Faith reached her portrait, and Maya squealed at the signs of battle, her oil painted eyes bright at the memory of real life.
"What was it?" She asked. Faith grinned,
"Pack of Polgara demons in the wood."
"Polgaras? They ain't pack demons! I fought a couple in my day! Big bastards if I …" She trailed off, as they both heard footsteps close by. Faith spun to see a tall boy with red hair and an air of mischief. His eyes widened when he saw her- covered in mud, blood and bruises.
"What?" She asked indignantly.
"Erm… nothing… are you ok? Aren't you Dawn's friend?" Faith looked him up and down, noting his casual mention of her being 'Dawn's friend' as if he had heard much more.
"I'm five by five." She smirked, as he looked her over too.
"You sure? … cos, er… well…" He indicated her general state.
"I'm good. I've had much worse." She said, finally relaxing a bit. He looked impressed. Faith smiled, "You're a Weasley." She realised.
"Yup- branded for life." He laughed, "I'm Fred." Held out his hand.
"Faith." She replied, shaking it.
"So… you're sticking around when the others leave?"
"Seems that way." She said simply.
"Then I guess I'll see you around."
"I guess you might."
He turned to leave, but frowned,
"You sure you're ok? Madame Pomfrey could have that tidied up in no ti…"
"I'm fine!" Faith insisted, resisting the urge to laugh. "Trust me- I've had a lot worse. I can prove it if you force me."
"How?" He said, the mischief rising into a cheeky smile.
"Well, I got scars, don't I?"
"Really?" He raised an eyebrow.
"Uh-huh." She fiddled with the edge of her shirt. Fred's eyes flickered to it, ignoring Maya's giggles. Faith grinned, and raised it only a couple of inches to show him the long jagged scar cut by a knife blade over two years ago.
"Damn!" He exclaimed, the shock overcoming his disappointment. "Was that… how deep?" He stuttered.
"Nearly all the way." Faith replied with a hint of pride. "With a really nice knife I never got back again." The pride changed to nostalgia, and Fred saw a flicker in her eyes that few lived to see twice. She shook her head, "I… you should be in the common room, shouldn't you?"
"Yeah, I suppose…" He didn't understand her sudden change of heart.
"Night." She said forcefully.
"Good night." Fred replied, and walked off.
"Faith?" Maya asked.
"Yeah?"
"Are you ok?"
"Five by five." She replied vacantly. She gave the password, even though Maya knew it was her, and stumbled into her room. Stripping, she filled the bath with hot water, (which took a while) and slipped in, wincing as her cuts hit the water. She sank beneath the surface, and just floated for as long as she could hold her breath, trying to clear her head of all thought, wishing her life could be simple. When she was forced to take a breath, she found Maya watching her, sitting on a rock in a seascape on the wall. Faith rolled her eyes, "What?"
"Nothing." She shrugged. The ex-slayer squinted into the water, and producing a small knife from down the front of her dress, stabbed down into the water, triumphantly spearing a fish. She grinned at Faith, then frowned, trying to think of a painting sporting some way to cook it. Faith laughed, shaking her head.
"Thank god. From the look of your face, I wondered if you'd ever laugh again." Maya said.
Faith sighed,
"Sorry. I just… what if I lose control, Maya? What if I can't handle this?"
"You wont. And you can"
"You've known me like… six hours; how the hell would you know?"
"Cos I know the power within you. I've felt it, Faith. An' I've heard enough about Voldemort… if you were gonna give in to the dark side again, you'd have done it already."
"I wish it were that simple. I mean… all I had to do was think about that knife, and I was…"
"But you told to the Weasley boy to leave, rather than slitting his throat."
"Which is a start." Faith laughed sarcastically.
"Damn straight it is!"
Faith raised her eyebrows at the phrase.
"I was in a girls' dorm before." The painting shrugged. Faith smiled, it definitely explained the many random phrases Maya came out with. "Look, Faith… you're a fighter, right? Well… you can't just give up on this. You're here because plenty of people want to give you this chance to be a, a good guy, I guess. An' you're sitting here saying maybe you should just go back to jail? Get your act together slayer!" Maya scolded. She didn't know why, (it was a painting talking to her, after all) but this spurred Faith on. She nodded her head, and looked around,
"Right… which one of these is shampoo?"
