HERE'S THE NEXT CHAPTER. I HOPE YOU LIKE IT.

I was to tired to read through it too make sure all words were there so forgive if you read it and a word is missing.

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Previously:

"Professor Wyndam-Pryce." Buffy greeted him.

"I need you to come with me Miss Summers." He said in his supposed stern tone.

"I can't right now Professor. I really need to talk to Giles."

"We'll this make you reconsider."

In Wesley's hand was Oliver's golden cross necklace. Buffy took it from him to get a closer look at. She knew it was his.

"Where is he?"

Buffy asked him in her best Ripper voice and glare. Wesley was only a little intimidated.

"You'll find him hidden somewhere in the Forbidden Forest. Druscilla and Angelus are waiting for a final confrontation with you. Defeat them and Oliver is free to go. Lose and both you and he will more likely than not become evil undead creatures of the night yourselves."

"Lately, I've been no stronger than a new born babe. How am I supposed to fight the two of them?"

"That not my problem. You need to figure that one out."

"Why are you doing this to me?" Buffy asked.

"You're eighteenth birthday is tomorrow. You are the first slayer in many centuries to reach that age and the Council wants to see if you see if you are truly as powerful as they believe."

"If anything happens to Oliver slayer power or not I will make you and the Council sorry you ever started this. Now I believe you were taking me to the Forbidden Forest."

Before he could say anything, Buffy quickly moved close enough to him to knee him in the forbidden zone. The Professor fell to the ground moaning.

"I believe you mentioned coming with you. Ready when you are."

Night had fallen and the only light in the forest was coming from the almost full moon. Angelus stood watching Dru as she toyed with Oliver. A few other vamps were nearby all waiting for the arrival of the Slayer. They didn't have to wait long. A popping noise drew their attention.

"Get your hands away from my fiancée! You skanky ho."

Buffy said making her way to where Oliver was tied up. She ignored Angelus and Dru and knelt by Oliver.

"You okay?"

The gag over his mouth prevented him from speaking but he nodded his head wearily. She carefully pulled the gag down and before he could speak planted a loving kiss on his lips. Seconds later their kiss was interrupted by the sound of Angelus applauding.

"A lover's last kiss before their ultimate demise. How sweet."

"You wouldn't know sweet if a pound of sugar was sitting before you. Besides it's you who should be worried about his ultimate demise."

"How so? You have no power. The little weasel Wesley has been giving you the serum for over a month."

"How about we find out?" Buffy stood up in a fighting stance. "Let's rock and roll."

Buffy reached into her pocket and pulled out a stake. The two circled each other sizing each other up. Angel finally attacked. Buffy blocked easily and sent a punch of his own at him. The two fought like that until Buffy got a good kick in sending him flying. She quickly followed it by pinning Angelus down and positioning the stake over his heart.

"You threaten me and my friend, hold my fiancée hostage, and you killed Kendra. I think it's only fitting that you perish by her favorite stake. I'm sure you're quite familiar with it."

"Oh very. Just as she was familiar with mine. That's how it happened you know. Our first time together and I snapped her neck. She never saw it coming. She trusted me completely."

Buffy didn't want to hear anymore. She plunged the stake into his heart. Getting up she turned toward the Druscilla and the others.

"Who's next?"

Giles had been in his office while all this was happening with Buffy. He was sitting at his desk going over some old watcher diaries. He was checking out the diary of a watcher known as Jack Callahan.

June 17, 1865

This will be my finally entry for my Slayer Lucy, for on the day of her eighteenth birthday she has died. I was forced to abide by the Watcher's Council actions as my Slayer faced the Cruciamentum. It's a ritual administered by the council to all Slayers who achieve the age of eighteen. The council has some kind of serum that when given to a Slayer can reduce her strength to that of a newborn infant if administered enough. Anything that makes the slayer the slayer is taken away from her by this serum. Kralik, a crazy vampire, had drained her. The council locked her in Huntington manor with the strength of a normal peasant girl. If it is the last thing I do I will see that no other Slayer will be put through this test.

Giles picked up another one of Callahan's journals and began looking for any mention on the Cruciamentum again. He had just started reading when there was a knock on the door. Seconds later the portrait opened to admit Harry and Ron. Giles glanced up slightly.

"Hello Harry. Ron. What brings you two here so late?"

"Hey Giles, have you seen Buffy or Oliver? Neither one of them came to dinner. No one has seen them for several hours."

