Disclaimer: See first chapter.
Sorry this took so long to get done, my hard drive crashed and school started.
Reviews: Please please please!
Authors Note: I will get to the secrets behind Buffy's past, but I think people need to know her better before they know the details. Just give me another two chapters and you'll know.
Chapter 6: Glamourie
Severus arrived at the Hospital Wing to hear quiet chatter. One voice was the weakened, but still recognizable voice of Buffy and the other was unmistakably Harry Potter. Poppy intercepted him before he could reach Buffy's curtained-off bed. "Severus, Mr. Potter came in at 6 this morning and refused to leave until Buffy woke up," she explained.
Severus was more interested in her well-being than Harry Potter and asked, "How is she?"
"Excellent, especially considering the blood loss and lung damage. The girl practically refuses to stay here one more night, but I can't let her stay alone. Alert spells don't work on her, so I wouldn't know if she was having trouble. Can you keep her? Just for two or three days?" Poppy nearly begged.
"Why can't Minerva or Filius do it?"
"Minerva's leaving to visit her newborn niece tonight. And Filius and Buffy only get along marginally well."
"Fine, Poppy, if Buffy agrees, she may stay with me," Severus conceded as he moved towards Buffy's bed. He hissed, "Potter, go join your housemates at breakfast before I dock you 20 points." Harry hurried out of the infirmary with a wave at his DADA teacher. As Severus came into full view of Buffy's bed, he saw the stunning red rose that sat in a glass vase on her stand.
"Harry transfigured it for me," Buffy told him.
Severus stood still, shocked for a moment, before admitting, "Maybe the boy has some modicum of humility after all."
"He does. As do I. Thank you, for allowing me to stay with you. I have . . . issues with hospitals and prefer to avoid them," the petite blonde told him.
"I see. Buffy, what you did last night for me, I can't repay you. You sacrificed yourself for two people you didn't even know. For a hero, I understand that, but for a greasy git who is mean to everyone? Why?" Severus asked.
"Because I never knew this Evil Severus that you are saying you are. All I've ever known of you has been kind and understanding under an abrasive front. You're my friend, a wonderful compassionate man who was too absorbed in helping a seventeen-year-old boy to realize the danger that your own life was in. And that made me want to protect you as much as Harry." Severus's face turned to one of shock as he heard her words. Someone liked him, as a real friend. Trusted him. No one else but Dumbledore trusted him so much. A single tear escaped his eyes as he bent down and gave Buffy a gentle hug and left a light kiss on her forehead.
"Thank you," he whispered.
Poppy came bustling in and began to chirp, "Buff you can't leave until I redo your dressing on your chest and you eat breakfast. Severus, why don't you go and eat in the Great Hall and come back in an hour? She'll be ready to go by then." Reluctantly, Severus left his friend.
An hour later, the Potions Master returned to find Buffy sitting in an Enchanted Chair, dressed in her robes, smiling. "Can I go now?" she whined.
Poppy allowed her to go and Buffy moved to keep pace with Severus. "Whoa, aren't we supposed to turn here?" Buffy asked.
Severus smiled and said, "If you wish to get there like a student, yes. I prefer to use my own way." He continued to a suit of armor bearing an eagle on its crest. "The password is 'asphodel'. These are my own quarters," he explained before uttering the password. "The doors are enchanted so that, even though there are six floors of rooms this size, you simple open the door and there is the room. This door opens to my office in the dungeons. Students will be here in five minutes, where would you like to sit?"
Buffy shrugged and replied, "Oh, where ever there is enough room."
Severus arranged for her to sit at the front of the classroom, in full view of all the desks, but not in the way. She moved to that spot and raised her scarlet hood to hide her face.
Students soon began to file in. Harry, Hermione, Ron, and Neville all arrived together. "Greetings, class. I hope none have you have forgotten everything you've learned in the past five years, but we have yet to see. Seated at the front is Professor Summers. She will be observing my class for the next two days. I wish for her to leave here as intact as possible, so do try not to explode anything. Today we will brew a Cutis Novum Potion, as someone recently used up much of Madam Pomfrey's stores." Severus swore he could see a slight smirk on Harry's face. "The ingredients are on the table, I trust you to find the instructions."
Silently, Buffy watched as the students made their potions. Near the end of class, Neville went to add the final ingredient when Buffy shouted, "No!" and leapt from her chair. She whipped the crushed bezoar from his hand. "Mr. Longbottom, crushed bezoar and gnome hair are highly explosive together," she gasped before she collapsed, coughing.
