Disclaimer: I am not Joss Whendon or J.K. Rowling
Author's Note: I apologize for it taking me so long to update, but I moved and I started my full time job. Thanks to Kati for proofing these and thanks for the reviews!
Chapter 15
"I was wondering if you would like to go to Hogsmeade with me?" Methos asked, shifting from foot to foot like an impatient school boy, something he hadn't been in a very long time.
"Sure." Buffy replied, quickly calculating who she was going to chose. "Good night." She shut the door, leaving a very stunned Methos standing there.
"She said yes!" he muttered to himself as he made his way back to his room. What he didn't see was the shadow that fell into line behind him or the yellow glinted eyes that looked angrily on.
'She might have said yes, but that doesn't mean that this is the end.' Angelus thought. If the elder immortal had been paying attention instead of blushing like a school boy then he would have heard Buffy's thought that she was ready to decide who would be the victor and Angelus would be damned if it was Methos. So he walked back to his room making plans on how to win his consort.
Buffy's Room
Buffy tossed and turned in her sleep, her dream plagued by Tom Riddle and everything he had done in his past and everything that he had been forcing Ginny to do. She watched as Ginny painted the note in a sort of slumber and then she watched Ginny find the basilisk dead, with a very angry Riddle in the back of her mind. Riddle forced Ginny to go closer to the basilisk and she accidentally cut herself on the tooth, drawing the poison into her body and dying.
Buffy awoke at once, her heart pounding and an intense desire to rush to the Chamber, she shook her head of the muddled thoughts, until her dream returned. Pushing the blankets aside, she rushed out of the room and to the chamber door, never pausing to think about getting help, but that Ginny needed help.
Buffy threw the girls bathroom door open, but she could already see that the chamber had been open. Jumping into the tunnel, Buffy rushed on, hoping that she would not be too late to save Ginny. She hit the skulls and ran running on pure instinct she made her way back to the chamber, where Ginny was just realizing that the basilisk was dead.
"Sorry, I killed your pet." Buffy said stepping out into the Chamber. Ginny whirled around and faced her surprise marred her face.
"Crucio." Tom said and Buffy doubled over and started laughing. "Crucio." He said again, not understanding why his curse was not working.
"That kind of tickles." She told him and advanced on Ginny, she noticed the diary in her robes. Faking a move to grab her wand, Tom immediately went to defend it, but Buffy grabbed the diary. Tom whirled around and tried to grab it back, but Buffy moved faster, she made her way to the basilisk and impaled the diary on the tooth.
"No!" Tom screamed, his voice slowly fading back into Ginny's.
Ginny looked around and then down at herself, she looked at Buffy and then burst into tears, rushing into Buffy's arms. "I'm so sorry. I tried to and then he and then the basilik and the blood and then." Ginny babbled incoherently and Buffy was immediately reminded of Willow.
"It's okay." Buffy told her, hugging the girl to her. "He's gone now." She told Ginny and she relaxed slightly before she thought about what she had been forced to do.
"I'm going to be expelled and mom and dad are going to be so disappointed in me."
"Your not going to be expelled," Buffy promised, "And I'm sure your parents will understand." Buffy led Ginny out of the Chamber and they made their way back into the girl's bathroom, where Giles and Duncan met them.
"A little late aren't we?" Buffy asked, raising an eyebrow at them.
"Yes, well," Giles said, "We were trying to sleep when we were rudely awakened, by your dogs." He told her and Ainnle and Liam growled at him and then snapped at him.
"I wouldn't call them that, maybe guardians is a better term." Buffy said and Ainnle and Liam sent their thanks at that term. "Well, led on to Dumbledore's office." Buffy said and Giles and Duncan sent her an exasperated look, before turning around and going back to their rooms. Buffy laughed softly and made her way to Dumbledore's office.
Dumbledore's Office
"..and that's what happened, sir." Ginny said, telling everything that had happened to her. Before Dumbledore could question her, Lucious Malfoy stormed into the room.
"I heard about what happened are the students okay?" he asked, looking over Ginny in particular. Buffy watched him and things began to fall into place, she realized what she had done and began to stalk him. "Yes?" he asked, watching Buffy approach, he would not be intimidated by a little girl!
"You put the diary in Ginny's things. You knew what it would do and you wanted her to be blamed." Buffy said, coming to stand in front of the well- polished man.
"I don't know what you are talking about dear child." He said, looking down his noise at her.
"Oh I think you do." She returned, "And if you ever come near her, her family, Hermione, or Harry Voldemort will not be the thing that you fear will get you."
"Are you threatening me?"
