Point of fact: I do have underage use of a killing curse in this chapter, but I did look it up and would argue that the law states it cannot be used on a human being. Also, the hellmouth does prevent detection (in my story) from magical policing. For rabid HP fans, remember this IS fanfiction, and I am not interested in debating you. I DO believe you know more than I about the fact, so just chalk this up to creative licenses and forgive me.
Chapter 9: Hellmouth 101
*****Back at Hogwarts******
When they returned to Hogwarts, students surrounded Harry, happy to see him. He even got a hug from Cho Chang, which surprised Harry as he didn't realize that she even knew his name.
His head of house was very relieved to see him, and she hugged him also. Harry knew people cared about him, but it still filled him with warmth to be so well received. Ron and Hermione, though, were the ones he wanted to see the most. When they threw their arms around him, he knew he was home.
Buffy stood with her father and Cordy watching the reunion. "I still can't believe that ugly snake man got away," she said.
"It will not be the last time we will see him," Severus said.
"Now that your secret is out, it's only a matter of time before the school knows," Cordelia said.
"Should I give Luna that exclusive interview that I promised her?" Buffy asked.
Severus looked outraged. "For that insane rubbage of a newspaper her father puts out?" he asked.
"It's not much worse than the Daily Prophet that prints lies about Harry," Buffy argued. "Besides, Luna is Willow's friend, and I like Luna. She's quirky."
"Speak to your Watcher and the Council's other man, Professor Wyndam-Price," Severus said. "If they believe it is wise, then fine. We will deal with the fall out. I will speak to the headmaster, who I am sure will be have no objections."
"I need to get to Sunnydale," Buffy said. "Maybe I should take Luna with me—give her an exclusive that way."
Severus frowned. "Go speak to Rupert," he said. "I will make a port key for him to take you. I am not in the mood to deal with the hellmouth tonight."
"Okay," she said.
Giles wasn't sure that taking Luna to a hellmouth was a good idea, but he did agree that controlling the narrative of Voldemort's return and her secret was important. "We should see if Headmaster Dumbledore will allow us to contact Luna's father, Xenophilius Lovegood. We are several hours ahead, so there is time to speak to him," Giles said.
"Great," Buffy said excitedly. "You got speak to the headmaster while I go speak to Luna."
She found Willow with Luna, Cordelia and Xander. It didn't escape Buffy's notice that Xander seemed very attentive to the ethereal Ravenclaw student. However, it wasn't the time to tease him about the fact.
"I can't believe you fought Voldemort and rescued Harry without a scratch on any of you!" Willow said.
"Did Cordy tell you she nearly ate a rat?" Buffy asked with a wide grin.
"I did not nearly eat a rat!" Cordelia protested.
"You so did, too!" Buffy countered. "Peter Pettigrew turned himself into a rat while Cordy was in her panther form, and she pounced on him."
"Oh, gross!" Willow said.
"Wicked!" Xander exclaimed.
"So the betrayer of the Potters and Sirius Black is finally dead?" Luna asked.
Buffy nodded. "Yes," she said. "Luna, I am ready to give you that exclusive now."
Luna's eyes lit up. "Really?" she asked.
"In fact, I was wanting to see if you wanted to go with me to the hellmouth tonight, so Giles is going to talk to your father about it," Buffy said.
"Go to the hellmouth?" Luna asked, her eyes lighting up.
"I wouldn't let anything happen to you," Buffy assured her. "Giles and Wesley—Professor Wyndam-Price are coming. Normally, Father comes, but he isn't feeling up to it tonight. We're going to port key there. We'll be back tomorrow night. They're seven hours behind us, so you won't get much sleep. It'll be more like Monday morning by the time we get back."
"My father would not pass up an opportunity to see a vampire slayer firsthand or be on the hellmouth. It wouldn't matter if he had to stay up all night to get the story ready for publication," she said.
"Well, I hope he can come," she said. "I have room at my house for you and your dad. You can share my room or take my mom's room with your dad."
Luna pulled out her quill and opened a book. "Do you mind if I ask you a few questions now?" she asked.
"Sure," Buffy said.
"Can you confirm that Harry Potter was being held captive at the Malfoy's?" she asked.
"He was, but it wasn't the Malfoys who took him," Buffy said. "It was Peter Pettigrew, who is now dead. Draco and his mother were the ones who let Harry loose while we were busy providing the distraction with the ugly snake guy."
Luna nodded and wrote in her book. "And he-who-cannot-be-named? Was he there?" she asked.
"That's who I was referring to as the ugly snake guy," Buffy said, grimacing in distaste. Cordy nodded in agreement.
"He was way ugly," Cordy said.
"Not as ugly as the Master back in Sunnydale, though," Buffy added. Then she looked at Luna, who was looking wide-eyed. "You have to name him, Luna. He has a name. Voldemort isn't all powerful. By refusing to name him, you are only making his myth stronger."
Luna gave her a thoughtful look. "You are right," she said. She got her quill ready to write down Buffy's answer even though she already knew the answer. "Was Tom Riddle, the man now known as Lord Voldemort, there in physical form?"
