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Hey people!!! Wow, lotsa reviews. 20 points go to Cailean Maeve for knowing who the girls were. You responded within 2 and a half hours of my posting! : ) hey what I said earlier: this is TOTALLY different from anything before. Trust me ; )
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Buffy drew in a gasp. She rolled off the bed and curled up against a wall, hugging her knees to her chest. It couldn't be. Not now.
She felt hot tears stinging her eyes. She had come so far in the last two weeks. She had been taken halfway across the world, and still they were here.
Darla. Drusilla. Buffy should have known those voices. One of them had tried to kill her mother; the other had made her kill Kendra. Wait! Buffy thought. I didn't kill Kendra, she told herself forcefully. Drusilla did. Not me.
They had both said she was…she was one…of them. They were both witches, yes, and that in itself was strange. Buffy was surprised she didn't know. She could usually sense magic on people. But they weren't people. And Buffy was certain they weren't talking about being a witch when they said she was like them.
They were both evil. Murderesses. And, dead. But why, then, had they said so? They were pictures, damnit! How could they have know anything about what was taking place on the other side of the world? And Buffy was NOT guilty. She didn't do it. Everyone was saying she did, and she was beginning to believe them. If she believed them herself, how could she ever hope to prove her innocence?
But Buffy had died. So, In theory, if she had died once, was she still dead? She had a pulse and breathed and moved and felt, but was she dead? No. Giles and Angel had said she was alive, and they knew what they were talking about.
Buffy brushed her tears away. She would find out, no matter what happened. She wearily got undressed, slipping a white nightgown over her head and crawling into her soft bed. She pulled the dark green coverlet up to her chin, and willed herself not to dream.
Not that it did any good, nowadays. The nightmares came unbidden, and unwanted.
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Buffy awoke the next morning, slightly happier than she had been previously. True, she still had nightmares, and she was still lost, and accused of being a murderess. But now, she thought she had a friend. Or a potential friend.
And after last night, she had a goal. She got up slowly and stepped into her private bathroom. She hummed to herself quietly.
She had been here two weeks, and still Buffy marvelled at the marble décor. She filled the bathtub up with hot water, and added lots of pink bubbles, which smelled of rose and sandalwood.
After a good long soak, she wrapped her body in a fluffy emerald towel and dried off. After that, she dressed in her new school uniform.
She wrinkled her nose at the outfit. Pleated grey skirt, white blouse, robes, green tie, black, buckled flat shoes. Not very modernised at all. Nevertheless, she put on the uniform and pulled a brush through her hair.
Don't look like a murderess, she thought bitterly, applying a bit of make up. Just for effect, she lined her eyes with the slightest hint of green, accentuating her hazel eyes. Hazel eyes, blonde… Buffy thought. At least Angelus was consistent.
With a roll of her eyes, she grabbed her books and walked out. Her first lesson was Potions, and that teacher she had – Snape – was just cool.
As she was walking to the Classroom, she passed the portrait of Darla. Scowling, she glared hard at the girl in purple.
"Question: how do you know so much about me, anyway?"
Darla smiled. "Well, that's an interesting question, isn't it?"
"Just answer me."
Darla's eyes lost their gleam. "I visit Dru every now and then. Dru is still just a picture, but her image gets visions like she does in the real world. She keeps me posted on what's happening. As I said, I know who you are…what you are. Just like me." She finished simply with a sad smile.
Buffy shook her head. This wasn't the same Darla who had tried to kill Joyce. This Darla hadn't been staked by Angel. But it was still her.
Buffy let it go, but she wasn't finished. "Thanks for being honest," she said truthfully, and scooted off to class.
She decided that she would look into the school records. They had to have some more information on these girls.
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During lunch break, Buffy escaped to the library. She walked gratefully through the doors, ignoring the chilly look Hermione sent her way.
Buffy went straight to the shelf marked 'Records' and searched until she found what she was looking for: a student record for 1780-1790.
The huge book was bound with a thick, blue spine., up on the highest shelf. Buffy needed a chair to reach it. The book weighed a ton, and Buffy, who was still under a tranquilliser, was not strong enough to carry it. She crumpled under the weight of it and almost fell over, if it were not for Harry, who was passing by.
"Whoa!" he said, helping her with the book. "That's not a book, that's a weapon of mass destruction!"
She gave a small smile, and let him put it on a nearby desk for her. "Thanks," she said.
