Magical Summer

Title: Magical Summer


Author: Michael Wilson


Email: wyrdradio@yahoo.com


Website: http://www.angelfire/com/hero/wyrdradio


Rating: PG to R


Disclaimer: Joss, Mutant Enemy, and a lot of other people own the characters from Buffy. J. K. Rowling own the characters from Harry Potter. I get nothing by writing this except maybe some kind words of encouragement and a few cheers... at least I hope.


Spoilers: Buffy: None, Harry Potter: Not sure if any


Setting: Takes place when Xander is 14, a year or two before the first episode of Buffy and before the 5th year of Harry Potter... starting that summer then continuing on from there.


Summary: Xander travels to spend the summer with a cousin he didn’t know he had... and ends up in a world he never knew existed.


Author's Notes: This is a Buffy/Harry Potter crossover. " " as always means talking... while * * means thoughts.


Feedback: If you’re going to make constructive comments... then yes please, if you’re going to flame me... then no thank you.


Distribution: If you like it... please feel free to place it on your site... but please tell me first.




The day had been a lot of fun. Xander had spent the day with his best friends Willow and Jesse at the mall. It was the beginning of May and school had let out almost a month early because of construction planned during the summer. Xander didn’t care the reasons for the school year ending early, he was just glad to finally be free for a few months.


“I’m telling you, Wills, this is going to be a great summer.”


They were walking back to Willow’s house when a car pulled up next to them.


“Boy! There you are!”


Xander flinched and turned to see his father poke his head out of the car window.


*I’m in for it now... and, oh god, in front of Wills and Jesse.*


“Hi Dad...”


Xander’s father glared at him and almost growled.


“Don’t you ‘Hi Dad’ me. What did I tell you about running off without telling us where you were going?”


Xander frowned. He knew his parents could care less about what he did or where he went. He knew that something was up.


“Um... I don’t know?”


Xander’s father frowned, severely angry now, and opened the passenger door.


“Get in... you’re going home... now.”


Xander turned to see the worried look on Willow’s face and faked a smile for her.


“Got to go... see ya guys. I’ll call you later, Wills.”


He leaned in and gave her a quick peck on the cheek then hopped in the car. As soon as he closed the door, his father sped off in a hurry. Xander stared over at him and then looked at the speedometer.


“Are you in a hurry?”


His father nodded and glared at him. Xander looked around the car and noticed his luggage was in the backseat... his entire luggage.


“Dad... what’s going on? Why is my luggage in the backseat?”


His father smirked and turned onto the street that led to the airport.


“You’re leaving town... hell, you’re leaving the country... for the summer.”


He smiled to himself as he drove on.


*... maybe even longer than that if I can sell the damn house quick enough. Get you out of my life you miserable little piece of crap.*


Xander stared into his father’s eyes and swallowed.


“Where am I going?”


His father pulled into the airport parking lot and came to a screeching halt.


“England... to stay with your cousin.”


He opened the car door and jumped out then proceeded to grab all of Xander’s bags at once and almost run them to the terminal. Xander followed, running to keep up.


*My cousin... I don’t have a cousin.... or do I?*


As they got inside, Xander’s father handed the bags over to an airport official and then handed Xander’s plane ticket to the receptionist.


“There you go... he’s all yours.”


He turned and moved to the doors leading to the parking lot, a smile on his face. Xander watched him leave and frowned.


“What cousin!”


As his dad stepped outside, Xander could only make out one word.


“... Granger.”


Xander blinked in shock and then turned to the receptionist.


“What do I do now?”


The receptionist, a nice woman in her 30’s, smiled and shook her head. She handed Xander his ticket and leaned forward.


“Alexander...”


Xander looked up and nodded. She smiled and continued.


“I’m Tracie. This ticket is for flight 265 to Heathrow in London. It leaves at Gate 12 in 20 minutes and we will be boarding passengers in about 10. From the look of things you seem shocked by all of this. Do you need to call anyone before you leave?”


Xander blinked and nodded. Tracie pointed to her left and pointed out a bank of telephones.


“You go ahead and make you call. I’ll have Henry here...”


She pointed to a strong looking young blond man who smiled at Xander.


“... come get you when it’s time for your flight... so you won’t get lost. Ok?”


Xander nodded.


“Ok... thanks.”


He walked over to the phones and pulled out a couple of quarters. When he heard a dial tone, he called the one person he could trust. As the phone rang, Xander pondered what he was going to say. It rang once, twice, three times... then again and again until it was answered.


“Hi... Willow here... I’m not home right now. Please leave your name, number, time you called, and the reason you called at the beep.”


Xander waited for the beep then sighed.


“Hey Wills. I’m at the airport. Dad finally snapped; he’s sending me to England for the summer. He said I’m going to go stay with my cousin... but I don’t remember ever hearing anything about a cousin.”


He paused, considering what to say next.


“I’ll give you a call as soon as I get to wherever it is I’m going. God... I’m going to miss you and Jesse this summer. I hope you’ll be ok.”


He looked around as he spoke and noticed that man... Henry... walking over toward him.