"No, I'm making you a promise."
"Why you impertinent child!" Lucius stepped forward trying to intimidate her, but gasped when her eyes glowed yellow. "What the hell!"
"That's right your hell!" she promised, "You have no idea what you are up against, I will give this warning once, Lucy. Now get out, before you piss me off." She told him and he scurried out with as much dignity as he could, which wasn't very much since both Ginny and Dumbledore were trying not to smile. "Arrogant prick!" she muttered and then turned and smiled at Ginny and Dumbledore, "Now then you were going to ask some.." They were once again interrupted as the Weasley family stormed Dumbledore's office.
"Oh, Ginny are you okay?" Molly asked, grabbing ahold of her little girl and holding on tight. Buffy watched her eyes moistening with unshed tears as she thought about her mother and everything she had left behind. Molly turned to face the young lady that had saved her daughter. "Thank you so much. You have no idea what it means to us."
"Your very welcome." Buffy said, smiling warmly at them. "And if you don't mind I'm going to take my leave, it is early and I need to get ready to go to classes and breakfast and stuff."
"No, no we insist that you join us." Arthur said.
"Surely Dumbledore would allow you to skip your classes and I'm sure that your professors would understand." Molly said and she looked slightly offended when Ginny and Buffy started to laugh.
"I'm sorry, it's just I am the professor." Buffy told them and Molly and Arthur looked completely shocked, but they were saved the embarrassment of answering, when Ron and the twins and Percy came running in. Buffy moved to sneak out as the family reunited.
"Don't even think about it, you can just have someone else teach your class it is a family day and we would be honored if you would consider yourself part of our family." Molly said and the rest of the family nodded their agreement. Buffy eyed the lot of them, shocked that anyone would want her.
"Ah, but I want you lover." She heard and groaned as Angelus stepped into the room.
"What do you want Angelus?" she asked and Arthur and Molly gasped, stepping in front of their children like they would protect them. "It's okay he doesn't bite." She told them, "He's like a neutered puppy." Angelus growled and then his eyes glinted yellow as an idea struck him.
"Did you ever hear about my Valentine's gift to Dru?" he asked, looking at Ainnle and Liam, who were both growling at him. "I could neuter them if you want." Ainnle and Liam moved as though to attack Angelus, but were restrained by Buffy.
"Don't bite him, he might contaminate you." She told them and then turned to face the Weasley family. "I would be honored. I'm just going to change and I'll met you in the Great Hall."
"Need some help lover?" Angelus questioned, with a hopeful hint in his voice, along with a suggestive wink.
"Ya." She replied and Angelus extremely hopeful. "Can I borrow your ring?" Angelus growled at her again because Dumbledore's office was bright and sunny; she smiled innocently. She bounced out of the room, leaving the Weasley family, Dumbledore, and Angelus alone together.
Great Hall
Buffy entered the Great Hall and was immediately assailed by people clapping and even a few catcalls, she looked around in confusion. Dumbledore stood and the clapping stopped.
"Many of you have heard what Professor Summers has done for our school." He began, the tables began to cheer again, and then the Gryfindor table stood up, followed by Hufflepuff and Ravenclaw. No one in Slytherin stood up, except for Draco Malfoy, who had entered late. "Silence please." The hall was immediately quiet, you could have heard a pin drop. "Because of this, we would like to offer Professor Summers the chance to come back next year and help with Defense Against the Dark Arts." There was more tremendous applause and Buffy blushed. "And with no further adieu, dig in."
Buffy walked up to the teacher's table taking the only seat available, which was right between Methos and Angelus. She looked as though she was contemplating sicing Annile and Liam on them, but thought Dumbledore might not like the mess. Although, it would have been fun, she smiled at that thought and Angelus and Methos caught their breath at the sight. She took her seat and began to fill her plate.
"So, are we still up for Hogsmeade?" Methos asked casually, although he wanted Angelus to be jealous.
"Yes." Buffy replied, "Although I think that the Weasley family might be tagging along with us." She told him and his face fell, while Angelus' seemed to light up. "That doesn't bother you does it?" she questioned and Methos knew that if he got this question wrong then he would lose the bet for sure. "What bet?" Angelus and Methos looked at Buffy in shock, how could she have known about the bet?
"I can hear you thinking." She reminded them and they both looked like they might smack themselves. "Forget that did we?"
"Well, you see.." Methos began to stutter out, while Duncan tried to hold in his laughter. Buffy turned to face Duncan and raised a eyebrow and simply waited. She didn't have to wait to long, because Duncan retold the entire thing, laughing the entire time.
