This fic is giving me loads of trouble; I keep planning stuff then writing it, then deleting it and coming up with better ideas! But the ideas are still coming and I've got the story kind of planned up to a certain point so I should be regularly updating for a long time. The only problem is I have my AS level exams quite soon so my updates aren't going to be as regular as I would like. I'm really sorry but in case you aren't English, the AS levels are really important exams and have a big impact on my future so I can't not do work for them. Hopefully I should be able to write about a chapter per one week or two.

Hope you're all enjoying the fic anyway, read and review as usual!

Thanks to:

Miz 

ScruffyWes

Manticore-gurl071134

Dreamer Child – I know, Snape's such a git but he's sooo easy to write! I also agree about Sirius, I wanted him to be great looking but the good thing is that Gary Oldman – the guy that will play Sirius – is an amazing actor. He's in one of the best films ever, called 'Leon.' I really recommend it, and I think he will be able to do Sirius justice.

C@rMeiNa

GoddessEris

Vampy the chosen one

Alexandra the half-wolf

Charmedfanatic3000

Harmoni9

Becks89 – I need a TYE update, I have to know what happens to Buffy!
Captinuv

Chapter 10 – Déjà Vu

Buffy and Harry entered the kitchen and Buffy noticed right away that the air was thick with tension. No one was talking much, and no one was looking at her properly. Inwardly, Buffy groaned, realising that she shouldn't have reacted so crazily in the midst of strangers. For all they knew she was a compete psycho. Buffy sat down and Molly served her food along with the others. Silence remained for a few moments, until Buffy realised she had to say something.
 "Um…..I'm sorry I kind of lost it," she said awkwardly, feeling her face flush as everyone looked at her. "I'm not normally like that, I just kind of freaked."
 "He deserved it," Ron declared and Buffy smiled half-heartedly.

 "You're our hero now if that makes you feel better," George added helpfully which made Buffy grin more.
 "Be that as it may Giles always says I should respect my powers," Buffy said ruefully. "I shouldn't have lost control like that. What he said really riled me and I haven't hit anything in so long…..."
 "We understand," Lupin assured her. "Severus would never admit it, but even he knows he was wrong. We all are in agreement that he deserved what he got."

Despite herself Buffy grinned.
 "It won't happen again," Buffy promised. "Unless it happens to be a crazy attacking demonic thing."

Chatter filled the kitchen again, and Buffy relaxed in her chair, relieved that they had all been so relaxed. Even so, she still wasn't entirely convinced that Snape hadn't deserved it. Maybe not death, but pain was deserved for that man. She knew about him from Sirius' stories and she knew who he had been. She had that power over him.
As soon as these thoughts crossed her mind, she cursed herself inwardly for being so blind. Despite what Snape had been, she shouldn't blame him for his past actions. She had forgiven Faith, even though Faith had done almost the same thing, she should let Snape achieve his own forgiveness. Buffy knew she was biased, from Sirius and her own brief encounters with this man.

Bill, in the seat next to her began to talk to her and Buffy began a conversation with him.
 "Are we still on for the Ministry tomorrow?" she asked and he nodded thoughtfully.
 "We need to make a quick stop off in the Department of International Magical Cooperation to pick up some papers then I can give you the grand tour," Bill confirmed with a friendly grin. "Anything you want to see in particular?" Buffy nodded.
 "The Department of Mysteries," she said and Bill looked a little uncertain. "It's not what you think." Bill still looked troubled. "I want to see the prophecies, that's all. There's probably one about me." Bill's expression cleared and he nodded. 

Buffy listened Mundungus tell the twins about some cheap Firewhisky he could get them before turning her attention to Moody who had just called her name.

 "Would you be interested in patrolling tonight?" he growled eagerly. "I'd very much like to see you at work." Kingsley looked over to them.
 "As would I," he said with a smile. "Well, a repeat performance anyway." Buffy nodded beaming.
 "Can I come?" Harry asked eagerly and Buffy, Moody and Kingsley exchanged glances.
 "Well…" Buffy said, looking pleadingly at Moody who shrugged. "If you stay with Kingsley and Moody, then I suppose." Harry grinned in delight. Buffy returned the grin. She had played on an instinct, wanting Harry to trust her. She knew Harry was resentful of the way Dumbledore had cut him out so she figured that by including him in this he would feel happier. And she was apparently right.

