Okay, I know this is like really really late. But the end of the year of school kind of sucks in the pile all this homework and exams on you in the last few weeks kind of way. And I have been busy with drama club. Not to mention the little writer's block fairy was kind enough to grace me with its presence. Really gonna shoot that little bastard next time I see it. The way I wanted it to turn out in this chapter kind of didn't happen so I more or less winged it. I put a lot of Percy in this one as he hasn't shown up and I thought it might be interesting to see things from his p.o.v. I really don't remember what his job was specifically at the ministry and I'm feeling too lazy to actually look it up in OotP, so in here he's like Fudge's personal assistant. Again really sorry for the late update. I'll try not to let it happen again, but I make no promises. Thousands of thanks to my reviewers. You guys kick ass! And lots of thanks to Matthew for being very very patient and to TriquetraWarrior for iming me.
J Potter: Thanks and of course I had to bring Spike back. He's so funny and hot. Sirius might or might not be coming back. Still undecided on that.
Vld: Um no, that would be what Spike called the scythe thingy in season 7 when he first saw it. But Monty Python kicks ass! And I can't kill Fudge…yet (hehe).
NicolaAfyon: Nope sorry no Spike/Buffy cuz, well, it just won't work here and no Buffy/Angel cuz I just don't like him. I thought he was better off with Cordy. Thanks for the review though.
ttrunks: No Spike/Fred, I'm a Wes/Fred fan.
Tanydwr: Um, well, as for them kicking Fudge's ass. Not likely to happen soon. Fudge will get what's coming to him, I just have to play with him first. Very good comparison of Fudge to the British government before WW2. I see your point. Yeah, Kennedy sucked. Glad lots of people seem to agree. Tara was the coolest and I would kill for a voice like that. You'll have to see how Harry does in self-defense. Sure he's good with the wand, but take that away and see how he does. I am big on the constructive criticism as well and I am my biggest critic. I don't like to hurt people's feelings though. Thanks for the nice review.
Cheezer: Not sure if your review was a flame or just an informative one. Take a look at the episode again, she says she's been fighting evil since she was 15. And I am aware that they know of the whole HP universe in the show. I think I said this before, but in case I didn't, in this fic the books don't exist. So they knew nothing of this world in my story. No idea what you mean about the Xmasland thing, but it's like one in the morning and I'm too tired to think about that one.
vampy the chosen one: Yeah I definitely had to clear up the whole "I love you" thing. It's not like I coulda just let that get cuz that woulda been careless of me. Thanks a bunch.
Pnkrkriotgirl: Actually I have read of Draco having a sister stories, um, I think. Unless those were just Buffy as his sister. ::Too late can't think, oh well:: Well, I thought it was intriguing. Glad you liked it. Am with you on the Hermione/Ron thing. Only I wanted them together since the third book when they fought so much. Um I am assuming you mean my evil OC dude, Hastemire. I made him and his family up. They're just another pureblood family of loyal, well somewhat loyal, Death Eaters. I will try to bring Oz in cuz I thought he was cool.
MegCat06: Believe you me I will get Xander a girlfriend. After all he's been through he deserves some loving.
Silver Warrior: I can see Buffy with other people than Angel. Just her with Spike makes no sense to me. I mean as friends yeah, but as lovers, nope. I may sound crazy, but I always wanted her to hook up with Riley's hunky pal Graham. I liked him way better than Riley from what little we saw of him lol. Feeding Fudge to Spike. I thought of that too. That would be funny.
blondi gurl: All I can say for Spike is he's a big part of the gang now and will be extremely helpful in the fight against the dark lord.
SPASH Panther: Well, it's more like McGonagall has a problem with Spike being in the same building as the students whereas Angel will be thousands of miles away most of the time.
Also thanks to ScruffyWes, Tiger Tiger2, Destiny's Dragon, and matt for reviewing.
