Author's Note: there is absolutely no excuse for six months hiatus except new job, new life, new house, new responsibilities and new just about everything else. Unlike the previous story, which was updated sometimes four times a week, this one has taken a slower turn. Alas, I will strive to continue on, disregarding the "Half-Blood Prince" for the most part. I wish I didn't have to, but this story was planned out a long time ago… it would be futile to add anything in, but some themes from that book will become apparent. Anyway, my apologies for the long delay. I promise faster updates because I do want to finish this story.

Recap: For those of you who haven't read this story or its predecessor lately, here's a quick summary – Buffy was hired as a vampire hunter in Bulgaria; Harry, Ron and Hermione just began their 7th year at Hogwarts, Faith is still in California searching for the missing Wesley; Giles joined Buffy in Bulgaria but locked heads with her new Ministry-assigned Watcher, Mrs. Ironton.

Chapter Summary: Buffy clashes with her new Ministry-assigned Slay-group; Faith makes a decision that may change her future; Draco puts his plan in motion;

Chapter 7

Three Steps Back

x-x-x-x

Buffy purposely showed up for her sundown patrol five minutes late. She knew that it would probably make Giles mad, but that wasn't the desired effect she was going for. Mrs. Ironton was really pressing on her last nerve and her intentions were pretty clear the instant the two made eye contact on the front porch. Dressed in her long-sleeved black top and shiny black pants, Buffy felt like an undercover special agent rather than a Slayer. Both Kris and Tomas stood behind their Watcher, looking like overgrown vines with their camouflage-green uniforms and matching scowls. Giles looked rather comfortable in his light-weight khakis and a button-down short-sleeved top. Mrs. Ironton looked like a giant iron peg with her dark grey suit complete with four-inch heels. Buffy glanced down at her own heels peeking from beneath the hem of her black pants. At least she could still add her own unique touch to this whole spiel.

"You're late," Mrs. Ironton said, as though proclaiming Buffy's death sentence.

"Five minutes even," Buffy said cheerfully, coming to a stop next to Giles. The older man acknowledged her with a nod.

Mrs. Ironton glanced up at her with those cold blue eyes. "I specifically asked you to be here by seventeen forty hours," she said crisply. "Because of this, we have to alter my routine for this evening."

"Excuse me?" Buffy asked incredulously. "Your routine?"

"I planned a two hour exercise to judge you by your proficiency, Miss Summers," Mrs. Ironton replied archly. "Perhaps you would care to begin and explain to us what you do to prepare for an evening of Slaying."

"Oh, sure," Buffy said, leaning back and folding her arms. "Let's see… I go out at sundown with my stake and patrol graveyards."

"Aside from your vague details, you are partially correct. You do leave prior to sunset and you do go out at all times with your weapons. For example, the stake. Tomas?"

Buffy was then privileged to a half-hour lecture of different weapons used for different types of attacks at different times of night. She found herself nodding off, her head on Giles's arm. He nudged her as soon as Mrs. Ironton signaled Tomas to put away his crossbow. Blinking, she gave Giles an annoyed look before turning back to Mrs. Ironton. They were staring at her again. Shifting under the rather intense visual scrutiny, she waited for the hatchet to drop. Luckily, Mrs. Ironton didn't bring it up.

"Now, Buffy… you will go out with Kristofer and Tomas. I wish for you to stick together. Mr. Giles and I will remain here. Report back in exactly ninety minutes with your progress, your tactics and your proper use of teamwork as I have spent the past twenty minutes describing."

Trudging off down the trail followed by both of her so-called teammates, they continued on even as dusk began to settle. It was still ungodly humid and the air was difficult to breathe as it was. Wearing layers of clothing that was anything but tactful in this jungle, she was not comfortable to say the least. The one thing that cheered her up was the fact that they might actually find a vampire here and she would finally be able to see how competent a level two vampire hunter was.

Luckily for them, she soon sensed the danger fast approaching. She paused, causing Tomas to run into her and neatly plow her into a rather large tree. "Oh, I'm sorry," he said hastily, taking her by the arm and attempting to haul her up.

"You moron," she spat, pushing him away as she got back to her feet. "That's some left feet you possess, there. If you keep on going like this, you're gonna get us all killed."

Tomas looked rather taken aback as she stalked past him. She heard Kris mutter something behind her. Normally, she wouldn't have bothered overhearing, but she knew that he was trying not to be heard. He just underestimated her Slayer hearing. She turned and gave him a bright, flashy smile and nearly laughed at the sight of the flush that crept over his pale face. Well, he did have that coming. The only problem was, she had that tingling sensation she felt when something dangerous was near. Slipping her hand into the hem of her pants, she withdrew her stake and continued moving. Slowly, stealthy. That was the only way to do her job. That was the way she practically patented her job.

She heard a clumsy rustle behind her and turned to see Tomas attempting to help Kris slip an arrow into a crossbow. Shaking her head, she continued on, disappearing into the thick forest without them. She didn't need them. They were just going to slow her down or, worse, get her killed.

"I think what you are doing is rather obnoxious," Giles muttered as Irene Ironton swept back to the house, her shoes clicking on the rickety porch.

"I must attempt to make amends on your poor progress," Irene said coldly, looking down her nose at the taller man. "You obviously did not attempt to hone in her skills to perfection. In order to do so, specific steps must be taken to ensure that—"

"You just want to make sure she doesn't hurt anyone else," Giles muttered, folding his arms and trying to mimic Irene's stony face. "Need I remind you that while your two so-called pupils have been learning the craft, she was the true chosen one."

