Thank you all so much for your reviews…you all lied very convincingly.

Stef: The new story is posted now…so thank you for telling me you wanted it!  And, as for pairing…I have one person in mind and NO ONE is going to tell me otherwise.  So for all you people who wanted Buffy with someone that I haven't chosen, TOUGH!  My choice…

Please review!!

Previously on Per Celare…

"Buffy," Joyce began, "I have many things to tell you.  Your honesty with me has made me realise that I should be honest with you."  Buffy's eyebrow's rose even further until it was hidden by her blonder hair falling above her forehead.  "These things will take time, but one of the most important things I have to tell you about, is your father, Hank.  Buffy, Hank is not your real father.  This man is."  Buffy's smile dropped and her gaze settled on her real father, curiosity and a hint of anger visible in her eyes.  "He comes from England, and his name is Severus Snape."

His face was pale, so pale that Buffy was reminded of a vampire.  His eyes were piercingly black, a sense of sadness in his eyes.  His nose was hooked, and his lips were thin and looked as if they had been frowning for too long.

_____

Buffy was speechless.  So this man, this Dracula look alike was her real father?  Her mother stuck close to him, a hopeful smile on her face, her hand attached to his one.  There was a slight smile on his face as well, but it was less obvious, and it was clear to Buffy that he did not show emotions often. 

"Buffy?"  Joyce questioned gently as Buffy just stared at Snape.

"Huh?"  Whispered Buffy, a dazed expression on her face.

"Severus Snape is your father."  Joyce said again, a worried look flitting across her face.

"Huh."  This time, it was more of a statement.

"Maybe I should go."  Snape offered turning to the door.

"Huh!"  This 'huh' was an angry protest, and Buffy looked at Snape as if she wanted answers.

"You have questions that you need answering?"  Snape questioned carefully, but his patience was wearing thin.  He wanted to know what Buffy was thinking, no, forget that, he wanted Buffy to run into his arms and then they could be a proper family again.

"Huh."

"Do you ever say anything else?"  Snape bellowed.  Joyce laid a hand on his chest, trying to tell him to keep his cool.

"Sometimes."  Buffy replied.  "I'm just a bit shocked right now, you know?" 

Snape nodded, trying to swallow down his lump of fear that was settled in his throat.  "May I ask why?"

Buffy shrugged with her eyes still on Snape.  "Just found out my whole life has been a lie.  That could shock people."  Snape smirked, even in this serious situation, this girl was trying to be funny.  Must get it from me.

Joyce looked horrified and moved away from Snape to sit next to Buffy. "It hasn't been a lie darling, there are things that just need to be explained, that's all." 

Buffy nodded, an understanding expression on her face.  "Ok, explain."

Joyce and Snape exchanged looks.  "Maybe today is not a perfect time."  Snape commented.

"No.  Explain.  Now."  Joyce and Snape both nodded, complying with Buffy's demands.

"Well, I guess it started when we met." Joyce said, smiling at Snape. "I lived in England at the time, and we went to a school for witches and wizards."

"What?"  Buffy asked, extremely confused.

"There are worlds you know not of Buffy.  One of these is a magical world, existing among your own.  All those belonging to it have magic in them.  We have schools to train the young children into learning how to use this magic; we have our own government that keeps the world away from Muggles-non magical folk.  We have our own shops, rules and evil, and your mother and I both belong to that world."

Buffy made a sound that sounded like 'oh' and looked expectantly at her mother, not wishing to comment on the magical world just yet.

Joyce nodded thanks to Snape and carried on.  "We met at school, Hogwarts, and we were immediate enemies.  An evil wizard was on the rise, and Severus was friends with the people who supported it.  Rupert Giles was my best friend at Hogwarts, but after we graduated, he started to support it as well.  I however, did not support it, and my hatred for Severus grew.  Giles and Snape became Death Eaters, supports of the evil wizard, Voldemort, and I lost contact with Giles altogether.  But, one day, shortly after they joined the ranks of the evil wizard, they saved my life and I was once again friends with Giles and Snape and I became lovers.  I convinced him to become a spy for the good side, and our relationship was kept a secret.  If we were found out, we could both be killed.  But then, I found out I was pregnant with his child, and you, Buffy were born.  We did not know what to do, even though Severus loved you very much, he could not give up his position as a spy because the information he gained extremely valuable.  News circulated that Voldemort knew of our relationship and Snape convinced me to flee to America with you, where I would be safe.  We did, and I met Hank, who had also been schooled at Hogwarts.  Snape and I told him of our situation, and we married, and the rest is history."  Joyce finished and looked expectantly at Buffy, watching as her daughter processed everything.  Finally Buffy nodded, but a question was on her lips.

