x-o-o-x
Chapter 21
On Sunday They Will Kill the World
x-o-o-x
"A sobering thought: what if, at this very moment, I am living up to my full potential?"
- Jane Wagner
x-o-o-x
"I can't imagine what you must think of me right now."
Buffy looked up to see Giles standing over her shoulder, offering her a hand. She took it as he pulled her back to her feet. "If you think I think anything less of you, you'd be wrong."
"Buffy—"
"Look, I know you blame yourself for saving my life and for bringing me back. You shouldn't."
"Buffy—"
"You shouldn't," Buffy said, an edge in her voice. Spying Wesley by the end of the tunnel watching Angel and Spike sucker punch one another, she knew the time to vacate the premises had come. "Why don't we talk about this later? There's so much to say, but there isn't time."
Giles nodded slowly, giving her a brief flicker of a smile. "Later it is, then."
Buffy gave him a smile of her own before she turned to leave. It was his voice that held her back for a moment. "Good luck," he called after her.
She gave a half-glance over her shoulder as she replied in return, "To you, too."
x-o-x
In the hour leading up to the eclipse, Hogwarts was a flurry of activity. Students were rushed to their Common Rooms and locked within, with student guards (usually Prefects) posted outside the doors with multiple-level passwords set to prevent students from escaping. The one true concern was Slytherin as its Prefects included known children of Death Eaters. With that in mind, the Slytherins verbally protested the placement of the Seventh year Ravenclaw Prefects in the dungeons for the Slytherins' own protection. Professor Snape vehemently opposed along with his House, but Professor McGonagall was firm, convincing Snape that these were Dumbledore's wishes.
Hermione moved in and out of old classrooms, taking note of where people were huddled. She found Ron, Ginny, Seamus, Dean and Neville in the Great Hall with a few Hufflepuff Seventh Years. She found younger students patrolling the area around the library and near the staircase that led to Dumbledore's office. She found her way back to the Great Hall. The long tables where students usually ate had been turned on their sides, forming a rather half-circle protecting the staff table. The room itself was dark as fewer candles hovered overhead. The enchanted ceiling itself was swirling with dark colors and a single golden bauble near the center, signaling the arrival of the eclipse.
She barred the door behind her, using a quick nonverbal spell and a twirl of her wand to ensure that it would hold. There were more than a dozen students inside there.
But the door that needed to hold was the front entrance doors. She met Professor McGonagall at the head. She had her wand out and already the multiple locks were clicking into place. Hermione held her breath until the last lock moved into place before turning to her head of house. "They're ready."
Professor McGonagall gave a brief nod and a thin smile as she turned away from the door. "So it seems we all are."
Hermione let out a breath and grimaced. Was she ready? Part of her knew that she could come up with the perfect shield spell to counteract whatever the Death Eaters threw at her, the perfect charm for fire if the Inferi charged her… but was she ready?
"I think I know how it feels," Hermione said softly, drawing her Professor's attention. "To be a Slayer, I mean. I know what I have to do, but am I ready to do it?"
Professor McGonagall fixed her gaze on the younger Gryffindor. "During my first war, I found myself asking the same question. What if, at that very moment, I was living up to my full potential? What if, at that very moment, it defines me as who I am and what I am to be?" Hermione had never heard Professor McGonagall be so philosophical before. It was quite startling. "Of course, I never compared the situation to a Slayer's."
"Does it not seem ironic to you that in our greatest hour of need, we have both living Slayers at our call?" Hermione asked lightly.
"That remains to be seen." Professor McGonagall's voice was grim.
Hermione lowered her wand in surprise. "Are you saying that you believe that you don't believe they'll help?"
"Buffy, I believe, is one that will remain true to her word. Faith, on the other hand…"
Hermione knew it was time to put her differences with the younger Slayer aside. She just wished she had done so sooner. "Faith is a good person. She'll do the right thing."
"High praise from you, Miss Granger."
"I believe in being big about things," Hermione said, a half-smile lighting up her face. "And, besides, I'm stronger than she is at magic, anyway."
Professor McGonagall couldn't resist a smile at that. Faith had struggled all year in her class. "Nevertheless…"
Hermione was going to give Faith the benefit of the doubt. She was, after all, tasked with Harry's life. "Nevertheless, we won't have time to worry about her, right?"
The older woman shook her head, suddenly transfixed by a burst of light from one of the windows near the door. Her eyes seemed to harden as she came to a grim realization, her posture tightening until she stood ram-rod straight and turned to face the younger Gryffindor. There was a burst of popping noises outside and a shimmer glow before the door that caused Hermione to gasp.
Professor McGonagall put a reassuring hand on Hermione's arm as she drew closer to the younger girl, retrieving her wand. "And so… it begins."
x-o-x
Buffy stepped out from the Honeydukes' cellar, pushing the door open with the side of her foot. Cordelia was waiting for her on the other side, looking at the brightly-colored sweets with a hint of longing in her eyes.
"Hungry?" Buffy offered, smirking.
"I've never seen so much chocolate that wasn't held behind armed guards," Cordelia marveled, shaking her head. Coming back to her senses, she added, "How are things down below?"
"Shaky," Buffy admitted as they walked out of the sweets shop. "Angel and Spike are bickering like little old ladies and Wes just keeps bitching at them. They need some estrogen down there."
"Oh, really?" Cordelia asked as Buffy quickly found the person she was searching for and marched up to her. "Well, I'm not volunteering."
"Not asking you to," Buffy replied as she briskly tapped a single figure on the shoulder. Tonks turned, her eyes glistening in the light.
"Can I help you?"
"I could use you down below," Buffy offered. "I've got two vampires, two Watchers, a few Order members who decided to stay below ground and nothing with any sense. Could you…?"
"You want me to fight below ground?" Tonks asked. Remus and Sirius, who were both nearby, turned to the conversation.
"Yes."
"Are you hoping that I'll die down there?" Tonks asked lightly.
"I'm just hoping that you don't disappoint," Buffy replied, just as lightly. "If I remember correctly, Arthur Weasley had nothing but great things to say about you during the attack on the Ministry."
