Chapter 29
 
 
Giles looked around the shop as he sipped his afternoon tea. Everything looked reassuringly normal. Anya and Buffy were dealing with customers while Tara sat to one side, quietly working on a college assignment.
 
Xander gave every impression of being deep in research, but Giles had no doubt that he had picked one of the larger books so that he could hide one of his extensive collection of childish comics inside. The wide grin the boy sported would never have been inspired by a tome cataloguing cursed amulets. Besides, the book propped between his lap and the edge of the table was clearly upside-down.
 
Then the surreal intruded when Spike came out of the training room, quietly closing the door behind him, and resumed his place at the table.
 
Giles leant forward and quietly said, “Buffy prefers to leave the door ajar so we can hear Annie if she wakes.”
 
“No worries Rupert.” Spike tapped his ear. “Vampire here. I can hear her breathing and her heartbeat through the door. The problem is that bloody bell above the door. It disturbs the bit every time it rings.”
 
Giles blinked. “Oh. I didn’t know. That explains a lot, actually.” The vampire’s behaviour continued to baffle him, but Giles was coming to accept him as not only his charge’s chosen partner, but as a potential friend. He very nearly choked on his tea at the realisation.
 
In an attempt to get to know Spike better, Giles decided to draw him into conversation. He gestured at the book about the Aurelian Order and their traditions which the vampire was flicking through, and asked, “Any answers?”
 
Spike snorted and carelessly tossed the book aside. “Bugger all. You do realise that about four fifths of the stuff about vampires in these books is utter bollocks, don’t you? Can you believe that this one says I’m two hundred and eight years old, that one says Dru was dusted in Prague years ago, and the one over there says I sired Dru as a gift for Angelus. And as for the things they say about the history and organisation of the Order… most of it’s total codswallop!”
 
Xander tapped Spike on the arm. “Might want to keep it down, Spike. House rules… ixnay on the ampirevay and emonday talk where the customers can hear. Not to mention the weird British cursing! Scares the muggles away. That loses us their business and their money, and that upsets Anya.”
 
Giles smiled when Spike huffed in frustration and rolled his eyes. When the vampire went on to pick up another book, he turned his own attention back to the learned treatise on inter-dimension travel with which he’d been wrestling for a couple of hours, and lost himself in the intricacies of portal creation.
 
He was so engrossed, the occasional sound of the shop’s bell as customers came and went only vaguely registered in his consciousness. That’s why he was startled when Willow spoke behind him.
 
“Hey baby! I looked for you after your morning class, but I must have just missed you. Then you weren’t in the library or any of our other hang-outs on campus. How come you’re here?”
 
Willow dumped her book bag on the floor and cheerfully plopped down on the chair next to Tara, who was looking between Willow and Giles, wide-eyed. From Tara’s body language, Giles wasn’t sure whether she was simply bewildered or actually alarmed.
 
“Uh… I had lunch here, Will, then I had a p-paper to write,” Tara said. “Did you want me for something?”
 
Willow pouted and Giles almost snorted at the studied artifice she was using in a bad attempt to appear casual and spontaneous. Thank the lord she was such a bad liar.
 
“I kinda thought we could’ve had lunch together and hang out, but if you wanted to come here, that’s okay too. If I’d known, I could’ve come with you.” Willow lowered her voice. “Maybe we could Bronze it tonight? Or we could have some alone time in the dorm? It feels like we haven’t had any just us time in forever!”
 
Tara looked down at her lap without responding and it was clear to Giles that she was becoming increasingly upset and was unable to continue playing along.
 
Before he could intervene, Spike took the initiative by standing up and taking a few steps toward Willow. “What’re you doing here pestering your former, Red? You know you’ve blown it. Matter of fact, I’m surprised that you dare to show your sneaky little face here at all after we cottoned on to the way you tried to control us all.”
 
Willow turned to face the vampire, all round-eyed and innocent-looking, and spluttered, “Former? Control?” She looked around at the hostile expressions facing her. Her shoulders slumped and she made a disgruntled face, muttering, “Oh, botheration. It didn’t work, did it? Talk about awkward.”
 
In the blink of an eye, her manner changed entirely. With narrowed eyes, she leapt from her chair and advanced on Spike. “It’s all your fault! If you hadn’t come back, everything would still be the way it’s supposed to be! Why couldn’t you just stay gone? Better yet, why couldn’t you get yourself dusted?” Her naturally beautiful face turned ugly as she sneered. “Of course, I could just fix that here and now…”
 
She raised her right hand and intoned, “Stauros.” A wooden stake materialised in her grasp. She focused on the stake and released it whereupon it began to accelerate through the air towards Spike’s chest.
 
