Chapter 45
John Gabriel Slean is not a nice man. He is one of the most crooked politicians in the International Confederation of Wizards. He's takes bribes, helps to pass international bills that help pureblood families move their dark merchandise across international lines, and other bills that take away rights to muggle born, half bloods and non-humans. He's never been caught. This has made him one of the most prestigious, powerful, and very wealthy men ever to grace the confederation. No one ever suspected a thing about him.
No one, that is except for a blond reporter who recently was able to land a job here overseas. This was after being fired from her last job at the Daily prophet when it was found out she was an unregistered Animagi and illegally using that ability to get her stories. And now being newly registered in her new job in a new country she was up to her old tricks. Rita Skeeter had been following Mr. Slean for over two and a half weeks and digging up all the dirt she could on him. This would put her at the top of the newspaper food chain again. Even better that it was an international paper. Her name would be everywhere and everyone would know it. She was now in her beetle form clinging to a tapestry within Mr. Slean's home office. The dirt she had managed to collect on him within the two weeks she had been tailing him was astounding. She would be going to the press with this by tonight or maybe tomorrow at the latest. When people read what she would be revealing about the most respected politicians in Italy it would knock the IWC on its ear.
Just as she was imagining her bright future Mr. Slean's personal assistant, who he sent with a note to fetch his late dinner, walked in with a large box she thought must be Sleans dinner.
"Ah, excellent!" Mr. Slean said as he walked around his desk to intercept the man and the box. "Has everything been prepared as I ordered?"
"Yes, to your exact specifications sir, just as your note said. I oversaw it myself to make sure everything was made just so." His assistant replied.
"Good, good I'm really going to enjoy this. Thank you Edger, you've done a wonderful job. I can always count on you. You may leave now."
"Yes sir, thank you sir." He replied and left the room.
That was some high praise for just dinner. Rita thought. Perhaps it wasn't his evening meal. Perhaps it was something more sinister, something she could add to her article. She needed a better look and luckily he was about to pass the tapestry so she just may get her wish. Just as he was about to pass her, his wand shot to his hand and she was startled to see it was pointed directly at her, but the stunner came too quick for her to do anything to get out of the way.
When she woke up some time later she found herself looking into the huge eyes of John Slean. They were huge because she was still a small beetle. He never used the spell to turn her back into a human. She also noticed that she was looking at him through glass. This sent her into a panic as she looked around and realized that sure enough she was stuck in a jar…again! This one was much bigger than the one the Granger girl put her in before the second wizard war but she was still trapped. She could feel a mixture of spells around her and figured that one of them was an unbreakable charm, so it wasn't a good idea to try and turn back into her human form. She would die from the compression.
Mr. Slean noticed the movement within the jar and began to speak. "Ah Miss Skeeter welcome to my home. This is my roof top lounge where I sometimes like to sit and have tea during the summer. It's a bit too cold for that now that we're entering December. You know you're very good at sneaking around in your beetle form to get your hard hitting articles. I suspect that you've ruined many lives back in your home country before you're Animagi ability was revealed. I've read many of them you know. You've been the source of much entertainment as well as aggravation for me. Why I bet I could hold an auction attended by those people whose lives you've ruined and sell you to the highest bidder. But I have no need for the money, I'm very wealthy already. But you have put a kink in many of my plans on occasion in the past and cost me much more than money. Those wounds go very deep Miss Skeeter. Following me was a mistake as I have and incredibly good memory. I remember things like the announcement of your Animagi ability and what your beetle form looks like so when I noticed you in the IWC, and at the private dining room of the café where I do my less than legal dealing and here at my home, well, I couldn't let you get away with it. I've decided to take you out of the picture permanently. I hope you like your new home. I had Edger see to its construction. My instructions were very precise. You see the jar is unbreakable as you might have guessed and there is a temperature regulating rune at the bottom so that no matter how hot or cold it gets out here, on the inside it will keep the temperature at twenty two degrees Celsius or around seventy two Fahrenheit if you prefer. There is also an air purifying rune that works much like the bubble head charm so you won't suffocate or die from carbon dioxide poisoning."
"Oh no! This guy doesn't sound like he'll bargain with me for my freedom like that Granger girl did. What am I going to do this time?" Rita thought.
"And I have also given you a source of food." Mr. Slean continued with an evil smile. "Remember how I said how good my memory was? Well, I remember some years ago how you had to retract a statement you made that was found to be untrue and compared doing it to a bad taste such as arugula and how much you hate and detest the vegetable. Well guess what is growing in the same jar with you. It is magically enhanced of course. No matter how much you eat, it will grow back over night, even if you cut it off at its base. It is growing in a spongy foam type substance that has been pressed into the bottom of the container so even if the jar tips over you can rest assured that you will not be buried alive in dirt. As for water, it will always collect on the side of the jar for your drinking pleasure."
Mr. Slean stared at the insect that was Rita Skeeter a moment before saying. "This is your prison Miss Skeeter I am your judge and I'm passing sentence upon you. For your traitorous act of slandering purebloods and costing them their livelihood, I give you a life sentence to be spent in that jar. A much kinder sentence than being thrown in Azkaban, don't you think? However to further your torment I'm placing your jar one the edge of the building so you can overlook the European wizarding shopping district and see all the people so you can watch them scurry about in their daily lives. All the crooks, the rumors, and their many flaws, and you'll never be able to write about any of them again."
