A Matter of Family

CHAPTER FIVE


{thoughts}


Harry was very confused, that was putting it mildly, he was beyond confused. He was pretty sure his brain was going to short circuit with the questions running through it. While he was grateful that someone had arrived to take him way from the Dursleys and back to the school, what they had said just didn't make sense. Harry didn't have any cousins except for Dudley, and Sirius didn't have a nephew. If it weren't for the fact that Padfoot was there Harry would be convinced it was a plot by Voldemort to get him. But, there Sirius was, well Padfoot, and he seemed to be backing up what the strangers had said. Still, who were these people? From their accents, he assumed they were Americans. {'How can I have an American cousin?'} The redhead, Willow, kept giving him reassuring smiles. She looked similar to the clan of redheads he was familiar with. {'I wonder if she’s related to the Weasleys.’} She made him nervous though, her eyes were black back at the Dursleys, and now they were a bright green, and he knew she created a barrier spell around his aunt with just a wave of her hand. {'How can she do magic without a wand?’} And then there was the guy that said he was Sirius’ nephew and Harry’s cousin. He had dark hair like both he and Sirius, and Harry could see some similarities the two shared. Willow had said his name was Xander. {‘What kind of a name is Xander?’} While Harry didn’t think he was a threat to him, the guy had threatened to have the Dursleys tortured by someone named Angelus. {'Why does that name sound familiar?’} But, he also said the threat made him feel sick, although he wouldn’t care if they went to prison or died. Harry found himself agreeing with that part as well. Of course, Willow had threatened to beat them to death with a shovel. {MERLIN! Who are these people?}

All of these thoughts were going through Harry’s mind during the silent ride back to the Leaky Cauldron. After they had arrived Willow helped him retrieve his trunk while Xander paid the driver. Walking to the back of the taxi, Xander took Hedwig from Willow and handed him to Harry.

“Here, Wills and I will get the trunk, you worry about your bird, okay?” Xander asked with a lopsided grin.

“Thanks. Her…her name is Hedwig,” Harry said, taking the cage.

“That’s an interesting name. We’ve heard all kinds of…..interesting names today actually. Okay, most of them have just been totally weird, at least to me anyway. Wills, what do you think?”

“Well, they certainly aren’t common. At least not where we’re from,” Willow said, grinning at Harry.

“Look Harry, I know you’re probably pretty confused right about now, and honestly, I’m right there with ya,” Xander started. Padfoot snorted and rolled his eyes. “As I was saying, before being interrupted by Rover there…If you can just hold out on the total freak out for a few more minutes, we’ll fill you in on what we know as soon as we get back to the school,” Xander finished as they walked into the Leaky Cauldron.

"We're going back to Hogwarts? Did Dumbledore send you?" Harry asked.

"He didn't have much say in the matter. When Sirius told us how they treated you there was no stopping Xan getting to you," Willow answered. "And after what we just witnessed, the old man is going to have A LOT of explaining to do. Don't think Xan is gonna be letting him have much say in your life from now on."

"What? How can Xander have any say one way or the other? And Dumbledore is a good man! He's done so much to........"

"Don't defend him. He knew how you were being treated and did nothing about it. I understand you think a lot of him, but he has a lot to prove before I will think much of him. As far as how I have any say...Harry, there is is quite a bit to be explained. I'm still trying to figure out most of it. But I am your cousin, and since there is no way I'd let anyone live with people like the Dursleys, especially not family, I'm going to make arrangements to be named your guardian. Now, do the floo thing and let's get back to the school, the old man's office. It's too dangerous for us to be out here," Xander explained as they all stepped into the floo.

Seconds later the group was stepping out of the floo into Dumbledore's office. The first thing the group noticed was the very, very large man standing in the middle of the room, talking to the Headmaster in a panicked sounding tone.

"Hagrid!" Harry shouted as he gave the giant a hug.

"Harry, boy, wut are ye doin' here?"

"I'm not really sure. Professor Dumbledore, what is going on?" Harry asked.

"Where are the others?" Xander asked before Dumbledore could respond.