Being in his old school and walking the familiar chilly stone hallways and warily staring at the gleaming suits of armor was a painful dose of nostalgia to Percy Weasley. It brought back memories of the days when he had just been Percy, Gryffindor prefect and later Head Boy. Those days had been more or less carefree. He had had a loving, albeit slightly crazy family to return home to when the term was ended. He had had a girlfriend whom he had cared for dearly to enjoy life with. Sure, he had been an uptight stickler, but someone had to balance out the blatant disregard for the rules his younger brothers had.
With a morose glance to the stormy enchanted ceiling he realized that those days were lost and probably permanently so. It had literally taken him all summer to admit to himself that he had been wrong about Voldemort, Harry Potter, and Dumbledore. It had taken him all of those three months to realize the full measure of what he had done to himself and his family. He had betrayed them; had utterly failed to do his duty as a Weasley in the worse way. Having taken three months to finally admit his self-inflicted alienation and mistakes to himself it would take nothing short of eternity to admit that to everyone else.
He wanted so much to have the courage to apologize to them; to go to his mother (whom he felt he had hurt most of all) and make things right. But the damnable pride within him would not allow for such penitence. All he could do now was do whatever he could to aid this upcoming war against Voldemort and try to restore the ever-weakening faith in the Ministry.
"Brings back some old memories, eh?" asked Cornelius Fudge, Minister of Magic.
Percy nodded curtly and said nothing. The word got out that Dumbledore had taken in three new students from America, the children of renowned Aurors and an undiscovered Muggle-born witch, and that one of the girls was a Vampire Slayer. After that word came several more on the subject of the Vampire Slayers, Buffy Summers and the former renegade, Faith. The Ministry was well connected to the Watcher's Council and quite a few Council members had been former Ministry members and vice versa. It had been a terrible loss indeed when the Council had been destroyed. So many respectable men and women had lost their lives in that blast. Luckily, several members of the Council worked abroad and were spared the fiery fate of their brethren. One member, a wizard, had been contacted by a former watcher in Los Angeles, California and he had told the wizard the strangest story. That same story the wizard had recently related to the Ministry. Apparently there were now thousands of slayers worldwide and currently at Hogwarts were the two original ones along with a growing brigade of others of which two among that number were to attend Hogwarts this next term as students. And also working with the two elder slayers was the woman responsible for the increase in their numbers.
"Where is that confounded man? I specifically stated in the letter that he was to meet me in his office when we portkeyed there," Fudge growled angrily as they walked through the assorted passageways of Hogwarts.
Percy again kept his mouth shut. He didn't think it prudent to tell Fudge that Dumbledore was the sort of man that arrived when he meant to arrive and not the other way around. Their question as to the missing headmaster's whereabouts was soon answered when the wise old man himself stepped came face to face while rounding a corner. Dumbledore seemed not at all surprised.
"Minister, always a pleasure. And young Mister Weasley as well," the old man greeted politely, though Percy didn't detect any of the warmth that usually permeated the wizard.
"Professor, why weren't you in your office? I am quite sure that I said I would be here at 1:00 in the afternoon," the Minister of Magic replied icily with a faint touch of nervousness.
"Oh you did and you have my most sincere apologies for not being there. There were some school matters I had to attend to. I am sure you understand," Dumbledore said plainly popping a piece of candy into his mouth.
Fudge clenched his fists and quelled the desire to have one of his guards hex the impertinent man within his own territory. Ever since the skirmish at the Ministry a few months ago Fudge's dignity and popularity had taken quite the beating. Rather than blame the apparent cause of the problems, himself along with Voldemort, he saw Dumbledore and the Potter boy as the reasons.
"Indeed. Where are they?" Fudge asked shortly.
"By they I am assuming you mean our new allies and their charges," Dumbledore raised an eyebrow at the short, pudgy man.
"Of course I mean them. Have we any other allies that you did not see fit to notify me of?" Fudge's bitter voice was filled with spite.
Dumbledore merely gave his equivalent of a shrug of indifference by flicking a spot of dust off his sapphire colored robes.
"Since it is such a wonderful summer day outside Miss Summers and Miss Faith along with the two current watchers, Mr. Giles and Mr. Wyndam-Pryce have taken the girls outside to train. This way."