He grinned. "Always willing to help a damsel in distress," he said gallantly. She closed her eyes and shook her head, trying not to laugh.
He looked closer at the title. "Hey, what's that for?" he asked curiously.
She coloured. "Oh, just checking out someone who went here…um…family member," she said, her stomach wrenching as she thought about being related to Drusilla. It made her blood boil.
Harry shrugged. "Hey, Snape seemed to totally love you today during class," he said. "Must be a Slytherin thing, huh?"
Buffy pretended to be offended. "Of course not. It's my captivating charisma," she said dramatically, eliciting the laugh she expected.
He grinned. "You know what, Buffy?" he said.
"You're mad and I'm not."
"No," he smiled. "You're my new favourite Slytherin. Probably the only decent one I've ever met."
Buffy smiled, a big smile that made her feel free.
"Thanks." Then she sobered. "Hey, the rest of us must be pretty bad then," she added.
Harry lifted an eyebrow. "What, haven't you really met many?"
"Um…the only one I've met so far is Malfoy, and he's a bit arrogant. Charming when he wants to be, but still arrogant."
Harry pulled a face. "Charming?" he echoed disbelievingly. Then, he glanced at his watch. "Oh, I need to go. Bye, Buffy!" he said, and turned to leave.
Buffy was left alone with her book. She cracked open the heavy tome and closed her eyes when the aroma hit her. She missed the smell of musty books. It reminded her so much of Sunnydale…of Giles…of home.
Shaking her head to clear her nostalgic thoughts, she looked back down at the book. She turned page after page and finally found what she was looking for.
Fifth years, 1782, it read.
She followed the list of names until she came across one she knew.
Edith, Drusilla*: Slytherin.
Buffy raised an eyebrow. Drusilla had always called her favourite doll "Miss Edith." Now, she knew why.
Buffy frowned suddenly when she noted the asterisk next to Drusilla's name. She skimmed through the next seven pages, but no other name had an asterisk. She turned to the appendix of the book.
*see reference to "Vampyr," page 846.
Buffy felt a small smile creep onto her face. Did someone at Hogwarts know that Drusilla was a vampiress? They couldn't have. Buffy sat back in her chair, confused. But when Dru was at Hogwarts, she was human. She disappeared after that, and no one else knew that Angelus turned her.
Buffy slapped her forehead in annoyance when she remembered that Hermione had borrowed out that particular book. She would have to get it from her.
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A long way away, in a cemetery, Lord Voldemort paced back and forth. His plan was simple: make friends with all the things that go bump in the night. Having allies was an obvious step in his journey back to the top.
Vampires were his first choice. Sure, Dumbledore had thought he had wanted the giants, but that was just a diversion. Vampires were much more important.
And Voldemort wanted only the best in his allies. He wanted the best, oldest, most powerful vampire.
He wanted the Master.
A dozen cloaked Death Eaters were hurrying to finish the potion. It was a similar ritual that they had used to restore Voldemort back to full strength: except Voldemort had at least been a body. Presently, Master Joseph Heinrich Nest was…well, not much. The slayer had crushed his bones into powder with a SledgeHammer months, almost a year ago. Not much to work with.
They had started a week ago, after the slayer had left Sunnydale. Now, they were working furiously to get the Master resurrected once again before the Harvest Moon.
Time was of the essence. They had already reformed a full skeleton from the powder; now all they had to do was give it flesh and life…well, unlife.
Voldemort cackled to himself. Yes, this would do very nicely. Any minute, they would have a new ally.
He waited another half hour. In that time, his Death Eaters had finished the potion, and lowered the skeleton into the cauldron.
He waited.
The potion bubbled and spurted. The ring of salt surrounding the area was rising and glowing. The potion turned a dark red colour; the colour of blood. It frothed and foamed, and finally stopped.
The atmosphere was tense. All the Death Eaters had congregated in a circle around the ring of salt. They all held their breath and waited for the Master to emerge.
Surprisingly enough, the figure was fully clothed and perfectly dry when he emerged. He wore his usual robes, black satin. He stood up slowly, and gazed upwards to the full moon.
A terrible, blood-thirsty smile grew on his demonic face, and his yellow eyes cast about. The moonlight played on his fangs.
"Who brings me back?" he asked, in a controlled, perfectly articulated voice.
Voldemort stepped forward eagerly. "I do," he said in his high voice. "I am Lord Voldemort. I brought you back to be among us…to be my ally."
