Legacy Of The Fathers

Legacy of the Fathers

Notes: I know this chapter has taken a while to get out but a) I've been working on my dissertation, b) I've been trying to finish The Eighth Weasley because it's been going on for long enough (only 23 chapters left), c) I haven't been inspired to do this, mainly because I wasn't sure how to approach this chapter. Now, though, I am being bold enough to attempt it. Can't guarantee that it'll be any good, but hey!

Oh and thanks to a friend loaning me Season 3, I've worked out that this particular series is set post-Doppelgangland, but pre-Enemies.

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In the wake of Alexander's revelation of his somewhat unsavoury origins, questions had been flung back and forth around the table at an astonishing rate, Giles and Ethan providing as many answers as they could about the wizarding world, while Alexander toyed absently with a pen.

Draco, meanwhile, had been flashing flirtatious looks around the occupants of the table, which had the effect of making Faith leer at him, Buffy glower, Willow blush, Oz raise an eyebrow and Cordelia shake her head.

"I have a question," Angel said, still intently staring at Alexander.

Of the group, aside from Giles, Draco and Ethan, he was the person who understood just how dangerous Voldemort had been and seeing the vampire afraid of something had only confirmed to the other teens that Alexander's father wasn't of the good.

"Shoot," the boy waved him on with the pen.

"Is there any chance that you, in any circumstances, would lose control of this power that you have?"

Alexander raised dark eyes without lifting his head. "Probably," he replied quietly, calmly turning the pen over with his fingers. "Why don't you piss me off and we'll see what happens."

"Xander..."

"Giles, he almost killed my mom," Alexander said, his voice crisp with ice. Angel opened his mouth to protest. "Yeah, yeah. We all know the routine. No soul. Wasn't you at all. Had nothing to do with the person you are now... think about it, Angel, old buddy. You can remember wanting to taste her, can't you?"

Angel glared at the boy, but Alexander continued to gaze steadily at him, his eyes nearly black. The pen was twisting rapidly over and over in his fingers, a small smirk lifting one side of his mouth up.

"Prove me wrong, Angel. Tell me you don't remember, then I might believe you."

The vampire tried to match the boy's cold stare, but had to look away. "I'm sorry."

"Yeah," Alexander muttered. "It's a bit late for that, isn't it?"

Draco snickered. "You really are a stroppy git at times, Snake," he drawled, nudging Alexander in the ribs, his silver-grey eyes glittering with amusement. "Making such a fuss when we have to save the world!" There was a pause. "And I really just said that, didn't I? Someone just kill me now!"

"Could do that," Buffy muttered, glaring at him.

"Now, now, Buffy," Giles chastised gently.

"Giles, he just walks in here and starts insulting me!" Buffy exclaimed, gesturing at the blond youth angrily, her hazel eyes flashing. "Then Ethan does the same! What is it? Pick on Buffy day?"

"You mean you didn't get the memo about that?" Ethan looked shocked. "We were going to bring banners and flags... I do remember ordering a cake... and maybe a few strippers as well, just for fun..."

"Ethan, shut up," Alexander sighed, his face buried in one hand.

The older wizard squeezed his Godson's slumped shoulders. "Sorry, Xander," he said, the sincerity in his voice surprising those around the table. "It's the first time I've been able to come here, be blunt to the Slayer and not get pummelled for it."

"And that's only really because you have your own, personal Xander-shaped shield," Alexander acknowledged tiredly, lowering his hand from his face. "And what's your excuse, Ferret?"

"Pardon me, but being stabbed in the back with a sharpened chunk of wood by a complete stranger when having a good time with a rather nice girl behind a club does tend to make me a little... irritable."

"You stabbed the guy?" Faith interrupted, pointing from Buffy to Draco and back again. "You? Stabbed him?"

"She thought I was undead," Draco smirked, running a hand through his silver hair, his unnaturally pale eyes glinting with amusement in the daylight that was pouring down on the table. "Can't imagine why."

"Actually, Snake, it's because you were you. If I'd known and had a stake, I woulda done the same," Alexander put in, to which Draco smartly raised his middle finger and waved it at him. "And you claim to be a gentleman..."

"How many times do I gotta apologise for that?" Buffy said with chagrin.

Draco gave her a genuine smile. "Just once," he said amiably, leaning back in his seat and interlacing his hands behind his head. "But then you have to tolerate my manly bitching for as long as I feel like."

"Manly bitching? Malfoy, you bitch like a girl."

Giving Ethan a pointed look, Draco sniffed. "Yes," he agreed. "But I do it in style."

