Thank you to all of you reviewers! I'm glad that you're enjoying this story.
I don't know why I'm summarizing all of this for you. Maybe it's because you should know what you're getting into when reading this. I have a really REALLY bad habit of going REALLY dark writing style, so you have been forewarned. The next few chapters won't be much to smile about, unless you really like the characters.
In this chapter, a trap is set and a Professor is finally confronted. Introducing two new Slayers. And it's shorter too... because much longer ones are coming.
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Chapter 18
Treachery and Faith
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Before the students knew what was coming, the end of break was over and the start of the next term was just a short day away.
Dawn found herself eagerly anticipating what was coming. The entire school seemed to be on bated breath.
Outside, the snow was starting to melt as a heat wave hit, students walking outdoors had the habit of being pelted by icicles or icy snowballs, whether it was another student or just nature intruding.
She turned back to her Advanced Spells, Grade Six text and flipped through the part on how to transfigure a goblet into a goblet full of water. It wasn't easy, considering Dawn had had nil experience before walking into Transfiguration, but she'd spent the past few weeks learning as much as she could.
She was thankful that she was beginning to befriend more of the students. Harry Potter himself had helped her with a Charm that she would have found impossible otherwise. During the last DA meeting, he had taken her question and turned it into an entire lesson. Thankfully, she had not learned what the burning charm was. It was basically a charm that would cast your opponent into a complete stupor and unconsciousness.
Dawn was also finding that she was getting rather good at defending herself. After growing up with the Slayer, she knew how to fight vampires. This was key, since her magic skills were still lacking.
Fortunately, she was one of the only ones that noticed. Her grades for the first term were rather high, which surprised Dawn slightly. She knew that magic was a large part of what she was graded on, but considering she could barely transfigure a beetle into a button, she had no idea where the marks came from.
And then there was the issue of Draco. While she and Draco had been spending a lot of time together, her friends in Ravenclaw kept warning her that he would do something rash that would hurt her. Dawn knew it was always a possibility, but it was too much fun to risk being suspicious. However, something happened the morning the second term started that brought an ounce of doubt into her mind.
Hermione Granger was moving through the Great Hall. She sat down next to Ron, who put an arm around her. Behind Dawn, she could hear the Slytherin table mocking them. But she was surprised to see it was Draco who was gawking, a look of intense loathing on his face. "Hey look!" he shouted out, causing everyone in the vacinity to turn to see who was yelling. "It's a mudblood and the Weasel."
The Slytherin table erupted into cheers and laughter, while the other three tables burst out angrily, and Cho Chang actually shouted how, "How dare you?"
Dawn sat down on one side of Cho, slightly frozen. Obviously, it was something harmful he had said. Once the commotion had died down and the students had tucked into breakfast, Dawn leaned over to her group of friends. "What is a mudblood?"
"It means 'dirty blood'," Cho replied bitterly. "It's someone with magical powers born to non-magic parents."
Dawn's heart froze.
"Malfoy thinks he's all that," Marietta continued, her voice just as harsh, "because he's a pure blood. Hell, he's going to have more enemies than friends if he keeps on hating them."
"Draco hates them?" Dawn asked, her voice an echo of shock.
Marietta glanced over at her. "What is it, Dawn?"
"Nothing," Dawn replied, setting her fork down with a clunk and rising, taking her book bag, all of a sudden wanting to hurry away. "Nothing at all." And she stalked out of the Great Hall.
Hermione watched as Dawn practically ran from the Great Hall before turning to Ron. "I'm going to go-"
"Go," Ron said quietly.
Hermione jogged off after Dawn, finding her at the doorway looking out into the courtyards, looking miserable. "Dawn?"
"Why didn't anyone tell me?" she asked, her voice soft.
"Tell you what, Dawn?" Hermione pressed gently.
"I'm a mudblood," Dawn replied, her face lost in a shadow.
Hermione's face registered shock. "Does he know?"
Dawn's trembling fingers found her face and wiped a stray tear away. "He will."
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Buffy had just finished grading the last of her papers later that same morning when suddenly the fireplace in front of her sprang to life. She barely glanced up, another sleepless night lost as the green flames poured out and a figure stepped out of them.
"Hello, Faith."
"Hey, B," Faith said, stepping in, rubbing her arms. "Damn, that was some ride. I don't think I'll ever get used to it."
"Are they coming?" Buffy asked without glancing up.
"They'll be here any minute," Faith replied. "They're just getting their last minute orders from the Ministry."
The fireplace burned green again and three figures came tumbling out. Kennedy was the first to recover. "That was fun," she muttered, rubbing her head from where it had hit the floor. The girl who knocked her into it rose too.
