As Strong As We Are United
Chapter 14 – Classes Finally Begin
Classes finally began on Thursday. The head of each house passed out the students' schedules during breakfast that morning. "Thank you, professor," said Hermione, as she immediately began scanning her schedule.
Dawn, who had already looked at her own schedule, glanced over Hermione's shoulder to see hers. "Hey, Mione, is it just me, or are you taking fewer classes this year?" Dawn asked.
Hermione blushed slightly. "I decided to drop Herbology and History of Magic," she told her friend. "With my Head Girl duties. . ." Hermione dropped her voice. "And our additional training. . ." Her voice returned to normal. "I figured that I would need the extra time. Besides, neither of those classes is absolutely necessary for what I want to do after school."
"What do you want to do after school?" asked Shannon. She knew that when she finished Hogwarts, she would be assigned somewhere as a Slayer and that Dawn was heading off to university and Watcher training. However, Hermione had never spoken about her future plans with anyone but Ron.
"Oh well, I'm kind of hoping to be accepted into the Department of Mysteries," Hermione replied softly. Both Dawn and Shannon looked confused. "No one really knows what they do," Hermione elaborated. "But, what I do know is that they do in-depth research on all kinds of topics. So, if I can get a job as an Unspeakable – that's what they call the people who work there – I will be able to spend my life doing serious research."
"Sounds like the perfect job for you," said Shannon.
"I just hope they'll consider me. It's nearly unheard of for them to accept someone right out of school," explained Hermione.
"Well, if they don't, you should consider coming to work at the Watchers Council," said Dawn.
Hermione shook her head. "I don't mind the danger stuff now, because someone has to do it. But, I don't want to spend my life training someone to battle dark creatures."
Dawn raised an eyebrow. "Mione, you do know that all Watchers aren't assigned to an active Slayer, don't you? Many of them devote their lives to research."
Hermione's eyes lit up. "What kind of research do they do?" she asked.
Dawn shrugged. "I'm not entirely sure. You should ask Giles about it next time we see him."
"Maybe," said Hermione. Her enthusiasm seemed to drain, as she thought about Ron. One of the reasons he was training to be a Watcher was because he wanted to do something apart from his friends and family. Hermione was sure that Ron would not want her working with him and possibly stealing his glory.
Dawn seemed to know what was on Hermione's mind. "Or you could talk to Ron first," Dawn whispered.
Their conversation was interrupted by Draco, who, as had become his custom over the past few days, slid into the seat next to Dawn. "So what classes do you have today?" he asked his girlfriend.
Dawn smiled. "I have a free period first, then DADA, lunch, then Charms and Potions. You?"
Draco returned her smile. "I have a free period first too, then DADA, lunch, Potions, and Transfiguration." Draco looked over at Hermione's schedule, which she was still perusing. "You have a free period too," he commented. "Hey did you drop some of your classes?" Hermione glared at him, but he did not seem to notice. He lowered his voice. "If we can get copies of everyone else's schedule, maybe we can spend first period working out a time for training."
Hermione smiled. "I need to figure out the prefects' patrol schedules too," she said. "I'll be right back," she added, before jumping up from her seat.
"What's that all about?" Shannon asked. Dawn shrugged, before turning her attention back to Draco.
****************
Hermione walked down the Gryffindor table to where Ron was sitting with Seamus and Dean. She tapped Ron on the shoulder. "Come with me," she said and began walking toward the head table.
Ron stood up loudly in a gesture of annoyance. "I wouldn't let a girl tell me what to do," commented Seamus.
Ron looked past Seamus. "Good morning, Lavender," Ron said. Seamus jumped in his seat and turned around quickly. No one was standing there. Seamus turned back to Ron, who smirked at the other seventh year boy, before following Hermione to the head table.
Hermione ignored Ron, as she walked straight up to where Professor Dumbledore was enjoying his breakfast. "Headmaster, may I have a moment of your time?" she asked sweetly.
Professor Dumbledore smiled. "Of course. What can I do for our current Head Girl and Head Boy?" the headmaster asked.
Hermione smiled brightly. "I was wondering if it would be possible to use the chamber off the back of the Great Hall for a lunchtime prefects meeting," she said.