"What do you mean weird?" George asked,
"I dunno…" Fred replied, "I mean… she seemed ok, but then she talked about this knife that she was stabbed with, and her eyes got all… scary. But I think it scared her more than me. She practically pulled a teacher on me. Told me I should be back in here."
"Huh." George said thoughtfully, "But she was fine?"
"Definitely. In fact… fine doesn't cover it. She was covered in mud and blood and she was hot… I wanna see her that close when she's clean!"
"Well she looks good enough from a distance." George agreed.
"Summers is pretty nice too."
"Fred! Mate, that's one step too far!"
Fred frowned,
"I mean Senior. Dawn's sister!"
"Oh! Oh… yeah, and the others… I wanna go to California if that's what all the girls look like!"
Dawn burst into laughter.
"What?" Hermione asked. Dawn pointed over her shoulder to where the twins were sitting. She'd caught a few words of their conversation. "They're talking about Buffy and the others." Hermione rolled her eyes.
"God, do boys think of anything else?"
"I know I don't." Ron said, smiling lovingly at her. This caused Hermione to melt, leaning in to him as he wrapped his arms around her.
"I'm starting to think this might not have been such a good idea." Dawn said in a stage whisper to Harry.
"Hmm, she's gone all mushy. The old Hermione would have huffed and stormed out if he'd said that."
"Ahh." Ron said, as they parted for a deep kiss, "But I wouldn't have said it, cos I was aiming it at Hermione." He said proudly.
"Whatever." Dawn laughed.
"An' it's not as if you're any better." Hermione teased, "You an' Draco, attached at the hip… or should I say the lips…" Dawn kicked at her, not quite reaching Hermione from her seat, and Ron blocked her foot with his anyway, pouting protectively. Hermione stuck out her tongue.
"Ok, now that is so not Hermione. Ron, I'm sorry to say it, mate, but she's been polyjuiced." Harry said.
"Definitely." Dawn agreed.
"Y'think?" Ron said, looking at her critically, "Hmm, how can we check?" He continued, prodding her. Hermione giggled. "Maybe if I tickle her into submission, she'll show her true self." He said thoughtfully. She frowned in warning, but he tickled her anyway, as Dawn and Harry held her down.
"Get off!!" she yelled.
"Yey, we found her!" Dawn laughed, backing off. Harry stood back too, and Hermione slapped Ron's chest.
"That was mean." She said, pouting. Dawn frowned,
"Huh. Still soppy."
"Nu-uh. I'm just biding my time." Hermione said, smiling wickedly. Ron looked uneasy.
"I'm sorry." He said quickly. "Very, very sorry."
"Oh you will be."
"Did I mention very, very, very sorry?" He squeaked.
"Oi, Hermione, no curses!" Fred yelled over, "We need our goalie… even if he is, well… Ron."
"Hey!" Ron exclaimed.
"Actually that's a point." Harry agreed, "We need him, 'mione. Quidditch season has started. First match next week." The girls rolled their eyes,
"Yeah, you mentioned it once or twice." Hermione said.
"Just don't kill 'im." Harry pleaded.
"I don't get this obsession everyone has with quidditch. I mean, flying is fun, sure, but…" Dawn was cut off by Ron's indignant snort.
"Quidditch is only the best game on earth!" he exclaimed. "You've never seen a match, have you? This weekend you'll get it. You'll see."
"It is pretty wicked." Hermione shrugged, "But I don't talk about it 24-7 like these two." She glanced at her watch. "I'm going to bed, guys, it's late."
"Me too." Dawn said, standing.
"Night." Ron said. Hermione gave him a good night kiss, and they waved to Harry, then went upstairs.
The other fifth year girls weren't up there yet, so the two were alone.
"What's happening tomorrow then?" Hermione asked.
"Oh, erm, I think I get off first period to say goodbyes and stuff. It'll be weird without them all again."
"But Faith will be here."