"Ah, I showed them to the rooms you'll have while you stay here after our talk. Did you encounter any trouble on your trip?"

Xander and Sirius, human again, growled. "That bloody gorilla had his hand around Harry's neck shaking like a doll when we got there," Sirius answered.

"Oh dear. I'm sorry my boy. Did they try to prevent you from taking Harry with you?"

Sirius chuckled. "Aye, Dursley tried to puff up like some over-sized braggart. Xander knocked him down right quick though. He threatened to have one of his "close, personal vampire friends" turn Dursley so he could be tortured for the next century if he tried anything. The bloody prat pissed himself. It was wonderful; a threat dissevering of a Black."

"And how long do you think he'll be looking over his shoulder for vampires? Mental torture is just so much better than anything physical," Xander sneered, having gotten over his initial shock of making the threat.

Sirius cackled. "Oh, I do like the way you think."

Hagrid blinked at the two, then shook himself. "Er right. Speakin' of vampires, that's why I'm here Professor Dumbledore, sir. Mr. Angel and I were out tendin' to the animals when 'e jus' took off sayin' there was a vampire in the castle."

"Oh, no. Spike," Willow said.

"Oh, this is just all we need," Xander groaned. "At least I won't have to track Deadboy down tomorrow. Where are our rooms? That's where he will be, and we need to get there soon if there is going to be a school left standing. Sirius, you and Harry come with us. Explain everything you can to him while we deal with the fangy two-some, and then all of us can sit down together. No offense Professor, but I never did like being in the Principal's office, and this room reminds me very much of one. Could we meet again tomorrow in our rooms instead?"

"Of course, Mr. Harris. Hagrid could you please escort them to the guest quarters?"

"Of course, Professor. If you all would follow me?" Hagrid said, heading for the door.

"Wait. What about our things?" Willow asked.

"Oh, the house elves will take care of them," Harry said, moving to stand between Hagrid and Sirius.

"Vampires in the castle?" Harry asked Sirius quietly.

"Don't worry about it, Harry. They are not a threat. I have a feeling even if they were they would not get past Xander and the rest of his group," Sirius whispered back confidently.

Harry nodded and left the office.

Xander and Willow followed behind the other three gaping in wonder at their surroundings. So far all they had seen was Dumbledore's office. They were amazed at the size of the building. Xander's inner carpenter was coming out as he took in the structural designs of the building. Willow was giddy watching the stair cases that moved on their own, and the paintings that were moving, while seeming to have conversations with each other.

After several minutes of walking through winding hallways, they could hear raised voices coming from a room a few feet down from them.

"Oi! Let me go, you bleedin' effin' poof!"

"What are you doing here, Spike?" Angel growled.

"That's none of yer business, ya right bastard!"

"What are you up to Spike? Why do you have them here?" Angel growled as he shoved Spike into a wall.

"He's here because we want him here. Back off Deadboy!" Xander yelled as he entered the room.

"Harris. What's going on? I don't know what he's told you but you can't trust him."

Willow walked over and joined the other Sunnydalers in the room. She indicted for Harry and Sirius to join them. She smiled at Hagrid, and motioned for him to come in as well.

"You would know what the hell was going on if you hadn't taken off like a whipped puppy. You have no right accusing Spike of being up to anything. He's been with us, fighting with us, while you've been Mr. Incommunicado for the last two months! Do you even know where your team is right now?"

"What are you talking about? My team is in LA."

"Wrong, Deadboy. They're in Sunnydale, or will be shortly. They're going to help Faith protect the Hellmouth while we deal with things here."

"What? Why? How is Faith in Sunnydale?"

"You'd know why if you stuck around, Peaches," Spike sneered.

"Shut up Spike! You don't know anything. I had to get away. I couldn't bare the thought of her being gone. I needed time."

"YOU NEEDED TIME?!!!! What the hell makes you so damn special? You left her over two years ago!" Xander yelled.

"I LOVED her!" Angel yelled back.