"Is he always like that?" Buffy asked Giles and Alexander.

Giles shook his head. "Normally, he is much worse than he is here," he said, which made Draco beam, as if he had just been crowned King of the Earth, the Universe and then some. "On the plus side, he no longer wants to kill you all, after torturing you horribly, because you're muggles, which is progress."

"We're whats?"

"Muggles. Non-magicals," Draco replied. "Lowest human lifeform and so on..."

"And you used to hate us?" Willow asked.

He shrugged. "My father taught me it was the way things were. We were smart and powerful, so we were on top and you plebby little muggles were useless and generally rather pathetic. Of course, I still am superior to you in every way, but I don't think muggles are quite as bad as father said. There are clearly some things he never knew about, so I suppose he was at a slight and rather homicidal disadvantage."

"What changed your mind?"

Draco cleared his throat, looking pointedly up at the ceiling and muttered something that sounded vaguely like, "Montypython."

"Monty Python?" Buffy couldn't help laughing. "You're telling me that some weird British TV show had so much impact on you, it made you change your entire way of thinking of non-magic people?"

"Hey!" Draco protested. "It's funny stuff! I mean, I'm Brian and so's my wife! I'll bite yer legs off! Genius! Pure bloody genius! If you've ever seen wizarding comedy, you'll understand why the Python blokes had such an impact."

"And they changed your whole perception of what muggles are like?"

"Well, unlike wizards, muggles are happy to rip the piss out of their own world, which makes it even funnier. They can admit that their world is far from perfect and make tits of themselves to make it funny. If you did that in the wizarding world, you'd probably have a mob after you, demanding that you get exiled for all eternity."

"Malfoy," Ethan added, a tone of malicious glee in his voice. "I think you forgot something else that made you like the muggle world more than you should."

"No..." The blond man's silvery eyes flashed cautioningly up at Ethan who smirked back down at him, raising an eyebrow in challenge. "Er... no, Rayne, I'm sure I didn't miss anything..."

"And I'm sure you did..."

"Rayne, I tolerate you, but if you don't shut up, I'm afraid that I may have to follow in my father's footsteps..."

"You mean you don't want them to know about your pathetic addiction to something called soap opera?" Ethan said with a look of mock-innocence, Alexander staring at his friend in disbelief.

Draco shot a malevolent look at Ethan. "You bastard," he said succinctly.

With a hand clamped over his mouth, Giles looked like he was having severe trouble keeping his face straight, as Draco glared pointedly at the other man. "You-you-you like soap operas?"

"I never had a telly growing up and this bloody twat went and sat me in front of the most addictive pieces of crap known to mankind! I'm telling you, Voldemort had nothing on the creators of those bloody programmes! They're pure evil!"

"And here I was, thinkin' you were some kinda mini-evil guy," Faith clicked her tongue, shaking her head mournfully. "That's a real disappointment, Goldielocks. A real disappointment..."

Draco turned his glare to her. "If Giles hadn't confiscated my wand for the duration of my visit," he said, his eyes hooded. "I'd show you just what kind of `evil guy' I can be, Slayer the Second."

"What did we tell you about threats, Malfoy?" Giles reminded him.

"You really are a boring old fart, Giles," Draco sighed. "It would only have been the rictusempra or something simple like that."

"And that would be quite bad enough, thank you."

Buffy was studying him. "I'm still having trouble dealing with the idea that there's a whole wizardy kinda world thing that we didn't know anything about... and Draco-guy comes from it."

"Not just Draco," Ethan corrected. "Giles and I both attended the wizarding school that this charming young reprobate," Draco beamed at the description. "Attended. We were... ah... what would be the appropriate word for what happened to us?"

"You were expelled," Giles replied, pursing his lips, removing his glasses and polishing the gleaming lenses on his shirt-front. "I, on the other hand, had to take my training position at the Watchers council."

"I'm sure that's what you tell everyone, old man," Draco chuckled. "And, from what I heard, you were both boring old Huffleduffers, instead illustrious Slytherins. Like me and Snake's daddy. How about that, then, Snake? You're descended from one of the people who built Hogwarts."

"Hold on a moment..." Giles raised a hand. "What are you talking about?"

"Judging by that, it appears that you didn't know that You-Know-Who was the Heir of Slytherin," Draco remarked dryly. "And seeing as Snake, here, is his only spawn, that makes him Slytherin's heir."

Whatever bones Giles had left seemed to melt and he slumped in the seat. "Dear Lord..." he muttered.

