Chapter One

Xander Goes to Hogwarts

Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter or Buffy the Vampire Slayer, so please don't sue me.

Pairing: Angel/Xander, Harry/Lucius

Rating: N17

Chapter 1

Chapter 1

Xander idly tapped his fingers on the table, pretending to read the book in front of him. He’d been here for two hours, being completely ignored by Willow and Giles, and no one had found a feasible solution on how to slay the B’lechi demon. Sighing softly, Xander flipped the page and half-heartedly scanned the contents, straightening abruptly as the word ‘B’lechi’ glared at him from the page.

“Hey, G-man, I think I found something on these ‘icky’ demons,” said Xander excitedly.

“Xander, I really wish you would stop calling me that horrid name, and it’s B’lechi demon,” said Giles with a long-suffering sigh, taking the book from Xander and scanning the passage indicated. “Oh dear, this isn’t good at all.”

“What’s wrong, Giles?” asked Willow worriedly.

Giles ignored her and pulled another book off the shelf. Flipping through the pages quickly, Giles finally found the page he needed. He looked up as the library door suddenly slammed open, revealing Buffy and Angel, who were arguing in low voices. Noticing the absolute silence around them, Buffy and Angel quit their bickering and turned their attention to the rest of the group.

“Hey, Giles, did you find anything yet?” asked Buffy, hopping onto the desk.

“Is this the demon you encountered last night?” asked Giles quietly. The picture showed a demon with black skin with spikes running down its back and the back of its arms, solid gold eyes, and wickedly sharp claws and teeth.

“Yep, that’s him all right. He tried to get a little too up close and personal with those claws,” said Buffy casually. “So, how do I kill it?”

“Buffy, you can’t kill the demon,” said Giles gravely. At Buffy’s protesting “What?!” Giles hushed her so that he could continue. “Only an elf can kill this demon and that rules out you.”

“Where the hell are we gonna find an elf and why are they the only ones that can kill this thing?” asked Buffy, crossing her arms in annoyance.

“Elven blood is fatal to the B’lechi demon. It acts like acid to them. The ideal way to kill the demon would be to coat the blade of a sword in elfin blood and stab the demon. The acidic blood would corrode the demon’s body from the inside and work its way out. And as to where to find an elf, we don’t necessarily need an elf, just elven blood,” said Giles calmly. “Give me a couple of days to see if I can acquire some.”

No one noticed the silent vampire staring intensely at Xander. Angel sniffed delicately, scenting something distinctly non-human coming from the boy. The scent had been growing stronger by the day and it was driving him insane. The scent was calling to his demon, urging him to claim the boy and never let him go, to protect him, to mark him for all to see. He jerked back to attention just as Giles asked if anyone needed a ride home.

“Buffy’s walking me home,” said Willow brightly, quickly packing up her books.

“I guess I do,” said Xander quietly, hurt that Buffy and Willow were still ignoring him. His friends had treated Xander like a pariah ever since the day Cordelia and Oz had caught Willow and him kissing. Cordelia and Oz, at least, had valid reasons. He had betrayed their trust. What hurt so bad, though, is that although Willow was also responsible for that kiss, she was quickly forgiven and brought back into the fold while he was cast out.

“Xander, can’t you find another ride home. I’m in a hurry and your house is on the other side of town?” asked Giles irritably.

“That’s okay. I’ll get home fine by myself,” said Xander, pasting a bright smile on his face. He quickly packed his bag, mumbling a quick “See you guys later,” and rushed from the library, desperately holding his tears at bay. Completely distracted as he walked home, Xander didn’t notice the demon until it was right in front of him. Xander gasped as he recognised the demon they had been researching and jumped back fearfully. Before he had a chance to run, the demon slashed Xander across the shoulder, knocking him to his knees. Clutching his bleeding shoulder, Xander barely noticed the figure that rushed past him to attack the demon.

*****

Angel followed Xander from the library, carefully keeping to the shadows so the boy wouldn’t know he was there. He couldn’t believe that Giles, of all people, had treated Xander that way. The man that Xander respected the most had just practically pushed the boy out the door, knowing how dangerous it was for him to walk home alone. And Buffy and Willow were just as bad. They had ignored him completely, even going so far as to walk away if he dared to talk to them.

Angel watched as Xander walked distractedly. He started running as soon as he saw the demon in Xander’s path, but didn’t reach him before the demon had struck Xander across the shoulder. Angel attacked the demon, driving him away from the injured boy. As the demon eagerly backed away, focusing his attention on defending itself from the vampire’s attack, Angel realised the claws the demon had used on Xander were corroding away as if eaten by acid. The truth slammed into Angel. Darting back to Xander, Angel dug his fingers into the boy’s open wound, causing Xander to scream in agony, until his hand was liberally covered in blood. Chasing the fleeing demon, Angel punched a hole in the demon’s chest with his bloodied hand.