Buffy nodded. "He was in some serious need of skin cream and bald—very ugly, but he introduced himself to me as that. Lucius Malfoy called him that," she said. "I kicked him in the face and took his wand from him. He did a wandless crucio on me, so I was knocked down for a moment. Father opened the curtains, which allowed the Watcher's Council's men to use their weapons to take out several of the wizards with their muggle weapons that we call guns. They can't be blocked by magical shields."
Luna looked surprised. "Really?" she asked.
"Yep. The wizards were very surprised to find that out, too," Buffy added with a smile of satisfaction. She spent several minutes telling Luna about it with Cordy adding her version while Luna wrote it down. Xander bemoaned the fact that missed out on all the fun.
"I could've so went hyena on those Death Eaters!" Xander insisted.
"You would've probably just peed or howled on the Death Eaters if you had been there," Cordelia said, laughing.
"I might've peed on you!" Xander said with smirk. Cordy stomped on his foot, so he pulled her high ponytail.
"Ignore them," Buffy said. "Let's go find Dumbledore or my father and see what's the what." She and Luna left Cordy and Xander bickering.
When Hermione and Ron learned that Buffy was going to the hellmouth and taking Luna and Luna's father with them, they were very jealous.
"Are you sure we can't go?" Hermione asked.
"You want to go to the hellmouth?" Ron asked in her in dismay.
"Of course," Hermione said. "Think of all the dark creatures we can see firsthand. No one besides Xander in our house knows anything, and it's only because he was born on the hellmouth. We can watch a vampire slayer in action! It would be so amazing! Buffy, you have to let us come."
"I wouldn't care," Buffy said.
"I think it's blimey," Ron said. "It's a dangerous place. We could become vampire food."
"Oh, little Ronikins is scared," George said.
"He's not really a lion after all," Fred said looking sad.
"Shut up!" Ron said, glaring at his brothers. "I'm not scared. I don't want Hermione putting herself in danger like that. I'm being a good friend!"
"It'll be perfectly safe—Professor Wyndam-Price is going," she said.
They looked at Harry to see what he wanted to do. Although Harry was curious, he had been through too much the past week and had no real desire to visit a hellmouth. "I don't think I'm up for it, guys. Not tonight," he admitted.
"Of course not," Buffy said, putting her arm around his shoulder. "You can come another time. Maybe Spring Break."
"We shouldn't leave Harry," Ron said. "He's had a traumatic experience." He lashed onto it, knowing the guilt would keep Hermione from pushing.
Instantly, Hermione gave her friend a look of concern. "Okay. I'm sorry, Harry. We wouldn't want to go without you anyway," she said.
"We are free to go," George said eagerly.
"That's right," Fred said.
"You know Cordy's not coming?" Buffy told them.
"That's okay. We want to see you in action," George said.
"Besides, we have a few things we've been working that might work on demons and vampires," Fred said.
"I will ask," Buffy said. She kind of thought the experience would be good for all the students as it would give them experience that no DADA class ever could.
She and Luna went to find her watcher, who informed Luna that her father wanted to accompany her to the hellmouth. "I thought he might feel that way," Luna said with a smile. "I will go get a change of clothes ready."
"We will be back Sunday night or early Monday morning," Buffy said. "Monday will be an exhausting day as this has been a long weekend for me."
"Not if your potions master of a father gives us one of his Wake-Up potions," Luna said. They she wandered off.
Buffy looked at Giles. "There's such a thing?" she asked Giles.
"I am sure they have a potion for all manner of things," he said.
"I will definitely be speaking to Father," she said. "The twins would like to go and experience the hellmouth. They also would like to test some of their products that they believe would be effective on killing or hurting demons and vampires."
Giles looked intrigued. "Really? Those two are surprisingly brilliant," he said. "Why they want to use their genius for such ridiculous purposes, I do not understand."
"Because they have an incredible sense of fun," Buffy said. "I think they're very special. The world has too much darkness in it. The Weasley twins are just what the world needs, and I hope Willow and Xander can help them figure out ways to market their products to the rest of the world."
"Fine, they can go," he said. "Another attack is coming. The more students who know how to fight the supernatural, the better." After his slayer went to get ready to leave, he located Wesley and brought his thought up to him. "Wesley, you know that Voldemort will be planning an attack soon."
"Yes, he will be out for blood," he said.
"What are you feelings on bringing some of the sixth and seventh—maybe a handful of advanced fifth years—to the hellmouth on Buffy's weekend trips to gain some real experience in the defense of the dark arts?" Giles asked.
Wesley's eyes widened slightly. "That's a very grand idea. Would the Headmaster agree to such a thing?" he asked.
"I would think he might if their parents agree," Giles said. "Which reminds me, I need to make a floo call to the Weasleys' as the twins want to accompany Buffy tonight."
"They are top students, so they would do well, I would imagine," Wesley said.
