buffy looked over at Hermione and saw she was deep in thought. She walked over to her and using a wizard saying said.
"A knut for your thoughts."
"Wizards are responsible for the deaths of the Quintapeds. Possibly the ministry is involved since they needed one to guard document zero. They brought the Acromantula there to wipe them out. They would be the only thing short of dragons that could kill them. This was genocide. We may never find out the names of the people responsible. I'm just so disgusted with wizarding Britain. Every step forward we take two steps back. We are a horrid people and I just don't know if we're worth saving."
"Well I think your friends are the right type of wizard worth saving."
"I'm not so sure about myself. Picking and choosing who lives and who dies."
"Welcome to my life. Listen Hermione; I defiantly know where you're coming from where that's concerned but trust me, leaders like us have been making hard decisions since before recorded history. We get the job done and try to live with ourselves when it's over but we go on to find that those kind of decisions never stop popping up but at least you know you made the best informed decisions you could. And really would you be okay with someone else making these decisions. What would happen if you left it up to the ministry?"
"Because they wouldn't believe it, we would all be dead. But if they did the only ones to survive would probably be purebloods. I see your point, Buffy. I really do and I suppose I'm… relived to know that I'm not the only one making the decisions but helping to do so. It started with Harry and I, we chose the best we could and now we have some of the best people trying to make everything work out for the best when the dust settles."
Just then Oz Blair and Jim walk into the gym.
"Is everything alright?" Oz asked as he noticed the other Quintapeds.
"Yeah, Vi got hurt but she'll be okay by tomorrow." Willow announced. "Why do you look so wiped?"
"Cassandra Russell had wards around her town that weren't friendly to demons and didn't realize that they would be just as unfriendly to reformed werewolves."
"Oh goddess, are you alright?" willow asked.
"Yeah, I had to stay behind while Jim and Blair went ahead to talk to her. Everything worked out in the end."
"You were left alone? You're lucky that Morog demon didn't find you."
"Yeah very lucky." Oz responded as the three men tried to keep a straight face. Just then Blair heard one of the Quintapeds trying to calm another one.
"It's alright, we're safe now. We're finally safe. Your children are safe and will live long lives." The black haired Quintaped said to the brown haired one.
"But at what cost. These humans wouldn't save us for nothing. We may have traded one horror for another." The blond Quintaped Said.
Blair looked around the gym and noted that every person here were people that knew about the cleansing before he decided to tackle that comment.
"The humans in this place only concerned in saving as many as they can. It doesn't matter how many legs you have or if you have magic or not."
"Hey Sandberg who you talking to?" Faith asked thinking she might already have an idea as to the answer.
"The Quintapeds. They think you saved them for some nefarious purpose."
"You can understand them?" Buffy asked.
"Yeah cant you?" Blair asked.
"No. We've been trying to understand Ming since he got here. How are you able to understand them?" Willow asked.
Blare looked to Jim and Oz and then realized what must have happened.
"It's our spirit animal guides. I can understand them because they can translate for us. Or maybe I'm translating it because I can understand my spirit guide. We just found out about it not long ago. We can even talk to Oz."
"Well yeah, we can talk to Oz too." Faith said.
"Yeah but we can do it while he's in wolf form. And now Quintapeds, this is amazing."
"You're telling me. You should get together with Luna and help her with translating the sounds they make so we have some sort of Rosetta stone." Willow said.
"Is it alright if I tell them about the main event?"
"Ming can handle that. We already explained it to him." Faith said.
"What I don't understand is why haven't we run across this before?" Blair asked. "We've never heard a dog ask for a treat or to be walked. Or a cat ask to be scratched behind its ear."
Willow had the answer immediately.
"Magic, they weren't magical creatures. Even though Oz is a demon the transformation takes a certain amount of magic. You might be able to talk to other magical creatures as well."
"I wouldn't advise trying to talk to a wild werewolf out in the open. We don't communicate with each other that well unless we're both moon wolves." Oz said.
