The Hidden Universe

Harry looked around. Sunnydale, surprisingly, felt almost identical to the feeling from the other Buffy universes he had visited. This, actually, seemed strange to him as he could sense that the placement of the block which locked this universe away was right on the Hellmouth. Or at least the key to it. He vaguely remembered that there were several Hellmouths on this world, of which Sunnydale was the only one completely active.

He considered that it very well might be that the spell or ward or whatever which held the blocks was keyed to the Earth via the Hellmouths as a network – that would make far more sense than assuming it was only located here.

He'd have to ask Buffy's Watcher how many Hellmouths existed on Earth – that may provide a hint.

As he considered his options, he knew that this was going to take some work.

One of the very first things Harry did was to create a safe-house. It took much concentration and magic, but finally a house long-abandoned was repaired and warded in every way he could think of. In addition to the standard wards, he wove as many wards as possible to make it invisible.

The only persons that would be able to find it were himself, and whomever owned the deed to the property – if a person, not an institution. So if the city owned it, it would require being titled to a particular person before that person could then locate him. Since he didn't plan on being in this Universe any longer than necessary, he thought it an acceptable, calculated risk.

After a trip to get food (thank God he had just come from a world where they used the same money) and a long night's sleep, Harry was ready to advance his plan. First Stop: The Slayer.

Before he left the wards, Harry had a sudden idea. With a quick Accio, he gathered several stones. On each one he put a mini notice-me-not ward. He would normally put the spell on himself – but he instinctively knew that only a ward would keep the eyes of this world off of him long enough to do what needed to be done. Only someone he directly addressed would see him.

Harry made his way down the street.

Out Among the Other Universes

"Seven times eleven. How long will it take to gather than many of your brethren?"

Upon hearing the answer, the young-looking man nodded and sent his messenger off. He turned to his companion and said, "UL's world next"

Very soon the man and the girl were confronting the venerable God. With a serene smile UL assured his visitors that his children would be ready. However, he did pause at one point and add, "If you will, we could use the assistance of this one." He looked at the girl.

She was suddenly very curious. "What can I do, Uncle UL?" She wasn't UL's niece – but she reinforced her young and cute image at every opportunity.

"My Son and his disciples have wrought a Gift for your Agent. However, it lacks one thing which would make it complete."

"And what do you need?" she asked cutely.

"A single strand of Your hair, Child." It cost nothing to indulge the young-looking one. And if it made Her happy? It was all to the good. "It shall ensure that Your connection will last into the infinite future."

With a wide smile, the girl let down her hair and took one. She handed this to the Elder God. "A gift to aid in the making, freely given."

"Thank you, Child. It will ensure that my Son's gift will be Mighty."

Finally she returned home and, bringing her visitor, talked to her Father.

Sparhawk looked dubious. "It's been quite a while since we let it go."

The Creator gave a small smile and shrugged. "It won't be an issue. I just ask that you stand ready." He paused for a moment and said, "And perhaps send a few messages. If necessary, I might need a few men which can wield the swords and axes to take care of those who have displeased Me. No guarantees – but perhaps call it a readiness exercise to see how fast all Four Orders of the Church Knights can be mustered."

Sparhawk's eyes widened. "I believe I'll be sending a message to Dolmant."

"Do that."

Harry arrived at his location: 1630 Revello Drive. He noted that there seemed to be someone home. And so he went and knocked on the door. He was relieved to see the Slayer before him, looking curious – and a bit cautious. Probably necessary in this place.

"Hello, Ms. Summers. My name is Harry Potter. And I've come a long way to speak to you and your friends. Considering this is daytime and I'm not deep-frying on the step, you can probably guess I'm not one of your normal clientele. I will be coming in. I know better than to ask for an invitation."

Buffy moved further back in the room which gave Harry room to enter. He quickly moved to sit down so as to not provide a threatening posture.

"What do you need from me?" she asked with some suspicion.

Harry sighed. "I'm a dimensional traveler. We've met a few times – or at least I've met other versions of you. I normally come into a new universe due to a divine … well, one God or another, whose name I have not been told, sends me from place to place to help prevent apocalypses in different Universes. I've asked who my handler is, but the Creator just smiles and says nothing when I run into him – I think he/she finds the whole thing funny. Anyway, instead of the Divine, I've traveled here using technology. And I believe this universe is seriously fucked up and needs my help."

