Some people asked about the time difference in Hell and how it would affect the timing between Buffy and Giles. The stopwatches would have programmed into them how long an hour is in the normal dimension. Therefore however quickly time passes in the hell dimension, an hour would be the same time length even if a day passed in that time. I didn't really explain that well but just accept that the timer would be the same as Giles' and it wouldn't be affected by the dimension time movement!
Thanks to:
CharmedChick
Dreamer Child – not long now!
Always krissy
Draco-FutureBF
ScruffyWes
Miz
Caribear
Anne-Marie
Becks89 – here's the quick update, so now I need a TYE update! You can't just leave us there!
Lolly6
Carmelina
Vld
Jacey925
Charmedfanatic3000
Thorn of Blood – I think Harry would want to keep this one to himself, but I can't guarantee they'll be happy when they find out!
Chapter 19 – Goodbye Kansas
Buffy woke up as dawn was breaking the next morning. She went down the kitchen, the house unusually quiet, made herself a cup of coffee and took it back to her room. She sat on the windowsill of her room, staring out across the rooftops.
The sun was
slowly rising, the light creeping over chimney pots and promising another hot
day. Trees rustled in the light breeze and a ginger cat walked sedately along a
roof before stopping at the end and watching the sun rise, just as Buffy was.
Her last sunrise. The thought echoed in Buffy's mind and her hands trembled
slightly. The last time she would ever watch the sun rise in this world, and
see it become day. She wanted to savour this, the sunlight, the quiet, and
freeze this moment and live here forever. Peace filled her soul and she
breathed deeply.
Not for the first time she thought about what it would be like if she died. She
would be mourned, but would there be much of a difference? Would the world miss
her presence, would it keep an imprint of her there to live on? Buffy knew what
she had done; she had saved the world many times. But the world hadn't saved
her; it hadn't looked out for her and made it as easy for her as possible. Life
was hard, something she had learnt over her twenty one years. And it just got
harder.
Suddenly, she didn't want to see the sun anymore. She got up from her position and paced the room, clutching her coffee. She knew what she had to do, she had to find Sirius or she had to die. She couldn't live in the world anymore without him, it was too hard.
Buffy appeared at breakfast with everyone else much later in the morning.
"Morning," Fred said through a mouthful of
toast. Buffy slid into her chair and threw him a wan smile. She glanced at
Harry and found he was staring at her. She gave him a reassuring tiny smile and
he went back to his food.
"I thought I'd go back to the Ministry
today," Buffy said, trying to keep her voice steady. "Giles said he wanted to
see it and Harry said he'd come too." All heads snapped up to stare at Harry
who didn't look up from his breakfast.
"That's a nice idea," Molly said, voice
also carefully controlled. "But are you sure you want to do that today?" Buffy
nodded.
"Yeah we wanted to hang out with Harry
as much as possible before he goes back to Hogwarts," Buffy said nonchalantly
and Harry threw her a tiny smile. "I mean there's only what, two weeks before
they go back right?" Molly nodded and gradually people went back to their food.
Breakfast finished and the twins disappeared, they had to get to their shop.
Buffy followed Giles out into the hallway. Just as she was about to climb the
stairs, her arm was grabbed. She spun around and came face to face with Remus.
"What's going on?" he asked frowning.
"What are you planning to do?" Buffy's face was expressionless.
"What do you mean?" she asked easily.
"Giles said he wanted to see the Ministry. What are you suggesting Remus?" He
studied her expression carefully.
"Nothing," he admitted finally. "Just don't do
anything stupid and don't let Harry." Buffy smiled reassuringly.
"Stupid is my middle name," she joked.
"Well actually it's Anne. Better go and get ready." She continued up the
stairs, just managing not to break into a run. Her heart was pounding; she
though he was onto her but she'd managed to convince him otherwise. Buffy
entered Giles' room where he was conversing with Harry.
"Everything ready?" she asked
breathlessly and Giles nodded.
"It's all ready," he confirmed. "What
happened to you?"
"Remus was questioning me," Buffy admitted.
"He asked what I was planning. I think I convinced him otherwise though." Giles
nodded.
"Here's the timer," he handed her a
simple stopwatch on a wrist strap. "All you have to do is press the red button
and the timer will start counting down from four hours."
Buffy deftly attached it to her wrist.
She wore jeans and solid walking boots with a small white t-shirt. Around her
waist she had tied a black jumper.
"Have you done the spells?" Buffy asked
and Giles nodded. He had performed the spell on the Crystal and he handed her
the thumb sized purple stone which she tucked into her pocket. He had also done
a cloaking spell on the weapons Buffy wanted to take so they could not be
detected. They were all ready in a large bag.
"Shall we go?" Buffy asked, strained and
Harry and Giles nodded. Giles picked up the large bag and the three went down
the stairs.
"Are you off then?" Hermione asked
cheerfully and Harry nodded.
We could come with you if you want," Ron
offered.
"No," Harry said immediately and Ron
looked surprised. "I mean, you two stay here. There are better things to do."
"I suppose you're right," Ron said
fairly. "Have fun." He and Hermione waved as Giles, Buffy and Harry walked out
of Grimmauld Place.
