"How much are we going to tell the Muggles?" George asked.
"Not everything," Percy replied, adjusting his glasses with that familiar precise gesture, a clear sign of his anxiety. "Just enough to get their help to find Ron. We can't risk breaking the International Statute of Secrecy."
"If you start reciting laws, I'm leaving," George muttered, his irritation evident.
Hermione had noticed that ever since the demon named Lorne mentioned a possible way to bring Fred back, George had become distant—more edgy than usual. It was hard to watch. She knew the dangers of holding onto impossible hopes. Dark magic always came with consequences, and trying to bring someone back from the dead was dangerous territory.
"Look," Hermione began cautiously, casting a glance at Bill and Percy, who exchanged uneasy looks. "I wasn't going to bring this up now, but we need to discuss it before we go any further. You can't seriously be considering this 'trial' thing, George."
Bill shot her a look as if to say,Not now, but Hermione pressed on. They were about to embark on a critical mission to find Ron, and George couldn't afford to be distracted by impossible dreams.
"If there's a chance to bring Fred back, then I'm taking it," George snapped, his voice sharper than usual. "End of discussion."
Hermione clenched her jaw but couldn't stay silent. "Anything that brings someone back from the dead is dark magic, George. You know that. We've all seen what it does—have you learned nothing from Voldemort?"
The name still had weight. Even after all these years, it sent a wave of discomfort through the room. It had taken Hermione years to get Ron to stop flinching at it.
"Drop it," George's tone was hard, final. "We'll talk about it later. Right now, we focus on Ron."
There was a brief, tense silence before Bill cleared his throat, trying to steer the conversation away from dangerous territory. "I think we should be honest with the Muggles. Maybe bring in the Wiccan woman to help. She might have a different angle we haven't considered."
"I'm not sure about that," Percy said, frowning. His rule-abiding nature was battling with the practicality of their situation.
"They already know about us and magic," Bill pointed out, his voice calm but firm. "I don't think we'll get into any more trouble by being upfront with them. If things get complicated, a memory charm will fix it."
Bill's gaze swept across the room, landing on each of them, expecting agreement. Hermione knew his brothers would follow him.
"I agree with Bill," a familiar voice cut in from the doorway.
Everyone turned to see Charlie and Ginny entering the room. Harry, who had been silent during the Fred talk, rushed to Ginny, pulling her into a tight hug.
"What are you two doing here?" Hermione asked, surprised.
"Can't let you lot have all the fun, can we?" Charlie said, his tone light, though his eyes were serious.
Ginny smiled as she disengaged from Harry. "Mum's been beside herself, so we figured you might need us. She didn't want us to come, but she knew she couldn't stop us either."
"And what about Quidditch?" Harry asked, concerned.
"Ron's more important," Ginny replied simply.
"Alright, let's go meet with the Muggles," Bill said, clapping his hands together to signal they needed to get moving.
Everyone gathered in the hotel's lobby, where the team from Angel Investigations was already waiting. As they entered, Angel glanced around the room, feeling the tension. Buffy was seated beside him, her arms crossed, looking uncharacteristically tense.
Angel stood, addressing the room as the Weasleys and their friends settled in. "Here's what we know so far," he began. "Connor, Ron, and Dawn were all taken within a short timeframe. That's not a coincidence."
"We don't think it's just about random kidnappings," Wesley added, stepping forward. "They're targeting people with unique abilities. Connor's abilities are strong, but we actually don't know all of his capabilities. Ron's magic, and Dawn—well, she's the Key. We suspect whoever's behind this is trying to open a portal. A portal that normal magic can't create."
Buffy's jaw clenched at the mention of Dawn being the Key. "So, what are we dealing with? A demon, a cult, or something worse?"
"That's what we're trying to figure out," Angel said. "But if they've got all three, then they've already got the power they need most likely. We have to stop them before they can use it."
Angel watched as Bill crossed his arms, exchanging a glance with Percy. "We've got some magical tools that can help track Ron, but we're coming up dry. Whoever took him has to be blocking us. It's not uncommon; we wizards have many ways to hide ourselves or something that we want to hide."
