Chapter 40
He Came Upon A Midnight Clear
- - - - -
Faith was still awake several hours later, sitting in the middle of her bed, her arms wrapped tightly around her legs.
She would never forget the look on her brother's face when he had opened the door, his eyes looking around in confusion. He'd fallen over and passed out next to Buffy, ironically. Buffy had been out cold for nearly an hour while Faith and Lupin worked to quickly revive Sirius.
When he'd opened his eyes, he had been staring at Faith for a moment before he uttered, "Mother?"
Faith had recoiled in horror as Sirius sat up, helped by Lupin. He couldn't take his eyes off this woman. He had to be related to him; she looked like his mother. But everything was still so damned blurred that maybe, just maybe, it was a dream.
But when his vision had cleared and he realized where he was, he couldn't believe it. How... how had be gotten back to this point in time? Why was he back?
And who was the woman standing before him that looked so much like his Mother?
As the hours had gone by, his vision cleared and things were starting to come back to him. He recognized his house the instant he stepped through the front door, but it wasn't his house. It was different, somehow. There was laughter and singing that he could hear upstairs, as though someone was actually enjoying themselves in this horrible, disgusting place. It seemed as happy and light as it had ever been. When he'd been living here, all he ever wanted to do was get out. But now, it felt like he was home.
It all came clear to him where he really was when he saw Harry.
They had stared at each other for a moment before the blonde stepped forward and had wished Harry a very, merry Christmas.
While he wanted to desperately ask what was going on, he didn't have a chance as Harry had rushed into his arms, hugging him fiercely. The blonde had fallen onto one of the redheaded boys, who had immediately sat down, the blonde in his lap.
Harry had asked what was wrong with her. The boy holding her said that she was sleeping. He then rose and lifted the small girl in his arms and carried her to her room. Faith had followed behind; her watchful eyes making certain this boy would not try anything on her sister Slayer.
That was the last memory of her brother Faith had. Harry had taken Sirius to his new room. They would talk in the morning, Harry had told her.
It was morning though, Faith realized. She was numb with cold but didn't care. She closed her eyes and hugged her knees tighter to her chest, resting her chin on her kneecaps.
It wasn't that she had expected any sort of reaction from him. But the fact that he'd called her Mother was something that shook her to her core. Sure, Buffy was learning all about her own parents from school. But from what Faith knew about her Mother, she wasn't the best person.
Getting to her feet, she glanced around the dark room and moved to the window, staring outside at a sliver of a moon. The first signs of dawn were beginning to breach the horizon. Morning was coming nearer.
Faith decided to get into the hallway, more to get warm than anything. She tiptoed across the corridor and pushed Buffy's door open. The other Slayer was sound asleep, her arms wrapped non-concernedly around a pillow, her face impassive and at peace. Faith smiled slightly as she gently shut the door. Her eyes darted to the room next door to Buffy's.
Did she dare?
She took two steps forward and pressed her hands to the door, trying to sense anything from the body trapped inside. All she heard with her advanced hearing was that someone was sleeping very soundly. Or else was breathing very hard.
She touched the door knob, almost tempted to walk inside. In an afterthought, she pulled her hand away, unwilling to bring a man who had just returned from the dead back to grips with this harsh reality yet.
Faith knew she needed to sleep. In just a few hours, there would be chaos as presents would be open, brunch would be cooked and festive family cheer would ring out...
Faith retreated back to Buffy's bedroom and walked inside. There was still a trace of a warm fire in her fireplace, sending a pretty pink glow onto the deep red of the comforter. Faith tiptoed over and pushed back the blankets, sitting gently on the side of the bed. Buffy stirred slightly, but didn't wake up as Faith laid down next to her, resting her head on a pillow, releasing a long, pent-up breath that turned itself into a heavy sigh.
Closing her eyes, she felt all of her troubles melt away into this warm, cozy bed, knowing that when she woke up in a few hours, her entire world would have changed. Again.
- - - - -
"Harry! It's Christmas! Oi, Harry! Presents!"
Harry held up his hand just as a pillow shot through the air towards him. He knocked it aside and looked up with sleepy green eyes. Ron had already dressed in a long black robe and was looking ecstatic.
Harry heard voices hurry past their door, talking excitedly.
It was then he remembered. He had his godfather back...
Throwing off his blankets, Harry jumped to his feet and pulled on a long emerald robe. He and Ron ran to the door and out into the hallway, towards the drawing room.
Harry was relieved to see that there were many brightly wrapped packages and boxes lining the different areas of the large room. And, sitting in an armchair as though he were some esteemed guest of honor, was Sirius.
"Sirius!" Harry gasped, rushing forward.
"Hello, Harry," his godfather said quietly.
"How are you doing?" Harry asked in a concerned tone of voice.
"I'm... well, it's a complicated thing, Harry," Sirius said slowly, trying not to think about what had just happened to him. For a moment, there had been chaos and in the next... a face, a face that had belonged to his mother... Then there was this house, which looked exactly the way he'd left it, only everything had been changed around. Gone were the horrid, screaming portraits of his lost relatives. Gone was his Mother's own portrait. Gone was every dark reminder that Dark wizards had once lived there. He felt like time was moving far too fast for him to be able to latch on and understand what was happening around him. As much as he desired to call out and stop everything, he knew it never would.
Suddenly, he saw her again. And she was standing next to the blonde as they walked into the room, both women carrying a tray full of mugs and stacks of freshly made rolls.
He gazed at her with such intensity she turned and met his eyes, giving him an apologetic smile.
"Who is that?" Sirius asked Harry in his weak, hoarse voice.
"Err, that's Elizabeth, my sister," Harry said, pointing to the pretty blonde now being tackled by the Weasley twins as they ambushed her the instant the tray was out of her hands. "And the other one is your sister, Delita."
Sister. He had a sister?
"I have a sister?" Sirius asked Harry, frowning.
Harry nodded. "And you remember Elizabeth, right?"
In the midst of all the chaos and confusion in his mind, he had seen the blonde-haired beauty back when she was just a tiny infant, a true pride to both James and Lily. How he remembered her! He had been teasing that she would somehow manage to outsmart her parent's wishes and find her way back to her roots.
Apparently, she had. She was a petite little thing, with golden blonde hair that framed a very feminine version of Lily's face. Her eyes were hazel, matching James' perfectly. She was shockingly thin, but she had good muscle tone, he could see from his chair, since she moved rather elegantly in her short red top.
The girl sitting next to her resembled his mother so much he wasn't too stunned to realize that she could be his sister. She had shoulder-length black hair and very dark eyes. Her smile reminded him of his brother, Regulus.