John Slean then walked to the roof access door and disappeared, leaving Rita with her thoughts as she helplessly screamed in beetle noises.
/Scene Break/
Guardian Council England
The Sunnydale slayers and the resident Scoobies had gathered into Giles office for another 'main event' update meeting in the early morning hours just after patrol. Willow was expected to arrive late into the meeting as she had other matters to attend to. While they waited several things were brought to bear and plans were made to rectify situations that needed their attention. Giles told them that the other Guardian Council facilities had been dismantled literally. The facility in the Middle East had its plumbing, wiring and windows removed in one night. The terrorist realized the next morning that they had gone, which made their very carefully laid plans to kidnap the students of the council a wasted effort. Forty-five minutes later Willow finally arrived and Giles immediately sought her for information.
"Is everything ready?" He asked her.
"Faith, Rona, Andrew, Jim, Blair, and Queen Mousette will act as chaperones to the slayers on the flight from Brazil to Africa. Their luggage will be separate from there bug-out bags. The bags will go on the same aircraft but they will appear as Brazilian parcel post." She announced.
"That will be fine. When will they leave?" He asked.
"They were boarding the airliner as I teleported to come here." Willow said
"Very good, that will be another obstacle overcome. Our documentation could be vital to our residence in the country." Giles explained.
"It's not like they will be able to deport us after the main event Giles." Vi responded with a smirk.
"Perhaps not, but after listening to the BBC radio I believe proof of residence could keep our people out of trouble." He replied.
"Yeah, especially once they find out we're the bad asses from the D.R.O.C." One of the Sunnydale slayers named Kim announced.
"Giles, I seem to have over booked my appearance's today and need to leave. Hermione is waiting for Dawn and me at Hogwarts." Willow explained.
"At this time of the morning? It's still dark outside." Buffy inquired.
"The kids were sent home for the holidays yesterday so Hogwarts has very few students left which is the perfect time to collect some things the headmistress is willing to send our way against the school boards wishes. Not that they know anything about it and some of the things we want to collect need to be taken before the other resident professors not privy to the main event wake up." Willow clarified.
"I see, well, this meeting is about done so feel free to go." Giles replied.
"Thanks Giles." Willow and Dawn said in unison as they gathered their things and left the room.
/Scene Break/
Half an hour later at Hogmead Willow and Dawn meet up with Hermione and to their surprise Xander and Harry.
"What are you two doing here?" Asked Dawn.
"We're here to help." Harry announced. "This may be the last time I get to see the place so I wanted to be here and I know how much Willow wanted to show Hogwarts to Xander."
"But he couldn't see it the last time he was here." Dawn said
"Ah, but now he has a magical eye. I think that will make a difference." Harry replied.
"The one who sees!" Dawn blurted out in shock which was mirrored on Willows and Xander's face.
"What?" Harry and Hermione said almost in unison.
"That's what Xander is known as among the demon population." Dawn replied
"At the time it sounded like something he was to become. We thought it was because of how observant and perceptive he is but now you're telling us he might be able to see through the veils of magic." Willow explained.
"Is that a problem?" Hermione asked.
"No just curious". Willow said. "Anyway I get to show Xander Hogwarts." Willow said as she grabbed his arm with both arms and began to guide him along the path to the castle. "Oh, and by the way you're my boyfriend today."
"What? But you're…" Xander began but was cut off by Willow.
"Yeah, I know and that seems to be a problem here. I'll explain later." She said as Xander shot Harry and Hermione a scathing look.
"Hey don't look at us like that. That's the kind of bigotry we were fighting against before all this took up our time." Harry explained.
"Actually some of the others are still fighting for further equality, some of them in our name so the pure bloods won't get suspicious." Hermione explained to Harry.
"That's good thinking. I would never have realized that. I take it Neville is leading the charge." Harry wondered.
"He's become quite the spokesmen Harry. You should see him in action. He's brilliant." Hermione confirmed.
They continued their walk in the dark, the light of their wands illuminating the road in front of them. Unknown to them several pair of eyes were watching them as they moved along.
As they rounded the bend in the road Xander exclaimed. "Great googly moogly!"
"I'm guessing that means you can see the castle now." Dawn said with a smile. Xander could only nod in confirmation as the sight of the castle took his words away. Willow became more excited as she renewed her efforts to tug him along the path towards the school.
They made their way inside and were met by Headmistress McGonagall .
"Ah good your right on time. Harry, Mr. Harris it's good to see you as well. I take it you aren't having any problems seeing the magic now that you were given a magical eye."
"Thank you ma'am, Katie told me she spoke with you before she bestowed it upon me." Xander said.
"Humph… you make it sound like she BESTOWED you with the holy bloody grail." The headmistress replied
"Sorry ma'am but that's what it kind of felt like. I may not have been completely blind but it was very emotional to have sight from that side of my face again after not having it for several years." Xander replied.
"I see. I'm sorry for my sternness then."
"I actually thought you were making light of it. Either way there's no need for you to apologize. I'm just happy to be seeing through it at all." Xander explained.
"Well then, I'm very happy for you Mr. Harris." She then turned to Harry.
