Ok, so the reason we haven't heard from you in a week is...
Our wireless internet company went kaput... Monet, you may have heard of them, and they pulled out of the city about 3 weeks before they said they would, leaving us with 5 computers and no internet hookup because we have no phone line.
So therefore I offer you this: either one double-up and a single chapter per week, or two single chapters a week. I don't have net access anywhere but at school, but I'm hardly ever there since I only take one active course. And the whole 35-minute drive is a royal pain in the seventh season.
I'll continue the question/answer format, only because I can now hand these in detail and persona to my live-in beta, who has been nothing but outstanding.
For now, you'll get a nice single chapter. I'm offering a double chapter thingy at the end of the week. And for now that's the best you're going to get. I'll keep on writing it, because I have a general idea on where I want this to go.
So... now for three questions and I'll jump back on in.
Is Dawn ever going to snap out of things?
Yes, she will. But not in this chapter. She'll start coming to as more of the story keeps coming out. And you'll find out why they waited fourteen months to delve any deeper than necessary into her mind. There will be some delicious Dawn torture, because it's a game I like to play (of whiney, snooty 5th Season Dawn... this new-and-improved Dawnie really doesn't deserve it). She and Draco will be reunited and then mother and father will be reunited with Baby Summers/Malfoy soon enough. Like... ten chapters from now.
Who is going to die? A MAJOR character? Or a new one that annoys us?
Oh, believe me; I'd love to tell you. But I have to set it up first. One of the reviewers was correct in assuming that I will do every rotten and dark thing to a character as possible. That includes making their life so perfect and then killing them off. It will be a major character that meets their maker. I'm not going to say anything further on the issue either.
I'm confused... what's going on?
This is the tenth chapter and about a third of the way through our story. Buffy and gang (exempt: Dawn) returned to California and just north of LA have constructed a new Slayers Academy. Tara and Xander joined with Giles to create a new American Watchers Council. There are now 12 council members and they are continuing to grow as the Slayer line strengthens. Xander fell in love and is now getting married to the Hogwarts Slayer, Cho Chang. However, Dawn returned from Hogwarts nearly fifteen months after she graduated in a complete catatonic state. And now we're just figuring out what has happened and that, plus Cho's wedding, is leading Harry Potter and friends to the United States for the first time. (history lesson continued after next chapter...)
- - - - -
Chapter 10
Witness
- - - - -
Buffy was waiting in eager anticipation as Angel's convertible quickly made the drive down the long, winding road and came to a jerky stop in front of her. She ran forward as Spike leapt out, pulling Dr. Cretin along with him.
"Thank God you're here," Buffy said in relief as Cordy and Connor tumbled out of the passenger side, Connor looking extremely pale. "What happened?"
"I think that'll be up to your little friend here to say," Spike growled, bringing Dr. Cretin into the light of the porch. Buffy's eyes narrowed as she recognized Dawn's doctor from the institution.
"Willow and Faith just left for the airport in LA about ten minutes ago," Buffy said, turning on her heel and leading the group inside the Administration building. "The Slayers and Watchers have all been excused for the night, except for Giles, Tara and Xander who I think we need now more than..." Her voice cut off as she saw Connor's face in the reflection of the glass doors in front of her.
At that instant, the doors behind them shut heavily, cutting off the bright porch light and casting an evil, almost demonic glow on Dr. Cretin's face.
Shuddering slightly, she turned and lead the way to the library, where the rest of her friends were waiting. Faith and Willow were not present as they were headed to the airport to pick up Harry Potter and his friends, leaving a smaller group behind.
Dr. Cretin glanced nervously around as faces he barely knew stared at him with such hatred he seemed to wither under their looks.
It didn't take long for Angel to bring in Dawn at the rear, setting her into a comfortable leather chair by the large fireplace. "There you go," he said kindly, taking a blanket and wrapping it around her shoulders before taking the chair and dragging it next to the library table. Dr. Cretin was forced by both Spike and Xander into an uncomfortable wooden chair that rode up his back, straining under tight leather straps that Xander bound around his chest and legs.
"If you break those, my fiancee is going to kill me," Xander growled as he and Spike both took a seat at the enormous library table.
Buffy's eyes were on her sister. "Hello, Dawnie."
Dawn blinked and formed a half smile as her head tilted and her gaze met her sister's.
"So there has been some progress," Buffy said, surprised yet pleased as Dawn returned her gaze to its usual blank, empty stare.
"He was trying to poison her," Cordelia finally answered as Buffy's dangerous gaze swung to Dr. Cretin's pale face.
"Is that right?" she asked, her voice denying the anger that was bubbling underneath. "And why would you even try to torture my sister when you knew that there are those of us who can see these things happening?"
"I-I d-d-didn't want to-to do it... b-but I-I was fo-forced to," Dr Cretin stammered out.
Wham.
Buffy had just grasped the front of Dr. Cretin's chair and had shoved it hard across the room. The Doctor whimpered in fright as the chair fell with a crash against a far stack of books. She walked back towards him. "Maybe you haven't heard of me before. I'm the original vampire Slayer. I can kick your ass pretty much without breaking a sweat. So instead of making up some lame excuse as to why you were poisoning Dawn, why don't you try coming up with your own voice. I don't want excuses. I want the truth."
