Chapter 10 – By My Blood

Faith doesn't dream like normal people do, like normal Slayers do, with cryptic stories and portentous messages. Beginnings and endings and messages from the Powers wrapped in riddle and rhyme aren't for Faith, no—she dreams in flashes, moments out of time that tell more than she wants and less than she needs.

Or so she thinks, until her mind goes blank and a young woman carrying a baby skips out upon the dreamscape.

Even without the strange knowledge that comes in dreams, Faith would have recognized this woman with Xander's features. He has his mother's eyes, but hers are wild and feral where his are soft and friendly, and Faith wants to take the baby from her arms and run. She takes a step forward before she can stop herself, and the woman laughs softly.

"Too late," the woman sing-songs, "Too late to save him from me." Her laughter is a thin, high cackle, cracked from disuse. "Will you save him from his father?"

The woman waves a hand, and the world tilts sideways and forward, visions splashing over Faith like water from a bucket—Buffy screaming and Draco standing over her body, a woman with curly, dark hair, scenes and faces that twist together like ribbons—until she emerges, gasping. The woman is still laughing.

"Tell me," she taunts, still in that awful sing-song, "If he falls, who will catch him?" She raises the baby high above her head, and Faith is frozen to the spot, watching as the woman dashes the baby to the ground and—

Faith woke up, and dashed from her room.

The moment Angel, Xander and Padma left the hospital wing, Draco crumpled to his knees. Wearily, he waved off Hermione. "I'm fine," he insisted. "Just give me some Pepper-up and I'll head to the meeting."

Hermione rolled her eyes. "Do you really expect that to work?"

Before he could respond, the door flew open, hitting the wall so hard it shuddered on its hinges. A brunette blur raced across the room; it wasn't until she stopped at Buffy's bedside that Draco recognized Faith. "Hey, B," she said sadly, shoulders slumped in defeat. Without touching skin, she carefully moved a strand of hair away from the elder Slayer's face.

There was a long moment of silence, the wizards watching Faith as she studied Buffy. After she had seen her fill, she turned and strode fluidly back to Draco, hauling him up by his collar. "You were there," she growled, shaking him. "Give me a reason I shouldn't kill you right now." She pulled him close enough to see the wildness in her eyes as he hung limply in her grasp.

Draco stared at her, unblinking. "I can't," he whispered.

"Dreams!" Hermione blurted suddenly, breaking the moment. She flushed. "I mean, slayer dreams. They're real? You had one? What was it about?"

Bemused, Faith loosened her grip on Draco's robe, allowing him to slump back to the ground. "Yeah, they're real," she agreed, rubbing her eyes. "And you're damn lucky you were in them, Curly, or I'd be busting heads until someone told me where the fuck Fang and Xander are, let alone why we are letting him loose with the good guys!" The disgust in her voice stung. She glared at Draco before appearing to think of something. "You the new 007 or something?"

"He's a spy," Hermione explained when it became obvious that Draco was not going to respond.

Faith nodded. "That's what I said." Her eyes warmed with something close to understanding. "Somebody's got to do the dirty jobs, right?" she muttered, so softly only Draco heard. He nodded, speechless and slightly dismayed that she wasn't proceeding in beating him bloody. He rather felt he deserved it.

"You're Faith," Hermione said. She held out her hand. "Hermione Granger. I believe you've met Draco?"

With an exasperated, perfunctory air, Faith shook Hermione's hand. "Charmed, I'm sure," she drawled. "You wanna tell me what's going on, or do I just get to go off my dream?"

Unsurprisingly, Hermione jumped at this cue. "What was your dream about? You said I was in it?" Draco could tell she was itching to take notes.

Faith's eyes softened a bit with each question. "When we've got the time, I'll tell you all about it, I promise. Right now, I need to know where Xander and Angel are, and what happened to Giles and the minis!" She never raised her voice above normal conversational levels, but the threat was so clear Hermione shrank back.

Draco sighed, massaging his neck where his shirt collar had bit into skin as Faith held him. "Lyra Lamarr is dead, Giles was captured, everyone else is fine and hidden in Ohio. Xander and the vampire are headed to a meeting." He carefully avoided looking at Hermione. "Would you care to escort me?"