"I haven't seen them since lunch. I've been in here researching. I've finally found the answer to Buffy's sudden loss of pow-er-"

Everything began to click in his head and the change in Giles was instant as Ripper appeared. He dropped the diary and charged from the room. Harry and Ron watched with mirrored faces of shock. Neither had ever seen Giles with such a murderous look in his eyes. They both had to run to keep up with Giles as he made his way through the hall. They had just entered the front hall when Giles saw Professor Wyndam-Pryce talking with Professor Sprout. With the rage of an animal Ripper was across the floor and soon had Wesley Wyndam-Pryce jacked up against the wall.

"Where are they? What did you do with them you little poncer?"

"Professor Giles? Where are who? I am afraid I don't know what you're talking about."

"Like hell you don't. You're the one that has been giving Buffy the serum. That is why she has been so weak. How have you been giving it to her? Tell me or so help me I'll beat you within an inch of your life."

Professor Wyndam-Pryce was clearly shaking with fear. Giles raised his fist to strike him.

"In her food." It barely came out above a whisper. "I've been putting some into her food before every meal."

"Buffy's eighteenth birthday is tomorrow, but Jack Callahan had gotten the Watcher Council to outlaw the Cruciamentum. As far as I know it is still illegal to perform this test. Who put you up to this and why?"

"I-I-I was only following orders."

"Who?" Giles demanded

"Quentin Travers."

"Where are they?"

"Somewhere in the Forbidden Forest. I don't know where. Travers gave me a one way port key to use." The next part was said in a rush. "Mr. Wood was used as bait to draw the slayer to Angelus and Druscilla."

"If so much as a nail is broken on either one of them you had better run in hide because you will have half the wizarding community after you."

By this time quite a crowd had formed. Amongst them were Snape, Filch, Hagrid, Dumbledore, and several students. Giles finally hit the little pissant. Wesley hit the ground and Giles left without saying another word. Everyone in the hall stood there stunned before Dumbledore finally spoke.

"Hagrid, you and Mr. Filch help Rupert began looking in the Forbidden Forest. Severus, I'm sure Professor Wyndam-Pryce will provide with a sample of the serum, so that you may begin working on a remedy that could return Miss Summers to normal."

Severus nodded and picked Wesley up. Several of the students began laughing upon seeing the wet spot that adorned Professor Wyndam-Pryce's pants. Wesley, who was holding his still bleeding nose, turned red in the face with embarrassment.

They had been in the forest for over two hours with no sign of Buffy or Oliver. Hagrid had bought Fangs along in hope that the dog could pick up their scent. They were deep in the middle of the forest when Fangs finally caught a scent. He barked to get the others attention before running to where the scent was taking him. They soon came upon Oliver's unconscious body lying on the damp forest ground.

"Oliver!"

Giles called out as he reached the boy. Upon approaching him he could see a huge goose egg forming on the back of Oliver's head. Hagrid, Fangs, and Filch began looking around for any sign of Buffy.

"Buffy?" Oliver called out as he started to awaken.

"No Oliver, It's Giles." He tapped Oliver's face to help him become more alert. "Oliver! Have you seen Buffy?"

"Giles?" Oliver asked still not totally comprehending what Giles was saying.

"Yes Oliver. Here have some water." Giles held the flask up to his mouth. "Have you seen Buffy?"

"She saved my life Giles coming in here like she was back to her old self. She fought Angelus and staked him. The other vamps had been scared that she took their boss out. Once she freed me her strength seemed to fail her and she fell unconscious. I tried my best to protect her but someone hit me from behind. The last thing I saw was Buffy being pulled away by Druscilla. I should have been able to protect her."

"We'll find her Oliver. I know we will. Do you think you can stand?"

"I think so." He tried to stand up but soon found himself on the ground again.

"That's alright Oliver. You took a nasty blow to the head. Mr. Filch will take you back to the school when you're ready. Hagrid, Fang and I will continue looking for Buffy."

Three days had passed with no sign of Buffy. Oliver had spent one day in the Hospital wing and wouldn't eat anything. Giles had refused to give up hope that Buffy was dead until he found a body. He spent the majority of the day and night searching for her. All the students had been put on alert and were not allowed to go anywhere without someone with them. It was right after dinner on the second night when Harry, Ron and Hermione decided to go see Hagrid before it got dark. Snape had been busy working on the remedy so they knew it was safe to retrieve the cloak from the tunnel. Hermione went to retrieve it then they all went out under the cloaks protection. They knocked on Hagrid's door.

"It's us," said Harry. "We're wearing the invisibility cloak. Let us in so we can take it off."

Hagrid opened the door to let them in. Once he shut the door they took off the cloak. Hagrid returned to preparing for tonight's search.

"You shouldn've come." Hagrid told them. Professor Giles and Dumbledore will be here soon."