Sirius blinked when he realized that everyone else was now diving for their packages, passing around their gifts and chuckling at their good fortunes.
Buffy had unwrapped a huge basket of sweets and other joke items from Fred and George. She and Faith were playing with a pair of fake wands when Giles entered the room and announced their breakfast was ready. Buffy stood up and went downstairs to help him bring it up.
Downstairs, Buffy was met with the aroma of sausages, potatoes and eggs. She felt her stomach stir hungrily and helped him pile plates and utensils on a tray.
"That man up there seems really disconnected with his surroundings," Giles commented as he added a platter of sausages and a pair of tongs to serve them.
"He does, doesn't he?" Buffy asked with a frown. "He was smiling at me earlier. Maybe Harry told him who I was."
"Who is he to you?"
Buffy kept forgetting how little Giles actually knew. "He was Harry's godfather which would make him partially mine too, I suppose. I don't know. All I remember was..."
"Buffy, I may not know much magic, but I felt that power last night. It was very strong and very dark. It used something that I know was part of your own calling. I don't know what it was, but it was dangerous."
Buffy nodded and sighed, turning back to face him. "I know. I should have figured, but I did, too, you know? Whatever that was, it drained me. I felt cold, Giles, like the power in it was..."
"Do you now see why you were probably reluctant to do the spell in the first place?" Giles asked in a testy voice was Buffy used her wand to make all of the trays float upstairs, where the sound of the Weasleys' laughter was infectious.
"I guess this is our reality which separates us from that world," Buffy said with a small sigh, her eyes on the ceiling. "Giles, do you know how much I've sighed in the past twenty minutes?"
"Apparently not enough."
Buffy chuckled as they walked upstairs, announcing that breakfast was served. Once everyone had a plate full of hot food, there was an awkward silence. Buffy noticed that Harry had unwrapped most of his gifts already, including hers. She had bought him many new Muggle clothes. She had also bought him a tuxedo, something he seemed puzzled by.
Faith had just turned to give Buffy a horrified look before turning back to Harry and explaining it was for the most formal occasions.
Both Potters were blushing heavily by the time Faith closed her mouth.
"Anyway," Buffy said, shaking her head as Harry looked positively stunned, his eyes darting back and forth from his tuxedo to his sister's bright red face.
"Are you planning on getting married anytime soon?" Ron asked Buffy casually while Fred and George stared at Buffy as though they'd never seen anything like her.
"WHAT?" Buffy gasped, unable to even fake a sarcastic response to that. "Oh, right, Ron. You know, you are adorable for sixteen, but I don't think it's very proper for you to be proposing to me like this."
Hermione and Ginny were both giggling so hard they nearly fell off their chairs, gift wrap falling to the floor as Hermione turned her hard giggles to a cough as Harry turned incredulous eyes to her.
"I had to get it in before these two gits did," Ron finally said after finding his own voice again, his hands clutching his stomach after laughing so hard.
Buffy just grinned and started going through her own gifts. She found herself gasping when she opened a small black box. Inside was a beautifully ornate dagger with its own leather holder, nearly identical to the one Faith always carried.
"Ooh, my own knife!" Buffy said, turning with happy eyes to her fellow Slayer. "Thanks, Faith!"
Fred and George stared at the knife in their friend's lap, almost daring to ask what she intended to do with it. They were more than likely the only people in the room, besides Sirius, who didn't know she was the Slayer.
"You're welcome, B," Faith said, throwing her a casual smile. "And as long as we're on about presents, you should see what we got from home. Mister Giles?"
Giles and Faith left the drawing room for a moment and returned a few moments later wheeling in a large cedar chest. "Ta-da!" Faith said triumphantly as Buffy rose, her eyes wide as she stared at the chest.
"Is this for real?" Buffy asked as she fell to her knees in front of it. Faith pulled open the top and Giles smiled fondly at the Slayer he knew and loved. Buffy touched the cedar gently before peering inside. Stakes, crosses, tiny jars of holy water, axes, swords, blades... there was everything a Slayer could ever want. Buffy was in shock as she lifted out a stake, caressing it almost lovingly.
Sirius was feeling even more uneasy. After the girl named Elizabeth started unwrapping gifts, the Weasleys were joking with her as though she were a member of their family. What shocked him more was how their names seemed to have changed in less than an hour. Elizabeth was apparently called 'Buffy' and Delita was known as 'Faith'.
He was going to have to ask Harry about this.
It was starting to bother him now that this older man he didn't know had just wheeled in this pretty wooden chest and when it had been opened, it was full of weaponry. He was startled when the blonde just dropped down to the chest, as though to worship it...
"What is this?" he asked suddenly. He felt as though he had a right to know. This was, after all, his own house. He didn't know what had happened to it. He didn't know how long he'd been gone for, although this was clearly Christmas morning, but for all he knew, he was back in Hell someplace.
The two women standing over the chest turned to him in surprise. It was then they exchanged a concerned look.
"Sirius, this isn't what you think it is," the girl who was supposedly his sister said, while the blonde threw the sharp stick back in the chest and closed it, as though she were shutting part of her soul inside.
"What is going on here?" he demanded, jumping to his feet. His plate and the remains of his brunch went flying, and Crookshanks leapt from Hermione's lap towards the sausages now rolling about on the floor. "Who are you people? Are you as--"
"Sirius, sit down," the dark-haired girl said, giving him a look of annoying superiority. When he didn't comply, she walked over and pushed him back into his chair. He felt the strength behind the movement and glared at her as she pulled back. She stared back as haughtily, tossing her dark hair back over her shoulder.
Buffy was glancing at the twins before she stood up slowly to stand next to the other Slayer. "Sirius," she said in a soft voice. "We have something to tell you. You see..."
He stared at her, wishing for one of them to explain before he exploded out of his skin again.
"Ah, screw it. Sirius," Faith finally said, "we're Vampire Slayers."
- - - - -
"That went exceedingly well," Faith moaned as she fell backwards across Buffy's bed. It was several hours later and Buffy had been hiding in her room, trying to get away from the mortally wounded looks on Fred and George's faces when she'd finally confessed her biggest secret, one they never knew about.
Sirius had just looked at the two women as though they were insane before asking what had happened to the house.
Faith had glanced around and asked, "Don't you like it?"
This had made Sirius stop and think. Did he like this house? It was different than the house with Kreacher, certainly. It was brighter, somehow. And there was life and laughter inside of it. He could almost feel the warmth that his own house hadn't portrayed.
But did he like it?
