I am not prepared to defend my choice in whether or not Giles can master the spell to apparate, so please don't get worked up about it. He is very smart and resourceful, and I choose to believe he could do it if he really wanted it. Also, it was needed for my story.

Warning: This chapter is rated "M" for a shocking gruesome scene at the end. It's not normal for me to write such things, but the characters called for it.

Chapter 11: A Dance of Death

******Two Days Before Christmas******

Xander and Cordelia both were getting their Christmas shopping done with Giles in London as Giles had finally mastered how to apparate. He'd gotten his license to do so. Although he wasn't powerful with the wand, he could use it. He discovered this during the dueling club practices. He hadn't wasted any time in mastering the apparition spell—much to Severus' dismay. Giles had enjoyed getting Severus' smug smile off his face when he'd first mentioned his desire to be more independent. Severus said it would be impossible to master such a complex spell so quickly.

It was coming in handy when the children insisted on getting their shopping done in London. Severus took Buffy and Willow, and he took Xander and Cordelia the next day. Due to Voldemort and his fanatics, it was decided that smaller numbers would be easier to keep an eye on. Both Wesley and he believed that it was only a matter of time before Death Eaters or Voldemort himself struck. The fact that he hadn't yet done anything was making them all antsy.

Buffy knew it was only a matter of time. However, she was keeping herself busy with preparing for final exams and leading groups of students to the hellmouth. The students in higher numbers seeing her in action on the hellmouth each of the past few weeks had only increased her legend. Xander, Willow, and Cordelia were so blasé about facing demons and vampires that all the students who were with them when it was their turn to go visit home were both taken aback and impressed.

"I can't believe we've been here an entire six months," Cordelia said as she tried on a dress for the ball. There was no way in hell she was wearing stupid robes to a dance even if there were formal robes. They had found a small boutique that had two dressing rooms next to each other that men and women both could use. Since she had no girlfriend with her, Xander had been her dress selector helper—much to his chagrin.

"Time flies when you're having fun and not nearly getting killed nightly," Xander said as he stood in front of them mirror looking at his suit. He decided to follow Cordy's example and go American formal, deciding to represent the male formal wear as his classmates were mostly woefully ignorant of such things.

"True," Cordelia said. She was modeling a red dress that hugged her figure. It was nearly backless but had a neckline that didn't show any cleavage. However, it molded her ample curves. When Xander gave her his attention, he nearly swallowed his tongue.

"Wow, Cordy—that's some dress. You look incredible in it!" he said.

Cordelia gave a smile of satisfaction. "Thank you. I think this is the one," she said.

"It definitely is," Xander agreed. "I'm not sure, though, the male populace of Hogwarts can handle it." He ignored the way he felt about seeing her in the dress. He and Cordy would be a disaster, and he didn't like pain that much.

Cordelia laughed. "Well, it will be fun to see," she said. "Buffy's dress is also in red—the bitch. She knew I was going for red, and then she bought a red one anyway. But it's got a flare skirt and a strapless sequin bodice. Mine is definitely sexier, especially since she doesn't have the breasts to pull off strapless."

"Buffy said red was her favorite Christmas color, and she didn't like the silver or green dresses she saw. And she can totally pull off strapless," he said loyally. "Willow's dress is in green." The curse of having girl best friends was he knew too much about female attire.

"Yes, I saw it," Cordelia said. "It's very cute. I can't believe she had the guts to ask someone to the dance!"

Xander grinned. "The twins are still complaining about Percy going to the dance even though he's not a student," he said.

"Percy is very different from the twins and Ron," she agreed. "I can't believe you actually manned up enough to ask someone to the dance although I think Luna is a bit young for you."

"I know, but she is funny and weird—I like her. I'm not looking to seduce her," Xander said. He decided it would be better to go with someone he could have fun with for his first wizard dance.

"Can you believe that Buffy wanted to bring Angel to the dance?" Cordelia said.

"Of course, I can believe it," Xander said. "I just can't believe she didn't convince the headmaster as she's been getting all kinds of goodwill from the staff since she stood toe-to-toe with their Big Bad."

"Speaking of that ugly little man, it's making me nervous that he hasn't retaliated yet," Cordelia said as she went back to the changing room to put on the clothes that she arrived in.

Xander went into the room next to hers and did the same thing. "Well, let's hope we can at least party a bit before disaster strikes," he said.

"Great, you've cursed us," Cordelia muttered. When he stepped out of his dressing room, she was glaring at him. "When things go to hell, it's your fault!"