"Kennedy," said Buffy, setting her quill aside at last. "Anna. Jade. Good, good. You've volunteered for this mission."
"They've heard the speech, already, B," Faith reminded her.
"So you know what you're gonna do?" Buffy asked.
They nodded.
"Watch your backs," Buffy advised them quietly. "I wouldn't have agreed on you three if it wasn't the weight of the world resting on us, once again. Make sure that if you're caught, you know the procedures. Professor McGonagall should be out any second now to deliver you to Hagrid. He will lead you into the Dark Forest and will arrange the meeting between you and Bane."
"We get it, Buffy," Kennedy finally said. "Could be life or death stuff."
"But we'll come out of it alive, won't we?" Jade asked, sounding nervous.
"No," said Buffy slowly. "I don't know if you will. But it's important to draw the vampires away from the Forests and Hogsmeade. Use any forces necessary."
"And what about the package?" Kennedy asked, her eyebrows slightly raised.
"One week," Faith replied tartly.
A knock sounded on the suite door.
"Buffy..." Kennedy said, suddenly afraid. "Where's Willow?
A white cat shot from nowhere, leaping into Kennedy's arms. "Willow?" she asked, her voice full of apprehension as she cuddled the cat, who lapped playfully at Kennedy's braids.
"Good luck," Buffy told them as a second knock came and she rose to get it. Professor McGonagall came into the room, surprised to see the five slayers, one of them holding a white cat.
"Come," McGonagall finally said. Kennedy kissed the head of the cat before setting her down gently and she, Jade and Anna followed out the Professor.
Buffy and Faith watched as the door shut again. "Is there any chance in hell they'll come out of this alive?"
"They were told the risks," said Buffy, taking a deep breath. "They know what's at stake."
"You didn't just send three Slayers to their deaths, did you?"
"I hope to God I didn't," Buffy said softly.
"When did you take up religion?" Faith asked curiously.
"I didn't," replied Buffy in a vacant voice. "But I do know what Heaven looks like. If they die, they'll be in a far better place."
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Harry raised his hand and knocked gently on the door to the Headmasters' office.
"Come in, Harry!" a voice called from inside.
Harry pushed the door open and walked in. Professors McGonagall and Summers were also present, both with folded arms and grave faces.
"Have a seat, Harry," Dumbledore said, gesturing toward the chair.
Harry sat.
"We have just taken the first step to ensure that the Hogwarts grounds will remain safe," Dumbledore began. "Professor Summers has just informed me of a plan conceived by herself and the Ministry. They have pulled Slayers from the front lines and have placed a trap, knowing the vampires wouldn't dare leave Slayers in the forests. That way, they'll be drawn away from the grounds. The trap will remain until a package is delivered in the next week to ensure it will be protected. I just wanted to ask you on your progress with the DA."
"It's going well," Harry said, turning to speak to Professor Summers, who was still the faculty support. "We've been learning on the weapons that Professor Summers has provided. Those battle axes are mightly useful."
"There is another matter with which we'd like to discuss with you, Potter," Professor McGonagall said softly.
"Ginny Weasley," Professor Summers said, her voice gentle.
Harry glanced down, knowing his face was in full flush. "I'm starting to think that the dreams are bad."
"They are," Dumbledore said simply, bowing his aged head, his eyes suddenly looking tired. "Ginny Weasley is going to die."
"No!" Harry said, leaning forward. "She can't die... I've pushed her away... I'm trying to get her out of my life... I... I..."
"Your dream is speaking from your heart, Harry. Only those who have died and those that will are the loved ones you see in your eyes when you're at your most vulnerable. However, I feel these dreams are not an attempt at possession, but an attempt for you to see into the future. Unless Ginny Weasley is as far away from the battle as she can be, she will lose her life and thus complete your vision."
"I am never going to let anything happen to her," Harry said forcefully.
"She's a strong girl," Professor Summers said from behind him. "She will know what's best for her."
"She cares about you a lot, Harry," Professor McGonagall reminded him gently. "She will do what's in your best interest, as well as hers."
Frustrated that so many people seemed to be involved in his personal life, Harry snorted and shook his head. "I have to do something."
Professor Summers stepped forward. "I am. From this hour forward, my focus will be to protect her, because protecting you will only lead to her death."
Harry's heart started to swell, because he knew that Buffy had died to save others before, and she was still there in a very physical presence, standing right beside him.
"By my blood and those in the lines after, I will protect her," Buffy whispered. "Until death."
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To be continued...
Chapter 19 -- the package arrives; Ginny realizes something's wrong.