"Is that a big deal?" Willow asked.

"Nah," Draco answered cheerfully. "He was only one of the four greatest wizards of the age, a thousand years back. That quartet, out of thousands, worked together to build a school as a lasting place of learning for wizarding kind."

"So that would mean Xander is pretty damn powerful?" Faith asked.

Alexander sighed. "We covered this already," he said, a note of weary irritation in his voice. "I'm uberpowerful. I don't wanna use it. I don't like it, but it's there and it's always gonna be there."

"There, there, Snake," Draco patted him patronisingly on the head. "It's all right. Daddy Draco will look after you... and why are you all staring at me?"

"Daddy Draco?" Alexander echoed.

"Daddy Draco in the sense that I'll keep my eye on you, until I find out how to drain your powers out of you and use them to take over the world," Draco clarified. "Then I'll kill you in a nice, bloody way."

Shaking his head, Alexander smiled wanly. "You're crazy."

"And your point is?"

"Is that everything we need your friends to know?" Ethan interrupted the spiel, as Draco ducked another slap across the head.

"I-I-I think so," Giles answered for Alexander, who nodded.

"In that case, I'm gonna head," Faith pushed out from the table.

Giles looked up at her in surprise. "We-we have research to do into the danger that the Mayor appears to pose, Faith. Are you sure it wouldn't be best if you stayed here and helped us?"

Faith looked around the library. "You know," she replied. "I'm really not a geek kinda girl. You guys have fun with your books. I'm gonna go work out... maybe see if I can find some nests. B? Oh! Wait! You got school."

"Thanks for reminding me," Buffy said sourly.

The other Slayer grinned. "You know me, B," she said. "See you guys later."

With a last flirtatious look at Draco, the dark-haired girl sauntered out of the library and almost collided squarely with Wesley Wyndham-Pryce, her Watcher, ignoring his call and disappearing from sight.

"Mister Giles..."

His back to the younger Watcher, Giles raised his eyes ceilingwards and appeared to count to ten under his breath before turning to face the younger man. "Good morning, Wesley," he said in a monotone.

"Mister Giles," Suspiciously glancing at the smirking blond man at the table, Wesley approached Giles and spoke in a stage whisper. "I demand to know where you have sent Faith! Do I need to remind you that I am her Watcher and, therefore, must be fully informed..."

Giles' withering look made the younger man fall silent. "What gives you any idea that I know where Faith is going?" he inquired, his voice dripping politeness. "After all, you are her Watcher."

"Clearly a great deal of love shared here," Draco murmured, shaking his head, one hand over his heart. "Giles and Giles Junior... it's all rather sweet in a rather sick and perverse way."

Wesley shot a glare at the blond, who matched it with a sneer. The young Watcher immediately quailed, fidgeting uncomfortably with the lapel of his jacket, as he turned his attention back to Giles.

"Well, I-I-I assumed that, since you have quite clearly been holding a conference that I was - once again - not invited to that you may have sent her off, willy-nilly, on some ridiculous mission."

"You know Faith," Buffy interrupted. "She goes where she wants. It's not Giles' job to keep track of her. He was fired... remember?"

Wesley visibly bristled.

"And why would she listen to either of you anyway?" Draco asked, looking from one Watcher to the other curiously. "She was here on a fact-finding mission and just left to go and report it."

"What?" "Pardon?" "Huh?" "Wassat?"

At least four voices raised the question in different ways.

Oz added, "Ditto."

The blond youth looked around the table in surprise. "You're telling me that none of you realised that Faith's working for someone else? Someone else who isn't exactly on your side? Someone who, I would hazard a guess, is the evil individual you are currently working against?"

"I beg your pardon?" Wesley inquired. "Just who are you and what exactly are you talking about?"

"I'm Draco Malfoy, a semi-villain, close personal friend of Snake and pet project of Giles, here," Draco answered candidly, spreading his hands and making an ironic little bow. "I did a lot of fairly nasty things in my youth and can tell when someone else is or was doing the same. That young lady of yours... she was asking too many questions about Snake's dark abilities and if he would use them."

"Snake?"

"A rather powerful wizard."

"So you're saying...?"

Draco gave Giles a look that clearly said he shared the group opinion on the younger Watcher. Hiding a smirk behind his hand, Giles shook his head, motioning for him to answer the question.

"What I'm saying," Draco answered very slowly, making it clear that he thought Wesley was less than bright. "Is that your lovely Slayer is now a spy for the Dark Side and she knows that the most powerful wizard this century is currently sitting at this table and I'm under no illusions that she has just trotted off to inform her employer, who is no doubt this chap bent on taking over the world. Is any of this getting through or do you require a simple diagram?"

