Chapter 6

Title: Family Ties 6/
Author: Runewolf (Runewolf@writeme.com)
Rated: PG13
Pairing: W/? TBD
Genre: BtVS (Season 3, Gingerbread)/HP Crossover.
Disclaimer: All things BtVS belong to Joss Whedon, et al. All things
HP belong to JK Rowling, et al.
Distribution: Twisting the Hellmouth. Otherwise, please ask with
URL, so I know where to go or direct.
Author's Note: Sorry about the delay. Thank you for everyone who
wrote feedback on part 5. I wasn't able to respond to people
personally due to RL being a mess, but it really inspired me to
continue this.
Based on Chrissy's challenge. If I get responses to this, it'll get
completed. Otherwise it will wither. Such is.

Lucius settled himself gingerlyu onto the muggle couch. Goyle lurked in the shadows behind him. They were both feeling severely out of
their element. The slight tinges of evil in the little town were almost comforting... but the sheer muggleness of his sister's decor
was extremely disturbing. What had she been thinking? Just because she had decided she was a muggle didn't mean that she had to decorate
like this... He had been assured by several of his research associates that "stylish medieval" was "in". This room was just
screaming for a nice candalabra, or perhaps an Iron Maiden in the corner. For atmosphere, of course.

His niece was perched on the sofa across from him, while the watcher was examining the rat that scampered back and forth across the
mantle. It was almost preening under his attention. For a rat, the witch had definite potential. He had picked up from comments that
the girl came from a family tradition, so she wasn't actually mudblood. As to why she hadn't been picked up by Salem Academy, that
was a question that he'd have to add to the list.

"This is SO exciting. I mean, mom never mentioned any relatives. Except for Uncle Abraham on dad's side. And no mention of magic
whatsoever. This is just so so so wonderful. How did you know to come? Or was it just coincidence?" Willow's earnest eyes bored into
his own. Lucius felt his anger at his sister grow. The girl was hungry for the ties of blood, of family. She knew their importance
and had been denied. Willfully denied her heritage. He had a few things to say to "Sheila".

"Years ago your mother rejected the family. Who we were, how we lived, everything about us. She had been in an accident that
impaired certain abilities."

"Magic?" Willow's voice was soft and incredulous.

"Indeed." Smart. Good. "She chose to live apart, in a world where there would be no comparisons to others, no comparisons to who she
would have been had things been different. When she came here, it became difficult to track her."

"The hellmouth." Giles' voice was distracted, as Amy attempted to grab his tie.

"Yes. It distorts magical energy. When we heard about MOO I became concerned and when I found out about you... That she had a daughter
who might be danger I came immediately." Lucius' voice was completely sincere. He believed everything he was saying and knew
the importance of the coming minutes. Willow was a Malfoy and had to be convinced that she belonged with the rest of the Malfoy family in
their world. NOT in this one.

"How did you hear about MOO?" Willow's voice was quietly curious. "I didn't think that it made the national networks."

"I was told about it by one of our researchers who we have watching the MESH. They have a site there."

Willow looked blankly at him.

"On the global mesh network." Lucius felt slightly annoyed. He had been assured that mesh sites were widely used in the muggle world.

"You mean a web site." Giles' voice was quietly smug. Finally, someone who know less about those damn computers than him.

"Oh." Willow smiled. "You don't use technology much then?"

"No. We prefer magic." Lucius smiled internally at the brief flicker of something crossed Willow's face. She liked that thought.
She was a child of magic.

"They were poised to move past Sunnydale. They were even collecting money." He let his contempt leak into his words. "Typical muggle
hatred of what they don't understand."

"Muggle?"

"Non-magic."

"They were collecting money?" Gile's voice was strained. People gave them money? "Wonder what they'll do with it now."

"Probably give it back. After all, have to fund the book burnings and lawsuits against evolutionists somehow." Willow's voice was
venomous. "I hate people like that. They mindlessly condemn the different, they close their eyes to the truth."

"Willow..." Giles gave soothing his best shot. Amy the Rat bit his finger.

"Come on Giles! If people actually thought then would we have the problems we have today? Would people actually believe the lines they
get fed here? But of course, they're used to it. They listen to the lines the government and big corporations feed them all the time."
Willow's voice cracked and she stood up and paced through the room. "I'm tired of it. Of the blind, unreasoning sheep mentality
of this world."