"Willow's tried to find Connor, Ron, and Dawn with her magic. She's been unsuccessful too," Buffy added.
There was a snort of sharp laughter from one of the wizards when Buffy talked about Willow's magic. It was from the young woman introduced as Ginny Weasley, sister of the missing man and several of the men here. Thankfully, Buffy and Willow ignored it, but Xander did glare at the woman for a moment.
"We need to figure out why they took these three people specifically. Connor is an anomaly; he shouldn't exist, but he does. Dawn was created to be the Key. So, why your brother?" Wesley asked, his brow furrowed. "There are plenty of wizards out there. Why him?"
"He's an Auror and a war hero, but there are more talented wizards," George muttered.
"George," Hermione hissed.
"What? It's true. Ron's good, but there are better wizards. You, Ginny, and Harry have all beat him in duels."
"Maybe they just saw a wizard and picked him," Angel said.
"But how did they know Ron was a wizard? We were in Muggle clothes, and our wands were hidden," Hermione pointed out.
"If they were going to take someone for their knowledge, it would've been Hermione. Them knocking her out and taking Ron—it doesn't add up," Percy said, shaking his head.
"Ron is very knowledgeable," Hermione said, defending her husband. Angel noticed the edge in her voice, her knuckles turning white as she clenched her fists.
"Hermione's right. Under pressure, Ron has a good head on his shoulders, especially when it comes to strategy," Harry added.
Angel gestured for Lorne to step forward. "Lorne's decided to read everyone here. Each of us might have a piece of the puzzle."
There were groans around the room.
"We'll start by age," Buffy said, glancing at Angel.
"Fine," Angel sighed, annoyed.
"NotMandy," several people chimed in.
"Fine," Angel sang a little bit ofI Write the Songs.
"That's enough, Angelkins." No one wanted Angel to sing more than absolutely necessary. "I think I know a little more about your boy."
"What?" Angel's voice was sharp, the room going still.
"What do you know about Darla's past…as a human?" Lorne asked, his usual light tone now serious.
"Not much. Just that she lived in the Virginia Colony when the Master turned her, dying of syphilis."
"Well, turns out Beautiful but Deadly was born to a wizarding family."
"What?" several wizards said at once.
Angel blinked, stunned. "She was a wizard?"
Lorne shook his head. "No. She didn't have magic. When she was seventeen, she boarded one of those pilgrim ships to the New World."
"She was a squib," Percy said slowly, understanding dawning on his face.
"What does that mean? Is that important?" Buffy asked, confused.
"A squib is a person born to wizarding parents without magic. Most pureblood families back then would have been horrified to have one in the family," Charlie explained. "What family?"
Lorne frowned, rubbing his chin thoughtfully. "Sorry, I only saw Darla being kicked out of the family. And…leaving a child behind."
"WHAT?" Angel yelled, his voice echoing off the walls.
"Yep, seems the child had magical ability at a young age. They kept the baby but sent Darla away. I do know her real name if that helps."
"You've read me a million times and never seen this before. You read Darla too."
"I can't explain it." Lorne shrugged. "I just see what I see."
"Okay, what's her real name?" Angel asked.
"Nyx."
"Nyx? That's a weird name to give a girl back then," Cordy chimed in.
"No, not in the wizarding world. Pureblood families name their kids after gods all the time. Insufferable idiots," Bill said, rolling his eyes.
"Nyx can't be a common name. Now that we know when she lived, we might be able to trace her family. We might have just found a new piece to this puzzle," Wesley said.
"Who would know that kind of information?" Willow asked.
Most of the wizards turned to the redheaded man with glasses.
"Perce?" Charlie asked.
Percy straightened his glasses. "Three women by the name of Nyx in the 1500s. Two went on to do pretty big things, while one disappeared completely after her eleventh birthday."
"Well?" Harry's voice was tense. Angel wondered why he sounded on edge like that.
"Nyx Prince."
"Are you saying his son is somehow related to Snape?" Harry asked, pointing at Angel.