Xander sighed. Why did he go tempting Murphy?

******The Night of the Ball******

Buffy and Cordelia were helping her mother get ready for the ball. She and her father had gone out on two other dates, and Buffy knew that her father had stayed the night in her mother's room three days ago because she had seen him sneaking out after she came by before breakfast. Since her father was a lot more private than she was, she refrained from teasing him. However, her mother was happier than she had ever been.

"Father's going to die when he catches you in this dress," Buffy said, grinning as she pinned up half her mother's hair. The dress was a silver dress that shimmered in the light. It hugged her figure and had a slit up one leg.

Joyce smiled. "Now that would be a complete waste," she said, causing Buffy to giggle.

"I'm not sure the students can handle a happy Professor Snape," Buffy said.

"We are happy," she said. "How about you, honey? Are you okay with Angel not being allowed here?"

Buffy shrugged. "I guess. I mean, I do understand the whole demons not allowed in the building rule," she said. "It's a good rule even if it discriminates against vampires with a soul."

"Your date, though, is a cutie," Joyce said with a grin. "He's in my advanced art class, you know. He's very talented."

"He is?" Buffy asked in surprise. "I didn't know that. We don't have any classes together, but Cedric is very nice and cute." She'd been surprised when the other Hogwarts' competitor asked to go to the dance with her. However, she didn't have any reason to say no to him as she did need a date, and he was age appropriate, unlike Draco and his friends. It amused her that Cordelia was going with Blaise even though she knew why Cordelia had agreed to go with him

"Well, you have fun, sweetie," Joyce said. "Thanks for helping me get ready. I can't believe I'm going to spend the next two weeks so far away from you."

"It will pass quickly. Dad's very happy I'm coming in for New Year's, although it's a bit odd that he's not answered the last few times I've called him to confirm he's picking me up at the airport in two days," Buffy said. She was spending Christmas with her mother, and then she was flying to Los Angeles on the twenty-sixth.

"I know that the holidays are very busy time for everyone," Joyce said. "I'm sure he'll answer when you call before you leave."

"I hope so. Well, I got to go help Willow—she's very nervous," Buffy said.

When she made it to Willow's room, she was dressed. "What should I do with my hair, Buffy?" she asked.

"I can French braid it or add some curl," Buffy said. "Cordelia taught me a spell to add curl to your hair."

"Really?" Willow asked. "That'd be cool, but I think for the dance, curls might be too much."

"Well, I wasn't thinking Shirley Temple," Buffy said.

"Huh? Who's that?" Willow asked.

"You never watched any black and white movies? She was a famous redheaded child actor, and her hair was very curly," Buffy shared. "Mom loves old movies."

"No, I've only seen a few of those silly Jerry Lewis movies 'cause Xander thinks he's funny," Willow said.

"Okay, no, super curly," Buffy said. "Just a bit of wave to give your hair some extra body—sexy."

Willow's eyes got big. "Sexy?" she eked out. "I don't do sexy."

Buffy smiled but rolled her eyes. "Trust me, Will," she said.

An hour later, both girls looked smashing. Buffy had her hair pinned up as Cordelia insisted that they all couldn't wear their hair down. When they met their dates, the three guys each smiled to see how nice they looked in their muggle clothes.

Percy was a bit flummoxed—he had been since Willow had so shyly asked him to attend with her. Willow normally looked sweet and cute—the kind of girl he could easily talk to. Now, however, she looked stunning. "You looked beautiful, Willow," he said, handing her a wrist corsage that she had told him to get for her.

Of course, he'd made it with magic with a bit of help from his mother. Molly had been upset with him ever since he got a job at the Ministry. When he had mentioned it once to Willow, she said that moms didn't always have to understand you to love you. They were still family, and Percy shouldn't let them slip so far away from him. Her words stayed with him all week as he thought of this dance. Then he decided to go see his mom on his lunch break and ask her for help making the flower.

The look on her face when she heard his request made him realize that Willow had been right—his mother loved him even if she was angry and disappointed with his choices.

Willow was very excited when Percy told her that the wrist corsage was made magically, and she asked him a dozen questions, which worked to alleviate his own nervousness at her appearance.

Cedric hadn't really spent much time thinking about Professor's Snape's daughter and had only asked her to the ball because she was the other contestant and one of his friend's suggested it. Gossip wasn't really his thing, so he hadn't paid attention to all the talk around her even though the Headmaster had told the school about her recent heroics. However, she looked quite lovely in her red dress, and it contrasted starkly with her cousin's sexier ensemble. He preferred the princess look of hers, though, and he smiled warmly at her.

