Thanks to everyone for the great reviews! I'm trying to reply to people, but I'm working on the worst internet connection ever right now – whenever I finally get to read the reviews, it conks out before I can reply!

But enough of me, more of Buffy. Here's chappy 2 – enjoy!

And Miles to Go Before I Sleep:

Chapter Two

The ringing of the phone jerked Buffy from her light doze. There was a crink her shoulder from the armchair she had dozed off in, and the fire in the grate had died down low. Blinking blearily at the ornate clock that hung above the mantelpiece, Buffy realized several hours had passed. The phone beside rang again, seemingly louder and most instant this time. Fumbling slightly, she reached for it.

"Hoo-hello?" She yawned.

"Buffy?" The voice on the other end, sounding very far away, was nonetheless instantly familiar.

"Giles!" Buffy felt her worry jerk her wide awake. She stood out of her chair and leaned into the phone, "Have you talked to Willow?"

The voice on the other end sounded tired, and briefly Buffy wondered at the time difference between them. If it was late here … "I did. And I reviewed the texts myself, just to be sure. I'd like to say how impressed I was, first, because these particular scrolls were quite …"

"Giles." Buffy interrupted, worry causing her heart to skip, "You're stalling."

He sighed, far away in L.A. "Okay. Well … it seems as if you may indeed be correct – there is the, the possibility that something is wrong with Dawn."

Buffy willed herself to remain calm. "What is it – a demon possession? Because I've got eight Slayers in the area ready to take on anything you point to. Can Willow do a location spell? It's got to be in the general area …"

"Buffy," it was his turn to interrupt her, "It's not a possession. I know," he continued over her protest, "that such a thing would be easier to fight. But from what these texts indicate, then what is wrong with Dawn may be a consequence of – of who she is. Of what she is. The Key. I, I can't confirm anything until we get a few more references though. I need you to go to England tomorrow."

The Key. Buffy hated to think of Dawn like that, hated to push back the veil of what she knew was magic, and examine her life before her sister was brought into it. There was history without Dawn, Buffy knew. But …

"She's not just the Key – she's my sister. And I will do anything I can to save her. Anything. So England it is, Giles. But," Buffy frowned, "Wouldn't everything there have been destroyed?"

She could swear she heard Giles cleaning his glasses. "Well, if this were a normal book, then it might have been. But this text is one of the most sacred texts the Council owned, a – a 'map' for lack of a better word, of all we know of the universe. It is one of the few texts in which the Key is mentioned in detail. The only copy I know of is in England, though Willow, Fred, and Wesley are looking for a duplicate now. The good news is it wouldn't have been stored at the Council Headquarters – a book like this is too important and rare to be held with the other common texts – and so it might have survived the destruction caused by the First Evil."

Buffy didn't like 'might have's, but it seemed as if she had no choice but to go and look for it anyways. Taking a deep breath, Buffy nodded as if Giles could see her. "Okay, we'll leave tomorrow. I'd feel better leaving Dawn here, but with these attacks of hers …" the Slayer shook her head. "Where can I find this hidden Key-explaining text?"

"The vaults I'm thinking of would have been safe from all outward attacks, and unless a very concentrated effort was put into breaking them, the information contained therein should still be secure. Only three people in the world knew how to get into them, and if one of them died the passwords and passages were altered. The First Evil would have had to do more than simply waltz over and open them – and I'm willing to bet that with its forces concentrated on you and Sunnydale, it never had the chance. Mind you," Giles admitted, "these vaults were probably next on the First Evil's 'hit list', as you would say."

Buffy began to pace before the small Library fire, undirected anger and worry beginning to clip her words short, "Okay so we should assume this 'vault' is still secure, with all its defenses thereof." She paused and sighed, "Goodie." Nothing could ever be easy, could it? "Any one of these three password-people survive? Or were they all killed in the bombing?"

There was a pause on the other end of the phone. Damn, he was cleaning his glasses again. "To the best of my knowledge the first two are deceased, but the third remains … a mystery."

Buffy wasn't in the mood for mysteries. "Giles …" she growled, stopping before the fire-grate and punctuating every word with a sharp jab he obviously couldn't see. "Give me a name and a place and I. Will. Find. Them."

"I don't have a place, and the name is one I can't confirm. I heard it by accident, passing Travers office once years ago. Willow can't find it anywhere in the Council records, and Wesley has no idea –"

"GILES!"

Her ex-Watcher sighed. "Dumbledore. The name is Albus Dumbledore."

Albus Dumbledore stared out of his office window, his ancient face lined with worry he could no longer disguise. The last of his students had left the castle this morning, and now at noon a brilliant sun warmed the empty grounds.

"I hope," he spoke out loud, more to himself then any other, "that I have done the right thing."

A low chuckle answered him, and with a faint smile Albus turned from the window to focus on the other man in the office. He was a rough, hard-looking man, with various absent body pieces a mute testament to his chosen life. "I'm sure Fudge'd pay handsomely to hear you say that."

Dumbledore did not scowl, but some of his smile faded. 'Minister' Fudge was now on his last days of office, yet Albus could find no peace in the reappointment. Too much damage had already been done.

