The Forgotten Line
Chapter 2: Two Muggles In Hogwarts
** From Chapter 1 **
Remus tightened his grip on his wand. "Um, I think we have some company."
Ten very large, very horned demons approached them.
"Oh, shit."
"What do we do?" Remus asked. "I've never learned about nor taught about these things!"
"DAMN IT! I knew I should have brought my sword!"
Remus looked at Ruby. "What do we do?"
"You and the Scooby run! I'll hold them off!"
"What?!? No! You're hurt!" Remus ran after Ruby as she charged one of them.
"GO!" Ruby shouted as she sent a flying kick at one of the demons.
It barely flinched at the impact.
"Shit! Not only is he horned, he's made of rock! I had to forget my sword TODAY!"
The demon punched her in the face and sent her flying about five feet.
She hit the pavement of the road with a thud and pop.
"Ow." Ruby got up, popping her dislocated shoulder back into place. "You're going to pay for that, Rocky!"
She charged the demon again, and ducked under his punch. Then, she landed a kick in a fleshy part of his side.
The demon howled.
"Ah ha! Right weak point!" Ruby grinned. "Speaking of point..." She jammed the stake into the demon's side.
The demon doubled over and exploded into a very smelly blue gooze, which got all over Ruby.
"Oh, gross!"
Ruby looked over at the remaining nine demons and watched them disappear in front of her.
"Okay... either once the leader dies they dissolve, or they're invisible. In that case, I'm in deep shit."
Remus and Oz stood beside her. "What do we do now?"
Ruby listened for any sounds of the demons. All she felt and heard were shorts gusts of wind.
"Go home or wherever you need to go to be safe."
"What about you? You're still hurt," Remus started.
"Don't worry about it."
"I'd like to know about Buffy's second death," Oz said.
Ruby shrugged. "Don't know the details. All I was told was 'You're the Slayer now that Buffy Summers, one of the previous Slayers, has died her second death.' I guess you could call up people in good ol' Sunnydale to find out more."
Oz looked at her. She seemed to be holding back more information, like she really did know the details, but didn't feel like telling them. "So, what are you going to do."
"What I have to do. Save more lives. You're not the only stupid people running around the foggy streets of London. People did it in the times of Jack the Ripper and people do it--"
A sudden rush of wind was felt and Ruby was violently shoved forward. She bolted upright and was punched five feet away from Remus and Oz.
"What the f---"
One of the demons stuck one of their horns in Ruby's gut before punching her farther away from Oz and Remus.
Ruby felt another gust of wind rushing her, rolled out of the way, and blindly staked what she saw as air.
However, one of the demons appeared and exploded more smelly blue gooze on her.
"THEY'RE INVISIBLE! RUN YOU TWO!"
Remus gripped his wand, grabbed Oz, and ran towards Ruby.
"WHAT THE FUCK ARE YOU DOING?!?"
A rush of wind went passed Remus, and Ruby staked another of the demons. This time, the gooze also got on Remus and Oz.
Remus grabbed Ruby and held her close to him. "I'm saving you."
Remus also grabbed Oz, pointed his wand at them and muttered something.
Oz did not know what to think as they suddenly appeared in a small town.
'We're not in London anymore, Toto,' was all Ruby thought.
"Where are we?" Oz asked.
"What the fuck did you do?"
Remus grinned a wolfish grin. "I Apparated the three of us to Hogsmeade."
"Grand." Ruby glared at him. "Now Apparate me back to London."
"No. They'd kill you!"
Ruby shrugged. "Whatever. I don't really worry about death anymore. One Slayer dies, next one's number is drawn."
Remus stared at her. "How can you think that way?!? There are people that care about you!"
"Yeah, and they know I can drop dead at any second! They expect it. They know that I'll have died a hero. There are lives that need saving and demons that need stopping! I gave up a normal life the minute Buffy died! I fight the good fight because I know that another will take my place. Maybe it's for the better. I mean, I fail, I wasn't good enough, so why keep me going?"