"Yeah, that should be cool. I know you're still a little wigged about all the Faith stuff, but…"
"She saved you. I know, an' I get that, Dawnie. If you trust her, then I can accept that. Sorry if I seem… wigged." She grinned.
"Sorry." Dawn laughed. "It's a Buffy-ism. My sister affects me in bad ways."
"Na… what I'm trying to say is that I'm sure she is a good guy… what happened before… it doesn't matter to me."
"Thanks." Dawn said. "I know it's really screwy. All of this. All the slayer stuff…" She paused.
"When Dumbledore told us Buffy was the slayer, he said the reason you were a witch was complicated, and it was only for you to tell us. There's still stuff you haven't told us, isn't there?" Hermione said quietly.
"Sorry." Dawn whispered, not even surprised that Hermione knew.
"Do you not trust me?" Hermione asked, her voice cracking slightly.
"That's not it!" Dawn cried, trying to hold back tears. "I… of course I trust you, Hermione. It's just so complicated…"
"Draco knows though?"
"Yes." Dawn replied. Hermione sighed,
"I'm sorry. I have no right to be like this."
"Yes you do, though. I've held so much back… it's not fair. I wish it was simple, I really do. But every time I think to tell you guys, something stops me. I think of the way I reacted when I found out this stuff, and I can't tell… I'm sorry. Some day… maybe I'll manage it…"
"Dawnie… don't worry about it." Hermione said, hearing the pain in Dawn's voice. The other girl was sitting on her bed, facing away from Hermione, shrouded in darkness. Hermione moved to her side to comfort her, and saw that she was touching something gently on the inside of her left forearm. Hermione frowned, and leaned closer. She held in the gasp when she saw a long thin scar down her arm, scarily close to the major artery.
"I didn't slit my wrists, if that's what you're thinking." Dawn said, her voice vacant. "Not exactly."
"So you did do it?" Hermione gasped. Dawn nodded. "But why?"
"I wanted to prove I was real."
"What?"
"Told you it was complicated." Dawn said, choking a laugh.
"I won't push." Hermione decided. "An' I wont say anything. But if you ever need to talk… I'm here." Dawn looked up at her with tear filled eyes.
"Thanks." She said. Hermione smiled, and shook her head.
"S'nothing."
"I'm gonna miss you guys so much!" Dawn said, without the slightest hint of last night's sorrow.
"Yeah right!" Buffy joked, "The moment we leave, you'll be tongue wrestling with your own little mini-Spike, and we will be totally forgotten."
"Buffy!" Dawn cried indignantly, while the others laughed. She frowned, "You're right, I wont miss you."
"See ya Dawnie." Willow said, Bundling her into a hug, "An' remember those protection spells I taught you, ok? Apparently they could be very useful."
"I will. Thanks."
"Bye Dawn." Tara said with a sweet smile. They too hugged, and then Xander grabbed her before she had a moment to breath.
"Bye Dawnie." He said.
"Bye Xand." She squeaked. Anya waved bye, and then Dawn turned to Spike.
"See ya lit'le bit. Take care now."
"I will." Dawn said, initiating the hug she knew he wouldn't dare. He seemed shocked, not quite sure what to do with his arms while she hugged his chest. Eventually he patted her back awkwardly. Faith was watching from the periphery, grinning at this. Giles took Dawn next, when she let go of Spike; he hadn't seen much of the girl in the last few days they'd been here, but knew he'd miss her again once they left. "Bye Giles." She said.
"Good bye. Remember, if you need anything…"
"Hey, that's my job!" Buffy scolded. Dawn laughed,
"I know, ok. I'll send you an owl."
"Be careful!" Buffy insisted, pulling her into a rib-crushing embrace.
"Ok… oxygen… needed…" Dawn gasped.
"Oh! Oops." Buffy smiled sheepishly, letting her go. Then the slayer turned to Faith, "Bye, Faith."
Faith raised a hand in a short wave, taking a couple of steps closer.
"Bye, B." Dawn frowned when she saw the bruises on Faith's face, but said nothing- it wasn't the time.
"It was good to see you again." Willow said, perfectly genuinely.