 "Are you sure that's safe?" Molly asked worriedly. "It's very dangerous for Harry to go out into London at night, especially right now." Harry scowled. "I don't think it's a good idea."
 "He'll be safe with me," Buffy assured her. "I know what I'm doing."
 "But there's not only vampires to worry about," Molly contradicted. "There are Death Eaters about."

 "Sirius would have let me go," Harry said in a low voice and Molly shut her mouth with a snap. "He trusted Buffy." Buffy felt oddly satisfied, though a little guilty at the look on Molly's face.
 "I'll take care of him," she promised her. "Besides we'll have two of the best Aurors with us. It'll go without a hitch, I promise." Molly still looked hurt, but nodded anyway.

 "Can we go mum?" Fred butted in eagerly but Molly shook her head firmly.
 "Absolutely not," she said firmly. "And don't even think about pushing it." Fred and George didn't persist, but threw envious looks at Harry for the rest of dinner.

When dinner was finished, everyone offered their tidying skills to Molly but she shooed them from the kitchen. Buffy, Harry, Kingsley and Moody retrieved coats and cloaks from the hall and wrapped up against the chilly London night. Tonks and Bill to join them and they all gathered by the front door so Buffy could give them all stakes, telling them what to do with it and what spells would be useful against vampires, from what she could remember of Sirius' magic.

The six were waved off by Fred and George, who were scowling, Ginny, Hermione, Ron, Mundungus, Arthur and Charlie. Molly remained in the kitchen, tidying up after dinner and Buffy got the impression that she was still feeling a little hurt.
Moody took the lead and Buffy fell into line, walking next to Harry in the middle of the group.
 "I think you hurt her feelings," she said quietly to Harry, and he shrugged though Buffy saw concern in his eyes.
 "It's difficult," he said exasperatedly. "Mrs Weasley has been so kind to me, she treats me like one of her own. And I like that; it's nice to feel like part of the family. But I'm not one of hers. She and Sirius had an argument about that last year, but now he's gone it's worse because there's really no one left. And she wants to protect me all time, which means not letting me do or know anything."
 "She really cares about you," Buffy said sincerely. "You can tell."
 "I know," Harry said with a sigh. "Which it makes it all the more difficult to take a stand."
 "Don't worry I'll keep an eye out for you," Buffy said with a chuckle. "Its rough, I grew up with not much of a father. My watcher is pretty much my father figure but I never hesitate to remind him that he's not. Everyone does it, because they can get away with it. You've got a lot of surrogate parents, the Weasleys, Dumbledore." Buffy probed gently, but Harry's face wore the same closed expression.
 "Yeah, well I'll be okay on my own," Harry said gruffly. "I'll have to be, won't I?"

"If you say so kiddo," Buffy said, swiftly dropping the subject. She moved away from Harry, to the front and walked next to Moody.
 "Where are we headed?" Buffy asked, walking quickly to keep up with him clunking step.

 "The outskirts of central London," Moody growled in return. "The Ministry got word that there's a group of vigilante vampires feeding on the residents."
 "What's the plan?" Buffy asked eagerly, itching to be slaying again.
 "You're the slayer," Moody said with a growly laugh. "You tell me."

"Bait," Buffy said matter-of-factly. "I could walk alone, maybe with Harry then when they attack you can watch and help out if we need it" Moody nodded, his magical eye spinning wildly and they continued walking.


As they neared their destination, Moody, Bill, Tonks, and Kingsley fell behind into the shadows and Buffy and Harry walked boldly ahead.
 "Relax," Buffy said quietly. "Just act natural. There's something watching us, I can tell."
 "How?" Harry asked curiously. "Can you see someone?"
 "Call it my spidey sense," Buffy said with a grin. "I can just feel it in my bones when something evil is around." As she finished her sentence, two vampires appeared from the shadows.