"And you think we didn't?! You think it was any easier for any of us to loose her? We loved her too! And we NEVER abandoned her. She sacrificed herself to save the world! She died so we could live, and continue the fight. You running off, brooding and whatever you've been doing, is making a mockery of her sacrifice. You're making everything she did pointless. If we....you...don't keep fighting, then her death is moot and we might as well just hand the world over to the next Big Bad!" Xander ranted, getting in the vampire's face.

"Back off, Harris! You don't know what you're talking about," Angel snarled, vamping out.

Sirius growled and Harry brought out his wand. Dawn came over and put a calming hand on both of them. She leaned in and whispered, "Don't worry about it. Even if they do start throwing punches, they won't kill each other. They always go at it like this. We need some popcorn, this is better than the movies."

Sirius and Harry looked at the girl like she had gone mad, but relaxed slightly and turned their attention back to the comfortation.

"Put the fangs away, Deadboy. Seen 'em too many times, not impressed. Get your head out of your ass. You have to go to Sunnydale. Faith needs your help while we're here. If nothing else, you can wallow in self pity there and provide Faith and Cordy with a target so they don't kill each other."

Angel's vampiric appearance immediately fell away, and he blanched. "Faith and Cordy? Together? You really do hate me don't you?"

Xander snorted in amusement. "I don't like you, but I don't hate you. And you deserve everything you get from them for running off like a dumbass."

"Stake me now," Angel groaned.

"Nope. Cordy's got two months of bitchin' and torture to dish out. That is much better punishment for being a self-centered prick."

Angel groaned again. "You do hate me, you just proved it. What's going on? And since when do you act like this, Harris?"

"Overprotective freak-out soldier-boy mode," Willow, Dawn, and Spike spoke as one. Tara and Giles nodded in agreement. Sirius looked amused, while Harry and Hagrid just looked confused.

Xander rolled his eyes. "Whatever. Angel. Sit. We've got a lot to tell you, and Harry needs to know all of this too. Sirius?" Xander glanced at Hagrid.

"Yeah, Hagrid should know too. And he can be trusted, he's a good man." Harry nodded enthusiastically in agreement.

"Ok then. Everyone get comfortable. Giles, if you can dig out mine and Dawn's little projects, it should make explaining things easier. Hopefully," Xander sighed as he sank into a chair. Glancing up he said, "Oh, Mr. Hagrid, sorry. Umm, do you know where we can get a seat for you? I'm sure these would be a bit small."

Hagrid chuckled while Harry drew him a seat. "Thank ye Harry."

Half an hour later Harry and Hagrid were looking at the group with wide eyed amazement. Angel looked constipated. Spike and Sirius were smirking at the vampire's discomfort.

"You have got to be kidding me. Only you, Harris, would be a wizard without ever knowing it. The world is doomed if you ever try to do a spell. Remember Valentine's Day? Actually, why don't I let Voldemort have you? You can do a protection spell for him, then we know he'd be dead," Angel smirked the last.

Spike and Sirius growled loudly. Harry and Hagrid prepared to defend the boy. The others grinned at each other.

"Ha fucking ha, asshole," Xander glared at him.

"I don't know, Xan. Valentine's did do the opposite of what you wanted. Maybe having you do a protection spell on him would take him out," Willow teased.

"It may bear considering," Giles added, getting in on the teasing. A very Ripperish leer on his face.

"Gee, so nice to know how you all really think of me," Xander grinned.

Angel, Spike, and the Scoobies all cracked up. The three wizards looked completely lost.

"Eh, could someone please explain that. What's that about Valentine's Day?" Harry asked.

"Oh, you see in high school Xander's girlfriend broke up with him on Valentine's Day. So, he decided to ask a witch in our class to cast a love spell for him, to get her back," Willow began.

"Ah, yes. But the spell had the opposite effect of what he wanted. Instead of the girl he wanted loving him, every other female in town became obsessed with him," Giles continued.

"Don't forget about Larry. It wasn't limited to females loving the Xan-man," Xander shuddered. "Anyway, they all decided if they couldn't have me, then no one could. I had the entire female population of Sunnydale and Larry trying to kill me. And they were trying to kill Cordy, my girlfriend, because she had hurt me." He looked at Willow. "You know, Oz decked me because you had spent the night crying about how mean I was to you."

