Renesmee Cullen and the Volturi's Protection
Chapter 9: Buffy's Big Mistake
The second term began in January after Boxing Day and the snow was still full on the ground. As the second year Gryffindors and Hufflepuffs went to Herbology, Renesmee watched Hagrid and Grawp teaching Care of Magical Creatures to fourth years. They were learning about unicorns. The second years had finished Venomous Tentacula and were now learning about a plant called bubotubers, which were usually taught in fourth year. Bubotubers were large black bulbs on stumps that held a lot of pus which Professor Longbottom explained. "Bubotubers!" he said proudly. "You will collect the pus from the bubotubers and put them in these bottles." He held up a small bottle with a cork inside. "Undiluted bubotuber pus is very toxic and smells oddly like petrol."
"You want us to collect this stuff?" a second year Hufflepuff student said with disgust. "What exactly does this pus do?"
"It stops acne!" Renesmee said grinning. "I'm not a bookworm, but I did read about it in the Herbology textbook last night before we got back. They're very fascinating plants." Professor Longbottom was very impressed with Renesmee's knowledge he awarded Gryffindor thirty points and gave the class no homework for the day.
The lesson for Defense Against the Dark Arts was not as good as usual because the Gryffindors and Ravenclaws were taking notes on the best ways to kill various types of vampires and demons. Buffy handed back the first term exams and Renesmee thought she did well on the written portion until she saw her grade: an Acceptable. Rose got an Outstanding on her exam and Albus got an Exceeds Expectations. Renesmee found that she was not the only one who got an Acceptable; Scorpius hadn't done well at all. "A lot of you did very well," Buffy said as she went back to her desk, "but some of you need to broaden your knowledge a bit. For today, we'll be learning about various demons and how to defeat them." She flicked her wand at the projector at the front of the classroom and the projector started showing the different types of demons. "This is Gachnar, the fear demon. I dealt with him a few years back when I was in college in Sunnydale. You won't need your books for this guy. He's actually not very interesting.
"On Halloween in 2000, my friends and I went to a fraternity Halloween party. Xander, one of my best friends, and Oz, a werewolf, were decorating the frat house and some of the other members of the fraternity drew the symbol to invoke Gachnar's influence and Oz's blood activated it. You'll learn about invocation in Charms this term with Professor Rosenberg, I think." Buffy flicked her wand again and the projector stopped at Gachnar's picture. "Mr. Giles, our librarian, was helping me learn about Gachnar and missed something while translating the text."
"What did he miss, Professor?" asked Lorcan Lysander curiously. Buffy waved her wand at his book and asked him to read the caption under the photograph. "Actual size?" The class laughed.
"It wasn't so funny, to be honest. Gachnar feeds off of fears and manifests them into reality." Buffy said grimly. "He made Willow believe she lost control of her magic, Oz believed that he transformed uncontrollably and Xander thought of himself as invisible to his friends. When we finally overcame our fears, I defeated Gachnar by stomping on him." She flicked her wand once more at the projector and it showed a green-skinned demon. "This is an empath demon from Pylea, but we'll learn about them next lesson because I'm going to bring an actual Pylean into class to tell you about his native dimension and, if I can talk Professor McGonagall into doing this, we'll probably go on a field trip to Pylea by a portal."
The lesson ended and Renesmee was about to leave when Buffy called her up to the front. "What is it?" Renesmee asked curiously.
"I want you to patrol the grounds with me tonight," Buffy said. "If Harmony's going to lead an army of Molochs, she'll want to get to know the area better and..." Buffy tried not to laugh, which was a huge effort on her part because she started to snicker, "...she may bring some minions with her."
"What time do you want to patrol?" Renesmee asked.
"Meet me in the entrance hall at eight o'clock tonight and we'll take a sweep around the grounds. If we run into any vampires on the way, we'll make sure to take care of them." Renesmee agreed. "Good. I'll see you at eight tonight. Bring that map Harry gave you. It may come in handy both on the way out of the castle and when we come back in." Buffy patted Renesmee on her shoulder and dismissed her. "See you later, then."
