Chapter 12 - Kidnap

The ball approached, and Hogwarts was a hive of activity as couples discussed what they were going to wear, and who they were going with. Buffy, Willow, Cordelia and Faith kept their costumes a secret however, as they all wanted to unveil them on the night. And at last, the night came.

Harry and Dawn showed up at the ball fairly early, keen to see what everyone else was wearing. They themselves had come as cowboy and cowgirl, both wearing jeans and chaps, with boots, and shirts, Dawn's tied above her midriff. They also sported cowboy hats and bandannas. They eagerly awaited the arrival of the others, seeing many unrecognisable couples as they did.

Buffy and Sirius were first, Sirius dressed as a muggle doctor, with a long white coat and stethoscope, and Buffy wearing a short white nurses dress, complete with a cap which sat atop her loose blonde hair. They were followed by Faith and Robin, who had come as Anthony and Cleopatra, both wearing white cotton robes, and faith a gold crown, and thick black and gold eye makeup. Xander and Cordelia were to follow, dressed as a sultan and a belly dancer, Cordelia's costume complete with layers of chiffon, and a gem glistening above her belly button. They all laughed over each others costumes waiting for Willow and Oz, and Hermione and Ron who all arrived together. Hermione and Ron had come as an angel and devil, Hermione clad in a white dress, with a halo and a harp, and Ron in a deep red suit and devil horns which actually went with his hair quite well. Oz and Willow came as gangsters, wearing pinstriped suits, trilby hats and carrying plastic guns. Now that they were all present, with the exception of Giles' who was in Malaysia, they set to with the enjoying themselves.

"Did I mention how great you look?" Sirius asked Buffy as they danced.

"Oh, only about a million times," she laughed.

"I'll just have to keep telling you," he said, "so you don't forget."

She grinned and kissed him.
"I'm a doctor, you can't kiss me," he exclaimed. "It wouldn't be right."

"It's the stethoscope, it's just so damn attractive," she said, laughing.

Soon, Buffy and Sirius traded partners and Buffy danced with Xander, while Sirius danced with Dawn. The Great Hall was filled with people who looked like strangers, it was hard to tell who anyone was unless you talked to them. Sirius found himself dancing with a nun, wonder woman, and a Christmas elf. Dumbledore himself had come in costume, sporting a cape and fangs which had Buffy jokingly threatening to stake him.


The last dance of the night came and Harry looked around for Dawn. He saw the back of her and grabbed her hand pulling her over to dance. As she turned she saw she had tied her bandanna so that all was visible were her eyes. Harry took her hand and looked down to position his feet, so as not to tread on hers. When he looked up, he gasped, as he looked into eyes that were most definitely not Dawn's. Before he could say anything, he felt a jerk behind his bellybutton that lifted him up, and away from Hogwarts.

At the same time as Harry, Buffy cast despondently around the room for Sirius. Everyone had coupled up and she pushed through them hurriedly, looking for her husband in the dark mass of people. Suddenly she saw a flash of white, and she turned and saw Sirius walking away from her. She chased after him and grabbed his shoulder.
"Sirius, it's last dance, where are you going?" she said, as he turned around. Her eyes widened, as the man before her grabbed her hand, and her bellybutton jerked her off her feet, a whirl of colour surrounding her.


Sirius looked at the crowd of students and teachers dancing, searching through them for Buffy's blonde head.

Out of the corner of his eye, he saw Dawn approaching. He turned to her.
"Dawn, have you seen Buffy?" he asked distractedly, "It's last dance and I can't find her anywhere."

"I haven't seen her, or Harry for that matter, they've both disappeared," Dawn replied, scanning the faces in front of her. The song ended and the crowd broke up, as couples left the hall, heading to their respective dormitories. Both Sirius and dawn waited until the hall was practically empty.
"Something's not right," Sirius muttered. "I'm going to see Dumbledore." He strode across the hall to Dumbledore.
"Professor," he said urgently, interrupting his conversation with Professor McGonagall, "Both Buffy and harry are missing, they haven't been seen for about ten minutes, they missed the last dance." Dumbledore frowned.

"Are you sure they didn't say they were going somewhere?" Dumbledore asked, turning to Sirius.
"No, Harry didn't say anything," dawn answered, and Sirius confirmed the same. Dumbledore's frown deepened.
"Dawn, please go and fetch Harry's map from his room," he asked, "That may shed some light on the situation." Dawn ran quickly to the dormitories.
"Something doesn't feel right," Sirius said to Dumbledore, while they waited for Dawn. "They wouldn't have left unless there was something seriously wrong, I know it." Dawn returned and tapped her wand on the map, saying 'mischief managed.' Dumbledore studied the map carefully, looking for dots labelled Buffy or harry. He sighed.
"They are not on the school grounds," he confirmed their suspicions. "I fear for their safety." At that moment, Neville Longbottom approached them.

"Prof-fess-fessor," he stuttered, "I'm sorry but I overheard what you s-said. I saw Buffy, she was with Professor Black, well that's what I thought, and he had a portkey, and they disappeared. He had a doctors coat on, so I thought it was you, going home or something." Dawn gasped.

"They've been kidnapped!" she gasped, and began to cry. Sirius grabbed her in a hug.
"Minerva, contact Mad-Eye," Dumbledore commanded, "We need to find them immediately."