Title: Good-bye Hellmouth, pt 7
76767
It was raining at the slayer's flat and so Faith was curled up in front of the fire reading Ars Alchemy a magazine she got from Severus. He'd sent her his first published works and she was reading it and finding it fascinating. She'd never been good in school before, but loved the magic. She was nearly finished when the door pounded.
Sighing she stood and walked towards the door. Unlocking the top lock she opened the door as far as the chain would allow so that she could see out into the hallway and who was visiting. "Black."
"McRae, can I come in?" He asked almost civically.
"Buff's not home." She answered moving to shut the door but was stopped by his hand. "What?"
"Just let me in." He said before pleading, "Please."
Rolling her eyes she shut the door, unhooked the chain and opened it enough to allow Sirius Black to squeeze by. "What is so important that you have to barge in and practically demand that I let you in?" She asked noticing that he was wet and pretty banged up.
"I needed somewhere to go and this was the closest place." He replied leaning against he wall.
"Stay." She ordered walking to the hall closet grabbing him a towel and tossing it at him. "The bathroom is in there." She gestured towards the partly closed door. "I'll transfigure you something dry to wear."
Grudgingly he responded, "Thank you."
"Don't mention it." She deadpanned and when he chuckled she added, "No. Really, don't mention it."
FlashbackFaith walked down the hallways towards the tower where she was meeting with Buffy and Lily for a study session for Astronomy, a course they'd decided to take rather than Divination. The hallways were empty, as everyone was outside or in their dorms doing whatever it is they do.
Out of nowhere someone grabbed her sleeve pulling her into an alcove and up against the wall. Before she could protest a pair of lips were kissing her. Feeling aggressive she kissed him back fiercely pulling the person – who she could tell was a man who was taller than her, but not by much – closer to her.
His lips released hers and moved to her neck with hot, open-mouthed kisses before being pulled – by the hair – back to Faith's mouth. His hands moved to her hips, creeping up her white button-up uniform shirt she wore under her robes without the vest, feeling her warm skin against his cold fingers causing her to shiver.
Her hands traveled downwards finding that there was something different about him and pulled back to see glazed over dark gray eyes rather than the intense blue she was used to. "Black!" She hissed pushing him away causing him to stumble back. "Ugg! I can't believe you." She walked off down the hallway without a glance back.
End FlashbackIt was two days later that Dumbledore appeared in the slayers flat. "Albus, what's up?" Faith asked from her place on the couch where she was reading a magazine of some kind.
"I want you to come with me when I tell the Potter's." Albus informed her taking in her casual gray long sleeved shirt and black pants. "I assume that you've kept your secret well?" He inquired gesturing to her covered arms.
Faith answered simply, "Buffy knows that's all that matters."
"I see." Albus replied. "Will you accompany me?"
"I suppose." Faith agreed noticing that he wasn't going to take no for an answer and was intrigued. Grabbing her black and silver cloak she apparated with Albus to Godric's Hollow.
"Albus?" James greeted until he saw Faith. "McRae."
"Oh come now, James, we're all friends." Faith jeered.
"She's right sweetie." Lily agreed coming up behind James holding a bundle that was Harry. "Hello Faith, did you want to hold him?"
Faith shook her head 'no' choosing to lean against the wall in the semi shadows of the nice sized home. Lily had once told her that it belonged to his parents and being an only child got him a good inheritance.
"I fear that, Voldemort has heard about a the prophecy that predicts his downfall." Albus started.
"Oh come on, Albus." Faith interrupted impatiently. "Lils your son is the one that's supposed to save the wizarding world."
James snorted in a cough like fashion before questioning, "Excuse me?"
Faith dramatically sighed, "Harry was born the end of July. You two have escaped Voldie's clutches three times. I don't know anyone else that's happened to."
"The Longbottom's also had a son in July, not sure when though." James replied carefully. "And they're both aurors."
Faith raised an eyebrow before shrugging and returning to her indifference stance in the corner. She vaguely recalled something being planned in regards to two people named Longbottom, but could be wrong.
Albus imputed, "It's better to be safe than sorry."
Lily's green eyes peered down at Harry's before looking up at Albus who was glancing at Faith. "What do we do?"
"I have a spell that will keep you safe by way of a secret keeper." Albus said knowing Faith wasn't going to interrupt him, as she had no idea what he was talking about. "You need to pick someone you trust to guard your secret and then we'll perform the spell on that person to hide you within their minds."
James and Lily looked at each other before James said, 'Sirius' and Lily said, 'Faith.'
Lily's suggestion caught all parties in the room to look at Lily whose green eyes were none wavering from Faith's stunned dark ones. "WHAT?" James and Faith exclaimed.
"You can't mean that." James exclaimed casting a curious glance at his wife and then at Faith McRae.
"I can." Lily insisted turning to face James. "I trust her. Remus trusts her. Why can't you trust her?"
"Because she's friend's with them." He stressed the word 'them'. All occupants in the room knew of whom he talked about. Lucius, Severus, Bellatrix and several others suspected of being death eaters.
"She's my friend too." Lily argued.
"I never thought I see the day when I'd agree with James Potter, but he's right." Faith replied. "You should ask someone that you both can agree on, Lils. Ask Buffy, she'll do it."
"I know what you are and I know who you are." Lily replied earning a curious glance from Faith.
"Enlighten me." Faith requested crossing her arms across her chest leaning against the wall once more.
"I've seen you fly out of here with pain in your left arm." Lily told the brunette slayer. "I know what you are, but you haven't sent them on us and I don't believe you will."
