Chapter 7
Disclaimers: See first chapter.
Reviews: I love them, they're my favorite part of writing fanfic. People keep giving some really good ideas and advice. Thanks to all of you!
Severus awoke with a start. He had heard a scream in his sleep and leapt out of bed, heading for the door. "Dammit!" the Potions Master screamed as he plowed into the door of his room. With a flick of his wand, light filled the room and Severus continued to the only possible source of the cry: Buffy. He arrived at her door and started banging on it.
"Come in, Sev," an irritated voice came through.
Severus quietly walked into Buffy's room. She was seated in a chair with her back facing the door. A low, annoyed tone came through, "What, pray tell, caused you interrupt my sleep?"
"I heard a scream," he uttered, surprised by her anger.
"Well it wasn't from me, you must have been dreaming. Now that you have awakened me, please remove yourself from my room so that I may attempt to go back to sleep," she nearly hissed.
Thoroughly offended, Severus turned on his heel and left her room without another word. Buffy rose from her chair and moved back to her bed, tears in her eyes and her scars clearly visible.
Morning came, and both Buffy and Severus arrived at the Great Hall looking very tired that day. Buffy with Dumbledore arrived nearly fifteen minutes after her flatmate walked in. For the first time since school had started, Buffy sat at the completely opposite end of the table, speaking quietly with Professor Flitwick about the uses of Charms in haircare.
When breakfast was over, Buffy silently slipped out of the Great Hall and pointedly avoided talking to anyone. She headed straight to the DADA room. Remus was already there because he had eaten early in order to get Buffy's demonstration ready. "Do you have them ready?" she asked.
"All you have to do is say the word and the boxes will release them. The first box is the biggest, I thought you could use it in the Slytherin- Gryffindor class first period. They're the hardest to impress," Remus informed her. "And I put all the weapons where you requested them."
"Thanks, Remy. Sorry I couldn't help, but my magicky stuff doesn't work on living things and its hard to climb up that high."
Remus smiled at his friend and told her, "It was nothing. I just can't wait to see the looks on the students' faces when they see you."
"Well, I'm off to change into proper demo clothes, so I'll see you in a coupla minutes," Buffy chirped as she headed off.
Twenty minutes later, Buffy returned. She was still dressed in her robe, but Remus could see that the clothing underneath was loose, comfortable workout clothing. Her hair was pulled into a looser style, with wooden sticks holding it back. All it all, the slight girl suddenly looked as if she was actually younger than her seventh-year students. The two teachers sat down in the two seats at the head of the classroom and waited. Buffy looked relaxed, but even Remus could see that she was nervous.
Harry, Hermione, and Ron were the first students to get to class that morning. Buffy smiled cheerily at them, then turned her gaze back to some point in the back of the classroom. "She looks like a perfect California twit," whispered a Slytherin girl as she entered. Harry swore he could see the corners of her mouth curve into a gentle smirk as if she had heard it. Four minutes later, all the students were in their seats. Neither of the teachers moved an inch until the students were completely silent.
Then their 'crippled' DADA teacher leapt out of her seat with a dancer's grace and asked, "Who here has seen a vampire?"
All of the students' faces turned to ones of shock. Obviously they had never met the things that go bump in the night. "Well, today is your lucky day. Most people, Muggle or Magical, don't believe that they exist. But someone here I assume has read something on them?" she continued.
Hermione promptly raised her hand and explained, "I've heard that vampires are immortal part-demons who drink blood and can only be killed by a wooden stake."
"And you have heard correctly. Actually though, beheading, a cross, Holy Water, and fire also kill vampires quite nicely. Now, who here has heard of a Vampire Slayer?"
Again, Hermione responded, "Vampire Slayers are teenage girls who are born one to a generation to fight the vampires."
"If that isn't a load of crap I don't know what is," Draco Malfoy sniggered.
Then came Buffy's voice, much louder than anyone had expected, ""Into each generation a Slayer is born. One girl in all the world, a Chosen One. One born with the strength and skill to fight the vampires, to stop the spread of their evil and the swell of their numbers."