"What happened to it?" Sirius asked instead, trying to buy time before he had to answer the question. All eyes turned to the dark-haired girl and Sirius felt his heart lift slightly and she turned back to him with an endearing smile.
"Merry Christmas," she said vaguely, looking straight into his eyes. "I hope you like it, big bro."
There was a name he had never been called before. Even as he frowned thoughtfully at this girl, he was beginning to realize that maybe, just maybe, there was something to her. Her eyes were what initially drew his interest. They were almost the same eyes as his.
Could she truly be the sister he never knew existed?
The big group had parted when Mrs. Weasley announced that Percy would be returning home later that afternoon, and that the two eldest Weasley brothers would be joining them for a wonderful Christmas dinner.
To which Buffy managed to choke out she already had plans.
Faith had knocked on Buffy's door a mere hour after that, finding the girl standing in front of the sweet-talking mirror, while Buffy tried on outfit after outfit.
"I don't own anything good," Buffy pouted as she twirled in front of the mirror, which sniggered appreciatively.
"Oh, shut up!" Faith moaned as she walked next to the mirror, admiring the trousers and long, silky tunic top the Slayer was wearing. "And unless you plan on seducing him in front of the fam, I'd decide a big 'no' on that one."
"At least you give constructive criticism," Buffy replied, turning her back to unzip her blouse top, while casting a furtive glance over her should at the mirror, which would have shrugged had it been able to.
Next door, Sirius sat on the well-placed armchair near the window, staring down at the beautiful snow which glistened in the bright sunlight. The color was much too bright for him, but if he adjusted his chair slightly, the color dulled.
A soft knock came on the door and he jerked his head as Harry peered inside. "Sirius?"
"Come in, Harry," came the hoarse, weak voice of his godfather. It was the voice that death still hadn't released yet.
Harry walked towards him with weak legs. This was the first chance he had to actually have a true conversation with his godfather since he'd returned from the dead. For a moment, they just stared at each other.
"I don't bite, you know," Sirius said in his raspy voice as Harry sat on the end of the bed.
"Wh-When she said that they could bring you back," Harry started, "I never imagined it would be like this."
"Be like what?" Sirius asked him sharply, puzzled.
"I never thought I'd see you again," Harry confessed. The entire memory was coming back to him now. He could hear his own voice, calling for his godfather despite the fact they were still battling for their lives. "I watched you die... and here you are, sitting in front of me, as though it never happened--"
"Harry," Sirius said in a quiet voice, his eyes never leaving his godson's face. "You carry a great weight on your shoulders. You don't have to carry the weight of the dead."
"But... but you're not," Harry said in confusion, glancing up at his godfather. "Are you? I can't..."
"There are some things lost but not forgotten," Sirius finally said with a heavy sigh. "I remember thinking, 'if I can get through this, we can get through anything' when the light hit me. And I remember the flash of light. It was so bright and it burned, right... here..." He lifted his clenched fist and held it to the middle of his chest. "Suddenly, I felt like I was weightless and no longer had any meaning... and for awhile, I was happy with that. Then I started having visions. There were people I loved in danger. I realized it was some sort of eternal torment for leaving you behind during such a critical time. And then... I woke up and saw her standing above me..."
"Faith," Harry said, with a shadow of his smile.
"Why do you call her Faith?" Sirius asked, still frowning.
"Her name was Delita a long time ago," Harry began. During the next fifteen minutes, he managed to cover all of Faith's history that he knew, including the fact that Faith had a dream in which she saw her own brother give her up in order to protect her life.
"I always knew my brother was an idiot," Sirius growled, the canine tone appearing back in his voice, surprising him. "So, it really is true. I really have a sister."
Harry nodded. "And so do I. It's strange, how you, of all people, never told me about her."
"I never thought she'd still be alive," Sirius confessed. "I do remember a little about her. She has your Dad's eyes."
"That's what I keep telling her," Harry said, smiling fondly.
"Why don't you tell me about her?" Sirius suggested, wanting to pull this conversation back into lighter waters. Talking about death made him feel as though he were reliving it again and again.
The door across the hall opened as Faith pushed Buffy inside, opening her wardrobe to reveal her own even-tempered mirror. "Hey, mirror-face. Does this outfit look good enough for a semi-formal with B's boy?" she asked.
"Faith, it's a mirror," Buffy said, turning to Faith in disbelief. "Besides, I look like a Bohemian Goth."
"I think you look hot," Faith announced, taking Buffy's hand and dragging her down the corridors and downstairs, where the Weasley parents were sitting with other members of the Order of the Phoenix, enjoying a nice glass of firewhiskey before setting off to do what they had been assigned to do.
Buffy blushed when she realized that everyone was looking at her.
"You look very nice, Elizabeth," Mrs. Weasley told her kindly as she set down the bottle. She rose and gave the younger woman an appraising look. "Dignified and very elegant."
"That's what I was about to say," a voice said from behind them. Buffy turned and saw Fred standing there, his arms crossed. There was a smile on his face that Buffy knew shouldn't be there, because it was making her feel slightly uncomfortable. "You look like an adorable Muggle."
"That was my thought exactly!" Faith said with a grin as she took Buffy's hand and spun the girl around once. "Doesn't she look just delicious enough for a nice dinner out with the boy's folks?"
"Um, yeah," Buffy said, practically ripping her hand from Faith's as she smoothed the long, suede skirt. "How about we not discuss this in front of certain people?" she asked, turning to flicker her eyes to Fred and his twin, who had just joined them.
There was the sound of a ball rolling heavily across the floor upstairs. Faith glanced up at the ceiling and grinned. "I was wondering when they'd find that."
"Find what?" Buffy asked as both women brushed past the twins, who followed them up to the third floor where Hermione and Ginny's room was. Both girls were hovering in the doorway as Ron was rolling a heavy ball towards them.
"Bowling!" Faith said happily. "You know, with my crappy life and all, I never tried it. And these floors are wicked slippery wood. I just had to do it."
"And you're telling me I'm crazy?" Buffy asked, turning to look at the other Slayer, shaking her head. "Oh, Faith."
"I think it was brilliant!" Ron said loudly, picking up the ball and joining the four standing at the top of the stairs.
"Of course you would, ickle Ronniekins," Fred said, smirking.
"If your darling Faith loves it--" George began, sniggering.
"You naturally would, too!" Fred finished cheerfully.
Ron turned pink as he handed Faith the ball. She arched one eyebrow at him before turning to the twins.
"What's going on up here?" Harry asked, walking upstairs.
"Oh, Fred and George were just teasing the darlings Ron and Faith," Buffy said, smirking as she turned to give her brother enough room to stand in the narrow passage, lit with twinkling white lights. "When really we should be mentioning your own little trysts..."