Tarajumped up and called out, “Willow!”
 
Completely forgetting the green gem on his ring finger, Spike acted on pure instinct. He flailed out at the stake, but it dodged to evade his hand and immediately got back on course. He stumbled backwards and fell on his back, gaze fixed on the piece of wood which would deal his final death.
 
“No!” Buffy charged forward.
 
Giles lurched to his feet and raised his hand towards Willow, palm outwards and fingers splayed. “Vincire!”
 
Willow froze, and as the stake fell harmlessly onto Spike’s chest, everyone paused and held their breath.
 
“Well, that’s inconvenient.” Willow’s tone was slightly bored, as if she was commenting on bad weather. “You know you can’t match my power. This won’t hold me for long.” She flexed her fingers. “In fact I can feel it weakening already.”
 
Giles struggled to maintain the binding spell while he took the required three deep breaths to centre himself. “Portare,” he gasped. His legs gave way and he sat down with a thud. Although the binding spell flickered alarmingly, he just managed to keep it from collapsing entirely. He closed his eyes and concentrated his entire being upon sustaining the spell.
 
After a few seconds a loud pop filled the room and a slight breeze ruffled his hair.
 
“Thank you, Rupert. You can let go now. I’ll take it from here.” The familiar, self-assured voice brought him a surge of relief and he relaxed, allowing his spell to dissipate.
 
 
~*~*~*~
 
 
Buffy gaped up from her position on the floor, cradling Spike’s head. Giles had certainly kept his word and brought somebody to help… somehow… but how much use could this little old lady possibly be? She couldn’t have been more than five feet tall, with short white tightly permed hair, vintage cat-eye glasses, thick tweed skirt, stack heel, lace-up brogues, and to top it off, a classic twin-set and pearls.
 
Spike clambered to his feet and Buffy rose with him, keeping a tight hold on his arm. She couldn’t believe that she’d nearly lost him when she’d only just found him again! And to Willow, of all people! Feeling the comforting weight of Spike’s arm around her shoulders, she relaxed and chanced a quick glance around to check that the others were all okay.
 
Tara stood panting, her face streaked by the tears which still trickled down her cheeks. Giles was slumped in his chair, pale-faced and breathing heavily, while Anya and Xander were standing by the table, clinging to each other in shock.
 
The shop door stood wide open. The customers must have fled. Buffy didn’t blame them. “Anya,” she nodded toward the door. “Better shut up shop for now.”
 
Then she turned back to look at Willow. The witch was still upright, but floating a few inches above the floor. The only sign of life were her eyes, which constantly flicked back and forth in their sockets.
 
“Well, what do we have here?” the newcomer mused as she slowly circled Willow. “I see power, yes. No doubt about that, but such reckless and profligate use. You’re like a two year-old throwing a tantrum because you can’t have your own way. Magic is not intended to be used for such selfish ends.
 
“It’s a wonder that you haven’t either flattened the town or burnt yourself out completely. And you really should be more discerning as to the source of the power you soak up so greedily. You’ve absorbed far too much of the darkness which exudes from the Hellmouth. Since you haven’t tempered it with Air, Earth, Fire and Water, it’s distorted your spirit. It’s no wonder you’re so out of control. A typical novice’s mistake.”
 
She turned to address Giles. “Rupert, I feel compelled to say I think you’ve been very remiss. You should have called us in long before this. Or at the very least, found the child a competent mentor. So much of her waywardness could have been prevented if she’d had even the slightest basic training.”
 
As a chastened Giles started giving his glasses a thorough polish, she faced Willow again. “I’ll have to discuss it with my brothers and sisters, but I think your first lesson should be to spend a month using exclusively the forces which rise from our dear sweet Mother Earth. She should help purify you and get you back onto an even keel.”
 
Buffy loosened her grip on Spike and took a step toward the old woman. “Excuse me, I don’t know who you are, but you’re encouraging Willow to use more magic? I thought the idea was to stop her from using it, like… take it out of her?”
 
The old lady smiled sweetly. “I’m sorry, slayer, but that would be impossible, the magic is an integral part of her. If we were to remove it, your friend would fall into a deep depression and eventually will herself to die.” She turned back to Giles. “You didn’t explain, Rupert?”
 
Giles gave a guilty little shrug and cleared his throat as he replaced his spectacles on his nose. “I’m sorry, I was still hoping against hope that I wouldn’t need to call upon you.”
 