They loomed ahead of them, but Buffy and Harry continued walking.
 "Oh, I'm sorry," Buffy said in a bright voice as she walked into one of them. "My bad.

Hey, what's wrong with your face?"

One of the vampires smiled, licking its fangs eagerly.

 "This won't hurt…." he said in a cockney accent. "Well not me anyway."
Quick as lightning, Buffy roundhouse kicked its head and sent it sprawling. The other one started towards her but she punched it away.

 "Looks like it did hurt you," Buffy said reflectively. The two vampires clambered  to their feet.
 "Those are some pretty tricks princess," the second remarked smirking. "Let's see how you do against all of us." From the shadows came eight more vampires, one of which walked directly towards Buffy.
 "I don't believe this," Buffy said exasperatedly. A too-familiar blonde vampire stood before her. "Why didn't I just kill you?"
 "Maybe you've got a thing for me," Spike countered. "That's your style isn't it?" He and Buffy scrutinised each other for a moment, while Harry nervously eyed the nine vampires surrounding them.
 "It's been a while slayer," Spike said casually. "I've missed the annoying banter we've shared."
 "Wish I could say the same," Buffy shot back. "But I'm still just wishing I'd killed you when you were all pathetic."
 "This your new toy boy?" Spike asked roughly. "Get tired of the old one; decide to trade him in for a younger model?" He eyed Harry with distaste, and then his eyes fixed on the scar on Harry's forehead.

 "Bloody hell," he breathed. "Harry Potter. The legend." Harry looked a little abashed.
 "Don't you want to eat me?" he asked confusedly. "I mean not that you should," he added hurriedly.
 "Eat you?" Spike said, as if this was the inanest idea known to man. "Please, you're the only hope I've got of getting rid of that bloody prat Tom. Bloke gets a bit of power, forgets about the people who put him where he is now."
 "You know Voldemort?" Harry said in disbelief. Spike nodded.
 "We go way back," he said. "I killed a couple of people for him, some unsavoury characters that could've made his life a bit difficult. Then he gets a load of followers and suddenly he's too good to be mates with a common vampire. I ask you, what happened to loyalty? Back in the day, before Angel went good, Darla got killed and Drusilla dumped me, we used to stick up for each other. Not when there was any food involved of course, Drusilla was always partial to little girls….." Buffy watched him ramble disinterestedly.
 "Are you finished?" she asked rudely. Spike eyed her with distaste.
 "God I wish Angelus had eaten you," he said fervently. "You're too annoying for your own good." Buffy smirked.
 "Let's just do this, shall we?" she said boredly.
 "My pleasure," Spike replied, cracking his neck. "None of you lot touches the boy." Before Buffy could begin to fight, one of Spike's minions came up to his elbow.
 "What?" he said irritably, not taking his eyes off of Buffy.
 "We need to feed boss," the vampire insisted. "One scrawny girl isn't going to feed all of us. We want to eat the boy." Spike growled.
 "Don't touch the boy," he said.
 "Or what?" countered one of the other vampires, coming forward. "You'll kill us? You can't take all of us." The other vampires moved forward to surround Buffy, Spike and Harry.
 "I think we'll just kill all three of you," the vampire continued and the others gazed at Harry and Buffy hungrily.
 "Looks like we're working together again Slayer," Spike said with a shaky laugh. "Just like old times huh?"
 "Who says I need you?" Buffy said, while taking stock of what she was up against.
 "You can't take all of these on your own," Spike scoffed and Buffy inwardly conceded he was right. She hoped that moody and the others were positioned to help, even though she couldn't seem them right at that point.
 "Fine," she snapped, still unable to see the others. "But you owe me."
 "You got it," Spike returned and the fight began. He attacked three of his ex-minions at once, and Buffy placed Harry behind her to face the rest. She concentrated on keeping them away, managing to stake two but leaving them facing four more. Buffy roundhouse kicked one, and then punched another one as it lunged at Harry. A third leapt towards her and she threw it to the ground, pinning it.
 "Harry! Quick!" she yelled and Harry rammed his stake into its heart, dusting it. They both leapt up, brandishing stakes and from that moment they were a team, Buffy kicking and punching the vampires into submission, then holding them for Harry to stake. They finished off the six quickly and turned their attention to Spike who was still fighting three.