He led them to where the slayers were training in a spot by the lake. Buffy was standing in front of a group of about fifteen girls who stood in three straight rows performing various fighting techniques. Others were sparring in pairs while Faith, Wesley, and Giles supervised.
"How many are there?" Fudge asked.
"Well, currently we have thirty-five girls here. The spell we did to find the young ladies showed us that there are over one thousand newly activated slayers worldwide. There were more, but Miss Rosenberg performed a modifying spell to turn the slayer energy back into potential energy in any girls younger than fifteen. That reduced the numbers quite a bit," Dumbledore informed him.
"Is this the same Wicca who turned them all into slayers?" Fudge inquired with a subtle hint of derision leaking into his voice.
Dumbledore noticed the man's scornful tone but did not comment on it and simply answered, "Yes."
Faith spotted the men and left Wesley and Giles to greet Dumbledore and find out who the other men were.
"Hey Dumbledore. Who're the new guys?" she asked her dark eyes searching them over and over with a very nerve-wracking intensity.
"This is Cornelius Fudge, our Minister of Magic. His assistant here is Percy Weasley; you are already acquainted with his family. I have not caught the names of the other two men, but they are personal guards of the minister's," Dumbledore told her.
Faith frowned remembering all that she had been told of the minister and his actions that past year. She folded her arms and scrutinized the short man.
"I'm Faith, one of the Chosen Two," she told them with a barely noticeable flex of her muscles.
The two guards tightened their grips on their wands and Percy himself was hard put to not succumb to his sudden desire to back up a couple steps. Fudge's eyes betrayed his own nervousness at being so close to such a powerful and seductive being. He could never stand being in the presence of someone far more powerful than him be it magically or physically. Dumbledore's twinkling blue eyes gleamed with mirth and the raven-haired slayer winked at him. Both of them could sense the fear off the four men and Faith was obviously enjoying it.
"So, you're the Head Mojo-Man?" Faith inquired casually pretending not to notice their apparent uneasiness.
Fudge puffed his chest out importantly and answered smugly, "Of the United Kingdom, yes I am." He really didn't want to try to correct her on the proper term for his kind.
Faith gave a little half-smile and left the men to bring over her sister-slayer and co-commander, Buffy.
"B, hey, the Minister of Magic is here with some lackeys. S'pose you should go over and say hello. I already gave them a good intimidating, but I think it's safe to say they could use some more. 'Specially the minister," Faith told her after pulling her away from the group of trainees.
"Oh joy," Buffy muttered sarcastically.
"Yeah, I just met the guy and already I can tell he is one major asshole," Faith said.
Buffy sighed in reluctant acquiescence. She knew that she would have had to meet this guy sooner or later as he was the leader of the Wizarding government of the United Kingdom. Might as well get this over with. I just hope Dumbledore keeps quiet on the Spike issue. She didn't think the minister would take too kindly to an actual vampire however benevolent he appeared. It had been hard enough to get Professor McGonagall to accept him.
"Alright, let's get Giles and Wes," Buffy said.
After retrieving the two watchers and telling the girls to behave whilst they spoke with the minister the four walked back over to where the headmaster and the four visitors stood.
"Minister, this is Buffy Summers the eldest living Vampire Slayer now, and her watcher, Rupert Giles. From Los Angeles is Wesley Wyndam-Pryce, also a watcher," Dumbledore introduced them while gesturing to each person.
After a beat and some scrutinizing on the part of both parties Fudge held his hand out to the three he had just been acquainted with. Wesley was the first to grasp it. Buffy had her arms folded and her entire body was tense.
"I must say we are quite honored to unite with the Wizarding World against the dark lord," the refined British gentleman said.
"Likewise. We are eager to accept any help we can," Fudge replied flatly his eyes darting back and forth between the two slayers and the two watchers.
"Hey are you related to the Weasleys?" Buffy asked Percy when she noticed the redhead.