At this, Draco and many of the other Slytherins burst out laughing. Buffy whirled around and winked at Remus, who jumped out of his chair and stood behind the front student's desk. "Always darker before dawn," Buffy said, her face the portrait of calm and collected. A previously unnoticed box in the corner swung open with a bang. Out stepped a huge, brawny vampire. The students gasped in horror. Their petite blond teacher had yet to make a move. "By the Christmas, I expect each and every one of you to be able to subdue an average vampire without a wand. This is not an average vampire, he's really rather large. Your exam will be to fight me," she explained as the vampire took a swipe at her. She easily sidestepped it.
Draco asked, rather loudly, "How will fighting you resemble a vampire?"
His teacher didn't even grace him with an answer. Well, she did, but Buffy's response was to flip over the vampire's head with a elegance that was not apparent in her daily movements. The two figures began to trade kicks and punches. Buffy fought as if it was an intricate dance. Soon, she leapt onto the top of the cabinet holding the weapons. "I have nearly their strength. And twice their skill. And I don't feel pain during a fight. That's the most important part of all. Pain, fear, it clouds you. Anger, hatred, that helps you. Trust me on that," she told them before dropping back down onto the floor wit the pair of knives in hand.
"Hit me!" she yelled, leaving herself wide open to a blow in the shoulder. The vampire's meaty fist connected with her shoulder, which made a distinct popping sound. The Slayer grunted before using her left leg to kick him away. The vampire lay on the ground as Buffy approached him. A knife went into each hand and with a deft, practiced movement, she decapitated him. The man turned to dust.
With a strange roll of her shoulder, the joint ground against something and then popped back into place. Remus glanced around that the students, and that motion had made their eyes bulge. Buffy had given only the slightest sign of discomfort and now she was smiling mischievously at the students. "Trust me, after fighting me, Mr. Malfoy, a vampire will seem like a piece of cake," she told him. And with that, her smirk seemed to get even bigger. "Now, as class is nearly over and I can't possibly teach you anything new today, class is done for today. Please come tomorrow in clothing that you can fight in. No skirts, ladies. And all wants are to be left in your dorms. No excuses, anyone with a wand will be docked 100 points. Now, shoo!"
The students seems to trickle out of the room at an impossible pace. Two Slytherins came up and tried to touch the vampire dust, but Buffy intercepted them. "I'm not stupid, boys. Even a speck of vampire ashes can sell for several thousands of dollars in Knockturn Alley. Precisely the reason that you will not be dealing with vampires in this class. Now, get to your next class," their DADA teacher told them. One boy made to move for the ashes, but Buffy flexed her muscles, making slight cracking sounds as she worked the kinks out of all her joints. The two teenagers scampered out of the room as if they were first-years.
Remus clapped a bit as Buffy turned to face him. "I do believe that you have surpassed Severus as a teacher never to cross."
"Oh, I hope I'm not that disturbing," she whispered, looking behind Remus.
Harry, Hermione, and Ron stood there grinning. "No, Professor Summers, you're just as disturbing, but you don't bite our heads off for messing up," Ron blurted out.
Buffy chuckled and growled, "How do you know I don't?" Ron's face paled several shades before she smiled happily and reassured him, "You're right, Mr. Weasley. Merlin knows I screwed up enough when I was your age. Now, I suppose you have something to ask me?"
"Well, um, Professor, I don't know if Mr. Dumbledore told you, but, um, I have a knack for getting into trouble. With dark witches and wizards. And I always seem to have to have someone bail me out at the very end. My godfather died last spring, trying to save me. I don't want to have to depend on adults to save me. Can you help me learn to fight? I mean, more quickly that this class will go? Everyone says I'm too young to learn to fight, but I can't stop Voldemort without being able to fight him."
Buffy caught Remus's "he's too young" look and told him, "I see that many people think you to young to learn to fight the darker things in this world. How old are you?"
"Seventeen."
"You're still a year old than I was when I first killed a vampire. And a year older that I was when I died the first time. And exactly the same age as I was when I had to kill my boyfriend. You're old enough to learn to fight what you know is out there. So are your friends. They have been with you through most of this. So, tomorrow, come here after dinner. All three of you. If you have homework to do, bring it," Buffy said, blatantly ignoring the glare that Remus was sending her. "Now, get out of here, I'm not responsible if you're late for Transfiguration." The three Gryffindors practically ran from there, clearly pleased with her response.