"Hmm, no," Irene sarcastically replied. "I am well aware of her calling, Rupert. Perhaps you too should have known this calling. She is the sister to the one hope of the Wizarding world and she acts like a loose cannon."

"That's not Buffy," Giles said, feeling the need to defend his Slayer. "She was never a loose cannon. You just have to know her to understand her."

"And do you know Miss Summers, Rupert?" she asked kindly, her lips twisting into a sardonic smile. "I hardly thought that you would ever admit to knowing what is best for a teenage girl. You, with your tweed jackets and your out-of-fashion bifocals? You would hardly know where to begin with disciplining a young woman with skills such as those of your former charge."

He wanted to despise her for these rather under-the-belt insults. Yet, she was partially right. Buffy was a teenage girl with different thoughts of reality than what he had faced. Then there was the fact that she was still his former charge.

"I rest my case," she smirked, turning her shoulder and marching away, believing her case to be victory.

But Giles wasn't about to give up that easily. He was just going to wait for the right time to prove Irene wrong. She was going to be very wrong when Buffy started showing her what a Slayer really was. This woman was worse than Wesley. He might have been wet behind the ears, but he wasn't ignorant or over-confident. In fact, Giles thought sadly, Wesley's only fault was the fact that he had chosen the wrong Slayer.

In the forest, Buffy had stopped behind a tree she knew was large enough to shield her from the eyes of the rustling bushes a few dozen feet behind her. Slowly moving her head, she glimpsed two heads bobbing above the foliage. Grinning, she held her stake under her chin and soundlessly pulled herself around the tree. Her feet moved purposefully and without making a sound. She drew her stake to her shoulder and pushed a few lighter branches aside, ducking beneath them. On the other side was a clearing. There were knee-high grasses and some strange purple wildflower blowing in the damp breeze. Straightening, she stepped to the edge of the clearing before glancing left and right. There wasn't anything. There was no one there. But she knew that they were watching her. She saw her quick exit and took it. The moment she left the clearing, she heard the snarling. Smirking, she turned and planted her stake in the heart of the first vampire. He was dust before the other two could even react. The moment they saw the vampire swirl away into nothingness, they turned and growled at her.

"No one gets away with that," one said in a thick Bulgarian accent.

"Oh, but no one is me," Buffy said sweetly, twirling her stake idly in her hand. "Want to volunteer to be the second?"

They both sprang at the same time. Buffy took the moves in stride, kicking one aside and throwing the other into the bushes. The first came back and knocked into her, sending them both tumbling through the bushes and down a small hill towards a babbling brook. Once she'd thrown the vampire off and regained her footing, she recovered her stake as he pounced again. "Strike me once," she snapped, kicking him clear into the brook as she took a few steps up. The vampire stood up, pushing sopping hair from his face and baring those oversized teeth. "It's time to shame on you. Strike me twice and, well, you die."

He charged her again, but this time she managed to stake him. His running form slowly disintegrated into dust and filtered away.

"Hmm, I still got it," she said cheerfully, turning to head back towards the hill. The third vampire was standing there, glaring at her. "Did you want a go, or did you just want to run?"

"Who are you?" he asked thickly.

"You honestly don't know?" she asked, sounding delighted.

"It has been awhile since we have found someone worth killing," he scowled. "The ones she sends to us go back with their heads on sticks. Of course, we eat some." He gave her a long look, one that sent a little chill up her spine. It was a hungry look, a look that easily spoke of his desire to do her in. "It does not stop her from sending more to us. We have thrived for years under that woman's stupidity. But you're different. You fought back."

Buffy was so befuddled she could barely begin to register what he told her. All she knew was that she wanted to wipe that smirk off of his face. As the third vampire sauntered towards her, she took him in a single thrust. His smirking face fell as he melted away, but his last words rang like bells in her ears. "Cheater."

"Oh, and by the way," she said, watching as his amber eyes lifted to meet hers, "I'm Buffy, the vampire Slayer. We haven't met and the whole bad boy act? Been there, seen that… pick a new one."

Then he was dead and she knew her quip was already forgotten. Her tingling sense was still on alert, but she knew she was alone in this area.

She let out a long pent-up breath. What was he talking about? Was Mrs. Ironton, her horrible Ministry-appointed Watcher, some sort of vampire feeder? Had she sent people into this forest to get slaughtered by some vampire army she didn't know existed? And were they truly just picked up off of the street and sent into the forest with no chance whatsoever?

As she made her way through the woods, she was seeing red. It was time to demand the truth from this woman. She knew she had only been gone for twenty minutes at most, but suddenly she felt the need to pummel every single inch of that Iron woman's face.

She stepped into the clearing when she found her tingling sense overwhelm her. It wasn't a bad vibe, but it wasn't good either. Something prickled on her left arm and she unconsciously reached over and covered it. It was as though something was going on far, far away and there was nothing she could do to help. If Harry was in trouble, well… she would know it. It wasn't Harry. It was something else.

She took another step. There was suddenly a yell as two figures jumped out of the bushes, one handling a crossbow. Buffy's eyes widened as Tomas fired the bolt. She leapt aside, but the dart hit her side. She landed hard in the bushes. Immediately, they both charged forward. "Buffy!" Tomas cried, his face white. "My God… what have I done?"

"You… stupid… idiot," she moaned, crying out slightly as she pulled the dart from her hip. "What the hell was that?"