Percy winced in return and dolefully nodded his head. "I'm Percy. I'm Arthur and Molly Weasley's third child."
"Cool. Your younger brother and sister are here right now. I like them. Neat kids," she said warmly.
Color drained from the tall redhead's face. Ron and Ginny were here now? He hadn't expected any of his family to be at Hogwarts this early which had been the only reason he had accompanied Fudge. Buffy frowned in confusion at his reaction, but waved it away and turned her gaze back to Fudge.
"So, what is it you would like to know about what we do?" she inquired.
"Well, I believe it is quite obvious what you do Miss Summers. Your title is Vampire Slayer. I am interested in what you are going to do," he said.
Buffy exchanged glances with Faith, Giles, and Wesley.
"Well, we are working on keeping Harry Potter protected and gathering all slayers that are willing. I am sure you know already that Voldemort just might have demonic and vampiric allies so that is where we can be of great benefit. We are especially interested in finding all slayer-witches as they will be very helpful to our cause," Giles told him.
Fudge wondered why that plan did not include anything about destroying Lord Voldemort, but at the mention of slayer-witches he remembered that there were two to attend Hogwarts.
"Ah yes, slayer-witches. What are the names of those girls attending here?" he asked.
"The American girl is Jordan Firewell from Katsmorn, Montana. She attended Professor Scarlett Tranley's school, Cristallon in Washington State. You know her parents, Gabriel and Aurora, and her grandfather was of course Christopher Firewell. She had been trained as a potential since she was eight. The other is one of our own, Hermione Granger," Dumbledore informed him.
Percy's jaw dropped at the mention of his younger brother's best friend's name. Hermione was a slayer? The possibility hadn't even crossed his mind.
"So where are these young ladies?" Fudge asked.
Buffy and Faith bristled simultaneously. They had both become extremely protective of all the slayers and both of them were a little disinclined to have this man around any of them. Buffy met Faith's eyes and they silently communicated mind to mind like Willow had taught. Faith was still a little rusty at the sending the telepathic message part because she had just started learning so she mostly listened.
"We might as well just take him to them. He'll get to them sooner and later. Besides, I don't think he's evil, a prick yeah, but not evil and Dumbledore seems to be okay with it, I think," Buffy said silently.
Faith nodded, but she was still very uneasy about the whole thing.
"If he tries anything, we could just feed him to Spike," the shorter slayer joked.
Faith snorted involuntarily causing everyone besides Buffy and Dumbledore to look at her like she had grown another head.
"I believe Hermione and Jordan were training together. I'll lead you to them," Wesley told the minister.
"Superman is way cooler than Spiderman!" Andrew stressed as he ducked a punch from Xander.
"Oh please. He wears underwear outside of his pants!" the taller man with the eye patch replied as he grabbed the smaller blonde one and threw him to the ground.
Jordan and Hermione had abandoned their own sparring match to watch Xander and Andrew's. Ron stood behind his girlfriend with his long arms wrapped around her waist. She had leaned into his embrace and spent much more time paying attention to the rhythm of his breathing than the two Muggles.
"Wow. He really gets worked up when it comes to his comic books, doesn't he?" Aidan remarked referring to Andrew.
Dawn groaned and rolled her eyes. "You have no idea."
She caught Harry's eye and threw him a dazzling smile as the boy sat up on the grass. He had already spent the better half of the morning going through his own physical training. He was fast enough and his reflexes were quite good though not as good as a slayer's. But unfortunately he was lacking in the physical strength area. He was sure even Dawn could beat him at an arm-wrestling match. He actually didn't know if this was true, but he was afraid his ego wouldn't let him give it a try.
"It's a good thing. He kind of needed the anger it makes him a better fighter. He's almost matching Xander, but I guess he's a bit at a disadvantage having only one eye and all," Jordan said.
"I'm not sure I understand. Who are Superman and Spiderman anyway? Are they people you know?" Ginny asked Dawn.
"They're just comic book superheroes. Spiderman was an ordinary kid bitten by a radioactive spider so bing bam he's a got all these supernatural talents. Superman came from another planet and can fly," she explained although she didn't know much on the subject beyond what she had seen in movies and on television.
