Wow if I had a tenner for every review that began with 'I knew it!' I'd be a millionaire by now or maybe just a hundredaire but still. Yes, it was obvious, I didn't want it to be but I had to give Buffy some clues to work with. But don't expect them to be happy, because really it would be boring if they were. They've probably got like one more chapter, maybe two to revel in their joy. Sorry!
Anyway, thanks to:
Erak
RebekahLynn Alicia Snape – Buffy's kid won't be Dawn, partly because I hated the character and also because I don't want to use an already made up fic. It won't be entirely normal though
Silver Warrior
Anne-Marie
Lost angel92
Dreamer Child
Kyra2
Becks89
Thorn of Blood
Gemini-Elf-2004 – the baby will be born mid-fic. This fic is gonna be huge now I think about it, I've got loads to put in and 30 chapters already written. Oh well! Update soon please, you left with a great cliff hanger but I want to know what's gonna happen next!
Renna
WaterNaiad13
Araz
Raclswt
Wllw979
Kim
Chapter 29 – Hogwarts Again
The
following morning Buffy flooed to Hogwarts to talk to Dumbledore. She wanted to
clear with him what they were planning to do and get any information about
where Pettigrew might be and what they could do. She also planned to look in on
harry and tell her their news.
"You want me to come?" Sirius asked
affectionately. Buffy shook her head.
"I'll be an hour, two hours tops," she
replied. "No need to. Take the guys around London or something, Xander said he
wanted to see Diagon Alley and all that stuff." Sirius nodded and Buffy stepped
into the fireplace and whirled away.
She tumbled out into the Entrance Hall
which was deserted as the students were in their first lessons. Buffy strode
down the hallway, looking for the stone gargoyle that she knew led to
Dumbledore's office. She turned a corner and there it was but as she reached it
she had the sinking realisation that she didn't know the password.
"Ummm….Dumbledore?" she tried hopefully
to the motionless gargoyle. "Hogwarts? Magic? Voldemort? Buffy?" She tried
random words but to no avail.
Frustrated, Buffy kicked the resolute gargoyle and then clutched her foot when
it hurt.
"Miss Giles?" a voice called and Buffy
whirled around. Professor Scrimgeour approached her, eyes narrowed like a hawk
and fixed on her. "What are you doing here? I was under the impression that you
and your family had returned home." Buffy thought fast.
"No, we're staying in London," Buffy
explained hastily. "But I wanted to see Uncle Albus about something I'd
forgotten to mention to him before.
"I see," Scrimgeour said levelly.
"But I don't know the password," Buffy
said, glaring at the stone gargoyle.
"Then I can assist you there,"
Scrimgeour said with a swift smile. "Liquorice Allsorts." The gargoyle slid
aside and a long staircase was visible behind it.
"Thank you," Buffy said quickly to Scrimgeour. "Well, I'd better get going."
"Certainly," Professor Scrimgeour replied politely. "Nice seeing you again." Buffy had the uncomfortable awareness of his eyes on her as the staircase ascended.
Buffy
reached the top and heard the gargoyle close with a scraping of stone. Before
she knocked on Dumbledore's door she quickly descended the staircase. She
wanted to check that Scrimgeour hadn't followed her and luckily for him, he
hadn't. Buffy ascended again and knocked on Dumbledore's door.
"Come in," a voice called from inside
and Buffy pushed the heavy door open. Dumbledore sat behind his desk. Once
again, Buffy looked around her curiously at the strange silver instruments that
covered every surface. Her eyes rested on a large sword with rubies the size of
eggs fixed in the hilt that can encased in a glass cabinet.
"You could really pack a punch with that,"
Buffy said, placing her hands on the glass lightly and looking in on it.
"Harry killed a basilisk with it in his
second year," Dumbledore replied with a smile and Buffy was impressed despite
herself. "What brings you back here Buffy?"
"Some news," Buffy said simply, sitting down
in the chair that Dumbledore drew up with his wand. "There's been a few things
going on and I wanted to ask you something.
"Go ahead," Dumbledore offered, placing
his quill on the desk and leaning back in his chair, placing his hands together
so the tips rested in a kind of bridge.
"Well, we've just found out something," Buffy
began awkwardly. "And it's going to cause a few issues." Dumbledore raised his
eyebrows. "I'm pregnant," Buffy said shortly.
"Congratulations," Dumbledore said
jovially. "I couldn't be happier for you and Sirius."
"It's great," Buffy said, unable to
resist smiling. "A surprise but we're really happy about it. But it means I
won't be able to do much for the Order after the next two months or so."
"Don't give it another thought,"
Dumbledore assured her. "Just take your time and be careful." Buffy gave a
rueful smile.