"We just wanted to know how the search was going. Have you found anything of Buffy's?" Ron asked.

"Not a thing and I'm afraid it's killing Professor Giles and Oliver."

"Yeah neither one them are eating or sleeping very much. Oliver's parents are coming tomorrow. I hope you find her by then." Harry said.

"Me too." Hagrid replied.

He made them all some tea. His hands were trembling slightly at the thought that Buffy might be dead and ended up dropping the milk jug. It shattered creating a mess all over the floor.

"I'll clean it up for you Hagrid."

"Thank you Hermione. There's another one in the cupboard."

Quickly cleaning up the glass and the milk she made her way to the cupboard to get the milk jug. As she went to pour the milk in she heard a slight squeak.

"Ron! I-I don't believe it! It's Scabbers!"

"What are you talking about?" Ron went over to her. "Scabbers! Scabbers, what are you doing here?"

He held the struggling rat up to the light to get a better look at him. Scabbers looked awful.

"You'd better getting going. I can see them coming." Hagrid said seeing Giles from the window.

"See you later Hagrid."

The trio said to him as they got under the cloak and went out the back door. They were trying to get away quietly when Scabbers began to frantically get away again. Hermione looked around and realized that her cat Crookshanks was right in front of them.

"Crookshanks!" Hermione moaned. "No, go away, Crookshanks! Go away!"

The cat didn't listen as it tried to get closer to Scabbers. Ron through the invisibility cloak ran as fast as he could away from that cat. He wasn't too far from the Whomping Willow when a jet-black dog leapt on to Ron knocking him down and pulling Ron out of sight.

Hermione and Harry had managed to get into the tunnel that the black dog had taken Ron. They had finally coming out through an opening. Searching the place they found Ron in one of the upper rooms.

"Harry, it's a trap-" Ron said.

The door closed behind them and Harry and Hermione turned to see Sirius Black with Ron's wand pointed at them.

"Expelliarmus!"

Harry and Hermione's wand shot out of their hands high into the air where Black caught them.

"I thought you'd come and help your friend. Your father would have done the same for me. Brave of you not to run for a teacher."

The rage was building up inside Harry that this was the man that killed his parents but he tried to keep in mind Buffy's words. Crookshanks had entered the room and stood in front of Black protectively. The cat had been enough of distraction for Harry to lunged toward Black and try to grab the wands. Crookshanks tried to stop Harry by clawing at him but Harry made to kick him and the cat got out of the way. Now Harry had the wands and gave them back to their owners. Black was sprawled across the floor.

"Going to kill me Harry?"

At that moment the sound of footsteps could be heard coming from within.

"WE'RE UP HERE!" Hermione screamed loudly. "WE'RE UP HERE-SIRIUS BLACK-QUICK!"

Harry thought about making his move and killing Black to rid the world of him but couldn't quite make himself do it. Buffy's words were still playing in his head. Seconds later the door burst open in a shower of red sparks as Professor Lupin came dashing in.

"Expelliarmus!" Lupin shouted sending the wands flying again. Lupin kept his wand drawn but looked toward Black. "Where are they Sirius?"

"Asleep and-" Black's eyes went toward Ron. Lupin followed as did Harry's and Hermione's.

"But then…why hasn't he shown himself before now? Unless-" Lupin's eyes suddenly went wide with understanding. "Unless he was the one…unless you switched…without telling me?"

Sirius Black nodded ever so slowly. That was all Lupin needed as he lowered his wand, seized Black's hand to pull him up, and hugged him like a brother. The trio was lost.

"I DON'T BELIEVE IT!" Hermione screamed. "You-you-"

She was pointing at Lupin as she tried to speak.

"Hermione-"

"-you and him!"

"Hermione calm down-"

"I didn't tell anyone. I've been covering up for you."

"Hermione! Listen to me, please!" Lupin shouted as he tried to get her to listen.

"You guys make enough noise to wake the dead."

All heads instantly looked up toward the blonde headed figure that was leaning tiredly on the doorframe. Her arms were scratched in several spots.

"Buffy!"

Everyone cried out at once including Black and Lupin. She pushed off the door to move toward the group when she became dizzy and stumbled. Black was at her side catching her before she hit the ground.

"You're supposed to be resting," Black told her as moved to one of the dusty chairs.

"And I thought you were going to wait until I was stronger and could talk to Harry and Ron."

"Buffy! We thought you were dead." Harry said unable to resist giving the woman he considered a sister a hug.

"I would have been if Black here hadn't saved my life. I owe him everything. Harry? How's Giles? And Oliver? Is he all right? Sirius went back for him but he couldn't find him."