"Oh yeah, I remember Spiderman. Wasn't he the really good looking guy who wore the nice tight leotard thing and swung around on this white rope in that movie you had?" Jordan asked.
Dawn grinned. "Is that all you remember of the movie? Tobey Maguire in a tight suit?"
Jordan gave an extremely offended look. "No! I remember other things. Like the, erm, didn't he beat an old lady with a can?"
"That doesn't sound much like a superhero," Hermione commented dryly.
"Personally, anyone who calls himself Spiderman is just scary," Ron said having had bad experiences with spiders and not liking them to begin with.
Dawn walked over to sit by Harry. She kind of wished that Spike could be outside in such nice weather as this, but being the night creature that he was he was safely ensconced within in his room in the dungeons.
"You're being all quiet-like. I thought I had cured you almost of all of that," she remarked as she plopped down beside the dark-headed boy.
"I'm tired. I was up all night finishing my homework for over the holidays and then I get up early to train," he explained rubbing his eyes. "I wish I had slayer stamina," he remarked while looking over enviously at Hermione and Jordan.
"Ah, you'll get used to it. Besides it is kinda fun isn't it? Getting to know how to do all these nifty little tricks with and without weapons," Dawn replied.
Harry had to agree and he had entertained the idea of using some of his new fighting skills on a particular Slytherin when school started back up in two days. He had grudgingly agreed to go ahead and ride the train to Hogwarts as Hermione, Ginny, and Ron had to anyway since they were prefects. Jordan and Aidan had always traveled to school by portkey so they definitely wanted to go on the train and they wanted to meet their fellow housemates. Dawn had never in her life been on a magical train and she had only been on a normal train once that she could remember and that had been years ago. Despite the fact that he would probably receive a lot of attention, pleasant and unpleasant, he decided to go with them. Willow, Wesley, and Xander would be going with them at Buffy's request along with Tonks and Lupin. Moody would probably be somewhere as well.
"Hey guys!" came Buffy's yell.
Xander quickly released Andrew from the headlock he currently had the young man in causing him to drop to the ground and quickly scrambling to his feet. Jordan quickly picked up her wooden staff and Hermione reluctantly tore herself from Ron's arms and picked up hers. Everyone paused what they were doing when they noticed that four other people were walking with Buffy, Dumbledore, Giles, Wesley, and Faith. Hermione sucked in a breath through clenched teeth when she noticed the Minister of Magic. She gasped when she saw a familiar tall redhead amongst them. She glanced anxiously at her boyfriend who had stiffened and look of bitter disgust spread over his face and slightly marred his pleasant features. His sister was doing a bit better at concealing her emotions under the guise of indifference.
"Uh-oh," Aidan said quietly.
"Who the hell are they?" Jordan asked Hermione.
"That's their Minister of Magic Jordan. Don't you ever read anything in the papers that doesn't deal with music?" her brother told her.
Harry, meanwhile, was debating whether or not to leave the area because he didn't know how long he could withstand the presence of Fudge or Percy. He slowly stood up and stalked up to stand with Ron and Ginny. Dawn silently followed him.
"Good afternoon everyone. I trust you are all enjoying the end of summer?" Dumbledore greeted them politely in an attempt to ease the tension.
"Oh yes, it's very nice here. Although it may take some time before I convince silly Xander here that Superman is way cooler than Spiderman," Andrew replied earning himself some very perplexed stares on the other end.
Harry's emerald irises sparkled with ire as he looked upon the man who had put him, Dumbledore, and his godfather through hell last year all because of his paranoia and ignorance. He was getting angry from just the mere sight of Fudge that he started to shake. Dawn, noticing Harry's strange behavior but not understanding the cause completely grasped his hand in hopes of calming him down. Harry swallowed hard and felt himself calm slightly at the feel of Dawn's smooth skin. He held onto her hand tightly as though she was the only thing preventing his losing his temper.