"That should be no problem," replied Professor Dumbledore. "I wonder why no one ever thought to have lunch meetings in the past. It seems like a convenient time for everyone. I will see to it that the house-elves send lunch up for all of you." Ron could tell that it was taking ever ounce of Hermione's self-control not to comment on the plight of the house-elves. "The two of you might consider scheduling a weekly lunch meeting to keep the prefects up to date on the activities that you and your staff are planning," suggested the headmaster.
Hermione and Ron both smiled widely. "Thank you, professor," the both replied.
As they walked back toward the Gryffindor table, Hermione spoke to Ron. "Could you tell the Gryffindor and Hufflepuff prefects about the meeting, while I let the Ravenclaw and Slytherin prefects know?"
"Sure," replied Ron curtly. He was not sure if anyone was listening to him.
"Can you also find out what nights each prefect is available for patrol?" Hermione asked. "I have a free period after breakfast and want to get working on the schedule."
"I have a free period too," said Ron. "I'll help."
"That would be nice," said Hermione, trying to look like she was taken aback by Ron's offer to help.
"I just don't want to have to listen to you moan that you have to do all the work," stated Ron, before stalking over to the Hufflepuff table to speak with the prefects. Hermione shook her head, as she walked over to the Ravenclaw table.
After speaking with the Ravenclaw and Slytherin prefects, Hermione returned to the Gryffindor table. "So what are we doing with our free?" asked Dawn.
Hermione began to gather her things. "I'm going to try to make up the prefects' patrol schedule. Ron told you we're having a meeting at lunch?" Dawn, Shannon, and Draco nodded.
"Do you want any help?" asked Draco.
Hermione shook her head. "Ron's supposed to be helping me, but you're welcome to help too." She lowered her voice. "We have some other scheduling issues to figure out. Luna has a free period now too; so, she is going to meet us in the Common Room." Harry, who had been quietly listening to the exchanged, nodded slightly to show that he had heard.
"Neville and Ginny have free periods too. They'll meet us in a few minutes," whispered Ron, who had come up behind Hermione. He again spoke loudly. "Well, let's get this over with." He sneered at Hermione, who rolled her eyes.
"Those two are getting almost too good at this," Draco whispered in Dawn's ear. She giggled in reply.
"Let's go," said Shannon. She glared at Harry. "You're supposed to be part of the Head Boy's staff; so, you might as well come too," she said, before turning away from him, and flipping her hair over her shoulder.
"Fine," mumbled Harry.
The six students left the Great Hall in the midst of everyone else hurrying off for the first class of the day. Neville, Ginny, and Luna nonchalantly followed several paces behind.
The students entered the Scooby Common Room to find Willow seated in one of the overstuffed chairs, eating a muffin and reading a large volume of prophecy. "What are you all doing here?" she asked. "Don't you have class?"
"Nah, we all happen to have a free," said Dawn, throwing herself on the sofa across from where Willow was sitting.
"Maybe we can schedule our training for Monday and Thursday mornings," commented Ginny.
Willow shook her head. "It wouldn't work. I'm the only faculty member with a free. Everyone else is teaching right now."
"Figures that was too easy," said Harry, who flopped down in another overstuffed chair.
"We'll figure something out," Shannon assured him. She made herself comfortable on his lap.
"Well, I need to figure out the patrol schedule for the prefects first," added Hermione. She sat at the small table in the corner of the room and began ripping parchment into tiny pieces, while Ron pulled a quill out of his bag.
"You could just use the schedule from last year," Draco told Ron and Hermione.
Hermione shook her head. "I was thinking about what the Sorting Hat said about needing to stand united. We always partnered with the other prefect from the same house and year. I think we should set up the schedule so that people are forced to partner with someone from a different house."
"That's a good idea," said Willow, putting her book aside.
"Yeah, but I don't think most of the prefects will be too happy about it," said Luna.
Ginny nodded in agreement. "I really don't want to patrol with a Slytherin."
"Hey," said Draco indignantly. "I'm a Slytherin prefect."
"Well if I have to patrol with a Slytherin, can I have Draco?" Ginny asked Hermione.
"I'll see what I can do," Hermione replied. She began writing out all of the prefects' names on small pieces of parchment. She then used a large piece of parchment to write out the days of the week.
"What are you doing?" asked Ron.
Hermione smiled at him. "This will allow us to move the names around as much as we need to while we work out the schedule."
"How come our names aren't here?" Ron asked.
"The Head Boy and Head Girl never do regular patrol," said Draco from his seat beside Dawn. "They're technically always on duty."