"What were you thinking, Buffy? Harry's too young for this! Sirius would kill me if he knew that I was letting Harry learn to fight!" Remus cried.
Buffy whirled on Remus and told him, "The boy needs to know unless you want him to join Sirius. Don't you think Sirius would be more angry if Harry died? Don't argue with me. Unless Dumbledore forbids it, Harry and his friends are going to learn."
Remus backed down and thought on what she said. He still didn't like it, but he had to agree that she was right.
Buffy and Remus had three more classes that day. The first year Ravenclaws and Hufflepuffs were relatively easy to impress. Buffy and Remus simply used a swordfight. No one could deny that Buffy was obviously holding back while Remus was trying with all his might to keep up with her. Then it was lunch. Buffy simply called Dobby to order a peanut butter sandwich and a bowl of chicken noodle soup. Remus went to the Great Hall.
Remus practically skipped back into the DADA room an hour later. "Buffy, you should have heard everyone. I don't think anyone was talking of anything but you. And your flatmate was in a particularly menacing mood. What has happened between you two? Yesterday you were on quite good terms."
"Nothing, I-I have to go. I'll be back in twenty minutes," Buffy mumbled as she took off, cane back in her hand.
Buffy had taken off for the Headmaster's Office. "I heard that you have agreed to teach young Mr. Potter and his friends wandless defense privately?" Dumbledore asked.
Buffy glared at and defended herself, "He was right. We'll all end up dead if the 'savior' doesn't know how to defend himself."
"Miss Summers, I meant no offense. I think this is a good decision for them. Unfortunately, there are a few teachers that will be less supportive. Minerva and Hagrid particularly. Remus seems to have seen something in you that has given him a bit of confidence in you and Severus, well, Severus trusts you implicitly."
Buffy said shrugged and asked, "Can you do the spell? I have to go to my class now?"
Dumbledore nodded and raised his wand. He cast the spell quickly and quietly and sent his youngest teacher on her way. "My dear, I wish I didn't just have to do that," he murmured, staring after the small figure.
The day's next two classes went off without a hitch. Three vampires ended up dusted and Buffy was left with the job of taking a full jar of vampire dust back to Severus's flat to be locked away. Ashes were on the Ministry of Magic's "Top Ten Most Dangerous Ingredients" list. She locked them up and then went to her room. Just as Severus was returning from his class, Buffy was leaving. Severus did a double-take.
The usually conservative teacher was dressed in tight black clothing under her robes. Severus cleared his throat several times before Buffy asked, "What's wrong, Sev?"
"Why are you dressed like that for dinner?" Severus asked.
Buffy smiled and told him, "I'm not going to dinner, I'm going to the forest. Someone needs to go and lower the vampire population of the place. Hagrid reported some vampire sightings on the edge of the forest. This is what I wear to slay."
"Could I come?"
"No, Sev, I don't need a babysitter. I've been fighting the damn things since I was sixteen years old. You'd just get in the way," she nearly hissed as she moved past him, pulling the robe closed over her outfit.
Severus had finished dinner and was grading homework in his living room when Buffy came in. Her robes were soaked and she was obviously freezing. "Incendio!" Severus muttered, starting the fire in his fireplace. "Accio blanket!" he added, and a emerald blanket flew to his hand. Buffy removed her sopping robe and took the offered blanket. "Merlin, Buffy, what happened?" he exclaimed.
Buffy looked at him questioningly until he saw his gaze pointed at her face. A hand reached up and felt the skin. She could do little more than that. Her secret was up. Tears began to pour from her eyes.
Severus reached up to touch her face. "What's wrong?"
"I thought these were gone. Turns out it was only glamourie and now Dumbledore's spells are the only thing hiding them from everyone. They're ugly," Buffy whispered.
Severus shook his head, realizing why Buffy was spending so little time around him. He was the only person who could actually sense which spells were being used on her. "No, mo chroí, they are part of you. They make you beautiful because they show your strength." He lightly traced each mark with his thumb as Buffy slowly crumbled and curled up with him.
Buffy cried for several minutes before falling asleep next to him. The Potions Master only briefly thought about moving, but didn't want to disturb the sleeping girl. He fell asleep soon after.
A/N: "Mo chroi" means "my heart" in Gaelic. At least according to a translator I found. Anyone is welcome to correct me on that.