"Minister, these are the two slayer-witches, Hermione Granger and Jordan Firewell." Wesley put a hand on each shoulder of the girls' as he introduced them.
Fudge studied the two girls carefully which started to make Jordan squirm. She hated when people just stared at her and never said anything. She didn't know much about this guy except what she had read in the papers and what everyone spoke about. The general consensus was that this man was an imbecile. Perfect.
"Well, you two must certainly feel special. Slayers and witches. I understand that you are not as common as Muggle-born slayers?" His tone of voice was most disagreeable to the young slayers.
"Erm, yeah. But strength wise we're no more powerful," Jordan replied shortly.
"Ah, but you can also do magic. It certainly sets you apart from the rest, doesn't it?" Fudge said.
"So? I'm sure there are some slayers who can do Wiccan magic. I mean it was a Wicca that turned us all into slayers," Jordan said.
"So I've been told." Fudge sighed and seemed to be contemplating on something.
Jordan peaked at Hermione who had her arms folded across her chests and was chewing her bottom lip. She kept glancing back at Ron, Ginny, and Harry in anxiety and back to Fudge and the tall redhead with glasses beside him. Must be another Weasley kid. Boy he looks like someone broke his wand in half. From what she could see of the redhead's face he seemed to be very uneasy and very sad at the same time. She then looked back at the other Weasley children. Ron's face was seething with bitterness and pointed abhorrence and Ginny, well, hers was unreadable. Jordan was never good at reading emotions on faces unless they were quite obvious. Lucky for her Ron was like an open book most of the time. Harry seemed, for lack of a better term, pissed off. Dawn shot her friend a worried and questioning glance. Jordan had nothing to offer but a shrug.
"Dumbledore, I would like to speak with you in your office," Fudge said while still looking at Jordan and Hermione.
Dumbledore frowned, but politely answered, "Of course Minister."
Since Fudge apparently did not have the stamina to walk all the way back to Dumbledore's office, which was rather strange since Dumbledore had quite a lot of years over him and would have no trouble with it, Dumbledore charmed his hat into a portkey which whisked him, the Minister, and his companions to his office.
"Ten galleons says that Fudge has a problem with us," Jordan whispered to Hermione.
"Us? I think it might be them," Hermione whispered back pointing to Buffy and Faith.
While the discussion between Dumbledore and Fudge went on in the headmaster's office the corridor outside of his office was quite full with some very anxious and angry people. Hermione paced in front of the stone gargoyle that concealed the entrance to the office in an agitated state. She hated not knowing what the men were talking about and she mostly hated that her instincts were telling her that it wasn't good. Another part of her was worrying about her boyfriend who after seeing his brother had stormed off to the common room. Ginny seemed to be taking it better than Ron, but she was rather silent and distant at the moment. Even Aidan, whom she now seemed to talk with the most, couldn't coax anything more than a few sentences out of the girl. He had eventually given up and gone to sit by his sister.
"How do you like that? School hasn't even started and already I'm probably gonna get deported or something," Jordan mumbled to her twin.
"They could be talking about something completely different," Aidan offered as comfort with false cheer to coat it.
Jordan raised her eyebrow and looked at her brother with the expression that said, Puh-leese.
"He's probably trying to take all the credit for allying with you guys from Dumbledore," Harry told them.
"Lovely," Jordan replied sarcastically.
Buffy and Faith were standing in at the left of the group of teens and Wesley and Giles stood at the right as if they were guards. The elder slayers and the two watchers were conferring quietly with the other making many gestures to the entrance to Dumbledore's office. All four of them were curious as to what Fudge was discussing with Dumbledore. After all, who wouldn't be?
Buffy stopped mid sentence while she was talking to Faith when she sensed a most familiar presence. She turned her head and caught Spike stepping coming around a shadowy corner with a cigarette in his mouth while blowing smoke through his nostrils. He stopped in his tracks and smirked at the scene before him.
"What's this? Sun too much for you humans?" he drawled his voice somewhat muffled from the cigarette in his mouth.
