Authors Note: I would like to thank everyone who has reviewed so far. I am sorry that the first chapter was not very long but at the time that I was writing chapter 37 I was also conducting and writing an extensive analysis/research paper for my German class and I was very busy. I will try to make the future chapters longer but I cannot promise anything... I know I am not Malli but I hope you enjoy.
Authors Note 2: I really want to bring Spike in and I'm thinking of making him related to the Malfoys... maybe. I just don't know how I'm gonna do it. If anyone has any ideas I would love to hear them. Thanx.
Feedback: If you're really good and review I'll give ya a cookie! : )
Chapter 38
All in the Great Hall had gone silent with the interruptions of Frank Longbottom and Alastor Moody. Fudge looked as if he were about to explode but before another work could be said Professor Dumbledore stepped forward from his place at the head table and walked over to where the Minister of Magic stood. All eyes followed his move and when the headmaster spoke all ears were trained on him.
"As interesting as this conversation seems to be going," Dumbledore started, "I do not believe it is appropriate for the entire student body. I believe I can make adequate room in my office for everyone."
"As much as I hate to delay this… conversation, Albus, I believe you are correct," Fudge said before he changed his demeanor and attention over to Buffy. "If you make a move to escape any means will be taken to subdue and control you… Now move it! You heard the headmaster."
Professor Dumbledore quickly dismissed the students to their common rooms and somewhat reluctantly the two doors swung open as the students left. As soon as the students were gone from the Great Hall Professor Dumbledore left as well. The professors and Aurors followed suit traveling the way to the headmaster's office.
Buffy was at a loss to what was going to happen. She didn't know what to do. If she told the ministry her true identity then everyone would know she was alive and back. If everyone knew her true identity then there would be no time at all until Voldermort knew as well. If Voldermort knew that she was back then he would most likely send out his death eaters to try and kill her again. Buffy had enough evil beings trying to kill her and she didn't need to add more to the list… just yet anyway. But if she didn't tell the ministry her true identity then they would assume she was evil and working for Voldermort, not against him. If the ministry assumed that she was working for Voldermort then she could be killed, or even worse… thrown into Azkaban for life.
Buffy was faced with a dilemma and she did not know which option was better. If she told the truth about her identity then she could be killed and if she didn't tell the truth then she could still be killed. Well, if I'm killed then I can always come back, she thought to herself hiding a smirk. I wonder what Fudge will say then.
The stone walls leading to the headmaster's office were lit with torches and the paintings followed the group as they went. Soon they reached the designated office and everyone piled inside. Buffy didn't know if it was just her but Dumbledore's seemed to have grown since she was last inside it. Probably to comfortably compensate everyone, she thought. Ha, look at me, I used a big word and it made sense too…Too bad Giles wasn't here to hear it. He'll never believe me if I tell him. There were even extra chairs for everyone. A lot of extra chairs, she thought as she glanced around the room. Fawks immediately flew over to her and landed on her shoulder. Buffy absentmindedly started petting her friend, oblivious to Dumbledore intriguingly watching her actions with the bird.
"Well, don't just stand there, girl," Fudge sneered at her while painfully poking her in her side. "You're holding everyone up. Move it!"
Ouch! Buffy thought as she moved to sit down. Doesn't he know any other words? He kinda reminds me of Snyder…I wonder if I can get Voldermort to eat him. He's snakelike now…right?
"Everyone please take a seat," Dumbledore told everyone, keeping his gaze on Buffy. "I believe there is a lot to discuss starting with who Miss Fox really is."
"Well, I'm … um… I … I can't… uh…" Buffy stuttered. Oh no, what am I gonna do? I can't tell them the truth. It's not time yet, she thought. "…I'm, uh…"
"Miss Fox, whoever you really are," Fudge started, "If you do not will not willingly tell us what we need to know then I'm afraid matters will be out of my hands. You are not in any of the ministry's files and you have been magically controlling me… If you don't tell me what I want to know then I will get the dementors to come and escort you to Azkaban immediately. I believe there is a nice little cell with your name on it… Now I am going to-"
"You leave her alone!" Frank Longbottom yelled. "I don't care what her real name is. She's a good person. She-"
"I was talking," the minister yelled. "Don not interrupt me or else you will be excused along with-"
"No!" Frank yelled at the minister. "She's a good person and I won't let you put her in Azkaban. She was the one who sa-"
"No!" Buffy yelled, pleading with her eyes to Frank to keep quiet about his wife and his recovery. "No, I… um…" Come on, Buffy thought. Think… Hurry up and think of something…you have to say something. Everyone's starring… Think! "I've been… um… I've, uh…"
"She's been… she's been working for me," Moody said, quickly thinking.
"Working for you?" Fudge asked dubiously. "What exactly has she been doing for you, Alastor? And why wasn't I informed?"
"She…well, you know how paranoid I am and I…" Moody started trying desperately to think of something to tell the rat faced minister. "…I wanted to make sure that no one was… after information to harm Harry. I wanted to be sure."
"Alastor," Fudge said, "I do not care if you are paranoid. If what you say is true, it still does not matter in this instance. We do not have any files on her. No one in the ministry has ever seen or heard of her before. No one by the name of Sarah Fox has ever existed, not in this country or another. She can and will still be arrested and put into the ministry's care for impersonating a member of our society and a member of the Ministry of Magic."
Buffy decided that no matter what she were to try, the minister was going to find out about her one way or another. She decided since he would find something out anyway that she was going to be in charge of what he found, not the other way around. It's now or nev- well just now, she thought to herself. But it'll be by my rules.
"I am on your files," Buffy said openly smirking at the minister. "Many of them actually."
The minute she spoke those words everyone quieted and all eyes and ears turned to her. It was so silent Buffy would have bet you could hear a pin drop from the other side of the castle. Well, that is until the minister opened his mouth, ruining the moment of silence.
"What!?" Fudge shouted. "You are not on any of our files! If you were then I would know."
"Yes, I am," Buffy said calmly. "In fact I have my own department especially for me."
"You do not!" the minister shouted at her.
"Do to."
"You do not!"
"Do to."
"Do not!"
"Do to," Buffy told him. She did all she could to keep from laughing flat out. "And aren't you such a five year old."
As much as Buffy and everyone else was enjoying seeing the Minister of Magic act like a small child Dumbledore intervened before it could go on any further.
"Miss… Fox," Dumbledore said to her. "Maybe you should inform us how exactly you are in those files, starting with your name and how you have come in contact with Alastor Moody."
"My name, huh?" Buffy asked before she went on. "Wouldn't you like to know my favorite color or something like that instead?"
"Miss Fox," Dumbledore stressed her 'name', clearly irritated. "Answer the question."
Buffy slouched down in partial defeat. Now everyone was going to know her identity. Or one of them anyway, she thought before she responded with an American accent. "My name is Buffy Summers."
She looked around the room. Everyone went silent again after hearing her statement. Everyone in the room with the exception of the minister had looks of stun and awe on their faces. The minister just sported a look of confusion.
"What?!" Fudge asked, annoyed at the fact everyone knew something he didn't. He was the minister of the bloody place and he was supposed to know first. "What is it?!"
"Minister," one of the Aurors said with awe in their voice. "She's The Slayer. She's The Chosen One."
T.B.C.