"And You Mr. Potter... that was a very bold move you made in the middle of Diagon ally. It might have been sad to most but to the ones in the know it was very brave. You've got the ministry chasing its tail."
"The ones in the know are the only people that I care what they think. But thanks." Harry replied.
Professor McGonagall graced him with a kind smile. "Well let's get this show on the road as they say."
They headed for her office and stopped at a room just before it. It was an old class room that was never used. That was because it was being used as a storage room for use by the head mistress or head master.
"I don't remember this room being here before." Hermione wondered.
"That was because professor Dumbledore cast a notice-me-not spell upon it. It reappeared two years after he died. He had a large amount of the schools books from the restricted section in there, a potions lab, a small study and a second bedroom when he couldn't be bothered to walk down to his bed chamber. You would be amazed at how many pepper-potions he had stored in there and he still went to Poppy to sweet talk her out of hers. Since I found it, I cleared out most of those things put the books back into the library and reapplied my own notice-me-not charm. Right now it's loaded with the portraits that need to go with you as well as some of the other paintings from what I understand you can feel very cooped up if you only have the one frame to stay in."
"Good thinking but, how are you going to explain that to the rest of the staff?" Hermione wondered.
"I'm telling them that they are overdue for their one hundred year cleaning."
"Brilliant." Harry said.
"Thank you Mr. Potter." The professor replied.
"What about the other portraits?" Dawn asked.
"They can't be trusted to keep their mouths shut. And besides if too many portraits went missing the more curious the staff and students will become. Still there are over a hundred and eighty maybe more than two hundred. It may take the five of you all night to clear it out. You probably won't be able to get to the library this morning." She said as she opened the door to revile stacks of crated up paintings.
The others looked to Willow who only shrugged before saying. "Easy peazzy."
"I'm sorry but was that English?" The professor asked.
"She means we'll be done in no time… literally." Hermione explained to a wide eyed bewildered headmistress. Just then Professor Flitwick arrived.
"Ah Minerva, I see your gusts have arrived. I'm here to lend a hand or a wand as needed."
"That won't be necessary Professor but I'm pretty sure you're going to be glad you were here to see this." Hermione replied with a smirk.
"Why, what's going to happen." He asked as Dawn laid Hermione's beaded bag on the floor wide open.
"Everything's ready Willow." Dawn said.
Willow raised her hands as she gathered the surrounding energy of Hogwarts. Something the headmistress was able to feel and gasped when she realized it. Then the crates lifted from the floor and began to spin around the room as if caught in a slow hurricane. The other people in the room just stood still hoping to stay out of the way, then the crates began filing into the beaded bag being resized as needed to fit into its opening. As they watched McGonagall, Flitwick, and Harry Potter stood there in stunned amazement. In less than five minutes the room had been cleared of crates. Professor Flitwick did an impression of a fish as his mouth opened and closed several times but in the end he was the first to speak.
"Hhhhow?" He asked.
"Aside from being a wand waver like us Willow is a Wiccan witch as well. The goblins call her a first or family Witch because she did such powerful Wiccan magic that she became a wizarding witch." Hermione explained.
Professor Flitwick jumped back so fast he looked like he was pushed and landed on his posterior.
"A first witch! They are practically unheard of in this day and age. The spells alone would have to be very big to have made her a first witch. But then for her to have done what we just witnessed I can see she is probably very capable of doing some big magic. I'd like to, at some point, get the chance to speak with you about wiccan magic Miss Rosenberg." He said having met her the first time she and Dawn arrived at Hogwarts.
"If I can find the time I'd love to. I've heard you're an authority on charm work so I want the chance to pick your brain as well. But as it stands we have a very busy schedule."
"Well at this rate, if you collect the books as fast as you did these crates then you'll both have plenty of time to talk. As a matter of fact we should start heading to the library so we can get that started." the headmistress replied.
As they filed out into the hall once more Hermione asked. "How many books will we be taking?"
"All of them. I'll be sending a note to Miss Pince to tell her that the books will be going to get cleaned and rebound during the holiday and won't be back on the shelves until midsummer. I'm also telling her, her services won't be needed until then."
"Do you think she'll buy that?"
"She's been telling me that it had to be done for years now. You would think she would be happy but I can foresee many an argument until the books are supposed to come back. You know how protective of those books she is." Minerva replied.
"I can empathize." Hermione and Willow almost said in unison.
They made their way to the library on the first floor. As they passed through the entry hall they stopped when they heard pounding on the front doors. They couldn't fathom who would be coming to Hogwarts at this hour of the morning. Everyone that was to be here was here. Being cautious the headmistress used her wand to open the doors from a distance. At the door stood about twenty centaurs many were female and had their children in tow. There were about five teens again the girls outnumbering the boys. The younger children however, had more boys. There were two male hunters with them one was a teen the other was in his late twenties.
"What is your business here? I must warn you if you're here with hostile intent you will be repelled and the ward around the castle will be made lethal until the ministry can send a representative to speak with your elders." The headmisteress warned.
An elderly gray haired female centaur stepped forward and spoke. "There will be no need for that. My Name is Mermon and the truth is that we wish to leave the herd within the forbidden forest to be sent to join Firenze new herd where ever that may be."
"Why did you have such a change of heart?" Dawn asked.