Oz noticed something about the way she spoke. It was like she was only fighting because no one had brought her down. "If you feel that way, why not just let them win?"
Ruby smirked. "You don't know your French, do you? My last name is Fier. It means 'proud' in French. My pride won't let me just lose so I die. I have to actually be beaten."
"Then, why do you talk like that? Why don't you worry about staying alive for your family? For your friends?!?" Remus asked.
"My family is dead. I'd rather not watch my friends die horrible deaths, so I never let them fight with me. I have no one."
"What about your Watcher?" Oz asked.
Ruby got quiet and looked down at the ground. "He doesn't count. He was assigned to me. Nothing more."
'Something's telling me there's more to it than that.'
"Well, wouldn't it be better if you survived one more night?" Remus asked, on the verge of begging Ruby to actually think about saving her own life.
"What, and let others die? I don't think so."
Remus puffed up. "Yeah, well, you don't know the way back to London, and I'm the one with the magic, so... you'll go to Hogwarts for the night."
Ruby punched him in the face. "I'm the one who can kill with her bare hands and a stake. You'll take me to London."
Remus pressed hard against where the demon had stabbed Ruby. She cried out in pain and punched him again.
"You're not fit enough to fight seven of them! You'll be killed before there's six left! At this rate, you'll die here in Hogsmeade! Please, just take care of yourself for just one night! You can save more lives tomorrow night."
Oz stepped in next to Remus. "Besides, it's almost sunrise. Most of the vampires and demons will be running for cover from the sun."
Ruby actually took this into consideration. "Fine. Take us to Hogwhatever. I need to shower anyway."
Remus smiled and led the way to Hogwarts.
++++++
When they reached the large castle, Oz and Ruby stared at it in shock.
"Now, normally muggles wouldn't be able to see this, but since you're supernatural, I suppose it's different for you. You sense the magical vibes and are able to see it. It's magnificent inside."
"So, what do you do here?" Oz asked. "We never actually got into that."
"I'm the Defense Against the Dark Arts professor."
"Oh. Is that why you're so in love with me?" Ruby asked, pushing open the doors.
Remus blushed. "I'm not in love with you. Just..."
"Obsessed?"
"Well, I've never met a Slayer in real life."
Ruby smirked. "I'm so glad that's not a pickup line."
She spotted a Blast-Ended Skrewt near Hagrid's cabin. "Excuse me, I've got a demon to slay," she said, walking off towards the skrewt.
"Wait! That's not a demon! It's a Blast-Ended Skrewt!" Remus said, grabbing her. When she looked at him blankly, he added, "It's a creature of the magical world. It's Hagrid's. He teaches Care of Magical Creatures here. A hobby of his is to care for rather... dangerous... beasts, but he keeps them under control. You should see Fluffy, the three-headed dog!"
"Fluffy, the three-headed dog," she repeated. "My mother would love one of those."
Oz looked at the skrewt. 'I wouldn't want to care for one of those things.'
"So, should we go inside now?" Oz asked.
"Yes! Ruby's injuries need to be taken care of."
Ruby snorted. "They'll heal. I just need a shower."
"Well, what about your abdominal wound?"
Ruby considered this. "Okay, that might need some care, but everything else will heal by tonight."
"Well, then, we'd better get to the Infirmary."
++++++
At the Infirmary, Madame Pomfrey made a huge fuss over Ruby. Ruby put up a grand fight whenever Madame Pomfrey tried to heal any wounds other than the one in her abdomen, which had taken some time to heal because of all of Ruby's fidgeting.
"Will you get off me, woman?!? I'm fine!"
"It's my job as school nurse to heal all of your wounds!"
"And I said I'm fine! Stop touching me!"
"What's all the fuss about?"
There, at the doorway stood a very old man with a long beard and twinkling eyes next to a younger, scowling man with a rather large nose and black hair.