"So, that's what all the pissing contests have been about." She said and both guys thought that they would be getting away with everything, but she quickly burst that bubble. "Because I can't get up and storm from the table, because it would cause such a disorder and everyone would realize that we had fought, I'm going to finish my breakfast, in silence, and then I'm going to Hogsmeade," she told them and Methos looked excited, "with the Weasley family and you can both take a flying off a bridge for all I care."
Buffy finished her breakfast as quickly as possible, practically running out of the Great Hall followed by Ainnle and Liam who wouldn't let either guy near her as she made her escape. She entered the carriage that the Weasley family had taken and waited for the carriage to go.
"Thank you." Harry said, interrupting her thoughts, Buffy jumped because she hadn't realized that Harry and Hermione were in the carriage with them.
"For?"
"Fighting the basilik and beliving in me."
"It's nothing." She told him. "So, what are you going to do now that the summer is here?" she asked the group and most of them seemed rather excited, but Harry looked unhappy.
"I'm going to live with my relatives." He told her and she didn't understand, so she looked at him questioningly. "They treat me as though I'm not there and that I'm the lowest scum on the earth."
"I'm sorry." She told him, but her mind was quickly turning, she was pretty sure that she could get legal guardenship over him if she used the council or just threatened them, which ever helped.
"It's okay." He told her, "What about you?"
"I haven't decided, Giles has been pushing me to go back to Sunnydale."
"The Hellmouth!" Hermione cried and Buffy was once again reminded of Willow.
"Yes, the Hellmouth."
"But, but, why?"
"Because I am the slayer. And my mom lives there." She told them and the group fell into a quiet, comfortable silence, until they entered Hogsmeade. "Where to?" she asked the group and was immediately assailed by "Three Brooms." The Weasley family led the group and Buffy and Harry fell slightly behind.
"If you could live with me for the summer, would you?" she asked and Harry looked at her sharply.
"Yes."
"You do realize that I live on the mouth of Hell?"
"It can't be worse then living with my aunt and uncle." He told her, "But why?"
"Because, believe it or not, I have an inkling of what you are going through and no one should walk it with someone that doesn't understand."
"How touching." They heard and both of them whirled around to find Lord Voldemort.
Yes, a cliffie, but hey! I like them. Alright next time I write there will be three chapters, but it will be three different endings so choose carefully!
Author's Note: I apologize for it taking me so long to update, but I moved and I started my full time job. Thanks to Kati for proofing these and thanks for the reviews!
Chapter 15
"I was wondering if you would like to go to Hogsmeade with me?" Methos asked, shifting from foot to foot like an impatient school boy, something he hadn't been in a very long time.
"Sure." Buffy replied, quickly calculating who she was going to chose. "Good night." She shut the door, leaving a very stunned Methos standing there.
"She said yes!" he muttered to himself as he made his way back to his room. What he didn't see was the shadow that fell into line behind him or the yellow glinted eyes that looked angrily on.
'She might have said yes, but that doesn't mean that this is the end.' Angelus thought. If the elder immortal had been paying attention instead of blushing like a school boy then he would have heard Buffy's thought that she was ready to decide who would be the victor and Angelus would be damned if it was Methos. So he walked back to his room making plans on how to win his consort.
Buffy's Room
Buffy tossed and turned in her sleep, her dream plagued by Tom Riddle and everything he had done in his past and everything that he had been forcing Ginny to do. She watched as Ginny painted the note in a sort of slumber and then she watched Ginny find the basilisk dead, with a very angry Riddle in the back of her mind. Riddle forced Ginny to go closer to the basilisk and she accidentally cut herself on the tooth, drawing the poison into her body and dying.
Buffy awoke at once, her heart pounding and an intense desire to rush to the Chamber, she shook her head of the muddled thoughts, until her dream returned. Pushing the blankets aside, she rushed out of the room and to the chamber door, never pausing to think about getting help, but that Ginny needed help.
Buffy threw the girls bathroom door open, but she could already see that the chamber had been open. Jumping into the tunnel, Buffy rushed on, hoping that she would not be too late to save Ginny. She hit the skulls and ran running on pure instinct she made her way back to the chamber, where Ginny was just realizing that the basilisk was dead.
"Sorry, I killed your pet." Buffy said stepping out into the Chamber. Ginny whirled around and faced her surprise marred her face.
"Crucio." Tom said and Buffy doubled over and started laughing. "Crucio." He said again, not understanding why his curse was not working.