Tonks inclined her head. "Then I will do my best." She turned and, exchanging a look with the two men, made to move towards Honeydukes. Remus, unable to stand it, quickly moved to stop her.
"You do not have to do this," Remus said, taking her by the arm and turning her to face him. He was astonished to see the determination on her face.
"No, but I choose to," Tonks said quietly, pressing a cool hand to Remus' face. "I'll be seeing you." Slipping from his grasp, she escaped inside the sweet shop and out of sight. Remus turned desperately to Buffy who was drawing a line through the dirt with the toe of her boot. Others behind him were donning the shielding equipment the Weasley twins had dropped off before moving to the next point in town. The village itself was deserted and had been since Buffy's plan had been made. Obviously no one was taking the chance she was wrong about where Voldemort would strike.
A sliver of darkness covered the ground. Remus turned and saw that part of the moon was obscuring the sun. "Buffy!"
The Slayer turned and met him in the middle of the square. It was then he noticed the weapons that had been placed around the square. Two small axes hung from the wire suspended over their heads between two buildings. A sword and a group of stakes were casually stacked on top of a set of crates. Another sword was leaning up against the Honeydukes display window. What looked like a club with spikes was just barely visible from a barrel across the narrow path.
Buffy positioned the few she had behind most of the hiding places she could see. If vampires were the first to come, she would have to deal with them. Well, she and her heroine support as Cordelia hadn't left her side since she'd arrived hours before.
"How's Giles? Did Giles sound okay?"
Buffy ground at the dirt with the tip of her boot. "Yeah."
"Are you two not talking again?"
Buffy snorted under her breath. "No, we're talking… and I guess when this is all over, we'll talk more. It's just… so much has happened in the past few months. Like with Harry, I don't know where to start."
"Then let's make sure you both get your chance."
It was then that a shadow passed over the town. Buffy spun around, covering her eyes as she saw the moon slipping in front of the sun. "It's time," she whispered, turning to the others. It was then she noticed that Dumbledore had never returned after speaking with his brother. "Where did he go?" she asked, turning to the others and receiving only shrugs in return.
It was at that moment she felt a ripple of energy surge through the square with enough force to lift her hair off her shoulders. The axes swung, creaking, on the wire suspended above her head. The dirt under their feet began to stir, swirling around them. If this wasn't an omen, she didn't know what was.
"Buffy?"
The Slayer could only offer her friend a soft smile as she lifted a sword. Cordelia removed a sword of her own. "You don't have to be so close," Buffy said.
"If you think I'm going to let you fight alone and miss out on the fun, you're insane," Cordelia replied happily. "Besides, I'm exactly where I need to be."
As the village was thrown into darkness, Buffy's eyes sought out movement in the trees on the outskirts of town. By the time one of the vile creatures leapt into the path, she was more than ready for it. It was dust before it had a chance to speak, but when it disappeared, ten more were able to take its place.
Buffy waited until there were enough of them to fill the village square before she came out and shouted, "Now!"
x-o-x
Faith and Harry were on the fourth level and moving towards the fifth when she felt something powerful move through her. Her eyes caught a glow hanging between her breasts. She stopped moving, her fingers touching the amulet, which felt oddly warm to her touch. Harry, who had been rushing along, stopped when he didn't hear the sounds of her boots following behind him. "What is it?" Harry asked.
"I don't know," Faith murmured, setting the amulet back in its place. "But I think that whatever needed to be done to activate this thing has been done… its active now."
"What are you saying?" Harry asked, reaching for the amulet himself. Before he could fully grasp it, her hand grabbed his and held it fiercely.
"I… I'm not good with these things. I never was…"
He cut her off by kissing her. She felt the nervous energy respond positively to his embrace but tore herself away from it before she tore him to pieces. Resting his forehead against hers, he whispered, "I know."
"But…"
"Shh." He placed his finger over her lips. "I know."
Faith gave up trying to explain and let him hold her for a moment. He heard the sounds of banging and scraping in the distance and it set his determination all the more. He pulled himself away from her, taking her hand. "Are you ready?"
"Wait." Before he could stop her, he felt her hands around his head and neck before a weight settled on his chest. He glanced down and saw the amulet nestled under his school robes. Before he could question her, she said, "It belongs to you now. I don't know how and I don't know why I know, but it's yours. It's… all I can give you to protect you."
He felt tears prickle behind his eyes as they met hers. A moment later, they heard the sound of a loud explosion and they continued moving through the castle.
x-o-x
With a snap, Buffy drove her sword through the neck of a vampire, watching with satisfaction as its head tumbled off and turned to dust. Lifting her sword, she threw herself into another battle, circled by vampires. The first sprang first. Buffy kicked the vampire aside and drew her stake, flipping it idly in her hands before driving it into the vampire's heart. The others jumped in and Buffy found herself fighting like she fought in the good old days. She would punch one vampire and kick another aside, staking when she could and driving others off using her sword. To her left, she saw Cordelia dart forward and drive a stake into a vampire's heart and watch as it turned to dust.
Once the square was clear, though dustier, both women quickly rearmed and made towards the line.
"If they cross this line, we retreat through there," Buffy said under her breath, pointing to Honeydukes behind them.
"Right."
Before they could really plan anything else out, the path in front of them swelled with vampires again. Both women exchanged a look as these vampires flooded into Hogsmeade. Two women against twenty had been bad enough odds, though feasible. Two against two hundred? That was more questionable.
And yet they swarmed into the village.
"Now what?" Cordelia shouted over the horrible grunting sounds the vampires were making.
"Kill them," Buffy replied, as though it were the most obvious thing.
Buffy took her stance against the masses. It soon became obvious that she wasn't going to win out on all of them. Even Cordelia, with her Sunnydale and Los Angeles demon background, backed away, terrified.
"Okay, I get it," Buffy panted as she cast her sword to the ground and looked up. "We're just going to have to do it our way, boys. No offense… I'm sure you're all bloodthirsty monsters." As they started to circle around the two women, Cordelia backed uncertainly towards her.