"Students, turn your cauldrons off and clean them out. I'm taking Professor Summers to Madam Pomfrey," Snape shouted. Then he felt a desperate tug at his robes.
Loudly enough for the students to hear, Buffy pleaded, "No! No hospitals! Please!"
Severus changed his directions, "Mr. Weasley, run and fetch Madam Pomfrey. Send her to my office." He carried Buffy into his office.
"Fuck," the Slayer muttered. At her friend's questioning glance, she clarified, "Must have torn through some new skin. Blood. Poppy barely needs to come, really. In twenty minutes, it'll be closed and halfway done healing. As long as it's not huge, which it's not, I'll be fine."
Nevertheless, Poppy came bursting in, ready to help. She did, by giving a Blood Clotting agent and a healing spell. After that, she left, but not before saying, "Severus, watch her, make sure she's okay."
After she had left, Severus called Dobby. "I am canceling all my afternoon classes, please tell Dumbledore." And that was it. For nearly half an hour, the two sat in complete silence, except for the petite blonde's hacking coughs.
"Thank you," were her first words after the coughing had subsided. "Thank you for the company."
"It was no problem. Neville is quite happy that he didn't have to visit the infirmary again."
"Sev, where is your, um, loo?" Buffy asked quietly. The Potions Master lifted her into the enchanted chair and directed to the bathroom. As the door shut, Severus heard a thud, followed by a short cry as every glass object in Severus's quarters shattered. He raced into the bathroom to see Buffy curled up in the corner of the bathroom, sobbing and murmuring, "No, not in there! Please! Let me go!"
Severus gently scooped her up and set her on his couch, quietly trying to stop her sobs. Eventually, she stopped and explained, "When-when I was captured, I was held in a bathtub for most of the time. Payback for earlier, he said. I haven't seen one since. I'm sorry, Sev."
"It's okay, I find it nice to have a temporary flat mate. And I do find your presence interesting," Severus told her earnestly, "Now, it is time for a Potions lesson. There is one potion that may help your leg. It will, at the very least, lessen any pain." The two spent the rest of the afternoon brewing the potion. At dinner, Severus took another passage to the Great Hall. Conversation stopped when the two entered. Neville Longbottom came up and handed her a letter.
Buffy read it. Neville had told her how thankful he was that she had helped him. She only nibbled and spoke with Minerva, assuring her of her well- being. "My dear, about four hours ago, the castle walls seemed to almost flex. Did you see it?"
He face turned to one of shock as she stuttered, "N-no."
"It turned nearly black, every surface in here, for about ten seconds, then returned to normal." Minerva explained. Buffy's face paled at this and every surface in the castle rippled and flickered white. "Oh, my dear," was all Minerva could manage.
Dumbledore stood as students began to panic and announced, "Please, follow your Heads of House up to your dormitories. Stay calm, nothing is wrong." Then he turned, nearly glaring at Buffy before uttering, "Follow me."
Once in his office, Albus explained, "It appears that you can affect this castle. No one has ever been able to do that. Unfortunately, it weakens the castle's wards, so until you can control your power, I'm afraid you must wear this." He handed her a silver cross. "It simply blocks your magical abilities while you wear it."
Buffy slipped it on and scars began to appear on her face. One ran across her face and nose, beginning at her left temple and ending by her chin. A twin set ran across her lips, as if from fangs, and a small scar remained on her hairline. "Glamourie," Dumbledore gasped.
Buffy shook her head, "The . . .cuts that gave me these happened long before I came here. I don't know how."
"It was most likely a mistake, Buffy. You didn't even know that you had glamourie."
"Oh. Well, can you cast that glammy-stuff on me so that I don't freak out my students?"
The Headmaster nodded and told her, "Yes, of course, though it must be recast every eight hours and you can't have it all the time."
"Oh, well, can you cast it now?"
"Only for a brief period. You'll have an hour before it wears off."
"So I'll be able to see Poppy before it goes away?" Buffy asked.
"Yes, my dear," Dumbledore replied. He cast the spell.
Buffy hurried out, but not before pleading, "Don't tell anyone, please?" She hurried out after seeing the brief nod from the Headmaster.
Forty-five minutes later, Buffy's chair came back into Severus's quarters. He put down Russian Antidotes and Serums and looked at his flat mate. "Are you alright?" he inquired, taking in her pale face and nervousness.
Buffy nodded quickly and responded, "Poppy just removed my bandages, but she won't let me get rid of this damn chair. Now, I need some sleep. I guess all the weepies hit me hard." With that she retreated into her bedroom, leaving a very confused Potions Master staring after her.