 "Spike!" Buffy yelled and tossed his a stake which he deftly caught and immediately used to dust one of the vampires. He quickly finished off the other two and turned back to Buffy.
 "Well if that wasn't a bloody head rush," he said in amazement.
 "Some minions they were," Buffy commented coldly. "Turned on you quick enough."
 "Minions like that are two a penny," Spike shrugged. "I'll just go sire some more." Buffy frowned at him.
 "I mean I'll just go and erm get bloody pissed or something," Spike coughed. "I owe you one slayer."

 "Harry, go and find the others," Buffy said quickly and Harry obediently walked off.
 "There is something you can do for me actually," she said as soon as he was out of earshot. Spike raised an eyebrow.
 "Oh really?" he said smugly. Buffy bit her lip.

 "Have you heard of something called the Archway of Lost Souls?" she said and from the taken-aback look on his face she could tell he had.
 "What of it slayer?" he said edgily.
 "What do you know about it?" she asked quickly.
 "Well it's where they go ain't it," he replied uncomfortably. "The souls, the bad ones. People are stuck in eternal suffering. Vampires all know about it. When you get sired your soul goes there straight away, waiting for you. Your mind stays where it is, but when you get staked you go to join it. In hell." Buffy swallowed hard.
 "But say a body went through," she attempted. "Could you go and get it?"
 "I don't know," Spike said awkwardly. "Vampires don't talk about it, secretly they're all scared. When you get killed that's where you're going, no question. You must've dusted hundreds of my kind, and every single one of them is stuck there now. But a body, well that's not supposed to be there, I dunno what would happen."

 "But it's possible to get something out of there," Buffy persisted. "Angel's soul must've been got out of there. Could a person go in and get something?"
"It'd be risky," Spike considered. "I've never heard of anyone coming out but then I've never heard of anyone going in. But I've heard the stories about that place, and they aren't pretty. Your lover boy spent a couple of months in there and it turned him into an animal. You lose your mind in that place." He eyed her warily. "I don't know what your planning slayer but I wouldn't tell anyone to try and go in there. Well, except maybe you." Buffy stared at him levelly.
 "You hear anything," she said finally. "I want to hear it. Any information then owl it to me. I find out you've been holding out on me, I hunt you down and kill you." Spike nodded as if he didn't expect any different.

"I'll keep to my word this time." she continued, clenching her fist. "Don't let me catch you feeding again or I'll kill you. Get out of here, otherwise you'll be taken down by Alastor Moody and there'll be nothing I can do to stop it."

 "You keep some strange mates," Spike commented, surveying Buffy one last time before running off into the darkness.
Buffy took a deep breath she was tired, not from the fight but the talk, dealing with the words given to her. It didn't look good; she had to admit that to herself. But she'd be damned if she'd leave Sirius in hell without at least trying to save him.
Harry emerged from the shadows with the others with him and Buffy gave them a wan smile.
 "What happened to you guys?" she said lightly. "We could've used you." Tonks looked sideways at Moody.
  "Mad Eye wouldn't let us help," she explained, shooting him another accusing glance. "He said you'd be fine and that he wanted to watch you slay."
 "I wasn't disappointed," he growled, limping forward. "You've got a great deal of skill. Your reflexes were stunning." Buffy beamed and they began to walk back towards Grimmauld Place. Buffy stretched happily, the fight had removed some of the tension from her bones.
 "What were you talking to that vampire about?" Harry asked her curiously. "I thought you had to kill them."
 "I don't like to go back on my word," Buffy commented warily. "We were just talking about old times; we used to be arch nemeses. Just some old stuff."