Heya people! Happy Easter!
Skiing rules! One week of lessons and I did a red run in a white out, without falling over! Yey me. Fun.
ANYWAY… thanks for the reviews, I love you lot. To clear up a bit of confusion, (phoenix83ad especially- calm down!!) Faith did not kill Voldemort, I don't cop out that much!! Not a chance, don't worry. He was unconscious, yes, but not dead. As for how he can be killed, I have a few theories of my own, which will come into play later.
The reviews mostly seemed to follow a few themes, so I'll just do general replies since Becks89 is currently (as in as I type this) bugging me to update.
I'm glad you guys liked my adaption of the Angel scene, it always seemed like a very significant moment in Faith-verse as people who haven't seen it didn't seem to get the whole 'Faith is GOOD' thing by season 7 of Btvs. I got a little angry… *grins*
Scoobies will be in it some more soon. *grins again* I have plans, especially for a certain one…
Ooh, yey, I'm also glad you liked the fight, I know I've had bit of a lack of decent fight scenes, so I'm happy you think I made it work!
Ok, I think that's it, so I'll finish up. This chapter seems a little odd to me, cos it's all part of some stuff that's going to last several chapters, never mind, its nice an long for you anyway!
All go read Witchlight, Becks89 and shootingstar19's stories, I'm about to go read all the updates I've missed in the past week- hours and hours of mindless reading in store (of what a pity, what will I do? *grins*)
Great, so on with the chapter while I go read lots and eat copious amounts of chocolate as lent is now over (YEY!)
Chapter 36Buffy didn't know how long she held Faith. She kept murmuring,
"Ssh, it's ok. It'll be ok." As her heart broke with the realisation of what Faith had meant for her to do. Buffy looked up into Harry's bewildered eyes, and smiled softly. He nodded slowly back to her. When Buffy looked down again, Harry backtracked into the room in which he had been held, thinking of what Dumbledore had told him last term, along with all that Buffy had told him about Faith.
"Ssh." Buffy said again, leaning her head on Faith's. Then she heard a yelp, and looked up quickly. Harry ran back in from the other room, and cried,
"He's gone. Voldemort has gone."
"Gone? But he was all tied up, and…"
"Well he's not anymore." Harry insisted.
"Crap." Buffy moaned. "Ok, we gotta get outta here." She looked down at the other slayer, trying to get her to look up. "Faith? We gotta go."
"Just leave me." She replied in a small voice.
"If you did what I think you did, he'll kill you." Buffy snapped.
"Not seeing the problem there." Faith replied, her voice still barely more than a whisper. Buffy heaved Faith away from her, holding her shoulders and jerking her back, forcing her to look at Buffy.
"Don't be so stupid!" She snapped. "You really think its that simple? No way am I letting you take that road out. It hurts, it's hard, but you have to fight. You are not giving up like this."
Faith just gazed at her dazedly for a moment before dropping her gaze again. "Come on, get up." Buffy ordered. Faith didn't move, and though Harry expected Buffy to rap out another order, instead her face softened, and she practically lifted Faith off the ground. "Come on." She said. Buffy supported Faith, who Harry only now realised was exhausted in every way, and the trio started as quick as they could towards the door. Buffy thanked anyone listening that Voldemort was so confident in himself that he had few guards. Never the less, she was certain that there would be at least some more, and knew that she was in no state to fight off an squad of armed deatheaters. They hurried down the hall, and out of the door, constantly expecting Voldemort to appear- where the hell was he? As they started into the field, there was a flicker in the air before them and a large group appeared.
"Buffy! Harry!" Several people cried once more. It was the Order and the scoobies, Buffy thought with relief, but eyes were now moving from Buffy to the one she was supporting.
"Erm, Buff? Care to explain?" Xander said.
"Not now. We need to go, quick." Buffy said. "I think Voldemort is hurt, but we don't know where he is, and if we stay in the open like this he could curse us any second."
"Yes. I agree." Dumbledore said. "A group of us must stay to secure this location, but if Voldemort is around, an armed…"
"Erm…" Said a weak voice, and Buffy looked down at Faith, who was digging in a jacket pocket, "I'm no expert, but…" She pulled out two broken piece of wood, with what looked like feathers poking out of the ends. "I'm pretty sure this means he's not armed."
"Is that what I think it is?" Moody asked with a wry smile.
"His wand." Buffy said with a grin. Faith shrugged, conjuring the tiniest of smiles,
"Hey, sometimes my destructive nature pays off."
Buffy smiled back, genuinely.
"Still." Dumbledore said. "Take this portkey and return to the school. Tonks, Lupin, go with them and make sure Hagrid and the others who came know you have returned."
"Yes sir." Tonks said.
"And Buffy?" Dumbledore added,
"Yeah?"
"Obviously I don't know what happened in there, but I know what you told me happened at the school, and I have gathered who that is." He indicated Faith. "I will have to ask that you ensure she is confined to the hospital wing."
