A/N: Three updates in three days – yall better review and tell me how much you love me! Sorry, got carried away. If any of you are waiting for Sanity of the Insane it might be a little while – I'm kind of stuck on Chapter 9. Everything I write sucks. Pray for me – I think divine intervention is the only way its going to get written.
Chapter 9 – Arrivals
The Scoobies arrived at Hogwarts and stared at the castle in shock. It was the only thing to stop Faith constant tirade about the cold weather – except for when Willow pointed out that leather and skintight shirts weren't the warmest clothes.
They got off the train and stopped as they surveyed their ride.
"What the hell are those?" the Americans exclaimed as Faith reached for a weapon.
"Don't worry, they are only thestrals – like horses, I suppose," the headmaster regarded the Americans speculatively, "only those who have seen death are able to see a thestral."
Even Faith was quiet for the rest of the ride as they contemplated the deaths they had seen – and if Buffy's death is one they would add to the list.
The inside of the castle was no less spectacular than the outside. The Great Hall seemed to have been taken from a fairy tale, even though the various ghosts were unnerving. Dumbledore led them through the castle, receiving curious looks from the various students. They had almost reached his office when two teenagers stopped them.
"Professor, have you found Harry?" the red-headed boy asked.
"Harry hasn't returned to the castle, then?" Dumbledore asked casually, calming the two students drastically. Giles watched the professor appreciatively; understanding from his own experience that dealing with teenagers could be a tiring experience.
"Why don't you accompany me and my guests to my chambers. I believe we'll have an answer to Harry's whereabouts soon."
They stopped in front of a painting, to the puzzlement of the Scoobies.
"Lemon drops," Dumbledore said.
They all gasped when the painting suddenly turned into a doorway. The wizard looked at his guests with twinkling eyes.
"Shall we proceed?"
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Harry awoke the next morning to find Slayer sleeping at the side of his bed, sword clenched tightly in her hand even during sleep. The boy looked at the demon with affection, touched that she was still unconcerned with his welfare even while she had her own problems.
The wizard's slight movement disturbed Slayer's sleep and she leapt to her feet instinctively. Realizing there was no danger, the demon relaxed and smiled at her master.
"So…are we going to go to another potions class today?" she asked, fingering her new dagger. Harry laughed and got out of bed. He gestured for her to turn around so he could dress – sighing dramatically she did as he asked.
The other demons began to stir, still tired from their fight with Voldemort's minions. Gawain was the first to awaken and joined the other two as they bickered back and forth. Eventually the other's joined in, and Harry couldn't remember another time he had felt so happy – not even with Ron and Hermione.
Slayer suddenly stopped mid-sentence and tilted her head – as if listening to something.
"Dumbledore's returned…and he's brought company," she said uneasily.
"Who?" Harry asked confused, wondering who could distress the demon so much.
"The humans you were staying with."
Harry frowned.
How could Dumbledore have found out about them? he thought, even after years of experience the boy still found himself being surprised by the aging wizard.
"He's going to want to see me, I guess I should go and face the music."
The demons turned to look at the human in confusion.
"How do you face music? It has no corporeal existence."
Harry's jaw dropped. He was about to explain when they all began to laugh. Groaning, the boy raised his eye's heavenward and asked, "Why me?"
Slayer, still laughing, placed a hand on her master's shoulder and transported them to the headmaster's office. Fawkes squawked angrily at their interruption of his sleep. Harry stroked the bird to calm it down.
He turned to Slayer and asked, "I don't know if this is such a good idea. Surprising Dumbledore in his chambers after shoving a knife in his face and disappearing doesn't sound like a good idea."
Slayer shook her head.
"Dumby already knows we're here. He has a spell on the joint that tells him when someone enters his office; it's pretty good too, I couldn't work around it," she replied pouting. It was moments like these that made Harry forget the little blond was a demonic warrior.
The demon straightened and pulled out her dagger. Harry noticed and edged towards her. A light from the outside appeared and Slayer placed herself between her master and the new entrance.
A group of people emerged and two teenagers in unison yelled out, "Harry!"
The girl tried to hug the boy but stopped when a knife was placed at her throat.
"Back away, slowly," the demon growled and Hermione complied, along with the redheaded boy.
The other redheaded teenager edged forward, keeping her eyes on the girl rather than the boy.
"Buffy? It's me, Willow, don't you remember?"
The demons eyes glazed for a moment, but a movement from her master brought her back.
It doesn't matter who these people are, or if they know me -- my duty is to protect my master, she berated herself.
The demon refused to answer the girl, instead turning slightly towards her master – keeping the others in sight. In his mind Harry heard, I will follow you're lead on this, my lord. Just remember, my loyalty is to you first and foremost.
Harry felt the weight he had been carrying on his shoulders for the last six years lift away.
That's right, I'm never alone now, am I?
Harry stepped out from the protective guard of his demon. He winced slightly as he noticed the glare coming from Faith, but refused to take a step back.
"I'm sorry for disappearing like that, professor. It won't happen again," Harry apologized.
"That's alright, Harry. But I would like to know the events leading to meeting your…new aquaintance."
Harry quickly told Dumbledore the story; his kidnapping in the middle of the night; Voldemort's attempt to kill him; the demons saving his life; Slayer's slightly overprotective nature resulting in his disappearance. Harry told them everything – except about the ring. The boy wizard didn't know why he hadn't told them about that…except an instinct to keep the information to himself.
The group turned their attention to Slayer, obviously expecting her to tell her story. She narrowed her eyes and was about to threaten them when she felt Harry's hand on her arm.
"Please Slayer?"
Slayer sighed, and kneeled before her master saying, "Your wish is my command, master."
She grinned mischievously as she saw the humans shuffle uncomfortably because of her display.
"I was captured, tortured, made a member of an elite fighting squad, came here, killed my master, got a new master, and now I'm here trying to control the urge to kill every single one of you," the little blonde said sweetly. The humans all took a step back, except for Dumbledore and Faith. Her estimation of the two rose a little, but they were still humans.
"Do you really know who Slayer was?" Harry asked, receiving an annoyed look from Slayer that he ignored.
"Yes. Um… Slayer's real name is Buffy Summers. She is one of two slayers; a mythical warrior devoted to destroying demons, and lived on the hellmouth with her mother. You were captured a few months ago by the demons you were with and taken to another hell dimension," Giles said, hoping to spark his slayer's memory but couldn't read through the emotionless face.
A disembodied laugh could be heard. Out of nowhere the four demon warriors appeared.
"Ha, I told you Danyl – Slayer's a human. Pay up." Reluctantly Danyl handed his favourite dagger over to the grinning Talyn. Slayer glared at the two.
"You had a bet going on? I can't believe you did that! Of all the amoral depraved acts to do, to benefit from another's suffering…" she broke off as Emrys reached out his open pawn. Grumbling she reached out and placed one of her favourite rings on it.
"Damn, I was hoping you would forget about that," she groaned.
At that moment the Scoobies could see the Buffy they had known, but she disappeared as the slayer turned her gaze back to the humans.
"It doesn't matter who I was. I am Slayer, my name earned by bathing in the blood of my enemies and leader of the Elite, the most feared demon warriors in the hell dimensions; I serve Master Harry until the day one of us dies. Forget Buffy Summers…"
"She'd dead."
TBC
Should I update soon or not – only reviews will tell!