"He's fine Buffy. The search parties found him the night you two disappeared." Lupin said standing beside Black. "Oliver told us you took out Angelus. How? What happened?"

"I used my magic in a way that it was never meant to be used. Somehow my magic transferred itself to my Slayer power. I was completely drained both slayer power and magically. I passed out from exhaustion."

"When I found her Druscilla and her minions were very close to putting the bite on her. I attacked them. I instantly took Druscilla out cutting her head out with my claws. The rest of the bloodsucking creatures scattered."

"Wait a minute! You said claws?" Hermione said catching on to Black's slip.

"Yes you heard correctly. It's quite a story which might help you understand better."

Lupin said as he began explaining about his, Sirius, James, and Peter's time at Hogwarts. Then Sirius began to explain about how he became the Potter's secret Keeper and at how the last minute he had convinced them to make Peter their secret keeper.

"I knew there was something strange about Scabbers. He began acting differently the moment your escape was announced." Buffy said tiredly.

"Speaking of that how did you escape from Azkaban?" Hermione asked.

Sirius went on to tell her about he, James, and Peter were Animagus, and how Lupin was a werewolf.

"…so in a way Snape's been right about me all along." Lupin said as he finished the story.

"Snape?" Black said so harshly that it shocked Buffy. "What's Snape got to do with it?"

"He's here, Sirius," said Lupin heavily. "He's been teaching here as well."

"That git. He's been trying for years to get us expelled. The bast-" Sirius stopped upon seeing Buffy's face.

"You will not bad mouth Snape in my presence. He is a part of my family and I don't take kindly people badmouthing my family. Besides I've mellowed him out quite a bit. He's changed since your school days."

"Why thank you my dear." Snape's voice startled everyone. He entered and moved to Buffy's side. "Are you alright? How are you feeling?"

Sirius watched with wide eyes and an open jaw. This definitely wasn't the Snape he knew from school. This one actually cared about something.

"Really tired, but I'm alright. Black saved my life." Buffy proceed to tell him the story.

"I'm glad you're alright. Rupert and Wood are going to be thrilled to see you. I've got something for you." He reached into his robe. "Drink this. It should counter attack that serum that weasel's been giving you."

"How did you know you would need it tonight?" Buffy asked.

"I knew if anyone could find you these three would. I've been waiting for them to leave the castle. Now drink up. The potion should take effect very soon."

Buffy nodded drinking the potion straight down and blanched at the taste.

"That was disgusting and please don't tell me what was in it. Now I believe you were going to change Scabbers back into his original rat form.

Lupin nodded and looked toward Snape to see whether he was going to stop him or not.

"I don't trust either one of you, but Buffy does and Black saved her life so that's good enough for me."

Buffy looked at Snape and hugged him. Together Remus and Sirius did the spell. A bright dazzling blue light came bursting from both wands. The rat known as Scabbers began changing into the human Peter Pettigrew.

"Well, hello, Peter," said Lupin pleasantly.

"S-Sirius…R-Remus…" Peter said, as he looked frantically for some escape. "My friends…my old friends…"

"Don't even think about it you rat?" Buffy's voice said strongly and menacingly. She was definitely feeling better.

"We've been having a little chat, Peter, about what happened the night Lily and James died. You might have missed the finer points while you were squeaking around down on the bed."

"Remus," cried Pettigrew. "…you don't believe him, do you…? He tried to kill me, Remus…"

"So we've heard," said Lupin coldly. "I'd like to clear up one or two little matters with you, Peter, if you'd be so-"

The group interrogated Peter and watched as they found why he was a rat as he tried to squeal his way out of it. Buffy found herself thoroughly disgusted with the man and thought about hurting him herself. The decision had been left up to Harry, and he decided that

Pettigrew should go to Azkaban.

"He can go to Azkaban." Harry told them.

"Very well, said Lupin. Stand aside, Harry. I'm going to tie him up that's all." Pettigrew laid tied up on the floor gagged and squirming.

"But if you transform, Peter, we will kill you." Black told them and Harry nodded as did

Buffy. "Two of us should be chained to this. Just to make sure."

"I'll do it." Lupin responded.

"And me." Buffy said as she stood on the other side of Peter.

"Buffy, are you sure?" Snape asked.

"I'm not quite back to full strength, but I feel better than I have in a month. I can feel my powers coming back. You're potion worked. Thank you."

"You're welcome."

Soon Pettigrew was standing upright, and chained between Buffy and Lupin.

Next part: A Werewolf, Dementors and a happy reunion. The Wedding is coming soon.

PLEASE READ AND REVIEW!