"You look fantastic," he said. He handed a rose, not knowing much about wrist corsages even though he realized Percy and Blaise both gave their dates flowers on their wrist.

Buffy, though, smiled happily at the rose. "Thank you, Cedric," she said, smelling it.

"Do you want to put it in your room?" Cordelia asked.

"No, I'll take it with me, and my mom will hold it for me when we dance," she said.

They let their dates escort them to the ball, and Buffy greeted Draco and Pansy, who looked lovely in the dress Buffy helped her pick out. Most of their housemates decided to mimic Buffy and Cordelia and worn muggle formal wear, which shocked the other houses as they trickled into the ball.

Minerva nudged Albus. "Do you see the Slytherins? They are dressed like muggles—I never thought I'd live to see such things," she said.

Albus chuckled. "The Buffy-effect," he said. "She is making profound impacts on the snakes—that was her plan all along when she made the hat place her there."

"Are you saying she wasn't to be a snake?" Minerva asked.

"No, of course not," Albus said. "The girl is pure Gryffindor, unlike her cousin, who could easily be either. She wanted to protect her father's reputation, and she wanted to change the minds of the potential dark wizards in her father's house."

"Well, look at that," Minerva said as her brightest student came in with a surprising date. "Not only does Hermione look beautiful, but she is here with Viktor Krum—she is full of surprises."

The girl in discussion was feeling excited and nervous because she knew that all eyes were on her, and she also knew how great she looked. When Viktor had asked her, she'd been flattered and a bit surprised. They'd talked a few times, and he was always so nice. Considering he was as obsessed with quidditch as her best friends, she had been surprised that he had other things to talk to about. This dance was her chance to show others—Ron especially—that she wasn't just a bookworm. She'd tamed her wild hair and did the make-up spell that other girls used but she never bothered with before.

She was glad that she did now because Buffy and Cordelia looked amazing in their muggle dress gowns, and other girls followed their example—even Pansy.

Draco stopped talking to Pansy when he caught sight of Hermione. He was unable to hide his surprise, and Pansy looked up.

"Wow, someone really did a makeover on Granger," Pansy said. "She actually looks decent for once. I wonder if Buffy did? She is very friendly with that house." She hated the idea that her new idol would do so, however.

"I doubt it," Draco said. "She was very busy helping all of you, her mom, and Willow. I doubt she made it to their house—she never said she did. I heard way too much about her and Cordelia's clothes the past few days." He gave an eye roll, trying to shake off the feelings Granger's appearance stirred. Draco couldn't help but recall Buffy's words to him when she suggested he turn his sights on Granger. He'd been horrified and dismissive.

Tonight, though, Granger didn't look anything like the mess she normally did, and he couldn't help but wonder what other ways she could surprise him?

Cordelia was excited to be at a dance as it seemed forever since she'd been to one. Back home, they'd already had homecoming dance and the winter formal. Harmony had sent her pictures. The school had a muggle mailbox in Hogsmeade that Albus used for the muggle parents to send correspondence to their children, and he'd been kind enough to let the Sunnydale kids use it. Xander's mom sent him a letter once a month along with his favorite cookies. Buffy used the address for the postcards she sent her father. He loved getting pictures of Scotland and England.

Blaise looked very proud to have her on his arms as he knew that every guy there envied him, especially all from his house. Buffy may be more powerful, but Cordelia was clearly a true Slytherin. She was also stunning and wickedly funny with that wit of hers. He knew he was a bit young for her to feel overly romantic toward him, but he knew she liked him better than most guys in his house. He figured he had a chance with her, more than most anyway.

Cordelia saw Harry with one of the adorable Patel twins and waved. When her own favorite twins saw her, she was puzzled at the opposite reactions. One, who she thought was Fred, grinned and whistled at her while the other looked betrayed and turned away very quickly.

She moved toward Fred. "Fred?" she asked. He nodded. "What's wrong with George?"

Fred looked surprised at the question. "Seriously? You broke his heart, and you wonder what's wrong?" he asked.

"What? No way did I break his heart! We weren't a couple and never even dated," Cordelia said.

"Hey, I get it," Fred said. "You don't like us like we liked you. I'm fine with it even though it was disappointing. George, however, was a bit crushed as he is insane for you."

"Really?" Cordelia asked.

Fred nodded. "Yea, I was surprised, too, because he's dated lots of girls, and they've dumped him a time or two. This time, though, he seems to be taking it hard. He wouldn't even ask another girl to go to the dance with him," Fred said.