Just then Dawn's voice came over the P.A. system calling for a Scoobie meeting.
"Twice in one day. She must have gotten more information. We better head up there."
Upon entering Giles office and closing the door Buffy could see the different a few hours could make on her sisters attitude. This morning she seemed excited and now she seemed anxious and worried.
"What's the what Dawn? What's happened?" buffy asked.
"I've just been told that Xander and Harry have finalized the purchase of the land we'll be moving to. The Goblins thanked us for the information about the cleansing but seemed to already know about it. In any case they've made us friends of the nation which is supposed to be a big honor apparently. They even opened a business vault in the Guardian Council name. We can now store our magical weapons there which any authorized employee can withdraw money or the weapons from so we don't have to depend on Willow every time we need them."
"Well that sounds good so far." Buffy commented.
"At some point they would be honored to spar with you and Faith." Dawn said.
"That will have to wait for a while but I'm sure we can do that at some point. But there's something you're not telling us Dawn, something bad. Let's have it."
"I just found out where the land is that Xander and Harry purchased. It's in the Congo."
"The Congo? But I though I read that's where there is a lot of terrorist activity. Didn't you say that that would be the worst place in all of Africa to build a school?" Buffy asked.
"I know Xander must have had his reasons. They were only showing them the worst and smallest places. Places we couldn't use in places surrounded by famine and drought. I don't know what they found in the Congo but I can only pray that it's something well protected and defendable."
"If not I'm sure we can make it that way." Hermione announced. "There are all kinds of magical protections and concealment spells."
"And I'm sure Xander has ideas of how to fortify the place non-magically as well. I'm sure by the time he's done with it; it will be a virtual fortress." Buffy said trying to placate her sister. "Listen, everyone, its one thing to read about what the Congo is like and another to experience it. Xander has, he's been through the whole damn continent. If he thinks we can survive there I'm behind him one hundred percent. We've been scoobies for too many years for me not to trust his judgment. What about you Will?"
With genuine nonchalance Willow rose and said. "I've know Xander my whole life and I'd always bet on him. If he feels this was a good decision than I'll have his back one hundred and ten percent."
"And I believe in Harry. I'm positive he knows what he's doing. And he knows that I'll always be there to help." Hermione announced.
/Scene Break/
Molly, Ron, George and Percy came running out of the house when they all smelled smoke. There they found Arthur just standing in front of a blazing fire that was once his shed his wand in hand. But not even trying to put the fire out.
"Arthur what's going on? Why aren't you doing anything? Quick everyone lets dowse these flames."
"Don't bother. Let it burn. I wouldn't have bothered to set it burning if I was just going to put it out again."
"You set this fire? But why?" Molly asked astonished.
"You were right, I was getting too obsessed with all this muggle paraphernalia. Had I continued, I may have started believing they're nonsense. I get enough of this at work. I don't need to have it in my life at home as well. People had already thought my obsession was strange. I'm going to have to start rebuilding my reputation to become more respectable."
The family looked at him stunned.
"I for one am very happy to hear you say that father. I can't tell you how embarrassing it has been to have you talk about you obsession at the most inappropriate times. This is a step in the right direction." Percy said.
"Arthur… I don't know what to say. I never thought you would ever in a million years give up on you muggle hobbies. This has made me so happy. But I can only imagine how this is making you feel. Your collection took years and years to amass. It can't be easy for you to watch it go up in flames like this."
"Perhaps that was its destiny, for all those specific things to be brought together just to parish in flames on this day at this moment. It was my decision but I don't think the reality of it has hit me just yet. I think perhaps I'll go down to the pub and have a few before it does."
"I'll come with you." Ron said eager to tie one on.
"No you won't." Arthur replied.
"What why not?" Ron asked.
"Yes why not? One of your sons wants to go drinking with you. You should be happy with the company of one of your children."
"I love all my children equally. Never doubt that. But I just said I was trying to rebuild my reputation. I may love my sons but I refuse to ruin what little reputation I have by being seen with Ronald." Arthur said coldly. As he walked his way past the wards and apparated away living a stunned family looking at the spot they had last seen him.