"I thought you might say that," she said
with a chuckle. "But see the thing is, before we found out, me and Sirius we're
going to go and hunt down Pettigrew, with the Order's approval of course. So we
could clear his name and Sirius would be free. And I still think we can, for
like another two months, until I start getting heavy." Dumbledore scrutinised
her over his hands.
"Nothing I say will convince you not to
be active will it?" Dumbledore said finally. Smiling, Buffy shook her head. She
couldn't just sit around and get fat for nine months.
"Then you have my permission," he said
finally and Buffy grinned. "But be careful, don't take any unnecessary risks.
This isn't like fighting demons, these people have magic and they will kill you
for their own pleasure. They are highly intelligent and cunning."
"Faith and Giles are staying in England
for a while," Buffy added. "Wills and Oz have got to get back to college and
Xander and Anya need to get back to work but they can look after the Hellmouth
for us. And Faith and Giles said they want to help you, maybe join the Order."
Dumbledore nodded.
"Certainly," he said thoughtfully. "Another
slayer on our side and a highly knowledgeable Watcher are admirable
allies."
"Have you got any info on Pettigrew?"
Buffy asked comfortably. "There must be spies in the death eater fold. Do you
know his whereabouts, what he's doing, anything?" Dumbledore nodded.
"We have some information," he intoned
gravely. "But the person who has most knowledge of the world is one of our
spies."
"You're gonna say Snape aren't you," Buffy said with a rueful smile. "Damn, I knew it." Dumbledore smiled.
"I am," he said shortly. "He has been able to
infiltrate the death eaters to a certain extent at great personal risk. He
knows most of the movements and activities within the group."
"Can't you just pass on the
information?" Buffy pleaded. "You know, just get him to write it down, stick it
one of those neat binder things and give it to me?"
"Go and speak to Snape," Dumbledore
insisted gently. "The two of you will be working together,
I think it wise that you can communicate at a base level." Buffy groaned.
"I don't like him and I don't trust
him," she said out loud, more to herself than anything.
"He has made mistakes, but so have
others," Dumbledore said gently. "I would trust him with my life."
"Then I suppose that's good enough for
me," Buffy said grudgingly. "Can you at least let him know I'll be seeing him?"
Dumbledore chuckled.
"I'll tell him you'll be down to his office
shortly," he offered. Dumbledore picked up a picked of parchment, scribbled a
few lines on it and then folded it into a paper aeroplane. He tapped it with
his wand and it flew into the air and soared out of the window.
"Oh, I nearly forgot," Buffy added
quickly. "Is there any chance I can have a word with Harry? We wanted to tell
him our news."
"He has Charms at the moment so I'll send
Professor Flitwick a note," Dumbledore assented. Buffy was impressed of
Dumbledore's knowledge of Harry's schedule. She supposed that harry was being
watched closer than he suspected.
After ten minutes, there was a knock on the door and Harry entered it, a
worried expression on his face.
"You wanted to see me?" he asked
Dumbledore concernedly and then he spotted Buffy and he grinned. "What are you
doing here?"
"Needed to see Dumbledore," she
explained shortly. "And I wanted to see you; something's happened." Harry's
face clouded over again.
"It's nothing bad is it?" he asked
worriedly. "Is Sirius okay?"
"Its fine, everyone's fine," Buffy
replied hastily. "It's just I wanted to tell you something." Harry was puzzled
and so Buffy took a deep breath and continued. "I'm pregnant." For a long
moment Harry still looked puzzled.
"You're having a baby?" he asked
stupidly. "With Sirius?" Buffy nodded, biting her lip. It was important to her
and Sirius that Harry was happy for them.
She needn't have worried as Harry's face broke out in a grin.
"That's wicked!" he exulted. "I bet
Sirius is over the moon."
"We're both stoked," Buffy assured him,
smiling in relief. "It'll be your cousin or something."
"That's great," Harry said, still beaming. "So
you're sticking around in England for a while then?" Buffy nodded.
"We haven't really decided where we're
gonna live," she said thoughtfully. "We haven't really talked about it.
Probably Sunnydale and England, I mean travelling isn't hard. But for now we're
staying here."
"Good, I like having you around," Harry said
simply and Buffy beamed at him. She stood up reluctantly and looked towards
Dumbledore.
"I'd better go see him," she said
grudgingly and Dumbledore nodded.
"See who?" Harry asked puzzled. Buffy sighed
loudly.
"Snape," she mumbled. "I have to see
him; Dumbledore says." Dumbledore merely smiled.
"Oh and don't mention to anyone about our news," she added. "We want to wait a couple of months before making it common knowledge."
Buffy walked across to the door.