The three walked down the road, Buffy leading as she knew the way to get to the visitors entrance. They walked in silence, each contemplating what the day meant for them. To Giles, this was the day that he made the greatest sacrifice for his slayer, for him the pain of dying would be nothing compared to the pain of losing her. She was like his child, he had watched her grow and he was immeasurably proud of her.
Harry had mixed feelings. He was scared for Buffy, he had grown to like and admire her immensely in the time he had known her, exactly as he had known he would from the way he knew Sirius loved her. He didn't want her to die, but he wanted Sirius back. He was so scared of the future, what was looming ahead of him. He needed Sirius; he needed the link to his past and help for his future.
As for Buffy, well she didn't know what she was feeling now. There was feeling there but she wasn't willing to examine it too closely, to look at the fear that she was feeling. She was worried that if she did she wouldn't be able to do this. She knew that deep down she was terrified; even after all the things she had gone through, walking into hell was no mean feat. But she would do it; she would keep her fear at arms length and bite the bullet.
They reached the visitors entrance and travelled down in the phone box, much to
the surprise of Giles. The beauty of the entrance struck them once again, the
hallway milling with people, golden gates shining at the end.
"They fixed it," Harry said pointing to the fountain of Magical Brethren. "We broke it last year." They didn't say any more until they passed the security desk, the bored looking wizard remembering Buffy and allowing them to pass through.
They
entered one of the lifts, together with a group of harried looking wizards some
of whom were frantically reading parchments, others holding strange looking
magical artefacts such as one man who was clutching a teapot which was
frantically trying to escape on it's stork-like legs. The lift gradually
emptied and then they were on level nine, the Department of Mysteries. Harry looked
afraid for a moment, but Buffy put a hand on his shoulder and he walked forward
into the hallway. The black door loomed ahead, still guarded by the stern
looking wizard.
Surprisingly, he smiled when he saw Buffy.
"Come to see the prophecies again?" he
asked, friendly. "Go on through."
Buffy managed a smile and the three
passed into the black room. Harry gave her a sideways look.
"What can I say? I'm a charmer," she said and
he grinned despite himself. Giles was looking around curiously at the room they
stood in. Harry pulled the door closed and the room's walls began to spin.
"How do we stop it?" Giles said
frantically. "How do we know which door to take?"
"The Archway room," Buffy said clearly
and the room came to an abrupt halt, a door in front of Buffy. She pushed it
open, looked through, and then beckoned the others after her.
Giles
closed the door behind them and they stood in the Archway room. It was deserted
as usual but the veil fluttered as if a breeze blew it.
"Do you hear that?" Giles asked and
Buffy nodded, she knew he was referring to the whispering of voices that filled
them room. She couldn't make out any distinct voices, as if all the voices were
clamouring to be heard but none could.
"I can hear it too," Harry said
detachedly. His face had gone oddly pale and he stared at the Archway as if he
didn't really see it. Buffy knew what his mind showed him, the last time he had
been in this room, he was seeing Sirius fall through the veil.
Buffy began to climb down the steps in
the room and after a moment's hesitation, Harry and Giles followed. They
reached the bottom and stood just off of the dais. Giles put down the bag and
opened it. Buffy pulled out the weapons she had picked out.
A knife was strapped around her ankle and another tiny one in her boot. A stake
went in her back jeans pocket, the knife Faith had given Sirius in her belt and
the axe the Scoobies had given her when she first went to England hung from her
belt. In her hand, Buffy held the sword she had used to defeat Angel so long
ago.
"I'm all set," she said, checking and
double checking all of her weapons. "Is everything okay for the spell?" Giles
has placed a few ingredients for the spell to bring Buffy back on the bottom
step, as well as the paper that said the words.
"It's all ready," Giles confirmed. "Don't
forget to start your timer when you pass through the Archway."
"Will do," Buffy said, checking the
watch was firmly attached. "Well I guess this is it." She stood still for a
moment, staring at Giles, until he pulled her into a crushing hug.
"Be careful," he said gently. "Take care
of yourself."
"If I don't come back, tell the guys
that I'm sorry," Buffy said quietly. "Thank you for helping me Giles. You've
never let me down."
"I couldn't be prouder of you," Giles
said emotionally. She pulled away from Giles and looked at him for a moment, and
then Buffy hugged Harry.
"I'll bring him back," she said softly. "I'll
do everything I can to bring him back."
"Thank you," Harry said unfathomably. "Please
come back." Buffy pulled away from him and placed her hands on his shoulders.
"I'll do what I can," she said bravely. "But
if I don't, keep fighting. Never give up harry, never." Harry smiled tiredly
and Buffy picked up her sword.
"Here goes," she said with a deep
breath, turning to face the Archway. "Goodbye Kansas." Buffy walked forward with
measured strides. The veil lifted higher than usual and she walked underneath
it. When it fell down again, she was gone. The Archway of Lost Souls had
swallowed her.
"That's it then," Giles said, swallowing
painfully. He pushed the small red button on his watch and the four hours began
to count down. "Would you like to help set up the spell? Harry?" He looked over
to Harry who was staring blankly at the Archway which Buffy had just passed
through.
"Harry?" Giles said again. Harry didn't
look at him. He walked forwards to the Archway and stood before the veil.
"No!" Giles leapt onto the dais to grab
him, but he was too late. Harry took the final step, passed through the veil
and was gone.