Faith closed her eyes and took a deep breath. "Lyra," she murmured. "Fuck."

"Draco, you are not going anywhere until you have been treated," Hermione declared. Draco cast her a practiced scowl.

Faith gave him a quick glance that missed nothing, and winked lasciviously at Hermione. "Can't improve on perfection, babe." Ignoring Hermione's splutters, Faith grabbed Draco's arm in a surprisingly gentle grip and said nothing about the fact that she was now supporting a good portion of his weight. Draco decided he loved Slayers. "Where we headed?"

Draco, Faith and Hermione arrived mid-argument, with Angel and Xander standing away from the group, just behind Minerva McGonagall. Draco and Faith both moved to join them, but Hermione held them back. Draco stayed back, less because of Hermione than because Faith was doing so even though only magic could have stopped her.

"For Merlin's sake, Minerva, it's a vampire!" Draco blinked, recognizing the speaker as Sturgis Podmore. He had been under the impression that Angel's vampire status was not common knowledge, but secrets did not generally keep well within the Order.

Her voice like ice, Minerva said, "He has a soul."

Sturgis snorted. "Are we just supposed to trust him, then?"

"No." Something dark in Minerva's voice made everyone's eyes snap to her as she glared at him. "You are supposed to trust me. To doubt Angel's integrity is to doubt my own."

Sturgis gaped like a fish, and before he could reply Dumbledore interrupted, clapping his hands together. "Well, I believe that quite settles things. Now, I see we have a newcomer." He gestured toward Faith.

Xander cut in before Dumbledore could continue. "Faith, these are my stalkers. Stalkers, you know Faith." The room stayed silent; Faith blew a kiss. "You know, from the stalking," Xander prompted.

Angel chuckled, and did a poor job of masking it with a coughing fit. Xander flopped back into his wheelchair and grinned up at him, but there was a tightness around his eyes belying his easy manner.

Grabbing their hands, Hermione led Faith and Draco to the table, choosing a row of three seats beside Remus Lupin. Before she sat down, Faith froze, staring at him. "Bit hypocritical of you guys, complaining about vampires when you've got a werewolf in your midst." Her voice was mild, but her eyes were hard.

"I said nothing against your friend," Remus replied, equally mild. "I thought the current Slayers were understanding about werewolves."

"Got that from your stalking, did you?" Faith bared her teeth in a fierce grin. "Can't always believe what you hear."

"Or what I see?" Draco was surprised to see a challenge lurking in Remus' amber eyes.

Faith jutted out a hip and tossed her hair over her shoulder. "That depends. Do you like what you see?"

Remus blushed. Draco scowled. From across the table, Snape snapped, "Can we save the poorly constructed flirtation for after the meeting?"

The scent of magic, barely under control, caught Draco's attention and he snapped his head toward Xander. Xander, who was currently staring at Snape with a blank look in his eyes and magic dancing at his fingertips. Draco turned to Angel, and found him watching Xander in fascination. Oh, honestly. "Don't just sit there, touch him!" Draco ordered, waving an impatient hand. Angel hastily complied, taking Xander's hand in his, and the entire room breathed a sigh of relief as the magic ebbed.

Faith snorted, amused. "Now that's not something Fang hears everyday," she muttered. Draco glared; she was magnificently unaffected.

Minerva cleared her throat, giving them both a dark look before pointedly turning her attention to Dumbledore, who began speaking as if the entire conversation hadn't happened. "As I was saying, our sources indicate that Mr. Giles has been taken to Lucius Malfoy's private hideaway. A rescue operation at this point is premature, until we gain more intelligence or he is moved to a more accessible location."

Draco blinked, the greatest indication of surprise he allowed himself. Across the table, Angel stated, "You don't mean to rescue him at this point in time." His knuckles were white around Xander's hand, and the human made a small, pained noise before Angel muttered an apology and purposefully relaxed.

Albus gave Draco an expectant look; Draco sighed, and began arguing a position with which he didn't agree. "Lucius' grounds are heavily warded. The only people allowed in freely are Malfoys or," Draco hesitated, "Peter Pettigrew."