Fred looked at Buffy as though she were something so precious he couldn't let it go. "You have gossip on our dear Harry?"
"Let's hear it!" George said, snorting in amusement as he leaned against the wall.
"Let's not," Hermione said, quickly jumping to Harry's defense. It was a mistake, as was clearly evident by the sudden sparkle in the twins' eyes. Hermione had just given herself away, both to them and to Faith, who eyed the younger girl with keen interest.
"At least now you have something new to talk about," Buffy said, smirking at the twins, who turned to her, mirth sparkling in her eyes.
"Our wittle Harry and our ickle Ronnie, all gwown up with their own wimmin," Faith snickered loudly, while the two boys blushed and Hermione pulled her gaze away, her own face turning pink.
Faith, however, looked as though she'd love nothing more than to stuff the bowling ball in Ron's hands down Fred's throat. As she reached for it, Ron handed it over to Harry. When Harry met Faith's gaze though, he half-considered dropping it for all the good it would do.
This was something Buffy caught onto. "Faith, violence is never the answer," she said in a melodious tone, as though she were speaking to a six-year-old throwing a temper tantrum. "You have to expect this from Fred and George. They're twins, pranksters..."
"And they probably have like one brain between the two of them," Faith shot back moodily.
"You'll have to excuse our little Faith," Harry said, catching onto Buffy's sarcasm. "She really has to work on her own sense of humor."
"It's obviously there," George said, glaring at the dark-haired Black girl. "Otherwise she wouldn't be caught dead with Ron."
"What's wrong with Ron?" Faith demanded, taking a step forward.
"Yeah, what's wrong with me?" Ron asked, feeling his own blood surge to his face. It was kind of interesting how this girl just jumped to his defense. She looked as though she wanted nothing more than to bash both twin's heads into the wall and call it a day.
Buffy was even surprised at how fast Faith had risen to Ron's defense. Then again, she'd been unconscious long enough for Faith to actually get to know Harry, Ron and Hermione. It finally appeared as though she'd won the redhead over, and the look in his eyes as Faith defended him confirmed it.
He had a crush on the little spitfire.
"Now, if you'll excuse me, I have someplace to be," Buffy said, throwing the twins a charming smile and waving goodbye to everyone else. "I'll see you later tonight."
As she walked back downstairs, she heard the arguments break out. She let out a small choke of laughter; at least the twins would finally be off of her back. They had been rather distant with her since they'd discovered she was a Slayer. She wondered when things would be back to normal. Hopefully soon, once they'd had their share of teasing Harry, Ron, Hermione and Ginny.
She checked her watch. It was nearly ten minutes to six. Feeling a knot of anxiety in her stomach, she turned and stared at the mirror on the second-floor terrace. She tugged at her blonde hair, wondering whether or not it should be put up or down. She gazed at her jewelry, wondering if it was all right for this occasion. Everything about her seemed suddenly wrong and it was then that she burst into such hysterical laughter the voices above her ceased abruptly.
"Buff?" Faith called downstairs, while Buffy continued laughing, falling back against the wall.
"I'm all right," Buffy breathed, hugging herself. "I was just thinking..."
"Oh, dear, that's never good," Faith said, hustling downstairs and helping Buffy back to her feet. "You're all red and splotchy now!"
Buffy sighed as she gazed at her reflection. Her hair had gone slightly wild. Her eyes were full of tears and were the same dancing hazel globes she recognized as her father's. Smoothing her long blouse, she turned back to Faith with a smile.
"Try not to get into too much trouble now," she said with a haughty wink as she made her way back downstairs into the dining room. She was going to take the secure Floo network there and back. It was something she missed doing since the Floo was warm and comfortable, reminding her of the endless California heat. Not to mention the green flames were wicked cool.
Lupin and Sirius were alone when she walked in. They both glanced up in surprise as the well-dressed Potter girl entered. When she saw the looks on their faces, she stopped smiling. They looked as though they'd been in serious conversation.
"We were just talking about James," Remus finally said, spying the suspicious look on her face.
"Normally, I would stop and grill you about details, but I'm going to be late," Buffy said, pointing at the fireplace, which was still cold and dormant despite the cold room. "I guess I'll see you tonight then."
"Buffy, we're not your parents," Lupin said pleasantly. "You do not have to worry about returning here."
"Are you kidding me?" Buffy asked as she took the pot from the table and scooped out the last of the Floo powder. "Faith would have kittens if I were out past midnight."
"You two are very close," Lupin observed casually.
"We always have been," Buffy said with a shrug. "The chosen two, you know the deal. You were part of the infamous Marauders and Faith and I are the chosen Duo."
Sirius still hadn't said anything yet but was regarding the Potter girl closely. She did resemble James in the fact she had his eyes, but most of her features belonged to Lily. Lily had been on the shorter side. And both women were or had been astonishingly pretty.
Buffy gave them one last wave before stepping into the fireplace. She threw down her Floo powder and vanished in the wisp of green flame.
- - - - -
Buffy found herself pitching forward as a pair of strong, familiar hands caught her. "Easy, now," came the voice she had come to know and love.
"Somehow I knew you'd catch me," Buffy said with a mischievous grin as Oliver took her by the hand and twirled her once to get a good look at her.
She definitely looked adorably muggle, Oliver had to admit. Her long skirt and blouse were very neat, and her ridiculous heeled boots clicked as he led her from the hearth, wrapping his arm easily around her shoulders.
"Hey, Buffy!" Laurel said, glancing up from the puzzle she'd been working on.
"Hey Laurel..." Buffy said, smiling gently at the younger Wood girl. "Hi, Spencer." Spence was sitting across a small table from Laurel reading a Quidditch book. "And... this would be your family?"
"Sure would," Oliver said, practically pushing her into the room. He was unaccustomed to seeing her shy like this and found it rather endearing.
"Buffy, this is my mother and father, my grandfather Albie, my grandmother, my aunt Georgette..."
Buffy realized there were nearly twenty relatives of Oliver's seated inside the living area, all of them looking at her with a mixture of relief or acceptance.
"And everyone, this is my girlfriend, Elizabeth Potter."
The woman Oliver had introduced as his Mother stood up and walked over to the timid-looking blonde woman. "Welcome to the family, dear," she said, her lips twisting into a smile of wicked humor.
Buffy turned a deep shade of pink before swinging her gaze to look at Oliver, who winced. "I should have probably said they're the teasing variety."
"That's... very charming, really," she said, turning back to Oliver's mother with a wry smile of her own. "We haven't announced our engagement yet."