Sorry this took so long to get done, my hard drive crashed and school started.
Reviews: Please please please!
Authors Note: I will get to the secrets behind Buffy's past, but I think people need to know her better before they know the details. Just give me another two chapters and you'll know.
Chapter 6: Glamourie
Severus arrived at the Hospital Wing to hear quiet chatter. One voice was the weakened, but still recognizable voice of Buffy and the other was unmistakably Harry Potter. Poppy intercepted him before he could reach Buffy's curtained-off bed. "Severus, Mr. Potter came in at 6 this morning and refused to leave until Buffy woke up," she explained.
Severus was more interested in her well-being than Harry Potter and asked, "How is she?"
"Excellent, especially considering the blood loss and lung damage. The girl practically refuses to stay here one more night, but I can't let her stay alone. Alert spells don't work on her, so I wouldn't know if she was having trouble. Can you keep her? Just for two or three days?" Poppy nearly begged.
"Why can't Minerva or Filius do it?"
"Minerva's leaving to visit her newborn niece tonight. And Filius and Buffy only get along marginally well."
"Fine, Poppy, if Buffy agrees, she may stay with me," Severus conceded as he moved towards Buffy's bed. He hissed, "Potter, go join your housemates at breakfast before I dock you 20 points." Harry hurried out of the infirmary with a wave at his DADA teacher. As Severus came into full view of Buffy's bed, he saw the stunning red rose that sat in a glass vase on her stand.
"Harry transfigured it for me," Buffy told him.
Severus stood still, shocked for a moment, before admitting, "Maybe the boy has some modicum of humility after all."
"He does. As do I. Thank you, for allowing me to stay with you. I have . . . issues with hospitals and prefer to avoid them," the petite blonde told him.
"I see. Buffy, what you did last night for me, I can't repay you. You sacrificed yourself for two people you didn't even know. For a hero, I understand that, but for a greasy git who is mean to everyone? Why?" Severus asked.
"Because I never knew this Evil Severus that you are saying you are. All I've ever known of you has been kind and understanding under an abrasive front. You're my friend, a wonderful compassionate man who was too absorbed in helping a seventeen-year-old boy to realize the danger that your own life was in. And that made me want to protect you as much as Harry." Severus's face turned to one of shock as he heard her words. Someone liked him, as a real friend. Trusted him. No one else but Dumbledore trusted him so much. A single tear escaped his eyes as he bent down and gave Buffy a gentle hug and left a light kiss on her forehead.
"Thank you," he whispered.
Poppy came bustling in and began to chirp, "Buff you can't leave until I redo your dressing on your chest and you eat breakfast. Severus, why don't you go and eat in the Great Hall and come back in an hour? She'll be ready to go by then." Reluctantly, Severus left his friend.
An hour later, the Potions Master returned to find Buffy sitting in an Enchanted Chair, dressed in her robes, smiling. "Can I go now?" she whined.
Poppy allowed her to go and Buffy moved to keep pace with Severus. "Whoa, aren't we supposed to turn here?" Buffy asked.
Severus smiled and said, "If you wish to get there like a student, yes. I prefer to use my own way." He continued to a suit of armor bearing an eagle on its crest. "The password is 'asphodel'. These are my own quarters," he explained before uttering the password. "The doors are enchanted so that, even though there are six floors of rooms this size, you simple open the door and there is the room. This door opens to my office in the dungeons. Students will be here in five minutes, where would you like to sit?"
Buffy shrugged and replied, "Oh, where ever there is enough room."
Severus arranged for her to sit at the front of the classroom, in full view of all the desks, but not in the way. She moved to that spot and raised her scarlet hood to hide her face.
Students soon began to file in. Harry, Hermione, Ron, and Neville all arrived together. "Greetings, class. I hope none have you have forgotten everything you've learned in the past five years, but we have yet to see. Seated at the front is Professor Summers. She will be observing my class for the next two days. I wish for her to leave here as intact as possible, so do try not to explode anything. Today we will brew a Cutis Novum Potion, as someone recently used up much of Madam Pomfrey's stores." Severus swore he could see a slight smirk on Harry's face. "The ingredients are on the table, I trust you to find the instructions."
Silently, Buffy watched as the students made their potions. Near the end of class, Neville went to add the final ingredient when Buffy shouted, "No!" and leapt from her chair. She whipped the crushed bezoar from his hand. "Mr. Longbottom, crushed bezoar and gnome hair are highly explosive together," she gasped before she collapsed, coughing.