Giles went to the headmaster's office and shared his thoughts with him. Albus stroked his beard as he considered it. "Well, I would not want it mandatory as some students would be traumatized by the experience," he said. "However, to give so many students practical experience in battle would be an extraordinary thing. Something the Board of Regents would not be able to object to, especially in light of Voldemort's return. I will draft a letter and send it out to all fifth, sixth, and seventh year parents Monday. Buffy's status will be known by then."
"The new slayer is to be on the hellmouth by the new year, but I am sure she would not mind having help one night a week even when she takes over the job until we can rotate out the students," Giles said. "We would not want to take more than four or five at a time as they would have to stay at Buffy's family home."
"I am sure the other Sunnydale children would also like a chance to visit home," Albus said.
"That's true," Giles said. "Minerva will have to make sure they all know how to transfigure their clothes to American attire."
The two men smiled at the thought of that conversation, and then Giles called Molly and Arthur, who had opposite reactions. Arthur was excited for the boys while his wife sad absolutely no. Finally, Arthur said, "Would there be room for one more? Might I come with the boys? I know they would be heartbroken to be denied such an opportunity."
"Of course," Giles said.
"I might need to add that in the parent letter," Albus murmured. "Rupert, what do you think about Severus and Buffy providing the newspaper with a pensive of the events at the Malfoys? I do not want the public to doubt the return of Voldemort or for Fudge to try to play his political games."
"I think it is a very good idea, and one way to verify all facts of the event," he said. "It will also keep Buffy from having to do interviews that she has been pressed to do since being picked in the tournament. Her mother and I both felt it wasn't a good idea and Severus agreed as there is no telling what the girl would say."
Albus chuckled. "Very true," he said. "This way, she can satisfy their curiosity without having to answer questions."
An hour later, the entire group was assembled in Albus' office ready to port to America. Buffy took a minute to watch how her father took out his memory and gave it to Albus. He talked her through it as she mimicked his actions.
"I don't suppose I could watch that?" Ron asked hopefully. Dumbledore just looked at him while containing the memories—Ron took that as a no.
He had come to the office to see his father and brothers off while Hermione stayed in the room with Harry, who was still shaken by his weeklong captivity.
"Let's get this show on the road," Buffy said.
"Yes!" George said excitedly.
"Are you ready for this, Pops?" Fred asked his dad.
"I am," Arthur said with a grin.
Buffy hugged her father while Ron said goodbye to his father and brothers. Then Giles pulled out the port key—a book—and they were off.
"Let's hope those boys don't get their father killed," Severus said. He was opposed to taking students to the hellmouth, believing them to be too foolish and disobedient as a whole to survive unscathed.
"They won't," Ron said, glaring at Snape. "Not only can they take care of themselves, my father and two professors are with them as well as your super scary daughter."
Severus gave a slight smirk as he left the office. He rather liked hearing a Gryffindor refer to his daughter as scary.
*****Sunnydale*****
The port key brought them all to her living room, and she fell back onto her sofa. "I hated that," she complained.
The twins, along with their father, wasted no time looking around. Luna's father was a friendly man, who seemed more grounded than Luna, but he was clearly excited also to be on this adventure.
"You have a lovely home," Luna said, remember the manners her mother instilled in her.
"Thanks," Buffy said. "Giles and Wesley can stay down here. I'll let you guys put your bags in the rooms upstairs. Luna, did you want to stay with me or you dad?"
Luna wasn't about to pass up an opportunity to observe a magical creature in such an intimate setting. "I'll stay with you if you don't mind the company," she said.
"Not at all," she said. "Come on." Her father and the Weasleys followed her upstairs. She took the Weasleys to the larger room that was her mother's. "This is Mom's room."
"Professor Summers has nice taste," said George, admiring the painting she'd left on the wall. She had so much stuff from their house in Los Angeles that she was able to leave quite a bit and take things she had stored in the attic that she hadn't seen in two years.
"Mom said she was going to give it a year before she decides if she wants to sell the house," Buffy said. "The bathroom is through that door. The master bedroom has a private bathroom in most muggle homes. The other bathroom is down the hall. The rest of us will use that one."
She took Mr. Lovegood to the guestroom that still had too many boxes in it, but there was bed in it. "Sorry about the mess. This room was used more for storage rather than overnight guests," she admitted.
"It is perfectly fine," Mr. Lovegood. "We appreciate your hospitality. I will be working furiously to get a story ready to be published in my Monday edition."
"My interview with her is already ready to go, Father," Luna said, giving him a beaming smile.
"That is my sweet pumpkin—so talented," he said with a proud look.
Buffy thought they were cute, and she pulled Luna along to her room.
They hadn't had dinner yet, so Buffy asked Giles if they should order pizza or go out.
"Oh, I want to go to a muggle restaurant!" George said.
"The sun sets in an hour," Wesley remarked.
"Everyone needs to get rid of the robes. It's November, but Southern California doesn't get cold," Buffy said. "You will find it right down hot compared to Scotland, so jeans or pants of some kind t-shirts."