Cordelia felt a pang of guilt. "What should I do?" she asked.

"Stay away from him," Fred said. "He won't be able to move on if you're always around. Christmas break will give him time to nurse his wounds."

Cordelia wasn't sure what to do, but she knew that her enjoyment of the dance was considerably soured. George was such a fun-loving guy, and she had hurt him. It bothered her. All evening she looked for a chance to talk to him, but he didn't stay long enough for her to corner him. That bothered her even more.

Xander twirled Luna on the dance floor as she requested, which caused her to giggle. She was a strange bird, but he found her quirkiness amusing and oddly comforting for some reason. The girl saw things that no one else did. Xander wasn't sure if she was crazy or if she really did see things others didn't. Since Xander grew up on a hellmouth, he was inclined to believe her. The two of them laughed a lot together, and he was having a good time.

Luna loved the hellmouth babies that were at her school as they had made the school year so much fun. Very few people dared to hide her possessions or even mock her openly since her interview with Buffy. Xander, of course, was very heroic when he threatened two Slytherin boys that were insulting her father's paper a few weeks ago. She almost crushed on him, but something told her that he wasn't meant to be hers. So she decided to adopt him as a big brother, and she had a feeling that he was perfectly okay with that.

Buffy danced with Cedric, finding him surprisingly good company. "Were you surprised when your name came out of the Goblet of Fire?" she asked him as they walked over to the refreshments.

"I was," he said. "I mean, I knew it was possible since I did put my name in it. However, no one in my house at all expected it to be one of us. We assumed it'd be a Gryf. How about you?"

"Well, considering that I didn't put my name in the cup, I was very shocked—as was my mother," Buffy said.

"You really didn't put your name in?" Cedric asked. "I heard that, but I didn't actually believe it. I figured you just didn't want to make your mom mad."

Buffy shook her head. "No, I really didn't," she said.

"That's very strange. Do you think someone put your name in or is it fate?" Cedric asked.

"Do you believe in fate?" Buffy asked.

"I believe in it to a certain degree," he said. "I think some things are meant to be, and there are some things a person can make happen by their choices."

Buffy nodded. "That makes sense," she said. "My calling as a vampire slayer was fate. Xander choosing to follow me when I faced the Master who drowned me was all him. If he hadn't decided to do that, I'd be dead, and my father would never have known me. His actions unraveled the spell that hid me, and it brought me and my friends here."

"Isn't it funny how just one decision can make so many changes?" Cedric said. "You and your friends have changed this school so much in just one term. I wonder how things will be after you defeat our greatest enemy?"

Buffy grinned. "You're so sure I will do so? Isn't Harry the one destined to do that?" she said.

"Maybe," he said, smiling. "However, I am not sure that you'd let someone younger than you take such a chance."

"You'd be right," Buffy said. "Hey, I should tell you something."

"You have a boyfriend back in the States?" he asked.

"How did you know?" she asked, surprised.

"Because a girl like you couldn't possibly be single," Cedric said with a smirk.

Buffy laughed, finding him very likeable, and it surprised her. The way the guys all talked about his house, Hufflepuffs were super boring, but she wasn't bored at all.

*****Two Hours Later******

Buffy was really enjoying the night. She had danced with several others besides Cedric—even her father. Her parents had danced twice—much to the shock of the students. Professor Snape smiling really creeped out many of the students, especially the Gryffindors.

Buffy walked up on Harry and Ron standing next to the snack table and heard Ron going on about her parents. "It's just unnatural," Ron said, shuddering.

"Professor Summers is my favorite teacher," Harry said. "I love her art class."

"Well, so do I," Ron said. "She's the best, so why in the world is she smiling up at that greasy git?"

Buffy lightly smacked Ron in the head. "Hey! That's my father you're insulting!" she said, glaring at him.

Ron gave her a fearful look. "Gee, Buffy, you don't have to hit me! It was a private conversation, and your father has spent the last three years tormenting my entire house—Harry especially," Ron said, not willing to back off completely. He knew she wouldn't actually hurt him, and he was stubborn.

"That's because he's playing a role, you git," she said, rolling her eyes. Her and her friends loved using new British insults whenever they could. They'd learned a lot in the past several months. "He's the head of a house full of children of Death Eaters. He can't be seen to sympathize with your house ever, especially not Harry."

"That makes sense," Harry said. He had grown to adore Buffy and the amazing affect she'd had on Snape and his snakes. Draco was right down pleasant most days, and he knew it was entirely because of Buffy.