"We had wished to go with them when they went but Bain and the other elders had guard set around our encampment. They treat us as pack mules and cows. We are slaves in our own village we haven't any rights or voice among the elders. Bain has decreed that divinations to be outlawed within our herd and that we will go to war with other herds that do use it. He has twisted our way of life simply because he is a warrior and could never divine the future. We've seen what you were able to do to Bain and knew you were the people of prophecy. We are here asking for your help. Please don't turn us away."
"How did you even know we were here?" Hermione asked.
"Our two escorts were also our scouts." She said motioning to the hunters. "They watched for your return. Bain himself sent them out to keep the encampment safe from attack but he didn't know they also kept watch for us."
Just then the wards around the doorway flared as an arrow disintegrated when it struck it.
"Well, I think he knows now." Dawn commented.
"Please, we seek sanctuary." Mermon Pleaded.
"You have it dear woman." Minerva announced. "Everyone get further into the castle while we deal with the attacking forces."
The clip clop of hooves on stone echoed throughout the entrance hall as the centaurs moved along the corridors but not far enough that they couldn't hear what was going on at the doorway.
"Harry, shield Dawn and let her deal with them." Hermione told him.
"Me?" Dawn asked a little shocked.
"She's right Dawn, centaurs are extremely magic resistant. You were the one that was able to transfigure Bain last time." Willow explained.
"She did what?" Harry and Flitwick asked.
"Later, just shield her for now." Hermione insisted.
Just then eight centaur worriers galloped from the forest across the field to the entrance firing their arrows at the people within the doorway which turned to ash as the struck the wards. Eight more stood at the edge of the forest at the ready.
"The wards are now lethal come any closer and you will die." Minerva announced using a sonars charm.
The centaurs stopped and Bain was at the fore front as he began yelling. "You will release our people or we will bring all of the centaur tribes on this continent to destroy you and the children of others you protect."
"Would those be the centaurs you would go to war with because they believe and use divinations?" Willow asked.
"That is centaur business and not your concern. We want the release of our people." Bain growled out.
"They are here of their own accord and asked for sanctuary." Minerva announced.
"You lie!" Bain shouted in outrage.
"You know that they do not Bain." Mermon said coming to stand by the side of her new friends.
"You shut up old woman and get out here. You're our property." Bain growled.
"We are no one's property Bain, and that is one reason why we are leaving your tribe. The other is that it has been divined that the end is near and that these people can take us to safety. You refuse to believe that at your own peril."
"It's all lies and rhetoric. There is no truth in the stars; they just hang there in the sky night after night. That is all. Those who choose to follow those beliefs are deemed demented and need to be taken into the herd where we will care for their idled minds. That is why they need to be returned to us, NOW!" Bain explained to the humans.
"How is treating them like beast of burden a way of taking care of them?" Willow shouted back.
"Trying to change another's beliefs through violence is the will of an insane power hungry war monger and war mongers are people with a childlike mentality seeking attention through their own self-importance." Dawn replied.
"You will die for those words child." Bain shouted.
"Did you like being a donkey? I think I can make it permanent only I won't be as nice this time." Dawn said calmly.
Bain roared and fired arrows at Dawn in quick succession. They came so fast that his arm was a blur as he pulled the arrows from the quiver on his back and loaded it into his bow and fired them at the people standing there. Harry and Hermione made sure to shielded Dawn while the wards protected the others. It wasn't until they saw Bain smirk and heard a large body hit the floor and heard one of the young centaurs yell "Mermon!" They turned around to see the old female centaur with an arrow in her chest. They rushed to her side only to hear her speak the words she spoke with her last breath. "Save my people." Xander turned to see Bain aim another arrow at Dawn and quickly pushed her out of the way as the arrow was able to penetrate the wards. Willow became angry. Her black eyes and her hair cycling through colors of red, black and white were now spooking the centaurs as she flipped them off their feet and broke their bows with a thought.
"You can back off now Wills it's my turn." Dawn said unconcerned about her friend show of power as the eight centaurs at the forest edge charged forward.
Willow did stop and backed away into Xanders arms, upset over the loss of life at their feet.
Dawn was pissed about Mermons death and the Arrow that almost took her life. Her wand didn't just spark as she pulled it from its holster but looked like as if small lightning bolts flared from its tip. The bright rush of magic that flew across the field hit Bain. The other seven centaurs that were getting themselves up off the ground also got caught in the magical field. The centaurs that had been rushing across the field slowed to a stop as they saw the result. As the magical glow subsided the Centaurs ears became long their faces started to change their hair became white as they began to shrink. There in the place where Bain and his centaurs were, stood eight bunny rabbits. The other eight were shocked. They had never seen magic that could affect centaurs. They were on a hunt when Bain returned to the encampment as a donkey and didn't believe the stories they heard about it, but now here in this field stood the proof. They made hast as they backed away turned and ran back into the forest.
"I told you I wouldn't be nice. You and your eight thugs can live the rest of you days as pray for other things that live in the forest." Dawn told Bain the bunny before turning to one of the refugees. "Are there any more in the encampment that couldn't make it with you?"
A teen girl answered. "There were a few that couldn't get away without alarming Bain's worriers."
"Xander Willow I want to go there now." Dawn said with conviction.
"I'm with you on this one Dawn." Willow said.