It took them about ten minutes to get their outfits ready. The twins had to make it difficult by giving each other outfits, which made Buffy laugh harder than she'd ever could remember laughing in her life. George put Fred in a dress the first time, so Fred got him back by putting him in a cowboy outfit that had boots and a matching hat.
"If we were in Texas, you actually could get away with that outfit, but not in this state," Buffy said, still grinning.
Eventually, they were dressed in black jeans and t-shirts that still made Buffy grin. One was purple and the other was green, but both had a picture of Scooby-Doo on it.
"I like your dog," Luna said.
"How did you see a picture of Scooby-Doo?" Buffy asked, impressed.
"Xander," they both said together.
"He has a shirt he sleeps in with this dog on it. Then he says he's a Scooby," George said.
"When he told us what a Scooby was, we knew we had to be one, too," Fred said with a grin.
Giles rolled his eyes. "Let's go," he said impatiently.
Buffy laughed. "I have to get my bag and Mr. Pointy and some stakes," she said.
"I thought we were just going for pizza?" Wesley asked.
"This is the hellmouth," Giles said. "It will be dark after dinner, and it is always best to be prepared."
"We have our bag of goodies," George said, lifting a satchel.
They walked the mile to the nearest pizza place, and Buffy pointed out places of interest. Buffy had Giles order a large supreme pizza and a large pepperoni with extra cheese. While they were waiting for their food, Buffy, Luna, and the twins went to the jukebox the pizza place had to pick out some music when Harmony came in to pick up her family's pizza.
"Buffy?" Harmony asked. "I thought you were in Scotland with Cordelia."
"I am. I came this weekend to accompany some classmates that are touring America," she said. "Guys, this is Harmony. She's one of Cordelia's best friends."
"Really?" George asked. "We love our beautiful queen."
"You are almost as gorgeous as she is," Fred said, holding out his hand to Harmony.
Harmony was charmed and giggled. "It's nice to meet you," she said.
"This is Fred and George," Buffy introduced.
She shook George's hand, and then Luna held out her hand. "Hi, I'm Luna," she said.
"You're very cute," Harmony said, smiling at the girl as she shook her hand.
Buffy was surprised to find Harmony so friendly to her British friends. Then again, she had never actually seen Harmony without an entourage. Maybe she was just nicer when she was by herself. However, Luna got this funny look on her face as she let go of Harmony's hand and said, "If you want to live to see your nineteenth birthday, you won't go to your graduation."
"My birthday?" Harmony asked. "It's June seventh. I'm going to Paris with my parents after graduation, but that's not for more than another year."
"Not if you go to your graduation. You should skip it," Luna said.
"What? Are you some kind of British psychic?" Harmony asked with a frown.
Buffy considered how to handle it—Luna seemed deadly serious. "She sort of is, but don't tell anyone. That's why we came to the States. She needed a break from all the attention in Britain," Buffy said.
"Seriously?" Harmony asked, her eyes wide. "Does that mean someone is going to try and kill me? Is my life in danger?"
"You live in Sunnydale, Harm," Buffy said. "Surely, you know this town is dangerous after dark, so your life is always in danger."
"She said graduation. What's going to happen to me at graduation? Is that when the murderer is going to attack me?" she asked Luna.
"I don't see how you die—just that you will," Luna said. "I'm sorry."
Harmony looked shaken and all but fled the pizza place. "Is that true?" Buffy asked Luna. "Is something going to happen here at graduation? She doesn't graduate this year. She's the same age as me. Is it her graduation specifically?"
Luna nodded. "Yes," she said. "I don't know what, but I saw her in her graduation gown and her dead."
Buffy didn't like that implication and knew she would be telling it to Giles later. Their pizza arrived, though, so they ate. The twins decided that American pizza was the best thing ever.
Anticipation for the rest of the evening had the twins in rare form, keeping them laughing with their jokes. Buffy choked on her soda more than once. Arthur was nearly as excited as his sons, and Buffy found him adorable. Then it was time to go patrol. Buffy convinced Giles that they should start at the Bronze.
"What's that?" Wesley asked.
"Oh, it's a dance club," Buffy said.
"Dancing?" Fred asked excitedly.
"A club?"
"That teens are allowed in," Buffy said with a grin.
"That does not sound like the reason we are here," Wesley said with a frown.
"Oh, but I find lots of vampires in the Bronze. I stopped the Master from rising my first week in the town at the Bronze," Buffy said.
Wesley looked at Giles, who nodded. "She is right," he said. "They see it as a prime feeding ground."
The twins were wide-eyed and excited as they walked into their first American dance club.
"If I die tonight, I will die happy," George said to his brother.
"Ronikins is so missing out," Fred said looking around.
"Live music?" Arthur asked in surprise.
"Yes, that's quite common in America," Giles said. "Not just at big concert venues. We will go get a table and give Buffy thirty minutes or so to spot a vampire. Then we'll head out."
"Fine," Wesley said, knowing Buffy was going to do what she wanted. Giles didn't keep her on a tight leash at all.