"Distantly, yes. The Prince family was known to only have one heir a generation, much like the Malfoys. Usually, it was a male but three times it differed. Now I think only twice. In known history only twice was there two children born."
"How do you remember all this stuff?" Ginny asked Percy.
"What else was he going to do. No one in their right mind would hang out with him. His books were his only friends," George said snarkily.
"That's uncalled for," Bill chastised George.
"Maybe if he came sooner Fred wouldn't be dead. But no, he was a git and listened to everyone but his family."
"George, stop!" Charlie said. "We've forgiven him. You've forgiven him."
"Maybe I changed my mind."
"Let's get back on track here," Angel said. "Who sings next?"
Tensions were high as the group tried to decide who would sing next for Lorne's reading. Angel could sense the underlying anxiety and frustration bubbling just beneath the surface. They needed answers but getting them was proving difficult.
"I'll go," Buffy volunteered, stepping forward. She took a deep breath and began singing softly:
"I've got a theory, that it's a demon
A dancing demon - no, something isn't right there..."
There were light laughter from Willow, Giles and Xander when she sang. As she trailed off, all eyes turned to Lorne expectantly. The green demon's face was scrunched in concentration.
"Well, Goldilocks, I'm seeing portals. Lots of them. And..." he paused, his red eyes widening slightly. "The Key. It's active again."
Buffy tensed visibly. "What do you mean active? Dawn isn't glowing green or anything is she?"
"No, but her essence, her power - it's awake," Lorne explained. "Whatever took her is tapping into that energy somehow."
"We need to find her," Buffy said firmly. "Now."
Angel nodded in agreement. "Alright, who's next?"
Before anyone else could volunteer, Hermione stepped forward. "I'll go," she said, her voice determined. She took a deep breath and began to sing softly:
"Hogwarts, Hogwarts, Hoggy Warty Hogwarts,
Teach us something please..." She sang the song serious which was strange from odd lyrics like that.
As her voice faded, Lorne's expression grew serious. "Oh sugar, I'm seeing some dark stuff. Rituals, ancient magic. They're trying to merge different types of magic - wizard, demon, and something else. Something old and powerful."
Hermione's face paled. "What kind of ritual?"
Lorne shook his head. "I can't see the details clearly. But it's big, and it's dangerous. They need all three. Dawn for being the key, Connor for his blood and power and Ron for his strategy and magic."
"Strategy and magic?" Percy asked, frowning.
"He's always been brilliant at chess and planning," Harry said.
"But why him specifically?" Bill wondered aloud.
"Because he's faced trials before," Lorne explained. "He's overcome challenges, sacrificed himself for others. That kind of experience leaves a mark."
"But Harry's done all that and more. He's the better wizard too," Ginny said.
Angel thought that was a bit harsh. As he understood, Ron was her brother.
"We don't know that Harry would have been a better choice," Hermione said sharply, her eyes flashing as she turned to Ginny. "Ron has unique strengths and experiences. He's not just some second-rate wizard."
Ginny held up her hands defensively. "I didn't mean it like that. I just meant-"
"We know what you meant," George interrupted, his tone unusually serious. "But Ron's our brother. And he's in danger. So maybe lay off the comparisons, yeah?"
An uncomfortable silence fell over the room. Angel could sense the tension, particularly between the Weasley siblings. Family dynamics were always complicated but added to the stress of a missing loved one and things could get explosive quickly.
"Let's stay focused," Angel said, trying to steer the conversation back on track. "We need to figure out where they might be holding Ron, Connor and Dawn. Any ideas based on what Lorne's seen so far?"
Wesley cleared his throat. "The merging of different magics is significant. It narrows down the potential locations considerably. We're likely looking at a place of power - somewhere that sits at the intersection of different mystical energies."
"Like a hellmouth?" Buffy asked.
Wesley shook his head. "The closest is Cleveland. Since it looks like both Ron and Connor were grabbed in LA, it's probably nearby."
"Dawn was here too," Buffy said.
"Wait, you didn't tell us that," Cordy said.