"Ok." Buffy agreed. She saw the look that passed between him and Lupin, and knew that Faith was as good as under arrest. Now Lupin held out a book, and asked Buffy, Harry, Tonks, Faith, and the Sunnydale crew to hold on.
Moments later they were back in Dumbledore's office. It was agreed that as Harry seemed fine he should return to Buffy's room to avoid other students for the time being... however, Harry, of course disagreed, and stubbornly refused to go anywhere but with Buffy. Tonks went to inform those who needed to know what was going on, and Buffy, flanked by the scoobies, lead Faith to the hospital wing. Just down the hall from Dumbledore's office, Faith pulled away from Buffy, insisting on standing alone, and no one said a word. Buffy walked beside her, and knew from Faith's pace and stance that she felt like a prisoner- and who could really blame her?
Faith sat on the bed while Madame Pomfrey bustled about. She said several times that she was just tired, but it changed nothing. Buffy and her friends sat or stood nearby, each of them wondering what exactly had happened in the last few days. Harry sat on the edge of another bed with a huge wedge of chocolate that had been forced on him by Pomfrey. As Madame Pomfrey began cleaning the blood from Faith's hand, Buffy suddenly said,
"It's Voldemort's."
"Yeah." Faith confirmed quietly.
"I get it now… or, well, no, I don't, but I get it more than I did."
"I got a lot of explaining to do, huh?" Faith said without looking at them.
"Er, ya could say." Willow snapped sarcastically.
There was a silence again, but before Madame Pomfrey was even finished, Dumbledore walked through the door.
"Dumbledore." Buffy exclaimed, "What happened?"
"He was gone. We got a few deatheaters, including the two unconscious just inside the door." He smiled at her oddly. "But Voldemort wasn't there. We have people searching the house more thoroughly for anything important."
"Right." Buffy breathed.
"Harry!" A voice cried form the doorway, and Hermione, Ron and the others rushed in. "You're ok!" Hermione squealed. The Gryffindors in the group froze on sight of Faith. "What is she doing here?" Hermione asked coldly.
"It's ok." Harry answered, "She didn't hurt me."
"She kidnapped you with a knife to your throat." Hermione countered. Harry shrugged weakly,
"She still didn't hurt me."
"I think." Dumbledore declared, "It is time that you told us what precisely is going on." He was looking at Faith, and she nodded nervously. "However, I am going to have to ask you to drink this." He held out a small vial of clear liquid which Harry recognised as veritaserum. Faith eyes flickered from the vial, to Dumbledore, and then to Buffy.
"It's a truth potion." Buffy said quietly. Faith just nodded. It looked as if she might have tried to say 'oh', but nothing came out. Buffy knew that the apparently fearless slayer was terrified.
"It will wear off in time." Dumbledore added, "But you will understand that it is necessary." Faith nodded again, and took the vial. Pulling out the stopper, she leant her head back, and upturned the vial over her mouth, making it clear that she wasn't trying anything- she drank it all. Faith grimaced slightly,
"Ew."
"Lets start at the beginning then… I suppose, Buffy, you should ask the questions, for I don't know enough to ask the right ones."
"Ok. Right from the beginning?"
"From… from whatever it was that made Faith go 'bad'." Dumbledore replied. Both slayers winced, knowing that a wealth of painful subjects would soon be voiced.
"Ok then." Buffy said quietly. "Faith…" Their eyes met. "Will you tell us about… about that night… with the deputy mayor?"
Faith nodded stiffly, and began. Soon they had covered up to when Buffy stabbed Faith in an attempt to save Angel's life. There wasn't a single person in the room who wasn't completely engrossed in the tale, as none had heard everything of each part. None at all had heard Faith's true side of the story- her pain, and her reasons for each act she committed. She had no choice but to tell them how scared she had been; of herself, and of what would happen if she gave herself up. Each killing had been a way to prove to herself that she didn't care, to dull the pain, and each one made it worse.
Buffy now skipped to when Faith awoke, and saw in Faith's eyes that she was aware Buffy was missing things out, proving to the blonde that Faith had shared her dreams.
"What happened on…" Buffy looked to Willow,
"Friday." Willow told her, "If you mean when Faith woke up? Early Friday morning."
"What happened on Friday, when you woke up?" Buffy asked Faith.
"The first thing I remember is his face." She said slowly. "He was leaning over the bed, smiling at me. Everything ached…
FRIDAY- Sunnydale Hospital
FLASHBACK
"Faith? Can you hear me?" The snake like voice said. Faith squinted, her vision blurry,
"Who…?" She murmured.
"My name is Lord Voldemort. I have awoken you, and we must leave this place."
"I don't…" Faith was groggy, and could barely understand his words.
"This is taking too long." The voice snapped, "Get her up, we're leaving."