"Come on, Luna. Let's go dance," Buffy sad. She grabbed Luna's hand, and then hooked one of the twins, knowing the other would follow. They went to the dance floor while their presence was noticed on the upper level.
"There she is, love," Spike said, spotting Buffy.
Drusilla looked down. "Spike, something is wrong," she said, frowning. "My eyes aren't working right."
"What?" he asked, looking at her in concern.
"I am seeing double," she said.
Spike peered back at the guys Buffy was with and chuckled. "They are twins, love. Your eyes are fine," he said.
Drusilla leaned over the rails and peered down. "Twins? Redheaded twins?" she said.
"Where did they come from?" Spike wondered. "I have never seen them before with the slayer. Rumor has it that she is over the pond with her Watcher. Her ma isn't at the art gallery anymore."
"British twins? I want them, Spike," Drusilla said. "Get them for me."
"Whatever my dark queen wants," he said, kissing her cheek. He took her hand, and they walked downstairs, watching the slayer and her new friends.
Sure enough, after twenty minutes of dancing, the slayer and the girl went to the bar to order a drink, and Dru made her move.
"Hi," Drusilla said to one of the twins. "Care to dance?"
"Of course," George said, smiling happily at the attractive older woman. "You don't sound American."
"I'm not," she said. She reached out the Fred. "You can dance with me, too." The twins experience what it was like to dance with a beautiful woman between them. She slithered up George as the music pulsated and then turned to Fred, grinding her backside into George while her eyes caught Fred's.
"You're very beautiful," Fred said.
"You are very cute and delicious looking," Drusilla said, smiling at him. She leaned in and licked his neck. Fred gulped, not believing what was happening.
Then she turned and locked eyes again with George. "Be in me," she said, getting him in her thrall.
George's mind began to fog, and all he could see was her.
She turned toward Fred. "Be in me," she said to me, capturing him in her gaze. When both boys were focused on her, she grabbed their hands and led them to the side. Spike was following behind them.
Buffy and Luna each held a drink and looked at the dance floor for the twins. "Where did they go?" Luna asked.
Buffy scanned the room and caught a familiar white head going out the side door and had sinking feeling. "Spike!" she exclaimed. She turned to Luna. "Tell Giles that Spike is here, and I think he grabbed the twins. They went out back. Hurry." Buffy tossed the drinks in a nearby trashcan and moved quickly through the throng of dancers.
As for the twins, Drusilla led them outside and then pulled George in close. "It's time for a kiss," she said. She kissed him. Then she bit down on his neck and began to drain him.
When her teeth pierced his skin, he finally shook off her thrall. "Fred!" he called out.
The sound of his other half crying out had Fred reaching for his wand that was hidden by his t-shirt. His wand in his hand cleared the rest of her thrall, and he took a step forward to help his brother. However, Spike grabbed his arm.
"Not so fast," Spike said.
Fred didn't hesitate, though, calling out a spell that knocked his brother away from the vampire that was trying to drain him. Then he turned to the man who had his arm, "Crucio!"
Spike fell to the ground as waves of pain coursed through his body. What the hell?
George realized that the beautiful woman he was kissing was a vampire and looked up at her in horror.
"Get up, George!" Fred called out.
George scrambled to his feet and reached for his wand. What spell to use on a vampire goddess? He didn't know any holy water spells.
"We are just getting to know one another, my sweet boy," Drusilla said, coming to him with a smile.
Terror filled George as he realized what the woman wanted with him, and he could only think of one thing. He cast a fire spell.
Buffy came outside in time to see George set Drusilla on fire, and Fred crucio Spike. She blinked at the sight. "Well, I'll be damned," a voice said.
Buffy looked and saw Angel. "Angel," she said, smiling.
"Are these friends of yours?" he asked as he watched Drusilla turned to a pile of ash. Kendra's killer was no more.
She nodded. "I came out here thinking I was going to have to save them from Drusilla, and it looks like they didn't need my help," she said. Then George collapsed, and Fred stopped torturing Spike.
Buffy moved to see if he was okay while Spike jumped up ready to fight. "You better run, Spike. Dru's a pile of ash," Angel said.
Spike gasped as he saw her remains, and then Buffy looked at him. "She killed Kendra, so she got what was coming to her, and she was trying to kill George. He was only defending himself. I left my wand at home, or I'd use the same spell on you," she said. She was pressing the piece of t-shirt she'd torn off against the bite mark in George's neck.
"I can use that spell," Fred offered as he pointed his wand. Spike took off without looking back, knowing it was better to live to fight another die.
"George has lost too much blood," Buffy said.
Giles and the rest finally joined them. Arthur was upset to his son injured, but he was relieved that Giles had a potion Severus had supplied him with. "No need for hospitals thanks to Buffy's father," Giles said happily. "It's a blood replenishing potion of some kind."
"Perfect," Arthur said. He gave it to his son, whose color returned immediately.
"I hate hospitals," Buffy said.
George drank the potion while his father healed his wound. They congratulated the twins for their incredible success.