"Why do you know that?" Ron asked Draco.
Draco shrugged. "There was a time, when I thought I would be Head Boy, but quidditch captain is definitely better."
Hermione spoke again. "I was thinking that we could have four prefects on duty each night. If they each do one night, that gives us four nights for the fifth years and three for the seventh years. I don't think we should ask them to do more than that because of O.W.L.'s and N.E.W.T.'s. The sixth years can do two nights each though."
"But that gives you eight nights. There are only seven in a weak," said Ron. He was beginning to see where Hermione was going with this.
"I think that it's fair that Ginny and Luna only have to patrol one night since they have other commitments," said Hermione.
"We can't use our training as an excuse. No one's supposed to know," interjected Harry.
Hermione shook her head in exasperation. "No, Harry, they are the only two sixth years assigned as teaching assistants."
"Oh, yeah. I forgot," mumbled Harry.
"Well, while Hermione and Ron are working on the prefect schedule, why don't the rest of you figure out what free time you have for training," Willow suggested.
The students began calling out random times that were clear on their schedule. Harry and Draco kept bringing up the need to leave room for quidditch practices. Ron was only half paying attention to the conversation, and Hermione was too engrossed in her own scheduling to acknowledge the other conversation.
"This is getting us nowhere," said Willow, "especially since I'm not entire sure of the faculty schedules."
"I can't believe I'm saying this, but let's take a cue from Andrew," said Dawn. She stood up, grabbed Draco's wrist, and pulled him up beside her. "Draco, can you cover that wall in parchment for me? Just don't make it permanent." Draco laughed, knowing that Dawn was thinking about the permanent sticking charm that kept Mrs. Black's shrieking portrait on the wall of Headquarters before Xander removed the entire wall to rid them of it.
Draco raised his wand and stuck several large sheets of parchment end to end on the wall. "Is that what you need?" he asked.
"Perfect," replied Dawn, pulling a large black marker from her bag.
"Are you ever going to learn to write with a quill?" Draco asked her jokingly.
"Why?" Dawn questioned in return. She turned her attention to everyone in the room. "Okay, fork over your class schedules." As Draco collected them, Dawn walked over to the wall and drew out a large scheduling grid. She wrote out each hour of the day across the top, then the days of the week down the side. Next to each day of the week she listed the names of all the students and faculty members that would be involved in training. Beginning with her own schedule, she blocked off all of her classes. She turned back to the group. "Well?" she asked.
"Not bad," said Willow.
"Okay, now give me someone else's schedule," Dawn said to Draco. The spent the next half hour with Draco reading off each person's schedule and Dawn blocking off their classes on her large grid. When she finished, she stepped back to admire her work.
Hermione finally looked up from her own scheduling. "I'm done," she stated. "There are two days with no Gryffindors, but without Ron and I patrolling it can't be helped."
"Mione, tell me what nights Draco, Ginny, and Luna are patrolling," called Dawn from the other side of the room.
Hermione finally looked over at the schedule on the wall. "That was a really good idea, Dawn." Hermione looked back at her schedule. "Luna is on duty Wednesdays, and Ginny and Draco are on duty Thursdays."
Ginny bounded over and gave Hermione a quick hug. "Thanks for not sticking me with another Slytherin." Hermione smiled in return.
"We still need to fill in quidditch practices," said Draco.
"And our Slayer patrols," added Shannon.
"For now, just put the Gryffindor practices at the same time as last year. I already talked to Madame Hooch, and she said that at the moment the previous house training schedules stand unless we request otherwise." Dawn filled in the Gryffindor practice times for Harry, Ron, Shannon, Ginny, and herself.
"You might as well put the Slytherin times in too," said Draco. "We practice Tuesdays and Fridays before dinner and Saturday before Gryffindor."
"I remember," said Dawn, smiling as she added the quidditch practices to the large timetable. "I think we're done for now."
"Which is a really good thing, because you all have class in like ten minutes," said Willow, as she gathered the things she needed to teach her Research Skills class. The students quickly gathered their things. The seventh years headed off to Defense Against the Dark Arts, Ginny to Potions, and Luna to Divination.
****************
Dawn, Shannon, Harry, Ron, Hermione, Neville, and Draco were the last students to arrive in the Defense Against the Dark Arts classroom, forcing them to all take seats in the front row. Harry made a point of sitting right beside the door. Neville chose the seat next to Harry. Ron purposely strode over to the opposite side of the room. Draco sat beside Dawn, who was as always on one side of Hermione with Shannon at Hermione's other side.
