Blood Isn't Always Thicker

Disclaimer - I don't own anyone from Harry Potter or Buffy the Vampire Slayer.

Author Note - Willow did try to end the world but it wasn't because of Tara, they were never together. This is set after Book 4 but I'm going to pretend that Book 5 never happened because I can do that.



Willow walked down into the living room in Giles’ house in England. Her magical healing as Giles and the coven liked to call it was pretty much over. Well it would never truly be over, just like for any addiction she would work on it everyday for the rest of her life. She was over her I’m-evil-and-going-to-take-over-the-world phase that’s for sure. She was working on atonement for her crimes now.

That was probably the hardest thing for her to come to terms with. Yes she overdosed on dark magic and yes she destroyed lots of things. Even trying to end the world was something that she could work through. But she murdered someone. Fully knowing what she was doing and why she was doing it, she can never get over that. She could never forget that.

The only person she could think to turn to was Angel. The gang in Sunnydale pretty much washed their hands of her but what surprised her more than anything was when Angel got in touch with her at Giles. She flew down to Los Angeles for a few weeks and spent more time with the souled vampire than she had in the three years he was in Sunnydale. They talked about their crimes and he told her about his road to atonement. She even took a side trip to see Faith in jail and they worked through their problems. They seemed to have more in common than they thought they did.

She was headed to the kitchen to get a glass of water and stopped when she heard two voices in the living room. It was too late for visitors which only meant one thing…something was wrong. She was about to just walk in when she heard a familiar voice, one she hadn’t heard in years. She paused at the doorway to hear the conversation. Then her name came up.

“You cant possibly suggest that Willow would be better off there.” Giles sputtered out.

“I can and I am.” The voice said. “I’ve all ready spoken with Dumbledore and he believes it’s the right place for her.”

Dumbledore another name Willow hadn’t heard in years. “I just don’t think it wise to have her in that environment.”

“Rupert.” The voice said gravely. “You know as well as I do what pushed her over the edge last summer, I do think it would be wise if she were in the middle of the fight. If anything so we could keep an eye on her. For her safety as well as everyone else’s.”

Willow almost recoiled hearing those words said to that voice. So they still thought that she was a danger to those around her. “Besides how long do you think it would be before he finds her here? She’ll be protected there…”

“I don’t think it’s the solution. It’s like your hiding her…if she found out you know she’d be upset.” Giles sighed.

“I know her better than you think. I have been watching her. I just think maybe that…”

“She’d like a say in this.” Willow finally stepped into the room. “I’m not sure what is being discussed here but I’m sure it involves me and I’m sure I’d like to have a choice in the decision.” She froze for a second at the face in the fireplace. It was almost as if it was torn from her memory and she was looking at a picture. “Sirius.”

“Willow.” He smiled somewhat at her. “There are things going on that are unstable right now. Me and Rupert were just discussing where it would be best for you to be.”

“I heard. These things that are happening are they the things that Giles won’t tell me about? And how come I didn’t know you were on a first name basis with each other?”

“We went to school together. It was sort of a surprise when we realized we both had ties to you.” Giles said.

“Giles hasn’t told you anything yet?” Sirius asked. “At all?”

“No he told me something was happening in the Wizarding world and when the time was right someone would let me know.” She put her hands on her hips. “Let me guess. It’s not time yet.”

“Not yet Willow dear. What we were discussing was where you would be safest.” Sirius informed her.

“And where everyone else is safe from me?” She asked hurt.

“You don’t know the whole story yet so what I said wasn’t how it was supposed to be taken.” Sirius paused. “I feel it would be best if you went to Hogwarts.”

“Hogwarts? You mean while there are students there?” Willow paused and sat down. She’d been going to Hogwarts when since she was seven, the thing is she only went during the summer. She wasn't allowed to go while there were students there. For one, she was a wandless witch, something the Wizarding world hadn’t seen in decades. She always thought there was another reason but again it was one of those, when the time is right.

“Is that wise, I mean I don’t think I’m going to go all destroy the world again but there’ll be lots and lots of magic there and not to mention people and people who probably know what I did.”