Buffy's eyes had started widening as the man spoke. This was seriously wigging her out. She hoped to God that he was telling the truth – she wasn't ready for another problem so soon after taking care of the mayor. It wasn't even Apocalypse season! Finally she asked, "What do you want me to do?"

Harry sighed. "Can you make arrangements for the entire Scooby Gang to be here tonight? Or provide a place to meet? I will admit this location would be more convenient for me because it's closer to the safe-house I just set up. But since this is your world, I'll play by whatever rules you set."

She stood looking at him, gauging whether she could trust him or not. She had very good instincts – as long as it had nothing to do with romance– and they were telling her he was on the level. She finally nodded. "Let me make a few calls."

Harry nodded. "I'll sit here quietly. I am quite certain you don't need me running around doing strange things."

With that, Buffy gave a small smile.

By 5:30 that night, the Scoobies had all arrived and were willing to listen to the visitor which sat at Buffy's table.

Present were Buffy, Willow, Daniel Ozbourne, Xander Harris, Cordelia Chase (Buffy had called her special to visit from Los Angeles), Rupert Giles, and Joyce Summers. Harry had introduced himself to each of them as they arrived, to ensure they were keyed into his Notice-Me-Not ward.

Giles started things off. "Mr. Potter. You come requesting assistance from Ms. Summers and her group. What exactly do you need?"

Harry stood up and sighed. "Before I answer that, I would like to move this to a safe house I have set up nearby. There are forces at work which would stop at nothing to prevent me from my purpose. And as I often act as Agent and Representative of the Creator of All, I cannot allow this to occur. I offer Solemn Vow that I have no intention of harming you or yours, only to fix what I have found broken in this world."

The entire group could feel his sincerity. Willow, being the most magically sensitive, felt the Vow take hold. "His Vow was magical – I could feel it. He's telling the truth."

Giles and the others looking at Willow, who was feeling certain as she observed their visitor. Buffy finally took control. She stood up. "Okay. Lead on, Duffy."

As he began preparing Giles groaned quietly, "It is 'Lead on, MacDuff.' Not 'Duffy'." After a pause he said, "And it wasn't even 'Lead On'; it was Lay On – which is something that I might ask you to do when confronted by a group of Vampires. Try not to mangle the classics. For my sake?"

Buffy gave him her most vapid look. Giles rolled his eyes and Buffy chuckled. She liked riling Giles up when she could.

Harry took several stones from his pocket and handed each one of them. "This will act as a key allowing you to see and enter the house. Without this, you would never find it. Even Angels and Demons cannot scry where we are going."

The group was wide-eyed as he said this. As they were about to leave, Harry paused. "Oh! Buffy!"

"Yes, Mr. Junior Tweed?"

"Bring the knife that you took from Faith when you fought and she fell into a coma. It's very important. But do not carry it barehanded. Wrap it in any silk cloth you have on hand, unless you have a very small Iron Box to carry it in."

Buffy looked to Giles, who contemplated their guest with wide eyes. Giles motioned her to do as the man asked. He was curious as to what enchantments he thought needed to be contained.

Soon, they were all in the safe house. Harry visibly relaxed as they entered – something that was noted by all of them.

"Okay folks. Kitchen is this way – I've got some food you all can eat while I talk."

At this, Buffy's and Xander's eyes widened and they led the rest to where the food could be found. They were not disappointed – Harry had left Buffy's after she made her calls, came back, cooked and left the meal under warming charms.

"Okay," Harry said after swallowing some of what was on his own plate. "My name is Harry Potter. I am known in different universes as the Lone Traveler. In my original world, I was a wizard who grew up as the subject of a prophecy. I won against the Dark Lord I was prophesized to oppose. Due to the actions of others, however, my world went tits up when all of my friends and family were killed due to the actions of the remaining followers of that Dark wizard and hidden sympathizers. I tried to perform a ritual to allow me to fix it – but instead ended up traveling from world to world, helping to fix their problems instead. Any questions so far?"