Disclaimers: See first chapter.
Reviews: I love them, they're my favorite part of writing fanfic. People keep giving some really good ideas and advice. Thanks to all of you!
Severus awoke with a start. He had heard a scream in his sleep and leapt out of bed, heading for the door. "Dammit!" the Potions Master screamed as he plowed into the door of his room. With a flick of his wand, light filled the room and Severus continued to the only possible source of the cry: Buffy. He arrived at her door and started banging on it.
"Come in, Sev," an irritated voice came through.
Severus quietly walked into Buffy's room. She was seated in a chair with her back facing the door. A low, annoyed tone came through, "What, pray tell, caused you interrupt my sleep?"
"I heard a scream," he uttered, surprised by her anger.
"Well it wasn't from me, you must have been dreaming. Now that you have awakened me, please remove yourself from my room so that I may attempt to go back to sleep," she nearly hissed.
Thoroughly offended, Severus turned on his heel and left her room without another word. Buffy rose from her chair and moved back to her bed, tears in her eyes and her scars clearly visible.
Morning came, and both Buffy and Severus arrived at the Great Hall looking very tired that day. Buffy with Dumbledore arrived nearly fifteen minutes after her flatmate walked in. For the first time since school had started, Buffy sat at the completely opposite end of the table, speaking quietly with Professor Flitwick about the uses of Charms in haircare.
When breakfast was over, Buffy silently slipped out of the Great Hall and pointedly avoided talking to anyone. She headed straight to the DADA room. Remus was already there because he had eaten early in order to get Buffy's demonstration ready. "Do you have them ready?" she asked.
"All you have to do is say the word and the boxes will release them. The first box is the biggest, I thought you could use it in the Slytherin- Gryffindor class first period. They're the hardest to impress," Remus informed her. "And I put all the weapons where you requested them."
"Thanks, Remy. Sorry I couldn't help, but my magicky stuff doesn't work on living things and its hard to climb up that high."
Remus smiled at his friend and told her, "It was nothing. I just can't wait to see the looks on the students' faces when they see you."
"Well, I'm off to change into proper demo clothes, so I'll see you in a coupla minutes," Buffy chirped as she headed off.
Twenty minutes later, Buffy returned. She was still dressed in her robe, but Remus could see that the clothing underneath was loose, comfortable workout clothing. Her hair was pulled into a looser style, with wooden sticks holding it back. All it all, the slight girl suddenly looked as if she was actually younger than her seventh-year students. The two teachers sat down in the two seats at the head of the classroom and waited. Buffy looked relaxed, but even Remus could see that she was nervous.
Harry, Hermione, and Ron were the first students to get to class that morning. Buffy smiled cheerily at them, then turned her gaze back to some point in the back of the classroom. "She looks like a perfect California twit," whispered a Slytherin girl as she entered. Harry swore he could see the corners of her mouth curve into a gentle smirk as if she had heard it. Four minutes later, all the students were in their seats. Neither of the teachers moved an inch until the students were completely silent.
Then their 'crippled' DADA teacher leapt out of her seat with a dancer's grace and asked, "Who here has seen a vampire?"
All of the students' faces turned to ones of shock. Obviously they had never met the things that go bump in the night. "Well, today is your lucky day. Most people, Muggle or Magical, don't believe that they exist. But someone here I assume has read something on them?" she continued.
Hermione promptly raised her hand and explained, "I've heard that vampires are immortal part-demons who drink blood and can only be killed by a wooden stake."
"And you have heard correctly. Actually though, beheading, a cross, Holy Water, and fire also kill vampires quite nicely. Now, who here has heard of a Vampire Slayer?"
Again, Hermione responded, "Vampire Slayers are teenage girls who are born one to a generation to fight the vampires."
"If that isn't a load of crap I don't know what is," Draco Malfoy sniggered.
Then came Buffy's voice, much louder than anyone had expected, ""Into each generation a Slayer is born. One girl in all the world, a Chosen One. One born with the strength and skill to fight the vampires, to stop the spread of their evil and the swell of their numbers."
