David - thanks for the review, let me know how you think I've done on this chapter

Chapter 16 - Strategy

Late that night, Buffy, Faith, Angel and Sirius sat in their common room, poring over maps of Hogwarts and discussing strategy.

"There's no worries about what time of day they will attack," Buffy said, looking up from the map and at Angel, "Voldemort's army consists of vampires, so its going to be a night time attack. Dumbledore has placed watchtowers on the Hogwarts border, so we will have enough time to prepare."

"Now what Voldemort isn't planning on, is our connection to the slayers," Sirius continued, "There are certain spells that can be used against vampires and demons, but nothing quite as effective as slayers. But we also have to worry about the death eaters. You are still vulnerable to curses. I propose we put into action a system where we pair up, an Auror to a slayer, or fighter. That way the Auror can cope with magical attack and defence and the fighter the physical stuff."

"Good plan," Angel agreed, nodding, "The army is what three thousand strong? That is a lot, but then there's a lot of us. I think it can be done."

"Totally," Faith agreed, "But what about the boy? You say he's important, how important? Like Dawnie important?"

"I'm afraid so," Sirius answered sadly "When he was born there was a prophecy made that he would be the only one with the power to conquer Voldemort, but that they could not both live at the same time, so one would kill the other. Voldemort is coming for Harry, he doesn't know the prophecy but he knows that Harry is at the centre of everything. At all costs, we have to protect him."

"And we will," Buffy promised, "Now what about the death eaters? What kind of a showing are we expecting from them?"

"Well they aren't bad," Sirius said grudgingly, "In fact some of them are pretty good, Bellatrix Lestrange, Lucius Malfoy, they know a lot of Dark Curses. There isn't a huge amount of them but they've got power. And of course there's Voldemort. Only Dumbledore's got a chance against him, so if he appears on the battle field then we've got problems."

Faith's eyes widened.

"Is that likely?" she asked sharply, "Will he be putting in a guest appearance?"

Sirius nodded.

"He doesn't trust the Death Eaters," Sirius replied, "They abandoned him for dead last time, and he can't trust them to get it right. He's coming for Harry one way or another. But they won't breach the castle."

"That's right," Buffy agreed, "Willow and Dumbledore are working together to put some wicked strong protection spells on Hogwarts. If Voldemort reaches the walls, which I doubt, then its possible he won't get in."

"Which only leaves Harry to worry about" Sirius supplied, "I know him. Despite what anyone says he's going to try and fight."

"Well we are just going to have to make sure he doesn't," Buffy said firmly, "I think we should leave one of the slayers with him, one of the more, shall we say….convincing ones. I would say Faith, but we need her, perhaps Kennedy?"

"Sounds like a plan, B. But what about Dawn, what's the situation on her?" Faith asked.

"I haven't decided yet," Buffy said thoughtfully, "I mean she can fight, she and Xander took out those ubervamps at the hell mouth, but I don't want to put her in any danger. I'm open to suggestions?"

"I think you need to ask her what she wants," Angel suggested, "She might want to stay with Harry, in the castle, but she might want to fight. She's grown up now."

Buffy nodded. They continued to discuss strategy for a sort while but then they decided to terminate the evening and head off to bed.

Faith and Buffy had rooms next to one another and after they had changed into their pyjamas, Buffy went into Faiths room and they began to talk some more.

"How are things with Principal- I mean Robin going?" Buffy asked curiously. Faith smiled a tiny smile.

"Good, actually," she said, less like the Faith that Buffy remembered, "He still surprises me. He's visiting family in Idaho at the moment, he might come back for the fight, or he might go and keep an eye on the offices, make sure the suits aren't messing things up too much. What's the story with the salty goodness?"
"He's great," Buffy confirmed, also allowing herself a tiny grin, "We've only been together about two weeks but he's great."

"I'm glad to hear it, B" Faith raised her eyebrows, "Does this mean Angel's going to be walkin' around looking like a puppy dog that someone kicked?"

Buffy laughed.

"No," she replied, "We talked about it and he's ok with it. He's probably happier about it than he was with Spike. He's obviously decided he doesn't like him, but that's what I expected. Sirius has done the same."

Faith laughed.

"Night B."

The next day, the new arrivals entered the hall, shocking the students even more than when they had seen the others. A new table had been added next to the house tables for all the slayers, but space had been made at the staff table for the others. Lorne caused the most excitement, green with horns, though Angel, made speechless over the sunlight was quite a sight to see. As breakfast was finishing, Buffy left the staff table and went over to see Dawn at the Gryffindor table.

"Hey guys," she greeted, sitting down adjacent to Dawn. "Dumbledore wants me to start defence today with you lot, he said you all have free just before lunch?"