"Oh Buffy?"
Dumbledore called and she turned. "There's a meeting of the Order tomorrow,
just so all of you know. At seven." Buffy nodded and
left the office.
She walked down the corridors, following the instructions that Dumbledore had given her. They led her deep into the dungeons, where it was cold and dimly lit by torches. Finally Buffy reached a door that bore the words 'Professor S. Snape' on a small brass plaque and she knocked.
When there
was no answer, Buffy pushed the door open impatiently and saw Snape sitting
behind his desk wearing an irritated expression.
"I didn't invite you in," he said
coldly. "You should have waited until I requested." Buffy shrugged and sat down
in a chair facing his desk. The office suited him, dark, and cold with jars of
foreign objects floating in green goo adorning the walls.
"You got Dumbledore's note?" Buffy asked
in a business-like tone.
"I did," Snape answered shortly. "It said that
you wanted some information from me. It didn't specify what."
"Sirius and I wish to hunt down
Pettigrew and turn him in," Buffy said coolly. "Dumbledore referred me to you
for information as to his whereabouts." Snape's lip curled into a sneer.
"Do you really think it will be that easy?" he
said icily. "You think you can find out where Pettigrew is and storm the
stronghold, brandishing a sword, expecting to behead a variety of death eaters
and capture Pettigrew? You'd be dead before you raised your sword. This isn't
your world little girl, you can't just do that."
"I know that," Buffy said hotly. "You
have no comprehension of what my team and I have achieved since I was called.
We aren't amateurs."
"You will fail," Snape said frostily.
"You do not understand the subtleties of this war, the politics, what is at
stake. The Dark Lord knows, he knows when you lie and he knows what you think.
He would kill you and it would mean nothing to him." Buffy stared at him
coolly.
"Don't patronise me. I know what I'm
doing. I'm not asking for your permission," she said, raising and eyebrow.
"Fortunately, that power doesn't lie with you. I just want what you know."
Snape stared back at her unflinchingly.
"Fine," he said finally. He stood up,
opened a cabinet behind him and pulled out a thin pale folder which he threw
down on the table in front of Buffy.
"That folder contains key information
about Pettigrew," Snape said shortly. "As for what he is doing, we do not have
a clear picture of what his activities are. He is close to the Dark Lord
undoubtedly. The Dark Lord views him as a kind of lap dog, but he allows him to
remain as it were he who performed the Dark Lord's rebirthing ritual. Pettigrew
does not have a significant amount of magical skill. He is a coward but he
remains by the Dark Lord's side." Buffy nodded, digesting the information.
"Do you have any clue where he might be
hiding out?" she asked.
"Could be a variety of locations, listed
in that file," Snape said, pointing to the folder he head given her. "The Dark
Lord is no longer content with staying in squalid locations; he suffered that
for a long time, so I am told. He could be at one of the Death Eaters homes,
most of them are old Wizarding families, moneyed. There are also a number of
other locations, Wizarding houses that have been used in the past by the Death
Eaters." Buffy nodded again.
"Do I need to know anything else?" she
asked, remaining civilised.
"Be careful Miss Summers," Snape advised
her. "I don't say this to antagonise you. The Dark Lord is not forgiving and
cannot be easily tricked. If he intends to kill you then you have little chance
of survival. Don't put the Order at risk, there is too much at stake to be lost
in Black's silly plans. Be careful." Buffy said nothing, his words were duly
noted. She stood up.
"One last question," she said politely.
"Why do you call him the Dark Lord? Why not just Voldemort?" Snape's lips
twisted into a sardonic smile.
"It's difficult to understand if you
haven't lived long in the Wizarding world," he said without a trace of malice
in his voice. "But Voldemort's last reign was long and terrible. You cannot
begin to comprehend the fear in the hearts and minds of the wizards that
opposed him. No one was safe, no one could fight. There was no defence until
Harry Potter. And in the end his name became as feared as he himself. Very few
wizards will openly speak his name." Buffy scrutinised him.
"Maybe I won't speak it after I've met
him," she said thoughtfully. Snape raised an eyebrow.
"You expect to meet the Dark Lord?" he
asked with a hint of amusement. Buffy nodded seriously.
"He'll have heard of the slayer. And bad
things seem to gravitate towards me," Buffy said matter-of-factly. "But I want
him to remember me. If he takes me down, I want to do some damage first." Snape
looked at her expressionless.
"The Dark Lord will be interested by you," he said tentatively. "Your attitude will interest him. Be careful." Buffy nodded again and left his office.
Buffy was
quite amazed that she and Snape had managed to have what passed for a
semi-civilised conversation. She went back to Dumbledore's office, said her
goodbye to him and flooed back to Grimmauld Place.
