Title: Potential
Author: Shannon
Email: angels_soul_1@yahoo.com
Rating: PG-13
Pairings: Willow/Remus Lupin
Disclaimer: BtVS and A: tS belong to FOX, UPN, WB, And ME. Harry Potter belongs to J.K. Rowling
Distribution: My Site: Shades of Grey (http://www.shadesofgrey.us/) NHA, WLS, FF.Net and Twisting the Hellmouth. Anyone else that has my permission for other fics feel free, anyone else wants it just let me know where it’s going.
Spoilers: Anything through Season 7 of BtVS, Season 4 of A: tS, and Order of the Phoenix for Harry Potter.
Summary: What if Willow’s spell in ‘Chosen’ activated a Slayer at Hogwarts.
Author’s Notes: I want to thank everyone who sent such wonderful feedback and encouragement for ‘The Missing Headmaster’. Made it much easier to ignore the idiot flaming me and to decide to continue in a new fandom for me.

Part 12


“Behind you Hermione,” Dawn shouted as she staked the vampire in front of her.

Hermione spun around at the sound of Dawn’s voice and let out a small scream as she saw three vampires rushing toward her. She quickly punched the one closest to her, sending it falling backwards to the ground.

They had been back from L.A. for two weeks and had been patrolling almost every night. Willow and Xander assured her she was doing very well. She didn’t feel like she was doing all that great, Willow and Dawn were killing many more vampires that she was. A thought that was driven home once again as one of the vampires next to her burst into dust without her having touched it, as she landed a punch on the one still standing.

“Thought you could use some help,” Willow smiled from several feet away. “Remind me to teach you that spell when we get to your school.”

Hermione quickly staked the vampire that she had previously knocked down, and turned, stake in hand to the last one. Dawn started to go closer to help her when Xander grabbed her arm and pulled over to him and Remus.

“It’s one vamp Dawn,” Xander told her when she scowled at him, “Let her handle it.”

“Xander you know she…”

“She has to learn, you won’t be here forever,” Remus finished.

“But…”

“Willow’s right there,” Xander crossed his arms over his chest, “She can do that spell thing if it looks like Hermione can’t handle it.”

Before Dawn could argue further, the remaining vampire disappeared in a cloud of dust that left Hermione coughing. Xander pushed off the headstone he had been leaning on and extended a hand to Hermione.

“Great work.”

“Um, thanks,” Hermione blushed slightly. “Though Willow and Dawn helped.”

“You were out numbered,” Remus replied as Willow came to stand next to him.

“I had no choice but to help,” Dawn pointed out, “One attacked me, and you were a little busy.”

“I only killed one,” Willow stated, “Just to even it up a little.”

“How did you do that anyway?” Hermione asked.

“It’s kind of like sunlight only inside the body,” Willow grinned, “I had tried to do this ball of light spell once for Buffy and it didn’t work out as planned, but I did eventually figure this one out.”

“It’s rather brilliant,” Remus smiled and hugged her.

“Thanks, now that there’s a slayer that may be able to use it I wanted to try it out.”

“We should probably get back,” Xander said checking his watch, “It’s late.”

Willow was watching Molly Weasley fussing over Hermione and Dawn. She knew that Hermione was a slayer, obviously, but she wasn’t happy about the idea of her putting her life in danger every night patrolling. Willow wasn’t exactly sure what the older woman thought a slayer did if not put her life in danger but she was glad Hermione had someone to be that concerned about her safety.

Dawn was enjoying all the fuss, she complained about it but Willow knew the teenager had been missing having a parent around to fuss over her. Not that Buffy didn’t worry about her sister, she did, so did Giles, really they all did. There just wasn’t time for fussing over anyone in their lives. They all had become so used to the constant danger that it was assumed Dawn would take care of herself, or at least not put herself in danger anymore than necessary.

The girls finally managed to pull themselves away from Molly and headed up to their room to see Ginny and Ron. The Weasley children and Harry were unhappy that they couldn’t join Hermione on her patrols but Willow and Xander had agreed with Molly on that. Hermione had to do it, it was her calling, Dawn had more experience at fighting demons and vampires than most slayers ever had, but the other kids would be putting themselves in danger for no reason. Even more so because Harry added his own element of danger. Had Buffy or Faith been here Willow’s attitude may have been different but she didn’t want to have to protect them all.

“When does school begin Molly?” Willow asked when the girls were gone.

“Just a couple more weeks dear,” she responded.

“I can’t wait to see the school. Did you need any help?”

“Oh, I’m fine,” she came to the table and sat next to Willow, “How are your studies going?”

“Very well actually,” Willow grinned, “It’s so different than what I learned on my own and from Giles. I’m not sure I’m looking forward to attending Professor Snape’s classes though.”

“He’s not as bad as the children make him sound. You can learn a lot from him.”

“I know, Hermione said it’s one of her favorite classes in spite of his, uh, personality.”

“Can I ask you a question?”

“Sure,” Willow replied.

“Will Hermione be in any real danger?” Molly asked, “After you leave I mean?”

“She’s a slayer,” Willow said frowning, she didn’t want to frighten the older woman but she wasn’t willing to lie either, “That means she’ll always be in some danger, even is she doesn’t patrol. Vampires, demons and other assorted bad things will know as soon as they’re near her.”

“So it doesn’t matter what she does?”

“Sure it does, that’s why we’re here,” Willow assured her, “She’s safer if she’s trained. She has all this power now, which is great but it doesn’t do her any good if she doesn’t know how to use it.”

“How long will you be here?”

“A while yet, I’m pretty sure that her magic won’t make an unwanted appearance when she’s fighting. It hasn’t yet anyway but we have to be sure the new slayer stuff won’t affect the way her magic works when she needs it to.” Willow explained, “Also there are a lot of possibilities that we may be able to work out to use her magic to her advantage in a fight.”

“The sunlight inside spell the girls were talking about?”

“Exactly, and if she can learn to levitate items without her wand moving a stake without having to touch it can be rather…helpful.”

“I’m just very worried about her,” Molly said sadly, “The children are already in so much danger from Voldemort and now to add vampires to that.”

“That’s something I wanted to talk to you about Molly,” Xander said walking into the kitchen.

“What’s that?”

“Harry, Ginny, and Ron seem to face a fair amount of danger as well as Hermione and from personal experience being friends with a slayer will only increase it.”

“Xander,” Willow frowned at him, he was scaring the already nervous mother for no reason.

“They may not have Hermione’s strength but they’ll be safer if they learn at least some of the skills she’s learning.”

“You want to teach my children to fight?”

“Yes,” Willow agreed, Xander was right. Once Giles had begun teaching them all at least basic self-defense they were a much more effective group. “Molly, right now you won’t let them patrol with her, but what if you’re not around?”

“Do you really think they won’t find a way to go? That Ron or Ginny would even think of letting her go out alone?”

“Well I…”

“Would they even be the kids you raised if they let their friend walk into danger without at least trying to help?” Willow asked.

“I don’t know.”

“Molly I want the children safe as much as you do,” Remus said coming in the room and standing behind Willow. “But they’re right. Learning some physical skills as well as maybe some of those spells Willow uses could save their lives.”

“I don’t want them to go looking for vampires,” Molly said quietly.

“They won’t,” Xander agreed, “At least not with our permission but if one finds them…”

“Alright,” She conceded.

“I’ll let them know that everyone starts training tomorrow,” Xander said before saying goodnight to the others and heading upstairs.

“Care to go for a walk Willow?” Remus asked.

“This late?” Molly said looking up surprised.

“Yes,” Remus smiled slightly.

“Let me grab a jacket,” Willow smiled and followed him from the room.




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