"I just found out she was missing. Sorry if it slipped my mind. She was seeing some specialist to find out why she can't get pregnant."
"There are fertility specialists in New York," Willow said.
"It's a special fertility specialist, one that knows about her own creation." Buffy looked so uncomfortable.
The room fell silent as the implications of Buffy's words sank in. Dawn's unique origins as the Key had always been a sensitive topic, but now it seemed those origins were causing her new problems.
"I'm sorry, Buffy," Willow said softly. "I didn't realize..."
Buffy waved off her apology. "It's fine. We just need to find her." She turned to Wesley. "So, if not a hellmouth, what kind of place are we looking at?"
Wesley rubbed his chin thoughtfully. "There are a few possibilities in the L.A. area. The old Wolfram & Hart building was constructed on a nexus of dark energies. And then there's the Deeper Well..."
"The what now?" George asked.
"It's a burial ground for the Old Ones," Angel explained. "Ancient, powerful demons. But it's not in L.A. - the entrance is in England."
"There's more than one entrance," Illyria interjected, her otherworldly voice drawing all eyes to her. "The one you know of in the Cotswolds is merely the most accessible. There are others, hidden and sealed."
"Okay, that explains why Dawn is there but what about Connor and Ron?" Angel asked.
Buffy gave him a look but with this many people they needed to stay on track.
"I'll sing next, if it's to help Ron," George said.
George stepped forward, a hint of hesitation in his usually confident demeanor. He took a deep breath and began to sing, his voice surprisingly melodic:
"Oh, come and stir my cauldron,
And if you do it right,
I'll boil you up some hot, strong love
To keep you warm tonight..."
As his voice faded, all eyes turned to Lorne. The empath demon's expression was grave.
"Oh, sugar," Lorne said softly. "There's a lot of pain there. Loss, grief... and guilt." He paused, his red eyes meeting George's. "But there's also hope. Your twin has stepped back so I can read you. You need to know that what you long for will not be easy."
George's face paled slightly. "What do you mean?"
Lorne hesitated. "I see two paths. One leads to darkness, to a reunion that comes at a terrible cost. The other..." He trailed off, shaking his head. "It's unclear. But it's brighter. Harder, maybe, but ultimately better."
The room was silent for a moment as George absorbed this information. Hermione watched him closely, concern etched on her face.
"What about Ron?" Bill asked, breaking the tension.
Lorne turned to Bill, his expression softening. "Your brother... he's alive. But he's in pain. I see darkness, cold stone walls. He's fighting, but he's weakening."
Hermione let out a small gasp, her hand flying to her mouth. Harry placed a comforting hand on her shoulder.
"Can you see where he is?" Charlie asked urgently.
Lorne shook his head. "It's murky. There's powerful magic at work, obscuring the details. But I sense... depth. Like he's deep underground."
"The Deeper Well," Angel said grimly. "It fits."
"But which entrance?" Wesley mused. "If there are multiple, as Illyria suggested, we need to narrow it down."
"I don't usually do this, but I'll need the three groups to sing together and think hard on the person you seek. Usually, something like this would fry my brain but if you all have the same directive it should work. First Buffy, Giles, Xander, Faith, Willow and Spike. Then Angel, Cordy, Gunn, Wesley and the kids. Lastly, The Weasleys and Harry," Lorne said. "Best let you sit this one out, Blue."
The groups gathered as Lorne instructed. There was some hesitation and awkward glances, but they knew how important this was.
Buffy's group went first after a bit of discussion on the song, one picked by Spike.
"Early one morning, just as the sun was rising,
I heard a maiden singing in the valley below..."
As their voices faded, Lorne's eyes flashed bright red for a moment. He blinked rapidly, then turned to Buffy.
"I see Dawn. She's in a dark place, surrounded by ancient stone. There's a faint green glow around her, like her Key essence is trying to break free. She's scared, but she's holding on and she hasn't been hurt.
Buffy nodded grimly, her jaw set with determination.
Angel's group was next. More awkward conversation about what song to sing.
"I've got you under my skin
I've got you deep in the heart of me..."