Harry quickly and efficiently answered the questions posed and then continued. "Now, in the course of my Travels, I've run across quite a number of Gods and Goddesses – including the Creator of the entire Multiverse. I've done jobs for him, from time to time. I found out that my world was doomed due to the decisions of its inhabitants and this was why I was chosen for my particular job. One God or another – and he won't fess up as to which one – decided that I was ripe to be used as an agent to repair Universes where a little nudge here and there – or a major one that was within my power to achieve – could help avert the same fate. When I learned this, I chose to continue on this path. Which brings me to why I am here."

The room listened raptly.

"Now, understand, due to my actions, I have certain connections – I have learned to travel at will to certain entities, including the Creator. In my last Universe, I encountered an Ancient piece of technology which allowed the people who created it to experience inter-dimensional travel. I thought that, as a person who normally traveled under the Aegis of Gods, a different method might be interesting to try. So I asked for a world I hadn't been to that needed my help, and lo and behold your world was the result. Anyone want to guess what I found upon arriving?"

No one cared to try.

"This universe would never have been found by the normal means which I travel because some idiot in power here has cut this Universe off from the Creator. Somehow some force Angelic or Demonic – or both – has prevented God from looking in. And this cannot be allowed."

The group was wide eyed. Buffy asked the immediate question: "Is this 'cause of the Hellmouth?"

Harry shook his head. "No. I've been to Universes where you all exist, where you fight and struggle and I've helped you from time to time. God sent me, on one occasion, to ensure that you, Buffy, did not suicide to save the world because you were still needed. So – no. This isn't a product of this world as it is. This is the product of deliberate interference. And I plan to fix it. My question to you is: Will you help me?"

Harry withdrew to work on his other project, allowing them to speak together unpressured. He knew God's Mandate: Every sentient must be allowed to express their free will as circumstances allow. He would not force them.

Finally Buffy, followed by all the rest came to find him. "We've talked about it and we decided: We'll help you."

Harry stood up, relieved. Before he could talk, Buffy asked curiously, "What are you doing?"

"I'm creating a fake Faith. Once I'm done, I'm going to exchange out the one in hospital and bring her back here."

Buffy was suddenly angry. "Why would you bring that bitch here?"

Harry casually noticed Buffy's mother crying, "Buffy!" in the background. He raised his hand to ask for silence.

"Buffy, I know why you don't like her. But to be truthful, she has been controlled – possessed really. She came to Sunnydale lost and confused and you guys should have brought her in fully. But you left her to fend for herself. Do you even know how old Faith is?"

Buffy considered that. "Eighteen?"

He looked at Giles. "Faith was called last year. How often are girls called when they are already eighteen?"

At that Giles eyes widened. "Good Lord! Why did I not think of that?" Everyone looked at Giles. He explained. "While a few are called when they are already of age, it is extremely rare. It is likely that Ms. Lehane was fifteen or sixteen. No more than seventeen if my guess is correct." At that, the Scoobies were horrified by their own blindness and self-centeredness in dealing with the girl. Her façade had fooled them all.

Suddenly, they were much more supportive of the idea of helping her.

"Okay. I need Buffy. We're going to flash into her room, we're going the make the switch, I'm going to pick her up, you're going to drop of this fake with the Notice-Me-Not rock in its pocket, and we're coming back. Should take – oh – two minutes. Are you ready?"

Buffy's eyes widened and she quickly picked up the simulacrum. "Ok. Ready."

Harry grabbed her shoulder and traveled … those left watched the spot the two had disappeared from in amazement.

Harry and Buffy appeared exactly where he wanted to – in Faith's hospital room. Quickly transferring all the monitors and cables to the simulacrum which Buffy had placed next to her, Harry then picked the girl up and traveled … A minute later when the nurses on duty rushed in to see why their monitors had glitched, they found everything as it had been for the last months. Subject to the charm on the fake body, they didn't even note the glitch in the logs. It was a clean getaway.

Harry and Buffy arrived back in the room where the Scoobies waited. Carrying her, he brought her into the yard, which was also covered by his wards. He placed her gently down. "Okay. Where is that knife?"

Buffy took the wrapped item from her pocket and offered it. Harry bade her put it on the ground, at a distance from those watching. Harry grinned at his audience and said, "Okay folks. Don't be too alarmed. I'm going to use an ability that I have which cleanses Dark magic. Since I put up the wards, no one outside of our bubble should hear what I'm about to do."