Buffy waited until they were close enough to kill before she leapt up, grabbing the wire and pulling it down. The wire was not strong enough to support her weight, but as it drooped the two battle axes were able to slide into her waiting hands. She dropped back down into the fray, flipped the battle axes to the ready and then attacked. With two swift strokes, the entire circle of vampires was dust. She quickly ran to the next group, sparring and defending. It was easier that these vampires weren't armed.
She kicked at one vampire and waited until he was down before planting the sharp, wooden end of her axe into its sternum and watching it explode into grey powder. She spun around, slicing out with the opposite axe to another vampire and relieving it of its head. She then felt their cold hands grabbing at her and jammed her body backwards, thrusting both axes behind her and swinging down. Hearing the groans of agony from the figures behind her, she knew she'd hit her mark. She pulled back and drew forward, leaping up and flipping backwards over the next swarm of vampires before she reached out with both hands, catching the axes that she had thrown out before her jump. With a ferocious cry, she threw herself into the battle. She kicked and punched her way through a group of vampires before turning on them with her weapons. Smiling coldly, she struck out, slicing around the height of their necks, watching as their heads tumbled off one by one.
As she spun to face the next mass, her eyes widened at the large number still streaming down the path. They had gone from hundreds into thousands. This was simply a number one Slayer should not have to sacrifice herself for. Slowly, uncertainly, she lifted her axe, preparing for the end…
"Buffy!"
Buffy gasped and whirled around, quickly knocking two vampires off and dusting a third. She spied Cordelia on the ground with a large, undead arm locked around her neck, fanged mouth lowering towards her neck.
"No!" Buffy cried out, fighting her way back. But every last vampire between her and Cordelia seemed to die ridiculously slow… she kicked aside another before she felt them grab her from behind… the distance between her and her friend increasing…
"Incendio"
Buffy gasped as a sudden shot of flame burst from behind one of the crates and into the back of the vampire currently attacking her friend. The vampire let go of the brunette and recoiled, screaming in agony before he succumbed to the flames. One by one, those she had hidden revealed themselves, pulling out their wands. There was a flash of fire and the entire front line was reduced to nothing more than powder. Buffy threw herself to the ground, rolling out of harm's way as she reached Cordelia, who was leaning against an old shop and massaging her bruised throat.
"I thought I was dead," Cordelia rasped, turning to Buffy with an exhausted look.
"So did I," Buffy admitted. "I'm so sorry."
"Not your fault," Cordelia said, offering her a tremulous smile. "You've got bigger things to do than look after me."
Buffy turned back to the one that had saved Cordelia's life – Sirius. His eyes met hers and he gave a brief nod before turning back and lifting his wand again. Before Buffy could lift herself off the ground, she felt Cordelia's cool hand grasp hers.
"Go… be a hero," Cordelia whispered. "Good luck, Buff."
Buffy gave her a bright smile before she stood up and jumped back into battle, kicking both axes aside and pulling a crossbow from on top of one of the crates. "Get down!" she screamed out. Two figures that had been fighting hand-to-hand quickly dropped to the ground as Buffy fired two quick bursts, watching as the vampires all but exploded.
Darkness lingered on as Buffy drew those in the square to the line before pulling her wand from inside her boot and holding it out in the standard dueling method. She was flanked on either side by her father's dearest friends and, for a moment, she reflected on how grateful she was that she was her father's daughter. As they faced hundreds of vampires cramming themselves into the bottleneck, seven witches and wizards stood at their line with wands out, preparing to make their last stand.
In the distance, Buffy's Slayer-trained eyesight could see enormous forms stumping along. To her horror, she realized that the giants had also come.
"Now," Buffy said. Seven bursts of flame came from the wands as all repeated the line Sirius had used. But it was too little. Only seven vampires felt the effects as they exploded and the vampires quickly pushed their fiery comrades aside to assault those standing between them and the school.
What they needed wasn't something a Slayer could give them. She had already taken down dozens of the creatures.
"Oi, you lot!"
Buffy blinked as she stared at the top of one of the shops. Stooped against the sloped edge was a redheaded, freckled someone.
"What the hell…?" Buffy muttered under her breath, hearing the same sentiment repeated with various vulgarities from those around her.
"That there is a seasoned, experienced vampire Slayer. To taste her blood would bring you immortality!"
Buffy swung her head to look at the figure on the opposite side of the path.
"What are they doing?" Remus asked in a dazed voice. "Oh, bugger, they have lost their minds!"
"All we can hope is that they…" Her voice trailed off as she saw that they had picked up speed, coming towards them like a swarm of beetles. "Don't see us," she finished lamely.
The group of seven backed away. Even Cordelia struggled to her feet, her hand against her side as she moved with them, her opposite hand clutching her sword.
"You must tell us," one of the Weasley twins said, leaning against a flagpole on top of his respective building, "who does your dental work. Really, a top notch job!"
Buffy suppressed a groan as she backed into the stack of crates. Suddenly, she froze, turning slowly back to the crates. Since when had Hogsmeade ever had a random stack of crates or some well-placed barrels or anything in its streets, really?
"Get back!" Buffy murmured under her breath, before she turned to the others. "Get away from the street! Go!"
The vampires looked amazed as eight people lifted weapons and ran in eight different places.
"You're not going to coward out on us now, are you?" the second twin asked with a tsk-tsk in his tone. "She's standing right there."
The vampires craned their necks to the single figure standing in front of the crates, wiggling her fingers. "Oh, yeah," she snarled, keeping her eyes on her prey. "Come and get me. I'm so lost, so innocent… so pure… so… bloody."
With vicious snarls, the vampires pressed their attack. She waited for one of the twins to signal her before she nearly cart-wheeled out of harm's way. The vampires watched her escape before turning back to the crates. One of the twins gave a quiet smile as he tapped his wand to a tiny black panel in front of him. The crates burst open, large pillars suddenly growing out of them. Large mirrors suddenly expanded from the top, shining little light down on the square now swarming with vampires. There were some who crowded into the shops, bursting down doors and shattering windows. The crates then crumbled as the second twin tapped his wand on his panel. Another large pillar rose, but this one didn't have a mirror.
The first twin, after seeing the pillar rise, quickly drew out his own bow and slid an arrow with a vivid purple point into the string. As he fired over the heads of the vampires, one reached out and snatched the bolt from midair, turning back to him.
