Mirror, Mirror

Mirror, Mirror
Chapter 5.
Purrfus – I’ll post practically anywhere, so long as it doesn’t require any Jedi mind tricks to use the site interface. Usually AFF., WWOMB and Beyond Canon get my regular, unedited stuff. Some on Fanfiction.net, but it’s a hassle to cut out the heavier content. My Livejournal has most everything that’s readable, especially my WIPs.
In thinking about this Riley, he doesn’t have a lot of previous relationships prior to Buffy, what with getting his Masters and all. It’s not in Riley’s nature to cheat, so this whole thing with Angel is definitely causing the poor boy grief.
Harry and Percy will be explained, no fear.
Stormyhaven – I had fun with the Malfoys in this story, the kinky beasts! Glad to read you’re still with me – reviews are always great cookies to receive!

~*~

Wesley was munching his way through his fourth slice of veggie lovers when he heard the whoosh of a portkey in the living room. Wiping his fingers on a napkin he dabbed his lips before getting up. Xander and Spike were due any moment so his reinforcements were cutting it awfully close. He heard the low murmur of male voices before he saw them, two young men dressed in the robes of Aurors. Both tall and lean, the one that spun immediately to face him with wand pointed was distinguished by his long platinum hair and cold grey eyes. Beautiful after an aesthetic fashion, but his partner, turning more calmly, was more appealing to Wesley’s tastes. Heart shaped face and riotous mop of red curls framing the warmest pair of brown eyes Wesley had seen in a long while. The redhead returned his frank assessment with a friendly smile, though he didn’t move from his partner’s side. Wesley did not miss the way the blond subtly maneuvered himself in front of the redhead. Lovers then and since when had the Aurors begun teaming couples together?

“Hullo,” the redhead said with the sweet drawl of home. “Are you Wesley, then? Name’s Ron Weasley and this friendly bloke is Draco Malfoy. We’re Aurors come to collect some information on a magic mirror. Told you’d be expecting us.”

“Yes,” Wesley affirmed. “Wesley Wyndham-Pryce. Pleased to meet you. We believe a vampire named Spike awakened the mirror and used it on two of our colleagues. He cannot physically hurt humans but that doesn’t keep him from mischief. We need to ascertain if it indeed was him and what exactly he did.”

The blond, Malfoy, sneered, an unpleasant expression that looked comfortable on his angular features. “Interrogating a lame vampire? McGonagall felt two Aurors were needed for that? What is it you do again, Wyndham-Pryce? Nursemaid house elves? A Hogwarts first year could do this!”

“Malfoy!” Ron snapped and Wesley frowned at the annoyed frustration that flashed briefly. So maybe not lovers after all.

The ex-Watcher shrugged. “I didn’t ask for you here. If you’re going to stay, however, I suggest a wardrobe adjustment. Spike and his companion are Muggles.” And with that said he retreated back into the kitchen.

~*~

Minerva only briefly considered leaving the dispensation of the Dreamless Sleep potion to the kitchen elves, but quickly decided against it. She wanted her grandson and his inconvenient stubbornness temporarily decommissioned, not permanently harmed. For the first time in his life he was out from under his mother’s, and the American Ministry’s, control. Once they broke this enchantment she was certain she could convince Lupin that she deserved quality time with her only grandchild and that he would then leave, taking his Muggle children and that horrid vampire with him.

She would finally get to know her Cygnus and just as importantly, his mother would return home once she learned where her little swan had landed himself. There was nothing beyond Turan’s fears keeping them from becoming a family again and her daughter would realize that when she came. Everything would work itself out she was confident of that, carefully dripping the potion over the tray of food the elves had made special for one Hogwart’s guest.

~*~

After everything that had gone on it was surprising to realize that here in England it was morning, but Riley could not deny how good breakfast was here at Hogwarts. Madame Pomfrey didn’t seem inclined to let him out of the infirmary, but she did let him move into a more private room after Professor Potter mentioned the insufferably curious students. Especially since Angel was once again firmly attached to the blond and obviously unconcerned about anyone’s sensibilities. Voluntarily holding his hand on the short trip to the secluded room had made the vampire ecstatic and Riley repeatedly reminded himself the man was victim of a spell while he ate one handed and petted the silky head buried in his lap with the other. The vampire’s purring was doing terrible things to Riley’s control, but Angel only pressed his face against his blanket shrouded arousal, content to let him eat.

