Title: Serenity, pt 2
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A couple nights later, Faith and Buffy were patrolling when they were side attacked by several vampires. Two staked and a third touched Buffy's shoulder causing her to throw the owner of the hand against the trash container.
Faith moved quickly and just before the stake hit home a large dog jumped her causing her to lose her balance. "Bloody mutt!" Faith growled from her spot on the ground looking up at the dog.
"You said bloody." Buffy commented, unsure whether or not it was something to laugh at. "It's a good thing too. He's human."
Faith heard Buffy's words, as she brushed off the butt of her pants, but her focus was on the grim like dog looking up at her. "C'mon Sirius, change. I know it's you."
"Sirius?" Buffy questioned confused and was completely shocked to see the man that had been hanging out around the group.
"How did you know?" Sirius questioned.
"Oh, please. Like I wouldn't know my own dad." Faith replied dryly.
"Dad?" Buffy and Sirius questioned.
"Serena?" Sirius added.
"Duh!" Faith retorted loudly. "Took you bloody well long enough. Some dad you turned out to be."
"Excuse me?" A voice from the ground interrupted.
"What?" Faith questioned turning to the man on the ground. Sighing she helped him up and made sure that he was okay.
"The mayor is planning on ascending." The man began; his voice was quiet and panicky. "Graduation night he'll become a pure demon."
"Hold on." Faith halted the discussion before calling, "Mater!"
"Yes, Serena?" Severus inquired appearing out of nowhere.
"Ascension." Faith stated getting to the point. "Pure demon."
"Hmm." Severus said intrigued. Dark eyes turned towards the man in the light gray suit. "What else do you know?"
"He's doing a ritual so that he's protected from harm until he ascends." The man answered. "I'm not sure what else he's planning, but it's gotten out of hand."
Severus pondered a moment before saying, "Make sure he doesn't find you or I will become very angry."
"Yes, sir." The man stuttered before running off the other direction.
"Mater!" Faith sighed. "No scaring the harmless deputy mayor guy."
"You young lady are grounded when you get home." Severus informed her before turning to Buffy. "Miss. Summers."
"Hello." Buffy smiled.
"You knew that she was a slayer and you didn't tell me?" Sirius cut in realizing why their daughter was on the hellmouth.
"You never asked." Severus countered. "And if I were to have told you everything you would have been even more upset and made a worse fool of yourself."
"Too late." Faith muttered earning a well-placed glare from Severus. "Sorry Mater."
"Buffy." A new voice replied. "They've got Giles."
"Lets finish this." Buffy said straightening up. "You coming Faith?"
"Yep." Faith answered following behind Buffy and Angel. "I'll see you later Mater, dad." She called over her shoulder.
It was a little over a half an hour later when Serena stepped into the flat with Ripper Giles limping slightly behind her. "Severus." Ripper greeted. "Black."
"I'll be right out." Faith replied before heading down one of the hallways into her small bedroom. A few minutes later she came out wearing blue jeans and a white t-shirt.
Sirius noticed her hair was wet and that she had a scratch here and there, but other than that she was physically fine. "That's why she's not at Hogwarts." He mused mostly to himself, watching Serena talking to Ripper.
"Exactly." Severus replied overhearing him. "She's a special young woman, Sirius. Not quite what I expected, but special in her own right."
"I can't believe I over looked her." Sirius said sadly. "I'm not surprised that she hates me."
"She doesn't hate you, Sirius." Severus countered watching as she started her schoolwork. "She doesn't remember you."
"Well than, I made the worst first impression ever." (A.N. I'll be partly calling Faith-Serena through most of this part and continuing parts.)
"That you did, Sirius." Severus agreed sounding very amused. "That you did."
Sunnydale High School's graduation was a memorable affair. The Scooby gang, as Sirius found out that was what the slayers group was called, banded the school together. Nobly they fought against the mayor, but in the end it was Buffy and Serena that stopped the snake.
Sirius was fighting alongside of the vampire he found out was once Angelus, and he couldn't help but wish that the marauders were there to share this experience with him. The ground shook slightly showing that they'd blown up the school with Mayor inside.
Serena, Sirius and Giles stumbled back to their two flats after the chaos was finished with. Giles opened the door to find Severus floo-ing into the flat.
"Hey Mater." Serena greeted tiredly moving towards the hallway towards her bedroom.
"Oh Faith, before you retire for the evening." Giles started but continued when the dark eyed slayer turned to face him. "I believe a congratulations are in order." His movement was simple as he handed her a rolled up slip of muggle paper.
Serena's eyes went wide as she leapt into Giles' arms. "Thanks G." She gushed, suddenly very awake. "Oh my." She breathed after she released Giles and held onto the slightly charred slip of paper close to her.