Right after dinner, Renesmee met Buffy in the entrance hall. She was surprised to see that Buffy had abandoned her black robes and was now dressed in a leather jacket, a pair of blue jeans and wore leather boots on her feet. A gold cross necklace hung around her neck and Buffy's honey-blonde hair was smoothed back into a ponytail. "This is new," Renesmee said looking her teacher up and down. "I'm not used to you wearing this at school."
"You'd rather I go nude?" Buffy teased then stopped herself; Spike had walked past when she said this and stopped. "Shut up and keep moving, William." Buffy said in a dangerous tone. The blonde vampire walked on toward the dungeons. "Come on, let's see if we can catch ourselves a vampire." The two walked among the grounds for less than ten minutes and Buffy decided to engage Renesmee in idle conversation. "What's up with you and Scorpius? You two were getting on pretty well last I remember."
"He decided that we're too young," Renesmee said grimly, "and that was after he kissed me at my place on Christmas Day. I got the letter before we got back to school and I felt a little heartbroken." Buffy nodded. "You felt that way before?"
"Yeah, I've had a few rough times with dating," Buffy said. "I dated Angel for a while until he left for Los Angeles, I dated Riley, the one guy who knew what it was like to be fighting demons and vampires on the clock-he was a commando in the Initiative during my freshman year of college. After that I had a more physical relationship with Spike. So, yep, I know what it's like to be heartbroken."
Renesmee was not shocked by this. Being a Slayer had to be the toughest job out there...fighting vampires and demons constantly without a break half the time, being trained to fight and trying to juggle school and her social life along with her Slayer duties. Renesmee didn't know what to say to this because she wasn't a Slayer. She was twelve years old and had a pair of vampires for parents! As if that wasn't tough. "I'm having a tough time with my life, really. You've heard the story of my mother's death, right?" Buffy shook her head. "From what my dad said, it was really bad. After they got married, Mom got pregnant with me and, though It wasn't entirely my fault, I still killed her and almost myself. Dad had to actually tear me out of Mom so I could live, gave her as much venom as he could, then she turned into a vampire two days later."
"So that's how you ended up being a vampire-human hybrid?" Buffy said in understanding and Renesmee nodded. "I know one person who can understand what you're going through and that's Angel's son Connor." Renesmee's eyes widened slightly at the mention that Angel had a son. "You may want to talk with Angel about Connor, though. If I'm right, the boy's still in LA fighting the good fight, but if he knew Angel was here, Connor would be ready to help if he could."
"Sounds like a good person," Rensmee commented. Buffy shrugged; she had never met Connor before, so it was hard for her know how good a person Angel's son really was. They had reached the lake now and saw a small group of Molochs talking in low voices. "Buffy, we better stick to the shadows." Renesmee whispered. "We don't want to be seen, trust me." They ran toward a tree and hid behind it, listening to the conversation. Among the Molochs was a blonde woman around Buffy's age and she wore a lot of black. "Is that Harmony?"
"Yep," Buffy said emotionlessly. "Back in high school, she was what Xander, Willow and I called one of the 'Cordettes' or one of Cordelia Chase's friends. After it was known that Cordy was dating Xander in our junior year, Harmony ended up becoming the most popular girl in school and a year later was bitten by a vampire. Now she is one and like Spike said Harmony is very dangerous...stupid, but dangerous." Renesmee grinned and listened.
"I don't see why we have to be here," one of the Molochs said in a raspy voice. "What's the point?"
"I've told you a billion times, Duncan," Harmony said, her voice was etched with obvious annoyance, "we're here to stake out Hogwarts in case that Renesmee girl comes out to hunt. You guys made one mistake but this time is different. I have a plan!" The Molochs laughed at her. "Shut up! I've had experience in this kind of work!"
"You worked for that Angel bloke for almost a year, Harmony," said Duncan, "so don't be too angry with me if I don't take you seriously." Harmony glared at him, but Duncan just stood there not moving...until he caught Renesmee's smell. "I can smell something...it smells like death and flowers..."
"That's the girl!" said another Moloch excitedly. "Where's it coming from?" Duncan pointed to the tree Buffy and Renesmee were hiding behind and the Moloch shifted into the form of a bear while Duncan turned into a white tiger. Harmony followed the two vampires toward the tree and shook her head.