"Thought Dumbledore said you couldn't smoke in the castle," Buffy said to him.
"'Snot like I could go outside at the moment and smoke a fag unless I wanna end up like it," he retorted.
"Well, he is allowing for you to live, erm, stay in the castle and you really should just go with his wishes," Buffy pressed crossing her arms and scowling at him.
Spike rolled his blue eyes while letting out a dramatic sigh and let his cigarette fall to the ground so he could crush it underneath his boot.
"Happy now?" he questioned dryly.
"I'll be happy when Dumbledore tells me what the hell Fudge wants," Buffy muttered.
"What?" Spike was confused by her reply.
With a sigh Buffy launched into an explanation of who Fudge was and why he came. Spike listened to it all with a serious air about him and nodded his head thoughtfully after she finished.
"Does he want something with those two?" he asked referring to Jordan and Hermione.
"Dunno," Faith answered.
"God, I hope not," Hermione said anxiously wringing her hands.
"I could take care of him for you. I do have that soddin' chip outta my head," Spike joked with a mischievous gleam in his eyes.
Harry brightened at the thought and instinctively replied, "Really?"
"Uh no, that would only end up causing more problems," Buffy quickly countered.
She, of course, did not comment on the fact that she had had the same idea. Only she hadn't really meant it. A yelp of surprise jolted everyone to their senses when the stone gargoyle that guarded the passage to Dumbledore's office that Dawn had been sitting against slid away. She scrambled to her feet along with everyone else who had been sitting on the floor as the five men emerged. Dumbledore's countenance was hard and grim and Fudge's was blazing with anger. Percy kept his gaze downward as he clutched several scrolls to his chest. He couldn't look at his sister and she seemed to be equally determined to avoid his gaze as well.
Fudge walked straight to where Buffy and Faith stood and waggled his finger at the two women.
"You should have come to me if an alliance was what you sought. But I am willing to forgive that act if you two were to sign over control of your girls to myself and relocate the training grounds to the Ministry. I had requested this of Dumbledore, but he was adamant in proclaiming that it was your decision to make. So who you will serve under Miss Summers? Myself or some crazy old fool," he said to them his voice sounding more and more pompous to the ears of the two slayers.
Buffy and Faith goggled at the Minister for this outburst in front of the students and for his brazen insulting of Dumbledore. And just where did he come off asking for control of the slayers. Control of the slayers belonged to none other than the slayers themselves. Dumbledore understood that so why couldn't Fudge?
Buffy's voice was tight as she simply replied, "We're fine with Dumbledore, thanks."
"And it isn't much like serving under as serving with, kay?" Faith corrected him cheekily.
Fudge's eyes hardened and his skin turned to a mottled purple to rival that of Harry's Uncle Vernon. He had never much liked the legacy of the Slayer. In his mind they were dangerous creatures to be ever mindful of. Mortal girls with strength and power beyond reckoning ranked up with giants in the danger scale. He had intended to keep them close so as to keep an eye on them. The dark haired one, Faith was her name, had even once succumbed to the darkness. That meant she should be doubly watched. And the elder one, Buffy, one who had bested death not once, but twice could be a threat. And then there was that Wicca, Rosenberg. He remembered hearing rumors of a powerful Wicca in Sunnydale (which he naturally didn't pay much attention to before) and was now guessing that this Rosenberg was said Wicca. Muggles with magics; not a subject to be trifled with. Whose ever idea it was to allow for them to manipulate the forces around them was mad. Completely mad.
"So you choose to side with him?" Fudge asked incredulously.
"Um, aren't you chaps on the same side? Against Voldemort and all?" Spike inquired.
Fudge's eyes went briefly to the bleach blonde vampire before turning on the two women in front of him both of whom were starting to look a little ticked. The words that he had planned on spouting to them seemed to crackle and burn under the fire of their gazes and in a rare case of wisdom Fudge chose to keep his thoughts to himself. There was no telling what the two young women would do if provoked. He knew Dumbledore was not fool enough to attempt anything rash.