They all consulted their timetables, and confirmed this.
"Great," Buffy said, "Dumbledore said something about the Room of Requirement?"

"Meet us outside the Gryffindor Common room before the class, and we'll show you," Harry promised.

At ten thirty, the entire Scooby family plus Sirius met Harry, Ron, Dawn and Hermione outside the Gryffindor common room.

"hi Harry," Sirius greeted him, "I thought I'd come, check out the fighting, and maybe learn a little myself."

"I didn't realise there would be so many of you," Harry said amazedly, "follow me." He led them up several staircases to the seventh floor of Hogwarts where there was a large tapestry showing a crazy wizard in a tutu being bludgeoned by trolls.

"I was bludgeoned by a troll once," Buffy said casually, "He had a hammer though."

"Right," said Harry awkwardly. "anyway, if you could just walk back and forth in front of this tapestry three times and concentrate on what kind of training room you would like." Buffy walked in front of it as he said, screwing up her face and thinking hard. Just as she walked past it the third time, a heavy oak door appeared in the wall opposite. Buffy's jaw dropped in amazement, and she pushed the door open. They all followed her into the room.

It was huge room, almost as big as the great hall, with plenty of room for them all to change. The walls were lit with fiery torches, and the floor was covered with gymnastic mats, making the floor slightly giving. The room held a gym horse and a variety of punching bags. Along the walls, a variety of weapons were hung, from axes, to hammers, to knives. Hermione gasped as she looked at the weapons.

"This place is incredible," Buffy said in amazement, "it's perfect for training in." She turned to Faith,

"Did you bring it?" Faith nodded, and held up the long case she was carrying. Gingerly, she placed it on a table at the edge of the room and opened it. Inside lay a scythe, with a silver blade inlaid with red. Buffy picked it up, as if she was greeting an old friend, and she swung it through the air, making it sing.

"That felt good," she said joyfully. "Now lets get to work. Slayers you are going to work with Faith, Dawn, Gunn and Wesley. Angel, Xander, Willow and Giles, we are going to teach Harry, Hermione, Ron and Sirius."

The groups arranged themselves, with the slayers taking up the most of the room, and selecting weapons off of the walls, and the others sitting in a circle on the floor.

"Right," Buffy said seriously, "You know why you are here. To learn to defend yourself without the use of a wand against whatever may be coming. First of don't worry if you don't feel as agile as the slayers." She gestured to the slayers who were practising fighting with one another. Their eyes all widened in amazement, as they saw their speed and agility.

"As I said, don't worry," Buffy said , her eyes crinkling in amusement, "They have all the special powers, you never will. Though you won't be able to fight a slayer, it doesn't mean you can't be a damn good fighter. Giles, Willow and Xander have no slayer powers, yet they have killed more vampires than any of those slayers. Its all about knowing your strengths and your opponents weaknesses. Stand up Angel." He did as she said, and she also stood up.

"He we have a vampire," she said, walking around him, "Not your average vampire, he's not going to bite you, but still a fighter. And right now, he's got the upper hand. Spike once told me that. Because he's already got his weapon." At that, Angel put his game face on, prompting them all to gasp. Buffy smiled with satisfaction.
"Exactly. And unless I've got sunlight in my pocket, I need a weapon. Who knows what things kill a vampire? She asked. Predictably, Hermione's hand shot up. Buffy nodded at her.

"A wooden stake through the heart, decapitation, fire, holy water and sunlight," she said breathlessly, "And they are warded off by stakes and garlic."

"Very good," she said, "So you know that if you are fighting you need to have some kind of weapon, be it simply a glass of holy water. Sometimes that's enough."

She looked expectantly at Angel and he broke in.

"Having been a vampire without a soul, I know what's its like," He began, "Vampires will do all they can to feed. To them, you are just really fast food. So if you can, run. There's no shame in it, if its about your life. But hopefully we can help you enough so that you won't need to."

He took a fighting stance and faced Buffy, reverting to his vampire face. Buffy also faced him. He took the first move, punching Buffy. She retaliated with a kick and the fight began. The group watched carefully, as they aimed kicks and punches at one another, some times hitting, sometimes being blocked and sometimes missing. Buffy crouched and swung her leg, tripping Angel, causing him to fall. Then she backed off.
"That was bloody brilliant!" Ron exclaimed fervently. Angel and Buffy glanced at each other then grinned.

"It's been a while," Angel said, "You've gotten better."

"So have you," Buffy said, puffing slightly. Sirius frowned a little.
"Now, you won't be looking at anything so ambitious for a while, but we will begin by working on your punch," Buffy said commandingly. At her request, Harry, Hermione, Sirius and Ron lined up in front of punch bags. They began to practice. Buffy stood by Harry and worked with him, while Angel worked with Sirius, much to both their displeasure, Xander and Willow helped Hermione and Giles helped Ron.