“Actually no one knows except the ministry and higher ups.” Sirius told her. “There are bigger fish to fry right now.”

“Let me guess, fish I don’t get to know about until “the time is right”.” Willow sighed. “Ok, I get there are things you can’t tell me yet. But do you really think Hogwarts is where I need to be?”

“I do.” Sirius nodded. “And Dumbledore does also.”

“Would you be there with me?” Willow asked in such a voice it reminded Sirius of when she was five.

“Willow quite a few things have happened since you’ve seen me last.”

“You think?” Willow paused, the last time she saw Sirius she was six years old.

“I can’t be with you at Hogwarts, not in the normal sense. I can still turn into Snuffles.” He saw her lips quirk into a smile at the mention of the dog. “But it would be very difficult to see you in person.”

“And you can tell me about it when the time is right? Could you give me some sort of calendar time frame? 2007, February next year? Saturday maybe.” Willow asked.

“When the time is right.” Sirius sighed.

“So Hogwarts.” Willow decided to change the topic herself. “You think it would be best for me?”

“I do.” Sirius nodded.

“I’ll go.” Willow blurted out before she could change her mind.

Giles looked as if he wanted to say something but stopped himself. “Well I shall send out an owl and get the arrangements started.” He left the room in an effort to give Willow and Sirius time alone.

“Willow, there is a reason why I haven’t been in touch with you…but I would like to tell you the story in person.” He smiled. “I missed you.”

“I missed you too.” She moved closer to the face in the fireplace. “I didn’t know where you had gone or if I’d ever see you again…as I got older I realized you’d have this really good excuse for me when I saw you again and then as I got even older I decided you’d better have a kick ass excuse because there are times when I have needed you so badly and you weren’t there.”

“I know Willow I know. You deserve as you say a kick ass excuse and I just can’t give it to you right now.”

“I know I get that…it’s just frustrating. I don’t see you for years and you show up acting all secretive like.” She sighed. “I don’t want to fight. I just want to see you again. I want to…” she paused for a second. “I really want a hug.”

“I want to hug you so badly.” He sighed. “I will see you at Hogwarts…I hate to do this but I do have to go know…Dumbledore will be in touch.”

“By Sirius.” Willow said even as the head dissolved.

Giles walked into the room a few minutes later. Willow turned to him. “Do you think I’m ready for this?”

“I think you are, I just feel protective toward you and Hogwarts is somewhere I can’t do that.”

“You won’t be there either?” Willow sighed. “I’ll be alone?”

“No.” Giles shook his head. “You will never be alone. Things that are going on right now are not conducive to me being a Hogwarts, I’m needed elsewhere. But whenever you need me, I’ll come you know that.”

“Yeah I know.” Willow hugged the older man and smiled.



Two weeks later Willow was standing in Giles living room staring at the small lamp that had been turned into a portkey. “You ready?” Giles asked.

“Yeah, I’ve got all my things…” She looked at her bags.

“You’ll end up in Dumbledore’s office, he’ll want to have a word with you.” Giles hugged her tight.

Willow gathered all her bags and gave one last look around the house she’d come to call home and prepared herself for the trip. “I will see you right?”

“Right.” Giles nodded and she reached out to touch the clock and felt like she was thrown in a black hole. She felt a floor materialize underneath her and reached out for something to steady herself. When her vision came back into focus she saw herself in Dumbledore’s office. She also noticed that the thing she steadied herself on was Dumbledore himself. She smiled sheepishly and removed her hand from his head, allowing the older man to stand up. They looked at each other for a while before she dropped all her bags and embraced him so tightly she though he might snap in half.

Dumbledore smiled. “But it has been a long time hasn’t it. I daresay too long Ms. Potter.”



Willow pulled away and smiled. “It’s been a while since I’ve been called by that name.”

“It is still your name is it not?” He asked seriously.

“I’m not even sure anymore. Maybe you could tell me.” She sat down basically informing the man that when-the-time-is-right, is now.

“I’m not sure I’m the right person to tell you everything…maybe we should wait for…” Just then Minerva walked in the room followed by a large black dog.