The demon roared, clawing desperately at its chest as the acidic blood ate its way through the demon’s body. Xander watched dazedly as the demon’s body shrank with every minute that passed, clinging to consciousness with all his might. After only a few minutes, all that was left of the demon was a puddle of melted flesh. Dizziness from blood loss finally forced Xander to lose his tenuous grip on consciousness and he fell to the ground.

“Xander!” cried Angel, running towards the fallen boy. Angel quickly ripped the boy’s shirt off to expose the bloody gashes, needing to stop the blood flow before it was too late. He leaned down and licked the wounds, using his saliva to slow the blood flow, almost groaning from the delicious taste of the boy’s blood. As the wounds finally stopped bleeding, Angel quickly lifted Xander into his arms and ran to Giles’ house. Knocking firmly on the door, he waited impatiently for the watcher to let him in, anger at Xander’s supposed friend’s attitude towards the boy rising steadily.

Giles opened the door and gasped at the sight of a bloody Angel carrying an even bloodier, unconscious Xander. “Angel, what happened?” he asked worriedly, opening the door wide to let the vampire in.

“That B’lechi demon happened,” snapped Angel, brushing past Giles. “But don’t worry about it. All I want is some bandages, so that I can take care of Xander. It’s not like he has anyone else to care for him. After all, we wouldn’t want you to overtax yourself. If a simple ride home is too taxing, then caring for someone this injured is far too exhausting, right?”

“What are you talking about?” asked Giles in confusion. “I wouldn’t desert Xander that way.”

“Bullshit!” shouted Angel furiously. “I was there when you did just that. You asked if anyone needed a ride home and when Xander said that he did, you’re exact words were, ‘Can’t you get another ride home? Your house is all the way on the other side of town and I’m in a hurry.’” He sneered at Giles when the Watcher flinched. “I don’t know why you’re all treating Xander like this, but don’t stand there and tell me you wouldn’t let this happen when you damn well did. If this treatment stems from that kiss Buffy told me about, then why aren’t you treating Willow the same? She’s just as guilty as Xander is about it. Maybe even more.”

“What? No, Willow said that Xander practically forced her. She made it sound like he tried to rape her,” protested Giles, watching Angel rifle through the cabinets as he searched for the first aid kit.

“And you believed that shit? About the person that faced down Angelus to protect poor, weak Buffy? Have you lost your fucking mind?” asked Angel incredulously, slamming the cabinet door shut. “That girl has been sniffing after Xander for a while. Xander cared for Cordelia too much to do something like that to his best friend.”

“Well, when you put it like that, it does seem unlikely,” said Giles guiltily, moving to another cabinet and pulling down the first aid kit. Angel simply snatched it out of Giles’ hands and pulled out bandages, gauze, and tape.

“Did you even bother to ask him before you castigated him like that?” asked Angel angrily, cleaning and bandaging Xander’s wounds with quick efficiency.

“No,” said Giles, ashamed at his behaviour.

“Apparently there’s a lot about Xander you don’t know,” said Angel, tossing everything back into the first aid kit. He lifted Xander back into his arms and headed towards the door.

“What do you mean?” asked Giles, staring remorsefully at the still figure in Angel’s arms.

“Xander’s blood killed that B’lechi demon,” said Angel harshly. “What does that tell you?” Not giving Giles a chance to answer, Angel carried Xander back out into the night.

*****

Giles stared at the door after Angel left, reeling from what he’d learned. Needing more information on elves, Giles went to someone with personal experience. He went to the fireplace and tossed some floo powder into the flames, shouting, “Severus Snape, Hogwarts Dungeons.”

Severus’ head appeared in the flames and he stared at Giles in surprise. “Rupert? Why are you calling? I thought you were living in the States these days.”

“I still do,” said Giles, smiling at his old friend. “I have a little problem that I hope you can help with. I need to know a little bit about elves, and considering you were mated to one, I figured you would be the most knowledgeable.”

“What do you need to know about them?” asked Severus quietly, the mention of his mate bringing a rush of sadness.

“How difficult is it to bind their powers?” asked Giles quickly.

“Very difficult, and even then, only immediate family can place the binding,” said Severus calmly. “Why do you need to know?”

“Because I just discovered that a boy I’ve known since he was fifteen is at least part elf,” Giles replied. “I’m assuming his powers were bound at birth because I haven’t felt even a smidgeon of power from him.”

“How did you discover that he was an elf?” asked Severus curiously.

“Angel used his blood to kill a B’lechi demon,” said Giles evenly. “Is there anyway you can send me a heritage potion, so that I can at least find out who his true parents are?”

“I’ll bring it personally,” said Severus quickly. “I’m rather curious about this boy. I’d like to meet him.”