"Cutting it a bit close aren't you?" asked Genevieve, as she closed the classroom door. The students did not answer. Instead they pulled out their wands, parchment, and quills.
Genevieve addressed the class. "Welcome to your final year of Defense Against the Dark Arts. I am Professor Rayne, and this is Professor Sanguine." She motioned to Spike, who was leaning casually against the wall at the front of the room.
"You will notice that this class has been moved to a dungeon classroom," Genevieve continued. "As Professor Dumbledore told you following the welcome feast, Professor Sanguine and I are both vampires."
Spike continued to lean against the wall, but finally spoke. "Now we could try to scare you by showing you our demon faces, but Giles has informed us that you already had the pleasure of meeting a vampire last year." The class nodded, remembering their first class with Giles. He had brought Angel in as a special guest. "So, today Professor Rayne and I have decided to tell you a bit about ourselves. She believes that knowing about us will put you at ease. I don't know that I entirely agree. While Professor Rayne has always had a soul, I have only acquired mine more recently. My past is filled with horrors that you cannot even imagine."
"I would like to begin by reviewing what you know about vampires. Can anyone tell me about the origin of the vampire?" Several students raised their hands. Genevieve smiled. "Mr. Longbottom."
Neville took a deep breath before speaking. "The last true demon in our world mixed its blood with a human and made a vampire."
Genevieve smiled pleasantly at Neville. "Correct. Five points to Gryffindor. Since that time vampires have killed many. If the vampire allows the victim to drink his blood, the person will become a vampire too. However, more often than not, vampires will simply kill a victim."
"For instance," added Spike. "I occasionally turned a few people here and there if I needed minions to do work for me. However, for every one I turned, there were literally hundreds that I simply fed off and killed." The students stared at him in horrified awe.
Genevieve and Spike spent the remainder of the period telling the students about their own turning. Genevieve told them about her use of her vampiric abilities to continue her fight against evil. Spike told them in horrific detail about the trail of blood that he, Darla, Angel, and Drusilla left across Europe. He told them of his first meeting with Buffy, his subsequent return to Sunnydale, receiving a government chip in his head, and the trials he needed to perform to regain his soul.
The students sat in rapt attention the entire period. Many students jumped, when the bell rang. "Please read the introduction to each of your textbooks for the next class," said Genevieve. "You are dismissed."
****************
When all of the prefects had arrived and were seated at the lunch table in the small room behind the Great Hall, Hermione and Ron finally took their seats at opposite ends of the table. Both had their two staff members sitting at their sides.
Hermione was the first to speak. "As Ron and I told you this morning, Professor Dumbledore has agreed to allow us use of this room. We will be having our weekly prefect meeting here each Thursday during lunch. Is that okay with everyone?" The prefects murmured in agreement.
"Good. Help yourself to lunch. We'll talk while we eat," said Ron.
"First, Dawn and Shannon are handing out the patrol schedules," said Hermione. Dawn and Shannon each walked along opposite sides of the table, handing copies of the schedule to each prefect. "You will notice that there are four students on patrol each night of the week. The fifth and seventh years will patrol one night a week, and the sixth years will patrol two nights a week."
"Before you complain, the sixth years are the only ones who don't have major exams this year," Ron interjected. "The only exceptions are Ginny and Luna, who have teaching assistant duties, and therefore will only patrol once a week."
"You have me patrolling with a Slytherin," said Ernie McMillon disgustedly.
Pansy glared at him from across the table. "I don't exactly want to be patrolling with a loser Hufflepuff either," she sneered.
"As Professor Dumbledore told us, we are only as strong as we are united," stated Hermione. "Even the Sorting Hat figured that out. If we have any hope of inter-house unity, we must begin with ourselves."
Several of the sixth and seventh year prefects continued complaining. "Look," said Ron loudly, slamming his fist on the table. "The schedule is non-negotiable. If you want to remain a prefect, you will patrol on the nights that are assigned to you." He glared at everyone, who had been complaining. No one said a word.
"Moving on," said Hermione. "We need to begin thinking about the activities that will be offered in place of Hogsmeade weekends. I would like to suggest that we try to do some things that will again promote inter-house unity."