“Well... I’ve got to go. Love ya Wills. Say bye to Jesse for me.”


He hung up the phone and turned to look up at Henry.


“Time?”


Henry nodded and motioned for Xander to follow him. With a sigh and a frown, Xander followed Henry to the Gate... not knowing what was in store for him.


*******


Hermione Granger sat at her desk in her dorm and stared at the picture that had arrived by owl the day before. It showed a young man with brown hair and eyes. He was smiling at the camera with a mischievous glimmer in his eyes. She ran a finger across the picture, a contemplative look on her face.


*I wonder what he will be like?*


All she knew about him was that he was her cousin, that he was a year younger than she was, and that he was from America... and his name, of course.


“Alexander... Alex. Will you like me? Will you be funny like Ron, Fred and George? Will you be nervous like Neville? Will you be mean and nasty like Malfoy? Or... will you be nice and sweet like Harry?”


Hermione smiled as she tried to picture her cousin. She was looking forward to his coming to stay with her family. She had always wanted a brother... and a cousin was close.


“Hermione... come on... hurry or you’ll miss the leaving feast!”


Hermione looked up and smiled.


“I’ll be right down, Ron.”


She turned to her side and saw, on her trunk, the letter that had come with the picture. It was from her mother. She pulled it to her and unrolled it, rereading it.


“Dear Hermione,


You won’t believe this, dear, but you have a cousin. He is a year younger than you and he is Anthony’s boy. I never knew he even existed, seeing as how I haven’t spoken to Anthony in over 17 years. He’s from America, his name is Alexander and he just turned 14. I’m sending you a picture of him. He looks a little like pictures I’ve seen of your father at 14. He’s going to be staying with us the entire summer. I’m hoping the two of you will be good friends.


I’ll come pick you up at the station and then we will both go to pick Alexander up at the airport. Luckily he is arriving the same day that you return home.


Have fun, dear, and say hello to Ron and Harry for me.


Love,


Mum”


Hermione grinned and stood. She opened her trunk and tossed the letter inside before closing it shut again. Her trunk would be delivered down to the Hogwarts Express while she was at the feast and then... goodbye Hogwarts for another summer.


*I’m going to miss this place...*


“HERMIONE!”


Hermione laughed and ran out of her dorm, knowing that if she waited much longer Ron might faint from lack of food. She ran down the stairs and out the portrait hole to join Ron and Harry in front of the Fat Lady.


“Took you long enough. What kept you?”


Hermione sighed and smiled.


“Oh Ron... this is our last day here for the year. I wanted to make sure I had everything before the House Elves take my trunk away.”


Harry smirked. He knew the real reason Hermione had been up there for so long.


*She was staring at that picture of hers again. Strange to have a cousin you didn’t even know existed...*


“Come on you two... let’s get down there before they decide to off and leave us here.”


Harry smirked and then continued.


“... and if we don’t hurry, there might not be any food left.”


This caught Ron’s attention and, after grabbing their arms, he dragged then quickly down to the Grand Hall.


*******


Well, the year was over and once again Hogwarts was fading away into the distance as the Hogwarts Express took them back to King’s Cross Station. Hermione took a longing look back then sighed and glanced over at Ron and Harry. She was going to her home to spend the summer with her cousin, Ron would be with his brothers and sister all summer, and then there was Harry.


*Oh Harry...*


Hermione sighed softly to herself over Harry. She wasn’t sure what she felt about him. She was worried about him and wanted to make sure he was safe... but then there was this side of her that got all jumpy around him. She felt all... fluttery... inside, and warm... very warm.


“Hey mione... come join us.”


Hermione looked down at the game of Exploding Snap the boys were playing and shook her head.


“No thanks, Harry, I’d rather just sit here.”


Harry nodded. He understood the let down one would get from leaving Hogwarts. He dreaded the end of each year, knowing that he would have to return to the Dursley’s. He looked over at her, the sunlight cascading through the window making her hair seem to glow, and smiled. His feelings for her had been subtlety shifting recently and he didn’t want to say anything or do anything... because he knew Ron had ‘feelings’ for her.


*I can’t say anything... because the moment I do, we lose our friendship.*


He bit his lower lip then went back his game... knowing that he would just have to try and get past what he was feeling...


*******


The train pulled to a halt at the station and students flooded out like waves crashing against the shore. Hermione, Ron and Harry held back and waited for the crowd to thin out some before heading down. As they stepped off the train, they could see Mrs. Weasley coming toward them from one direction while Mrs. Granger was approaching from the other.


“See you later this summer?”


Harry smiled at Ron and shrugged.


“I hope so... if Dumbledore will let me.”


Hermione looked down at her trunk and then glanced back up.


“I’ll try... I’m not sure how my summer will go this year... but I’ll owl you both.”


Ron nodded and then moved toward his mother. He paused and waved back at them before rushing off to her. Harry and Hermione watched him leave then looked at each other.


“I hope you have a good summer, Hermione.”


Hermione blushed slightly and smiled.


“You too, Harry. I promise to owl you often.”