Buffy was surprised when the creepy maintenance guy Filch came up to her carrying a package.

"Can I help you?" she asked as he was focused only on her. Cedric and Cordelia and Blaise were crowding closer, curious as why Filch was approaching Buffy.

"This package was delivered for you," he said.

"Huh? I thought owls did all the deliveries?" Buffy asked. "And in the morning."

"Well, someone left it at the door, and it has your name on it. It's too heavy for most owls," Filch said, all but shoving it into her arms.

Buffy glared at the grumpy man as he walked off.

"What is it?" Cordelia asked her, looking at the box.

"I don't know," Buffy said. "It says Buffy Summers-Snape on it, so it is definitely meant for me. It's too heavy to be a box of chocolates from Angel."

"It could be a book—Angel's all about the poetry," Cordelia said, snickering.

Buffy nodded. "That's true," she said. She walked over to the nearby table and sat the box on it, so she could open it and peer inside.

Her friends gathered around. Xander and Willow were drawn over when they spotted Buffy's interaction with Filch.

"What's that?" Xander asked, pointing to the box.

"She's opening it, doofus," Cordelia said.

Buffy realized the card with her name was an envelope, so she opened it, figuring the person who sent it would have signed the card.

"I didn't want you to think I'd forgotten about you. Until next time," Buffy read.

"Huh?" Willow asked, confused.

"That doesn't sound like Angel," Cordelia said. "Who wrote it?"

"It has no signed name, only a V on it," Buffy said.

"V?" Cordelia said, confused.

Buffy's heart sped up as she considered that the V probably stood for Voldemort, and a feeling of dread came over her as she looked at the box.

"Well, are you gonna open it or what?" Cordelia asked.

Willow was looking down at the note and realized who probably sent it. "The V has to stand for Voldemort," she said just as Buffy opened the box.

Buffy looked down in sickening realization—surely, it was a joke. Someone's idea of a sick joke.

"What is it?" Xander asked.

"Is that a head?" Cordelia asked as she looked into the box. "Are the twins pulling a prank?"

"No, they wouldn't stick a head in a box. There's nothing funny about that," Xander said. "It's not real, right?"

Buffy didn't want to reach down and lift the head out of the box, but she knew that she had to. Voldemort had killed someone as a form of retaliation. That he sent the box to her and not her father meant he was hoping to hurt her the most.

"Don't touch it, Buffy," Willow said, feeling sick. With the way things went in their world, she just knew it wasn't a fake joke head. Percy came up to her.

"What's going on?" he asked.

"Someone sent Buffy a head in a box," Willow said. "I think it's from Voldemort."

"Buffy, why don't you let your father take it out?" Percy said.

"No, it was sent to me—it's meant for me," Buffy said. She reached into the box, but Cedric stayed her hand.

"Let me," he said gently. He pushed away the feeling of horror he felt as he grabbed a hold of the sandy brown hair and lifted the head.

Buffy stared in shocked disbelief at the face as a strange numbness came over her and her vision began to go fuzzy.

Cordelia screamed, realizing it was a real head of a clearly murdered man. The man's face was etched in a look of agony, and his eyes were open, staring right at her. It was the most horrible thing that she'd ever seen.

Willow gasped and looked at Xander, who moved to catch Buffy as she fainted.

"It's Buffy's dad," Willow said just as Severus and Joyce came over to see what the commotion was all about.

Joyce saw the head and screamed so loudly that the ghosts in the castle moaned in pain.

Severus looked at his collapse daughter in dismay as Joyce sagged against him, her eyes transfixed on the head Cedric was still holding. He glared at the teenager. "Put that away!" he yelled.

Cedric dropped the head back in the box.

"Who is it?" Severus asked, looking to Buffy's friends.

"I-I think it's Mr. Summers—Buffy's dad," Willow said. "I've not met him, but Buffy has pictures in her room."

"Voldemort killed her dad?" Cordelia asked. She turned and threw up.

Outside the castle, Spike stood next to the loony witch, who reminded him a bit of his dark queen. She had cast some spell that allowed sound to penetrate. When they heard the screams, Bellatrix giggled.

Spike smiled. The Slayer was hurting.

Her pain was just beginning.

*****To Be Continued*****

I know it's a bit odd to read Spike as so evil as it's my first time to ever write him so. However, he also was very protective of the women he loved, and at this time, Dru was his world. Only when Angelus was around did he seem tame. I am convinced that he'd be ruthless if given the chance. Thanks for reading!