"Hermione," said Padma, "this might not promote inter-house unity, but quite a few Ravenclaw students are interested in having Lorne back to do readings. He did say that he would be willing, if it's okay with Dumbledore."
"That could be fun, and it would be something that everyone does together," said Dawn. "I can talk to Professor Dumbledore and then contact Lorne to find out when he's available."
"Any other ideas?" asked Hermione. No one said anything. "Well, think about it. We can discuss it during our meeting next week. Now, enjoy the lunch."
****************
The rest of the day seemed to fly by for the seventh year students. Most of the professors immediately jumped into N.E.W.T level work. Shannon, Dawn, and the other seventh year Slayers had similar experiences. After only two years of training, they would be taking O.W.L.'s in History of Magic, Transfiguration, Charms, and Potions and N.E.W.T.'s in Defense Against the Dark Arts. They would also be taking new Watchers Council exams in Research Skills, History of the Slayer, and Fighting Techniques.
After dinner the students gathered in the Scooby Common Room with the faculty members. "I like what you did with the schedule," Buffy told her sister. "Faith, Willow, Genevieve, Cat, and I added our classes to it."
"And we've figured out the best times for your training," added Cat, as she walked over to the schedule hanging on the wall. "We'll meet with all of you here on Tuesday and Friday nights and Sunday afternoons."
"We know that we are asking for a lot of time, but you are going to need it if you hope to defeat Voldemort," explained Genevieve. "You will still have all day Saturday for any activities that come up, like quidditch games. And, you have Sunday mornings and evenings for studying."
"Now, since you all have Fighting Techniques twice during the week, Faith and I are going to train you on Sunday afternoons," said Buffy.
"Where is Faith?" asked Shannon, looking around the room for the dark-haired Slayer.
"She went home," said Cat. "She does have a husband that she likes having dinner with at least a few nights a week."
"Anyway," said Willow to get the group's attention. "I will be training you in wandless magic on Tuesday nights."
"And I will be training you in additional defensive magic with a wand on Friday nights," said Genevieve.
"Occasionally you will be taking a break from your other training to do some unity exercises, like what we did back at Headquarters a couple of weeks ago," added Cat.
"Any questions?" Buffy asked the students. They were silent. "Good. We'll be starting with your defense training tomorrow night. We're done."
Buffy wandered over to where Charlie was sitting and sat beside him. "So how was your first day of teaching, professor?" she asked.
Charlie gave her a lop-sided grin. "It was great."
Buffy leaned in to whisper in his ear. "Why don't you meet me in my room and tell me about it?" she suggested. She jumped up and practically ran up the stairs to her room.
Charlie stood, stretched, and yawned. "Well, I think I'm going to head to bed now," he said a bit too loudly. Minutes later, he had descended the stairs to his room and slammed the door.
"I don't get it," said Dawn. "How is it that they're getting together? I've never seen either one sneak into the other's quarters. Even Buffy isn't that stealthy."
"And they definitely have been together," added Ron. "I know my brother well enough to know that if he was separated from Buffy for this long, he would've started snapping at people by now."
"Buffy too," said Dawn.
Willow leaned against the arm of the chair that Ron was sitting in. She motioned for him and Dawn to lean in. "Buffy and Charlie would probably kill me for telling you this, but they didn't specifically tell me that I couldn't. It seems that both of their bedrooms have come equipped with an extra closet. Inside is a spiral staircase connecting their quarters."
"I bet Dumbledore did it," said Ron. "He's a nutter sometimes."
"He probably figured they would find a way, and it's better if it isn't out in the open for propriety sake," mused Dawn.
The faculty members retired to their own quarters shortly thereafter. Draco and Ginny left to do their first prefect patrol of the year. Luna followed them out, mumbling about having to write to Andrew. Neville headed back to Gryffindor tower a little while later. The remaining students stayed up for several hours working on homework. When Draco returned from patrol, the six students retired for the evening, knowing that they all had early classes the next morning.
"It's a shame our rooms don't come with one of those staircases," Shannon commented to Dawn, as they got ready for bed that night. Dawn had told Shannon and Hermione about how Buffy and Charlie were spending nights together.
Hermione laughed, as she wandered from her private room into the outer room that Dawn and Shannon shared. "It wouldn't do you two any good if it did, seeings as it would be connecting Ron and me, and neither of us would appreciate you two or Harry and Draco traipsing through our rooms." Shannon threw a pillow at Hermione in reply. All three girls giggled for several minutes, before going to bed.