Next to Faith, Remus let out an almost inaudible snarl. She gave him a thoughtful look. "Petey's a friend, then?" she asked.

"He was, once," Remus replied. Draco knew the werewolf wouldn't say more on the topic.

Once again, Faith surprised him by not asking for any more details. "Gotcha," she murmured, and turned to Xander. "Boytoy? How're you feeling?"

"How am I feeling?" Xander repeated in a dead tone of voice. In the short time since Draco had last looked in their direction, Xander had moved his chair so close to Angel's that their shoulders were touching. "I feel fine. Just wait until Buffy feels better and hears we aren't rescuing Giles. I think everybody'll change their minds then."

Draco winced. Xander had an excellent point.

Faith stood, giving the table a feral grin. "If we're done talking, I'll go get Dawn caught up on everything." Her smile edging closer to a snarl, she looked directly at Dumbledore. "I'm sure she'll have plenty to say."

"Brilliant," Draco said tiredly, slumping slightly. "We can't wait."

Xander was full of it.

Even without their connection, Angel would have guessed that Xander would not sit around doing nothing when Giles was in trouble. As it was, Angel could feel the emotions roiling through Xander as they left the meeting, and knew a plan was brewing. After a quick look around, he hauled Xander's wheelchair into a nearby empty classroom. He shut the door and contemplated trying to teach Xander a warding spell against eavesdropping, but he knew there was little they could do to keep Albus from hearing any conversation in the castle, if he so wished. And this was classic Albus, all of it. "This is what he wants," Angel said, crouching in front of the chair. "Albus wants you to try and rescue Giles, he wants to test you."

He would have said more but for a knock on the door. Giving Xander a confused glance, Angel called, "Come in."

Harry Potter strode into the room, followed by Draco. "Thought you might need some help for whatever you're plotting," Harry said breezily. At Angel's incredulous stare, he explained, "Look, I've been where Harris is, okay? I know I wouldn't wait to try a rescue just because Albus says so."

Angel turned to Draco, who shrugged. "You're going to need someone who knows the grounds," he said, clearly uncomfortable.

Angel decided not to argue. They would need the help, and they needed someone capable of stopping Xander's magic should something happen. Harry was powerful enough to do so.

"So, what's the plan?" Harry asked, taking Angel's silence as capitulation.

"Here's the plan," Xander said, finally breaking his silence, much to Angel's relief. "Get in, get Giles, get out. That work for everyone?"

Angel, Harry and Draco exchanged looks. Angel considered arguing, but unease was creeping along his shoulders, a sense of urgency making it difficult for him to consider spending much time plotting. "First, we've got to get Xander out of that wheelchair," he commented. Even without the rescue, the sight of Xander so weak pulled at parts of Angel he preferred not to examine.

"Easy enough," Harry said, grinning mischievously. He held out a hand to Draco, who rolled his eyes but obediently pulled a vial from his pocket, slapping it into Harry's hand with perhaps a bit too much force. Harry held it out to Xander, but directed his words to Angel. "Pepper-up should do the trick."

Xander eyed the vial suspiciously, only accepting it when Angel nodded encouragement. The result, however, earned a faint smile as he stood easily. "Okay," Xander said grimly, his hand seeking out Angel's, "let's go."

The walk out of Hogwarts was spent with Draco muttering instructions under his breath—directions once on the grounds, the corridors most likely to be empty, the weaknesses of those they may encounter along the way. Harry, having a passing familiarity with the place and the people, listened with half an ear, only tuning in when Draco began discussing the wards.

"Your biggest advantage is yourself," he told Xander. "The wards on the grounds are almost impossible to break; fortunately, you don't have to do anything of the sort." An odd, bitter smile twisted Draco's lips. "You have Malfoy blood. He never claimed you, but he's never renounced you, either, and that's good enough for the wards. You, and all who are under your protection, can pass without notice."

Harry snorted. "Lucius'll be kicking himself for that oversight," he said gleefully.

"Only if this works," Draco pointed out, scowling. Without any further comment, he disapparated.

Harry winced, and didn't have to wait long for a reaction. "What the hell was that?" Xander shouted, waving a hand at the space where Draco used to be.