“Is it safe?” Minerva asked.

“Yes it’s perfectly fine now.” Dumbledore nodded.

Sirius transformed into his human form in front of her eyes and even as Willow had seen it many times before, it still amazed her. She bolted out of her seat and grabbed the man around the neck so tight his face turned red.

“Oh god, I missed you.” She almost cried into his shoulder.

“Baby girl.” Sirius whispered and tears stung at his eyes also.

“Sirius…I realize that this reunion is years in the making but I do feel it is time for some answers.” Dumbledore smiled.

Minerva nodded. “Miss Potter my how you’ve grown.”

Willow shook her head. “I guess I’m going to have to get used to that name aren’t I?”

“You haven’t been using it?” Minerva said. “Oh I suppose not.”

“I was told not to.” Willow said. “And I’d like to find out why.”

“Please everyone sit.” Dumbledore motioned. “When you were a child, you would not have understood all the things that were going on and we could never feel like the time was right. We weren’t sure you would be able to handle some of them so we did something I thoroughly regret now. Perhaps had we not done it, you would have been better prepared.” Dumbledore walked over to a small bowl and brought it back to her. It was filled with something silver. “We for lack of a better word stole your memories.”

Willow looked up at the man in shock. “You stole…”

“If you would look into the pensive you will see why.” Dumbledore offered.

Willow looked into the silver goo and it started to swirl then stopped to form a picture. She was six years old sitting in her aunt’s house playing with a wizard’s chess set. She was suddenly thrown into the memory. She found herself standing in the house.

“Aunt Lily?” Her eyes filled with tears and she reached out to touch the woman but was passed straight through.

“Willow, sweetie, there is someone here to see you.” Lily moved out of the way and saw a man walk in.

“Daddy.” She ran into the man’s arms and he picked her up and spun her around. “I counted all the way to a hundred this time.”

“A hundred, what a smart girl.” He spun her around. “Remember what I told you about the adventure?”

“Yeah.” She nodded. “I got packed.”

“Good sweetie, we need to leave tonight.” He set her back on the ground.

“Is mommy coming with us?” She looked past her father and saw her mother in the kitchen talking to her aunt and uncle.

“Mommy can’t come with us and Daddy can’t stay for long. You’re going to be staying with nice people. They’re going to treat you right.”

“But I’ll get to come home right?” Willow’s lip started to quiver. “I’ll get to see you and mommy again right?”

“Yeah baby girl you will.” The man hugged her.

“I’m gonna go talk to Uncle James and Aunt Lily but I want you to get ready. Why don’t you be a big girl and go watch Harry?”

“I can do that. Aunt Lily let me feed him this afternoon.”

“You’re so grown up now.” The man ruffled her hair and walked in the kitchen. The younger Willow wandered off to the back room but the older Willow was to entranced with the scene in the kitchen.

“You’ve heard this plan and agreed with it?” James said.

“No I didn’t but when have you known Laura to listen to anyone? She just as stubborn as you James.”

“Sirius, this is the only way, the only way she can be safe. He’s not going to stop looking for Willow…”

“And if he takes you and still wants her? What then?” Sirius screamed.

Lily shook her head. “I don’t like any of this. We’re hiding all of us. And sending Willow over to the states…”

“She will be safe. I don’t care what happens to me she will be safe.”

“Talking like that scares me.” James grabbed Laura’s hand. “You’re gonna be fine, we’re all gonna be fine.”

“I know…” Laura smiled. “I’ll always have you to look out for me big brother.”

Willow tore her eyes away from the kitchen, tears pouring down her face. She ran into the back room where she saw her younger self on the floor with a baby. “And then I’ll get to see the ocean with a real beach.” Willow was saying. “Daddy says California is very pretty.”

The baby laughed and reached for her hair. She screamed a little when he pulled out a barrette. “Ow, Harry, if you like it so much you should just ask, I’d give it to you.” Willow looked around to make sure no one was at the door. “Look Mommy taught me this yesterday.” She put her hands on Harry’s head and muttered a few words. “Said it was to make sure I was safe, figured you wanted to be safe too huh?”