Lorne's eyes flashed again. This time when he spoke, his voice was strained.
"Connor... he's fighting. Always fighting. But he's weak. They're draining him somehow. He's-" Lorne looked at Connor's children. "I need the kids to leave."
"No, he's our dad, we can hear this. Aoife is in bed. We're not babies," Liam snarled reminding Angel very much of Connor.
"He's dying."
The room fell silent at Lorne's words. Angel felt like he'd been punched in the gut, his unnecessary breath catching in his throat. The kids - his grandchildren - looked stricken.
"No," Siobhan whispered, her eyes filling with tears. "He can't be..."
"We'll find him," Angel said firmly, pushing down his own fear and grief. "We'll find him, and we'll save him."
Lorne nodded, his expression grim. "There's still time, but not much. Whatever they're doing to him, it's draining his life force rapidly."
Angel turned to the Weasleys. "Your turn. We need to pinpoint where they are."
The Weasley siblings and Harry huddled together, whispering for a moment before breaking into song:
"Weasley is our King,
Weasley is our King,
He didn't let the Quaffle in,
Weasley is our King..."
As their voices faded, Lorne's eyes flashed one final time. Angel noticed Ron's wife was crying while she sang. He wondered what the story was behind the song. When Lorne spoke, his voice was hoarse with strain.
"I see all three of them together, it's not happened yet. Ron is killing Connor, but he doesn't want to, Connor's begging him to kill him. They need either Connor's body or Dawn's, Connor's telling them to take his. Ron is under some kind of spell but he's fighting it. Things are not working like the group planned. The three aren't turning on each other to save their own lives."
Angel felt his heart sink at Lorne's words. The vision of Connor begging to be killed, of Ron being forced to do it - it was almost too much to bear. He glanced at the Weasleys and saw the horror on their faces, mirroring his own.
"We have to stop this," Buffy said. "Where are they, Lorne? Can you see anything that might tell us the location?"
Lorne closed his eyes, concentrating hard. "Water... I hear water. And... machinery? Old machinery, grinding and creaking. And there's a smell - like rust and salt."
"The old cannery," Angel said suddenly, realization dawning. "Down by the docks. It's been abandoned for years, but..."
"But it's built over an underwater cave system," Wesley finished. "One that's rumored to connect to older, deeper passages."
"That is an entrance to the Deeper Well," Illyria added, her otherworldly voice filled with certainty.
"Then that's where we're going," Angel said, already moving towards the weapons cabinet. "We need to move fast. Connor doesn't have time. Cordy, stay and watch the kids."
"Like hell, we're coming," Liam said.
"No, you are not," Angel said, making sure there was no room to argue. He wasn't about to let Connor's kids die on a rescue mission. If they did save Connor he would never forgive him, and Angel would never forgive himself.
Angel's tone left no room for argument, but Liam wasn't backing down easily.
"He's our dad," Liam insisted, his jaw set stubbornly. "We have a right to help save him."
"I understand how you feel," Angel said, his voice softening slightly. "But it's too dangerous. Your father would never forgive me if something happened to you."
"We can help," Siobhan added, stepping forward. "We're not helpless kids. Dad taught us how to fight."
Angel hesitated, torn between admiration for their bravery and his need to protect them. He looked to Cordy for support.
"They stay," Cordy said firmly. "No arguments. They'll keep us updated, but you're not going into a battle zone."
Liam opened his mouth to protest again, but Ronan put a hand on his arm. "They're right," he said quietly. "We'd just be a distraction. They need to focus on saving Dad."
Liam deflated slightly, nodding reluctantly. "Fine. But you better bring him back."
"We will," Angel promised, hoping he could keep that promise. He looked at the ragtag group and sighed. "We have plenty of weapons."
"We only need our wands," Bill said.
"Are you sure? That ax looks really cool," Charlie said pointing at the weapons cabinet.
Angel smiled at Charlie's enthusiasm. "Take whatever you think will help. We don't know exactly what we're up against."