“Then the least you could do is introduce me to these remarkable young people. And a cup of tea would be nice before I make the return trip with our delinquent,” she said as she sat at the table. “I’ve come a long way and it’s getting on for midnight at home, you know. It was long past bedtime for most of us, and the circle supporting me will be tiring.”
 
Giles gestured weakly at the visitor. “Everyone, I’d like you to meet my old tutor Ms Agatha Harkness from the coven in Devon. She is a good friend and a very capable witch and magical counsellor.”
 
Anya gasped. “Not the Agatha Harkess?” She giggled nervously. “No, you can’t be. She’d be more than three hundred years old.” She suddenly sounded doubtful. “You aren’t, are you?”
 
Ms Harkness’ laugh was light and tinkling. “That’s sweet of you my dear, but no. I admit that I’m old, but I’m not quite that old. However I’m proud to say that the original Agatha was a multiple great aunt on my father’s side. I was named in her honour.” She narrowed her eyes and cocked her head to one side. “You’re that old, though, aren’t you my child? Even older. How very curious. However did you manage that?” She waved away Anya’s eager attempt to answer. “Not now, dear, we have more urgent matters to attend to. I’d love to hear your story some other time though.”
 
“It would be my honour, ma’am,” Anya said respectfully. “I’ll just go and put the kettle on for your tea. Giles taught me how to make it the way British people like it.”
 
“Drinks all around, I think, please,” Ms Harkness said. “I believe we could all do with a little restorative.”
 
As Anya obediently trotted off into the office, Buffy gazed after her in utter disbelief. Ma’am? Wasn’t that what British people called their queen? And since when did Anya defer to anyone? She turned to study the enigmatic Englishwoman more closely, but before she could voice any of her questions, Spike spoke softly in her ear.
 
“Little bit’s awake, love.”
 
“Thanks.” Buffy darted past Ms Harkness muttering, “Excuse me,” and went into the training room.
 
She whisked Annie into the staff cloakroom for a wee and a wash to complete her waking up process then hurried back to the others.
 
She found them seated around the table, while Anya served up the drinks. They all seemed to be ignoring Willow, who was still immobile, floating off to one side facing away from them. Curious, she plonked Annie onto Spike’s lap and went around to look Willow in the face.
 
She’d expected to see fear or regret, but her friend’s eyes blazed back at her with white hot rage.
 
“What an adorable child!” Ms Harkness said. “And you really feel comfortable leaving her in the arms of a vampire?”
 
Distracted by Willow, Buffy answered automatically. “Of course, he’s her father after all.”
 
“Really? How very intriguing.” She looked Spike over, concentrating on the space around him. “Well, you’re a very rum vampire, aren’t you, young man? Although of course, like Anya, you’re not nearly as young as you appear. You’re another one I’d like to speak with when I have some spare time.”
 
“Sure pet,” Spike said. “Pop over any time. We’ll have a chinwag over a cuppa. I’m sure you’ve got some tales to tell too.”  He handed Annie a sippy cup of milk and helped her drink.
 
Ms Harkness’s eyes lit up. “Rupert! You’ve been holding out on us! You told us that the slayer had had a child, but you didn’t mention this intriguing fact! Hold on, there’s something niggling at the back of my mind.” She paused, deep in thought. “No, it won’t come to me. I’ll meditate about it when I have time.”
 
While Giles filled in the details of Willow’s transgressions for Ms Harkness, Xander came up beside Buffy. “Is she all right?”
 
“I can’t tell,” Buffy said. “She looks so angry.”
 
“Do you think she’ll ever forgive us?”
 
Surprised, Buffy turned to look at Xander. “Forgive us? I’d think she’d be more concerned about whether we’re ever going to forgive her! She did another spell on us, Xander! It’s only thanks to Tara that it didn’t work. Then she tried to kill Spike! Does she really hate me that much?”
 
“She doesn’t hate you!” Xander said. “I think she’s just… lost. All twisted out of her Willowness by the Hellmouth magic, as Her Witchiness said.”
 
He looked back at Ms Harkness. “Can you make it so Willow can talk to us?”
 
“Ah, so this is the unusual young man you told me of, Rupert. So courageous of you to choose to stand and fight alongside your friends despite having no supernatural enhancements of your own. The definition of a true hero.”
 
Xander stood noticeably straighter. “Me? A hero? Nooooo, Buffy’s the hero.” He waved his arm to encompass the rest of them. “We’re the sidekicks.”
 
Ms Harkness smiled. “If you say so. And are you certain that you want to hear what Willow has to say? You may not like what you hear.”
 