He’d surprisingly enjoyed their earlier talk once he got over his embarrassment. Angel didn’t know about the world he’d grown up in but he was highly educated and had a firm grasp of the esoteric being a Dark Creature himself. And the man knew more than he’d thought he did, since both Giles and Wyndham-Pryce were wizards, providing a vastly different wealth of research than any Muggle Watcher would have. Riley had known about Giles, of course; the man had thrown a reserved fit when he’d learned Riley was his former teacher McGonagall’s grandson and his old friend Turan’s child, living homeless while he avoided the Initiative patrols. Giles took his debts very seriously and it was his nana and the former Headmaster who had recommended the man to the Watcher’s Council. Riley did not know what debt he owed his mother.

Not that Riley hadn’t been relieved to learn there were wizards in Sunnydale beyond the Initiative. Living in the Muggle world had been quite the culture shock and he’d regaled Angel with a few stories of acclimating to Lowell House and its Muggle amenities while they waited for Madame Pomfrey’s permission for him to move. Angel had similar experiences though his derived from pure stubbornness on his part to adapt to the modern world. The vampire genuinely abhorred the microwave, especially since it did something to the flavor and texture of his meals. He’d also missed most of the technological revolution of the last century living on the streets, and without Auror survivor training. Riley almost told him how he’d managed for those short weeks in demon infested Sunnydale, but held his tongue at the last moment. He’d not had such an easy conversation with anyone in too long, but there were secrets he was forbidden to speak of to Muggles, vampire or no.

He also didn’t want to risk the man’s reaction and he certainly did not think on what that implied. Or how he was actually enjoying this time with Angel. The man had a surprisingly sarcastic dry sense of humor, sharing his own experiences with one of Riley’s favorite Muggle entertainments, movies.

When he scraped his plate clean it vanished the same way it had arrived, the house elves obviously reluctant to reveal themselves to a Dark Creature. It felt like the wrong side of morning, making him yawn and rub at tired eyes. It had to be close to three a.m. for them, but he couldn’t sleep. They needed to break this enchantment, and Riley yawned again, wrinkling his nose in annoyance. Hadn’t he just slept? Maybe Madame Pomfrey would give him some Pepper-Up potion.

Fingers touched his cheek and Riley blinked open his eyes to see Angel smiling at him. “Sorry. Just a little tired,” he whispered, fighting back another yawn. “I’ll ask the nurse for a po, um, a concoction to wake me up. It’s like super caffeine and then we can figure out what-“

Angel’s mouth stopped the mumble of words. The man really could kiss and Riley was too tired to think of all the reasons he shouldn’t be enjoying his skill. They needed to kiss, didn’t they? Angel certainly needed to do that thing with his tongue again, oh yes, like that, and Riley wished his own tongue didn’t feel like a lump in his mouth, but he really couldn’t keep his eyes open. He managed to lift a deadening hand to clutch at the man’s shirt, but could not win the fight to stay awake. Why was he so awfully tired?

“Shh, go to sleep, it’s alright,” Angel soothed, gently settling the young man back among his pillows. It tugged on his conscience, kissing the boy like that without invitation, but he really had been too cute to resist, rubbing his eyes and yawning like a little boy.

Something must have shown on his face because Riley frowned at him even as his eyelids lost their battle. “Hey, it’s okay. Wizards aren’t like that.”

“Like what? Riley?” But his beloved was out, breathing softly through his mouth.

“Wizards don’t have the same gender hang-ups that Muggles do,” Giles answered from the doorway. “Male wizards can get pregnant just as easily as females thanks to their innate magic, sometimes without any help from potions or spells, just as the female wizards can, so homophobia is a purely Muggle convention. Wizards like who they like.”

Hunh. That was interesting to know and Angel thought about just what all he didn’t know about his beloved as Giles came closer. The man leaned over, touching Riley’s head and though the vampire couldn’t see it he swore the man made a sniffing noise. “It doesn’t really exist for vampires either, but that’s why I thought he was so reluctant.” Angel said, hoping to draw more secrets out of the man.

Giles straightened up to fix the vampire with a censoring expression. “His reluctance might have had something to do with being in a relationship with a young woman who you have professed to be your true love on several occasions. Your gender might not be an issue but willing consent to being mauled likely is.” Angel had the grace to blush, silently acknowledging the man’s points. “Love spells are also a very serious matter in Wizard society. You could bring him up on charges for taking advantage of you if he manipulated the situation to his favor.”

“But I’ve been assaulting him!” Angel protested.