"Very well. I can only say that I hope you come to realize the full extent of your mistake," he told the two women in a strained voice.
When Buffy and Faith rolled their eyes in annoyance at him he turned away in a rage and stalked over to Dumbledore.
"Planning on adding them to your army Dumbledore? They going to make up your new army? Well, do not come to me when they turn on you. Especially the Wicca and dark haired slayer," Fudge spat in disgust.
"I do not think it wise to making such crude accusations Minister," Dumbledore admonished when he noticed the growing anger on everyone's faces.
Fudge simply scoffed at his words, but was quick to gather his entourage and portkey out of there. After the insufferable man left all eyes trained on Dumbledore for explanations.
"Would it be a terrible inconvenience if we were to conduct the explanations somewhere a bit more comfortable? I daresay it is almost your dinnertime," Dumbledore replied wearily.
Something about his demeanor had Hermione greatly pertubed. With her heightened senses she was able to detect a new aura of grim weariness surrounding the old wizard. She had known Dumbledore was quite old in a sense of how many years he had lived, but she had never thought of him as being old old. More wrinkles were visible and his twinkling blue eyes were a little less twinkling then they were last year. They seemed almost burnt out. It was very frightening indeed to see the one whom Voldemort most feared in that light. A horrible morbid thought entered in her head. What if something happened to Dumbledore? What would they do without him? Not only was he one of their most powerful advocates, he was sort of like a grandfather to them all. Losing Dumbledore would be a most grievous blow to the heart for Hermione and many others. Though Harry kept up a subtle pretense of intense dislike for him, she knew that if something were to happen to Dumbledore he would be greatly wounded.
After several cups of tea and several helpings of scrumptious meats and vegetables in the dining hall Dumbledore finally explained to them what Fudge and he had discussed.
Apparently what Dumbledore and Fudge had talked about had taken almost twice as long as what Fudge had said to Buffy and Faith even when it was the same subject. Perhaps because Fudge had done a bit more yelling and complaining the first time around. Feeling threatened and always a bit paranoid of what Dumbledore would do with so many powerful beings at his disposal, Fudge demanded he relinquish control of them. Dumbledore was forced to break Fudge's bubble in that he did not have control over the slayers. The ones with that power were Buffy and Faith.
Fudge had been especially interested in having control over the slayer-witches making Jordan and Hermione slightly nervous at the thought.
"Don't worry girls. That bastard's not gonna touch you with us around," Faith assured them.
"Or he'll just have Mom and Dad to deal with," Aidan whispered to his sister who grinned wickedly.
"Grandma would be worse," she whispered back.
Later that evening, Hermione, Harry, Dawn, Aidan, Jordan, and Ginny returned to the Gryffindor common room. Ginny had promptly gone up into the girls' dormitories and did not come down for the rest of the night. Harry was thinking towards heading up to the boys' dormitories soon as he was exhausted mentally and physically from the intense training he had done that day and from the rage he felt towards Fudge. Rage was so tiring.
"Okay what was the major drama up there with Ron and Ginny and their brother? At least I guess it was their brother," Dawn inquired of Harry and Hermione.
Hermione sighed and sank into a chair and answered, "It was. His name is Percy and he's the third eldest. There were some ……disagreements between Percy and his family some months back and I don't believe they have quite gotten over it."
"Oh. So he's sort of the Weasley pariah now?" Jordan asked.
"I suppose you could put it that way. I just hope Ron gets over it by Monday," Hermione replied.
"Oh yes, Monday. We'll no longer have this place to ourselves," Aidan sighed bittersweetly.
"Yeah and I'll have to clear out and go to the Slytherin dorms. I'll miss you guys," Dawn murmured tiredly.
"Ah don't worry you can visit us. And if they get their robes all twisted in a knot about you and stuff just kick their asses. Or I'll do it," Jordan told her.
"Or Spike could eat them," Harry suggested.
Being as tired as they were they found it far more humorous than it actually was and the common room erupted with laughter. There was no doubt in Harry's mind, this year was going to be interesting.