She took a break from attacking the plat in front of her to drink her juice when Sirius paused in his conversation with Arthur and said
"I'm sorry my dear, but I'm assuming you're a muggle? Am I right?"
Smiling at a Confused looking Faith he continued ,
"A Muggle is a non magical person."
Willow smiled reassuringly at her and said,
"Faith isn't a witch but she's pretty powerful, she's one of the two original slayers. And her mom was a witch."
"You're a Slayer?"
Hermione asked her,
"An original?"
Faith swallowed the mouthful of bread she had and said
"Yes."
"My goodness, I've read so much about the slayers, its a fascinating history! Would you be able to tell me more about it when you have some time?" all around her the teenagers rolled their eyes at her affectionately. Faith squeezed her hand and said "Of course I can." Hermione glowed with happiness and Willow smiled, Faith realised she'd obviously found one of her favouirtes.
Sirius contined,
"Well at least that explains how you were able to see this house, it has muggle repellent charms on it so even if on the unlikely and critically dangerous chance they found an invitation into this house they would not be able to enter it."
Molly who was stood behind her with saucepan started to refill her emptying plate said
"So Faith why don't you tell us about yourself, how do you know Willow for example?"
Faith looked uncertainly at Willow and said
"We met in High school, well Red was in High school I was just kind of sailing by. Didn't get on so well with her then though..."
She stopped suddenly and stared at her plate suddenly Molly spoke and said
"Everyone has a past my dear. It's what they choose to do with their future that's important, how they choose to live... to make amends."
Willow interrupted here and said
"Faith, no one will judge you here. They know my past, know about Warren about the things I've done my addiction my darkness... they accept me for who I am. They will do the same for you. But first of all you need to forgive yourself. That is the hardest thing in the world to do."
Faith smiled at willow and said
"Your promised me a meal red, not salvation."
Willow grinned and said
"A good hostess will always offer a bit of both."
Faith Broke out into a big grin and said
"May I say then, that I think your one of the best hostesses who ever allowed me to grace their table."
Sirius interrupted and said
"Sorry to argue the point but technically its my table you're boasting about their Miss Rosenberg, and I will be lodging a complaint with your near do well Fiancée as soon as I see him in the morning for your blatant lack of respect for the noble house of black."
Around the table everyone started chuckling as Willow elbowed Sirius in the ribs and he stole her juice. Faith smiled at them happy to see the red head surrounded by people who seemed to care about her. Next to Hermione the dark haired boy Harry met her eyes and smiled too, he seemed happy watching Willow and Sirius mess around but Faith noted his heavy eyes that looked used to suffering and hardship. She beamed at him and winked which caused him to blush and Ron to laugh at him.
Molly had taken her seat back at the table again and asked
"Didn't your Mother keep up with our ways then or was she happier in the muggle world?"
Faith stared at her plate and started mumbling something which Willow interrupted and said
"Faith's mother died when she was young."
"I'm so sorry my dear, was it through illness?"
Faith shook her head and said
"No suicide a drug overdose, she was an addict so it was hard to know if it was an accident."
No body knew what to say at this point but Molly said,
"Your father wasn't a wizard then?"
Faith who had lost all her appetite said quickly
"I've never met my father, he left before I was born. It was just me and then just Me."
She looked up and saw that Harry was staring quite intently at her "My Parents died when I was young too" he said. "It's shit." Faith smiled at him in solidarity and said "That it is Kid- anyway I'm sorry to appear rude but I think I need to hit the hay.. Wills?"
Willow made to get out of her seat but Sirius was up first he offered his arm to Faith and said to Willow,
"You finish your dinner or Remus will kill me, I promised I'd make sure you ate a good meal when you got back. I'll show Faith to your old room."
Willow smiled and said
"Good night Faith,"
Faith smiled and said
"Night everyone, thank you for the meal it was lovely."
After the door had closed Willow turned to Molly, waiting until the others were deep in conversation and said
"Faith had a bad childhood, her mom died her father ran off she lived with different people each week and was called when she was fifteen. She's scared of families of love, of being weak and built up so many walls that she gets scared when she thinks of the past."
Once they had left the kitchen behind them and walked up the fist flight of stairs Faith turned to Sirius and said,
"I'm sorry bout that, but I find it difficult to talk about my childhood, I found my mothers body..."
Sirius put up his hands in front of him and said
"We all understand. I myself did not exactly have the best childhood; this is my family home in case you didn't know. My family were dark wizards, not originally followers of you know who. But dark all the same, obsessed with their pure blood status. I was a monumental disappointment to them."
Faith gave a small grin and said
"Thanks for understanding, Red didn't tell me that this was your house. Are you sure that you don't mind me staying?"
Sirius grinned and said
"The more the merrier, one more thing before I leave, you have a very intense magical aura I find it difficult that the only reason for this is because you are a slayer. Do you have any links with the magical community at all?"
Faith looked apprehensive for a moment before saying,
"Not apart from my mother, she used to tell me stories about it when I was little but I never really experienced it."
"Interesting. Here is your room, I hope you like it, I'll just come in to light the fire for you,"
He pulled open a door and walked into a room which fifty years ago could have been described as grand and luxurious. Now however it looked run down and decrepit. There was a large bed with mouldy looking green velvet hangings. A large fire places a dresser and a desk, which concluded all of the furnishings in the room were spread spaciously throughout it. Sirius crossed over to the fireplace and using the candle, which he was carrying, lit the fire, which burst almost instantaneously. Filling the room with a merry glow of the flames.
"Sweet Dreams Faith, if you need anything don't hesitate to ask."
He looked at her smilingly
"Good Night."
Faith answered watching as he left the folded her jeans and top up and placed them on the desk. She looked around the room trying to soak it in. it had an evil feel to it but that would be explained by Sirius' account of his family's tendencies towards the dark arts.
The house expelled magic. It was potent, toxic almost. She had not felt magic of this intensity since... no; she didn't want to go down that path. Nothing good ever came from thinking about her Mom. She climbed into the bed, pulling the green velvet comforter over her and watching the fire crackle in the grate.