It was Oliver's turn to cast her a terrified look. She just grinned breezily at him and he shrugged, feeling the tension leave his body at hearing just one note of her melodious laughter.
"Would you care for a drink?" Oliver's mother asked as she turned to regard the smaller woman thoughtfully. "We have firewhiskey, currant rum and I believe some cranberry juice."
"Cranberry juice would be fantastic, thank you," Buffy said with a smile. She realized Oliver had left her side and was sitting down behind his sister in the armchair his mother had abandoned. Seeing as there really were no other chairs in which to sit, Buffy made to sit next to Laurel when Oliver's strong arms took her around the waist and pulled her down into his lap.
She was considerably pinker when Mrs. Wood returned, handing Buffy a large glass. The older woman smiled tenderly at the scene before turning to her husband, who rose, carrying a small digital camera, something normally found in the normal world.
"Oh, Dad, put that away," Laurel chastised him, putting up her arms to block her face as Mr. Wood jovially began snapping pictures.
"This is the first time your brother has ever brought someone home," Mr. Wood replied in a deep, booming voice. "I want to make sure it's documented and treasured."
Buffy managed to smile a few times before curling her legs up, her head leaning onto Oliver's shoulder as his warm arms wrapped themselves tightly around her.
"So, Buffy," an elderly woman started, sitting forward in her chair and frowning slightly at the younger blonde-haired girl, "where did you meet my grandson?"
Buffy smiled wistfully at the memory. "We met in an elevator at the Ministry of Magic, actually," she said fondly. "I was his stalker. I knew from the moment I heard that accent..."
Laurel giggled from below them. Oliver glared at his younger sister. "Oh, hush, you."
"How did you two manage to stay in contact?" another voice asked. It was one of the few uncles that had been introduced to her. Buffy managed another casual smile.
"Letters," Oliver replied with a sigh. "I had to owl her every damn time I thought about her."
This led to more teasing from both of his siblings and from his older cousins and their families.
Buffy sat up a bit straighter, sipping her juice.
"We have read in The Daily Prophet that you only discovered your true identity six months ago," Oliver's mother said. She had sat down in her husband's position on the sofa and was gazing at the girl thoughtfully.
"It's true," Buffy said, swallowing her juice. "I found out I was Elizabeth Potter back in January, actually. I didn't come to England until after I graduated from high school."
This wasn't entirely true, and Oliver knew it. She felt his arm tighten around her. She wasn't going to tell them why she came. Not until she knew more about them anyways.
"How does it feel, being the sister of the boy-who-lived?" Mr. Wood asked in his deep voice, returning a moment later with an odd-sort of camcorder in his hand. It looked like normal Muggle technology, except there were knobs and antennae all over it, making it look more alien than Muggle.
"That's the million dollar question," Buffy said with a laugh. "I'm used to it now. It really isn't so much of the boy-who-lived as the fact he's my brother, my blood, you know?"
They continued talking for a few more minutes until Mrs. Wood enlisted Buffy's help in the kitchen. She reluctantly got up from her comfortable seat and wandered into the kitchen.
"I can see that my son is very happy with you," Mrs. Wood confessed as she pulled out a giant turkey from the oven to baste it. "You were both glowing in there."
"Your son is an incredible man," Buffy said proudly. "He's so strong and so focused... I'm so glad I got the chance to meet him."
"He has always been the perfect athlete," Mrs. Wood said, smiling fondly into space as the baster dribbled juice out of the roaster. "He never had much time for girls or dating when he was in school, really. He was more focused on tactics and maneuvers than he was the makeup and the gossip. I really never have seen such a sensitive side of him before. You certainly bring that out in him."
"Thanks," Buffy said quietly as she bent down, taking the baster from the older woman's hands and gently easing the turkey back into the oven. "It'll be ready shortly."
"I'm sorry, my dear?" Mrs. Wood asked, her eyes turning to look at the Potter girl. "You'll have to forgive me. I'm not used to watching my son pine away for some girl we've never met. Because for a while there, I thought he was toting for the other--"
"Nancy!" a booming voice called from the living room.
Mrs. Wood stopped talking for a moment and turned to Buffy. Giving the younger woman a pat on the arm, Mrs. Wood walked out to see what her husband wanted. Buffy hung back in the kitchen, staring around the large, beautiful room.
It was all sleek and stylish. Since they lived in a Muggle area, they had Muggle appliances, including the oven and the microwave. On top of the range stove, a large pan of potatoes boiled while peas boiled in the somewhat smaller pan next to it.
The smell was enough to bring Buffy back home to Sunnydale, back to her mother's wonderful Thanksgiving dinner. She was home again.
"I really hope you're not planning on doing to that stove what I think you're planning on doing," a teasing voice said from the doorway.
Buffy turned, laughing, to Oliver, who set down an empty glass. "You didn't have to come all the way in here to check up on me," she said as she walked into his arms. His arms tightened around her back as she relaxed into the embrace, feeling even warmer and more cozy. It was the perfect feeling...
"Well, I figured since I took the rest of your juice, what sort of gentleman would I be to leave a girl thirsty?" Oliver asked innocently as he stepped out of the hug and took a clay pitcher from the counter.
"That and you wanted to know what your Mother was saying about you," Buffy said, smirking.
"If you'd like to share, I'd be willing to listen," Oliver replied, handing her the juice.
"She told me you're whipped," Buffy said, her eyes sparkling as Oliver's widened.
"Oh, Merlin, I am!" he said in mock horror as he leaned against the countertop next to her. "Whatever shall I do?"
"I have a few ideas," Buffy said, playing with the glass as she raised her gaze to meet Oliver's. For a moment, there was a level of intensity she didn't know she had before she dropped her eyes down to Mrs. Wood, who had just cleared her throat after walking in on her son and his girlfriend staring at each other.
"Dinner will be ready in about twenty minutes, Oliver, darling," she said, turning her sharp gaze to her son. "Elizabeth and your Aunt Georgette will help me get everything on the table."
Oliver reluctantly pulled away and left the room while Buffy turned and drained her juice, trying to cool down her cheeks, which had turned bright pink again.
"How close are you and my son?" Mrs. Wood asked as she walked over to the potatoes, lifting the pan and carrying it over to the sink, where she dumped the lot into a colander.
"As I said when we first met," Buffy replied, "we haven't announced our engagement yet."
Mrs. Wood stared shrewdly at her for a moment before turning away from the sink to look the Potter girl directly in the eye. "Are you two really that serious?"
