A/N: Ok, you very faithful readers and reviewers might want to string me up for what I'm about to do . . . but don't cause then, you'll never learn the rest of the story ;-P There is a method to my madness. So no yelling (ok, moderate yelling I'll allow.) And there's just a tiny bit of fluff involved.

Chapter Eight: And You Are What?

When Xander awoke two hours later, it was with Cordy's head on his shoulder. He grinned down at her. She'd spent most of the night with Harry, talking about what had happened during the past few days that they had been separated. He couldn't believe this was the same girl he'd known for most of his life in Sunnydale.

"Are you quite done staring at me, Harris?" Cordy groaned as she pushed herself up and away from him.

"How do you know that I was staring at you, Chase? Maybe I've got a lazy eye. Maybe I strained it, and it's stuck - hey! You're head was down!" He quipped.

"Yeah, but you fell for it." She grinned.

"I despise you."

"I bet you use that as one of your pick up lines." Cordy stretched as she rose to her feet. "If I remember correctly, that was the line I used to pick you up in the Summers' basement."

"Yeah, we were fighting the bug man."

Cordy shuddered in remembrance. That had not been one of her favorite memories of Sunnydale. She held out her hand to him.

"C'mon, lets get dressed and get ready for breakfast."

"You look like Cordelia Chase but you sound so much like a merciful angel."

"Quit being a ham." Cordy rolled her eyes.

It was still early, and most of the house was dead asleep. Cordy and Xan were knocked out on one of the couches, and it seemed like everyone else was still tucked up in their beds. Faith made her way quietly down the stairs.

It had been a long day and an even longer night, especially since Tonks' moaning had kept her up half the night. Faith gave a small snort at that. Like Tonks didn't know who she was dreaming about. To be truthful, she was itching for a round or two with a guy - any guy would do.

"'Someday some one'll surprise you.' He said. Got a real big surprise when I found him with that Chosen-One Wannabe." She muttered, turning into the doorway that led to the kitchen.

"Pardon me?" A stiff sounding voice said from behind her.

Faith whirled around, her muscles poised to hit first and ask questions later. It was a good thing she resisted, because she found herself facing a young red-haired guy just behind her in the doorway. He had to be one of those red-haired maniacs running around this place.

"Anyone ever tell you not to sneak up on people? I could have kicked your ass, and I haven't even eaten yet."

"Did anyone ever tell you that it's incredibly rude to mutter under your breath? Or to speak to oneself as if no one should hear you is called thinking?" He straightened the horn-rimmed glasses, and Faith resisted the urge to deck his annoying ass. She gritted her teeth as he continued. "Speaking to oneself is considered to be one of the first signs of mental illness, you know."

"Jesus, it's Red with manners and a dick. Assuming you got one." Faith paused for a beat. "Hell, that's just an insult to Red. And it ain't rude if you're by yourself. Saying stuff out loud helps me think better."

"Then I think you should stop, because that was utter drivel that just poured out of your mouth."

Faith let out an angry breath as she forced herself to keep her fists at her side. She didn't get a chance to respond to him, because Tonks decided to barge into the kitchen at that point.

"Morning, Faith. What's there to - Bloody Hell!" Tonks yelled. "Percy pain-in-the-arse Weasley? What the hell are you doing here? Ain't got any cauldron bottoms to inspect? Or are you just too far up Fudge's arse to do that properly?" Tonks demanded harshly.

"I am here on the bequest of Professor Dumbledore, not that it is any of your concern Auror Tonks."

"See, it's that attitude that makes someone wanna hex you, Percy." Tonks said brightly, shaking her finger at him, but Faith figured what she really wanted to do was slug him.

"If you will excuse me," Percy said tightly, side-stepping her.

"Hey T, what'd he do to you?" Faith asked when he left the room.

"Nothing. Broke his mother's heart. Molly's his mum."

"I figured, what with the red hair and all." Faith rolled her eyes. "And you mentioned his name. I may not be the quickest person in the world, but I think I can remember somethin' you said two minutes ago."

"Yeah, well Percy's as close to a blood traitor as it gets." Tonks said hotly, reaching for a bowl and some eggs. "Molly was a totally different person last year -"

"Nymphandora Tonks, you step away from my cooking things right this instant -" Molly said loudly, making her way into the kitchen.

"Bloody hell!" Tonks jumped nearly half a foot off the floor, dropping the bowl. It shattered loudly, but she managed to not drop the eggs. Molly groaned.

"Not again." Molly whipped out her wand and did a quick tidying spell. "Why don't you girls pop into the garden for a bit. I'll fix you up some breakfast."

"It's best if we do as she says." Tonks said glumly.

Faith followed her. It kept her out of the kitchen and away from Molly, and she'd like to keep it that way. Tonks plopped down onto the black wrought iron bench and stared up at the cloudy sky.

"I used to be dead clumsy as a child. Horrible really. Broke a million things in this house, accidentally of course." Tonks picked at the chipping black paint. "Including this god awful bench. Sirius' mum, she was a dead frightening woman. Struck the fear of god into me, she did."

"Well, you can't be a klutz your whole life, T." Faith really didn't want to get into the whole motivational speaker thing. That was B's shtick.

"Yeah, I think I can't either. But then last spring I screwed things up, all last year I broke stuff round here." Tonks laughed at herself. "Funny enough, it was always when Molly was around. I was fine that very first week - but then Sirius told her all about how I used to break things."

"Let me guess, Mommy of the Year told you she didn't think you'd break anything now that you're all grown up?" Faith asked.

"Yeah, now that you mention it."

"Look, I ain't too good with the whole psycho babble, so I'm gonna say it quick. Sounds like you're doin' what's expected of you - being a screw-up because that's all they think you can be." Tonks gave her a look. Aw, Hell no. "'Cept for Flint. He just wants to hit it." Faith gave her a knowing grin.

"Oh shove it." Tonks groaned.

"Girls, breakfast's ready."

Marcus groaned as he pushed himself up off the bed in the room he was sharing with Weasley. Speak of the devil.

"Good morning, Flint." Percy said testily.

"Weasley." Marcus grunted. "What's crawled up your arse?"

"Nothing has crawled up my arse."

"Oh, just the stick that's permanently shoved up there then?" Marcus yawned.

"No, thank you very much." Percy snapped. "Just had a lovely little bump in with your lust object."

"Nymphie? First thing in the morning?" Marcus grinned. "She wearing that little strappy number this morning?"

"You are deranged, you do know that?"

"Yeah, but then I am trying to get into her pants."

"So most of the house has gathered." Percy paused. "Who's the brunette girl? The American?"

"Which one? Short and choppy or long and wavy?" Marcus stretched.

"Long and wavy."

"Slayer, goes by the name of Faith."

"Really? Why is she here?" Percy questioned.

"How the fragging hell am I supposed to know? Came with the Black heir and Potter's auntie. Threatened to bust my chops. Must say, I like her ballsy attitude, but then I am after Nymph. Why?"

"I found her rather inane and vulgar." Percy slid a disparaging look over his way. "She seemed rather perfect for you."

"She got your panties is a twist then?" Marcus retorted. "She's a right sexy little thing."

"You're absolutely disgusting, do you know that?"

"Yeah, yeah, yeah. I here it a hundred times a day. Come up with a new one, eh?"

A/N: Ok, shorter than the last one. . .the next one will be longer, I promise. Honest.