Woo hoo! Another chapter! Thanks ever so much for all of your reviews…I am forever grateful. But I'm not in any funky debt to you or something. Those always prove to be bad for the person who is in debt to the other person.
Anyway…well, I don't have anything else to say, but I just wanted to direct you away from that weird rambling thing up there.
On with the chapter!
Chapter 37. Another Hectic Halloween.
Buffy sighed and closed her eyes. She was sick of this. She was sick of messing everything up, sick of ruining everything, sick of everything. She slowly sat down on her bed, her elbows propped up on her knees, her head buried in her hands. Her palms were sore, from digging her nails into her palms so hard. Tears flowed freely from her eyes, and she idly wondered how many times she had cried since she had come to Hogwarts. It had been better at home; all this business with Voldemort was weighing on her mind, the hate that Harry carried for her, which she had undoubtedly made worse, her mistake with Snape and the consequences that followed, Willow's magic addiction and her fight to come off it, Giles' accident…all these things were weighing on her mind, creating sleepless nights, days of worrying and nails being bitten.
She lay back on her bed, pulling her knees towards her stomach, tucking her head to her chest. She was tired of this, she was tired of everything. Buffy closed her eyes and lay still, forcing her mind to become clear. The last thing she saw before she closed her eyes was the window, the sun shining brightly outside it.
Buffy did not know how long she laid there, her knees drawn up to her chest. Twice she changed sides, but she remained in a fetal position throughout. When she finally opened her eyes, the sky was dark outside, stars dotting the sky. She sat up slowly, her eyes red from crying, her legs stiff and her mind slightly cleared. She stretched her senses outwards, a habit of hers, and she froze.
Something was happening, she could feel it. She sat up fully, alert and awake. She concentrated, trying to sense what was wrong. And she found it. She gasped, and without another thought, she ran from the room, grabbing a dagger from the bed table as she went.
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Buffy ran as fast as she could, jumping down stairs and skidding past corners. Students stared at her as she went, and she breathed a sigh of relief when she realized that the Halloween feast had not started yet, it was too early. That meant there probably would not be a lot of people in the Great Hall.
"Buffy!" A voice shouted behind her, but she paid no heed to it, carrying on her way, leaving a confused Neville behind her.
"What's wrong?" Seamus asked Neville, as they watched the blonde slayer run off. Neville shrugged.
"I'll follow her, see you later." Neville said, setting off at a run, which was, quite slow. Neville like the blonde slayer, and she had seemed distressed. He wanted to see what was wrong. Seamus shrugged and continued on his way to the Gryffindor tower. The feast would not start for another fifteen minutes, and he needed to put away his things from the Hogsmeade trip.
Meanwhile, Buffy was still running towards the Great Hall, running faster than she had ever before. She felt an urgency to get there, urgency stronger than any she had ever felt before. She only prayed that there were not many people in the Great Hall.
Buffy skidded to a halt, and pushed the Great Hall doors open, running forward into the Hall. She froze in horror, and everyone turned to look at her, the heavy wooden doors banging to a loud close behind her.
"Miss Evans." A voice said icily. "How nice of you to join us."
Buffy felt her body go cold. Her eyes scanned the hall, and she saw, with a pang of anxiety, that Harry there. He stood, with Hermione, Ron and Ginny, their wands out. In front of them, protecting them, were Lupin, Charlie and Faith, a large black dog at Lupin's side. Dumbledore, McGonagall, Flitwick and Madam Hooch stood further away from Harry's crowd, Dumbledore's face masked with fury. Closer to Buffy, stood Angel, Spike, Willow, Giles, Tara, Xander, Anya and her children, and three Ravenclaw students. Against the right wall, stood about twenty students, ranging from all houses, looks of pure terror on their faces. Peeves floated in a corner, not quite sure what to do with himself, and Mrs Norris stood by Mr Filch in another corner, her hair standing up on end, her tail in the air. And on the left wall, stood about fifteen Death Eaters, each masked and dressed in black. Their wands were out, pointed at Harry's, Angel's and Dumbledore's groups. A Death Eater stood at the front, the man who had addressed Buffy in the first place. Buffy stared hatefully at the man, wishing she could see his face. Her hand reached slowly for her wand, which was shoved down between her skin and trouser waistband. The Death Eater saw this however, and shook his head, teasingly.
"We'll be having none of that, Miss Evans." He said, and the dagger from Buffy's hand flew another Death Eater's, who cackled loudly. Buffy's fists clenched angrily, and her hand reached for her wand again. As soon as she had grasped it, the wand left her hand immediately, only to be clutched out of the air by the same Death Eater with her dagger. "Come here, Miss Evans." The Death Eater said icily, and Buffy deepened her glare.
"I think I like my spot right here, thanks." Buffy said defiantly, casting a glance at Dumbledore. And she was shocked by what she saw. Moments before, it had been a face of fury, now it was lined with sadness. Directed at her.