"Nothing there!" she growled. "God, that girl is beginning to get on my nerves!" Renesmee, who had moved to another tree moments before the vampires came to her hiding spot, moved her foot involuntarily and snapped a twig. Harmony was looking straight at her with a very menacing look in her eyes. "Got you, you little twerp!" she said grinning and grabbed Renesmee by the arm. "You're not going anywhere!"
"Let her go, Harmony!" Buffy shouted from above. Renesmee and Harmony looked up to see the Slayer two branches up, a crossbow in her hand and aimed right at Harmony's heart. "I'm not joking, Harmony. Renesmee's not the type you wanna hurt, and I'm not the type who's gonna let you."
"Buffy!" Harmony said in mock happiness. "You haven't changed a bit!"
"Neither have you," Buffy said in the same mocking tone. "Except for the fact that you're leading an army of ancient vampires on a rampage on the school I teach at!" Harmony's grip tightened on Renesmee's arm in anger. "You know, I'm actually wondering why Master Moloch actually hired you to lead them. Is it because you're pretty or is it because you're stupid?" That did it.
"You're the stupid one, Slayer," Harmony growled. "I'd turn around if I were you." Buffy didn't heed her warning and was stabbed in the gut by a jagged stone sword...the sword of a Moloch. Buffy's eyes widened, her jaw dropped and blood spewed out of her mouth. The Moloch who stabbed her pulled the sword out of her gut and ran off. "Bye-bye, Slayer! I'm taking the girl!" Renesmee tried to fight back but was unable to pull out of Harmony's grip, so she decided to use her wand. "What are you...?"
"VERDIMILLIUS!" she shouted and a large orb of green light floated a few meters toward Harmony and exploded, blinding the blonde vampire and a few others in the vicinity. Renesmee punched the blinded Harmony in the gut, tossed the unconscious Buffy onto her back and ran like a bullet back to the castle. "HELP!" Renesmee cried urgently. "SOMEONE HELP!" Harry Potter ran down to the entrance hall, saw Buffy and asked what happened. "Harmony...Molochs...Buffy stabbed by a sword..." Renesmee panted. "Harry...?"
"I get the gist of it," said Harry grimly. "I'll get someone from the Volturi to help get her to the hospital-"
"No!" Renesmee cried. "No, don't get anyone from the Volturi! They'll try and turn her into..." Tears formed in her eyes at the thought of her Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher being turned into a vampire. "Don't let them." Harry nodded and suggested they try and staunch Buffy's bleeding, which was starting to get worse. A pool of crimson was blossoming on her white top where the sword went through her. "Right...staunch the bleeding..."
Harry cut a piece of his robe with a Severing Charm and pressed it onto Buffy's wound. "Put some pressure on the wound until I return with Madam Pomfrey." he said and ran off.
"Right." Renesmee said nodding and did as told. Buffy's eyes opened and found her. "Hey, Buffy, you're going to be okay."
"Yeah...I should've listened to Harmony about turning around, huh?" said Buffy and Renesmee gave a weak laugh. "Don't worry about me too much, kid. All Slayers have a huge advantage when it comes to healing. Comes with the package, really." Renesmee lifted the blood-soaked bit of black cloth from Buffy's wound and saw that the bleeding had stopped. Buffy saw Scorpius walking past and said, "Scorpius!" He jumped, saw Renesmee and started to walk faster. "Scorpius Malfoy, I'm talking to you!"
"What is it?" he asked, his back to her. Buffy asked him to tell Harry not to get Madam Pomfrey. "Got it. Bye."
"That boy needs to sort out his priorties," Buffy muttered and stood up. "Okay. We know that Harmony isn't as stupid as she looks and the Molochs are actually preparing to attack Hogwarts, but we may have a small problem with that." The Slayer started to walk up the staircase toward the third floor. "You go to McGonagall and tell her what happened. I'm sure she'll want the Minister of Magic to know immediately."
"Okay," said Renesmee and she ran to the headmaster's office outside the entrance hall doors. It took her a few moments to realize that she did not know the password to the office. "Um...lemon drop?" she said unceartainly to the gargoyle standing in front of a stone wall concealing a revolving spiral staircase that rose to the door to the headmaster's office. The gargoyle didn't move. "Acid Pops!" Nothing. "Oh, come on, you're killing me, here!"
