CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE: INNOCENCE

Tuesday, 2nd March 1999

Xander, Cordelia, Willow and Oz sat around the library table, books spread out in front of them, researching the latest demon threat around Sunnydale.  Willow had her laptop connected to the library phone line and was looking through internet sites that she shouldn't have had access to.  A month in, and the group was still sticking together, even though their strongest member had been snatched away from them.  They were subdued, but not completely desolate.

Giles exited his office at the same time Angel walked through the library doors.

"How did patrol go this evening?" Giles asked.

The vampire placed his weapons on the counter, knowing that the Watcher and the Scoobies were still slightly uncomfortable with him after his stint as Angelus, and preferred it when he was unarmed.

"Quiet," he replied.  "Whatever's happened is going to happen soon.  Whenever I do hear anything, they're always discussing the Mayor.  And something about Graduation day."

Willow looked up from her laptop and glanced at the two older Scoobies.  "His files are locked up tight.  I'm still trying to break through the firewalls they've set up.  Whatever they're hiding, they don't want anyone to find it."

"That's generally why people hide stuff Wills," Xander teased.

Willow threw him an annoyed look, but couldn't help but smile at the goofy grin on his face. 

"Just keep trying," Giles said.  "If anyone can do this, it'll be you Willow.  Until then-"

He was cut off by a sudden tapping on the library doors circular window.  He stood and opened the door, startled by the owl that suddenly swooped into the library, settling on the table in front of the Scoobies.  Willow leant forward and untied the letter that was attached to the owl's leg.

"Maybe it's from Buffy," she said enthusiastically.

"You know she's not allowed to contact us Willow," Oz said gently, hating the fact that his girlfriend had been so sad lately. 

It had been hard on all of them, but on Willow especially.  Buffy had been the first person to really see Willow for who she was.  Losing that had been excruciating for the redheaded hacker turned Wiccan, and Willow was anxious for any news regarding her best friend.  Willow reluctantly handed the note over to Giles who unfolded it and read the neat hand-writing quickly.

The Scoobies all looked at him expectantly, trying to read his facial expressions.  A smile broke out onto his face and the Scoobies couldn't help but follow suit.  It had been too long since the librarian had smiled, and seeing as the note was probably in regards to the Slayer, they could only hope for good news.

"Giles?" Willow prompted.

He looked up from the note and grinned at his young friends.

"She's innocent."

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After many minutes of hugs, shouts and general jubilation, the Scoobies gathered around the note that Professor Dumbledore had sent.  It explained the events of the past four weeks, and Dumbledore's eventual use of a truth potion directly before asking about the murder.  She answered no and had explained that the event had been an accident, but it hadn't been her hand that had slain Allan Finch. 

"Now what happens?" Xander asked.  He definitely wanted Buffy back where she belonged.  Sunnydale didn't seem the same without he blonde Slayer, and not just in the slaying capacity.  She'd been sorely missed by many people.

The Scoobies had been rather shocked to see how many people missed the small blonde girl.  Many students who had never spoken to the Scoobies before had come up to them asking about her whereabouts.  Usually, they would then go on to say that Buffy had helped them or saved them, and the four friends were awed by the fact that their work had actually been noticed by the people of Sunnydale.

"Now, we must find a way to convince the Council that she was innocent," Giles explained.

"Easier said than done," Oz commented sadly.

Giles nodded his agreement.  He could only wonder exactly how much sway Quentin Travers had over the rest of the Council. 

"What about Faith's Watcher?" Cordelia suggested. 

The ex-Watcher looked at the once shallow and self-obsessed girl who was now a fully-fledged member of the Scooby gang.  After Buffy had left for England, Cordelia had re-integrated herself with the gang, and she and Xander were tentatively back together on a trial basis.  Xander was thrilled at the second chance, and had been extremely careful to not mess anything up.

"That's actually a rather good idea," Giles said.

"Don't sound so shocked," Cordelia said, feeling slightly offended.

Giles looked at her apologetically.  "Sorry Cordelia.  I meant no offence."

She couldn't help but smile at the stuffy apology. 

"Wouldn't Travers have just got someone he really trusted to be Faith's Watcher?" Willow asked.  "So that way Faith could never been proven guilty?"

"Another good point," Giles conceded.  "But even the staunchest of followers can be swayed otherwise."

Xander raised an eyebrow at the lengthy explanation.  "Couldn't you have just said 'we can bring them to the dark side'?" he teased.

Giles looked to him reprovingly.  "We are hardly what one would call the dark side Xander."

The teenage boy put his hands up in surrender and took his seat again, swinging his feet to rest on the table.  He took them down at the glare from Giles.

"So, what do we do?" Willow asked, trying to get the group to focus again.

"Apart from getting Faith to confess," Angel mused, "there's not much we really can do."

The group all sighed, feeling slightly deflated, despite their earlier elation.  Whilst knowing that Buffy was innocent was a load off their shoulders, proving it was another task altogether.  However, they could now at least have hope of seeing their blonde friend again.  And now, with a school of witchcraft and wizardry on their side, their task seemed infinitely easier.

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Short chappie.  Yay for the Scoobies. 

SNEAK PREVIEW:

Blaise and Draco confront Buffy about the boggart and what exactly it meant.  *cue dramatic music*

Toodles.