"Lift your elbow a little," suggested Buffy. Harry did and felt more power go into him punch.

"Try and make it more like this," Buffy said, demonstrating a punch to him. She kept one ear out to listen to Angel and Sirius.

"Not bad," Angel said grudgingly, "But try not to drop your shoulder, everyone does that."

Sirius just kept punching, furiously.

Dumbledore entered the room of requirement, an hour into the session and came over to talk to Buffy.
"How are they getting on?" he asked her.
"Very well," she said truthfully, "We've worked on basic kicking and punching." Dumbledore nodded and watched Harry attack the punch bag.

"I'm going to pit them against Angel," Buffy said, "He's going to go easy on them, but they need to know what its like."

"Actually," Dumbledore said thoughtfully, "I have a preferable alternative. I can create a vampire, not a real one of course, so it can't bite, but a normal one."

"That would be great," Buffy said, "Angel isn't exactly normal as vampires go." They turned and saw him chatting with Hermione and Ron. She clapped her hands, and the group came together. She explained what would happened and laughed when she saw the apprehensive looks on their faces.
"It's ok," she said, "it can't bite and if you look like getting bitten to a pulp, then of course we'll step in. But you've got to learn." The other slayers, Faith, Gunn, Dawn and Wesley gathered round.

"Who wants to go first?" Buffy asked, and then she laughed when no one volunteered. "Dawn, why don't you show them how its done." Dawn stepped forward and took a stake from Buffy, as Professor Dumbledore pulled out his wand.

"Vampirus creatus," he muttered, and in front of them appeared a male vampire, snarling at Dawn. The others formed a circle around them. The vampire rushed towards Dawn but she kicked its head. It punched her sent her sprawling but she picked herself up, let it come to her then blocked it attempt at punching her, before staking it, and causing it to turn to dust.

"Not bad," commented Buffy, "But you could've blocked that punch, but you got the results in the end."

Dawn rejoined the circle, and Harry stepped forward to have a turn. He also took a stake and Dumbledore created another vampire. Harry stepped forward but it sent him flying with a kick. Sirius went to move towards him, but Buffy held him back, watching.

Harry got up and faced it again. This time when it attacked, he ducked the punch and kicked it in the legs. He attempted to stake it, but missed, getting its stomach instead. As it looked down at the newly formed hole, he attempted again, this time dusting it.

"It was okay," Buffy said honestly, "You got away with it, as it was stupid, but you might not be so lucky next time." Harry nodded.

"Sirius, its your turn," Buffy said, turning to him. He grinned at her and stepped forward, also taking a stake.

He faced his vampire without fear, and Buffy was proud of him. When it rushed at him, he blocked its punch, then threw one of his own, and it tumbled across the floor. Before it could get up, he was by its side and staking it.

"Very good," Buffy exclaimed, "Nice punch. Where'd you learn that one?"

"The Hog's Head," Sirius replied, grinning, and at her blank face said: "A pub." Buffy frowned at him, mock disapproving, then grinned.

"I'm never going to the pub with you then," she declared, then turned to Hermione. "You want a go?"

Hermione looked uncomfortable.

"I don't' really feel that I can cope with that," she said awkwardly.

"C'mon Herm," Ron cajoled her, "We can go together." Reluctantly, she agreed, and they both took stakes and faced their vampire. Ron was first to strike, hitting out at it wildly, and luckily getting its face. Enraged, it kicked him across the circle and turned on Hermione. She looked around apprehensively, but as the group seemed reluctant to help, kicked it in the stomach. Momentarily winded, the vampire stepped back and that allowed for Ron to come up behind it and stake it through the heart.

The group applauded.

"Nice," Buffy congratulated, "That'll do for today then. You must be starving." Harry, Ron, Hermione, and the Slayers headed out the door. Sirius took Buffy's hand and they made to follow, but Dumbledore called them back.

"That was very impressive, Miss Summers," he said appreciatively.

"They're good pupils," Buffy said truthfully, "They should do well."

"Grand," Dumbledore replied, "But I have some more pressing news. Our Care of Magical Creatures professor ahs just returned from a trip, and has informed me that there is at least one vampire or demon in the forest, and it is eating some of the animals in there. He has asked for some assistance in its removal.
"Sure," Buffy said, "Me, Faith and Angel could go this evening. You want to come honey?" She addressed Sirius.
"Why not," he said, forcing a grin, "It'd be interesting to see you at work."

Angel and Faith murmured their assent and they left for lunch.