Title: Control (Secret Santa for Aislin)
Author: Shannon
Email: angels_soul_1@yahoo.com
Fandoms: BtVS/HP
Pairing: Willow/Snape (friendship)
Rating: PG
Distribution: Dark Redemptions (http://dr.shadesofgrey.us/), Shades of Grey, Twisting the Hellmouth.
Disclaimer: BtVS characters belong to Joss, ME, UPN, and FOX, and HP characters belong to J.K. Rowling.
Spoilers: HP nothing really. BtVS: Through Grave.
Summary: Willow is taken to Hogwarts to learn to control her magic after Tara's death.
Author's Notes: Story starts during 'Grave' so the end of that episode as well as everything in Season 7 never happened.
Thanks to Emmy for beta-ing.
Aislin, this may not be as dark as you wanted, but it seemed to be as dark as I could get and not end up to long and involved to finish in time.
“Willow are you paying attention?” He snapped pulling her from her thoughts.
“No,” she replied honestly. They had been doing this for hours. He would purposely try to make her lose control. “and yelling at me, not helping.”
“Why is this the one thing you can’t master?”
“Because you keep yelling at me?”
“Yes, my yelling at you makes you unable to control your anger,” Severus sneered, “And it was in anticipation of my yelling at you that caused you to destroy your hometown.”
Willow sighed, she had been here two weeks and she was tired. She had managed to catch on to everything she was shown with little or no effort. Charms and transfiguration had been easy; she had done that stuff before just without a wand. Defense Against the Dark Arts hadn’t even been a challenge; she had spent six years doing that on her own. Even Potions had been okay, when Severus wasn’t yelling at her anyway.
The one thing she was having trouble with was controlling her magic when her emotions were involved. Especially if she was frightened or angry, any mention of Tara and things just happened. Mostly small stuff now, things broke around her, or fell from shelves. Problem was, if this Voldemort guy was found her and figured out how to bring the evil vein-y Willow back he would be unstoppable.
“I’m sorry Severus,” Willow replied, “I am trying. You don’t understand how hard it is.”
“How hard what is?” He asked, “How hard fighting the overwhelming darkness inside of you is?”
She nodded; she saw a flash of something cross his face. For a second it seemed like it may have been pain or sympathy. He was the one person here that had never shown her sympathy. He didn’t like having her here, she was dangerous.
“You’re wrong,” he said pacing the floor in front of her. He came to a stop in front of her and raised the sleeve of his robe, “Do you know what this is?”
“Really ugly tattoo?”
“It’s the way the Dark Lord contacts his Death Eaters.”
“You’re a—?”
“Was,” he responded dropping his sleeve and pacing again, “I decided several years ago that I didn’t like what was happening to me, Albus gave me a second chance.”
“So Voldemort just let you leave?”
“No, you don’t quit,” Snape answered, “He still believes I’m a follower.”
“So you’re like a spy then?”
Snape nodded, “You can learn to control your magic.”
“Maybe I’m not as strong as you are?”
“Why don’t we take a break?” He asked, “We can go into Hogsmeade for dinner if you’d like.”
Willow smiled; she knew he didn’t like Hogsmeade. She also knew taking her there was a risk, Voldemort didn’t know she was here, but she could be spotted by a Death Eater in town. He was only offering to take her because the only way she was allowed to go was with Dumbledore, Remus, or him. She couldn’t go alone and Dumbledore felt the danger was too high to allow any of the other staff members to take her.
“Thanks.”
A few hours later they were finishing their dinner in the Three Broomsticks and talking about the spell she had used to restore Angel’s soul. In the time she had been at Hogwarts they had many discussions about her past and living on the Hellmouth. He believed that the Hellmouth was the reason that her power wasn’t noticed when she was younger. The magic was so intense there, that she had simply slipped through the magical radar.
“Is there anything else you wanted to do before we go back?”
“Got candy, and presents for everyone so I think I’m all set,” she smiled.
“Severus, how nice to see you,” Snape frowned at the voice coming from behind him, “And with a—student?”
“Lucius,” Snape replied. “She’s not a student, she’s a family friend.”
“Ah yes, does this friend have a name?” The blonde man turned his attention to Willow, “I’m Lucius Malfoy.”
“Hi, I’m,” Willow hesitated; she couldn’t give him her real name, “Faith.”
She shook his hand quickly. Severus noticed the slight frown on her face when Malfoy touched her. He assumed she was sensing the dark magic; it seemed that she was quite adept at that particular talent.
“We really should be returning now,” Snape said standing up, “You’ll have to excuse us.”
“I’m sure we’ll be seeing each other soon.”
Severus quickly led Willow out of the building and apparated them to the edge of the school grounds. Willow held her stomach as she found herself standing outside the iron gates.
“I really don’t like Apparating,” she said, “And that guy way creepy.”
“Yes,” he hid a smile as they walked back to castle. Creepy was certainly one word to describe Lucius. As they approached the doors he felt the familiar pain in his left arm. “Damn.”
“What’s wrong?”