"That kind of tickles." She told him and advanced on Ginny, she noticed the diary in her robes. Faking a move to grab her wand, Tom immediately went to defend it, but Buffy grabbed the diary. Tom whirled around and tried to grab it back, but Buffy moved faster, she made her way to the basilisk and impaled the diary on the tooth.
"No!" Tom screamed, his voice slowly fading back into Ginny's.
Ginny looked around and then down at herself, she looked at Buffy and then burst into tears, rushing into Buffy's arms. "I'm so sorry. I tried to and then he and then the basilik and the blood and then." Ginny babbled incoherently and Buffy was immediately reminded of Willow.
"It's okay." Buffy told her, hugging the girl to her. "He's gone now." She told Ginny and she relaxed slightly before she thought about what she had been forced to do.
"I'm going to be expelled and mom and dad are going to be so disappointed in me."
"Your not going to be expelled," Buffy promised, "And I'm sure your parents will understand." Buffy led Ginny out of the Chamber and they made their way back into the girl's bathroom, where Giles and Duncan met them.
"A little late aren't we?" Buffy asked, raising an eyebrow at them.
"Yes, well," Giles said, "We were trying to sleep when we were rudely awakened, by your dogs." He told her and Ainnle and Liam growled at him and then snapped at him.
"I wouldn't call them that, maybe guardians is a better term." Buffy said and Ainnle and Liam sent their thanks at that term. "Well, led on to Dumbledore's office." Buffy said and Giles and Duncan sent her an exasperated look, before turning around and going back to their rooms. Buffy laughed softly and made her way to Dumbledore's office.
Dumbledore's Office
"..and that's what happened, sir." Ginny said, telling everything that had happened to her. Before Dumbledore could question her, Lucious Malfoy stormed into the room.
"I heard about what happened are the students okay?" he asked, looking over Ginny in particular. Buffy watched him and things began to fall into place, she realized what she had done and began to stalk him. "Yes?" he asked, watching Buffy approach, he would not be intimidated by a little girl!
"You put the diary in Ginny's things. You knew what it would do and you wanted her to be blamed." Buffy said, coming to stand in front of the well- polished man.
"I don't know what you are talking about dear child." He said, looking down his noise at her.
"Oh I think you do." She returned, "And if you ever come near her, her family, Hermione, or Harry Voldemort will not be the thing that you fear will get you."
"Are you threatening me?"
"No, I'm making you a promise."
"Why you impertinent child!" Lucius stepped forward trying to intimidate her, but gasped when her eyes glowed yellow. "What the hell!"
"That's right your hell!" she promised, "You have no idea what you are up against, I will give this warning once, Lucy. Now get out, before you piss me off." She told him and he scurried out with as much dignity as he could, which wasn't very much since both Ginny and Dumbledore were trying not to smile. "Arrogant prick!" she muttered and then turned and smiled at Ginny and Dumbledore, "Now then you were going to ask some.." They were once again interrupted as the Weasley family stormed Dumbledore's office.
"Oh, Ginny are you okay?" Molly asked, grabbing ahold of her little girl and holding on tight. Buffy watched her eyes moistening with unshed tears as she thought about her mother and everything she had left behind. Molly turned to face the young lady that had saved her daughter. "Thank you so much. You have no idea what it means to us."
"Your very welcome." Buffy said, smiling warmly at them. "And if you don't mind I'm going to take my leave, it is early and I need to get ready to go to classes and breakfast and stuff."
"No, no we insist that you join us." Arthur said.
"Surely Dumbledore would allow you to skip your classes and I'm sure that your professors would understand." Molly said and she looked slightly offended when Ginny and Buffy started to laugh.
"I'm sorry, it's just I am the professor." Buffy told them and Molly and Arthur looked completely shocked, but they were saved the embarrassment of answering, when Ron and the twins and Percy came running in. Buffy moved to sneak out as the family reunited.
"Don't even think about it, you can just have someone else teach your class it is a family day and we would be honored if you would consider yourself part of our family." Molly said and the rest of the family nodded their agreement. Buffy eyed the lot of them, shocked that anyone would want her.
"Ah, but I want you lover." She heard and groaned as Angelus stepped into the room.
"What do you want Angelus?" she asked and Arthur and Molly gasped, stepping in front of their children like they would protect them. "It's okay he doesn't bite." She told them, "He's like a neutered puppy." Angelus growled and then his eyes glinted yellow as an idea struck him.
"Did you ever hear about my Valentine's gift to Dru?" he asked, looking at Ainnle and Liam, who were both growling at him. "I could neuter them if you want." Ainnle and Liam moved as though to attack Angelus, but were restrained by Buffy.