"You boys took down one half of the Scourge of Europe," Wesley said. "I am so very proud."
"One half? Where's the other?" George asked.
"Well," Buffy said, looking at Angel. "Darla, the founding member, is dead, killed by Angel last year. Angel was the third member back when he didn't have his soul and was known as Angelus. Angel, these are some of my friends from school. Luna Lovegood, and her father, whose name I can't pronounce, so I call him Mr. Lovegood."
"Nice to meet you, Mr. Angel," Luna said, staring at him in fascination.
"Angel is fine," Angel said, smiling at the girl.
"Did it hurt when they put the soul back in you?" Luna asked.
"Yes," he said.
"Fascinating," Mr. Lovegood said.
"And that's Arthur Weasley, and his sons Fred and George. Luna is two years behind me, and they are in my year at Hogwarts. Both boys are madly in love with Cordelia," Buffy said with a grin.
"We fancy you, too, our golden goddess," Fred said.
"The sexiest slayer I know," George said.
"The only slayer you know," Fred said.
"True," George said with a grin.
"Although rumor has it the another is coming to town," Fred said.
"She'll probably have a big nose and wart," George said.
"An old crone," Fred said.
"Demons will flee from her ugliness," George added.
"Vampires will refuse to drink her blood," Fred said.
"She won't hold a candle to our Buffy," George said.
"Who is definitely the Buffiest of all slayers," Fred said.
Buffy giggled, and even Angel smiled at the twins.
"Okay, that's enough," Giles said. "We have patrolling to do." The pair would never stop if you didn't reign them in. They were absolutely worse than Xander.
He led them down the alleyway. "Those two are something," Angel said to Buffy. "Are they always like that?"
"They are," Buffy said. "They are total nuts. My father calls them evil geniuses, who were totally misplaced. He believes they are too devious to be true Gryffindors, and they have ambition. They are opening their own joke shop."
"Really?" Angel asked.
"Yep. Xander is working with them actually. They have a lot of fun together," Buffy said. "It's good for him to have some guy friends."
"It's good to see you," Angel said, not wanting to talk about Xander.
"You, too," Buffy said. "It's been decided that I'm going to be bringing in some classmates every weekend to give them experience on the hellmouth."
"That's not a bad idea," Angel said.
"We didn't get to try out any of our things," Fred complained, looking at his bag that their father had handed them.
"They'll be more vampires," Giles assured them.
And there was. They hit five cemeteries, where Buffy made them all practice killing a vampire with a stake at least once—even Luna got to slay a newly risen one. Drusilla and Spike were the most dangerous foes they faced, though, except for a pair of demons that Angel and Buffy took down together. Mr. Lovegood surprised them by flashing the camera that he had the foresight to bring. His daughter's first slay had already been immortalized, and now he had what he thought would make a nice front cover picture. The slayer and the vampire worked together in a way that defied the imagination. Even the twins were silent as they fought in near synchrony.
"You never told me she was so close to a vampire," Wesley said to Giles as he watched the fight. Angel threw the demon to Buffy, who snapped its neck. Then together, they killed the remaining one.
"It was in my diaries," he said. "Angel seeks redemption, and Buffy uses his strength. As you can see, they work very well together."
"Clearly, there's more than that between them," Wesley said, giving Giles a look of disapproval. The chemistry between Buffy and Angel was so apparent that the twins had finally noticed it but were too disturbed to comment on it.
"He will break her heart," Luna said. "Then she will do what she is called to do."
Everyone looked at Luna. "Is your daughter psychic?" Wesley asked Mr. Lovegood.
Buffy and Angel joined them, overhearing. "She has some type of seer gift," Buffy stated. "At the pizza place, she told Harmony that she needed to not go to her graduation because she would be killed there."
"Did you see that, honey?" her father asked her.
Luna nodded and repeated what she had seen. "I will let the new watcher know when she gets to town with the new slayer," Giles said. "Do you often see things about people that come true?"
Luna looked sad as she nodded again.
"She does," her father said, reaching for her hand. "Her mother had the same gift."
"I got demon goo on my shoes, so I'm done for the night," Buffy said, looking down at her feet with a look of distaste.
They began walking toward her place, Angel and her trailing the group.
"I'll stop by and see you in the morning before I leave if that's okay," she said.
"If you have time," he said.
"It's the only way we can say a private goodbye," she said, giving him a heated look. Then she hugged him before following the twins into the house.
Angel started to leave until Luna came back out and called to him. "Angel," she said.
"Yes?" he asked, turning toward her.
"Something bad is going to happen to you if you aren't careful," she said.
"Really?" Angel said.
Luna nodded. "I don't see what exactly it will be, but I know it will have something to do with Buffy," she warned.
"Thanks for the warning," he said.
The next morning when Buffy came to say goodbye, he couldn't picture any part of Buffy being a threat to him as their lips met for a lingering kiss goodbye.
Giles had told Buffy about Luna's warning, but Buffy couldn't imagine a time when Angel would ever do anything to break her heart.