She bit her lower lip and then quickly kissed Harry on the cheek before she ran to meet her mother. Harry watched her run off, his hand moving to caress his cheek... a smile on his face... before he turned and went to go find his uncle.


Hermione rushed up to her mother and saw the eyebrow over her mother’s right eye rising higher and higher. She sighed and took her mother’s hand.


“Not now... please... mum.”


Rachel Granger nodded, a smile on her lips.


“Certainly dear. Now... we must hurry. Alexander’s plane lands in less than an hour and I’m not quite certain that the traffic will be on our side at this hour of the day.”


Hermione nodded and followed her mother to the car... looking forward to meeting her cousin.


******


As the plane touched down, Xander looked out the window at the largeness that was the airport... and the grand expanse of London beyond.


*Damn... this place is huge.*


“You may unfasten your seat belts and disembark. Thank you for flying with Air-Cal.”


Xander glanced over at the flight attendant and then unbelted himself. He stood and waited for the aisle to clear before he got into the back of the line. As he drew closer and closer to the door a sense of fear came over him.


*What if they don’t like me? What if they’re like mom and dad?*


Xander shuddered at the thought and hoped as hard as he could that he had at least one normal member of his family to count on.


“Have a nice day, sir.”


Xander looked up and blinked. He was at the door already and the flight attendant was smiling at him.


“Watch your step sir.”


Xander nodded and walked down the steps to the ground. He looked around and saw everyone else walking toward and into a large building across the way. Xander took a breath and hurried after them. As he walked inside, he looked around for anyone who might be looking for him... but seeing as how he had no clue who he was looking for, it wasn’t working too well. He noticed the luggage from his flight was beginning to appear on that... spinning luggage thing... and he figured he might as well grab his bags.


*Ok Xander... look for the bright neon green and pink bags. Should be the only ones like them... and thank you Wills for your creative spark that day.*


He moved into the crowd standing and saw a flash of pink and green. Xander reached in and snagged the suitcase, pulling it to his side. He did this two more times before he was sure he had everything that was his.


*They didn’t lose my luggage... cool for me.*


Not knowing what to do now, Xander looked around and noticed a series of plastic chairs all lined up in a row off to the side.


*Good a place as any to wait... I guess.*


He grabbed his bags and half-carried/half-dragged them over then sat down.


*Might as well wait... since I have no clue what’s going on here.*


******


Rachel looked at her watch and frowned.


“Blast... we’re late... bloody traffic.”


Hermione stared at her mother in shock.


*She cursed... she doesn’t curse... she must be really worried about Alexander.*


“It’s ok, mum, we’ll get there soon. We’re only a few minutes late... and you know there are always crowds around the luggage carousel anyway. Alexander probably is still waiting in line for his bags. I’m sure we’ll go in there and find him just sitting down in one of those neon orange chairs to wait calmly for us.”


Rachel honked her horn at a passing driver and then glanced quickly at her daughter.


“I certainly hope so, dear. Poor boy’s probably nervous and tired and all he needs now is to feel unwanted because these blasted drivers held us up.”


Just then, a hole in the traffic opened and Rachel ducked through it and then through again into the airport parking lot.


“Ha... got you.”


Rachel grinned and pulled into an empty space. She looked over at her daughter and smiled.


“Ready?”


Hermione smiled back and nodded before climbing out of the car. They locked the car and then rushed inside.


“Do you see him honey?”


Hermione looked around and was about to say no when she saw the back of a dark head of hair sitting over in the orange chairs... exactly as she predicted.


“Could that be him?”


Rachel looked over to where her daughter was pointing and smiled.


“Let’s find out.”


They walked over and then walked around until they were facing Xander.


“Alexander?”


Xander looked up at the two smiling women. One was young with bushy dark brown hair and brown eyes while the older one was very similar only with straighter hair. They were smiling at him and it unnerved him a little.


“Yes... my name is Alexander.”


The women smiled and the older one held out her hand.


“Welcome to England, Alexander. I’m Rachel Granger... your aunt... and this is my daughter, Hermione.”


Xander smiled and climbed to his feet. He took her hand, gently, and held it loosely before letting it go.


“Nice to meet you both.”


Xander felt so nervous. He wasn’t sure what to do next.


“Thanks for letting me stay with you this summer.”


Rachel smiled and took her nephew’s arm. She pulled him into a hug and felt him flinch and stiffen... as if expecting an attack.


*What did you do to this boy, Anthony? He reacts like he expects me to hit him...*


The mere idea made her want to cry as she caught a glimpse of a healing bruise on the boy’s back. His shirt had opened slightly and she had caught a fleeting look down his back. She could tell instantly that you don’t get something like that from everyday childhood accidents. She would have to gain Alexander’s trust and see if she could get him to talk later.


“Well... shall we head to the car? Do you have your luggage?”


Xander nodded and grabbed his bags as soon as Rachel let him go. Rachel nodded and smiled as Hermione took one of Alexander’s bags from him, smiling.


“This way then, Alexander, follow me.”


Rachel spun on one foot and then led them back through the crowds to the parking lot...


End Part 1