"But everyone says I look like dad, I mean, Hank."  She informed. 

"Perhaps I should explain that."  Snape interrupted, gaining the attention of his daughter.

"Go ahead."  Buffy said, her tone unreadable.

"I now teach at Hogwarts, and I teach Potions.  I have passion for making potions, old and ones I make up myself, and that was how I found the potion, Per Celare.  Per Celare means to conceal in Italian, and that was what it was designed to do.  It is designed to disguise a child from its natural looks, once you drink it, your features are concealed.  I used a hair from my head in the potion, and that ensures that when you drink it, the features that belong to me will be replaced by someone else's, in your case, Hanks.  By drinking this potion, you are protected by any Death Eater who wanted to find you."  Snape paused, waiting for all the information to sink in, when it appeared that Buffy had, Snape continued.  "Unfortunately, you have to be given this potion twice a week.  If you take it less than these times, the potion will have painful side affects.  You ran away from home, and your mother could no longer mix it in with your drinks.  That is why you have been experiencing pain, and why you are now currently residing in hospital."  Snape finished, taking in a much needed gulp of air.

Potion?  Death Eaters, Voldemort, Hogwarts?  All this new information kept on buzzing around Buffy's mind, trying to process everything she had just learnt.  She had just found out she was not really Hank Summers' daughter.  That really bothered her, she hated her father, cheating on her mother and not phoning or writing to her when they moved to Sunnydale, but when she was younger, and she loved him.  He was the best man she knew, and finding out that she had been lied to was hurtful.  Magic and Hogwarts.  That wasn't so difficult to get her head round, after all, she knew about demons and vampires, why wouldn't there be a world full of magical folk?  But it hurt to be kept from this world, when her watcher and her mother knew about it.  Voldemort and Death Eaters, she understood that.  Voldemort is evil.  Evil is bad.  Buffy kill Voldemort.  All worlds had evil.

"Is Voldymort still around?"  Buffy asked bluntly, and Snape had to think about what she said before realising she meant Voldemort.  Snape said yes, and told her about Harry Potter and the recent events at the school, including the Ministry and the Order. 

Buffy nodded to Snape after he told her about Voldemort.  Note to self, Voldemort evil. Buffy kill Voldemort.

Joyce and Snape exchanged glances, both anxious to know what Buffy thought about all of this.  They did not expect her to take everything in and accept it, but deep down, they hoped this would happen, it would make everything easier.

"So what do you think about this Buffy?"  Joyce asked gently, both parents holding their breath for the answer.

"Whatever."  Buffy said simply, her face devoid of any emotion.  Joyce and Snape looked at each other again; it was obvious that Buffy was not ready to speak about it yet.  But when she was, they would be ready.  "My body hurts."  Buffy whined, and Snape remembered something.  He pulled out of his large black coat, a small vial of a clear liquid and gave it to Joyce.

"This is the potion, 'Per Celare'.  When you take this, you will feel better."  Joyce said, giving it to Buffy.  Buffy narrowed her eyes at her mother, angrily snatching it and gulping it down.  It tasted odd, one moment it tasted like raspberries, then the next, honey, then the next, spinach.  Buffy made a face and swallowed the rest and gave the vial back to her mother.

"So you've been adding this in my food for seventeen years?"  Buffy questioned angrily, giving her mother a 'slayer' look, to which Joyce cowered.  Joyce nodded and bent her head in shame.  "And I'll have to take this the rest of my life?"  Buffy asked Snape.

"Twice a week, for the rest of your life.  If you miss more than a week, the effects of the potion will be agony for your body and mind.  You will end up in a coma and eventually die, if you stop taking this potion."  Snape informed, not knowing the meaning of tact.

Buffy scowled, reminding Joyce of Snape.  "Nice potion, 'father'."  She spat.  Snape flinched, and Joyce reached out for Buffy's hand.  "No!  I just want to be alone."  Buffy said, turning to her side, her back facing her parents.

Joyce nodded and left the room, followed closely by Snape.

"Well that went well."  Snape said sarcastically, earning himself a hit on the arm from Joyce.

"She needs time.  Just give her time, Snape."

***

Never, in a million years would Buffy have expected that.  She thought she got a shock when she was approached two years ago and was told she was a slayer.  This was different and more shocking on so many more levels.  She was not that angry, she was more hurt.  She understood that she had to be protected, but would it not hurt to tell her about this?  What did they think she was going to do, go to the Death Eaters and tell them that Snape was a good guy? 

Snape.  Her father.  Buffy did not want to think about that right now, he gave her the creeps, reminding her too much of a vampire.  She would not be surprised if he lived in a crypt or a dungeon. 

Sam-453.

There I mentioned you.  Happy?

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