What they didn't know was that he and George had packed up all his muggle bits and bobs and sent it off to the G.C. for safe keeping. In doing so he took away all evidents that could be used against him if at any point one of the members of his family were to contact a mind healer. If anyone asked his new hobby was to be at a pub every night to avoid his family like every other British wizard across the country. In reality he was going to be using the time to help the G.C. in any way he could. Being able to rub his family's nose in the problems they created for themselves was just icing on the cake.
/Scene Break/
"Well here we are. It's all ours, all three point five miles of it." Xander said to Harry. "When will the goblin surveyors be here?"
"They're already here. They'll mark it off as they go so we'll know where our property stops." Harry replied.
"Great, then we can concentrate on making these building somewhat livable. I think after we make one of these smaller building habitable we should attack the bank next. It's one of the biggest structures so it will hold the most people as they come in from the carnage."
"I agree but until then I brought a tent we can stay it. We can set it up inside the ruins of that building over there for some physical protection against the animals and elements. I can put up some spells that will do much of the same."
"Great, after we set it up we can clear some of the debris from around the structures."
"If it's not too decayed I may be able to revive some of this old wood around here. Some form of oil would help if we had any. Harry suggested as they moved to the building to set up the tent."
"If you could do that then maybe we can restore this place to the way it looked when it was first built."
"Xander I can work magic. I don't do miracles. Reviving a few boards is a far cry from a full restore of these ruins."
"Right, well at least well have something to work with once we get some tools."
"Please go behind that wall." Harry said.
"What? Why?" Xander replied
"I'm going to use magic and you can't be here when I do it."
"Oh right. This could get old real quick." Xander groused.
"I don't make the rules Xander. But it's better than having Auror's popping out of the wood work."
As Xander moved out of sight Harry set up the tent in just a few seconds.
"Alright it's done." Harry called.
"It's about time what took you so long Xander said trying to be funny." He was a little thrown when he saw the size of the small tent.
"Um okay, did you bring one for me?"
"No. I just thought we would share this one."
"Um Harry I like you a lot but I don't think I'll ever be ready to recreate a scene from Broke Back Mountain."
"Harry wasn't familiar with that referents but he could discern the meaning and chuckled. Why don't you take a look inside before saying anything else?"
Xander did just that and was floored by what he saw. He backed out of the tent and looked at Harry. He then took a walk around the tent before sticking his head back inside. He then walked fully into the tent and Harry followed him.
"This is incredible. And your sure there won't be any wizard police showing up to mess with my mind because I saw this."
"As long as you don't see me perform magic your safe."
"This is just crazy. Even with magic I can't see how this is possible unless the inside of this place occupies a different dimension."
"That actually sounds possible." Harry replied.
"You mean you don't know?"
"Do you know how everything works in the muggle world?"
"No, but I thought you might have some idea."
"Hermione might but I just use the stuff I don't make it. This is the tent we used when we were on the run during the war with a few added upgrades. It served us well then. It should do the same now."
"Is a wood burning stove a safe thing to have in a tent?"
"We'll need it for cooking. It'll be fine. I've got our luggage put next to our beds."
"Whoa, we each get a king size four poster bed? This might even be better than the hotel."
"I did the grocery shopping. We'll be living off stuff coming out of cans for the most part. It's what we lived on during the war."
"Make sense, it'll keep longer that way. If we can live like this then we won't need to fix the smaller building."
"Are you and I expected to rebuild everything by ourselves?"
"Um, no. your right, we'll need quarters for a work crew. We can try and get that started for when Giles send them."
"When did he say he'd send them?"
"He didn't. I'll call him tomorrow and get some sort of time frame when people and materials will start arriving. They'll have to transport the contents of my work shed so we'll have the tools we need so we can get started. But for right now let's start clearing debris. "
So with visions of a shining city in the future the pair began the first steps to achieving that goal.