"Ve thought you vere a vampire," Kris said apologetically, taking her arm and tugging her upwards. Once on her feet, she straightened up, but immediately fell to the side, stumbling.

"What… what was in that thing?" she asked, staring at the dart now lying on the ground, the black tip stained red.

"There was some sort of poison," Tomas said, lifting the arrow and staring at it. "Irene told us…"

"You… you poisoned me?" she snapped, spinning around to face Tomas, her eyes furious.

"It vas in self-defense," Kris offered, looking startled at her behavior.

"I am going to kick your ass," she said, taking another few steps forward in an attempt to regain her balance. Noticing she was covered in tiny green leaves and small red branches, she glared at Tomas with clenched fists before her eyes rolled into the back of her head and she fell to the side. Kris managed to catch her before she fell into the bushes again.

"Vat have you done?" Kris asked a pale Tomas, who looked as though he were ready to pass out at any moment.

"I… I thought she was a vampire," Tomas replied in a hollow tone.

"We must get her back to Mister Giles and Mrs. Ironton, don't you think?" Kris asked nervously.

Tomas nodded and set the crossbow aside, looking as though he'd rather string himself up by those coarse strings than take the unconscious girl back to their employer. "What will we tell them?"

"We vill tell them that she fell," Kris said with a firm nod as they both lifted the woman. Kris held her by the feet while Tomas held her shoulders.

"She is quite heavy for being so… small," Tomas said, brushing bits of brush from her still form. "She will not be happy when she awakens."

"She vill likely tell them that ve had something to do with this," Kris replied darkly as they started to carry her down the path back towards the house.

"We did have something to do with this," Tomas snapped as they began marching up the hill. "She looked like a vampire in all that black."

"Rupert Giles vill not be pleased," Kris predicted in his best doomsday voice as the house came into view.

"I wonder if she killed anything," Tomas said quietly, looking down at her pleasant face. When she wasn't yelling or fighting them, she was really quite pretty. "That would cheer them up."

"Ve can awaken her and ask," Kris muttered. Both Mrs. Ironton and Mr. Giles were approaching them now from the main path. Mrs. Ironton looked mortified and Mr. Giles looked, well, irate. They hadn't seen a different reaction on his face since they'd met him.

"What on earth," Giles said, moving to take his charge from the two young men, who happily let him take her. Cradling her, he felt her neck and was pleased to hear the strong, steady pulse. "What happened?"

"This is my inquisition, Rupert," Mrs. Ironton said, her voice very stiff and rather frigid. Turning, she faced the two young men, who exchanged a glance and visibly gulped. "What happened to Miss Summers?"

"He shot her," Kris said, holding out a long arm and pointing to Tomas. "He had the crossbow."

"You shot her?" Giles asked, underlying anger in each syllable.

"I did not mean to," Tomas said, shaking his head with wide eyes. "She came out of nowhere! We thought she was a vampire!"

"That would explain the blood," Giles said in an angry voice. "Now will you explain why she's unconscious?"

"The crossbow's darts contained a viable solution pertinent in containing a vampire for questioning," Mrs. Ironton said, turning to face Rupert.

"Oh, and you were going to inform me of this?" he asked in a pleasant voice. But Mrs. Ironton silently shivered when she saw the chill in his dark eyes.

"There was no intention in my mind to inform you of anything other than that of your charge," Irene said coldly. "You knew all that you needed to know."

"Well, when your stupid charge poisons mine, it becomes my business," he said through gritted teeth. "She was likely out there doing her job and those two idiots were there slowing her down."

"Patience, patience, Rupert," she said with that smile of hers. "We will get to the bottom of what truly happened."

"What bothers me the most is that you wanted to poison a vampire to what… teach him to dance?" he asked quietly.

Mrs. Ironton froze and slowly turned around to face him. "Oh, Rupert," she said, her eyes hardening. "You have no idea what you have just implied."

"Those darts contained poison," he retorted. "I was just wondering why you wanted those vampires alive. She is a Slayer and your team was brought here to kill vampires, was it not?"

She nodded, her eyes never leaving his face.

"Somewhere, somehow, this story doesn't quite fit," he deduced, watching as her eyes narrowed. For some reason, he felt like smiling. So he did. "I would very much like the truth, Irene."

"The truth is better reserved for another time," she said quietly, turning to look at the still figure in his arms. "We must help her first before the poison overwhelms her system."

"You will touch her," Giles said, turning away. Buffy's body was still limp in his arms. "If you do, I will kill you myself."

Mrs. Ironton placed her hands on her bony hips. "If I do not help her, she will die."

"You underestimate her," he snapped.

Kris and Tomas just watched as their two leaders argued back and forth before exchanging a long glance.

"Mister Giles, it vould not hurt if she took a look at her, vould it?" Kris asked tentatively.

"I'm not through with you two yet," he snarled.

Tomas jumped as though he'd been burned. Even Kris looked terrified. Apparently this wuss in tweed was more formidable than Mrs. Ironton had told them.

"For all I know, you wanted her to get poisoned," Giles said, keeping his back to the other woman. "Perhaps when your Ministry finds out you failed to kill her, they'll send someone else to do it for you."

Mrs. Ironton's face lost all of its color. "Why would I want to kill the one person who could make a difference here?"

"Because she threatens all that you've worked for," Giles slammed back, gently setting Buffy down on a small table under the porch roof. "She carries a Dark Mark and is basically the one thing your stupid Ministry wants stamped out. They sent her to the one place she couldn't hurt anyone and after five minutes out with your so-called vampire hunters, she's attacked by them."