"Nevertheless," he continued, moving slowly to his desk, "It is true." His eyes brushed the broken mementoes and thrown inventions that still littered his office. He hadn't taken the moment of thought needed to repair them yet, and knew the gesture was another indication of an old man's folly.

"My heart is trying to tell me that Harry would be much safer spending the summer here at Hogwarts, and that you – my old friend – would be, too."

Alastor Moody chuckled in his raspy way, "I won't speak for the boy, but I know you wouldn't have asked meto make such a journey, in complete secrecy from both theDeath Eaters and the Ministry,were it not necessary to the Order. An' if you want me to travel half-way across the planet, dodging dark wizards and lingering demons and whatever surveillance the Circle has set up, then by Merlin's beard I'm going to do it."

"Of course," Moody continued, hisone good eye searching Dumbledore's face as the Headmaster settled behind his desk with a sigh, "you do realize that if we know the Mouth of Hell has been destroyed, it's damned likely that You-Know-Who does too."

Albus glanced across his disordered desk and favoured the old Auror with a twinkling smile. "Ah, but I am only guessing at such things, my old friend. It is much more probable that Tom, who has studied extensively in the Dark Arts, was informed the very moment its strength began to fail."

"So what do you want me to dodge demons for then?" Moody frowned down his much-abused nose. "If it's not information …"

"I have recently received warning of another occurrence in the area, one I would like you to investigate."

Alastor stared at Dumbledore for a long moment, his wizened face slowly darkening with suspicion. "If you're talking about what I think your talking about – and I had informants in the area, so don't you think I wasn't wise – then you also know there's nothing I can do. You'll need to get Slughorn on this one, and that's about as likely as Lucius Malfoy serving me dinner."

Albus Dumbledore nodded at the truth of these words, leaning forward to steeple his hands on his desk. Looking down into the chasm of his own palms, he said, "I am aware of that, my friend. And, most fortunately, have already discovered the whereabouts of our old acquaintance."

Moody stared, shocked, knowing he shouldn't be. But after a moment he snored rudely through his nose, and conjured a stool to perch on before the Headmaster. "A neat trick, that, since the man's been on the run for a year. Never staying in one place longer'un a week, and never at the same place twice."

Those blue orbs twinkled again, "Nevertheless, I have managed to acquire the location of Horace Slughorn, and shall be calling upon him shortly, for aid in this and other matters."

Catching the meaning behind Dumbledore's words, Alastor leaped from his stool and swore loudly – vehemently enough to wake two of the sleeping portraits. "You mean to go through with it then? Blast it, Dumbledore! I had hoped … if you didn't find anyone …"

"Of course I mean to go through with it. Horace – "

"– will never agree to return to the school. I don't care how you go after him, that Slytherin coward will never consent –"

"Horace Slughorn may be a man of creature comforts," Dumbledore continued in a smooth voice, "but he knows the truth when he hears it. And the truth remains that Hogwarts is one of the last safe places in our world." His voice grew heavy, "For now."

Alaster Moody refused to be distracted by the tired look in Dumbledore's eye, determined to press his case. But after a moment he sighed, knowing argument with Dumbledore was as useless as wishing You-Know-Who back to the grave. "Well," he coughed, determined that Albus know his place in this, "I just want you to know that … well, I know I didn't …" he growled, "What I'm saying is I know I never taught here before, but I'm here now, and if you ever need me …" He trailed off as Albus lifted his head and gave him a weary smile.

"I appreciate the gesture, my old friend. And I take your concerns under consideration. But for now, I need you in California."

Alastor gave the man he respected above all others a small smile. "Then I'll go, dodging demons for a good cause." He paused then, considering the situation, "SupposingI dofind it, do you want me to bring itback here, or …?"

Dumbledore nodded, "If possible, if it can be done safely, then yes. But Alastor –" the aged Headmaster fixed him with a stern look, " – if it is a choice of you or it, get yourself home. Is that understood?"

The ex-Auror chuckled, a sweeping gesture taking in every measure of his broken appearance. "Don't insult me, Dumbledore, you know I always get myself back in one piece."

He was rewarded with another smile, and giving a wave, turned to leave. The Head of the Order of the Phoenix had given him a mission, and for all the discord of the day, it felt good to be on the move again. Hunting dark wizards, doing what he was good at, what he was made for …

Albus Dumbledore watched the ex-Auror leave his office, his eyes following the man until he knew the spiraling staircase would carry him beyond the reach of his magical eye. When he was sure he was alone, Dumbledore sighed and leaned back in his chair, weariness taking him. It was done – he had made all his plans for the summer, had written the letters and placed them where they could be mailed, should the need arise. Sending Alastor to the Hellmouth had been his last, delayed duty. And now …

… now he was ready.

Standing swiftly from behind his desk, Albus quickly gathered the last of his supplies. Now that the moment had come, he desired to leave, to begin the challenge. Putting it off further would do nothing but give Tom another day of strength, were his suspicions correct. Filling a small bag, he paused at last in his office, which look much the same as it had moments ago. He wouldn't need much, on this journey. Only what power, what knowledge and wisdom he could bring with him. Leaving his sanctuary, he spared a glance only for Fawkes, for the instructions already left between them. He knew his friend would honour his request. The phoenix's parting coo was a cool comfort, but there was no time for comfort now.

It was time, time to leave. Time to find Severus.

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- raiining