“I’m sure that would be taken into consideration,” Giles patiently explained, “but you are an enchanted Muggle and he is a fully trained wizard. Wizard society takes a very hard line with these things. You may be besotted now, but what will your reaction be when the spell is broken? Remember, Riley doesn’t really know you.”

Just as he really didn’t know the blond wizard Angel was reminded. “Are the girls asleep then?”

“Yes,” Giles nodded. “They’ve all had a long day. I promised them I would wake them for lunch and then we could start research in the library.” He pulled a dark colored little bottle from his pocket. “Professor Snape says this should help you control your urges though he still believes the spell will only end with consummation. With this you will at least be able to leave Mister Finn’s side.”

Trusting the man at his word Angel downed the bottle in one shuddering gulp, the sourness of the slimy concoction fair curling his toes. “Thanks,” he gasped. The taste passed quickly at least and Angel handed back the empty bottle. “Then why don’t I head down to this library now? If it is allowed, of course.” And maybe at the library he could find a way to close the gap between himself and Riley.

~*~

Shuffling tiredly up Giles’ walkway Xander quietly prayed for a demon free night. The lumber shipment hadn’t come in, half his subcontracted electricians hadn’t shown and a union rep had made a nuisance of himself all day. Being site supervisor was definitely losing its shine. Add to that coming home to a lover who’d been downright cavorting in secret malicious glee for the past week and Xander was ready to kill for a quiet night.

Knowing Spike was neck deep into some diabolical plot sure to rival the mad scheming of a Disney villain should have possibly provoked a more heated response than “Stop cackling and drink you dinner” but, well, it was Spike. It had taken him a couple of months, a case of JD and Willow’s Psychology 101 text but Xander did not think Spike was capable of true evil. Mischief and mayhem, yes. Descend the world into Hell a la Angelus, no. Not so much Big Bad as Wee Bad. He had also learned that regular, fuck him unconscious sex also kept Spike out of trouble. Unfortunately, he was possessed of mere mortal stamina and his undead fuck bunny was not. Xander well knew Spike had instigated some plan of mischief. He even knew the day it hatched. Last Tuesday, when he’d pulled a double shift and forgot to shackle his little fiend to the bed after a no sex night.

Whatever he’d done, it was all Xander’s fault. Fallout was likely imminent. It didn’t usually take too long these days to witness the fruits of Spike’s mischief. Blondie was not the most patient of naughty vampires on his good days. That, and Spike was skipping down the walk, swinging Xander’s hand and whistling a vaguely familiar tune the brunette was too tired to place.

It’s going to be bad, whatever he’s done, Xander thought as he gave a perfunctory knock at the door before shoving it open. The perfect end to this day would be if Willow neglected to order any meat toppings. Please, no veggies lover.

The brilliant flash of light that burst through Giles’ foyer proved him right. Xander gasped to feel his body go rigid, literally frozen in place with one foot through the door. Still holding Spike’s hand the brunette Scooby stared dumbfounded at the two guys blocking Giles’ entryway, pointing sticks at them. Was Spike frozen next to him? The strangers were both dressed in jeans and t-shirts with leather jackets but something smacked of alien about them. Maybe it was the hair: who had hair those shades of red or blond, though that might be blamed on the sparkles still dancing in his vision. What the hell did they want? And where was Buffy when you needed her to do her hero thing?

“Stupefy!” The strong voice came from behind the redhead, heralding a flare of light that struck the guy’s back and sent him to the floor. Wesley appeared over the body, pointing his own stick at the blond who dodged a second whatever ‘stupefy’ was. A frozen spectator to one of the oddest battles he’d ever witnessed Xander’s eyes rolled in his head trying to keep up with the two hurling bursts of light at each other. The electrical discharge was starting to make Xander’s hair stand on end. The long haired blond was fast, dodging whatever Wesley threw at him or deflecting them with some kind of wicked cool force field. Wesley was almost as good, but one of the blond’s spells cut a nasty slash across the Englishman’s hip, blood splattering the paisley wallpaper behind him.

Wesley dropped to one knee, but it wasn’t in defeat. His stick vanished in an impressive slight of hand, replaced with a very sharp looking knife he held to Red’s throat. Blondie froze, face darkening as he slowly lowered his stick.

“We were sent here to help your friends,” Blondie spat. Cold grey eyes glanced to the space to Xander’s left, to Spike he realized. “So it wasn’t the vampire after all that used the cursed mirror.”