A voice called out gruffly from the crowd of Death Eaters. "Bow, vampire! Show respect for the Dark Lord!"
Voldemort grinned, a hideous sight; but now even he looked attractive when compared to the ancient demon in front of him.
The Master smiled calmly. He stepped out of the cauldron, standing tall on the grass on the graveyard under the stars.
"There is but one Dark Lord here," he said, full of certainty. "And this Snake One is not he."
With amazing agility, he sprang forward and brought his fangs down on Lord Voldemort's neck. The Master reached over and ripped the wand out of Voldemort's hand before he knew what had happened. Voldemort shrieked with anger as his jugular vein was pierced.
"Do something! Stop him!" he screamed to his faithful Death Eaters, who were staring dumbly at the display before them. His cries stopped abruptly, as he was drained of blood. He fell limp to the ground
The Master stood up, and wiped his mouth with a handkerchief he produced from his pocket. "I am that Lord," he said calmly.
The Death Eaters were too scared to do anything. They just looked on fearfully.
He suddenly shuddered. "Oh, he was powerful, wasn't he?" The Master began to say to himself. "Magic…oh, he had lots of magic. And Unicorn blood…running through his veins…" with that he laughed loudly.
"For a vampire to drink unicorn blood! Oh, what a treat. Without the blood in his veins, he could die! Immortality and taste, now there's a combination. So innocent…so pure…so delicious…"
"Now, my loyal subjects," he began, sweeping regally around the ring that they formed. "I am a very different Lord from what you're used to. I do not need useless lackeys." With that, he began to drain every single one.
"I only care for my family."
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Buffy woke with a scream. It couldn't be true…he wasn't back…not again…
The portrait of Drusilla which served as Buffy's door began to shriek with joy.
"He's here! He's back!" she was shrieking. Buffy heard another voice join her.
"Dru?" it was Darla's voice. Apparently, she had moved into Drusilla's picture when she heard the noise. "What did you see?"
Buffy strained to hear. Dru had lowered her voice.
"Your Daddy," she said with glee. "He's returned."
Buffy swallowed. If Dru had seen it, maybe it wasn't just a dream.
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Harry awoke sweating and cold at the same time. Did that really happen? Harry was almost sure he had seen Voldemort die. But he couldn't, could he?
He jumped out of bed shakily. He hadn't had a Voldemort-related dream since Sirius in his fifth year! And now…dead?
He held onto the side of his bed to keep from falling over. He pulled himself over to Ron's bed. He approached his best friend quietly, so as not to wake the other boys in his dorm.
"Ron! Ron," he hissed. The redheaded boy grumbled as he rolled over.
"Aw, wassamatter, 'Arry?" he groaned.
Harry bit his lip. "I had a dream. About – about You-Know-Who."
Ron's eyes widened, and he rubbed his face to wake himself up. "What, again? This hasn't happened since…" he broke off, looking at Harry disbelievingly.
Harry nodded, and looked at him closely. "Um..,something pretty weird happened. I don't know if it's true…if it can ever be true…"
He broke off, looking concerned. Ron yawned. "Okay. Well, how about we wake up Hermione first, so you don't have to tell us twice?"
Harry nodded; it seemed logical.
After they had successfully gotten Hermione out of the Girls' Dorms, which was no easy feat – they had to use the invisibility cloak – they huddled up in the Common Room, and Harry relayed his dream.
By the end, Ron was looking ecstatic, while Hermione was looking thoughtful. He looked over at the brunette to see what she thought.
"Well…I don't know. The ritual sounds tricky; I've never heard of it before. But…the death sounds possible." At this, Harry raised an eyebrow.
"But I thought with the unicorn blood running through his veins, he couldn't be killed? He was – is – immortal!"
Hermione tilted her head to one side and grinned excitedly. "Except by a vampire! Vampires drain their victims of blood! If You-Know-Who was drained, all the blood running through his veins would have been sucked out; and he would have been able to die!"
Ron gasped. "We need to see Dumbledore!"
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hey people. Different much??? Spread the word: I KILL VOLDIE!!! MWAHAHAHAHA Don't worry, there is still lots of evil to fight. Please review, tell me how I'm going. Do you think it's all coming a bit too fast? Should I go on with my plot and do romances later, or establish my pairings first? I'm feeling way loved.
In 2 chappies, this fic has twice the reviews of my first fic, which currently has 20 chappies! Huh, this one must either be much better or much worse. ; ) tell me which please!
REVIEW!!!
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