Remus smiled. "Headmaster Dumbledore! Miss Fier was arguing with Madame Pomfrey over her injuries."
"She won't let me heal her, sir!" Madame Pomfrey said, exasperated.
"That's not true! I let you heal the gaping hole in my stomach. I just don't want you touching me anymore."
Dumbledore raised an eyebrow. He obviously wanted to ask questions but knew that now was not the time. "Madame Pomfrey, Severus needs some healing."
"No, I don't." The younger man scowled. "This is nothing I can't fix with my potions."
"But, an experimental potion exploded on you. It may have dangerous side effects. It's best to let Madame Pomfrey look at this. It's her job, after all."
Madame Pomfrey let Ruby alone, much to Ruby's relief.
Severus eyed Ruby and Oz. "Who are they? I've never seen them around before."
"Well, that's because they're not students here," Remus said, "or at any other magical school."
"You brought muggles into Hogwarts?!?"
"Yes. They needed to be somewhere safe!"
Severus was about to ask more, but Ruby cut him off. "So, who's Mr. Shnoz over there?"
Severus raised an eyebrow. "Shnoz?"
"Yeah. You."
Severus scowled an puffed up. "I'm Severus Snape, Head of Slytherin House and Potions Master. You'd be wise to show me more respect, you insolent girl!"
"Yeah, well, I'm Ruby Fier, and you'd be wise to show me some respect, Grease-ball!"
Severus pushed away Madame Pomfrey's hands. "Leave me alone, you silly twit," he said to her. Turning back to Ruby, he asked, "And why should I?"
"Because I'm the Slayer!"
Dumbledore blinked, and Severus gawked at her.
"The Slayer?"
"Yeah. What's the matter? Never heard of me before? 'Cause everyone else seems to know me."
********
Okay. That's all I really feel like writing right now. I've got lots of things I need to get done, too.
As always, tell me what you think!
Next chapter will have more explanations, I promise.
I might also throw in Oz dreaming about Willow soon, so keep on your toes for that.
Chapter 2: Two Muggles In Hogwarts
** From Chapter 1 **
Remus tightened his grip on his wand. "Um, I think we have some company."
Ten very large, very horned demons approached them.
"Oh, shit."
"What do we do?" Remus asked. "I've never learned about nor taught about these things!"
"DAMN IT! I knew I should have brought my sword!"
Remus looked at Ruby. "What do we do?"
"You and the Scooby run! I'll hold them off!"
"What?!? No! You're hurt!" Remus ran after Ruby as she charged one of them.
"GO!" Ruby shouted as she sent a flying kick at one of the demons.
It barely flinched at the impact.
"Shit! Not only is he horned, he's made of rock! I had to forget my sword TODAY!"
The demon punched her in the face and sent her flying about five feet.
She hit the pavement of the road with a thud and pop.
"Ow." Ruby got up, popping her dislocated shoulder back into place. "You're going to pay for that, Rocky!"
She charged the demon again, and ducked under his punch. Then, she landed a kick in a fleshy part of his side.
The demon howled.
"Ah ha! Right weak point!" Ruby grinned. "Speaking of point..." She jammed the stake into the demon's side.
The demon doubled over and exploded into a very smelly blue gooze, which got all over Ruby.
"Oh, gross!"
Ruby looked over at the remaining nine demons and watched them disappear in front of her.
"Okay... either once the leader dies they dissolve, or they're invisible. In that case, I'm in deep shit."
Remus and Oz stood beside her. "What do we do now?"
Ruby listened for any sounds of the demons. All she felt and heard were shorts gusts of wind.
"Go home or wherever you need to go to be safe."
"What about you? You're still hurt," Remus started.
"Don't worry about it."
"I'd like to know about Buffy's second death," Oz said.
Ruby shrugged. "Don't know the details. All I was told was 'You're the Slayer now that Buffy Summers, one of the previous Slayers, has died her second death.' I guess you could call up people in good ol' Sunnydale to find out more."