"Wait a minute. I think we should figure out how their arrows were able to penetrate the wards first. It could be crucial to our success." Hermione said.
Xander picked up one of the arrows that were able to go through the ward as if it weren't there. "This arrow isn't made of wood. It seems to be made of bone."
Hermione came up alongside of Xander to take a closer look.
"He's right, but what kind of bone could it be?" Hermione wondered.
The teen female centaur gasped as she got near the projectile. "I can feel its presences, it's a centaur bone. Bain must have been robbing the graves of our ancestors to make such weapons."
"Of course. Centaur bones would be as magic resistant as he centaurs themselves. Hermione explained.
"That's horrible." Willow said.
"But Professor, you said you made the wards lethal wouldn't they still disintegrate against the wards?"
"No Mr. Potter, the wards would simply have taken the life from the centaurs with something resembling lightning. The bones were already dead so the wards didn't even notice them."
"Well, that answers that. Now can we go?" Dawn said impatiently.
"We won't be able to protect ourselves if we go out there Dawn." Hermione said.
"I can protect us. My magic can affect centaur kind. I can shield us. You guys will just have to do the fighting." Dawn replied.
"But why does your magic affect them?" Professor Flitwick asked.
"We can theorize about that later, the more time we waste the longer the slaves will be tortured." Dawn replied dramatically to get the sympathy for her cause, and it was working. She didn't want to get into a conversation with people that might sense her key magic.
"None of us have been to the centaur camp. Well need a guide." Harry pointed out.
Dawn looked to the teen girl and asked her name.
"My name is Selda. Mermon was my grandmother." She replied.
"I'm sorry, but can one of your people here guide us back to your camp?" Dawn asked.
"I'll do it. My mother and sister forced me to leave without them. I want to help… for Mermon."
No one argued. Hermione gave Xander a crossbow and battle ax from her beaded bag.
"It's usually my job to hand out weapons to slayers." He said. "I'll have to get you to make the watcher bags like that to carry weapons. It's so much more convenient then lugging around a heavy duffel bag."
"I'm open to discussing that in the future. I know the slayers can use all the help they can get." Hermione replied.
They all made themselves ready for battle and kept Selda within the middle of the group to better protect her as she gave directions. They left the castle with the headmistress and Professor Flitwick to guard Hogwarts and its children.
"Do you realize we sent that muggle Mr. Harris to go fight a Centaur battle?" Flitwick commented.
"Did we? Oh good lord we did." Minerva replied in shock.
"Don't worry Minerva I've seen him in action when the Guardian Council took me and the others to that demon bar. He can defiantly handle himself."
The Forbidden forest had the group on edge as they constantly kept a look out throughout the underbrush. The only one to look calm was Selda but then she lived in the forest. Not that the others were aware but she was on high alert as well. It took twenty minutes to hike to the edge of the encampment. They were under no illusion that they were spotted long before the camp came into sight so they marched right into the center of it where other centaurs gaped at their boldness. They stopped and Dawn used a sonars charm on her voice to be heard even though it was dead quiet within the camp.
"We are offering any centaur within the sound of my voice transport to a different herd led by the centaur you know as Firenze. Any of you who would stop them or us from doing so will face the consequences. Make no mistake our magic can affect centaur kind."
Mumbles and murmurs spread throughout the camp before one centaur stepped forward and said to the surrounding herd.
"She tells the truth. Their magic is strong. Bain and seven of our worriers two of which are elders now live as rabbits. The witch has explained it is permanent. The rest of you have seen Bain as a donkey before he changed back so you know they can do it. We have no choice but to bow to them and let the others leave."
"But then we won't be able to sustain our herd. We each have a purpose in the herd. Many of the gatherers will be gone. We will have no one to gather fish from the stream. We already lost our best leather workers and two of our hunters have gone with them tonight." One of the centaurs pointed out.
"We have no choice. We only have one elder left and he and his son are conveniently missing. The choice is up to us. If you want to leave the heard to join and be led by Firenze then I say let them go. I will not be turned into a hare for a troll's dinner."
More mumbles and murmurs were heard but no one disagreed. Many of the centaurs stepped forward. It was realized that it was more than half of the herd that was left. This shocked and worried the ones that were to be left behind. They would no longer be the biggest herd on the continent. They could easily be conquered by other herds now. They would be nothing but a loose band of hunters without a real herd to care for them or for them to take care of. They would need to join another herd were they could feel safe. But they wouldn't and couldn't go against the witches.
"Mother, Ciswin!" Selda shouted with joy at seeing her mother and sister. The two in question ran to their daughter/sister in an embrace.
"Is this everyone?" Willow asked when everyone agreed that everyone was there Hermione spoke.
"Then I think we should leave. We still have work to do before the sun comes up."
"Thank you for handling this in a nonviolent way. We hate to injure good people if we don't have to." Dawn said as they began to move out of the camp leaving the few stray centaurs standing there helpless.
A few minutes into their hike through the forest to get back to the castle they were near the base of a six foot high ridge when Hermione spoke.
"That went better than expected."
"Don't get comfortable yet. Until we're out of this forest be prepared for the other shoe to drop." Willow warned.
Just then they began to hear hooves running toward them. They were immediately on guard. It was then that two centaurs jumped from the top of the cliff and over the group of people and centaurs. The two that had been running stopped and turned to the group their weapons drawn. The elder centaur spoke.