As the group armed themselves, Angel pulled Buffy aside. "We need to be prepared for anything," he said quietly. "If what Lorne saw is true, we might have to make some hard choices."
Buffy nodded grimly. "I know. But we're not losing any of them if I can help it."
"Agreed," Angel said. He turned to address the whole group. "Alright, listen up. We're dealing with powerful magic and unknown enemies. Stay alert, stay together, and don't take any unnecessary risks. Our priority is getting Connor, Dawn, and Ron out alive."
"What about whoever's behind this?" Faith asked, twirling a knife between her fingers.
"We take them down if we have to," Angel replied. "But the rescue comes first."
As they headed for the doors, Hermione stepped forward. "Wait," she said, her voice trembling slightly. "If... if Ron is under some kind of spell, forcing him to hurt the others... how do we stop him without hurting him?"
"We might have to take him out," Faith said. Angel could tell she was actually trying to be gentle because the kids were in the room.
Hermione nodded. Angel wasn't entirely sure she knew they were talking about killing him. None of the wizards seemed to put up a fuss about it. Might as well not bring up something that might not happen. After all, they had two slayers, six born wizards, Willow and her magic, him and Spike, Illyria and whatever she had going on, then there was Wesley, Giles, Gunn and Xander, who weren't exactly slouches in the fighting field.
"We'll do everything we can to break whatever spell he's under," Wesley assured her. "But we have to be prepared for all possibilities."
"Let's move," Angel said, heading for the door. "Every second counts."
As the group filed out, armed and ready for battle, Angel cast one last glance at Connor's children. The fear in their eyes tore at him. He'd failed Connor so many times before. He couldn't fail him - or these kids - now.
The drive to the old cannery was tense and silent. Angel's mind raced with possibilities, each scenario worse than the last. When they finally pulled up to the dilapidated building, the smell of salt and rust hit them immediately.
"Lorne was right," Gunn said, hefting his axe. "This place reeks."
"Stay alert," Angel warned as they approached the entrance. "We don't know what kind of defenses they might have set up."
As if on cue, a shimmering barrier appeared before them, crackling with magical energy.
"Bloody hell," Spike muttered. "Now what?"
Hermione stepped forward, her wand at the ready. "Let me try something," she said. She began to mutter an incantation, her wand moving in intricate patterns.
For a moment, nothing happened. Then, with a sound like shattering glass, the barrier dissolved.
"Impressive," Wesley said, eyebrows raised.
"Ron taught me that one, actually," Hermione said softly. "Let's go get him back."
"He did?" Ginny asked unbelievingly.
"What do you think he does at work every day?" Harry asked, seemingly confused by Ginny's question.
"Quiet, not now," Bill hissed, and the wizards all shut up.
They moved into the building cautiously, weapons at the ready. The interior was dark and damp, the only sound was the distant drip of water and the creak of rusted metal.
"There," Buffy whispered, pointing to a faint glow coming from beneath a rusted trapdoor.
Angel nodded. "That's our way down. Be ready for anything."
As they descended into the depths below the cannery, the air grew heavier. Angel could feel it pressing against his skin, a reminder of just how dangerous this rescue mission truly was.
They were running out of time. Somewhere in the darkness ahead, Connor, Dawn, and Ron were fighting for their lives. And Angel was determined to save them all, no matter the cost.
The group descended deeper into the underground caverns. There was a distant sound of rushing water that echoed off the stone walls.
"I don't like this," Buffy muttered, her slayer senses on high alert. "It's too quiet."
As if on cue, an inhuman shriek pierced the darkness ahead. Angel's head snapped up, his vampire hearing pinpointing the source.
"This way," he said, picking up the pace. The others followed close behind, weapons at the ready.
They rounded a corner and came face to face with their first obstacle - a group of robed figures chanting in an ancient language. Behind them, a swirling vortex of energy crackled forebodingly.
"Stop them!" Wesley shouted. "They're trying to open a portal!"
The battle erupted in an instant. Buffy and Faith leapt into action, their slayer strength sending robed figures flying. The wizards unleashed a barrage of spells, filling the cavern with flashes of magical light. Angel and Spike fought back-to-back, their speed and strength a deadly combination.