"Students, turn your cauldrons off and clean them out. I'm taking Professor Summers to Madam Pomfrey," Snape shouted. Then he felt a desperate tug at his robes.
Loudly enough for the students to hear, Buffy pleaded, "No! No hospitals! Please!"
Severus changed his directions, "Mr. Weasley, run and fetch Madam Pomfrey. Send her to my office." He carried Buffy into his office.
"Fuck," the Slayer muttered. At her friend's questioning glance, she clarified, "Must have torn through some new skin. Blood. Poppy barely needs to come, really. In twenty minutes, it'll be closed and halfway done healing. As long as it's not huge, which it's not, I'll be fine."
Nevertheless, Poppy came bursting in, ready to help. She did, by giving a Blood Clotting agent and a healing spell. After that, she left, but not before saying, "Severus, watch her, make sure she's okay."
After she had left, Severus called Dobby. "I am canceling all my afternoon classes, please tell Dumbledore." And that was it. For nearly half an hour, the two sat in complete silence, except for the petite blonde's hacking coughs.
"Thank you," were her first words after the coughing had subsided. "Thank you for the company."
"It was no problem. Neville is quite happy that he didn't have to visit the infirmary again."
"Sev, where is your, um, loo?" Buffy asked quietly. The Potions Master lifted her into the enchanted chair and directed to the bathroom. As the door shut, Severus heard a thud, followed by a short cry as every glass object in Severus's quarters shattered. He raced into the bathroom to see Buffy curled up in the corner of the bathroom, sobbing and murmuring, "No, not in there! Please! Let me go!"
Severus gently scooped her up and set her on his couch, quietly trying to stop her sobs. Eventually, she stopped and explained, "When-when I was captured, I was held in a bathtub for most of the time. Payback for earlier, he said. I haven't seen one since. I'm sorry, Sev."
"It's okay, I find it nice to have a temporary flat mate. And I do find your presence interesting," Severus told her earnestly, "Now, it is time for a Potions lesson. There is one potion that may help your leg. It will, at the very least, lessen any pain." The two spent the rest of the afternoon brewing the potion. At dinner, Severus took another passage to the Great Hall. Conversation stopped when the two entered. Neville Longbottom came up and handed her a letter.
Buffy read it. Neville had told her how thankful he was that she had helped him. She only nibbled and spoke with Minerva, assuring her of her well- being. "My dear, about four hours ago, the castle walls seemed to almost flex. Did you see it?"
He face turned to one of shock as she stuttered, "N-no."
"It turned nearly black, every surface in here, for about ten seconds, then returned to normal." Minerva explained. Buffy's face paled at this and every surface in the castle rippled and flickered white. "Oh, my dear," was all Minerva could manage.
Dumbledore stood as students began to panic and announced, "Please, follow your Heads of House up to your dormitories. Stay calm, nothing is wrong." Then he turned, nearly glaring at Buffy before uttering, "Follow me."
Once in his office, Albus explained, "It appears that you can affect this castle. No one has ever been able to do that. Unfortunately, it weakens the castle's wards, so until you can control your power, I'm afraid you must wear this." He handed her a silver cross. "It simply blocks your magical abilities while you wear it."
Buffy slipped it on and scars began to appear on her face. One ran across her face and nose, beginning at her left temple and ending by her chin. A twin set ran across her lips, as if from fangs, and a small scar remained on her hairline. "Glamourie," Dumbledore gasped.
Buffy shook her head, "The . . .cuts that gave me these happened long before I came here. I don't know how."
"It was most likely a mistake, Buffy. You didn't even know that you had glamourie."
"Oh. Well, can you cast that glammy-stuff on me so that I don't freak out my students?"
The Headmaster nodded and told her, "Yes, of course, though it must be recast every eight hours and you can't have it all the time."
"Oh, well, can you cast it now?"
"Only for a brief period. You'll have an hour before it wears off."
"So I'll be able to see Poppy before it goes away?" Buffy asked.
"Yes, my dear," Dumbledore replied. He cast the spell.
Buffy hurried out, but not before pleading, "Don't tell anyone, please?" She hurried out after seeing the brief nod from the Headmaster.
Forty-five minutes later, Buffy's chair came back into Severus's quarters. He put down Russian Antidotes and Serums and looked at his flat mate. "Are you alright?" he inquired, taking in her pale face and nervousness.
Buffy nodded quickly and responded, "Poppy just removed my bandages, but she won't let me get rid of this damn chair. Now, I need some sleep. I guess all the weepies hit me hard." With that she retreated into her bedroom, leaving a very confused Potions Master staring after her.