"You will turn back or you will die."
All eyes were on the two threatening centaurs, when Dawn spoke to the younger one.
"Your name is Damien. You're Toagar's brother. You both fought the last time you saw each other. He's very happy now. You could be too. You could come with us and see your brother and your mother."
"I have no interest in the coward or the cow. I have no mother or brother they are dead to me." Damien said.
"It sounds like your father drilled those words into your head." Dawn stated.
Just then the elder centaur stepped in front of the younger and said.
"Speak to me not the boy. I am the elder of my herd and will not allow you to sway my only son away from me."
"Only son huh? Toagar is a great kid, he comes by our construction sights and learns how to build thing. He's a real lady's man too, great kid." Xander replied. Truth was Xander didn't know who Toagar was but good news of one child should be appreciated even if it was a lie, shouldn't it?
"I have no other son but the one you see before you." The elder replied in anger.
It was then that they heard a different kind of animal running through the forest on the ridge above them, a lot of them. They then realized that the elder and his son were trying to keep their attention upon themselves as they shot a few arrows in their direction. They were being distracted from the ridge. Dawn expanded an oblong dome shield around the group just as Willow screamed. Above their head were about fifteen Acromantulas, some on the cliff some sliding down the sides of the shield dome. The group soon realized that Willow became useless as she curled into a fetal ball with her face in the dirt and her eyes shut tight as she mumbled unintelligible nonsenses. Because of Dawns concern for Willow the dome she was holding up slipped a bit and two Acromantulas that had been standing on the top of the dome fell through. One of them immediately sprayed webbing on one of the female centaurs. Xander shot the other one with his crossbow which only wounded it but slowed it enough for Harry and Hermione to tend to. Xander then took the battle ax he had slung across his back and attacked the Acromantula who had the centaur in its web and was pulling it towards its pincers to inject its poison. It took notice of Xander the moment he hacked off one of its legs with one mighty blow. One of the young centaurs took his knife and cut away the webbing from the ensnared female. Harry and Hermione were on either side of the wounded spider and both shot it at the same time. Hermione used a freezing charm while Harry used a flame spell. Xander made the fatal blow to his spider and went to help Harry and Hermione only to find they had already killed it.
"Wow, a French fried popsicle." He commented. "Hey Hermione can you use that spell on me that makes your voice loud."
"The sonars? Yes of course." She said as she pointed her wand at Xander and did the spell.
"Okay listen up you eight legged freaks. We kill demons hordes and other demonic creatures for a living. What makes you think you can win against us."
Just then Willow shot from her fetal position up to her knees. Her eyes were black as she raised her arms and an incredible magical force shot out from her and through the dome flinging spiders in every direction, each of them landing about twenty yards away. They got up and shook themselves to clear their heads. They realized this pray was too tough and more of their own would be killed before they could get to them. On the other hand the ones they were originally chasing, the ones who shot their pointed sticks into their hatchery were outside the dome watching nearby. As a group they resumed their charge at their original pray. The elders never counted on his plan going awry, ran without care for how his son would fair. Not realizing that Damien took off when the spiders were being flung his way. The elder didn't have the lead he once had on the Acromantulas when he got to the disserting centaurs and their protectors. The spiders were nearly breathing down his neck now. Then something whizzed passed him and he suddenly found himself caught between two trees tangled in a web the Acromantulas coming up behind him. He screamed as the spiders went to work wrapping him up in their silk. His last thoughts were a wish that it was Damien in his place but then thought that the stupid child was probably spider food already.
Damien ran back to the centaur camp only to find the centaurs that were left breaking camp and readying themselves to make the trek to the next nearest centaur village. They would join the herd as second class citizens of that herd.
"I need help my father may have been caught by a group of Acromantula that were chasing us." he exclaimed
"How many were in the group?" One of the others asked.
"About forty." Damien replied.
The other centaur sighed and he said. "Then there is little we can do. There aren't enough of us left to take on a group that large. I'm sorry Damien."
"But the invaders turned them away and there are less of them."
"And they were also powerful enough to show us we didn't stand a chance against them. It's no wonder the spiders left them alone. We need to leave Damien, you are welcome to join us."
Damien stood there a moment. A short while ago he heard his father's screams and knew he was done for. He would only have screamed if it was his end and so must have been bitten and poisoned. Oddly he felt nothing for him even though he had some loyalty to him. That loyalty seemed to be gone now and he didn't feel any sadness over it or his loss. He was a very mean father after all. He knew he had already burned his bridges with his mother and brother and so knew he was alone in the world and oddly felt free of the burden of his family. All the decisions were his now. He would make his own way in the world now. And his first decision was to go with the others. He may not need his family but he needed the safety of a herd to watch his back.
Meanwhile the rescue team had just got back to the castle. As they came through the large doors they were met with the other centaurs quietly rejoicing in their return with their loved ones so they didn't wake the rest of the castle.
Minerva and Filius greeted the rescuers and told them how happy they were to see them uninjured. It was then they noticed Willow draped over one of the female centaurs backs and ran to her aid.
"She'll be alright in a few moments. She went through a traumatic experience and exhausted herself with a massive blast of magic." Xander explained.