"I don't know," Buffy said honestly. "To tell you the truth, I'm not even sure he knows. All I know is that whatever there is, it's been building and it isn't exactly going away." She smiled affectionately at Mrs. Wood. "Do you remember when you first met someone, how the butterflies never went away no matter how calm you felt around someone? Do you remember how every look turned your knees weak and your very being suffered without their words? If you're asking me if I love your son, I do. Because every time I'm with him, nothing else exists and the world is gone."
"You're such an old-world romantic, Elizabeth," Mrs. Wood said, a slight smile on her lips as she lifted the drained potatoes back into their pan. "This is the first time my son has fallen for anyone, really. I know that he doesn't have much use of his heart in Quidditch and that love can make him lose his focus, but I don't have any right to tell him who or who not to fall in love with. I just wanted to make sure it was someone who wouldn't break his heart."
"I don't intend on it," Buffy said quietly, watching as Mrs. Wood pulled out her wand. Several mashing instruments went over to the pan and began beating on the potatoes. "I've only loved someone like this once before and it's so frightening to me... this is unexplored territory for me."
"Did you have another love?" Mrs. Wood asked casually as she set her wand aside.
"Three years ago, there was this guy," Buffy said, smiling as Angel's face passed through her memory. "There were problems, though. We really couldn't deal with them. And then he... died."
"And you've let go of that?"
Buffy understood why Mrs. Wood was asking these questions. She wanted to make absolutely certain that this Potter girl was grounded.
"I let it go a long time ago," Buffy said firmly. "As I said, there were problems and I... I couldn't deal with them. So when he died, I put him behind me. Just like when I came to England, I put my old life behind me. And then I met your son and my life has gotten better and better." She wanted to go on, but Mrs. Wood had opened her mouth as though she wanted to say something.
"Oh, Nan, quit grilling the girl," another woman said as she entered the kitchen, giving Buffy an apologetic look. "I'm sorry for my sister, Elizabeth. She's nosier than a bloody hellhound." She turned to look at Mrs. Wood, who looked highly affronted. "Oh, Nance, go down to the cellar and get the wine. I'll get the rest of the dinner on the table with Miss Potter's help here, of course."
It was exactly what Buffy didn't need: another round of twenty questions. But Georgette was different. For one, she was only five years older than Buffy was. She was still single and from the sounds of it, enjoying her life immensely.
"I can see why you would fall in love with my nephew," the woman said as she lifted her wand, floating bowls and platters of food onto an enormous dining room table, looking three times the size of the one at Grimmauld Place. "He is extraordinarily handsome and he's rather gifted at Quidditch. Do you play?"
"I play Chaser," Buffy said, feeling her tensions release as they returned to the kitchen to carve the turkey. "It's a fun sport."
"I used to be a Chaser," Georgette said with a wistful smile. "I didn't go to Hogwarts. I went to Beauxbatons. I can tell you that you won't find another school like that one anywhere. Everyone speaks French, but of course, I grew up in Brittany."
"What's France like?" Buffy asked curiously, starting to like Oliver's aunt more and more.
By the time the entirety of the Wood party was sitting down with nearly nine courses of Christmas dinner, Buffy felt as though she were starting to relax a bit around these strangers. Oliver sat next to her and didn't even touch his plate. Instead, he gazed at his girlfriend, who sighed and began dishing up for the both of them.
Mr. Wood was gazing at his son in mild surprise. "Oliver, you have never let anyone else touch your plate before."
"What can I say?" Oliver grinned as Buffy ladled gravy onto his potatoes and turkey. "She has a gift."
"She's a catch, Oli," his Aunt Georgette said with a wink. "Don't let her go."
"I'm not going to," Oliver said, his hand finding Buffy's under the table and taking it gently. She smiled as their fingers intertwined, spooning potatoes onto her own plate. "I plan on keeping her."
"For how long?" Spencer asked interestedly.
"As long as it takes," Oliver replied, frowning at his younger brother. "Why do you ask?"
"I'm just saying you're going to have to fight to keep her," Spencer said, shrugging. "She's got admirers from everywhere, or so the rumors are."
"And what are these rumors?" Buffy asked Spencer, her eyes sparkling with interest as she took a sip from a goblet of white wine.
"From what the Slytherins are all saying," Spencer said very quickly, his face turning pink, "they think she'd be better off with one of them."
"Oh, really?" Oliver asked with a sharp laugh, his hand tightening over Buffy's, causing the girl to wince lightly. There was a definite look of jealousy in his eyes now, a feeling Buffy knew she had to squash before more trouble was caused.
"Nah, I think I've got the best right here," Buffy said with a chuckle, dropping her head onto Oliver's shoulders and looking adoringly up at him. "He may be the cute, accented jealous type, but that's why I love him."
Laurel let out a very pronounced, "Awwww!" from down the table, causing both Oliver and Buffy to sit up straighter and frown at her before going back to their dinners.
Once dinner was over and apple tart was served, Buffy felt as though she were going to explode, or at least her stomach. Everyone wanted to return to the living room, but Buffy held back until Georgette prompted her forward.
"Would you go on? Nan and I can take care of things here," she said. Buffy glanced over to see Mrs. Wood using her wand to float all of the dirty dishes into the kitchen.
"All right," Buffy said, turning to walk back into the other room. Oliver was waiting for her right outside the doorway. He took her by the hand and pulled her down a dark corridor. "What's this?" she asked, giggling.
"I wanted you to myself for a moment," he said casually, opening a door and stepping inside. "That and I wanted to give you your Christmas gift."
"Oh, Oli, you didn't have to," Buffy said earnestly.
"I wanted to," Oliver replied with a hearty smile. "Besides, I think you said what everyone needed to hear at dinner, including myself. I can't believe Malfoy thinks you'd be better off with him."
"You catch on quickly," Buffy said with a small sigh. "No, I'm perfect where I am."
"I hope so," Oliver said anxiously, snapping on the light in the small room. It looked like a guest bedroom with a daybed and a small wardrobe. Buffy sank down on top of the daybed, yawning.
"I think with all that turkey I ate, I could sleep for a week," she said sleepily.
"You're welcome to stay here," Oliver said quietly, "but I'm sure that you're wanted back at your safe house."
"Probably," Buffy shrugged. "And speaking of which, I wanted to give you your gift, too."
There was a moment in which they both pulled out small packages. After an awkward smile, they exchanged them.
"You first," Oliver said softly. Buffy smiled down and unwrapped a pretty long black box. Opening it up, she felt tears spring to her eyes.
"Oh, wow," she said softly as she held up a fragile silver chain. There were tiny stones lining the silver chain, which ended in a platinum cross, encrusted with tiny emeralds. "It's so pretty!"
