Title: This is My Life, pt 3

A.N. Still in Faith's POV

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Once we were in Albus' office Minerva and Harry sat near Albus' desk while my little Slytherin sat near Severus and I remained standing but kept close by the thirteen year old. I really needed to find out what his name was.

"Now Faith, what do you mean about the Slytherin house?" Albus asked after a long while of silence.

"How can you ask that?" Severus inquired before I opened my mouth. So someone else does stand by them. I think I'll just insert my foot in to my mouth now. "You've known for years the Slytherin house has been picked on. It doesn't take a genius to see it."

"Just a crazy person." I quipped but grinned sheepishly because everyone turned to look at me. "Sorry 'bout that. My mouth tends to run without my brain. The important thing is that I, along with every Slytherin around, have noticed it. Something has to be done."

Severus rolled his eyes discreetly at my previous statement as Albus just watched me curiously from behind his desk. "I agree with Miss. McRae, Albus, but we need everyone in on this."

"I've never heard you speak of house unity before, Severus, why now?" Minerva questioned watching us curiously.

I looked at Severus as he looked at me. "Because with the loud mouth here we're less likely to ignore it." Replied Severus smirking slightly causing me to laugh.

It felt good to laugh, as I hadn't really practiced it before. I felt more alive now with both Slytherins by my side than I did when I was in good with Buffy. "Sorry." I laughed calming myself. Albus was watching me carefully, so carefully that it made me feel uncomfortable. Then I caught something in his gaze that caused me to shiver. "You can't possibly ask me to share –"I started drifting off.

"It might help." Albus replied. "I've seen survival tendencies in you that show how Slytherin like you are."

"I survived because there wasn't anything else for me." I replied. "I wasn't as young as Harry was when he got picked to save the world, but I've been fighting a hell of a lot harder."

"Exactly." Albus replied leaning forward slightly. "You survived and fought against the hardships."

"Because if I didn't no one else would. Being who I am isn't all glamour and fun. Having power and the will to use it is dangerous." I replied glaring slightly at him. If he thinks, after the way he acted in the great hall, that I'm going to yield he's got another thing coming to him.

"Name one good Slytherin." Harry replied suddenly.

"What?" I questioned surprised by the question. "Harry there's more to good and evil than that. I myself have been forced to see how closely those are related." I told him. "Take for example the Slayer."

"The Slayer?" I nearly laughed at the disbelief in his eyes.

"Yes the vampire Slayer, 'One chosen to face the forces of darkness'. While that's a great cause getting rid of the demons and vampires, the slayer's powers are harnessed in the darkness. So when the slayer does something against fighting the darkness, such as killing an innocent, the darkness tries to take over them." Albus was grinning at my subliminal message telling about my past.

"Miss. McRae has a good point, Mr. Potter." Severus replied. "Good and evil only goes so far. Same with black and white."

I grinned before adding, "What about the shades of gray? Those that aren't good nor are they evil."

"Until they're given a choice." Severus continued.

"The way I see it, the Slytherin house is declined that choice." I replied looking briefly at the young Slytherin in the room. "Their choice and free will to be whomever they want is stolen away from them. Because of the outside judgments they've given up trying to be different."

"If no one lets you be different, why try?" Severus finished for me.

For a strange creepy guy who has that whole black thing going for him, we're surely on the same wavelength. I wonder what he teaches. "I'm sure you've heard the phrase, 'There's no such thing as good and evil, just power and those strong enough to take it'."

The haunted look Harry gave me told me exactly what I needed to know. I also could feel Severus tensing slightly next to me.

"Another good point, although one we don't like to point out." Albus replied trying to break the silent tension in the room.

"Me and my big mouth." I grumbled after I remembered something Albus had told me about one of Harry's 'battles' with Voldemort. "I should go for a patrol." I replied turning to walk out of the office. No one stopped me but I could feel a pair of eyes on me.

"The names Dante Moore." The thirteen-year-old boy told me as he matched my stride.

"Nice to meet you Dante." I replied glancing towards him. "So, Dante, how do you feel about what we talked about in Dumbledore's office?" I asked wanting to know how much I was going to have to say.

"I was a little confused." He admitted his hazel eyes staring ahead. "I don't know what you're going to do here, especially with how Potter was acting, but I don't want false hope."