“We’ll have to go through an angry, overprotective vampire to do that, but sure. Why not?” said Giles softly.

“An overprotective vampire?” asked Severus incredulously. “Why would a vampire willingly protect an elf? Not only are they traditional enemies, but elves are the equivalent of gourmet food to them.”

“Unfortunately, we’ve treated him rather badly lately. It was a misunderstanding, but Angel set me straight,” said Giles guiltily.

“Give me a couple of hours to make the potion, and I’ll be there,” said Severus disconnecting the call.

“Well, I guess I’ll just wait here patiently,” muttered Giles to the empty fireplace.

*****

Severus stalked to his potion’s lab and gathered the necessary ingredients to make the heritage potion. One hour later, the potion was nearly complete, needing to simmer for another hour. A knock suddenly sounded on the door and Dumbledore stepped in without waiting for an invitation.

“Severus, my boy, I need you to go fetch Mr. Potter from the Dursley’s house. Today is his birthday and apparently he has come into his inheritance. Unfortunately, the power surges are far too strong for him to remain in a muggle neighbourhood. He shall remain here until he gains better control of his power,” said Dumbledore benignly, ignoring the glare Severus aimed at him at the mere mention of Harry Potter.

“Albus, I have a prior engagement. Can’t you send someone else after Potter?” asked Severus irritably.

“No,” said Albus. “In fact, if you’re going somewhere, I want you to take him with you. I believe you’ll be surprised at what you discover.”

“No, Albus. I refuse to take Potter with me. I can’t stand him when he’s at school, and you actually expect me to willingly tolerate his presence when I shouldn’t have to?” asked Severus incredulously.

“I wouldn’t ask if it weren’t important, Severus,” said Albus quietly.

“Fine!” growled Severus. “I’ll go get the brat, but don’t expect me to like it.”

“Thank you, Severus,” said Albus calmly. He departed without another word.

“That brat ruins my life at every turn,” muttered Severus, storming out of his lab and out of the school. Once he reached the apparition point, he disappeared with a pop. He appeared in a park near the Dursley’s house and stomped to said residence. When he reached his destination, he found the front door open and hurried inside, worried that a Death Eater had managed to get past the wards. As he reached the top of the stairs, he saw plants growing wildly around the room at the end of the hall. Severus crept closer, keeping a wary eye on the still growing plant life, and peered cautiously into the room. He saw Harry lying unconscious on a bed of leaves. Judging by the plant life and Harry’s radically changed appearance, Harry had obviously come into an elven inheritance. “I just seem to be running into elves on a regular basis these days.” He gathered Harry into his arms and apparated to the apparition point at Hogwarts. Severus took him straight to the infirmary.

“Is that Harry?” asked Madame Pomfrey incredulously, staring at Harry’s altered features. “What happened to him?”

“He came into his inheritance, and as you’ve probably guessed, he’s an elf,” said Severus, laying Harry onto the indicated bed. Before he could escape, Madame Pomfrey commanded him to help with the examination. Harry awoke halfway through the examination, bolting upright at his new surroundings.

“Why am I here?” he asked quickly.

“You came into your elven inheritance, so Albus sent Severus to fetch you,” said Madame Pomfrey calmly.

“An elven inheritance?” asked Harry in confusion. “But dad was a pureblood and mum was muggleborn. How did I come into an elven inheritance?”

“Obviously, Potter, someone was not quite truthful about their heritage,” sneered Severus. “Since you will be accompanying me on a short journey, we’ll find out then.”

“I’m going somewhere with you? Why?” asked Harry.

“Because Albus seems to think it necessary and didn’t give me much choice,” said Severus disdainfully. “We leave in half an hour. Meet me in the Entrance Hall.” Severus didn’t wait for Harry’s acknowledgement, simply turning around sharply and walking from the room.

“And just when I didn’t think my life could get any better,” muttered Harry quietly, impatiently waiting for Madame Pomfrey to finish her examination.

“Well, other than you becoming an elf, you seem to be in perfect health. A little malnourished, but nothing that can’t be fixed,” said Madame Pomfrey calmly. She handed him a nutrient potion and sent him on his way.

Harry headed straight for the Entrance Hall and got there just before Snape did. Snape simply held out a book and waited for Harry to place his hand on it. With a nauseating pull to the stomach, they landed in a shadowed lawn. Severus dragged Harry to the front door and knocked sharply. A strange man with glasses opened the door and smiled with relief when he saw Severus.

“Severus, thank goodness,” he said, opening the door wide so they could pass. He glanced at Harry curiously, immediately noticing the elven features, but didn’t recognise him as the Boy-Who-Lived. “And who is this?”

“This is Harry Potter,” said Severus with a sigh. “Albus made me bring him.”

“You brought the Saviour of the Wizarding World to the Hellmouth?” Giles almost screeched.