The kitchen was empty when she arrived back and so she went up into the hallway
and found the others in the drawing room.
"Hey Buffy," Sirius said looking up as
she came in. She flopped down onto the sofa beside him and he slung an arm
around her.
"What's shakin' guys?" she asked,
propping her feet on a coffee table.
"We went shopping," Anya said proudly.
"Oh yeah?" Buffy said raising an
eyebrow. "Whatcha buy? Anything good?" Sirius and Xander exchanged grins.
Sirius got up and pulled Buffy up with him. He placed his hands over her eyes.
"It's
okay," he assured her. "I just want to surprise you." Buffy allowed him to
guide her over to the musty patio doors that led to the garden. She heard them
creak and groan as he forced them open and then she stepped down into the
garden.
Sirius removed his hands with a flourish and Buffy opened her eyes. A shiny new
motorcycle stood on the lawn, black and sliver and large.
"You are such a boy," was the first
thing Buffy said. She moved forward to run a hand over the cool metal of the
bike. "How is a baby gonna fit on this?" Sirius grinned and came forward to
stand with her.
"I had a motorbike when I was younger," he
explained. "It was blue and massive. But the night Lily and James died I lent
it to Hagrid and then I went to Azkaban so I never saw it again."
"It's pretty hot," Buffy admitted. She
moved forward and sat astride. "Can I ride it?"
"I'll teach you," Sirius promised.
"After the baby." Faith pushed him aside with a grin.
"You don't want him to teach you," she
said, shooting a challenging glance at Sirius. "He really sucks. I'll teach
you."
"We've been racing all afternoon," Sirius
admitted. "Faith seems to think she's better, even though she's not." Buffy
giggled.
"She probably is sweetie," she said
apologetically. "You can't beat a slayer. Where did you get this?"
"Muggle shop," Sirius replied. "Me, Xander,
Faith, Oz and Anya went to get it. Anya did an excellent job at bartering with
the manager of the shop." Anya smiled.
"You went out into the muggle world?"
Buffy asked in horror. "Did anyone recognise you?" Sirius placed a hand on her arm.
"Relax," he said soothingly. "Remus has
been mixing up some polyjuice potion over the lat month. Rupert gave me a hair
so I looked like him. "Buffy visibly relaxed.
"I'm glad it wore off," she said thoughtfully. "Because kissing Giles – big with the icky. Where did you guys go?" she added as an afterthought, addressing Willow and Giles.
"Sirius took us to the Wizards library," Giles
said. "Fascinating, even more so than that at Hogwarts. Some interesting texts
certainly."
"There's a wizards library?" Buffy asked
distractedly.
"Of course," Sirius said as if she were
mad. "Where do you thin wizards get their books from. It's in the middle of
London, underground."
"Oh," Buffy said blankly. "Right. Makes
sense I guess." They left the motorbike and went back into the drawing room.
"Oh, we got you something too," Sirius
added, producing a small plastic bag. Buffy grinned and took the bag. Opening
it, she pulled out a thin book.
"And here was me hoping for diamonds,"
Buffy joked. She looked at the book. 'Birth and beyond' as emblazoned on the
cover with a picture of a baby underneath.
"Thanks
honey," Buffy said, flicking through it. "I'm gonna need all the help I can
get, I haven't got a clue what I'm doing. I wish my mom was around to give me
the baby advice."
"Babies are easy," Faith said casually.
"Just give it some milk, put it in a cot and let it sleep. Simple."
"But I might break it," Buffy said worriedly.
"It's only little and you know how I don't know my own strength."
"You'll do fine," Giles assured her.
"I'll baby-sit for you if you want and everyone can pitch in." Buffy smiled
gratefully.
"How did your meeting with Dumbledore
go?" Sirius asked, changing the subject neatly.
"Pretty good," Buffy said thoughtfully.
"He said we can go ahead, just be really careful. And Snape gave me loads of
information. And I saw Harry and let him know about the baby."
"Snape?" Sirius asked in distaste. "I bet he was really helpful."
"I was like that when Dumbledore said to
go and see him," Buffy admitted. "But he gave me some good stuff, told us to
take care. Unlike his usual jerky self." Sirius shrugged unconcernedly.
"Oh and there's and Order meeting
tomorrow night here," Buffy added as an afterthought. "Everyone's gathering to
check up on the happenings."
"We're going tomorrow," Xander announced
and Buffy frowned. "We've got to get back told good old SunnyD."
"You have to?" Buffy asked anxiously but
Willow nodded.
"The hell mouth's probably overrun
without us," she said soothingly. "But we'll write and come back sometime, I
promise."
