Disclaimer: Buffy characters are the property of Mr. Whedon. Harry Potter characters are the property of Ms. Rowling. I do own the story that I am writing, but I'm just borrowing the characters for a little while. So, yeah, if you decide to sue... I'm uber-broke.

Through the Looking Glass

Chapter 16

No Longer Empowered

x x x x x

Willow followed McGonagall into a small room. She took in her surroundings; a desk in the center of the room, a fireplace, and the wall was lined with portraits. Willow eyed a few of the paintings. One painting was of a witch riding a dragon, she then flew immediately to the painting next to her, causing the old man in the portrait to laugh. Willow thought that the old man looked familiar, but she took no notice as McGonagall coughed, getting her attention.

"Read this."

Willow took the small piece of parchment from McGonagall's outstretched arms. She unfolded the edges and her eyes fell upon the black ink.

No one wants another flock of Dementors on their doorstep. Release the Willow. We are waiting. DM.

Willow squinted her eyes. The Willow? Since when was her name accompanied with the?

"I don't know wh-"

"Do you know Draco Malfoy?" McGonagall took the paper back and pointed at the note.

"Draco Malfoy?" Willow nodded her head. "Yeah, when I was in Hogsmeade, a Draco Malfoy bought me a paper and some pumpkin juice."

"This letter is in his handwriting and he even signed it himself." McGonagall placed the note on the desk and shook her head. "It's very rare of him to actually sign a note. Very rare."

By the tone in McGonagall's voice, Willow swore that she was in trouble. Willow took in a deep breath. She didn't know what to make of the situation.

"The note seems more cryptic-"

"Yes, and he thinks that we are holding you captive." McGonagall said. "He believes you to be one of them."

Willow's eyes grew wide. She didn't like how things were starting to sound. At that very moment, she remembered something about her day in Hogsmeade, that she couldn't believe she hadn't thought about until now. The man outside the window who was calling for Draco... it had been Dolohov. Willow shook her head; they had gone straight to Diagon Alley after that to cause trouble. Willow felt the goosebumps creep down her spine.

"Now, I want you to know that I am not worried in the slightest about your loyalty to your friends or to Hogwarts." McGonagall awakened Willow from her thoughts.

"I know a good heart when I meet one."

Willow turned around to face the voice. The old man that had caught her eye earlier in one of the portraits winked at her. Willow looked at his twinkling eyes and his crooked nose... that was the same guy from Hogsmeade (who had been in a different painting) that had told her to go to Diagon Alley.

"I'm confused." Willow gulped.

"I have more than one painting, Miss Rosenberg." Dumbledore smiled. "I help Minerva keep track of the goings-on in our world. And just because I can't be there with you in a corporeal form, doesn't mean I can't keep tabs on things."

"But-"

"Please, Miss Rosenberg," McGonagall held up her hands. "I must ask you one very important question."

Willow looked back at the painting of Dumbledore, he nodded his head, and Willow looked to the floor. "Okay."

"Would you be willing to be a spy for the Order?"

x x x x x

Buffy walked down the hall. She had decided that she needed to see Remus, especially since he hadn't been at lunch or dinner. Buffy figured he was sick, and she thought that they could both lift each others spirits. What with her Slayer healing powers teetering on mediocre. Buffy didn't know if it was just her, if the magic here was stronger than anything she'd ever faced, or if something else was afoot.

As she was about to knock on Remus's door; the door rattled and shook. Buffy withdrew her hand and stood staring at the door for a few seconds to gather her bearings. She tried to focus all her attention on the door. She heard nothing unnatural coming from behind the door and she didn't feel any sort of presence behind the door.

Probably just Peeves, Buffy thought.

She turned the doorknob and the scene in front of her caused her mouth to drop open. Severus Snape stared up at her as he conjured a large cage that placed itself around Buffy. The cage leapt forward and the door behind her slammed quickly and she noticed about ten bolts appeared on the door.

"Summers!" Snape snarled as he shook his head. "Foolish girl."

"Why'd you put me in a cage?" Buffy demanded.

"Your protection."

"I don't need your protection!" Buffy screamed. There was silence after that as Buffy heard a low growl behind her. She turned around to see a werewolf grabbing at her through her cage. Her eyes opened wide and she felt a surge of adrenaline as she went to kick the hairy hand reaching for her.

