Chapter 14 - Rescue

Back at Hogwarts, chaos had ensued. It was the day after they had gone missing, and Mad Eye Moody, Tonks and Kingsley Shacklebolt had arrived at Hogwarts.
"We need to find them quickly," Dumbledore said, "There is no doubting who they have been taken by, but where is another matter. By now they could be anywhere."

"Are they even still alive?" Mad Eye Moody asked uncertainly. "I mean if Voldemort were to kill the lad while he's disarmed then the prophecy would be fulfilled."

"I doubt it," Dumbledore replied gravely. "Voldemort is unaware of the contents of the prophecy, and so he would be unwilling to strike him down immediately. If I know Voldemort, he will attempt to recruit."

"Well that won't be a problem then," Tonks said quickly. "I mean, harry and Buffy aren't going to join him, they've spent their lives fighting against evil." Dumbledore looked at his gnarled hands.
"I fear for their safety, we do not know what Voldemort may be using to …convince them." he said. "That is why it imperative that we discover their location and make plans to launch an offensive. At that moment the door of his office burst open, and Sirius entered, followed by Faith and Giles.
"Well, have you discovered where they are yet?" Sirius asked quickly. They took seats in the office.
"We are just discussing the matter," Dumbledore said calmly. "We need to find where they might be kept, then assess the situation. We can then consider our options."

"Our options?" Faith said, her voice rising. "There is no option, we need to save them. I'm not leaving Buffy to fend for herself, she needs us."

"I understand that Faith," Dumbledore replied, still calm. "But we cannot enter a situation without knowing what kind of stronghold we are entering. Planning will be required and that takes time."

"We don't have that luxury," Sirius snapped, "My wife and my godson are prisoners who knows where, they could be dead already, or dying. We need to act now!"

"Calm down Sirius," Dumbledore said. "We will rescue them. You don't understand the dangers."

"I think it's you who doesn't understand," Giles said coldly. "Maybe this is what you do here, but where we are from we go into battle for our friends. Buffy has saved us countless times, and last year she took on your battle without question. You should be ashamed. " With that he rose and left the office, and Faith and Sirius followed casting dark looks at Dumbledore.

"You were right Dumbledore," Shacklebolt said. Dumbledore sighed heavily.
"I feared it would be so. They do not know what danger they are in. their love for Buffy and Harry clouds their judgement." Dumbledore said understandingly. "We will need to watch them, they will attempt to rescue them, and they will need our help."


"We need to find them," Sirius declared, when the three of them had returned to the Academy staff room. "They could be anywhere, but I think there's a few obvious locations. The old Riddle House, Malfoy manor, or any of the Death Eaters homes. We have to narrow it down. Then we can launch our attack."

"Who is going?" Xander asked, "I mean I'm definitely going, but who else."
"Me," Sirius said grimly, "Xander then, Giles, Faith. I don't think we should involve the slayers."

"I'm coming," said Willow quickly, "You need me."
"I'm coming too," said Oz.
"We need more wand power," Sirius said dejectedly, "the Weasley's maybe, but I think they'd be loyal to Dumbledore…."

"We're coming," Ron said, entering the room, followed by Dawn and Hermione. "Harry's our best friend, there's np way we aren't coming to save him." Sirius opened hi mouth, but Dawn broke in.

"That's my boyfriend and my sister in there," she said fiercely, "I'm going to save them, and there's nothing you can do to stop me." Sirius looked resigned.
"Ok, that will do." he said, "But we don't know where they are. Maybe we could send out spies to all of the places the could be, or erm…"

"Oooh Oooh, I've got it!" Willow said excitedly. "the slayer mark, I can trace Buffy using Faiths!"

She grabbed a map of Britain from the desk in the corner and opened it out. Placing a finger on Faith's unveiled slayer mark, she lifted her hand so it was about three inches over the map. The slayer mark glowed under her finger, and a tiny silvery ball of light flew from the mark to the map, landing on a certain point.
"Buckinghamshire!" Sirius exclaimed looking at the mark on the map. "It's got to be Malfoy Manor! There's a public Floo situated near there, come on we've no time to waste!"