"You lose, mortal!"
"And that is why there are two of us, you fools," the first twin said cheerfully as his twin fired a second bolt that hit the top of the pillar with a soft ping. The top suddenly exploded into violent ultraviolet light. Once it hit the small mirrors built onto the base, it expanded out to the mirrors that suddenly appeared over most of the square. The vampires followed the light. Some started to back out of the square where they were met by eight heavily armed patrons, including the Slayer.
It was a sight the world had never seen. As Hogsmeade exploded into light, hundreds of vampires quailed under the brilliance and burst into dust, turning the darkness into mist. Those that remained hid in what few corners remained, only to have the Slayer or her friends chase them down. After staking one vampire, Buffy glanced up at the twins across the square standing on the same building. She bit back a giggle as they both bowed to her, sweeping off their hats as they bent. "Thank you," she mouthed to them as the light started to fade.
Though more vampires were inbound, they realized their error of charging into Hogsmeade after hearing the violent, piteous screams of their kind as they were slaughtered. They turned about, preparing to come to another one of the entrances into the village, the image of their destination burned into the minds as well as charred onto their arms.
Outside of Hogsmeade, Lord Voldemort used the edge of his foot to flip the old man onto his face before he turned away from the dome of protection that now rested over Hogwarts. Hogsmeade had been vulnerable. He knew that Dumbledore would never have left Hogsmeade undefended. His intention had been to set his vampire army loose in order to destroy what little resistance was set against him. He should have known that one of the Slayers would have been personally involved. His first thought was to activate the Slayers and turn them to his cause, but that time had not yet come.
There was more than one way to get into Hogwarts. Hogsmeade was one. But there was the lake as well as the tunnels…
He motioned for his Death Eaters to come forward, giving them specific instructions. Others had already gone off on their own errands, but the ones that remained seemed to be waiting for something to break. There was a renewed energy barrier blocking a direct attack into Hogwarts. The stupid Slayer and her band of resistance had taken over Hogsmeade. He had sent vast undead resources to repel them, but it seemed the Slayer wasn't backing down.
He was going to wait until the opportunity presented itself. And then, when it had, he was going to strike. Dumbledore was dead and soon the world of Hogwarts would be along with him.
A faint smile creased his pale face. That, he thought, was worth everything leading up to his final moment of triumph – the death of his arch-nemesis, Harry Potter.
x-o-x
Arthur Weasley mopped his brow off as his son slid to a crouch next to him. "How goes, father?"
"It's been hard," Arthur admitted, slightly out of breath. "We've managed to evade them for now."
Charlie Weasley had been called back from Romania for just this purpose, it seemed. He had been boxed up near the old Shrieking Shack with his father, a few other members of the Order, a couple Aurors including Kingsley Shacklebolt and, of all creatures, Hagrid. "Isn't this the only tunnel left that reaches Hogwarts? Haven't the others collapsed?"
"Yes," his father replied, getting back to his feet and pulling out his wand. "But that doesn't mean that they can't access them."
Charlie, along with others in their group, had been against having so few up against what they would be facing. Though they had a few dozen vampires, it was nothing compared to the sound coming from Hogsmeade. They had seen a brilliant flash of light just moments before from that part of town along with a whole load of shouting.
"Wouldn't it make more sense to just collapse all of the tunnels?" Charlie asked as they slipped out from the alley and under the fencing that led to the Shrieking Shack. "It may be safest."
"The other tunnels were already collapsed again as it is," Arthur replied as they joined the others. "What news have you?"
"Vampires have completely overrun two checkpoints," Kingsley Shacklebolt said in his deep, baritone voice. "There are nothing but bodies between us and them."
"How many did we lose?" Arthur asked, horrified.
"We found three that had just been killed… the others…"
"Turned?" Charlie asked reluctantly. He knew enough about vampires to know that they could turn someone by draining their blood. Never mind the fact that his family had actually housed a vampire Slayer two summers before and he had never been invited to meet her.
Kingsley nodded slowly. "The worst may be yet to come. Hagrid has been called over to Honeydukes. There have been giants sighted."
"What about us?"
"We are to hold this line. They believe that something will still attack us here. This tunnel does lead to the Whomping Willow which is the closest to Hogwarts they'll have been able to reach yet."
"Very well," Arthur said, his light eyes scanning the seven people surrounding him, including his son. He felt a pang, knowing the last time his son had gone into battle, he hadn't returned alive. "But we should have a backup plan in case this one doesn't work."
"We should collapse the shack," Charlie volunteered. "It shouldn't be too hard. The entire thing is unstable as it is."
"Then we should get to work," Kingsley said. "The other groups are holding off the vampires for now, but not even the Slayer can hold them off forever. Their numbers are just too great."
But that wasn't the top concern on their minds and they knew it. The Inferi were five times deadlier than any vampire and they could take the sun. Already a sliver of light was falling across the valley again, shining on the dirt-streaked windows of the Shrieking Shack. The eclipse was passing and soon the vampire threat would pass along with it.
x-o-x
"Again!"
Buffy watched as a sword took a beautiful arc through the air before she seized it, driving it through the neck of a ducking vampire. On the second swipe through, she removed its head.
"Sword!"
Buffy threw the sword to Sirius who used both swords to scissor-cut the head of the vampire that had been attacking one of the other Order members who lay still on the ground and likely would never move again. The sword was thrown back and forth as the group continued to bottleneck the vampires. The sun was slicing out from behind the moon again, filling the town with light. The UV lightshow was done and both Fred and George had disappeared again. Buffy hoped that if they all survived she would be able to give them proper thanks. It had been a brilliant plan.
After calling for it, she took the sword back and used the hilt to knock one vampire aside before she staked a second. When the first recovered enough to attack her, she drove the stake through its heart and watched as the dust cleared. She spun around, trying to see if there were any others. There weren't.
"Did we do it?" Cordelia asked, limping into the square and looking around like some lost disaster victim. Buffy could tell the others shared her same sentiment though and held her silence, looking grimly around the dark scene.
"Maybe," she offered, feeling the warmth of the sun on her back. "Now if they want to get to the school, they have to go through the tunnels."