"You'll have your truth," Angel said, stepping on one side of Dr. Cretin.
"He's bound to crack before sunrise," Spike said, taking Cretin's other side, looking pleased to be offered such an appealing role.
Buffy smiled, her face lighting up at the prospect of one insidious Doctor being attacked by two vampires. "Just make sure he's not unconscious," she finally said as they both ripped Cretin out of his bindings. "It'd be a shame to have another body to find a grave for. And he can't talk if he's, say, dead."
Dr. Cretin found no humor in her face as the two vampires dragged him off to the interrogation room, across the building in the basement right above sewer access.
"Now that he's gone," Buffy said, her voice much more pleasant, "Giles, did you set up our guests with new quarters?"
- - - - -
Harry had an eerie sense of deja vu the moment he stepped into the terminal following the quiet flight from New York to Los Angeles. He glanced around to see his friends, some looking focused like Percy and Hermione, others sleepy like Ginny and he could tell that both Draco and Ron were feeling as apprehensive as he was.
They all walked into the airport, looking around. Since it was just after midnight, many of the stores and shops had closed, their barred gates glittering in the silence. Only a few people waited in gates, many of them dozing or looking keen to sleep.
Harry pointed down a long corridor, with an overhead sign reading "Baggage".
Hermione nodded. "Lead the way."
Harry led them all down the corridor. Once they'd passed the security gates, they reached a flock of travelers all huddled around conveyer belts.
"I think this is where our luggage comes in," Ginny yawned, as the six quickly found their flight's luggage belt and stopped to wait. "It usually takes a few minutes."
"Wasn't someone going to meet us here?" Ron asked nervously, turning to Hermione.
Hermione nodded crisply. "They will. We just have to get past the major security checkpoints."
"Shouldn't we already be here?" a voice called cheerfully from behind them.
"Willow?" Ginny squealed, launching herself into Willow's arms.
Faith stood next to Willow, bemused, until she found herself hugging someone. It took a moment to realize it was Hermione. "Well, hello."
"Waiting long?" Harry grinned as he approached the two, who moved closer.
"Not at all," Faith replied. "We just got here."
The luggage belt behind them began churning as the conveyer belt began to move in its usual circle.
"So what's going on?" Ron asked, looking from Willow to Faith.
"It's just good..." Willow began, before pausing and smiling. "You've come at a good time."
Faith gave her a strange look and shrugged. "Personally, I think you all waited too long and I don't think... hello... who are you?"
Percy looked slightly affronted by her question. "I'm Percy Weasley... elder brother to Ron and Ginny here."
"Good to meet you," Willow said, shaking his hand briskly. "We've never met. I'm Willow."
Faith reached out to shake his hand. "Faith. And is that your luggage?"
Indeed it was. After collected luggage for what seemed like another hour, they were finally pulling out of the airport parking lot a half hour later.
The drive north to the Slayer Academy was all the time Willow needed to fill in Harry and the others as to the events that had occurred since they'd last spoken.
"So you basically broke Dawn out of prison and took her Doctor captive as well?" Hermione asked in a breathless whisper, stunned.
Percy looked appalled. Ron, seeing his brother's mouth open, quickly interrupted. "But she's all right now, right?"
Willow had caught Percy's expression. "It's what you would have done too," she said coldly, "had you watched your sister being tortured and poisoned."
Percy shut his mouth and they all fell quiet on the rest of the ride north.
It took only another twenty minutes before Faith was parking the large van and they all climbed out. Harry and the others collected their luggage while Faith and Willow prepared to lead them through the front door of the dormitory closest to the Administration building. "I hope you won't mind sharing rooms," Faith said cheerfully as she pushed the doors open.
Down the hall and somewhere beneath them, they heard a voice screaming, "No!"
Willow and Faith exchanged a look and quickly backed out.
"On second thought, we'll go through the skywalk," Willow said, her voice shaking slightly as they turned and walked in the opposite direction. "There's no need to scare our guests their first hour here."
- - - - -
After they were settled in and slept for a few hours, Harry was stunned to see it was almost noon when he awoke. He glanced at the other three beds in the large, spacious room, squinting. They appeared to all be asleep too.
There was a note tucked onto his nightstand. He opened it and grinned as he read it.
It basically told him to use whatever they needed and that they would have dinner that night. And there was something about jet lag in there too.
Across the room, Percy sat up, his usually perfect hair disheveled. "What time is it?" he yawned.
"Just before noon," Harry said, leaping out of bed and searching his suitcase for some clothes. He decided to show first and found himself in a communal shower. With a strange look at the showers and stalls surrounding him, Harry selected one and stepped inside.
In the girl's room, Hermione and Ginny were still sleeping soundly when a brisk knock sounded. Ginny pulled a pillow over her head, leaving Hermione to roll over and call out a weak, "What?"
The door opened and a face peered in.