Oz looked at her. She seemed to be holding back more information, like she really did know the details, but didn't feel like telling them. "So, what are you going to do."
"What I have to do. Save more lives. You're not the only stupid people running around the foggy streets of London. People did it in the times of Jack the Ripper and people do it--"
A sudden rush of wind was felt and Ruby was violently shoved forward. She bolted upright and was punched five feet away from Remus and Oz.
"What the f---"
One of the demons stuck one of their horns in Ruby's gut before punching her farther away from Oz and Remus.
Ruby felt another gust of wind rushing her, rolled out of the way, and blindly staked what she saw as air.
However, one of the demons appeared and exploded more smelly blue gooze on her.
"THEY'RE INVISIBLE! RUN YOU TWO!"
Remus gripped his wand, grabbed Oz, and ran towards Ruby.
"WHAT THE FUCK ARE YOU DOING?!?"
A rush of wind went passed Remus, and Ruby staked another of the demons. This time, the gooze also got on Remus and Oz.
Remus grabbed Ruby and held her close to him. "I'm saving you."
Remus also grabbed Oz, pointed his wand at them and muttered something.
Oz did not know what to think as they suddenly appeared in a small town.
'We're not in London anymore, Toto,' was all Ruby thought.
"Where are we?" Oz asked.
"What the fuck did you do?"
Remus grinned a wolfish grin. "I Apparated the three of us to Hogsmeade."
"Grand." Ruby glared at him. "Now Apparate me back to London."
"No. They'd kill you!"
Ruby shrugged. "Whatever. I don't really worry about death anymore. One Slayer dies, next one's number is drawn."
Remus stared at her. "How can you think that way?!? There are people that care about you!"
"Yeah, and they know I can drop dead at any second! They expect it. They know that I'll have died a hero. There are lives that need saving and demons that need stopping! I gave up a normal life the minute Buffy died! I fight the good fight because I know that another will take my place. Maybe it's for the better. I mean, I fail, I wasn't good enough, so why keep me going?"
Oz noticed something about the way she spoke. It was like she was only fighting because no one had brought her down. "If you feel that way, why not just let them win?"
Ruby smirked. "You don't know your French, do you? My last name is Fier. It means 'proud' in French. My pride won't let me just lose so I die. I have to actually be beaten."
"Then, why do you talk like that? Why don't you worry about staying alive for your family? For your friends?!?" Remus asked.
"My family is dead. I'd rather not watch my friends die horrible deaths, so I never let them fight with me. I have no one."
"What about your Watcher?" Oz asked.
Ruby got quiet and looked down at the ground. "He doesn't count. He was assigned to me. Nothing more."
'Something's telling me there's more to it than that.'
"Well, wouldn't it be better if you survived one more night?" Remus asked, on the verge of begging Ruby to actually think about saving her own life.
"What, and let others die? I don't think so."
Remus puffed up. "Yeah, well, you don't know the way back to London, and I'm the one with the magic, so... you'll go to Hogwarts for the night."
Ruby punched him in the face. "I'm the one who can kill with her bare hands and a stake. You'll take me to London."
Remus pressed hard against where the demon had stabbed Ruby. She cried out in pain and punched him again.
"You're not fit enough to fight seven of them! You'll be killed before there's six left! At this rate, you'll die here in Hogsmeade! Please, just take care of yourself for just one night! You can save more lives tomorrow night."
Oz stepped in next to Remus. "Besides, it's almost sunrise. Most of the vampires and demons will be running for cover from the sun."
Ruby actually took this into consideration. "Fine. Take us to Hogwhatever. I need to shower anyway."
Remus smiled and led the way to Hogwarts.
++++++
When they reached the large castle, Oz and Ruby stared at it in shock.
"Now, normally muggles wouldn't be able to see this, but since you're supernatural, I suppose it's different for you. You sense the magical vibes and are able to see it. It's magnificent inside."