"False hope is given for those that don't have actual intentions to help. No one or thing is going to take me away from Hogwarts until I'm no longer needed." I told him. "That is unless, Dumbledore kicks me out, but I'll always be here."

He seemed okay with my response because he just walked by my side until we made it to the turn off. The point where he'd have to leave my side and go into the dungeons while I would continue on outside. I was curious about what lay in the commons rooms, but the dungeons peaked my curiosity.

"Come on." He replied heading towards the stairs into the bowels of the castle as if he'd been reading my mind. I looked at him deciding whether or not to go with him. The slayer in me was cautious in case it was an attack, but the girl in me wanted to know what would happen.

I followed behind him and up to a wall the reeked of magic and I knew it was the entrance to the Slytherin common room. He leaned close to the wall and gave the password causing the wall to open and show a semi-inviting room.

The Slytherin common room was dark and slightly dank, but it was positively charming for someone that spent a good deal of time running from town to town. The furniture was all dark ranging from dark cherry wood to the colors of the couches, which were black leather, and along the high stonewall there was a banner like the one in the great hall with the snake in green and silver.

The students stopped their talking the minute I walked into the common room. I smirked at them and the younger students went back to their schoolwork. Dante welcomed me before disappearing into the common room.

"I see Potter hasn't eaten you alive." A voice drawled from behind me.

I smirked knowing whom that voice belonged to even though I'd only heard it a few times. "Harry couldn't handle me." I shrugged turning to face the blond, sixth year Slytherin. "Why? Were you worried about a muggle such as myself?" I questioned raising an eyebrow.

Draco peered at me for a moment before smirking back at me. "Well anyone that's willing to stand up for us might be worthy our time." He replied simply and I knew he was sizing me up.

I wondered who or what hurt these kids before I got here. Other than Voldemort I wasn't sure what big bad there was, if any, but prejudice can be just as bad as an evil wizard. Don't get me wrong, I don't like some of the things I've heard about purebloods and their thoughts against muggle-born, but it's not only the Slytherins that have this ideology.

"So, this is the dungeon." I replied trying to establish some kind of conversation. Something I've never been good at. Point me in the direction of a fight and I'm off, but actually talking to people. That was a different story.

Draco nodded causing me to believe that he wasn't going to make this any easier on me. I smirked liking a challenge especially one that wouldn't require me being alone all the time. "So what are you?"

"Excuse me?" I nearly chocked, but then I figured he wondered if I were a witch. "I'm muggle."

Draco shook his head. "You've got power." He told me simply.

"We've all got power, just depends on how we use it." I told him trying not to let on. I knew that Voldemort was looking for powerful wizards and witches to work at his side. And while I'm neither, I'm still a powerful asset mostly because I had a past history of killing 'muggles' because they were in my way.

He smirked at my flippant answer or what I hope was my answer. You never know with cunning people who don't have a lot of answers or hope. "Faith McRae." He muttered to himself.

"That would be me." I retorted dryly.

"I've heard about you." He replied thoughtfully his gray eyes watching me carefully.

Crap, hopefully what he's heard isn't what I'm here for because I could see it now. The parents coming from all aspects of the world bringing the watcher's council to capture the infamous - not to mention insane - rogue slayer. "Oh?" I inquired, "What about? My gorgeous looks? Or my flight record?"

He chuckled slightly at my last comment. So I had a hard time staying in one place longer than a few weeks. Sunnydale was the longest I'd ever stayed anywhere, standing at a little over a year – coma included.

"Miss. McRae?" Severus questioned from behind Draco.

"Hello – what do you want me to call you?" I questioned looking at him. I would usually call him 'Sevvie' or simply 'Sev' but I figured he'd get a bit testy with me.

"Snape should suffice." He told me looking at me with his endless black pools. Man that is creepy, I mused.

"Alright, Snape. Dante wanted to show me the common room, though he seems to have disappeared on me." I answered the unasked question.

"I see." He replied. "Have you seen enough?" He questioned. "The students really shouldn't be disturbed by your – colorful – way of speaking."

"You know you could just tell me to get out." I informed him. "It's not like I'm going to tell the big bad Headmaster that you've hurt my feelings." I replied smirking noticing Draco watching us curiously.

"Get out."

I laughed. "Yes sir." I mock saluted him while walking towards him. "Good night Slytherin house." I called as I walked past Snape. "Good night, Severus Snape."

End pt 3