"They are genuinely sorry for what they have done," Irene relented. "Please, Rupert… let me help her."

Giles walked downstairs, his eyes never leaving her face. As soon as he passed her side, his hand went and grasped her elbow. She gasped at the firm hold and attempted to break free from it, but was not able to. "If I find out that you have done more harm than good, I will kill you," he whispered into her ear. "And that, dear Irene, is a promise I intend to keep."

He released her arm and slowly turned to face the two pale boys who looked about three inches tall to him. "And you two… you ought to be ashamed of yourselves. Are you or are you not level two vampire hunters? You should be able to tell the difference between the living undead and a nineteen-year-old blonde. It's a pity that you're as thick as syrup… there was some hope for you."

They just watched as he stalked past them, heading into the darkness.

"Should ve follow him?" Kris asked, suddenly sounding alarmed.

"No," Irene said, coming between them with crossed arms. "Let him go… he can take care of himself."

x-x-x-x

"Faith, talk to me. You're not making any sense."

"I'm not in the mood to talk, Cor."

Cordelia sat at Joyce Summers' dining room table watching as Faith sat there, staring at the table while idly stirring tea. Her face wore a gloomy expression and she wasn't acting very peppy, as Cordelia would say she was famous for. Ever since they had stopped investigating Wesley's disappearance, they had driven back to Sunnydale and had been holed up in this house since. Cordy wanted to do something other than sit there and watch the other Slayer sit and mope. Well, she wanted to be back in Los Angeles because it was certainly more cheerful than here. But Faith needed someone now. She really did. She wanted to confide in someone other than a Sunnydale Scooby. She had a great desire to talk to her brother. Though they didn't see eye to eye, she felt the need to say something.

"If you don't want to talk—"

"Go."

"What?"

"If you don't want to see me sit here and think, then go."

"But I said I wouldn't leave you."

"You're not leaving me. I'm telling you to go away."

"Can you do that?"

"I can kick your ass if you want me to."

"Faith…"

"Look, will you just go? I'm not in the mood for someone to sit there and criticize me. Just get over it, Faith," she said, mimicking Cordelia's whiniest tone. "Just move on, Faith. Well," she said in her normal tone. "Forget it. I can't move on and I'm not getting over it. The good guys just keep pushing my buttons. Instead of asking me to do the dirty work, they poke around in my business, taking away everyone that ever meant a damn. I can't begin to stress how much I hate this right now. If I was over there, I would be able to do something instead of just chase ghosts and try to figure out why the hell they're doing this. Kidnapping Wes is one thing, but making it look like the bad guys did it? That's too professional, even for them. Someone's behind him going. I'm going to find out who it is. I have to find out who it is."

Cordelia was staring at Faith as the Slayer pounded a small fist on the dark wood before leaning back, crossing her arms and scowling at the table again.

"Did you want me to leave?" Cordelia asked sweetly.

"Yeah, beat it," Faith shrugged. "I'm not much for company right now."

Cordelia rolled her eyes and left the room, her empty mug in her hand. Faith waited for her to go before dropping her head onto her arms.

"Faith?"

"Whatever."

"What?"

"I said whatever," Faith said, looking up to see Cordelia tentatively approaching her. "What do you want?"

"I just wanted to say that if you wanted someone to talk to, well… I know that I'm not important enough in whichever life you think you belong to... but can't you go back? Can't you just say 'to hell with it' and hop on a plane and go?"

"If only things were that simple," Faith sighed. "You have no idea how much I'd rather be there than here."

"Because of Buffy, right?" Cordelia asked carefully.

"It's not because of her," Faith said, shaking her head. "Well, it's not all because of her. There are others…"

"Your brother?"

"Well, he's one of the others. I'm thinking about—"

"It's that Harry person isn't it?"

Faith looked up, her eyes narrowing. "Excuse me?"

"Harry Potter, Buffy's brother. I know I didn't say anything when they were in California, but it's just obvious that there was some sort of click between you. I've never seen you offer to sleep with a guy and not get, well… pelvic."

Faith's face was rapidly reddening. "I beg your pardon?"

"You miss him."

"Maybe I do."

"I'm sorry."

"I…" Faith had been about to tell her off for apologizing again, but she couldn't bring herself to do it. "I kind of miss them all."

"Faith, listen to me," Cordelia said, approaching her as though drawing courage. "You may think that the Hellmouth needs protecting, but its okay. We're here to take care of things. We don't need a Slayer whose heart just isn't in it. It is obvious that you are needed there. It is really nice having you back and all, but after watching you these past few days… you need to be there. Something big is about to happen and the good guys need their girl. Buffy isn't there for them now. But you are. You can be the star in the role, Faith. You just have to take it."

"You don't know what you're talking about," Faith mumbled, looking away.

"I think you do," Cordelia said gently. "You've always played the second role. You've always been the one behind her. What if you took lead? You're here because a bunch of guys with magic wands don't trust you to do your job. I think it's time you prove them wrong. You keep saying that the good guys do things here without you knowing it? What would they do if you went back to London and started shaking things up there?"

"I don't know what would happen," Faith admitted. "But I do know where I'm needed. And there's something…" Her voice trailed off as she suddenly looked at her left arm. Her mark was tingling beneath her leather jacket. "Something big is happening," she whispered. "There are more important things than me and Buffy now. There are bad things out there that could potentially end the world. It's time that we fulfill whatever destiny is in store for us."