Xander shrugged. “She’s my Willow. My best friend in all the world. I’ve loved her since the first day of kindergarten when she got upset because she broke the yellow crayon and thought she was going to get told off. A few bad spells and a bit of cussing and yelling won’t change that.”
 
“And admirably loyal too. An increasingly rare trait nowadays.” Ms Harkness stood and approached them. She looked up at Willow and said. “I’ll allow you to talk, child, but only because your friend spoke so eloquently for you. However, rest assured that if you attempt any spell, which for your information wouldn’t work anyway, you will be rendered unconscious until we have you safely ensconced at the coven’s retreat in Westbury.” She stretched up, lightly touched Willow’s lips with a single forefinger then as she returned to her seat, she made a subtle gesture which caused Willow to pivot to face the group at the table.
 
“Why are you doing this to me?” Willow’s tone was furious.
 
Buffy was flabbergasted. She stepped around so that Willow could see her and said, “You’re seriously asking that? After everything you’ve done to us? The promises you’ve broken? What I’d like to know is who the hell gave you the right to take control of our lives?”
 
“I don’t understand, all I’ve ever done is try to help you!”
 
“And yet,” Anya said, “none of the spells you’ve done on us have helped us at all. They’ve hurt us!”
 
“They’re right, Willow,” Tara said. “You’ve strayed from the right hand path. You need to detox and go back to the beginning with the magics. If you don’t, I’m afraid you’ll be lost to the darkness forever.”
 
Willow gazed desperately at Tara. Her voice was pleading when she said, “And if I do? If I get it all under control? Will you…”
 
Tara shook her head. “More control is the last thing you need. You need to reconnect to the pure energies. To learn personal responsibility and the ethics of magical use. The things I didn’t even realise my mom taught me as I was growing up. It all comes naturally to me, so I let you down. I’m so sorry. I didn’t know you didn’t know…”
 
“But when I’ve done all that..?”
 
By now, Tara was crying openly. “You can’t do it, any of it, just to get what you want. Not for me, Willow. I don’t know if I’ll ever….” She took a deep breath. “You need to do it for you, or you’ll never get it.” She sat back, sobbing quietly and Ms Harkness put her arm around her and murmured quietly in her ear.
 
“It’s hard, and I probably don’t do it as often as I should, but believe it or not, I’ve been thinking,” Xander said slowly. “Anyway, Will, here’s my thought, for what it’s worth. I think maybe that first big spell you did, the one to curse Angel, is what let in this bad stuff Ms Harkness was talking about. Cordy told me that towards the end, you went all weird and scary with the strange voice and the alien language…”
 
Xander clearly had more to say, but Ms Harkness gave Tara a last pat on the shoulder and stood to meet Willow’s eyes. “The first powerful spell you performed was a curse? As an untrained novice? On the Hellmouth? Oh, my dear child, no wonder you’ve been having problems. Now I know where we need to start. Don’t worry, we’ll soon have you restored to the dear sweet girl you used to be.”
 
Willowlooked as if she was about to cry. “But without the magic…”
 
Ms Harkness waved away Willow’s fear. “Oh, you’ll still have the magic. It will just be the right magic, and you’ll have the correct attitude to wield it at your full potential.” She grinned. “I think it’ll be rather exciting to discover just what you’re truly capable of without the warping influence of the Hellmouth intruding. I can’t wait!”
 
The old woman moved to stand immediately beside Willow and turned to Giles. “I think it’s time for us to leave. You’ll arrange to have some of Willow’s belongings transported?”
 
“I can do that,” Tara said. “I know what she’ll need.”
 
“Thank you, child. I know this has all been very hard for you, but don’t forget what I said. A standing invitation. Any time you feel you’re ready to advance in your studies, or even if you just feel the need for a retreat, don’t hesitate to get in touch.”
 
Ms Harkness turned to Buffy. “And when the child comes into her own, we would be honoured to be selected to supply an elementary tutor.”
 
Buffy gaped. “Wait. What?”
 
Without warning, there was a loud pop and an inrush of air, and the space where Ms Harkness and Willow had been was abruptly empty.
 
Into the shocked silence fell the happy sound of Annie laughing and clapping. “’gain! Do it ‘gain!”
 
 
 


 
A/N
Xander’s Yellow crayon speech from BtVS S6 ep22, Grave, written byDavid Fury, was too perfect for the situation to ignore. I tweaked it a little to make it fit.

The following are accurate to the best of my knowledge (aka my Googling abilities)

Stauros= Latin for stake

Vincire= Latin for bind (as used by Giles in BtVS S6 ep22, Grave.)

Portare= Latin for bring