"So, what do you do here?" Oz asked. "We never actually got into that."
"I'm the Defense Against the Dark Arts professor."
"Oh. Is that why you're so in love with me?" Ruby asked, pushing open the doors.
Remus blushed. "I'm not in love with you. Just..."
"Obsessed?"
"Well, I've never met a Slayer in real life."
Ruby smirked. "I'm so glad that's not a pickup line."
She spotted a Blast-Ended Skrewt near Hagrid's cabin. "Excuse me, I've got a demon to slay," she said, walking off towards the skrewt.
"Wait! That's not a demon! It's a Blast-Ended Skrewt!" Remus said, grabbing her. When she looked at him blankly, he added, "It's a creature of the magical world. It's Hagrid's. He teaches Care of Magical Creatures here. A hobby of his is to care for rather... dangerous... beasts, but he keeps them under control. You should see Fluffy, the three-headed dog!"
"Fluffy, the three-headed dog," she repeated. "My mother would love one of those."
Oz looked at the skrewt. 'I wouldn't want to care for one of those things.'
"So, should we go inside now?" Oz asked.
"Yes! Ruby's injuries need to be taken care of."
Ruby snorted. "They'll heal. I just need a shower."
"Well, what about your abdominal wound?"
Ruby considered this. "Okay, that might need some care, but everything else will heal by tonight."
"Well, then, we'd better get to the Infirmary."
++++++
At the Infirmary, Madame Pomfrey made a huge fuss over Ruby. Ruby put up a grand fight whenever Madame Pomfrey tried to heal any wounds other than the one in her abdomen, which had taken some time to heal because of all of Ruby's fidgeting.
"Will you get off me, woman?!? I'm fine!"
"It's my job as school nurse to heal all of your wounds!"
"And I said I'm fine! Stop touching me!"
"What's all the fuss about?"
There, at the doorway stood a very old man with a long beard and twinkling eyes next to a younger, scowling man with a rather large nose and black hair.
Remus smiled. "Headmaster Dumbledore! Miss Fier was arguing with Madame Pomfrey over her injuries."
"She won't let me heal her, sir!" Madame Pomfrey said, exasperated.
"That's not true! I let you heal the gaping hole in my stomach. I just don't want you touching me anymore."
Dumbledore raised an eyebrow. He obviously wanted to ask questions but knew that now was not the time. "Madame Pomfrey, Severus needs some healing."
"No, I don't." The younger man scowled. "This is nothing I can't fix with my potions."
"But, an experimental potion exploded on you. It may have dangerous side effects. It's best to let Madame Pomfrey look at this. It's her job, after all."
Madame Pomfrey let Ruby alone, much to Ruby's relief.
Severus eyed Ruby and Oz. "Who are they? I've never seen them around before."
"Well, that's because they're not students here," Remus said, "or at any other magical school."
"You brought muggles into Hogwarts?!?"
"Yes. They needed to be somewhere safe!"
Severus was about to ask more, but Ruby cut him off. "So, who's Mr. Shnoz over there?"
Severus raised an eyebrow. "Shnoz?"
"Yeah. You."
Severus scowled an puffed up. "I'm Severus Snape, Head of Slytherin House and Potions Master. You'd be wise to show me more respect, you insolent girl!"
"Yeah, well, I'm Ruby Fier, and you'd be wise to show me some respect, Grease-ball!"
Severus pushed away Madame Pomfrey's hands. "Leave me alone, you silly twit," he said to her. Turning back to Ruby, he asked, "And why should I?"
"Because I'm the Slayer!"
Dumbledore blinked, and Severus gawked at her.
"The Slayer?"
"Yeah. What's the matter? Never heard of me before? 'Cause everyone else seems to know me."
********
Okay. That's all I really feel like writing right now. I've got lots of things I need to get done, too.
As always, tell me what you think!
Next chapter will have more explanations, I promise.
I might also throw in Oz dreaming about Willow soon, so keep on your toes for that.