“I’m being summoned.”
“Not a good thing right?”
“No,” Snape replied, “They probably know you’re here.”
“And that you lied to creepy guy?” Willow asked.
“Yes,” he shrugged, “Go inside, find Albus and tell him what’s going on.”
“I should go…”
“No,” with that last comment he headed back down the path to the gates.
Willow watched him walk away. He was being summoned because of her; she couldn’t stay here and let him risk his life like that. Of course, she had no idea how to follow him he would apparate as soon as he reached the edge of the school grounds. She pulled open the door and found Dumbledore standing there.
“Severus was summoned?” He asked.
“How do you do that?” Willow frowned, “You always know what I’m going to say, it’s a little weird.”
“Come in,” he stepped back and motioned her inside, “He’ll return in a few hours.”
“No, I don’t think he will,” Willow stepped past the older wizard into the hall, “I think that creepy guy knew who I was.”
Dumbledore raised an eyebrow in question.
“Um, I think he said his name was,” Willow paused trying to remember the name Severus had used, “Lu—sorry he was really creepy. Long blonde hair, carried a cane.”
“Lucius Malfoy?”
“Yeah, that’s it,” Willow smiled slightly, “Dark magic pouring out of him, kind of arrogant.”
“That’s him,” Dumbledore smiled at her assessment, “You think he knew who you were?”
“Yeah, and if Severus is being summoned because I’m here I have to go to him, but since I doubt he’s walking to wherever, I don’t know how.”
“Willow following him to Voldemort will put you in danger.”
“So I’m supposed to let him die, because I don’t want to be in danger?” Willow said angrily, “I can’t do that.”
“Willow if you confront Voldemort…”
“I risk the evil part of me coming out again, got that,” Willow answered, “But you know what I’ve done a lot of good with my magic too, I need to do this.”
Dumbledore stared at the girl for a few seconds. She was right more often than not she had used the power she had for good. She had fought along side a slayer for six years. She still didn’t have control over her emotions; however, if the anger was directed at Voldemort it could work to their advantage.
“I can locate Severus,” Dumbledore said, and Willow’s eyes brightened. “I will accompany you though.”
“That’s one more person in danger then,” Willow’s smiled fell.
“I can take care of myself,” he assured her, “You can’t go into a place as controlled by dark magic as this will be alone.”
“Fine, let’s go,” she stepped closer to Dumbledore and he took her hand.
A few seconds later they were standing in a clump of trees next to a clearing. Willow looked around her and frowned.
“I thought you said you could find him.”
“We did, look again,” he pointed to the clearing.
Willow looked back at the clearing and saw that there was a group of people in dark robes forming a circle around something she couldn’t see. She moved away from Dumbledore trying to get a closer look at the crowd. As she searched for a break in the crowd she heard a scream.
“That was Severus,” Willow said turning back to Dumbledore who had already pulled his wand from his robes.
“Yes,” he agreed. Before he could say anything else Willow had taken off at a run toward the crowd. He sighed and followed her toward the crowd.
Willow pushed her way through the circle of hooded wizards, until she reached the center. She saw Severus on the ground, a woman standing over him, wand aimed at him, a man, standing slightly behind her. His face, like the others was covered, but somehow she knew beyond any doubt that this was Voldemort.
“Stop,” Willow said as she approached them. “You wanted me, I’m here.”
“Willow don’t…” Snape said weakly from the ground.
“Too late,” she said without taking her eyes from the Voldemort, “You’re Voldemort right?”
Willow frowned at the collective gasp from the crowd of wizards surrounding her. She would really need to ask Severus about the problem with using the man’s name. He really didn’t seem scary enough to fear his name. The woman next to Voldemort raised her wand toward Snape again.
“I said to stop,” Willow said softly her eyes flashing black, “Don’t make me have to stop you.”
“You’re a child,” the woman sneered, “And surrounded by my friends, you would be dead before you raised your wand.”
The woman did have a point, if she was going to try to get her wand out, they could easily kill her while she searched her pockets. Apparently she wasn’t aware that a wand wasn’t really all that necessary to Willow.
“So you are the witch we’ve been looking for?” Voldemort hissed.
“No fair, asking a question when you haven’t answered mine,” she could feel the magic building inside of her. She was losing control again, though at the same time she felt amazingly in control.
“You don’t question the Dark Lord,” The woman moved her wand off of Snape and pointed it Willow.
“Okay you know what, you are just getting on my nerves now,” Willow said her attention once again on the woman. She extended her arm in front of her and the wand pulled from the other woman’s hand and flew to her own, “So we know he’s Voldemort now, who are you?”
“Do not speak his name.”
“I’ll say what ever I want,” Willow sighed, “Honestly I’ve seen worse, I faced a Hell God, and used her name, can’t seem to build up enough fear of an old wizard that was almost destroyed by an infant. Now you’re name?”
The woman continued to stare at Willow, eyes widening as her hair began to turn black as she watched. Snape had pulled himself to a sitting position still too weak to stand. He could see Willow losing the hold on her emotions. Right now that anger was directed at Bellatrix and the Dark Lord, what he was concerned with was keeping it aimed that way and then bringing her back to herself when it was over.