"Yeah, about that…" Remus said, stepping forward. He shared with her information learned that two of her seven areas had been obliterated and that three of these areas had bound together to defeat the vampires. Since they had seen another flash of light to the north just minutes ago, she knew that Fred and George had made their presence known elsewhere. The vampires probably hated those twins as much as they hated the Slayer.
"Right," Buffy said, gripping her sword as she crossed back into the square. She waved the others forward except for the one that had fallen, the one that Buffy hadn't even taken the time to learn the name of.
"Alright… we've survived the eclipse. That's a great thing. But now we need to hold the town as long as the shield over Hogwarts stands. Nothing can cross between us and the school, got it?"
"Yeah," Cordelia said, shaking her head. "But what do we do about them?"
Buffy heard the distant sounds of giants approaching the town. She turned wordlessly to Remus, who said, "I've taken care of it. Our own giants shall be here shortly."
"If all else fails, we collapse the tunnel below Hogsmeade," Buffy said, turning to the others. "I take it that that isn't too much to ask."
"If it must be done," Sirius agreed.
"I think we should rig it in case the event needs to be done," Buffy said, striding towards the school. "I think that—" At seeing the sudden look of horror cross Sirius's face, she said, "What?"
"Behind you!" a voice screamed out.
Before Buffy could turn around and defend herself, something large and metallic kissed her chest. The force of the swing lifted her from the ground, throwing her through the front window of Honeydukes, along the shiny wooden counter and on top of a table, cracking it in two. The Slayer rolled from the table and to the ground under a rainstorm of glass and debris and moved no more.
x-o-x
"Well, we've been waiting down here right long enough," Spike grunted, staring hard at the dirt-packed wall of the tunnel and crossing his arms. They had heard sounds of screams and footsteps. More recently, they heard a loud thudding noise and then silence. "If something's gonna break through, let it come already. I'm getting bored."
"You are not the only one," Tonks told the vampire briskly. She threw Wesley a dirty look as though to blame him for her being stuck down here with two feuding vampires, one which was obviously concerned for the Slayer.
"We'll fight when we're needed," Angel said simply. "That eclipse couldn't have lasted more than ten, twelve minutes."
"Try eighteen," Wesley said, pointedly ignoring the dark looks Tonks kept throwing his way. "I've read up on my astronomy lessons, something that even those who consider themselves smarter than the rest of us should have done."
"I don't think I'm smarter than you," Tonks shot back, storming towards Wesley. A combination of the cold tunnel, the apprehension of finally facing their worst fears and the sounds of battle from above had set her on edge. She prodded her finger into his chest angrily as he glared down at her, batting her hand away.
"Those of us who think they are smarter than the rest of us would obviously say that," Wesley retorted. "They defend themselves even in the weakest of circumstances."
"Weakest of?" Tonks gasped. "Oh, you—"
"Come now, children," Giles sighed, pressing a hand to his head.
"Yes, children," Xander smirked, enjoying the fact that Giles was yelling at Tonks and Wesley and not at him, though he was considered the youngest of the group.
"I didn't start it," Wesley mumbled weakly.
"You think I did?" Tonks shouted back.
"You betrayed my Slayers!" Wesley yelled.
"I didn't! I told you that there were some in the Ministry who did, but it wasn't me!"
"You could have done something, anything to protect them!"
"Why?" Tonks shouted. "Why is it so important that I'm on your side?"
Giles tuned out the conversation between the angry purple-haired woman and the impertinent Watcher and stared at the wall. His eyes narrowed as he saw the faintest bit of dirt fall to the ground. This wasn't coming from above. This was coming from the side.
"What did you want me to do?" Tonks screamed.
"Perhaps own up to the fact that you believe that everything I work for is for evil!"
"A Watcher turned evil!"
"So did several of the Ministry's employees! But you don't see me blaming them for our troubles here now, do you?"
Xander noticed that Giles had his hand on the wall. Frowning slightly, he shimmied over to the Watcher and mimicked Giles' movements. His eyes widened when he felt the slight bounce of the earth behind his fingertips. Something… or someone… was moving towards them.
"Why? Why do you care?" Tonks asked, sounding near tears.
"Because, as far as I'm concerned, you and the werewolf deserve each other!"
"This is worse than you and Buffy," Spike muttered to Angel, who smirked in agreement.
"Giles," Xander said slowly, pulling his hand back from the wall. Giles did the same and, coming to a decision, moved towards Tonks who was leaning against the same wall.
"Do you really believe that?" Tonks asked flatly. "You think Remus and I should be—"
"Obviously I do or I would never have mentioned it," Wesley said coldly, turning his shoulder to her.
"Wesley, I don't want Remus."
Wesley refused to listen to her.
The sound of the earth moving was getting louder.
"I haven't wanted him since I met you."
Her words were greeted by the sudden movement of the other Watcher behind her. "What the hell?" Tonks gasped as Giles grabbed her by the arms and propelled her towards Wesley.
"Get away from the walls!" Giles shouted out. "They're creating their own tunnels! They—" His words were suddenly cut off into a vacant choke as a spray of crimson splashed across the tunnel as a ghastly hand protruded from his chest, wielding a still-beating heart. Tonks screamed and backed towards Wesley, who took her by the arm and attempted to push her behind him. The hand with the heart retracted and Giles fell face-first to the ground.
All along the walls, the dirt burst forth. Xander yelped and backed towards Wesley and Tonks, who lifted a trembling hand, her eyes staring at the same foes that brought her and Wesley together in the first place. "Oh, no… no, no, no… not this again!"
"Be strong, Nymphadora," Wesley murmured into her ear as he cowered against the opposite wall. Her cry had luckily alerted the other Aurors in their tunnel to the arrival of the Inferi. "You must be strong."
Tonks could only think of one thing and that was survival. As the Inferi moved from their tunnels into the open, crowding around the five, including the two vampires, Tonks took a deep breath and uttered the curse, watching as the tunnel surrounding them burst into flame.
x-o-x
"Professor McGonagall! Professor McGonagall!"
Hogwarts' Deputy Headmistress turned from where she stood at the front door with Hermione Granger to face a young Ravenclaw Prefect of the Sixth Year. "What is it?" she asked hurriedly. She had never seen one of the Ravenclaws look so nonplussed before.