Willow blushed at the reminder of behaviour. "Oh, oh. Amy turned Buffy into a rat so she couldn't have you!"

"And can I just stress how thankful I am for that? A love spell obsessed Slayer trying to kill me....so not of the good."

"Oi! Dru went on about her dark kitten for weeks after that," Spike added.

"I was ready to turn you and torture you for decades. She would not shut up about the kitten with a poem for a face. Nearly drove me insane," Angel said.

"You were insane Deadboy. Guess that was just another reason for Angelus to hate me, huh? Get your little girl all obsessed with me, then make the asshole leave the hospital just by talking not a weapon anywhere nearby."

"Aye, boy. Angelus does hate you. But you got something no other human ever had from him, respect. Although, given the chance he would turn you in a second."

"I'll keep that in mind, make sure I have a stake ready if the soul goes walkabout again. And stop staring at my neck. No vamping of the Xander-shaped person."

Harry and Hagrid resembled gaping fish listening to the exchange. Sirius was looking between his nephew and the dark vampire.

"You're Angelus?"

"When he's non-soul having. He's a total psychopath then. But, he's all souled up right now, so he's not a threat, just an asshole," Xander answered.

"You faced him without a weapon when he was Angelus, part of the Scourge of Europe, and lived?"

"Damn White Knight," Angel muttered.

"Uh, yeah."

Harry and Hagrid were pale looking at Angel and Xander. Sirius spent another minute looking between the two then snorted. "Harry, looks like you're not the only one with the Potter luck."

Everyone laughed and Xander rolled his eyes, again. "That's it. Yuck it up. As fun as this little stroll down memory lane has been, not, we still have things to discuss." He turned to face Giles. "Giles, tell me you really didn't know about me being a wizard. That not telling me wasn't some kind of wizard rule or something. Because I am really having problems with you knowing about this whole secret society, elitist, bigoted, bullshit."

"I assure you, Xander, I had no clue about your wizard status. And honestly, I never saw reason to tell you all about the wizarding world. As you said, they are a secret society and I never thought it would be something we would encounter," Giles said, looking directly at Xander.

"Yeah, well the Knights of Byzantium, the Initiative, the followers of every bad we've ever went up against, VAMPIRES, are all supposed to be secret societies too. And hey, guess what...we've faced everyone one of those," Xander answered in a stony tone.

"Yes, you are quiet right. I have been rather remiss in not telling you all," Giles sighed.

"Damn right you have. I'm not happy about this Giles...but I understand at the same time. These wizards however are going to get an earful when things get settled a bit. Especially Dumbledore, since he seems to be in charge around here."

"Why, Xan?" Dawn asked.

"Dumbledore was in Sunnydale a split second after Spike told him we were on the Hellmouth. He didn't even blink at getting Faith, because the Hellmouth needed a Slayer. Then in his office McGonagall said, and I quote, "You're the group that has been fighting with the Slayer". They knew about Slayers and they knew about US. I understand they have Voldie right now, but from what I've heard, unless Harry was directly involved, things were pretty quiet. Even now, the majority of the population don't know/believe whats going on. But, they knew what we were facing, and not a one of them ever offered any help. Now, we're here to take out THEIR big bad. Not because they asked, but because its the right thing to do. And knowing what I do now, there's no way in hell I'm going to leave these people to protect my family. I don't care if they want to isolate themselves from "normal" people. I can even understand that. But WE are not normal people. If we had ever failed their world would end just the same as the rest of the planet."

"I..I won...wonder how they n...knew about us," Tara said.

"Oh my god! You're them! The Slayer's witches, the Watcher, and the Slayer's White Knight! The Daily Prophet runs stories about you in their celebrity section. Bloody hell, my cousin is the White Knight. Hermione is going to be unbearable with questions. She moons over every story about you," Harry groaned at the end.

"What's The Daily Prophet?" Willow asked.

"Is the newspaper o' the wizarding world, lass. E'erone reads The Prophet," Hagrid answered.