*****Hogwarts******
The twins returned back to school clearly marked by their experience on the hellmouth. Although they met their housemates and brothers with their normal smiles and quips, Harry could tell that something had happened.
"Are you all right?" he asked one of them after the majority of their house had walked away.
"Yea," George said.
"We're okay," Fred said.
"I nearly died," George admitted. "A vampire bit me, but Fred saved me."
"Then George killed the vampire," Fred said, slapping his brother on the back.
"That's good," Harry said. "I'm glad you're both okay." He was also glad that he had decided not to go.
Down in the dungeons, Buffy told her father about the twins brush with death and their defeat of Drusilla.
"They defeated her?" he asked in surprise.
Buffy nodded. "A fire spell," she shared.
"Oh really?" he asked, arching an eyebrow.
"I left my wand at home, so Spike got away," she admitted.
"Why does that not surprise me?" he said with a sigh.
Buffy grinned. "Because you know me so well," she said.
"I'm beginning to," her father said.
She said goodnight and joined Cordelia in her room. Cordelia was upset to know that George had gotten bit by Drusilla. "Are you sure he's okay?" she asked.
"He is. He killed her, Cor," Buffy said, grinning. "The nut is ash."
"What a relief!" Cordelia exclaimed.
"Yep," she said. "And Fred got to throw a crucio at Spike."
"I so wish I could've seen that!" Cordelia said.
"Before I forget, I saw Harmony at the pizza place," she said. "She was actually nice. Met the twins and Luna. Then Luna had some kind of vision or something—the girl has a touch of the second sight. I think she's going to be a seer when she grows up."
"Really?" Cordelia said.
Buffy nodded and told her what Luna said about Harmony. Predictably, Cordelia looked upset. "Something bad is going to happen at our graduation? That is so not a surprise," she said in disgust. "I wonder if I can convince Harmony to go to a private school out of town?"
"She might ask to go here, and we can't exactly explain why she can't," Buffy said.
"There's witch schools in America. Maybe Harmony has magic powers, too," Cordelia said. "The hellmouth shields us from their magic detector. Willow said the other day that she thinks the hellmouth actually causes children born on the hellmouth to have magic even."
"I don't know," Buffy said. "But try to convince her to leave at graduation."
"Everyone wants to go to their graduation, Buffy," Cordelia said. She thought about what to do, and she knew that she had to find a way to save Harmony's life. The girl had been her best friend since kindergarten. So what if she was a bit on the vapid side? She had always been loyal and good to Cordelia, and that meant something to Cordy.
"We'll make sure nothing happens to her," Buffy said. "Giles is going to tell the new watcher what Luna saw."
"That's good," Cordelia said. She would still do what she could to save her friend.
*****The First Task*****
Buffy couldn't put off the Triwizard Tournament anymore as the first task was actually Tuesday of that week. Monday morning her father reminded her as she downed the potion-that-works-better-than coffee.
"Yikes!" she exclaimed as they were walking into breakfast. "Already?" A wave of energy hit her. "Wow that stuff really does work! I have to learn how to make that stuff!" Her father smiled.
"How could you forget?" Draco asked. "It's only the biggest thing the school has ever had happen. They canceled my favorite sport for this stupid tournament. If you don't win, I'm going to be really pissed."
Buffy flashed him a grin. "You think I can beat that hot Viktor guy or the cute Cedric?" she asked.
"Or the very beautiful Fleur," Draco said with a smirk.
"The first task should not pose any problems for you as it involves dragons," Severus said.
"Dragons? Really?" Buffy said.
"Did Rupert not tell you this?" he asked.
"I think so," she said with a shrug. "I don't know. He tells me a lot, and I sometimes don't listen—don't tell him I said that, though."
"Buffy Anne!" Severus scolded.
Buffy gave him a cheeky grin and headed to her table while he went to the professors' tables. Draco laughed and followed after her. Cordelia was already there, holding court with Daphne, Pansy, and Millicent. She had gotten all three girls to genuinely like her. Buffy only tolerated Daphne for any amount of time as Daphne wasn't one to speak unless she had something worth saying. Unlike Pansy, she didn't tend to spout purebred idiocy just because she could. Of course, Pansy was slowly learning to say it less and less, especially around her new American housemates. Surprisingly, Buffy found Blaise to be the most likeable next to Draco as he had a dry wit that he rarely showed anyone.
The Slytherin house was learning to keep more of their prejudice to themselves because their Head of House wasn't quite the man he once was since his daughter arrived, and everyone was very afraid of Buffy Ann Summers-Snape. When Mr. Lovegood's article hit the tables that morning, the word would be out concerning exactly what Buffy was and how she already went up against their precious Dark Lord. Providing the Daily Prophet and Minister Fudge a pensive of Severus and Buffy's memories of the night's events would guarantee more articles in the more respected publications and quotes from the Minister backing up the claims. Of course, the Malfoys had already given testimony as Lovegood's article would also state.
"Are you ready?" Buffy asked her cousin.
"For the fireworks or for the tournament?" Cordelia asked.