"Magical exhaustion is very serious Mr. Harris she may be out of commission for a few days." Filius said.
"That's only if she used her wand but she didn't. She used Wiccan magic not the magical reserves from her core. She's just sleeping right now and when she awakes from her nap she'll be ready to help again." Dawn explained.
Filius looked to Minerva for confirmation but saw her wide eyes of awe and knew this was news to her as well.
"I will take her off to the side and stay with her until she's awake. It's the least we can do." The female centaur that was carrying Willow said.
"From what I've read a centaur offering to carrying someone is a great honor. Thank you." Hermione said.
"It is our pleasure to help our saviors." She replied.
"Alright not to offend anyone, but let's lay off the gratitude. We still have work to do and one of them is to get you to Firenze and his herd." Xander pointed out.
No one disagreed they were just happy the ordeal was over and that their lives were almost guaranteed to get better. They only needed to wait for Willow to wake. Filius showed the others what else they would be taking along with the books from the library while Minerva took Hermione aside for a private conversation.
"Hermione there is one thing you need to take with you that mustn't be discussed with anyone until you are sure Scottland and Hogwarts are completely gone." She said as she put her hand into her pocket and pulled out a huge amulet with four large stones the colors of which were red, green, blue, and yellow.
"This is the amulet of Hogwarts. It was made so that if anything ever happened to Hogwarts it could channel its magic to create a new school."
"You mean this will create a new castle?"
"No, this will imbue a structure with the magic of Hogwarts. You see Hermione Hogwarts is alive and once you use the amulet Hogwarts will live again. You may even tailor it to be something new."
"Something new professor? Wait a moment why me. What about you?" Hermione asked.
"'Something new' will be totally up to you Miss Granger. As for why I won't be there, well, that's because my place is here at Hogwarts. I need to stay with the children staying behind. I can't just leave them during such a time and I'm sure their parents and families would rest in peace knowing someone stood by their children's side at the end. But even if there were no children here I'd still stay. This is my home. I grew up in it. I learned and taught in it and then I even fought for it. I could not go on living knowing the only home I ever knew was gone, destroyed by a silly thing like the end of the world."
Hermione had tears in her eyes as she embraced the headmistress. She knew her mentor so well that she knew she would never be able to talk her out of it and it was very noble as well as understandable that she would do such a thing. It hurt so much to know that this could be the last time she would see her friend and mentor.
"Now here is how you activate the amulet." Minerva began.
As this was happening Willow was waking up. As she did so she found herself on a big mattress on the floor of a large room and she realized that she wasn't the only person on this mattress as she heard someone breathing next to her. She rolled over to find a rather attractive bare chested woman lying next to her. Their eyes locked and the other woman smiled at her. Willow was still a little out of it as she asked.
"Did we…umm you know?"
The other woman looked at her curiously and said that she didn't know.
"Okay never mind." Willow said satisfied that she didn't have sex with this woman, whoever she was. "I think I need to find my friends."
"I will come with you." the other woman said as they both got up off the mattress. Willow was startled to find the other woman rose up towering over her. The clopping noise made her look down to see hooves and realized this woman was a centaur.
…this was embarrassing if to no one else than herself. For a moment there she thought she may have gotten lucky last night. Now… well… this was embarrassing.
The centaur tilted her head as she saw Willow become red.
"Are you alright? I am no expert on humans but your color seems to be off."
"Um, I just got up too quick." She replied hastily. Let's find the others.
Outside the castle Harry had broken away from the group. He had his own purpose for being here. Bringing Xander had only been an excuse. But after what they went through tonight, it was probably a good one. His purpose was one he struggled over for a long time. What he was about to do was something he hoped to remain buried however, with what was to come everyone may benefit from what he was about to do. He took his broom from his pocket and enlarged it. He hopped on and flew over to a well-known memorial, the tomb of Albus Percival Wulfric Brian Dumbledore. He carefully undid the anti-tampering charms he and Hermione put on the grave and opened it to the horrifying sight of Albus sleeping peacefully as his skin decayed. He knew Albus was dead and this was nature taking its course but this was just horrible to see. Harry gathered up his Gryffindor courage and reached in and pulled the elder wand from Dumbledore's death grip. Once that was done he carefully resealed the tomb. He was breathing heavily not from exhaustion but from fear and a host of other emotions. He tried his best to shove them aside as he made his way back to the castle. As he skirted the forest on his broom a thought hit him and he slowed to a stop. He set down and continued thinking before he came to a decision. "Well in for a penny, in for a pound." He said as he raised his wand and said. "accio resurrection stone." It took a moment and he could actually hear the stone whizzing his way. He put up his hand and the stone flew into it. He sighed with discomfort as he still wondered if this was the right thing to do. Harry rejoined the group and it wasn't long before Willow had everything and all the centaurs sent off to the African Congo.