"What seems to be the problem, Miss Cullen?" asked Professor Finnigan from behind her. Renesmee explained that she needed to see McGonagall immediately and that she did not know the password to her office. "It's 'Albus'." he said and the gargoyle moved aside. "Anytime you need something, let me know, okay?" Renesmee nodded. "Good. See you."
"Yeah," Renesmee said and, once the moving staircase moved her up to the office door she knocked. No answer. She tried the door and it opened. "Hello?" Renesmee called. "Professor McGonagall?"
"The Headmistress is busy, Miss Cullen," said the portrait of Severus Snape idly. "Whatever the problem is, I assure you that Minerva will get the message when she returns." Renesmee glared at the portrait of Snape and was about to say something when the portrait of Albus Dumbledore spoke.
"I believe this is urgent, Severus," he said while surveying Renesmee with his piercing blue eyes behind his half-moon glasses. "Am I right, Renesmee?" She nodded. "Well, you may confide in us no matter how bad the situation is. As I told young Harry Potter when he met me in limbo a long while ago, help will be given at Hogwarts to those who deserve it."
Renesmee remembered these words and felt much better. "Well, Professor, Buffy and I were patrolling the grounds tonight and we were attacked by one of Spike's old girlfriends named Harmony Kendall who is leading an army of Molochs to Hogwarts. Buffy was taunting Harmony when a Moloch stabbed her with its sword."
"I see your problem, my dear," said Dumbledore nodding, "and it is troubling. "There has been a lot of talk in this very office between teachers that the Molochs are planning something besides just attacking Hogwarts to get to you. In fact, I am inclined to believe everything I heard from Willow, Buffy, Faith, Angel, Spike and many other concerned teachers. The one person I have not heard from is you. What is your take on this whole situation?"
Renesmee was more than a little shocked that Albus Dumbledore, the greatest Hogwarts Headmaster that ever lived, was asking for her opinion on this whole thing. "Well, I believe Buffy and the others because something just isn't right in my book. If the Molochs were planning on killing me, they would've done it sooner, right?" she said. Dumbledore's portrait nodded. "I also believe that Moloch the Destroyer is trying to ressurrect his brothers Belial and Ba'al."
"That is also my opinion," said Snape curtly. "If Moloch succeeds, the entire Earth will be vunerable and not just the magical world. I am speaking of the Muggle and vampire communities as well." Renesmee gulped. "Last year, you made it clear that the Sword of Angels needed to be fully intact. Professor Dumbledore had Potter contact Hermione Weasley for more information on the Sword of Angels and she copied down, as is her nature as a know-it-all, on a piece of parchment which is on the headmistress's desk. You may read it if you wish."
Renesmee took the sheet of parchment on the desk and recoginzed Hermione's handwriting at once. The passage explained that Gabriel the Archangel cast a spell on the Sword of Angels to give its user a more godly power and look, something that would kill the Fallen Angels with one slice. "This is amazing!" she said after reading the entire passage. "If I find all four shards and put them together, the Sword of Angels will grant me more power than the vampires put together! I've got to find the shards!"
"Now is not the time for that, Miss Cullen," said Professor McGonagall from the doorway. "I want to show you something before you decide to go on a journey to find the shards." She took Renesmee to a cabinet that held Dumbledore's old Pensieve, extracted a memory from her own mind, let it fall into the basin and Professor Luna Scamander's body rose from its depths. "Professor Scamander foretold a prophecy and I want you to hear it." The silvery form of Professor Scamander spoke.
"War is coming very soon! A strange man with the ability to turn into a wolf known as the Protector will deliver a message to the one who vanquished the Dark Lord and the young guardian of mankind will prepare herself for battle. The Sword of Angels is the key to the enemy's destruction and when the Sword is intact, the Guardian will be our Warrior and will vanquish the enemy! War is coming ever closer..."
"Do you understand what this means?" McGonagall asked. "Are you able to understand what is to happen?"
"Yeah, I do," said Renesmee grimly. "It's saying that I'm the guardian of mankind and I'm supposed to kill Moloch, Belial and Ba'al during the upcoming war against the ancient vampires." Renesmee didn't know how to feel about this prophecy, but she was sure that somehow she would have to stop the Molochs and the other vampire bloodlines from destroying the entire Earth or everyone in the world she loved was in danger.