"Don't bite him, he might contaminate you." She told them and then turned to face the Weasley family. "I would be honored. I'm just going to change and I'll met you in the Great Hall."
"Need some help lover?" Angelus questioned, with a hopeful hint in his voice, along with a suggestive wink.
"Ya." She replied and Angelus extremely hopeful. "Can I borrow your ring?" Angelus growled at her again because Dumbledore's office was bright and sunny; she smiled innocently. She bounced out of the room, leaving the Weasley family, Dumbledore, and Angelus alone together.
Great Hall
Buffy entered the Great Hall and was immediately assailed by people clapping and even a few catcalls, she looked around in confusion. Dumbledore stood and the clapping stopped.
"Many of you have heard what Professor Summers has done for our school." He began, the tables began to cheer again, and then the Gryfindor table stood up, followed by Hufflepuff and Ravenclaw. No one in Slytherin stood up, except for Draco Malfoy, who had entered late. "Silence please." The hall was immediately quiet, you could have heard a pin drop. "Because of this, we would like to offer Professor Summers the chance to come back next year and help with Defense Against the Dark Arts." There was more tremendous applause and Buffy blushed. "And with no further adieu, dig in."
Buffy walked up to the teacher's table taking the only seat available, which was right between Methos and Angelus. She looked as though she was contemplating sicing Annile and Liam on them, but thought Dumbledore might not like the mess. Although, it would have been fun, she smiled at that thought and Angelus and Methos caught their breath at the sight. She took her seat and began to fill her plate.
"So, are we still up for Hogsmeade?" Methos asked casually, although he wanted Angelus to be jealous.
"Yes." Buffy replied, "Although I think that the Weasley family might be tagging along with us." She told him and his face fell, while Angelus' seemed to light up. "That doesn't bother you does it?" she questioned and Methos knew that if he got this question wrong then he would lose the bet for sure. "What bet?" Angelus and Methos looked at Buffy in shock, how could she have known about the bet?
"I can hear you thinking." She reminded them and they both looked like they might smack themselves. "Forget that did we?"
"Well, you see.." Methos began to stutter out, while Duncan tried to hold in his laughter. Buffy turned to face Duncan and raised a eyebrow and simply waited. She didn't have to wait to long, because Duncan retold the entire thing, laughing the entire time.
"So, that's what all the pissing contests have been about." She said and both guys thought that they would be getting away with everything, but she quickly burst that bubble. "Because I can't get up and storm from the table, because it would cause such a disorder and everyone would realize that we had fought, I'm going to finish my breakfast, in silence, and then I'm going to Hogsmeade," she told them and Methos looked excited, "with the Weasley family and you can both take a flying off a bridge for all I care."
Buffy finished her breakfast as quickly as possible, practically running out of the Great Hall followed by Ainnle and Liam who wouldn't let either guy near her as she made her escape. She entered the carriage that the Weasley family had taken and waited for the carriage to go.
"Thank you." Harry said, interrupting her thoughts, Buffy jumped because she hadn't realized that Harry and Hermione were in the carriage with them.
"For?"
"Fighting the basilik and beliving in me."
"It's nothing." She told him. "So, what are you going to do now that the summer is here?" she asked the group and most of them seemed rather excited, but Harry looked unhappy.
"I'm going to live with my relatives." He told her and she didn't understand, so she looked at him questioningly. "They treat me as though I'm not there and that I'm the lowest scum on the earth."
"I'm sorry." She told him, but her mind was quickly turning, she was pretty sure that she could get legal guardenship over him if she used the council or just threatened them, which ever helped.
"It's okay." He told her, "What about you?"
"I haven't decided, Giles has been pushing me to go back to Sunnydale."
"The Hellmouth!" Hermione cried and Buffy was once again reminded of Willow.
"Yes, the Hellmouth."
"But, but, why?"
"Because I am the slayer. And my mom lives there." She told them and the group fell into a quiet, comfortable silence, until they entered Hogsmeade. "Where to?" she asked the group and was immediately assailed by "Three Brooms." The Weasley family led the group and Buffy and Harry fell slightly behind.
"If you could live with me for the summer, would you?" she asked and Harry looked at her sharply.
"Yes."
"You do realize that I live on the mouth of Hell?"
"It can't be worse then living with my aunt and uncle." He told her, "But why?"
"Because, believe it or not, I have an inkling of what you are going through and no one should walk it with someone that doesn't understand."
"How touching." They heard and both of them whirled around to find Lord Voldemort.
Yes, a cliffie, but hey! I like them. Alright next time I write there will be three chapters, but it will be three different endings so choose carefully!