****************
Throughout their classes on Friday, the students continued to act divided. Harry, Ron, and Hermione sat separately in all their classes. Harry would stay silent. Ron would sit with Seamus and Dean. Hermione simply absorbed herself in her usual note taking. The first time the students had difficulty was in their Fighting Techniques class.
The students assembled in the Great Hall for class. They had all taken the class the year before and were prepared for what was to come. The students came dressed in loose-fitting clothes. The house tables had been pushed aside, and large exercise mats covered the floor. Buffy, Faith, and Spike stood at the front of the room.
"Welcome back, everyone," said Buffy. "Since I know that none of you trained during the summer, we're going to start off reviewing some basic hand-to-hand combat. I hope to get you back up to speed in the first few weeks; so, we can begin weapons training in the beginning of October. Now, I need you all to pair off."
Dawn quickly paired off with Draco, but Harry, Ron, Hermione, and Shannon froze. They weren't sure who to pair off with since most of them were not supposed to be speaking to each other. Fortunately Faith stepped in quickly. "Shannon, I want you to pair up with one of the other Slayers. Suzette is free." Shannon walked over to her fellow Slayer.
"Hermione, why don't you pair up with Neville. And, let's see Dawn and Ron together, since you're both training to be Watchers." Dawn looked longingly at Draco, before moving to stand beside Ron.
"And, that leaves Draco with Harry. And, I don't want to see a repeat of that little knockdown of yours from last year," Faith warned.
"Let's begin with some warm-ups," announced Buffy. She turned on a small charmed CD-player, and the Great Hall filled with music. "Follow me." Buffy proceeded to lead the group through several stretching exercises and some basic cardio warm-ups.
When they finished, Faith gave them instructions. "I want to see you practice some basic hand-to-hand moves. While you work, we'll walk around and critique you. Get to it."
The students began sparring. In almost an exact repeat of the previous year, the students soon became distracted by several insults being hurled between Harry and Draco. "What is your problem, Potter?" questioned Draco loudly, as he successfully blocked an uppercut from Harry.
"Death Eaters like you, Malfoy," replied Harry through gritted teeth, as he hurled himself at Draco. The two boys landed on the ground hard. They wrestled for several minutes, before Draco got the upper hand and flipped Harry onto his back.
As Draco straddled Harry's legs, he landed several punches to the Gryffindor's face. "I am not a Death Eater." Draco punctuated each word with a punch.
"Enough," growled Spike, game face on. Both boys looked up at the vampire's demon face. The sight was enough to make them separate. "Detention for both of you tonight with me," growled Spike. "Now go cool off."
Harry and Draco stalked out of the class and up to the Scooby Common Room. When they were safely inside, Harry spoke. "You didn't have to hit quite so hard," he told Draco.
"That wasn't hard. You won't even bruise," replied Draco, throwing himself onto one of the sofas.
"Won't not bruising look suspicious?" Harry wondered aloud.
"If anyone asks, tell them that Buffy made you see Pomfrey, and that she fixed you up," replied Draco with a shrug.
The two boys started their homework, while they waited for their friends to return from class. A half an hour later the other four students came through the portrait hole. "What the hell was that?" asked Shannon, an edge in her voice. She was starring down at the two boys, her eyes flashing with anger. Dawn had the same look in her eyes.
Harry and Draco could not help it. They burst into laugher. "And what is so funny?" asked Dawn. Neither boy could stop laughing long enough to explain.
Ron sighed and shook his head. "They were faking." Harry and Draco nodded.
"And, apparently we did a really good job," snorted Harry between gales of laughter.
Before the boys could explain, Buffy, Faith, and Spike entered the Common Room. Neither Slayer looked pleased. Spike's expression was unreadable, as he stayed in the shadows near the portrait hole. "They faked it," stated Dawn simply, her anger quickly evaporating.
"You what?" asked Faith.
Harry and Draco finally stopped laughing. "Well, what did you expect when you put us together?" asked Draco. Faith glared at him.
"It wouldn't have been believable if we fought fair," added Harry, trying to look innocent.
Buffy and Faith still did not look pleased. "The kids have a point," said Spike. "Since you have training tonight, you're off the hook for detention. If anyone asks, tell them I tortured you or something."