"I like it when you think," Cordelia said with a slight smile. "You're not wrong, you know,"

"No, I know I'm right," Faith said, massaging her left arm. "I just… I feel like I'm about three steps behind everyone else, you know? I'm just so far away."

"It's time to become not so far away," Cordelia grinned. "I'll take care of things here. You need to go where you're needed."

"I'll think about it," Faith replied.

"Don't think too hard," Cordelia replied, standing up. "There's a red eye to Boston at 6:30 tomorrow morning. Maybe you'll think about it on the way to Boston?"

"Maybe."

Faith watched as Cordelia collected her coat and bag and left, after telling Joyce where she was going. She waited until she heard Joyce's footsteps above her head before moving from the dining room into the living room. The fireplace was silent as always, but Faith still had her packet of emergency Floo powder. It was a real shame she didn't really understand how it worked.

She tossed the entire packet inside. Watching the green flames spring to life, she stuck her head inside, whispered "Number twelve, Grimmauld Place" and suddenly felt the world spin around her. When at last she saw the bottom of two very ornate dining room chairs, she knew she found the right place.

"Sirius!" she shouted out. "Sirius!"

There was nothing but silence.

"Anyone?"

"What in blazes…" she heard an older voice say.

Faith blinked and turned her revolving, flaming head over to see a figure swoop down upon her.

"Delita?"

"If you call me that again, I'll come through the fireplace and stuff your head inside it," she growled.

"I'm sorry," Remus Lupin said, watching as she blinked benignly at him. "You're looking for Sirius?"

"Obviously," she muttered.

"I'll be right back," he said, looking as though he wanted to say something else. Faith waited as he dashed off, presumably to find Sirius. She instead took a moment to glance around the room. The first thing she noticed was the buildup of several stacks of dirty dishes. She frowned and wrinkled her nose in disgust. If she had been able to smell the room, she was sure to be gagging. She could swear she saw flies buzzing around a few bowls with crusty, dried-up food stuck on the edges…

"Faith?"

"Sirius," she said, swinging her gaze to look at her older brother. She was slightly alarmed in his appearance and nearly backed out of the fireplace. Her knees were starting to cramp up as the brick base was quite uncomfortable to lean on. "Hi."

"Hello," he said, bending down so that they were face to face. "You called?"

"I'm just checking in," she said lightly. "You know, I want to hear how things are going."

Sirius frowned and glanced behind him, as though checking to see if someone was there. Shaking his head, he glanced at his baby sister. "There's nothing much going on," he replied. "Things are calm for the moment, anyway."

"But things weren't calm?" she asked, her brow furrowing.

Sirius looked puzzled as he shook his head. "Things haven't been as calm as they were when you were here," he replied cryptically.

Faith tried to glance over his shoulder. "Is someone there?"

"Molly," he muttered.

"Ah."

He waited a few seconds before the sound of footsteps dissipated. "What happened?" she asked.

"Harry… he…"

"Sirius, please," Faith said, imploring him with her hard gaze. "I don't want to pretend that everything is fine. My arm stings day after day as a reminder of how un-fine everything is."

Sirius frowned again. "Harry's aunt and uncle are dead," he blurted out.

Faith was silent, allowing him to continue.

"His aunt was murdered in her home… obviously a reminder that he-who-must-not-be-named remains a power and knows more than some think," Sirius continued. "His cousin was left for dumb, but his uncle was taken. He found his finger…"

Faith felt her stomach turned over, but forced herself to remain calm. "Go on," she urged quietly.

"That was a few days ago," Sirius replied in a low voice. "Obviously his uncle was tortured, but that's all I know. Harry sent me a letter that very afternoon. He was worried because Buffy was far away, but he feels that she's safe."

"She is safe," Faith nodded. "Giles is with her."

"The same Giles that stayed here last year?" Sirius questioned.

"The one and the same," Faith said, grinning. "He'll keep her safe. At the very least, he'll keep her temper in check so she doesn't blow another gasket and go off killing Death Eaters, God forbid."

"You have not changed at all, have you?" Sirius asked, smiling affectionately at the head bobbing in his fireplace. "We miss you, you know. Harry even wrote that he misses you, too."

"He does?" Faith asked in a small voice. "I miss you guys too… I didn't think I would, but I tend to get attached easily to the things I can't have."

"Blimey, Faith," Sirius said, reaching out to touch her head, but thinking better of it, "you shouldn't worry about us. We can take care of our own, here."

"If you need anything, you know where to find me," she said glumly.

"Faith, don't do this."

"I can't help it," she said, feeling her throat constrict. "I just feel so far away…"

"I wish we could have you back, but it isn't possible," Sirius said, looking uneasy. "If you did come back, the ramifications would be enormous."

Faith dropped the self-pity act instantly and glared up at her brother. "Just because they don't trust her doesn't mean that I don't trust them," she said coldly. "We're not bad people, Sirius. We know what to do and we know what we have to do. That was never an issue."

"The issue is the dark magic you both obviously carry," Sirius argued.

"And what if I don't care?" she demanded. "What if I'm willing to take the risk and come back home? Buffy went to England because she found out it was her home. The made me go back here because they didn't think I was fit enough for their pure-ass royal blood? Why am I even here? They don't need a Slayer here. I'm needed there."

"Faith, if you come back, there's a very good chance that whatever he-who-must-not-be-named is planning, it involves the Slayers," Sirius said, his voice dropping to a whisper. "If you come back, you could be walking into a death trap."