A noise behind Buffy told her that the door was opening, and she prayed that it was an adult. Not a helpless student. But her prayers were not answered as a round figure came to stand beside her, his face masked in fear.
"Buffy…" Neville whispered and Buffy looked to her side, and saw that Neville was trembling. She took his clammy hand in hers and squeezed it gently.
"Stay by me Neville, ok?" Buffy said.
"Aw." A voice said mockingly, and Buffy saw that it was the Death Eater who had her wand and dagger. She could see the Death Eaters eyes through the slits…dark piercing eyes, suited to an evilly taunting face…Bellatrix. "How's mummy and daddy, Neville?" She said tauntingly and Neville let go of Buffy's hand and leapt forward. Buffy grabbed him before he got out of arms reach and the Death Eaters laughed, Bellatrix's cackle was the loudest.
Buffy glanced at Angel, and saw that he, like Spike had his demon face out. Xander was standing protectively in front of his children, and Sarah was crying. Harry was staring at Neville with pity and sympathy.
"Miss Evans, if you please." The icy voice man said, his voice commanding all the Death Eaters to be silent.
"What's up?" Buffy chirped, but inside she was shaking. She walked forward, her hand lingering on Neville's shoulder, telling him with that simple gesture to keep calm. "Where's your boss?"
There was a murmur in the crowd of Death Eaters. "The Dark Lord could not attend, but he apologizes. The Dark Lord also says that he is sorry for your loss…it is the anniversary of the Potters death tonight." A Death Eater said, and the Death Eaters chuckled cruelly. Buffy had to use every ounce of strength and willpower not to attack them at that moment. How dare they mock her sister's death?
"Well, you can tell Voldemort that I don't accept his apology." Buffy said firmly, coming to stand in front of the icy voiced Death Eater, in between her friends and the Death Eaters. The Death Eaters and the students gasped, and icy voiced man stepped towards her, furiously.
"You dare speak his name?" He asked angrily, and Buffy nodded.
"I dare." She replied defiantly, smirking at him. "I mean, he's not all that." Buffy continued. "He was destroyed by a one year old…I mean, how powerful could he be?" Buffy said, knowing she had hit a nerve when the Death Eaters muttered angrily.
"Kill her!" A Death Eater shouted.
"All in good time." The icy voice man said, and Buffy swore that under his mask, he was smirking.
"If you want to kill her, you have to get through me first." A voice said bravely, and Buffy's eyes traveled to Neville, who had walked to stand next to Spike. He had his wand out, pointing it at the Death Eaters bravely, but Buffy could see his hand was shaking.
Icy voiced Death Eater chuckled evilly. "Such courage…admirable, truly admirable." His gaze returned to Buffy sharply. "But only two shall die tonight." He said, and a Death Eater shouted: "Potter!"
Panic shot through Buffy in a blinding crash. Her stomach tightened to knots, and the panic must have been evident on her face, for the icy voiced Death Eater said:
"Yes, we shall be taking your nephew to the Dark Lord. How much He would savour the moment of killing him." He said evilly, but Buffy shook her head, her tears and panic blinding her sight.
"No." She whispered. "Take me!" She shouted angrily.
"Buffy no!" Lupin shouted behind her, but Buffy paid no attention.
"Not Harry, please not Harry!" Buffy pleaded desperately, her façade of defiance ruined. But panic and her love for her nephew overpowered her, and she felt desperate. The Death Eaters cackled in front of her.
"It is hopeless, trying to save him." Icy voiced Death Eater said spitefully.
"Not Harry, please no, take me instead!" Buffy pleaded, not releasing her words mirrored the words her sister had spoken many years ago.
"As you wish." The icy voiced man whispered, and, under his mask, a look of pure joy and satisfaction came across his face. He raised his wand, and before Buffy could react, he uttered those two deadly words, words that shattered life for everyone who comes across it. "Avada Kedavra."
A blinding green flash was omitted from his wand. Time seemed to move slowly for Buffy as the green light sped towards her. She couldn't move her body to jump out of the way, she was paralyzed with shock. Buffy knew that this was her end and her eyes traveled to Harry's. She briefly saw his look of horror, until the curse hit her body and Buffy lay crumpled on the ground, her body limp and her eyes lifeless. The slayer was dead.
O, a cliffhanger. I forgot how much you all hate those. Sam-453, you have taught me well. I am now a jedi…in fanfiction. author is thoroughly confused by her own ramblings
Right, as I un-confuse myself, you all can review! Because it seems as if Buffy is in some kind of trouble. Oops. Not my fault…it's an evil writer taking over my computer and stuff I swear!
I really need to un-confuse myself…stupid teachers at stupid school telling us about stupid IB and A-level…stupid, stupid.
Yeah…um, please review!!
Ooo, just a random note, who else is excited about the 6th book? J.K Rowling released the title today! Harry Potter and the half-blood prince. I'm really interested in who the prince will be! Of course...this is bringing up tons of new story ideas in my head...stupid bloody title.