As the last robed figure fell, the vortex began to collapse in on itself. But the victory was short-lived.
"Look out!" Willow cried, throwing up a magical shield just as a blast of dark energy shot towards them from deeper in the cavern.
"Well, well," a cold voice echoed from the shadows. "Looks like we have company."
A tall, imposing figure stepped into view, his eyes glowing with an unnatural light. In one hand, he held a staff crackling with power. When he moved Angel saw Connor behind him, unconscious on the ground.
Angel's heart clenched at the sight of his son. "Let him go," he growled, his game face emerging.
The figure laughed. "I'm afraid I can't do that. You see, your son is the key to everything. Well, one of the keys." He gestured behind him, where Dawn and Ron were chained to an altar, both looking worse for wear. Angel had missed them when he first moved because his eyes were just for his son.
"Who are you?" Buffy demanded, her voice tight with anger. "What do you want?"
"My name is Erebus," the figure replied. "And what I want is simple - to tear down the barriers between dimensions and remake reality in my image."
"I love when they dialog," Xander said.
"Not gonna happen," Faith snarled, knife at the ready.
Erebus smirked. "Oh, I think it will. You see, I have everything I need right here. The Key, the Impossible Child, and The Sentinel. With their power combined, nothing can stop me."
"We'll see about that," Angel said, tensing to spring into action.
But before he could move, Erebus raised his staff. "Ah ah," he warned.
"One move and I'll drain the last of your son's life," Erebus warned, guesting to Connor. No way would Angel be able to get to him before the man got to Connor.
Angel froze, his eyes locked on Connor's battered form.
"What do you want?" Buffy asked, her voice filled with anger.
Erebus smiled coldly. "I want you to witness the dawn of a new era. With the power of these three, I will reshape reality itself. And I it's Master."
He began chanting in an ancient language, dark energy swirling around him. Connor was still out but cried out in pain nonetheless. Dawn and Ron were awake when they cried out in pain.
"We have to stop him!" Hermione cried.
A blinding flash of light filled the cavern. When it faded, Erebus stood at the center of a swirling vortex of energy, Connor, Dawn and Ron were now suspended in the air around him.
"You're too late," Erebus laughed. "The ritual has begun. Soon, all the walls between dimensions will crumble!"
Suddenly, Connor's eyes were open, and he was looking at something behind them. Angel didn't turn around, scared if he did something it would be worse for Connor.
"NOW!" Connor yelled out.
At Connor's shout, chaos erupted.
From behind the rescue group, a blast of magical energy shot past them, striking Erebus squarely in the chest. The dark sorcerer stumbled back, his concentration broken.
Angel whirled around to see Ronan standing there, his hand outstretched and glowing with power. Beside him were Siobhan and Liam, looking like they were there to protect their brother.
"We told you we could help," Liam said with a smirk.
There was no time for Angel to be angry at their disobedience. Connor, Dawn and Ron were falling as the magical bonds holding them aloft dissipated.
Angel leapt forward, catching Connor before he hit the ground. Buffy did the same for Dawn, while Bill used his wand to break Ron's fall.
Erebus roared in fury. "You meddling brats! You've ruined everything!"
"What are you a Scooby Doo villain?" Xander asked, then laughed. Angel got why because Xander, Willow and Buffy were the Scoobies.
Erebus raised his staff, dark energy crackling around it. But before he could unleash his attack, multiple voices rang out:
"Expelliarmus!"
The combined force of the spell from the Weasleys, Harry, and Hermione sent Erebus's staff flying from his grasp. It clattered to the ground, rolling away into the shadows.
Erebus stumbled back, his face filled with rage. "No! I was so close!"
"It's over," Angel growled, gently laying Connor down and turning to face the dark sorcerer. "You've lost."
"Next time, don't dialog," Xander said, shaking his head.
But Erebus wasn't done yet. With inhuman speed, he lunged for Dawn. "If I can't have my new world, I'll settle for destroying this one!"