“Oh, he is the one, but Angel wasn’t his only victim,” Wesley smiled and it wasn’t a pleasant expression. “Now bring them into the living room. And Slytherin? I will be watching for anything sneaky.”

Who named their kid ‘Slytherin’, Xander absently wondered. A confusion of emotions flashed across the blond’s face before he slowly lifted his arm, stick pointed straight at Xander though his eyes never left Wesley’s.

Spike was so going to get spanked for this one.

~*~

Harry had hardly left the guest suite they were housing the Americans in when the door creaked open behind him. “Professor, Harry?”

The blond Slayer quickly caught up to him, flashing a smile he was certain she’d practiced on countless unsuspecting teenage boys. Well used to the ploys of the fairer sex Harry smiled in turn, the twist of his lips genial and coolly professional. Considering what they’d been told of their guests he suspected what favor the girl hoped to charm from him and thought to end the battle of guile before it began. “Miss Summers, I know we haven’t let you yet see your friend, but that is for your own safety.”

She blinked for a moment, his words obviously unsuspected. “Riley? It’s just a love spell, right?” Her hand waved the air. “Angel won’t hurt him, he’s a Champion, so Riley should be safe so long as it’s just Angel. My friend Xander was under a love spell that sicced every woman in Sunnydale after him. Now that got nasty.” She delicately shuddered.

Well, she certainly had a high opinion of a Dark Creature that as Harry understood she was pledged to combat and filed that oddity away for later contemplation. “Riley is fine, yes. So what did you want to speak to me about?”

Buffy glanced back at the door to their rooms before looking him square in the eye. “My friend, Willow. I listened to what you all said earlier, and it’s stupid. Willow, she’s good at her magic and she’s getting stronger.”

Well, apparently she didn’t listen too well, but Harry kept his irritation from his voice. “I’m sure she’s very accomplished, Miss Summers, but that does not change the nature of her magic. Here at Hogwarts we only take in those with innate ability.”

“Then you’re stupid. When I tell you Willow’s strong I don’t mean that as a good thing, I mean it as a ‘I fight Big Bad Evil every day and she scares me’ thing. I’m not one of these Muffles you were all talking about.” She was suddenly in his face, faster than anyone Harry had ever seen move, her small delicate hand crushing the front of his robes and lifting him off his feet like she was admiring a kitten. “Is this innate enough for you? I’m the Slayer. Maybe you don’t teach your special kids about me, but I was born to kill bad things. Willow started learning magic to help me and now she’s on the path to becoming one of the bad things I kill. If you’re willing to help Angel and Riley then why not her?”

McGonagall had briefly explained that Giles, his father’s old friend Lupin, was the teacher of a demon hunter, but she hadn’t made mention of the superhuman strength. Dangling a good couple of feet off the ground Harry nodded, conceding the girl had a valid point. If the redheaded girl was dabbling into the Dark Arts then it wouldn’t matter how she came by her magic. “I believe you, Miss Summers, and I promise to speak to Mister Giles about her training.”

The petite blonde nodded and gently returned his feet to earth. “Thank you.” She didn’t apologize for her actions and Harry decided to let it go.

“The Headmistress had told us you hunted Dark Creatures, but she did not say anything about exceptional strength,” Harry commented.

“’Into every generation, yadda, yadda, a Slayer is born’.” She smiled grimly, crossing her arms over her chest. “I didn’t ask to be special, trust me, but everyone tells me it’s my destiny.”

Now that sounded familiar and Harry grimaced. “I sympathize. An evil Dark Lord killed my parents and I didn’t find out until I was eleven that is was my destiny to defeat him. It’s not easy having everyone counting on you to save the world when all you want to be is normal.”

“No, it’s not. It sucks sometimes, but I’ve met other Slayers and none of them did as good a job.” She stared at him, head cocked to the side. “So did you fulfill your destiny or is this teacher gig a secret disguise?”

Harry chuckled. “Oh, I did my hero duty and have the scars and nightmares to prove it. When I was in school I never considered coming back here to teach, but it’s important that the next generation recognize the Dark Arts for what they are and not be afraid to fight for themselves.” There was more he could have said, but Harry left it at that. Perhaps respecting that sense of camaraderie Buffy nodded and quietly went back to her friends, leaving Harry to consider if he still had time before his first class to grab a muffin for breakfast. He had been putting off speaking to Rupert Giles, not sure what he wanted to say to the man who could have been so much more to him in another life, but if the man was unknowingly harboring a future Dark Lord than he needed to confront his father’s old friend.

~*~

TBC.