"Open it." Giles prompted softly.
Serena was confused but opened the diploma to read that 'Serena Cheyenne Moore' graduated from Sunnydale high school. "That's awesome Giles." She grinned handing the sheet to her parents.
"Congratulations." Severus replied accepting a warm hug from the most amazing seventeen-year-old he was proud to call his daughter.
"Yes, congratulations, Serena." Sirius agreed and was surprised when Serena smiled and hugged him.
The next thing our young slayer knew was that she was saying 'see ya later' to the Scooby gang. She refused to think of it as good-bye more of a later alligator kind of thing. The hype of the large demon snake and the graduation controversy was forgotten by the following Monday.
"Do you really have to?" Buffy questioned.
"Yep." Serena answered. "'Sides dad wants to get to know me again, but the Ministry is being prats and not allowing him out of their sight for very long."
"Why?"
"I don't know the full story, but I do know that dad's best friends were killed by an evil wizard that most are afraid to call by name. They usually call him you-know-who." Serena shrugged. "Anyways, dad spent time in jail because everyone thought he betrayed his friends."
"Ouch." Willow replied. "Well give Sirius a chance, he's a nice guy."
Serena looked towards where her parents were standing. "Yeah." She agreed softly. "Anyways, I'll owl you all when I get the chance."
"I'll never get used to that." Buffy sighed causing Serena to chuckle.
"Serena, we don't have all day!" Severus called trying not to sound mean and foreboding, but stricter.
"Coming Mater." Serena called back. "So this is 'see you around'."
"Right." The gang replied before giving her a group hug. "See ya." Buffy called as Serena joined her parents.
Serena winked and reached forward to touch the boot that Severus made into a portkey. The familiar pull at her navel told her that they were on their way and so she took a deep breath.
The three landed in an empty alleyway where Severus transformed Serena's muggle clothing into robes, having brought Sirius a new set before he got to Sunnydale.
The darkened skies gave Serena the inkling that it was around six or seven in the evening. She didn't know if she would ever get over the time difference that was Sunnydale and England.
The three walked down the streets and the sights captivated Serena, as she'd never been this far into town before. She'd been at Hogwarts shortly after her watcher was killed but that was for such sort time. When she was younger she stayed at the Moore home or with family.
"How long am I staying at Hogwarts?" Serena asked as they exited the town heading towards the waiting carriage that was pulled by the ugliest things Serena had ever seen. She knew what they were, but didn't want to make her dad worry about something that neither she nor Mater had control over.
"We will be traveling home for the summer, but you can stay as long as you wish." Severus answered opening the door for them to step inside. "Albus is anxious to see you again."
Serena nodded contentedly and looked down at her robes of straight black with a hint of gold and silver trimming. Internally grinning at her Mater's extensive knowledge of her taste in clothing, though they had changed since she moved in with 'Ripper' Giles.
Giles had bought her two different types of clothing, for slaying and for everyday. For slaying, it was mostly tight, dark colored and moved easily with her fighting. Her school clothes tended to be looser, more relaxed, but she was able to fight if she needed to. Giles didn't admit that he enjoyed Faith's company and liked being a father figure for his best friend's child, but she knew he did.
Sooner than not, the carriage stopped in front of the entrance hall where the Headmaster Dumbledore was waiting. "Serena, you've returned." Albus greeted the young slayer.
"Hello godfather." Serena greeted. "Still keeping things under control around here? Or do you need me to rough some of the students up."
"Don't be silly, Serena." Severus retorted. "You won't be roughing up any of the students."
Serena mock sighed causing Albus to chuckle. "If you say so, Professor." She replied slipping into her normal role for being around wizards or witches.
"Good evening, Professor Snape. Professor Dumbledore." A new voice greeted moments later.
Serena turned to see a young man with silver blond hair and striking gray eyes that had a tint of blue. "Mr. Malfoy." She heard Dumbledore say softly.
"Good evening, Mr. Malfoy." Severus greeted. "How was Quidditch training?"
"Very good, sir." Draco answered. "I think we'll have a winning team next year." He added causing Sirius to raise his eyebrows.
"Good, good." Severus said.
"Well I'd better go." Draco replied. "Bye, Professors."
"Where can I get me one of those?" Serena teased watching the young man walk away.
"No daughter of mine will be dating an evil Slytherin!" Sirius growled lowly.
"You're one to talk." Serena reminded innocently.
Sirius held his tongue seeing the raised eyebrow look Severus was giving him, knowing it wasn't a good look.
Sensing the mood change Albus suggested, "How about we travel to the great hall?"
"Excellent suggestion." Sirius said moving towards Albus. The four walked towards the hall having sparse conversation as Severus and Sirius were talking in hushed tones while Serena and Albus talked.
End of pt 2