"Ma'am, the Slytherins… the Ravenclaw Prefects are knocked unconscious… they may be dead!"
"Bloody hell."
Both Professor McGonagall and the Ravenclaw Sixth year turned to face Hermione, who had uttered Ron Weasley's famous words.
"We must find them," Professor McGonagall said, for the first time a thread of fear in her voice. "You best be off to your Common Room." The Prefect nodded and ran off. "I trust I can leave the defense of this room to the Head Girl?"
"Yes," Hermione said, a bit breathlessly.
Professor McGonagall gave a firm nod and sent a willowy cat down towards the dungeons with a flick of her wand. She then ran towards the dungeons, having summoned Professor Snape to meet her at the Slytherin's Common Room.
The Head of the Slytherin house was in his office. His eyes flippantly took in the sight of a fading cat before he turned his dulcet expression back to the circle of Slytherins surrounding him. He hadn't been surprised when more than a dozen of his favorite students had stormed into his office. Currently one of them held a wand to his temple as though daring him to make an unsuspecting move. Draco sat perched on the table he had spent the past seven years at, twirling Snape's wand idly in his hand. "You do realize you will be expelled for this," he said in his low, dangerous voice.
"In a few hours, Hogwarts will no longer be in a position to expel its best students," Blaise Zabini said, smothering a yawn and feigning exhaustion as he stretched his arms lazily over his head.
"We have been preparing for this moment for the past few months," a Slytherin Sixth Year confided, leaning across the table to allow Snape a rather interesting view of her plunging décolletage.
"Yes," Snape said, an edge to his voice. "I know this. Why are you holding me here against my will?"
"Because, Professor," Pansy Parkinson murmured, standing up from her place at Draco's side and sidestepping her fellow students, "you are a traitor. We don't sit well with traitors."
"They tend to end up dead," the Sixth Year purred. "Or, worse, in pieces."
For the first time, Severus Snape felt fear. Each Slytherin around him wore the same serious expression. All save Draco, who had yet to look him in the eye. He just kept twirling the wand, idly staring out what little window there was in the dungeons, a vacant expression on his face.
"This is ridiculous," Snape snapped, getting to his feet and storming away from the students. As the Sixth Year leapt from his desk, pressing her wand to the bottom of his chin, she looked up at him with teasing eyes.
"This is not ridiculous, sir, these were our orders. If you do not take your seat, I will be forced to incapacitate you."
Snape resisted the opportunity to laugh in her face. Her marks in Defense Against the Dark Arts were mediocre at best and the girl had no skill for hexing. However, there were others in this room that he was fearful of, namely Draco and his companions, all which had demonstrated an ability to hex like professionals when the cause was just. Sure enough, the Seventh Years crowded closer. Pansy Parkinson pushed the Sixth Year away with a sneer of disgust before turning dark eyes to the Professor.
"Sir, please, sit down. It will all be over soon."
From her spot behind Draco, Juliet Rosier was seriously questioning why she was standing here at this very moment. Draco was tapping his heels against the legs of his table, twirling Snape's wand in his hands. From the looks of it, he was trying to make up his mind about something.
"This is wrong," she murmured, loud enough for Draco to hear while the others seemed oblivious, obviously enjoying provoking Snape into doing something illegal, like strangling the girl who had the gall to wear little more than a slip.
Draco, meanwhile, was counting how many times his heart was beating every time he breathed in and out. Anything to take the edge from Snape's cutting glare as his coal-eyes searched his out. But Draco refused to meet his Professor's gaze, instead focusing his attention on the floor. When he heard the woman behind him speak, he released a breath. Her comment echoed his thoughts exactly. It was wrong. They shouldn't be there, attacking the one person who had stood up for them for seven years. What sort of ingrates were they?
"Hey!" he heard the girl behind him say. "Back off! We were supposed to keep him locked away, not torture the poor man. Clara, get off of him." Juliet scowled as the Sixth Year moved away from Snape, swinging her hips slowly.
"Who put you in charge?" Pansy asked, slipping hands onto her narrow waist as she stared down the taller girl.
"That's a good question," Juliet snapped in response. "I guess the answer is no one. But as none of you have a brain, someone has to do something before we do something we may regret." As she said this last part, her eyes slid to Draco.
My thoughts exactly, he thought to himself.
"She's right," Draco said aloud, jumping from the table and pushing his way to the front. "We were told to protect our house and to nullify the good Professor should he do anything heroic." Now his eyes met Snape's and he watched as the Professor nodded in understanding. "Isn't that right?" Draco slowly pushed Snape's wand until it was aimed between his eyes. "I'm sorry about this."
Even as his classmates sneered in triumph, Draco twisted the wand about in one movement, practically flinging it at the Professor. Snape caught it in one movement as Draco dove to the ground. As the other Slytherins stared stupidly at the scene unfolding before them, Snape burst to his feet and chose a nonverbal, "Stupefy!"
Twelve Slytherins hit the ground before they had a chance to mount a counter-curse. Professor Snape slowly stepped around his desk, staring down at the students he had nurtured for the past seven years. But rather than feeling betrayed by his own kind, he felt oddly saddened, as though they had somehow disappointed him.
Draco pulled himself to his feet, helping a struggling girl at his side. Snape recognized both Malfoy and Rosier as they coughed, staring around them at the unconscious Slytherins.
"They'll be awake soon," Juliet said in a low voice.
The professor nodded. "You should come with me. If they are to awaken, they will kill you both." He waited until both students were on the other side of the doorway before he sealed it with something that not even the most able-minded Granger could break. "This choice may have damned you both," he said quietly, facing both students, both of whom he felt immense pride in.
"I am not my father's daughter," Juliet said proudly, drawing herself up to her full height. "And I'm going to go help my friends." Turning on her heel, Juliet flounced off.
"And I am not my father's son," Draco said once the two were alone. "I am, however, my mother's son. I believe in doing the right thing… whatever that may be."