Faith glanced down. "I know," she whispered. "But I have to try. I have to do something. I feel so… so helpless here!"

"You're not helpless," Sirius said, giving her an affectionate look. "You're just… on the sidelines."

"Slayers aren't sideline girls, Sirius. We're not supposed to fail. We're supposed to do what our destiny tells us to do and every fiber of my being is telling me that I should in England now."

"If you come back, the Ministry could arrest you again," Sirius said, an anxious look falling across his face.

"I guess that's the chance I'll have to take," Faith replied, turning to look behind her. A moment later, she turned back. "I have to go."

"Faith…"

"Thanks for the talk, big bro… I think you told me all I needed to know to make up my mind."

"Faith…" Sirius tried again.

"I have to go," she repeated, looking up at him, a slight smile coming across her face. "See you soon."

"Faith?" he asked, but before he could even begin to counteract her words, her head was gone. "For crying out loud," he moaned, watching as the fireplace fell silent. What had he just done?

"I'm sorry about that, Joyce," Faith said, rocking onto her bottom as she massaged her sore knees. "I just had to speak to my brother."

"Of course," Joyce said, giving Faith a strange look as she set her coffee cup down. "I'm going to the gallery."

"Okay," Faith said, frowning.

"Are you all right?"

"I'm okay," Faith said, tilting her head as she regarded the older woman. "I know I don't look it, but I think I'm going to be okay."

"Did you hear anything about Buffy?" Joyce asked anxiously.

"I intend to find out soon enough," Faith promised her. She stood up, her knees cracking. Joyce was already pulling on her coat when Faith met her in the entry way. "Um, Joyce?"

Joyce's arms fell to her sides. "You're going back, aren't you?"

"I can't hide forever."

"I knew you would go back sooner or later," Joyce said, turning to Faith with a sad smile. "I knew that someone would want you back there."

"They don't," Faith deadpanned. "They want me here. But I don't want me here. I want to be there. They need me. You're doing just fine without a Slayer in the house."

Joyce nodded, biting her lip. "I just wish…"

"We'll get her back, Joyce," Faith said, reaching over and tapping Joyce's shoulder in what she hoped was a comforting gesture. "I'm going to go and find her and make sure she's okay. And then I'm going to bring her home for you."

"When are you leaving?"

"There's a red eye that leaves at 6:30 tomorrow morning," Faith said, confidence returning to her voice. Joyce gave her another watery smile before leaning over and hugging the dark-haired girl.

"When you told me about your family history, I always thought that you hadn't needed to. You were always my second daughter, you know."

"Thank you for everything, Mrs. S."

"You're welcome, Faith."

x-x-x-x

Sirius was frowning as he walked upstairs into the drawing room. Remus Lupin stood just inside, with Tonks and an injured Emmeline Vance. Her daughter, Emma, was sitting on the couch next to Hestia Jones.

"What did you tell her?" Remus asked him anxiously.

"I didn't," Sirius replied heavily. "She'll figure it out when she gets here."

"She's coming back?" Emma asked in a stunned voice.

"We don't have much of a choice," Sirius replied angrily. "I can't talk her out of anything. She's just like Buffy."

"They are both stubborn as hell," Emma replied, rolling her eyes. "Should we let Harry know she's coming back?"

"Why?" Remus and Sirius asked at the same time. "If we did that," Remus continued solely as he sat on the opposite side of the younger woman, "it might alarm some people we'd rather keep in the cold."

"I see," Emma said softly. "So we should leave Harry in the dark about someone considered to be one of his worst adversaries is coming back to England?"

"She's not his enemy," Remus said in a tired voice.

"She's wearing the Dark Mark," Emma replied in a heated tone.

"Not only that," Tonks interjected, her blue eyes burning, "but at the drop of a pin could you-know-who control her. She could kill him, Remus."

"I know this," Remus said quietly.

"She knows it too," Sirius replied. "But, like you said, she's stubborn as hell."

"They both are," Emma said fondly.

x-x-x-x

Harry set down his quill and stared at the drying ink on his Defense Against the Dark Arts essay. The title read 'Ten Ways to Kill a Vampire' and had been underlined. Of course, his first bullet point read 'just ask my sister to do it'. Hermione had objected at this, and Harry had added his bit about the vampire Slayers and their defense against vampires. He had a feeling that very few students would actually know that. Ron, of course, had copied it off of his essay, much to Hermione's displeasure.

"Well, I'm glad that's over with," Ron said, blowing across his parchment as Hermione sniffed in the chair next to him.

"If you had done your work on your own as we were told, then you wouldn't have been saving the essay until the last minute, would you?" she asked blithely as she gazed back down at a thick novel she was reading for Ancient Runes.

"Yeah, yeah," Ron grumbled, staring at the parchment before shifting his focus to the mountain of Potions work still remaining. "Maybe we could hold this off till tomorrow, no?"

"We should get to it tonight," Harry replied, pulling the Potions text into his lap and taking out the random pages he'd stuck in to mark their assignment. "Snape will be furious if we don't get the first assignment done."

"Two feet of parchment on the history of dark potions?" Ron asked, running a hand through his flame-colored hair. "Blimey, he's not too choosy on his assignments, is he?"

Hermione, who had completed the essay during their first study break that afternoon, gave another small sigh as she turned a page.

"Would you like to say something?" Harry asked her as he smoothed out another sheet of blank parchment.