Before Willow could do anything she was sucked out of her memory and brought back to the office. “You…” Willow turned to Sirius. “I can’t believe…and my mom…” She put a hand to her mouth and walked away. Sirius grabbed her arm.

“I realize that you want to probably be alone right now but there’s more you need to see.” He noticed her pause for a bit and look at the door like she was going to bolt.

“You’re my father.” She said with tears in her eyes. “How could you take that memory away from me? How could you let me live without…”

“If you’d please just watch the rest of that night, what I saw…” His eyes held so much sorrow and pain.

“Ok fine.” Willow sat back down and Sirius put a wand to his temple and extracted something silver. Dumbledore held out a bowl for him and Sirius put it in and handed it to Willow

She watched as the silver mush swirled then form a picture. She was sucked into the memory again.

“You’ve heard this plan and agreed with it?” James said.

“No I didn’t but when have you known Laura to listen to anyone? She just as stubborn as you James.”

“Sirius, this is the only way, the only way she can be safe. He’s not going to stop looking for Willow…”

“And if he takes you and still wants her? What then?” Sirius screamed.

Lily shook her head. “I don’t like any of this. We’re hiding all of us. And sending Willow over to the states…”

“She will be safe. I don’t care what happens to me she will be safe.”

“Talking like that scares me.” James grabbed Laura’s hand. “You’re gonna be fine, we’re all gonna be fine.”

“I know…” Laura smiled. “I’ll always have you to look out for me big brother.” Laura sighed. “I think if I give myself up Voldermort would stop looking for her.”

“She’s his daughter, not something Voldermort is going to take lightly. He’ll stop at nothing to get her if he thinks for a second she could contain half the power that he has he’ll take her. And if he takes her, there’s no way to know whether he’ll raise her or kill her for the threat she could pose.” Sirius sighed. “I don’t want him to get his hands on her at all.”

“She may be his daughter as far as blood is concerned but you are her father. She thinks you are her father. She loves you as her father and you love her as your daughter. She is yours and he’s never going to take her.” Laura sat down. “This plan is going to work. Peter is going to follow me in rat form and he’ll be able to come back and tell you where I am and you’ll be able to save me.”

“I don’t like this and if I thought you’d listen to me I’d forbid you to go.” Sirius paused.

“When was the last time I listened to you Sirius?” Laura smiled.

“When I told you to marry me.” He kissed her cheek.

“One of you best suggestions.” Laura smiled.

“I don’t like this.” Sirius sighed.

Willow was pulled out of the memory in time to throw up all over the floor. She might have been shielded from the Wizarding world and apparently the identity of her parents but she knew who Voldermort was. And know she knew who she was.

“He’s my father?” She managed meekly. “But mom, what I remember of mom would never…”

“She didn’t. Laura Potter would never do that willingly, it was not her idea.” Dumbledore said.

“What happened? I need to know everything.” Willow could feel the tears falling down her face now. Now one spoke. “I want to know the whole story and I want it now.” The adults in the room exchanged glances with each other. “Please, at least tell me where my mother is?” She added softly.

“She’s dead. She died two nights after that memory. He killed her.” Sirius said and then walked out of the room himself.

Willow threw her chair to the ground and stormed after him. “You don’t get to do that. You don’t get to drop this huge bomb on me and then walk away. There’s more that I need to know. Why didn’t you ever come after me? Why did you leave me there? Why?”

He grabbed her in a hug and rocked her back and forth. “I wanted to get back to you. I wanted to grab you and take you away every single day I was gone, but I couldn’t. After he killed Laura…your mom, things escalated. I ended up getting framed for the murder of twelve muggles and sentenced to Azkaban.” Willow swallowed a sob at that. “I just got out a year ago and I’ve been watching you waiting to see when it would be best to put myself back into your life. If you would even have me in your life.”

“I want you, but I want the truth, the whole story.” Willow said. “Can you give that to me?”

“I can try, it’s going to be hard, but I can try.” Sirius smiled