"Wizard travel," Angel replied. Harry watched in amused awe as Xander's anger calmed under Angel's steady gaze. "We don't really have time to explain."

Harry extended a hand to each of them. "It feels unpleasant, but it's quick," he said, trying to sound reassuring.

They each took a hand—Angel confidently, Xander gingerly—and Harry apparated them to a clearing near the Malfoy estate, where Draco waited impatiently. "Finally!" he snapped, throwing up his hands. Harry wrinkled his nose, thinking that Draco really needed to work on his people skills. "Now," he added, turning his attention to Harry, "I'm off. Try not to get killed—Weasley'll never let me hear the end of it."

Since Draco had to be rather concerned to say anything at all, Harry manfully refrained from a sarcastic retort, merely nodding in response. Draco nodded back, and strode off toward the decaying manor.

"Okay," Harry sighed, rubbing his hands together. "Let's go." He led his little group to the very edge of the wards, marked by a single, gnarled tree. For a long moment, everyone simply stood, waiting for someone else to act.

Xander finally spoke. "You don't know how to get through, do you," he stated, rather than asked.

Harry smiled sheepishly, a bit embarrassed. "Well, obviously, you just have to protect us and we'll be fine."

Xander rolled his eyes and, before anyone could stop him, shook off Angel's hand and crossed the wards. He closed his eyes, thinking about protection.

"You're thinking too hard," Angel murmured, hovering as close as he could without passing the boundary.

"All I'm thinking about is a million little Angel-pieces if I do this wrong," Xander muttered.

"That's the spirit," Harry said, dubious. He sighed, searching for something helpful to say. "Look, the magic wants to help you. Just… try to let it."

"'Try to let it,' he says," Xander grumbled. He opened his mouth to say something else, then closed it again. Instead he breathed, long, deep breaths, and when he finally spoke, his voice was slower, deeper. "By my blood, I offer you protection."

Harry blinked, feeling something shift. "I think—" he started, turning to Angel, only to realize the vampire was already at Xander's side, unharmed. "—that did it," Harry finished weakly. "See? Easy!"

They paused, taking a look around. Lucius' current hideaway was a big step down from Malfoy Manor. Harry had been to this godforsaken corner of Devon once before, involuntarily, and now that he was back he found himself quite eager to be gone.

"Is that it?" Xander muttered, pointing at the dilapidated structure several yards away.

Harry nodded. "Giles will be in the basement. Lucius is traditional when it comes to keeping prisoners." If his voice sounded bitter, no one commented.

They crept through the night, pausing just outside the door. "Angel," Harry whispered, "Can you tell where Lucius and Wormtail-I mean, Pettigrew—are?"

Angel closed his eyes as he listened intently. "Three humans upstairs. Two in the basement, and one's almost unconscious. No one on the ground level."

Only one guard? Lucius was getting sloppy. Harry felt a niggling suspicion, and pushed it aside. "Follow me," he said firmly, and strode inside, through what was once a grand foyer, past the kitchen, and down into the basement. They could hear conversation before they saw anyone.

"If you insist on telling me your master's grand plan in such excruciating detail, I'd like to request you knock me unconscious so I don't have to listen to you."

For the first time since before the Order meeting, Harry caught a small smile on Xander's face. Giles sounded strained, pained, yet decidedly in control of his faculties. As soon as Harry unlocked the door, Xander rushed through.

From behind Xander, Harry caught a glimpse of Gregory Goyle staring stupidly before Harris took him down with a textbook right cross. "I have a wand, you know," Harry commented, staring down at the bleeding form of his old classmate. He was pretty sure Goyle's nose was broken.

Xander, already kneeling beside Giles, didn't even seem to hear him. "Hey, G-Man," he murmured, "How's it going?"

Angel hurried over, studying the beaten Watcher with a concerned frown. "We've got to get him out of here," he said softly. "He needs a mediwitch."

Harry's niggling suspicion that this was all too easy resurfaced. "Let's go," he agreed. "Quickly."

From behind him came a new voice that left Harry closing his eyes in dismay. "Leaving so soon?" Lucius Malfoy asked silkily. "After all the effort I expended to get you here? I think not."