"We really should be patrolling the halls," she said cheerfully, sticking in a bookmark to mark her spot and closing the book. "You are, after all, Head Boy. And I am Head Girl."

Harry glanced down at the assignment written on a sheet of paper and decided that he would much rather walk around the hallways and yell at the younger students than tackle one of Snape's nastiest assignments yet. "All right," he said, setting the book aside. "Let's go."

They started out pleasantly enough. They weren't speaking, but checking the corridors and all the usual hiding places for culprits that liked lurking in the darkness.

"Your map would have been a big help," Hermione said after a few moments of separate checking of the different bathrooms near the empty classrooms.

"It would have been a help," Harry said darkly.

"You know, I have been wanting to talk to you for awhile now," Hermione began awkwardly. "I know things haven't been very, well… cordial between us."

"I don't see why not," Harry replied.

"Harry, please," Hermione said, taking a few hurried steps to catch up to him. "I know things have been tense. But it isn't my fault and I don't think it is yours, either."

"Well, you do know more than me," Harry joked. He heard her stop and spun around to see Hermione standing there, gazing at him. Her eyes were suddenly very watery. "Hermione?"

"I didn't know," she said, a tear trickling down her cheek.

"Hermione," he said, moving closer to her. She trembled as he reached for her. "I'm sorry about what happened between us. I'm sorry it didn't work."

"I know I played a part in what happened, but you don't have to protect me. I can look after myself."

"I know you can," Harry said, giving her an ironic smile. "That's I admire about you. You know so much… and yet you don't know why."

"It's some cliché reason, isn't it?" she spat out, feeling the warmth of his hand as it touched her damp cheek. "Please don't give me stupid reasons, Harry. If you want to be the hero, that's one thing. You already are the hero of the story. Don't just leave because you feel like you have to."

"I can't get close to you," he said. "I'm sorry. I can't."

"That's not a reason, it's an excuse," Hermione sighed, reaching up to push his hand away. "You know that he'll come after those you—"

"Of course I care!" he cried, realizing that he was about ready to start shouting. "How do you think I felt, watching you all summer? What we had last year… it was amazing. I was so happy to know that I found you, but I know that if he had the chance, he would take you away! I don't want that to happen, especially not after what happened to Buffy!"

"Harry, please…" she whispered, the tears now dried and her strong voice returning. "Don't pull this noble crap. It isn't you."

"I won't let him take you," he said softly. "I won't."

"You can't protect me from the world, Harry," she said with a bitter smile. "Maybe you do like the strong ones."

"I like you," he replied, reaching for her again. She moved away quickly. "Hermione, I can't have this. I know what I have to do now. What he did to my family, what he's doing to me… he knows I'm coming for him. I'm ready. And I'll be ready when he makes his move. I'm not going to let him hurt you."

"Ron and I are okay, Harry," she said briskly as she started walking again. "We should get going or else Filch'll catch us."

"Right," he said, continuing on behind her. He had only gotten a few steps when he saw that Hermione had frozen.

"Malfoy, what are you doing here?" she asked loudly, coming forward and pulling out her wand as she walked.

"Taking a stroll," he said in his cool, drawling voice. "Don't tell me that you and Potty here made up, Granger."

"Get out," Harry said in a low voice, his own wand pointing at the center of Draco's forehead.

"Well, that's quite rude," Draco sneered, glancing at both of their faces. Hermione's looked tearful while Potter's looked, well… heroic. Noble, or something like it. Draco felt his sneer grow and pulled out his own wand. "If you want a go…"

Hermione's wand arm lowered and she turned to Harry. "Let him go."

"I don't think so," Harry said coldly, his arm held quite steady. "I want to know why he's here after hours."

"Harry, please… let's go."

"You just want me to let him go?" Harry asked her incredulously.

"He's not going to tell us why he's here," Hermione insisted.

"Aren't I, Granger?" Draco asked cheerfully as he lowered his wand. "Well, as a matter of fact, I was waiting for you."

"What?" Harry asked, taking a step forward. Hermione lifted her arm and restrained him, but not before Draco started laughing.

"Right, like I would want a Mudblood like you," he said spitefully, enjoying the color that suddenly sprung to Hermione's cheeks. Harry was looking oddly flushed.

"Leave her alone," Harry said.

"Defending your girlfriend, Potter?" Draco asked maliciously. "How… noble of you."

"Get out of here," Hermione said, turning to look at the other boy. "Please… Filch will catch you."

"I didn't know you cared," Draco said, his silver eyes narrowing as he appraised her. "You might be worth something after all, Granger. Potter must not be worth a damn if he won't take you back."

Harry took another provoked step forward and Draco nearly fell to the side as his shoulders shook with laughter.

"Harry, let him go," Hermione pleaded.

"I'm going," Draco said, sauntering past them with a lingering look at the bushy-haired brunette holding Harry back. "It was fancy chatting with you, Granger… Potter, you should learn to be nice."

Harry literally growled as Draco disappeared from view. Hermione released him as the other boy left and sighed, falling back against the wall.

"Something's up with him."

"Something is always up with him," Hermione said in a tired voice.

"No, I meant he's planning something," Harry growled.

"He's just being Draco," Hermione yawned.

"No, he's up to something," Harry insisted.

"I'm going," Hermione said, kicking off from the wall and heading into the darkness. Harry glared after Malfoy for a moment before storming after Hermione.