"Then leave it." Lucius' voice was calm and collected. Willow and Giles turned and stared at him. "Leave this world, this insanity,
and try the world that you should have been in all along. Give magic a chance."

Giles felt his anger build. "She can't be gifted enough Malfoy."

Willow turned to him in shock. "Giles?" Her voice was a soft whisper, full of betrayal. Giles looked down quickly and then met
her eyes dead on. "Yes, there are places where magic rules. There are mystical laws and shopkeepers and governments. But full wizards
and witches make up only a section of that world. The rest don't have much say in things. Its very feudal."

"And you don't think I'd be good enough." Willow's voice was full of pain, of inner self-disgust.

Giles crossed the room and took her hands in his own. "Its not that, my dear. You know that I care very deeply for all of you. And of
the lot of them, you have the most potential in OUR world. To be a thinker, a discover, a healer. Anything you want. But in that
world, the have seers who can see who has true potential to be a powerful magician. Only the best are chosen to be schooled in the mystic arts. They look to the children of their world..." he paused, "and of ours." Giles closed his eyes briefly and then looked right back into Willow's eyes. "You would have gotten a letter when
you were about ten. Its just about unheard of for anyone to refuse that offer. You were here, so I discouraged you from magic because I didn't want to you waste your time on something that couldn't lead you to a future where you could show the world your true potential." He dropped his hands from Willow's and turned away. "Maybe I was wrong. But it seemed best."

Willow looked down and stood for a moment, with her eyes closed, obviously trying to contain her emotions. "You did what you thought was best, Giles." The tension visibly faded from Giles' shoulders.

She looked over at Lucius. "I.. I don't want to live in a world where I'm always second best. High school felt like that, socially. It sucks."

"You don't have to be." Lucius' voice was confident. "From what I've heard, you should have been in my world, in our world, all
along. For all we know, Sheila burned it. But in any case, there are always exceptions. I have resources, and they will be at your disposal. Tutors, books. I may be able to pull a few strings and allow you to attend Hogwarts. We will make it work, Willow."

Willow sighed. Her eyes flitted about the room and rested on Amy. The rat flew across the room and into her hands. She looked down at it. "What do you think, Amy?" She missed the looks of shock on Lucius' and Goyle's faces. No wand, no charm, no spell. Just sheer, CONTROLLED power.

"I'm no expert in Animagi myself, but such do exist. Come home. We'll fix Amy. We'll see to it that you BOTH are trained to the best your abilities. You can always come back," his voice dripped with scorn, "here if you must later."

Willow gazed into Amy's eyes and drew a deep breath. A deep, shaky breath. "Yes."

Giles' eyes closed deeply and opened again and gazed at Lucius. Who looked only at Willow. Grinning. "Wonderful. We should leave immediately."

"Now?" Willow's voice was shocked.

"Do you really want to deal with your mother?" Lucius' voice was earnest. He had to move fast, before doubts crept in.

"Legally, you can't go." Giles' voice was quiet. "Of course, legally, she can't burn you at the stake either, but the courts will overlook that. This is Sunnydale."

"I'll need things." Willow turned and ran up the stairs. She paused halfway up. "Um... how much can I take?"

"As much as you want. We can replace anything you wish, don't worry about cost, but don't be concerned with weight either. Goyle, assist her." Goyle followed Willow up the stairs, leaving Lucius and Giles' alone in the Rosenburg family den.

"Hurt her and I'll tear you apart." Giles' voice was quiet, but determined. It was almost a growl. "You're not well liked in all corners of YOUR world, Malfoy. Don't think I won't do it."

"Understood." Lucius smiled. Ripper. What an... unexpected surprise. "I never could hurt one of my own, you know."

"That's the only reason I'm letting her go." Giles' voice was quiet. "If Sheila really did turn down an invitation for Willow," his voice trailed off. "She's got alot of power. She does need to learn control or it will get her in trouble." He looked right at Lucius. "And she if she IS a Malfoy,"

"She is."

"Then you'll keep her safe, and something is rising in Sunnydale. Something big. If she's here, she'll be right in the thick of it.
If she goes, at least one of my kids will be safe." Giles smiled. "Besides, Willow is a wonderfully ethical girl. She won't
fall to the dark side. If you do get her into Hogwarts, she'll be Gryffindor."

END FAMILY TIES 6
END FAMILY TIES