"Yet." James mutter earning him a glare that would rival McGonagall's on a good day from Lily.
"He may have a point, Lils." Faith grudgingly agreed. "Who's to say that I won't betray you in the end? Go the safe route, ask Buffy. You both trust her."
Lily thought seriously for a few moments before answering, "I trust you with my life and Harry's. But if James will allow some thought for your suggestion I'll consider asking Buffy."
Faith stared at the woman that Lily Evans, Hogwarts Head Girl, had become. She was now the charming and strong woman that was married to an equally strong – not that she'd admit it out loud – man named James Potter.
"Perhaps you both should weigh the pros and cons of your decision." Albus suggested. "Though, I believe that it would be rather interesting to hide yourselves among a member of the inner circle."
"Albus!" Faith cried incredulously.
"He's got a point, Faith." Lily said. "'Hide in plain sight', is what muggles always say."
"I don't know about this." Faith sighed uncertainly. "But I agree you both should weigh the choices." She paused for a moment. "If that is all I will see you later, Lils, James. Albus." She said before exiting the house.
8668
Faith apparated to the Riddle manor because she just wanted to go home and this to be over. She looked around before transfiguring her clothing to wizarding robes of simple black before walking to the Riddle library.
Lord Voldemort's library was the coolest place to do research. It had books about controversial subjects, dark magic, dark potions and lots of other books relating to and expanding those that were in the Hogwarts Restricted Section.
"Faith?" A voice called from one of the nearby stacks.
"Sev?" Faith peaked around the corner to see the black hair man that had been one of her closest friends besides Lucius and Buffy. "What are you researching?"
"Our Lord wishes for a potion for one of many dark purposes of his." He answered piling several more books into his arms.
"Need any help?" Faith questioned.
"No thank you." He answered. "What are you doing here? I thought today was your day with your fellow slayer."
"She's off with some guy, doing Merlyn only knows what." Faith answered before adding, "I thought I'd catch up on my reading. Maybe find a way to send me and Buffy home."
Severus' attention was placed back on the brunette. He knew that while she felt comfortable here with him and Lucius she missed her home time. He'd wondered what she was like before she came to Hogwarts because of the odd looks she'd receive from her blond friend when it came to schoolwork and such. "How do you plan on going about it?"
"To tell the truth I don't even know where to begin. Dumbledore's been looking since we got here and hasn't found anything."
"Perhaps you should ask our Lord for help, if he so wishes he could grant you passage home. Though you would have to show him how it would benefit him and his cause. He doesn't take kindly to those that try to desert him."
"Good idea Sev. I never thought I would miss the hellmouth." Faith smirked slumping against the thin table. "Either way I'm not too worried. Buffy and I are stuck in this world for now and it's not like I'm getting any younger." She added the last part dryly causing Severus to chuckle.
The two had talked about possible causes of the fact that Faith wasn't getting any older physically. There haven't been any plausible ideas so it was a running joke for Faith.
Faith and Severus sat in the library among the books until they were called into the meeting room because Voldemort wanted to talk to them. "Ah, my two loyal servants." Voldemort replied.
"My lord." The two replied kneeling at his feet, kissing his robes.
Voldemort ordered them to do some research, among other things, and have the answers by the next death eater meeting.
"Of course, my lord." Faith and Severus replied before leaving the room, once they were sure that he was finished speaking. They began looking through the books, spending the rest of the day there and well into the next morning.
The house elf brought them tea and coffee – for Faith – as they poured through the books. "Sev?" Faith called out from the table as he was looking for more books on the subject.
"Hmm?"
"I think I found it." Faith said walking towards him with a particularly large book. She handed it to Severus and was proud when she saw his nod. "So now that we've found it, what next?"
Severus shrugged before magic-ing away the books they didn't need. He began to make notations from the book on a sheet of parchment; the scratching quill was a comforting noise in the quiet of the library. It was a while later when he said, "I believe we have everything we need."
"Great." Faith replied stretching slightly. "So I'll see you later?" She asked watching him place their findings in a bag so that the house elves wouldn't return the book to the shelves and throw the notes away.
"Indeed." He smirked tiredly. "Good night, Faith."
"Night Sev." She grinned before apparating back to her flat and walked into the kitchen for something light to eat. Once she'd eaten her sandwich she changed into her pajamas and curled up in her bed falling asleep soon after.
8668
It wasn't too long after that she and Buffy were invited to a party at the Potter's home. Faith hadn't heard anymore on the 'Secret Keeper' thing and frankly she was glad as she had enough to worry about with Voldemort.
Buffy and Faith both appeared outside Godric's Hollow moments before the party started and entered the house. "Buffy! Faith!" Lily greeted. "It's nice to see you again."
"Hey, Lils." Faith greeted.
"Hello Lily, James." Buffy echoed seeing the dark haired man enter the room with Harry in his arms. Buffy walked up the young boy and greeted, "Hello Harry."
The party began without so much of a hitch and Faith was talking to Remus by the punch bowl when she heard a familiar voice. Unconsciously she tensed up as the voice became closer alerting Remus to her stance.
"Is everything alright, Faith?" Remus asked his voice soft and soothing.
"Hmm?" Faith muttered unfocused on the man in front of her. "Oh yes I'm fine." She answered after he kindly repeated the question.
Before Remus could comment they heard, "Evening McRae."
Faith glanced over her shoulder and met the even eyes of Peter Pettigrew standing not to far away from her. "Evening Pettigrew." She greeted evenly, though her mind was floored.
Of course, her mind screamed, his nickname was…
End pt 7