Two men in black cloaks hauled Faith out of the bed, and she felt something pressed into her hand. "Hold it." The voice ordered. Faith managed to wrapped her fingers round the object, and the most bizarre feeling gripped her, and nauseated her further. The next thing she knew, her feet were touching down on carpeted floor and she heard the cold voice ordering the men out of the room, even though the slayer was barely able to stand. Faith looked around groggily at the huge, warm room. Deep red furniture complimented dark woods and bare stone, and a huge fireplace dominated one wall. She felt her head swim in another wave of nausia…
"Please, my dear, have a seat before you pass out." The man with the cold voice steered the slayer into an armchair, and she leant gratefully into it- she felt awful.
"What's going on?" She managed to say.
"I helped you to wake up, Faith. You have been asleep for several months." He replied.
"I feel like shit."
"Ah, yes, well that should wear off soon… the body must adapt to such a sudden change."
Faith was frowning, her mind running over vague memories of dreams, and before that… Buffy had stabbed her! She actually did it! Bravo Buffy… wonder where she is?
"Faith?"
"Wha? Yeah… I'm still with ya… wait… who are you again?"
"My name is Lord Voldemort. I am a dark wizard- the dark wizard if you will."
"Cool. You do kids birthday parties too?"
He laughed, light and hollow.
"Do not mock me, slayer. You can feel my power as I can feel yours."
"All I'm feelin' right now is the need to hurl." Faith countered. The man made an impatient noise, and crossed to her, holding something strong beneath her nose. "Holy shit!" Faith cried, her eyes fully open in a second, her head clearing rapidly.
"Better?"
"Much… what the hell is that stuff?"
"Powerful." Was his cryptic response. "Are you ready to listen?"
"Depends what you gotta say."
"Yes, yes…" He chuckled. The laugh gave Faith shivers right down her spine. "I awoke you from your frankly pointless slumber to give you the opportunity to join me."
"Join you?" She repeated doubtfully, "And what would that entail?"
"You would have more power than ever before. I could show you your true strength, Slayer. That which they forced to hide within you could be unleashed."
Faith's eyebrows flickered,
"And I would have to do what?"
"Help me. With… problems." His evil smile told Faith what sort of 'problems' he meant.
"Something tells me that you're happy sorting out 'problems' all by yourself." She said wryly.
"Yes, yes, quite. However, there is one particular problem with which I need aid. A boy."
"Boy as in kid?" She almost laughed.
"This boy is more than just a kid!" Voldemort snapped angrily. "He too is a wizard, but that is of little consequence; many are, and many more powerful than him at that…"
"Wizard? You mean, like a female witch?"
"Of course."
"Like Wicca? You're a wicca?" Faith snorted.
"No, no, none of that nonsense." He scoffed, "We are true wizards and witches, those who possess the power within them, in their soul- not muggles who think they might dabble." He looked disgusted by the thought. Faith still looked clueless, so he explained about the wizarding world… and about how it was being corrupted by mudbloods.
"If you hate 'muggles' so much… why are you calling on me? I'm no witch."
"On the contrary, my dear," Voldemort said, "You are a powerful witch- or could be, if you allow me to train you. The purest of blood flows in your veins. You are a distant relative of one of the strongest bloodlines ever- granted it has been… corrupted… recently but your father was of a pure and noble line."
"My dad…" Faith murmured, "I never knew him… but my Mom… my mom wasn't a witch."
"Not in the strictest sense, no. Your mother was a squib. She had pure blood, but somehow… I do not understand it, but she had no magic." Faith scrutinised the man's face, and caught what she was looking for- a hint of repulsion. He found squibs as vile as muggles, and she knew immediately that this was the reason she had never known her father. Maybe it had been a quick fling, and he had felt no reason to honour Faith's mother because she was a squib… or maybe Faith was being too harsh, and his family had stopped the relationship. Whichever version it was, it was because of her mother's lack of magic, she felt it.
"Is my Dad alive?"
"No."
"Oh. Fine… then… this kid, what is it you want me to do? Why can't you deal with a kid yourself… why is a kid a threat to you?"
So he explained about Harry Potter.
"And now… it seems there is a new player… a girl has appeared from nowhere. My sources say that she has been referred to as his sister, which is puzzling- I did not know that the Potter's had another child… but this is not the point. She is clearly protecting him… and I am sick of waiting. I want you to go in and get the boy for me. I know you will be able to handle whoever this hussy is… I should think it would be easy for you."
"You want me to kidnap a kid."
"Yes. Is that a problem?"
"No… no, course not." Faith replied, "It's just, y'see V, I'm no lacky. I don't dig tunnels for you to walk under your problems. I'm not doin' nothing unless I want to, and there's enough in it for me."
"Understandable. You are a girl of principle." Voldemort said smirking. "If you return with the boy, I will give you a wand, and begin training you in the complex art of witchcraft."
"Kinda like a loyalty test then?" Faith said thoughtfully.
"Precisely my dear."
"I'll need all the info you have on the place, and this girl protecting him… an' I'm not committing, understand? When I know the catches, then I'll tell you my decision."
"Very wise. Follow me."
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Hope you enjoyed it- please review!