Buffy moved to intercept him, but she wasn't quite fast enough. Erebus's hand closed around Dawn's arm, and he began to chant in that ancient language once more.
Dawn screamed as her body began to glow with a sickly green light. The cavern shook, rocks falling from the ceiling as reality itself seemed to warp around them.
"Dawn!" Buffy cried out in horror.
But then, unexpectedly, Ron was there. Despite his weakened state, he grabbed Erebus's other arm. "You want power?" he snarled. "Then take it!"
Ron's body began to glow as well, a brilliant white light that seemed to push back against the sickly green. Erebus's eyes widened in shock and pain.
"What are you doing?" he screamed.
"Giving you exactly what you wanted," Ron ground out through gritted teeth. "All the power you can handle!"
The cavern filled with blinding light as Ron continued to hold the man. The dark sorcerer's body began to swell and distort, unable to contain the raw power flowing into him.
"Everyone down!" Willow shouted, throwing up a magical shield, just as the man exploded. It was gross.
It was eerily silent, Angel quickly went to Connor's side. He now really was unconscious.
"Uh, Ron, what was that?" Bill asked. "That's not how magic works."
Ron looked to Dawn who was just now standing on shaky legs. "You explain it to him. I'm tapped out." Then Ron passed out, hitting the flood hard.
"Sorry, Ron," Hermione said, going to her husband side.
"Let's just say, we're a bit different now," Dawn said, before she too passed out. Luckily for her, Buffy was right beside her and grabbed her.
Angel turned and glared at his grandchildren. "I told you three to stay home. Does Cordy know you're gone? And what was all that light," he asked, now looking at Ronan.
"Their mother, she used to be a Vengeance Demon," Siobhan said.
"What?" Xander asked, now looking intently at Ronan and Liam.
Angel stared at his grandchildren in shock. "Your mother was a vengeance demon?"
Siobhan nodded. "Yeah, Dad didn't know at first. By the time he found out, she was already pregnant with the twins. She wasn't when she got pregnant. She died or something as a human. Made a deal with some demon leader to let her live. She just had to make a promise. That's all Dad knew. She was a senator's wife so not that open and sharing. "
"What was her name?" Xander asked.
"Anya."
Angel could see Xander ready to flip out. "Hold that thought, wait until we get back to the hotel."
Xander looked at him angerly but nodded.
"That explains a lot," Spike muttered, eyeing Liam and Ronan warily.
"We should get everyone out of here," Buffy said, cradling an unconscious Dawn. "They all need medical attention."
Angel nodded, carefully lifting Connor. "Let's go. We can sort out the details later."
As they made their way out of the caverns, Angel's mind raced. Two of Connor's children were part demon? It explained their unique abilities but raised so many new questions.
Back at the Hyperion, they got Connor, Dawn and Ron settled in the infirmary, aka, the lobby. Fred and Willow worked together to assess their conditions and start treatment.
"They'll be okay," Buffy said softly, coming to stand beside Angel. "We got them out in time."
Angel nodded, his eyes fixed on Connor's still form. "I hope so. There's still so much I don't understand about what happened down there."
"Join the club," Buffy sighed. "Dawn's got some explaining to do when she wakes up."
After a moment of silence, Angel turned to where his grandchildren were huddled together. "Alright, you three. I think it's time we had a talk about following orders and putting yourselves in danger."
Liam opened his mouth to argue, but Siobhan elbowed him. "We're sorry," she said. "We just couldn't sit back and do nothing while Dad was in trouble."
Angel's expression softened slightly. "I understand. But you could have been killed. Your father would never forgive me if something happened to you."
"We can take care of ourselves," Liam grumbled.
"Clearly," Spike chimed in. "That was some impressive mojo, kid," he said to Ronan.
Ronan ducked his head, looking uncomfortable with the attention. "Only done it a few times before. Last time I flipped Dad's car. He wasn't happy."
"I bet," Angel said. He just wanted to rest. But just then Cordy came downstairs.
"Someone wants Grandpa to read to her." She looked around. "No bleeding on my floor."