"Go to the Great Hall," Professor Snape murmured. "Your assistance would be greatly appreciated there. And, Draco…" He watched as his favorite student gave a half-glance back over his shoulder, "do be careful. Your mother would never forgive me if her only son were to perish." Draco gave him a fleeting smile before dashing off.
With that, Professor Snape turned about before he paused, reaching for the wall. A sudden look of understanding crossed his face and he turned towards the staircase, moving at great speed. He knew he was needed elsewhere.
x-o-x
"Do you have any more bright ideas?" Sirius shouted out to Remus as the two dove out of the way of a Giant's hammer. Grawp, bellowing at a sound most humans should never have to bear, smashed his fist in the Giant's face and the two trampled onto the old Zonko's, the building disintegrating beneath their feet. Half of the town of Hogsmeade was in pieces from the Giants alone. Only seven of them there were, four against and three for. Sirius didn't know where Hagrid had found another giant, but there was a third giant fighting for their side. Sirius had the sinking realization that the Giant now stomping across the square and smashing the already-downed giant was Grawp's female friend.
"Just stay out of the warpath!" Remus shouted back as the Aurors scattered. Half of the roof of Honeydukes had just bounced between them, colliding with the streetlamp and Owl Post. As the windows to the Owl Post smashed, they saw what few owls remained taking off into the sky, disappearing behind the sun.
There was another growl as a Giant lifted half of the Owl Post and flung it at Grawp's head. It seemed as though the Giants against them were gaining the upper hand though as both Hagrid and Grawp showed obvious signs of injury. Even Grawp's lady friend stumbled and collapsed into what remained of Gladrags. They were being pushed further away from their one last escape – the Shrieking Shack. Already they could see the building collapsing but not of the Giants' power. This seemed to be coming from within.
Underneath the debris, Buffy slowly opened her eyes as bits of plaster and dust peppered down in her face. She slowly turned her head to the left, spying the collapsed portion of the building. She moved slightly, feeling her broken ribs in her chest protest to her movement. Well, she wasn't going to give it a lot of choice. She needed to get out before—
Another section of the ceiling collapsed, gouging a hole into the floor. Before Buffy could attempt to roll away, the floor beneath her back gave way and she found herself collapsing into the cellar. She landed with a cough, sneezing as the dust filtered around her. Her entire body ached as she pushed herself up, staring at her leather top which was spotted with blood. Her neck, what little of it she could see, was black-and-blue. Had she not been a Slayer, that blow would have killed her.
There was the sound of thundering feet above. She saw more of the floor collapsing onto the debris already in the cellar. If she didn't move, she was going to be crushed to death. She spotted the hatch leading to the tunnel and crawled towards it, groaning as her body practically quivered in pain. At last she kicked the hatch open and threw herself forward. If not for the pair of arms that caught her, she likely would have planted her face in the dirt and would have been unable to break free.
As luck would have it, she had landed in Angel's arms. He slowly pulled her up, his eyes widening at her bruised face. Her arms clung weakly to him as she attempted to steady herself on her feet. "Buffy?"
"Angel?" she moaned, wincing at what little light remained above as a great crash sounded.
"What is going on up there?" Angel asked quietly.
"Giants," Buffy said, blinking as she stared at the tunnel. She was floored by the appearance of blood and bodies. "What the hell happened here?"
"Inferi," Wesley said, appearing out from the shadows, holding part of his Hogwarts robes against his face which was bleeding profusely. "They burrowed through the walls and attacked us here. It's likely they made their way into the school now."
"Did they use this tunnel?"
"No," Wesley said as Buffy all but collapsed against her former. "The magicks that Tara has called into place seem to be holding for the moment. They continued burrowing through the earth. But what ruckus above…?"
"Giants," Buffy said, stumbling into the tunnel. "There are giants. By the sound of it, a whole army full." She put a trembling hand to her head and winced. "I need to get back to the school. Where's Giles? I thought maybe he could—"
"Buffy."
It was Xander. He appeared from behind, his hand touching her shoulder. She followed the direction of his gaze and her intense expression sobered at the sight of her Watcher with a bloodied hole punched in his chest. "Oh," she said softly.
"I'm sorry," Tonks said, her face and hands showing moderate burns from her spell, not to mention a harsh limp caused by the Inferi grabbing onto her cloak and brushing her knee. "He saved my life."
"That sounds like Giles." For a moment, Buffy allowed herself to wallow but then turned and faced the others. "Get out of this tunnel. Honeydukes is about to collapse and when it does, you'll have no choice but to get back to the school. Get out of here through the top. Get to the Shrieking Shack and take the tunnel there back to the Whomping Willow. That'll lead you—"
"Straight to the castle," Tonks finished with a nod. "But what about—"
"We'll come back for them later," Buffy said, her eyes lightly tracing over the four bodies lined neatly in a row. "But I need to get to the castle."
"Buffy?"
"Yeah?" she asked, spinning around. Angel stood there as Wesley aided Tonks to what remained of the ladder, helping her into Honeydukes' cellar.
"Be careful."
"Yeah, you too."
Turning, Buffy ran forward until she encountered the energy field. Her hand pressed against it before she charged forward, breaking through. She felt the ripple effect in her body as she stumbled into the poorly-lit tunnel, but luckily for her, her Slayer-enhanced vision could see anything.
Less than ten minutes later, the statue of the one-eyed witch along the third-floor corridor was burst apart. A Slayer pulled herself out and landed in a crouch. Rising to her full height, she turned this way and that, her wand pointed out ahead of her. Making her choice, she continued on.
x-o-x
From the depths of the lake, a single figure emerged, hand reaching out and burning through a door. The figure stepped aside, allowing others to pass inside. Two Wizard guards were stationed just inside the door. They were quickly put down, their bodies cast into the lake. One by one, Death Eaters began to flood into the castle through a door accessed only on the lake side.
x-o-x
Tara sat calmly with her eyes closed, feeling the magicks overwhelm her. There was darkness everywhere. Willow sat next to her, ready to anchor her should anything—
Tara's head snapped up and her hands grasped outwards. "It's breaking," she whispered, speaking of the dark Wizards working their powers to cast down her spell. Thousands of Inferi lingered near the periphery of the school, ready to charge in and massacre at their leisure. "I can't hold them."