"But Faith... she's a Slayer..."

"And a killer," Angel said quietly. "I knew it affected her badly, but for her to turn to the Dark Side..."

"Hold on," Draco raised a hand, a questioning look on his face. "You're telling me she killed someone and that didn't raise a sign in big flashing lights that said `Hello, I'm a maniac'? Do you people even have one brain cell among you?" He groaned, pinching the bridge of his nose. "I'm starting to wonder if judging muggles on the credentials of Monty Python was a bad idea..."

"It was an accident," Buffy said, her tone harsh. "She hit him with her stake before she could pull back."

"Rather like you did last night..." the blond acknowledged. Buffy closed her eyes and nodded. "I suppose it is easily done, but honestly! What could possibly have made her hate you lot so much that she would go to someone else for... well, not help, but... support, I suppose. Like Watcher Senior gave me."

All eyes turned towards Wesley, who was fidgeting even more.

"Oh, this is just priceless. The mini-Giles did something?"

"Only forcibly took her captive, when she was in Angel-therapy," Buffy answered with a dark look in Wesley's direction. "And he was about to have her extradited to stand trial in England. Then, damn, she escaped."

"I-I-I simply followed council procedure," Wesley stammered, then stiffened his back, waving a hand imperiously in Draco's direction. "And for all you know, this... cocksure individual could be the one who is in the employ of the Mayor! Why should we trust him?"

"Trust me? I wouldn't do that if you paid me a million galleons!" Draco shuddered, pulling a face. "Trust... nasty word."

"You see!" Wesley exclaimed.

Alexander raised his eyes. "Wesley, if it came down to it," he said coolly. "I would trust Draco with my life more than I would trust you to say something without putting your foot in it."

"Are you sure that's a good idea, Snake? You know what they say about dragons..."

"Actually, I don't. What do they say?"

"Oh... bugger..."

Alexander gave his friend an amused look. "You were just hoping I would know something wise about dragons, weren't you?" The blond shrugged helplessly. "You are so weird."

"Thank you, Snake."

Wesley cleared his throat. "I beg your pardon, but would someone be kind enough to tell me what's going on here?"

"Did you miss the entire speech about Faith knowing about a super-powerful wizard, Wes?" Buffy challenged, standing up and folding her arms. "Why would she be so keen to run off, if she didn't have someone to share the news with, like Draco said?"

"Thank you, Slayer," the blond youth said, inclining his head to her.

The younger Watcher looked at the blond man with distaste. "You're informing me that this... ruffian is, in fact, a powerful wizard?"

Draco smirked. "Wizard, yes, powerful... not as much as a certain individual around here. Tell me, Mini-Giles..."

"My name," Wesley gritted out. "Is Wesley Wyndham-Pryce."

"And it's really wonderful that you feel so strongly about it, Mini-Giles," Draco said in the tone of a teacher speaking to a sullen child. "But tell me, have you ever heard of someone called Lord Voldemort?"

Judging by the fact that Wesley's face turned the colour of sour milk, everyone at the table accepted his response to be an affirmative.

"Well, Mister Wyndham-Pryce," Draco leaned over and clapped Alexander on the shoulder with a broad smile. "You're looking at the one and only son and heir of the lovely wizard known as Voldemort."

"You...?"

"No, that would be Snake here," Draco replied. "The tall, dark and dim individual beside me."

"Thanks," Alexander said, pulling a face. "I appreciate that."

"Thought you might," Draco responded, grinning.

Wesley looked at Alexander, then back at Draco sceptically. "If you find it amusing to try and keep me in the dark regarding the situation," he said, raising his eyes to Giles, a hurt note in his voice. "Then I..."

"He's not joking, Wesley," Giles said calmly. Wesley went a little whiter. "Xander is Voldemort's Heir and, if Draco's assessment of Faith's behaviour proves accurate, the leading demon power in Sunnydale is likely to know about it. I believe he may be right and I trust his judgement."

"Why, Giles!" Draco clapped a hand to his heart. "I'm touched! And you know, I think I'm right too. This Mayor chap is probably receiving the news now and if he's as powerful as you all think he could be, he would either want Snake out of the way or onside with him..."

"So I'm going to be his new favourite choice of toy because of who I am and how powerful I might be," Alexander said grimly. "For the record, I hate my father."

Draco nodded in agreement. "And so say all of us."