At this, Draco and many of the other Slytherins burst out laughing. Buffy whirled around and winked at Remus, who jumped out of his chair and stood behind the front student's desk. "Always darker before dawn," Buffy said, her face the portrait of calm and collected. A previously unnoticed box in the corner swung open with a bang. Out stepped a huge, brawny vampire. The students gasped in horror. Their petite blond teacher had yet to make a move. "By the Christmas, I expect each and every one of you to be able to subdue an average vampire without a wand. This is not an average vampire, he's really rather large. Your exam will be to fight me," she explained as the vampire took a swipe at her. She easily sidestepped it.
Draco asked, rather loudly, "How will fighting you resemble a vampire?"
His teacher didn't even grace him with an answer. Well, she did, but Buffy's response was to flip over the vampire's head with a elegance that was not apparent in her daily movements. The two figures began to trade kicks and punches. Buffy fought as if it was an intricate dance. Soon, she leapt onto the top of the cabinet holding the weapons. "I have nearly their strength. And twice their skill. And I don't feel pain during a fight. That's the most important part of all. Pain, fear, it clouds you. Anger, hatred, that helps you. Trust me on that," she told them before dropping back down onto the floor wit the pair of knives in hand.
"Hit me!" she yelled, leaving herself wide open to a blow in the shoulder. The vampire's meaty fist connected with her shoulder, which made a distinct popping sound. The Slayer grunted before using her left leg to kick him away. The vampire lay on the ground as Buffy approached him. A knife went into each hand and with a deft, practiced movement, she decapitated him. The man turned to dust.
With a strange roll of her shoulder, the joint ground against something and then popped back into place. Remus glanced around that the students, and that motion had made their eyes bulge. Buffy had given only the slightest sign of discomfort and now she was smiling mischievously at the students. "Trust me, after fighting me, Mr. Malfoy, a vampire will seem like a piece of cake," she told him. And with that, her smirk seemed to get even bigger. "Now, as class is nearly over and I can't possibly teach you anything new today, class is done for today. Please come tomorrow in clothing that you can fight in. No skirts, ladies. And all wants are to be left in your dorms. No excuses, anyone with a wand will be docked 100 points. Now, shoo!"
The students seems to trickle out of the room at an impossible pace. Two Slytherins came up and tried to touch the vampire dust, but Buffy intercepted them. "I'm not stupid, boys. Even a speck of vampire ashes can sell for several thousands of dollars in Knockturn Alley. Precisely the reason that you will not be dealing with vampires in this class. Now, get to your next class," their DADA teacher told them. One boy made to move for the ashes, but Buffy flexed her muscles, making slight cracking sounds as she worked the kinks out of all her joints. The two teenagers scampered out of the room as if they were first-years.
Remus clapped a bit as Buffy turned to face him. "I do believe that you have surpassed Severus as a teacher never to cross."
"Oh, I hope I'm not that disturbing," she whispered, looking behind Remus.
Harry, Hermione, and Ron stood there grinning. "No, Professor Summers, you're just as disturbing, but you don't bite our heads off for messing up," Ron blurted out.
Buffy chuckled and growled, "How do you know I don't?" Ron's face paled several shades before she smiled happily and reassured him, "You're right, Mr. Weasley. Merlin knows I screwed up enough when I was your age. Now, I suppose you have something to ask me?"
"Well, um, Professor, I don't know if Mr. Dumbledore told you, but, um, I have a knack for getting into trouble. With dark witches and wizards. And I always seem to have to have someone bail me out at the very end. My godfather died last spring, trying to save me. I don't want to have to depend on adults to save me. Can you help me learn to fight? I mean, more quickly that this class will go? Everyone says I'm too young to learn to fight, but I can't stop Voldemort without being able to fight him."
Buffy caught Remus's "he's too young" look and told him, "I see that many people think you to young to learn to fight the darker things in this world. How old are you?"
"Seventeen."
"You're still a year old than I was when I first killed a vampire. And a year older that I was when I died the first time. And exactly the same age as I was when I had to kill my boyfriend. You're old enough to learn to fight what you know is out there. So are your friends. They have been with you through most of this. So, tomorrow, come here after dinner. All three of you. If you have homework to do, bring it," Buffy said, blatantly ignoring the glare that Remus was sending her. "Now, get out of here, I'm not responsible if you're late for Transfiguration." The three Gryffindors practically ran from there, clearly pleased with her response.