"You too." Faith replied, with a real smile. "All o' you." Before she could say any more, Buffy hugged her, and they both winced in the pain of remembered injuries,
"Look after her." Buffy said in a voice only Faith could hear.
"Always." Faith said sincerely.
"Erm, Miss Summers?" McGonogall said, entering the room, "The coach to take you all down to Hogsmeade is here. You'll be given a port key by Rosmerta at the Hogs head. Just tell her I sent you."
"Thank you." Buffy answered, "For everything." She gave Dawn a last squeeze, and they all went to the front steps of the school, where the scoobies piled into the huge coach, pulled by the same black, winged horses that had pulled the coaches at the beginning of term. "Ooh, cool horses." Buffy exclaimed. Dawn, Faith, and McGonogall stood on the steps and waved as the coach pulled off down the driveway towards Hogsmeade.
"Well, Miss Summers… junior." McGonogall said, "You still have twenty minutes until your second lesson… I wont insist you go until then, but please don't be late for period two."
"I wont, Professor… thanks."
McGonogall smiled and left, while Dawn and Faith moved onto the grass where they could sit comfortably.
"What happened?" Dawn asked immediately, indicating Faith's various injuries.
"Little fight in the woods." Faith shrugged, "Buffy had 'em too, just she bothered to cover it all with makeup."
"Oh my god! I didn't notice! I feel all bad now!"
"Dawnie, the point of the makeup is that you don't notice!" Faith laughed.
"But… so what were you fighting for you both to get so hurt?"
"Whole buncha Polgara demons. Dumbledore is trying to figure what they were doing here."
"Are they a danger to the school?"
"Na… they wouldn't even come out of the forest. Just make sure none of your wannabe super hero friends go wandering in there." Dawn nodded agreement, but still looked concerned. Faith was glad she didn't know about the gashes on her back, or Buffy's skewered arm. "What lesson you got now?" She asked, changing the subject. Dawn grimaced,
"Potions. Snape is gonna be pissed that I missed the first period."
"That dude needs to lighten up in a major way." The slayer replied, shaking her head.
"Have you talked to Wes yet?" Dawn asked, a little quieter. Faith didn't look happy.
"McGonogall said he'd agreed to train me. But we haven't actually talked…"
"You avoiding him?"
"Big time." Faith admitted. "I don't see how he can even look at me Dawnie." Shame filled her voice.
"Maybe cos he knows you're different."
Faith shrugged,
"I dunno. You should be going, shouldn't you?"
"I got plenty of time, the dungeons are right there."
"So… how did the explanations go? With your friends?"
Dawn frowned,
"Ok."
"But you didn't tell them everything."
Dawn shook her head,
"I'm so scared, Faith. What if they totally freak?"
"You'll never know til you tell. If they're your friends, they wont."
"That's what I'm afraid of."
"Don't be dumb, Dawnie. They seem like decent kids. An' Hermione at least seems smart enough to know that stuff doesn't matter. If you wanna tell them, do. If they freak out on you, they're not worth it in the first place."
"Anyone would freak out, Faith. I did." Dawn said quietly, touching her left forearm again. Faith frowned,
"Shit, you did that to yourself?" She gasped. Dawn nodded,
"When I first overheard Buffy talking about it… I wanted to prove I was real."
"Oh, Dawn." Faith sighed. "Y'know I'm here, no matter what, right? I ain't goin' anywhere."
"Yeah, I know. Thanks." Dawn smiled, "I better go. See you later."
"See ya."
Dawn left Faith there and headed to Snape's dungeon. She slipped in and sat beside Hermione, who gave her a reassuring smile.
"Now that you've decided to join us, Miss Summers, perhaps you could tell me, as you feel it is un-necessary to learn about the mystical properties of items used in compound with potions, what the hardest wood known to man is?" He obvious didn't expect an answer, and a murmur ran through the class- he hadn't taught them that, what did it have to do with anything? Dawn bit her lip, then,
"Ooh! Lignum Vitae. The wood of life- my wand is made from it."
Snape snarled, and continued with the lesson, ignoring her completely. Hermione held in the giggles, and Draco grinned across the room to Dawn. She gave him a little wave, and they got on with the lesson.