“’Kay so you’re not going to tell me,” Willow smiled, “Not a problem really, don’t need your name to kill you. And gotta tell you I’m getting kinda bored.”
“Willow, this doesn’t have to end like this,” Voldemort said, the power was pouring off of the girl in front of him in waves. “Join me and we can—.”
“Join your little army?” Willow turned her attention to the wizard in front of her, “That’s so not gonna happen. I don’t take orders well, and I’ve spent the last six years destroying monsters like you.”
Willow heard several loud cracks as Death Eater’s began to Disapparate. It looked like their loyalty didn’t extend to fighting a battle they didn’t think they could win. She saw the woman that had been torturing Severus start to run toward the remaining wizards.
“Not so fast, we’re not done playing yet,” Willow faced her again; “I’ll even give you your wand back.”
With that Willow threw the wand back at her. Bellatrix caught it in the air and was immediately pointing it at Willow. Dumbledore was standing at the back of the remaining Death Eaters casting a spell first to quickly bind them together then a second spell to prevent them from disapparating. Voldemort used Dumbledore’s distraction to Disapparate unnoticed.
“”Willow,” Severus softly finally standing up, “Bellatrix is powerful.”
“Bellatrix?” Willow asked the woman, “That’s your name? Great so Bellatrix looks like those friends of yours aren’t all that reliable. Even your boss left you.”
Snape frowned; she really needed to stop her deliberate tormenting of the older witch. He had seen what Willow could do but this wasn’t the same as fighting some little muggles who were playing in the dark arts.
“Take your best shot Bellatrix.”
“Crucio!” Bellatrix shouted pointing her wand at Willow.
“Thicken,” Willow said raising her hand, “Stop.”
The light that had shot from the wand hit an invisible barrier then dissipated. At the same time Bellatrix seemed to freeze in the middle of raising her wand again.
“See thing is you said I’d be dead before I could get my wand,” Willow explained, “Problem is, for you anyway, I don’t really need the wand.”
Willow turned as the sound of several people Apparating into the clearing. She looked as Severus in question.
“That’s Moody, Tonks and several other Aurors,” he explained.
“Their the wizarding police right?” Willow asked then at his nod of agreement, “Are you okay?”
“I’ll be fine, and didn’t I tell you not to come here.”
“I don’t listen well,” she smiled, “But I did it. I kept control.”
“Well yes, but you came close to losing it again. You still have a lot of work to do.”
“Miss Rosenberg,” Tonks was walking up the them, “Professor Dumbledore says you did this to Bellatrix on your own?”
Willow glanced at the angry woman struggling against the magical bonds as several Aurors placed other spells on her to control her until they reached Azkaban. Willow nodded her agreement.
“I really hate to see my friends hurt.”
“Can’t say I’d want to be on your bad side,” The other girl smiled. “Thanks for the help though.”
“Can I take him back to the school now?” Willow asked her.
“Yeah, um, you don’t need St. Mungo’s do you?” The Auror asked Snape.
“No,” he replied as Dumbledore approached them.
“Tomorrow we’ll all have to visit the Ministry but we can return now,” he told them and quickly activated a port key to return them to the school.
Once they found themselves safely in Dumbledore’s office, Willow sat in a chair as Dumbledore helped Snape sit.
“Okay that was so much worse than Apparating,” she mumbled.
“You did very well tonight Miss Rosenberg,” Dumbledore told her as he took his own seat behind the desk. “I must admit when your hair began to turn black I became a little concerned.”
“Yeah still working on the control thing,” Willow agreed, “But at least I know I can come back from it now. He’s not going to come after me again is he?”
“Yes,” Severus said from the chair, “Not right away, he’ll want to find out more about you first. He’s lost Bellatrix now; he needs someone else to replace her.”
“So he may come after me when I return home then?”
“Yes, it’s a possibility but you can remain here until you have full control,” Dumbledore assured her, “That is if you wish to do so?”
“Of course I do,” Willow agreed, “I can’t go home and face my friends unless I’m sure it won’t happen again.”
“Then I suggest we all turn in for the night and worry about the future tomorrow.”
Dumbledore led the way out of his office. Snape assured everyone that he could make it to his rooms on his own and had all the necessary potions in his stores to deal with the pain and injuries he’d suffered.
Over the next several weeks Willow slowly gained more control over her magic. Voldemort’s war was slowed at least temporarily by the loss of so many of his followers. Dumbledore arranged for Buffy’s fire place to be added to the Floo Network so that she could visit home as often as she wanted.
As she learned handle her power she also learned more about the fight against Voldemort and the ways of the wizarding world. At the end of the summer she decided to stay in England and join the Order of the Phoenix in their fight. At the same time recruiting Buffy, Xander, and Anya to help as well. They would all remain in Sunnydale; Buffy couldn’t leave the Hellmouth unguarded, but with Floo travel they could arrive quickly if they were needed.