And, because it was his intent when he set up the wards, none heard the Song of the Phoenix outside of those present, not even Fawkes who was listening for it.

Those watching were transfixed by the Song. Every worry, every care, every hurt, all the suffering they had ever felt seemed to fall from them as the Phoenix sang. They watched as the knife below the hovering bird cracked … and a ghostly form of the Mayor appeared and said, "Oh, Fiddlesticks!" before dispersing and floating away.

Harry moved above Faith's form and continued his Song. Very soon a black cloud exited her mouth and another ghostly form of the Mayor appeared. It said, "Darn it!" and, like the other, dissolved and blew away.

Harry landed next to Faith and, using his Talon, he scratched her arm. Moving his head, he allowed several Tears to drop into her arm. All watched as the girl's health visibly improved. Even as Harry turned back to his original form and knelt next to her, the girl's eyes fluttered open. "Where am I?" she asked with a weak voice.

"Welcome back, young lady. You are safe. I have removed the possession which caused you to commit those horrible crimes. Your mind is now your own again. How do you feel?" Harry's voice was very kind.

Faith suddenly woke up fully and sat up. "Oh my God! What have I done!?" She promptly broke into tears, inconsolable.

Joyce Summers, watching, felt her motherly instincts kick in and she suddenly was next to the girl, gathering her into her arms. Faith clung to this as though she was lost.

Harry changed back once more and started Singing. The pain the girl felt was leeched out and released as she sat and cried in a Mother's embrace, listening to a Song of Hope and Redemption. Those standing in witness cried tears of Empathy, their own guilt leeching out.

Eventually, Faith was gotten up and led inside where she was fed a meal – the first she'd had in a month and the best she'd had in years. Joyce kept beside her and the girl latched on to the first feeling of a Mother's love that she had felt in many years.

Buffy, surprising even herself, felt no jealousy as she witnessed this.

Faith was brought up to date and the current situation was explained. Finally she asked, "So, what now?" She was feeling much better, if still a bit shaky spiritually.

Harry grinned and said, "Now I kidnap me a Holy Man." Everyone in the group's eyes widened as Harry explained the next part of his plan. It almost blew their minds. However, everyone was on board.

It was 4:30 AM and the elderly man in the large bed slept the sleep of the innocent. He was seventy-nine years old as of the month before, and he needed his sleep. That he also suffered from Parkinson's disease did not help. It would be several hours before his personal assistant would come to wake him.

It was into this chamber that Harry appeared. Quickly throwing four stones in the different corners, he zapped them with raw magic to charge them. Looking around, he saw the man's dressing area. Harry moved to the carafe of water that was in easy reach of the bed and changed his form. He cried tears into the water. He then changed back.

Gently, Harry woke the man. The man looked up in shock at the unfamiliar person waking him up. He did see that the man seemed friendly. The man handed him a glass of water, which he accepted. He took a long sip.

For some reason, this simple water seemed to break him out of the fugue he experienced from being awoken in the middle of the night. He felt suddenly stronger.

"What is this? Who are you?" he asked the man.

In the same language his visitor replied, "I am a friend. I have come to you as I need your assistance to bring this world back to God's sight."

At this, the man's eyes widened. He knew that the Seal had lit for a moment and the source of it, he guessed intuitively, stood before him. "What do you need of me?" he asked.

"Dress as you would for the day, including your Sigils and Raiment of Office. We will take a trip where I will explain our need. And then I will ensure you are returned before your people are aware you have gone."

At this, the elderly man felt excitement. It had been many years since he had experienced an adventure – and this seemed to be one. Moving quickly for his age and health, the man dressed and accoutered himself. It took only fifteen minutes. He then stood before his visitor and said, "I am ready."

The man gently put his hand on the old man's arm and suddenly, they were elsewhere. Several younger people stood or sat in the location he arrived at. Upon seeing him, each of them quickly moved until they were all on bended knee in his presence.

The short blonde girl seemed to lead them as she was the one to speak for the group, keeping her head bowed. "You are welcome here, Your Holy Popeness." Giles in the back bit back the urge to whimper.

Pope John Paul the Second smiled at the group and, moving his hands in the sign of the cross replied in his accented English, "God's Blessings on you and those with you." He then performed a prayer in Latin and then said, "Please rise."