"You mean we're famous?" Dawn asked excitedly, while the others looks nervous.

"Aye, lass, that ye are. The lot o' ye. But ye are called The Witches, white or red, The White Knight, The Sister, The Watcher, The Reluctant Vampire and The Repenting Vampire. Yer real names have been used, but not dat o'ten. And der 'ave only been a picture or two, most shud'na recognize ye."

Dawn pouted, while the rest looked relieved.

"The Wolf, The Queen, and The Warrior have also been associated with you," Harry added.

"Oz, Cordy, and Riley. Wait, what about Anya?" Willow asked.

"Er, you mean the vengeance demon turned human? Well...that is...I don't think the reporter likes her all that well. She was referred to as The Cowardly Hag, and there really wasn't much nice said about her," Harry blushed.

Spike and Xander exchanged a look. "Ah, yeah, about Ahn. Giles I need you to transfer the cost for her half of the shop to an account I have in my stuff."

"Why? What's going on Xander?"

"The bloody bint knew about Xan's power since she first showed up, that's what's going on," Spike snapped. All eyes turned to Xander.

"Uh, yeah. Demon magnet strikes again. Apparently the Hellmouth doesn't shield wizard magic from vengeance demons. Makes sense, they would need to know who they're cursing. Anyway, long story short...Anyanka never stopped being....evil...she's spent the last two years trying to get me. Wanted me for my untapped power that had been fed by the hellmouth since the day I was born. She figured once we were married she would have control of me. Well, after this morning we all know how that part turned out."

There were gasps from all of the wizards in the room, followed by "Bloody hell"s, "Dear lord"s, and one "Well bugger me".

"How...how did you discover this, Xander?" Giles asked.

"When we all left to get our stuff, I went back in the shop to ask Spike if he needed a ride. Figured a ride under a blanket would be better than a stroll through the sewer. Overheard her trying to get Spike to help her."

"Stupid bloody bint, actually thought she could get him to switch sides," Spike sneered.

"I'm surprised you didn't agree with her Spike. Or is this all part of a plan?" Angel glared at the blond.

"Back. Off. Deadboy. You don't know what's been going on. Spike has proven himself to us, and that's all you need to know. Question him like that, and try to breed distrust again, and I swear I will give you a Holy Water enema."

Angel nodded, sitting back in his seat.

"Good. Now as I was saying. Giles give her money for the shop. I told her to get out of town and you'd buy her out. I asked Cordy to run the place while we're gone. It needs someone, and the AI people will need somewhere to meet. Seemed like the best solution. I have one favor to ask. Any profit that would have gone to Anya, goes to Faith instead. Its not like she is going to be able to get a job anywhere, and we failed her last time, we can't do that again."

"Quiet right," Giles said, as he polished his glasses. "I will transfer money to the account you have for Anya tomorrow and I'll set up an account for Faith while I'm taking care of the rest."

"Great, G-man," Xander looked around the room. "Alright. It's been a long day. And it's really late for you tweed people. It's time for all of us to crash. Hagrid, it was a pleasure to meet you. You are welcome here anytime...as long as you don't pose a threat to me or mine. Deadboy, remember everything I told you, Faith is gonna bombard you with questions. See if Dumbledore can 'key you to LA. We can't have wizard magic in Sunnydale, don't want to draw attention to it. Dawn, I know you are dying to question Harry to death, but it can wait until tomorrow. Bed. Now. Young lady. Harry, Sirius...I would feel better if the two of you were close by...is there an empty room near this one?"

No sooner had Xander asked the question, than the room began to shift and a new door appeared behind the group.

Harry smiled. "Seems the castle agrees with you. Sirius and I will share that room."

Xander nodded and grinned. "That is so cool. Alright, night everyone, there are only four other rooms, how are we gonna do this?"

"I am not sharing a room with Spike, and I do believe Willow and Tara will want their own room," Giles said.

Xander sighed. "Right. Dawn you get your own room. I'll bunk with the Bleached Wonder, I want to talk to him anyway. G-man, you're solo."

With that everyone left the sitting room, leaving Spike and Xander alone.