"I got it when I was in Russia over the summer," Oliver said slowly. "I was just waiting to give it to the right person, and I have. But, before you think I'm such a jerk that I'd give you a castoff..." He handed her a smaller black box. "I bought this to go along with it."
Inside was a delicate ring, with a large emerald and tiny stones which looked like diamonds surrounding it. Buffy gasped and realized at that very moment in time how very serious this relationship had just gotten; he had bought her a very expensive ring.
"And here I told your Mum we weren't engaged yet," Buffy said, looking startled as Oliver picked up from the box, his fingers fumbling it for a moment before he gently set it in the palm of her hand.
"If you want a proposal," he teased, brushing a bit of her blonde hair away from her eyes, "you'll have to get it from Malfoy."
She smacked him good-naturedly across the shoulder before slipping the ring onto her fingers, trying to see which one would fit it best. She turned a slight shade of scarlet when she realized it fit best on her ring finger.
"Are you sure you don't want to reconsider that?" Buffy asked lightly, staring at her hand in mock alarm. "Oh, is Harry going to freak out."
"I think we're a little too young yet to think of something so..." Oliver started, seeing the look on her face and realizing that she may have been expecting a proposal. "And it really isn't something we've talked about ever... is it?"
"No," Buffy said, assuring him with one of her trademark smiles. "I wasn't fishing for a proposal... I was just thinking about how serious we've been getting."
"It's the most serious I've ever been," Oliver said, turning to her gift and unwrapping it.
Buffy watched him carefully as he lifted the top of the box. "Whoa... it's... a ring."
"It's actually two," Buffy replied. She had gotten this idea from Hermione to begin with. While she hadn't been willing to use a claddagh ring, she had found the most gorgeous rings of a delicate white-gold in one of the mail-order catalogues in display in the hospital wing. Both she and Hermione had ordered a set.
"One for each of us?" Oliver asked in confusion.
"I do," Buffy said, her face very serious. Oliver turned to her with wide eyes before bursting into laughter.
"Oh, Merlin! First I give you the engagement ring and you buy the wedding bands..."
Buffy cupped her hand over her mouth to hold in her giggles. "Oh, Oli..."
"I love them, but it's only half as much as I love you," he said, turning to face her as he lifted one of the two rings and slipped it underneath the band he'd just given her. "Maybe someday I'll be doing this for real."
The thought brought such a painful surge of horror to Buffy's stomach that she looked away. "Maybe," she said with a nervous chuckle as he finished and she lifted her hand to admire it. "Not bad."
"Just like you," he said, caressing her face. Her face tipped closer to his and their lips met. It wasn't until the door opened and a shocked gasp was heard did the couple break apart.
"I should have known you'd be snogging in Grandma's room," Laurel said, her arms crossed while Buffy and Oliver looked at her apologetically.
Oliver helped Buffy stand up and they walked back into the den, which was warm with the heat from the two fireplaces. Nancy Wood and her sister Georgette had once again joined the group, several of which were involved in a rigorous board game that looked like the game of Life with chess pieces.
Oliver pulled Buffy over to his chair and they both eased down in it. Buffy was still feeling sleepy from the turkey and closed her eyes, waking when she felt someone poking her a while later.
"What is it?" she murmured, her eyes still closed.
"Aren't they just adorable?" came Georgette's wondrous tone. "If only I could find one of him."
Buffy's eyelids fluttered open as she saw Oliver's aunt, his grandmother and his sister all grinning down at them. Apparently they had both fallen asleep in this armchair, in each other's embrace. She sat up as Oliver stirred under her movements.
"What time is it?" Buffy asked lightly.
"It's almost half past ten," Georgette replied, checking her watch. "But don't worry. There's still an hour of Christmas left."
"I should probably go," Buffy said, rubbing her eyes sleepily until she heard a sharp gasp. Her eyes now fully open, she gazed up at Oliver's grandmother, who was pointing a pale, bony finger at Buffy's left hand.
"Is that... is that...?"
Buffy managed to turn her laugh into a cough at the last moment as Oliver awoke, looking around sleepily. It was then he noticed that his girlfriend was standing up, facing three of his female relatives. "Are you leaving already?" he asked sleepily.
"Your grandmother was just inquiring about my ring," Buffy said, throwing him a wicked look. Oliver smirked and turned to his grandmother, who was looking at both of them incredulously.
"Well, are you?" she asked in a screeching voice.
"No, Grandmum," Oliver said cheerfully. "It's her Christmas present, but we're not like that... yet."
"The way you acted at the dinner table," Georgette said with a fruity laugh, "you'd think they were already married."
Both Oliver and Buffy exchanged a half-mortified, half-amused look. "Oh, don't say that!" Buffy murmured, shuddering with a grin. "And yes, Oli, I should go. Faith's waiting for me back at the cottage."
He walked her into the hallway, offering her their own pot of Floo powder. "Thank you for coming tonight."
"Your family is awesome," she said, ignoring the pot and stepping into his arms, kissing his chin lightly. "Especially your Aunt Georgette."
"I knew you two would get alone," he teased. "You both have the same fashion sense and style I never managed to appreciate until now." He eyed her up and down. "I guess I never knew that it would be stylish. I've always thought of it as 'Muggle'."
"That's because you're whipped," she said, chuckling. "It happens."
He closed the distance between them in less than a second as they kissed goodbye. After a long hug, she stepped away from him. "So, Oliver Wood, when will I be seeing you again?"
"Next week," Oliver said lightly. "I'm assuming you're going back to school."
Buffy nodded. "I just didn't know if you were."
"I'd go anywhere with you," he said, pulling her to him again. After a few moments, they pulled apart but didn't separate. Their last kiss had been full of such passion and warmth, Buffy was filled with such a longing and desire it left her breathless. Her hand reached up and touched Oliver's face.
"I, uh... you," she said with a cheeky smile.
"I uh you, too," he replied, resting his forehead against hers.
For a moment they didn't move. Buffy felt as though the world no longer existed around them. It was a warm and comforting place. The only thing was, she felt a stronger drive now. Almost as though they should...
Opening her eyes, she took a step back. "I should probably go."
"Good night, Buffy," he said, taking the pot she handed back to him. "Merry Christmas."
"Merry Christmas, Oliver," she said, her eyes sparkling as she stepped into the fireplace. "And good night."
In an instant, she was gone.
Oliver stood there for a moment. Had he been dreaming, or was there something even deeper between them now? It had to be there and for a moment, it scared him. He had wanted her close to him, not just emotionally, but on a different level.