"Yes, you can," Willow said desperately. She had been disturbed by the sounds coming from the village. The castle was between them and the village which made it hard to see, but Willow also knew that she could lose everyone she knew that fought in that battle, including Buffy. "You have to."
"They're so strong."
Willow stared at Tara's face. She turned and looked out at the forest, her hair lifting from her shoulders in the slight breeze. She could feel the fear of those inside the castle, those waiting for their deaths to come.
She wasn't going to let that happen.
Her hand reached over, fingers sliding between Tara's. The other witch opened her eyes and turned to her. Willow held Tara's gaze as she felt the power from the earth fill her body. As their eyes closed, a single bolt of light flashed around them and spread outwards. The dark Wizards were flung back from the shield of protection and the Inferi were stalled again. Willow felt her lips move as the chant Tara spoke flowed through her, like a conduit. This was the only thing they could do to save thousands of lives inside. They had to hold this line.
x-o-x
Buffy ran into an unused classroom, stopping to close the door and lower a beam across it to prevent it from being opened. Inferi could smash through just about anything, but she wasn't going to give any of the Death Eaters a warm welcome. She turned, intending to continue to the next door before going back into the corridors when she felt the air burst through behind her. Frustrated, she spun around with her wand out, meaning to close the door with magic. But her spell was blocked by a sole figure standing in the doorway.
"You," Buffy said quietly, recognizing her foe despite the bowler hat he wore pulled down over his eyes. "I thought I killed you."
"Why, Miss Potter… how delighted I am to see you!" Quentin Travers said, stepping into the light. "Though, you look quite a fright."
"Your giants just gave me a little trouble, that's all," Buffy said, trying to reach her full height but feeling her broken ribs straining in protest. "Nothing I couldn't handle."
"Yes, because you are a Slayer," Quentin said, a hint of pride in his voice. "One of the two girls in the world to stand against the forces of darkness. Or, as in your unfortunate case, die by the hands of one."
Buffy's eyes widened as she realized why he was there. "You can't," she deadpanned.
"Oh, I can assure you, I can and I will," Quentin said pleasantly. As Buffy attempted to lift her wand, he made to say the spell to knock it from her grasp. "My liege will still have one Slayer to toy with. But you, my dear, today you are mine."
Buffy knew that she would be dead if he was allowed to torture her.
"I have some… friends… who are eager to meet your acquaintance," Quentin continued, a devilish light sparkling in his eyes. "My dearest spirits will have great fun inflicting pain unto you before they rip your body apart while you watch, helpless to act. They will consume your soul and you will die a most painful death by the slowest means." His lips twisted into an anticipatory smile. "How long I have waited for this…"
"No offense," Buffy murmured as she continued to stumble backwards towards the opposite door, "but I'm really, really good with you torturing me."
"Oh, but I am not the most proficient at torture," Quentin said modestly. "Tell me, where is Rupert? For he is the one who would inflict such great—" Quentin suddenly leapt backwards in fright as Buffy let out a snarl like a wounded animal and charged towards him. She was within two steps when suddenly her body froze. A look of dreamy unconcern moved across her face as she fell to her knees and then to the ground, landing heavily on her side.
Quentin glanced up, frowning. Standing behind where the Slayer once stood was a tall, hook-nosed figure in a flowing set of black robes. "That was uncalled for," he said quietly. "You have so spoiled my fun. Alas, there is more to be getting on with, old friend." As he turned to leave the room, a blast hit the wall above his head, sending bits of marble on top of him.
"Are you incapable of thinking coherently?" Quentin shouted as he spun around, facing Severus Snape. "You could have killed me!"
"That was the idea," Snape said in his velvety tone. He enjoyed the look of shock on the pudgy man's face. His eyes darkened as he lifted his wand again. "You see, I made a promise to this young lady's mother that I would protect her if I could. I chose not to keep to the promise once. But I will not allow harm to come to this girl again. I refuse to allow you to hurt her for a second time."
"You mean to say that you would trade your life for hers?" Quentin asked softly. "So be it."
Before the smaller man could mount a defense, his wand was knocked from his hand by a speedy, "Expelliarmus!" As Quentin struggled to maintain his ground and retrieve his wand, Snape calmly pushed forward, his foot nudging Buffy's hand out of his way. "And now, old friend, we duel."
x-o-x
Harry and Faith were running along the seventh floor corridor when suddenly a flash of green light caught Harry by surprise. Faith was already halfway towards the Astronomy Tower when she realized that Harry wasn't attempting to keep up with her anymore. "Harry," Faith said, running back to him, "what is it?"
"That," Harry replied, pointing out the window. Faith craned her neck and paled at the bright green serpent in the day sky.
"Oh," she muttered, pulling away.
Time seemed to pass like an eternity before Harry took her by the hand, turning her to face him. "Faith, listen to me. I love you and I am not going to let you die for this—"
As he spoke, she was aware of a sharp pain on her arm. She cut him off with a cry as she fell against the wall, her hand cradling the opposite arm as the Dark Mark turned to black. Harry saw Faith grit her teeth and meet his gaze. "You do what you have to do," she snapped through her pain. "But I expect to see you back here when it's all done."
"And I will be," he said firmly, tipping her face to his. Those pained eyes would forever haunt him as he brushed his lips to her forehead, feeling the softness of her hair beneath his fingertips. "I will be."
"Go!" Faith ordered him, attempting to kick out at him as he scampered along, disappearing into the staircase that led to the Astronomy Tower. Faith held in her nausea, the green light of the Dark Mark reflected in her eyes; she couldn't tear her gaze away from it.
Harry banged the door open and moved into the final corridor. Here the windows were larger, peaked archways that allowed him to see the Dark Mark in all of its emerald glory. Feeling the rage build within him, he turned to the staircase at the end of the corridor and froze.
Standing less than thirty feet away was a tall, pale figure. His hand was held at his side, his twisted wand protruding from it. Those awful eyes lifted and met his as Lord Voldemort said in his breathy voice, "Harry Potter, we meet again at last…"
x-o-x
To be continued…
x-o-o-x
Author's Note: The battle for Hogsmeade is over. The battle for Hogwarts is about to begin….