A small yelp echoed through the room and a moment later her cage was knocked over. The werewolf was now trying to get into her cage.

"Funis!"

A tangle of ropes weaved themselves around the werewolf as her cage righted itself again and then the cage disappeared. It had reappeared around the werewolf.

"Next time if you want to be bit by a werewolf; I suggest going about it around someone else." Snape said. "Now, if you would please get out. He'll break through the ropes and the cage in a few minutes. I have to keep him occupied."

"Why don't you just kill him and get it over with?" Buffy asked as she brushed herself off.

"I can't kill a fellow wizard and professor." Snape's eyebrows arched as he looked at Buffy.

Buffy stared at the werewolf that had already gnawed through the ropes and was now working on the cage. "Who is it?"

"Oh, can't you tell?" Snape crossed his arms. "It's Professor Lupin."

Buffy watched as the werewolf unlatched the cage and began to move slowly towards her. Another tangle of ropes flew at the werewolf.

"He didn't take his potion, so now he wants to eat everybody in sight." Snape continued as Buffy continued to stare. There was only growling from the werewolf as Snape and Buffy said nothing.

Buffy didn't want to see Snape's face, since she knew that he was probably sneering.

"Summers!"

Buffy did look up, just in time to see the werewolf lunge toward her. Buffy tried to get out of the way, but the werewolf clawed at her and kept her down. It bared its teeth and then went to bite her, but in an instant it was flung off of her and was in a new cage.

"He didn't bite you, did he?" Snape held out his hand to help Buffy up.

"No." Buffy paused for a moment, thinking that he might have poisoned his own hand, just to see her suffer.

"I think, Buffy, that you can leave him with me," Snape said as he helped Buffy up.

"You sure you don't need me?" Buffy looked over her shoulder at the werewolf.

"I'll get him to drink his potion in the morning, but other than that, I think he's going to be fine for the rest of the night," Snape insisted. "You'd be doing more harm than good."

"Mm'kay," Buffy sighed.

"Oh, and Buffy," Buffy turned around and wondered what Snape might have to say. She was actually surprised that he hadn't been rude to her yet. "Too bad you had to find out about your dear Remus this way." Snape arched an eyebrow at her and waved his wand as the door shut right in her face.

Buffy rolled her eyes and walked away slowly from Remus's office. And that's when it hit her. Why hadn't she been able to move away from the werewolf attack? Certainly she had tried and usually it was an easy task.

She looked down at her hands, she had one cut from when ... Remus ... had cut her. It wasn't a bad cut, but it would heal easily.

No, Buffy thought, it won't. The bruising that doesn't go away, being outmanuevered all those times, and just now I couldn't even control a werewolf. God, what is it with me? First vampires now werewolves? Can't I ever have a normal boyfriend?

Some tiny voice in her head sounded like the Soup Nazi, which Buffy didn't enjoy. No normal boyfriends for you!

Buffy realized that she was already at her room. She walked slowly and one of the Gryffindor 5th years bounded up beside her.

"Hey, Buffy," the boy said.

"Hey," Buffy forced a smile, "Need anything?"

"Could you help me with my Muggle Studies homework?"

"Sure, just give me a sec, okay?" Buffy winked at the boy and went into her room to change. As soon as she saw her bed, she collapsed onto it and took in a deep breath.

Pull yourself together, Buffy thought. Crying only makes things more sucky than they already are.

Buffy took in another breath and found her way to her closet. She put on her pajamas and headed to the Gryffindor common room; trying her best to keep one thought out of her mind.

There's no way I can help fight without my powers.

x chapter's end x

After Thoughts: Read and review, please and thanks!

Poor Buffy, huh? For all you Buffy lovers out there, I promise that she'll be okay. She has another purpose. She's a trooper and there IS a happy ending in store for her. Okie-dokie?

Sorry that this chapter took such a long time. Life. Is. A. Big. Pain. And work ain't so hot either... but I said that I will always update. And I will!

Next chapter is funny! And so is the one after that! So... YAY! Give you a few serious chapters and then I'll give a few fun chapters. Chapter 18 is SO my favorite. I've been slaving over it since Chapter 10... so now while I'm finally writing it... YAY!

Look forward to Ch. 17 entitled:

All Hallow's Eve

A great Halloween Bash brings a few friends to Hogwarts.