"Tara!" Hermione squealed as Ginny tossed the useless pillow aside. "How awesome to see you!"
Ginny sat up and offered a feeble smile.
"You are probably so jet lagged," Tara said sympathetically as she stepped inside and closed the door behind her. "I just wanted to tell you of something I'm doing for my Slayer as sort of a bachelorette party. She still needs dresses and such for her wedding, so we're taking her to New York in a few weeks."
Hermione and Ginny exchanged a glance.
"I'd like you two to come too," Tara said with a firm nod. "I have to reserve tickets in the next few hours."
"Did you ask Harry?" Ginny yawned.
"Girls only," Tara said with a sigh. "As I said bachelorettes. Well, at least some of us are." There was only a hint of sadness in her eyes.
"We'd love to come," Hermione said softly. "This is, after all, New York."
Ginny nodded. "Yes, I would love to go back there. All we saw was the airport."
"Perfect," Tara grinned, quickly exiting. "I'd also like you girls to head outside. We have a lot to show for it, and we're taking Slayers horseback riding this afternoon. Have either of you been riding?"
Both shook their heads.
"I'll see you then."
It was a different story in the boy's dorm as they all marched down to the cafeteria between the dormitories and the education building. It was a large, spacious room with a long counter. Behind the counter were industrial refrigerators and freezers, as well as every other kind of appliance imaginable.
There was an elderly lady in the kitchen, surrounded by younger Slayers, creating fajitas. She glanced up in welcome at the four young gentlemen at the counter. "Well, well! What can we do for you?"
"Perhaps a bit of breakfast, if you don't mind, ma'am," Percy said, stepping forward pompously.
Behind him, Draco rolled his eyes.
"We just made these," she said, gesturing toward several large trays of Mexican food. "Selena put those trays on the counter, would you? Courtney, could you pull some of those pitchers from the fridge and Laurel, would you be as kind as to grab those plastic cups behind you? Thank you dear."
The four waited as three large trays full of delicious food were placed in front of them, along with plastic plates and cups and several pitchers of different-colored liquids.
"Help yourselves!" the woman said in a friendly voice before turning back to her class.
The four helped themselves and walked over toward the closed table, sat down and began to eat.
No sooner had they started when the door banged open and the Slayer herself walked inside. "Good afternoon, Molly!" she called out to the elderly woman who waved. The other smaller Slayers waved excitedly too.
Buffy quickly diverted her attention to the only four in the cafeteria. "I'd advise you to eat quickly," Buffy said. "The Slayers are due to arrive from morning exercises soon."
Behind them, they could see the smaller Slayers pushing out carts full of Mexican food and setting huge trays in the middle of each table.
"It pays to go somewhere like Hogwarts and learn what you can do for a community meal," Buffy said, taking a seat next to Percy. "We haven't been introduced. I'm Buffy Summers."
"Percy Weasley," he said, shaking her hand. "I'm sure you know everyone here."
"As a matter of fact, I do," Buffy smiled softly, remembering three years ago when she'd just jumped at the chance of teaching them all. "Never mind that though. I came to collect one of your groups as soon as he finished eating. The rest of you, feel free to browse the school. There are pools and stables in the back and a large game room if you feel up to it. But I need to see Draco first."
Draco gulped and glanced down at his empty plate. "I guess I'm ready to go with you now."
"You sure?" Buffy asked. "You barely had anything on your plate."
"Can't eat," he said, his eyes widening. "Nervous..."
She gave him a reassuring smile and stood up. "Then let's go."
- - - - -
A quarter of an hour later, Draco Malfoy was sat down in the Library, surrounded by Buffy and her friends.
Most of her friends were packing up to head to lunch and Buffy dismissed them, leaving just herself and her former watcher, a man Draco had never seen in his life. "Who are you?"
"I'm Giles," he said, extending his hand, "er, Rupert Giles. I'm the Council Head of the new American Watcher's Council."
"We know you know something about Dawn," Buffy said, running over Giles' words and jumping in. "I would really like to know what that is."
It took Draco a half hour to tell her everything, from the final dance to their post-NEWT rendezvous. From his father discovering the truth to his absolute insistence that Dawn leave. He finally stopped talking when he realized he had nothing left to say.
There was almost a dark, evil light in her eyes as she straightened, exchanging a look with her Watcher. "It sounds to me like you're a witness to these events," she said, her voice light. "I will talk to you later. Right now, I have to prepare for this afternoon."
"I-I'm sorry," Draco quickly stammered before jumping up and fleeing from the Library.
Behind, Buffy felt devastated as she turned to the fourth person who'd been occupying the Library. "My poor Dawnie," she said, walking over, her throat clogged with emotion as she bent down, seeing the stone-set face of her little sister. "I wish you'd come to me. And maybe none of this would have ever happened."
"Buffy," said Giles behind her. "Do you know what this means?"
"I know exactly what it means," Buffy said softly, tucking a lock of Dawn's hair behind her ear. "Dawnie has a baby out there."
- - - - -
To be continued...
Chapters 11 -- the six from England quickly adjust to life in California. Draco and Dawn are reunited.