A/N: RL Annoyance, 'nuff said. Also, sorry for any HP universe errors, since my HP beta is off on vacation.

Chapter 15 – Remembrance

Gawain looked down at his friend in shock; unable to remember seeing her cry in the hundred years that he had known her. The other Slayer and the Master called to her, and she seemed unable to answer. Staring at them with a weird sort of recognition, and incomprehension. The demons shifted back and forth, unsure of how to fight whatever it was that was causing their leader such pain.

"Buffy…my name was…is…Buffy," Slayer whispered and everyone in the room stilled at the sound of her voice. The humans had triumphant looks on their faces, while the demons remained impassive. Joyce reached for her daughter, who launched herself away from the touch. Slayer looked around anxiously; closing her eyes and clutching her head, she tried to make sense of the jumble within her mind.

Faith and Harry had gotten a glimpse but they were unable to remember much of the flood of information from Slayer. But what they did remember wasn't pleasant, and Harry wondered if he could have survived what Slayer went through. Faith was wondering the same thing – only she was wondering if Buffy could survive the memories of what she had done.

Everyone waited with bated breath as Slayer sat absolutely still on the floor. No one made a move to touch her again, waiting for her to make the next move. Finally, she looked up, the tears gone from her eyes.

"Xander…Giles…Willow…Mom…Faith," Slayer said, as she looked at each of the humans, as if reaffirming what she remembered. Each of them nodded, grinning wildly as their friend remembered who they were. Slayer locked eyes with Faith, and felt the Slayer connection between them flare. The newly acquired memories were fresh in her mind, but they were slowly assimilating themselves.

A movement to Faith's right caused Slayer to meet Harry's eyes, and now she felt the flaring of the bond to her Master. She repeated the naming ritual again, this time with the demons and her master. As she examined the faces of the demons, out of the corner of her eye she noticed the small hidden figure. She gave no indication she had noticed him, but even through the chaos of her mind she was able to place him.

He was the boy that had handed her the towel after she came back for her outing in the Forbidden Forrest.

Slayer allowed the idea to grow in her mind and came to the conclusion that the sudden return of her memories was most likely not a coincidence. In fact, she would bet her kingdom that Voldemort was responsible. All in order to make her weak; Slayer allowed the anger that flowed through her at that thought tear away the fog in her mind.

She growled softly under her breath, and was felt satisfaction as she felt the humans back away.

They're your friends; you don't have to push them away. They can help you.

Slayer closed her eyes again as Buffy's voice rang through her mind. Even though the memories of Buffy were fresh, they couldn't outweigh the memories of a hundred year old demon. But Buffy was no longer buried deep in the demon's subconscious, and she was making herself known.

Slayer knew she was going to have to come to terms with being Buffy, but that would have to wait, she couldn't afford to be weak – not with Voldemort almost certainly planning an attack. Ironically, Buffy agreed.

Now, what should I do about the spy? Slayer mused, running through various torture techniques. Buffy had a different strategy in mind.

The others watched in horror as Slayer crumpled to the ground, unconscious.

Draco smiled triumphantly as he watched the demon crumple to the floor. Voldemort's plan was a success, and he would be richly rewarded for his part in it. He could already imagine the look on his father's face as he stood at Voldemort's side in victory. But image paled in comparison of the joy he would feel when he watched that bloody Potter and his lackeys die at the hands of Voldemort.

Waiting until they had carried the unconscious demon away, Draco made his way outside to the edge of the Forbidden Forrest. Looking around carefully, he whistled softly and Voldemort's owl made its way to his shoulder. Giving the owl the news of their success, the bird launched itself into the night and headed for its master.

Full of pride and dreams of victory, the young spy didn't notice his own shadow who was now making their way back into the castle.

Valet made his way quietly back to his master, whose concern for Slayer had made him unaware of the valet's absence in the first place. He looked at the unconscious figure of Lady Slayer and waited.

Did you follow him?

Being careful to give no physical reactions to the sound of Slayer's voice in his head, Valet answered.

Yes. He has sent an owl informing Voldemort of the success of his plan. Other than me, no one knows that your unconscious state is a ruse.

Good. I want you to take Tuath and return to Cerebus and inform Balor of the situation. Tell him and Vrenn I want as many troops as they can give me without sacrificing our defences – which means I expect Balor to remain where he is. The only way Voldemort can pull off an assault is if he gains the support of other Demon Lords, and I don't want them getting any ideas while I'm preoccupied here. Other than Tuath, tell no one of where you're going or why…not even Harry.

Of course, my lady…what do you want done with the troops when they have been gathered?