"What were you thinking, Buffy? Harry's too young for this! Sirius would kill me if he knew that I was letting Harry learn to fight!" Remus cried.
Buffy whirled on Remus and told him, "The boy needs to know unless you want him to join Sirius. Don't you think Sirius would be more angry if Harry died? Don't argue with me. Unless Dumbledore forbids it, Harry and his friends are going to learn."
Remus backed down and thought on what she said. He still didn't like it, but he had to agree that she was right.
Buffy and Remus had three more classes that day. The first year Ravenclaws and Hufflepuffs were relatively easy to impress. Buffy and Remus simply used a swordfight. No one could deny that Buffy was obviously holding back while Remus was trying with all his might to keep up with her. Then it was lunch. Buffy simply called Dobby to order a peanut butter sandwich and a bowl of chicken noodle soup. Remus went to the Great Hall.
Remus practically skipped back into the DADA room an hour later. "Buffy, you should have heard everyone. I don't think anyone was talking of anything but you. And your flatmate was in a particularly menacing mood. What has happened between you two? Yesterday you were on quite good terms."
"Nothing, I-I have to go. I'll be back in twenty minutes," Buffy mumbled as she took off, cane back in her hand.
Buffy had taken off for the Headmaster's Office. "I heard that you have agreed to teach young Mr. Potter and his friends wandless defense privately?" Dumbledore asked.
Buffy glared at and defended herself, "He was right. We'll all end up dead if the 'savior' doesn't know how to defend himself."
"Miss Summers, I meant no offense. I think this is a good decision for them. Unfortunately, there are a few teachers that will be less supportive. Minerva and Hagrid particularly. Remus seems to have seen something in you that has given him a bit of confidence in you and Severus, well, Severus trusts you implicitly."
Buffy said shrugged and asked, "Can you do the spell? I have to go to my class now?"
Dumbledore nodded and raised his wand. He cast the spell quickly and quietly and sent his youngest teacher on her way. "My dear, I wish I didn't just have to do that," he murmured, staring after the small figure.
The day's next two classes went off without a hitch. Three vampires ended up dusted and Buffy was left with the job of taking a full jar of vampire dust back to Severus's flat to be locked away. Ashes were on the Ministry of Magic's "Top Ten Most Dangerous Ingredients" list. She locked them up and then went to her room. Just as Severus was returning from his class, Buffy was leaving. Severus did a double-take.
The usually conservative teacher was dressed in tight black clothing under her robes. Severus cleared his throat several times before Buffy asked, "What's wrong, Sev?"
"Why are you dressed like that for dinner?" Severus asked.
Buffy smiled and told him, "I'm not going to dinner, I'm going to the forest. Someone needs to go and lower the vampire population of the place. Hagrid reported some vampire sightings on the edge of the forest. This is what I wear to slay."
"Could I come?"
"No, Sev, I don't need a babysitter. I've been fighting the damn things since I was sixteen years old. You'd just get in the way," she nearly hissed as she moved past him, pulling the robe closed over her outfit.
Severus had finished dinner and was grading homework in his living room when Buffy came in. Her robes were soaked and she was obviously freezing. "Incendio!" Severus muttered, starting the fire in his fireplace. "Accio blanket!" he added, and a emerald blanket flew to his hand. Buffy removed her sopping robe and took the offered blanket. "Merlin, Buffy, what happened?" he exclaimed.
Buffy looked at him questioningly until he saw his gaze pointed at her face. A hand reached up and felt the skin. She could do little more than that. Her secret was up. Tears began to pour from her eyes.
Severus reached up to touch her face. "What's wrong?"
"I thought these were gone. Turns out it was only glamourie and now Dumbledore's spells are the only thing hiding them from everyone. They're ugly," Buffy whispered.
Severus shook his head, realizing why Buffy was spending so little time around him. He was the only person who could actually sense which spells were being used on her. "No, mo chroí, they are part of you. They make you beautiful because they show your strength." He lightly traced each mark with his thumb as Buffy slowly crumbled and curled up with him.
Buffy cried for several minutes before falling asleep next to him. The Potions Master only briefly thought about moving, but didn't want to disturb the sleeping girl. He fell asleep soon after.
A/N: "Mo chroi" means "my heart" in Gaelic. At least according to a translator I found. Anyone is welcome to correct me on that.