"For the fireworks," Buffy said. "The mail should be delivered in a few minutes."
"What's going on?" Pansy asked.
"There will be some things in the newspaper about me, Cordelia, and the Malfoys," Buffy said. "Voldemort is alive."
Her words fell like an exploding bomb on the table, and her entire house looked at her—those that heard her announcement. Those that couldn't, asked those closest what she said. The word spread. Food appeared, interrupting. Then the mail arrived, so further words weren't necessary.
Buffy's secret was out. Chaos reigned in the hall as more students shared their papers with students who didn't have one. The Ravenclaw table had several copies of Luna's paper, which had her interview with Buffy and her dad's report of Buffy at fighting with Angel on the hellmouth. The moving picture of Angel and Angel hitting a pair of ugly demons was eye-catching.
"I can't believe they put Dead Boy on the cover of the paper," Xander said, complained from the Gryffindor table as he looked at Hermione's copy.
"Huh?" Ron asked, confused.
"That's what I call Angel, the vampire in the picture with Buffy," he said.
"That's a vampire?" Ron asked, looking closer at the picture.
"Why is Buffy fighting with a vampire?" Harry asked, confused. "Isn't she supposed to kill them?"
"He's a special case," Xander said, not wanting to share about Buffy's love life. "He was cursed by Gypsy's with a soul, so he's not evil."
Dumbledore interrupted the conversation by standing at his podium and giving the signal for them to be quiet. "Unfortunately, students, I have some somber news," he said. "I am sure many of you have already read the papers announcing that Tom Riddle, known as Voldemort, is back. We should no longer give in to fear for that man by refusing to speak his name." He paused and glanced at Buffy, who gave him a nod. "As I was recently reminded, he is not god and rumors of his death were clearly exaggerated. How he found a way to be back is not clearly understood, but we have some theories. I assure you that you are safe here. As you have now been made aware, two of our very own students from—" he paused as if it pained him to admit this part—"Slytherin House" [cheers from Buffy's table broke until glares from Snape and a calm look from the headmaster silent the group] "Buffy Anne Summers-Snape and Cordelia Chase-Black faced him and several Death Eaters while Draco Malfoy and his mother worked to free Harry Potter from their dungeon."
Draco's housemates gave him glares while Buffy glared back at them.
"I am rewarding 200 points a piece to their house for their bravery and 200 points for Gryffindor for Harry Potter once again surviving at the hands of Voldemort," he said. Harry's house, of course, cheered loudly at that, slapping Harry on the back. Harry looked embarrassed and not at all proud of his accomplishment.
"Now concerning, Buffy's newly revealed status as a vampire slayer—this will be addressed in your Defense of Dark Arts classes this week," he said, looking toward Professor Wyndam-Price and Giles, who both nodded. "Having someone with her skills does give her an advantage in the tournament, but it has been decided that she will be allowed to continue even though there is a possibility that if she wins she might not be acknowledged as the champion." Slytherin House and some Gryffindors vocally complained until Dumbledore raised his hand. "I realize that might be upsetting, but let's not worry about it now. The first task is tomorrow. Let us wish both our contestants good luck."
"Well, I'm in for it now," Buffy said to her Draco and her cousin.
The attention around her status was so great that her actual first task was a snooze fest in comparison. Getting a golden egg from a very large dragon when she could turn into a dragon didn't seem very fair. No one said that she couldn't use her status as a registered Animagus in the task. The dragon was chained, and she felt kind of sorry for it. For a brief moment, she considered releasing it, but then she hadn't studied enough about dragons to yet to know how dangerous it might be to others.
"Nice dragon," she said. Sounds came out of her mouth. Was she talking to it? "Hello. I'm Buffy. Can I have that egg you're sitting on?"
The dragon stared at her a long moment, and then it moved and kicked its leg slightly, moving the egg toward her. "Thanks," Buffy said. She tried to grasp the egg in her claws and found it a bit difficult, so she nudged it away from the dragon until she could turn back into her human from.
Then she picked it up with her hands.
"That was a piece of cake," she said. When she found out that had the fastest time, she couldn't help but be pleased.
"Her vampire slayer abilities had nothing to do with this accomplishment," her father told Mr. Bagman.
"Still, she is an Animagus," Karkaroft said, glaring at Buffy accusingly. Buffy glared back.
"Which is not a violation of the rules," Dumbledore pointed out. "Both witches and wizards are known to be both."
"She is both—it is an unfair advantage," Karkaroft argued.
"We are still debating her status," Mr. Bagman admitted. "There has never been a vampire slayer in the tournament."
"I do not think her skills as an Animagus should be held against her any more than Viktor's skills on a broom would be against him," Madame Maxime said.
That ended the argument, so Mr. Bagman said, "The clue for the next task is inside the egg. The next task will be February twenty-fourth at nine thirty in the morning."
Buffy went to accept the congratulation of her friends and housemates while her mother hugged her in relief. Now she just had to get her classmates ready for the next attack by the so-called Dark Lord.
*****Chapter End******
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