/Scene Break/
Out of the desert a seemingly humble man walks through the sands. He wears a hat to protect himself from the sun as well as long pants and long sleeve shirt with a jacket used for the same reason he carries as bag over his shoulder with his few provisions and even fewer possessions. He seemed lean and lank. His skin that had been exposed to the sun's rays was dry, red and blistered in some places. He kicked more and more sand the further he went because he has become weary from his journey. To any who would see him he gives the impression of a man of peace. That is what he seems but not all is always as it seems. His bag may carry the last of his water but it also carries a half-eaten snake from his previous meal, a knife and a beretta pistols. This is not a man of peace who is walking out of the Sudan desert but a man who has lived a life of and is in service to chaos. Not only has he trudged through the desert but he has killed people to get here, a small village that most try to avoid at all costs. It's a village that is only talked about in whispers, a foreboding place, a dark and ominous place filled with tails of demons and cannibals, of genies and death. But all these legends are only half truths because in reality in this village there are demons that look human and they will eat lost people who wonder into their midst. Unless they have came for the purpose of visiting the demon djinn that lived among them. Actually, that last statement isn't true. It was the demons who were allowed to live among the Djinn as he gave them protection and provide delectable meals that were high in adrenaline when individuals that came to the djinn could not pass his trials.
Ethan Rayne was a man looking to get his magic back. His magic was bound away from him where he could not reach it, metaphorically speaking. So when he reached the village he seemed to be expected. They were even helpful in taking him to the djinn, not to do so could mean a punishment worse than death. Ethan entered the dwelling of the djinn. It was a cave that hadn't any sign that anyone or anything had ever lived there. Ethan began to feel that he may have been lured into a trap. That was until the large rock in front of him moved and spoke.
"Ethan Rayne, you have sought me out to help you connect with magic once more." The djinn said.
"Yes that is correct. Thank you for seeing me." Ethen replied. He didn't know how the djinn knew about his plight but at least it saved time with explanations.
"Coming to me was your best option you would never have found the ingredients needed in time." The djinn announced.
Ethan arched an eye brow. He didn't realize there would be a time limit.
"I thought all sources of the ingredients were extinct." Ethan wondered.
"No, just well hidden. In a few short days it would be impossible for you to create the potion that would cure you."
With that said Ethan believed that his condition would be permanent as far as potions went. It was a good thing he came here.
"There is however a cost." The Djinn announced.
"I'm well aware of the trials you'll ask me to preform and I'm ready and willing to start them." Ethan said egger to get them over with.
"Yes, you will perform my trials but that is not the cost of which I speak. Without a potion there is only one way to cure you and that is to join you with a demon." the djinn explained.
"A demon?" He hadn't expected that. Most demons were dumb, lumbering oafs. He wondered how much of his intelligence he would be giving up and if he would still have his love for chaos if he were to join with one. As if reading Ethan's mind the djinn explained the pitfall and advantages he would collect.
"The demon had recently died but had asked me to resurrect him any way possible. The demon was intelligent and did indeed loved chaos. You would share a continuousness with the demon. You will switch between forms as necessary and be stronger for it."
In reality Ethan was told would be more powerful than he was before, incredibly powerful.
"After establishing an agreement the match would be perfect." The djinn said ending his explanation.
"Then I agree. The Guardian Council must pay for what they've done to me and I'll have my revenge upon Rupert Giles and then string him up by his entrails." Ethan stated.
"Then let the trials begin." The djinn announced.
/Scene Break/
The slayers had disembarked from the plain an hour ago and were waiting for their gear to be put onto the other plain. This one was a bit smaller than the continent jumper and had propellers rather than jet engines. The smells and noise of screeching females was a bit more than Jim Ellison could bear even if he only had normal senses and this plane was even smaller so, he and Blair told Faith that they were going to hire a small single engine plane and meet them at the new G.C. compound in the Congo.
They all boarded their planes. Jim and Blair's Plane took off first as the slayers plane was still taxiing around the runways. Fifteen minutes later they were in the air as well. They were flying over some thick and beautiful jungle. It took the larger plane twenty minutes to catch up with Jim and Blair's plain. Jim and Blair watched as it passed them. Jim saw some of the slayers wave as they passed. He laughed out loud when he saw a smiling Andrew hold up a sign made from a napkin that read 'save me.' Poor Andrew became the man who catered to all the slayers on the flight without a break. It was good to know he kept in good spirits enough to joke like this. Just then a projectile flew up from the ground and struck the larger aircrafts wing and engine. The wing then blew up and the plane began falling to the ground like a stone.
"Guerilla rebels, we are being shot at also. We must take evasive action." Said the panicked pilot in a very heavy African accent and began shouting into the radio in an African dialect.
"We have to go back. All our friends were on that plain." Blair said.
Jim had used his heighten eye sight to keep an eye on the plane as it crashed. Once it did the black smoke was too much for him to see through. He turned to Blair and said.
"There's nothing we can do Chief. There is no place to land. But the pilot is right. The large plain was hit with a small missile, probably from a bazooka and we are being shot at with fifty caliber bullets. We need to get as far away from this area as possible."
"Do you think anyone survived?" Blair asked.
"I just don't know, Blair. It looks pretty bad. All we can do is report it to the Guardian Council once we land." Jim replied.
Blair's heart had been beating fast but now it felt heavy as it sunk towards his guts and tears streaked down his face.
AN; It's now the 19th of December 2012 in this story. The bulk of the kids have left for the start of the Christmas holidays. On the 2012 movie Charlie Frost said that the earth crust displacement would start on the 21th however I'm going to extend that to the 26th for the purpose of this story so it won't be long now. This is just the beginning of the end. Who will survive? You'll just have to keep reading to find out. (Reviews can make a story even better.)