When the preparations are complete, have them gather at the portal and wait for my signal. I don't want Voldemort to know we have back up until he has committed his forces.

As you wish it, so it is done.

Slayer slowly opened her eyes, as if she was waking up from a long sleep. Her various visitors crowded around her bed, and in the excitement of her awakening, no one noticed Valet quietly dragging a confused Tuath away. Slayer fought to not watch their departure, but smiled internally when she felt their absence. She had to admit, even if only to herself…and her other self, that even though Buffy's plan wasn't as much fun as torturing the boy would have been, there was still amusement to be had.

Still, pretending to be confused and weak was going to be tiresome. But as Slayer looked at the humans and felt the conflicting emotions within, she realized with a sinking feeling that it wasn't going to be completely an act. As much as she was trying to block those memories off again, Pandora's box had been opened. Looking at the humans she no longer saw pests and toys, but friends and allies.

Listening to Xander make inane comments and Willow continue to babble, she began to wonder if Buffy wasn't the insane one.

Voldemort looked through the portal and smiled at the expanse of demonic warriors at his disposal. At his spy's last communication reporting Slayer's collapse, the Demon Lords had completely given him their support. Finally, after all these years, Voldemort could practically taste his victory. But he knew he would have to act quickly, before Slayer had a chance to adapt to her newfound memories.

No one could have reached Slayer's position without being a survivor and adapting quickly, and Voldemort didn't want to give her a chance to survive this encounter.

A demon walked through the portal and bowed slightly.

"The troop preparations are complete."

"Well, let's not keep them waiting – I have a date with destiny to keep."

Slayer sat in bed, thinking, and watching as the humans slept. They had all refused to leave her side, even though she hadn't spoken since that time in the Great Hall. Gawain remained by her side, while they others were guarding Harry after Dumbledore had forced him to get some sleep. The demon warrior hadn't spoken, waiting for his leader to speak when she was ready.

"Even though you only knew Buffy for a short time…am I much different from her?" Slayer asked Gawain softly so as not to wake the humans. Gawain thought back to what he remembered Slayer when she was first captured.

"Besides a few small things…no. And from the way these humans have spoken of you, they would agree with me."

Slayer continued to watch the sleeping figures.

"Buffy…if we didn't exist in the same body, she would kill a demon like me without a second thought."

Gawain didn't answer, knowing that Slayer wasn't really talking to him anymore.

"I need you to do something for me."

"Anything."

"I need you to take the humans away from here – now. I don't want them here to remind me of Buffy."

Gawain looked at his leader sharply, knowing that she was hiding something from him. But also knowing that she would tell him if it was important for him to know. Gawain nodded and placed himself roughly in the middle of the sleeping humans, and began to chant softly. However, unbeknownst to the demons, Faith had been awake for the entire exchange.

Moments before the spell activated, Faith launched herself across the room and Gawain held a look of surprise before he and the others disappeared. Slayer watched the brunette gather herself up and nonchalantly sat herself in the chair Gawain had been occupying just moments before.

"Don't think you're getting off that easy, B," she said with a smirk. Slayer found an answering grin forming on her face. Searching her newly acquired memories, Slayer realized how important the other Slayer was to Buffy. Idly, Slayer wondered when she would stop thinking of herself in the third person.

The smirk fell from Faith's face and she shifted uneasily in the chair. "Look, B, I just wanted to say I'm sorry."

"For what?" Slayer asked in confusion.

"All this happened because you took the blade that was meant for me," Faith admitted, not sure if Buffy had remembered that yet. Slayer frowned softly and brought the memory of her capture to mind. Gawain had always told her that she had been taken to saved her companion, but this was the first time Slayer was able to remember it. Perhaps because of the spell, she could remember it in great detail.

The pain as the sword cut skin and muscle. The look of horror on Faith's face and the one of surprise on Gawain's – and what she was thinking at that moment. Seeing the shame and self-hatred on Faith's face, Buffy felt compelled to tell her, "I wasn't mad or angry at you. I was grateful that you were going to be okay. I didn't have any regrets – not even when they took me away."

Faith looked at Buffy in shock, and for the first time saw her fellow Slayer looking out from behind hazel eyes. Without thinking, Faith pulled Buffy into a hug that the blonde returned. Looking over the brunette's shoulder, she looked into the eyes of Gawain who had returned from his mission. The two regarded each other silently, each wondering if a stranger stood before them.

Tomorrow would decide everything – who lived and who died; who won and who lost; who were allies and who were enemies; who she was and who she wasn't.

It all will be decided.

Tomorrow.

TBC