He shook his head as he returned to the den, where the rest of his awake relatives were starting another board game. With a resigned sigh, he declined and went upstairs to his bedroom. He regretted instantly in the fact he never brought Buffy up to see it.
Buffy stepped out of the fireplace in the dining room of Grimmauld Place with a large, cheeky grin on her face. She noticed Giles was sitting at the dining room table and rushed forward to tell him about her wonderful night.
He looked up at her with eyes filled with concern. The smile slid off of Buffy's face. "What is it, Giles?" she asked in a hushed tone. "Where is everyone?"
It wasn't even eleven yet, and the house was quiet. It was almost too quiet...
"They're at St. Mungo's," Giles replied, taking off his glasses and setting them on the table. "Apparently one of the Weasleys was injured."
Oh, God, Buffy thought to herself, her heart sinking. Percy.
- - - - -
Chapter 41... Sirius and Buffy have a talk.
Chapter 42... the return to Hogwarts (at last!) and preparations for a certain Slayer's nineteenth birthday.
To the Readers / Reviewers:
Well, that went peachy now, didn't it? ducking flying objects
Kel -- Gah... you'll have to add Siriusly to the new dictionary, too. Geez... good imagination you have. Anyways, Fred and George are your blood brothers? I can't see them as being related to me in any shape or fashion without completely undermining my stupid Polish mafia family. Seriously. I wish I could be related to people like them. I'd settle for a brief marriage. Just don't let my significant other hear that. And I'm far too old to see Draco in that light. Well... I'm not too old to see some of the others in that light. Well, technically, Harry was born the year before I was so... you never know. And yes, here was your dosage of Oliverness for the year. Now I get to leave that couple alone for awhile and focus on others! Yay! And maybe someone for Draco, because everyone deserves MalfoyMushiness.
Goddessa39 -- Hey, now! I'm currently working on ideas for a BA crossover. Why? Because putting a shovel in a loyal shippers hands is beyond dangerous; it's insanity. :)
PrecariousPersonata -- It took me awhile to find a topic that WOULD get Faith and Hermione past their whole "who are you to mess with blah blah" part, so I thought S.P.E.W. would be a start. I know Faith is more of the nonchalant character, but seeing all those elf heads really disturbed her. And she has the entire Black fortune (until her brother returned, anyway) to play around with. Hence, she got involved lightly. As for Faith, she was either going to be his sister or else one of the lost Malfoys. I couldn't do that to Faith, so she became the baby sister. And no, he didn't know she existed, as he'd already moved out when Faith was born. I'd say he was around 20 or 21. So, he's a BIG brother. Love triangle fiascos... how keen of you to mention those grins sheepishly. Um, yeah, this chapter addressed this issue slightly... slightly. Our Christmas is too freaking long away, do you know that? Actually, I'm glad there's still time. I'll have a whole new family to get used to at the holidays and not just my own wacky one anymore. That's going to be odd. As for the lot of snow, I love it to death, since I was raised to think snow is THE best. And it leads to bigger and better things, like hockey.
Supergoat's Sidekick -- I love your screenname! It's so cute! Anyway, I love updating this story. I used to have such a love/hate relationship with it, but now it's just turned into my "I can't wait to sit down and start writing it again" story. Sirius and Buffy do spend some time connecting. It's something I've been waiting to write FOREVER and a day and I finally got my chance. And I know I've said this before, but I'll happily say it again, I love my version of a depth-y Faith. She's got a face and it isn't torture/redemption. It's more 'where do I go'. I am PSYCHED about bringing Harry into Sunnydale and Buffy back, too. It'll serve more of a purpose than anything, really. The sad part is, it won't happen before I go on my hiatus. Why? I have enough to fill up the next ten chapters without a SD trip, and I want it to take more than one! Oliver will find out the harsher details of Buffy's past life (just when you thought it was all kittens and hugs, throw in one brassed off vampire, too). The Buffy/Oliver relationship is finally growing on me, despite my reservations for her to get with anyone else. It's quite fun.
StarBella -- And there's more to come! Hehehe. I'm sorry about Ron/Faith. They just seemed more fitting since they are the same age group. Having Faith with someone like Fred was asking for a whole new ballgame. But, you never know. I think there was Oliverness abound in this chapter. I think there was Oliverness overkill if you get what I mean. Hehehe. I LOVE Little P. It's just so cute. Like B. It's just a Faith thing. Many thanks for the chocolate!
Adrie -- oh, thank goodness! Enough effin' hurricanes already! Except now it's supposed to hit the panhandle, which is better than the west coast (where my parents are from). So, a bit of relief there (more like wild relief). And thank you for your comments about "Dance". I've had such a love/hate relationship with that one, so I changed the dynamic and made it fun and fluffy.
Lady Mione -- it's a love quadrangle! Seriously... not. Maybe. It's all in good fun. And, as you can see, Buffy had oodles of fun... good, delicious, evil fun.
Nobody -- well, you stabbed Ron and I just stabbed, err... not Ron. Thanks, deary :)
Lady Aura -- Six hours of reading? Holy man... that's a long while! I read this fantastic 10-part series once (I think it was called "RSVP Required") and it took me nearly ten, but I had a lot of breaks during, and it was read during one of my boring weekends at my old job. You know, the 9-5 hours which you sit there and twiddle thumbs. I wish I had heard of BtVS crossovers back then! Anyways, I hope this chapter alleviated some of the "rushed" feeling. Harry's reaction and Sirius's reaction, not to mention Faith's point of view of the entire spell was explained broadly, making this the longest chapter I have ever written. I fully intend to keep writing to Chapter 50 and then take a break. The fact that it's taken me two months to write as much as I have is nothing short of a miracle. I have a fantastic night job which opens to me many avenues for time to write. I've been writing this thing since June, really, or just after I graduated from university. It's great fun. And it's been in planning for awhile. I just hope I can get everything I want written by the second week of October. Because then I'm taking a wee break from it all.
Let's see… next chapter will be updated around the weekend, or just before, I don't know yet. I get my forced week of leave from work starting Sunday, so lots more writing potential, except for the fact I've got a second shower to attend Sunday. I've also got enough family flying in to fill this peachy little house. Now that the hurricane is staying away from the southwestern coast of Florida, I no longer have to worry about my parents. I'm working on graduate school applications. The wedding is less than a month away. And I have nine more chapters I promised. One is done. That leaves eight. I'm sort of slowing down slightly so that I can have something to write about. More than likely, this story will be dusted off and more will be added to it in November sometime. I just need a break from it, since it's huge, it has taken three months of my time, and then some. I promise to not leave it at the cliffhanger I foretold. Lastly, I thank you all for reading and taking the time to review this work!