A few feet away, hidden in the shadows, Draco stepped forward, his eyes glistening maliciously. "Let the games begin, Potter," he said softly under his breath.

x-x-x-x

The constant beep was getting annoying as was the bright light above her closed eyelids. Feeling compelled to open her eyes, she let them flutter. The moment she opened her eyes, she gazed at a white ceiling. A bright fluorescent light was buzzing slightly overhead.

"Honey?"

Buffy turned and glanced at a stunning redheaded woman who was suddenly looking down at her. Buffy made to sit up, but a gentle hand restrained her.

"No, Elise… no. You need your rest."

Buffy turned to her other side where a man with messy dark hair and square spectacles was holding her down.

"Mom?" she asked, turning to gaze at the red-haired woman, who beamed at her. "Dad?" The man inclined his head before chuckling.

"She's awake! Oh, my goodness, she's finally awake! Elizabeth! Elizabeth!"

Buffy nearly had the wind knocked out of her as a third figure appeared out of nowhere, nearly crushing her to death with a hug that left nothing to be desired. The figure suddenly pulled back, beaming at her. He had green eyes like her mother. He had unkempt black hair like her father, as well as round glasses. But, unlike the boy she had dreamt of, this one didn't have a lightning-shaped scar upon his forehead.

"Harry?"

x-x-x-x

Next Chapter: A poisoned Buffy dreams of a time when James and Lily are alive; Faith returns to England; the Death Eaters finally get their act together; and some more Tara/Willow goodness.

Comments: Yes, it has been over six months since I posted anything on this site. As I want to finish this story, I am continuing to work on it, despite the fact my schedule doesn't really allow time for sleeping. I have been having a lot of fun working on this story again. Many thanks go to Grace K, my wonderful Beta now in her last two semesters of graduate school who has taken on my projects once again. Thank you for reading this chapter and for not losing faith in this story. Thank you, thank you, thank you.

Reviewer Comments: You guys do rock. I just want to let you know that. I know it isn't much to say, but you really do.

sparky24: I hope this chapter was worth the six months it took to write. The story is moving on a bit... and we learn more about the boss from hell. I feel bad, considering I adore my current boss (a precinct lieutenant to be exact). Draco will get what's coming to him, certainly, too.

Lightdemondarkangel: Willow will be making her presence known, literally. Just not yet. Wesley is not dead as is sort of said in this chapter, he was kidnapped by "the good guys". The new DADA professor is unveiled in the next chapter. No one has really switched sides, as you will soon see.

electric pancake: oh, yes... Bollywood... funny. My, my. I think my sense of humor died somewhere. Okay, from your earlier review... Mrs. Ironton has a few secrets of her own. As for subtle hinting, I'm trying. This chapter was full of it. Malfoy is really spiteful. Then again, Harry did send his father to Azkaban. Even without the Dementors, Azkaban is still, literally, hell. As for Tara's entrance, it wasn't the entire student body involved in this... more will be explained in the next chapter. I sort of ran out of room in this one.

The Lady Morgaine: Tara's entrance in the story is further explained in the next chapter, as is the whole "anti-pagan" movement. Yes, there is a reason behind it, it wasn't the student body but a small group of students. Tara will get her own chance to shine, as will Willow. They will be creating spells soon. You'll see.

Nikki: Buffy, as it is, was given a small reprieve. And wouldn't you know that she's doing this for Harry. She knows she's a danger to him, but that doesn't mean she doesn't have a breaking point. There's still a lot in store.

General Mac: I'm trying, really I am.

smurfinator: Neither can I, funny.

Watch.the.Rain: Although this chapter sort of gave us a nice Harry/Hermione closure, I would see Faith and Harry together, too. Buffy leaves for Harry and yet Faith can't stay away from him. As for your last line in the review (quoting "after all there is a chance she might get killed off") I should start taking odds. How many think Faith is going to bite the dust? Anyone?

Sean: Thank you. And even though you reviewed in May sometime, here is the long-lost chapter.

fanofLOG: Thanks.

PKgirl: Considering I have had the outline for this story and changed it (after waiting six months to start writing it again and getting plenty of ideas), well... there's a lot more coming. Buffy is going to sort of return to her valley-girl roots. It seems appropriate.

Akasha Drake: Oh, the bad guys have a lot of mistakes coming. As for Darth Willow, well... Willow will be one with the magicks, one way or another. I'm not giving THAT away. It really can go either way. There is a HUGE hint in the next chapter.

JellyFish72: Yes, I am going to finish the story. Thank you :)

spk: Thank you. I am going to finish it, basically because I invested a lot of time on this story last year and I want to see it through to the end. As for your questions... Buffy will not die now. Wesley is not dead. Faith's decision was sort of given away in this chapter.

VaMpEdChiK: Thank you, and I am going to finish. I like Buffy and Oliver, too. You can thank Grace for that little tip in that direction. Otherwise it probably would have been Buffy/Weasley or perhaps Buffy/Percy. Buffy has not learned to apparate basically because she's still learning magic. Harry will learn to apparate soon. And Buffy will be returning to Hogwarts soon enough with an entrance literally worth a thousand words.

Last Thoughts: Okay, so I'm sure there are a lot of questions out there. Ask, ask… and I may tell. If you read some of my other stories, well… they will be updated soon, like within a week. I have two other active stories, and a few that I may be posting soon just because I have been holding onto them for awhile and want them out. Thank you for taking the time to read this story! I really do appreciate it! And I would love your opinions on this chapter because it has been a long time since I last posted anything. Thank you!