Chapter 5: A Revealing and a Kidnapping

*****A Few Days Later*****

Buffy's parents did not like the idea of her going back to Sunnydale, but they knew she had a point.

"I can't agree to this," Joyce said when Buffy presented her argument yet again. However, this time Giles was helping her.

"Joyce, I understand your concerns," Giles said smoothly. "A new slayer was inevitably called, so this is a short-term solution."

"I will accompany her as she will be there Friday, Saturday, and Sunday nights," Severus said. "I will apparate home each night, however."

"What will we tell everyone?" Joyce asked.

"Well, her head of house already knows she's a slayer, so it won't be any trouble covering for her there," Severus said.

"My friends, though, will notice my absence. Hermione in particular won't settle for a brush-off answer," Buffy said.

Severus sighed, knowing she was right. "We will have to tell them, her and the Weasley boys," he said.

"And Harry," Buffy added.

She grinned as he gritted his teeth and nodded. "Fine," he said through clenched teeth.

Buffy was relieved that she didn't have to hide from her new friends who she was as learning magic was difficult enough without constantly having to hide her strength and agility.

"I will have them all come to Mom's quarter's after dinner," Buffy said, knowing her father wouldn't want so many Gryfs in his space. "Is that okay, Mom?"

Joyce nodded. "Sure, honey," she said. "I can see why they need to know even if I don't like the idea of you slaying now."

"You know I have magic now to help me with the slaying," Buffy reminded her. "I can just set vamps on fire from a distance if I want." She flashed her mom a cheeky grin.

Giles sighed. "I suppose that's true, but you could cause a fire as California is notoriously too dry and prone to fires," he pointed out.

"Which is why I learned the water spell," she shared, looking smug.

Joyce laughed. "Fine," she said. "I feel better." She hugged her daughter and left to go to her next class.

When Buffy made it back to the Slytherin common room, Cordelia and Draco came up to her.

"What's going on?" Cordelia asked.

"Kendra's dead—Dru killed her," Buffy said.

"What?" Cordelia exclaimed, drawing all eyes toward her.

"My dear friend Kendra, who's back home, is dead," Buffy said, loud enough for other house members to hear.

Pansy and Millicent drew closer. "That's horrible," Pansy said. She'd been trying to get in good with Cordelia and figured getting Buffy to like her was a good step.

"What happened?" Cordelia asked.

"That gang that was giving us trouble before we left corned her," Buffy said. "Angel said it was Dru that did it, and Father and I are going to go back home."

"Your dad but not your mom?" Millicent asked. "Wouldn't she be better suited to deal with the muggle world?"

"Well, Mom really hates Sunnydale, and she's just now getting used to the Wizarding World," Buffy said. "Plus, Father is better able to handle any rough elements as the place is a bit on the dangerous side since it's on a hellmouth."

Both their eyes got wide, and Cordelia gave Buffy a sharp look. "Are you supposed to blab about that?" Cordelia asked. Draco, too, looked surprised but remained silent. For some reason, he had a feeling that Buffy was never the airhead she sometimes pretended to be.

"Well, not to everyone, but Pansy and Millicent are members of our house. We can trust them, right?" Buffy asked. The girls quickly nodded.

"Of course, Buffy," Pansy said, thrilled to be told a secret.

"I didn't realize hellmouths were real," Millicent said.

"That's why Buffy was getting those fighting lessons from Professor Giles. She was always protecting the dorks like Willow and Xander," Cordelia said with a snort.

"I believe I saved your life more than once, too," Buffy reminded her. Then she glanced at Draco. "Drake, Father wants to speak to you after dinner—I almost forgot."

Draco looked surprised. "All right," he said, not wanting to prod in front of Pansy and Millicent.

"Are you going back to the States for the funeral?" Pansy asked.

"I think I will on Friday," Buffy said. "I'll be gone the entire weekend."

"Oh, you'll miss our trip to Hogsmeade," Millicent said.

Buffy nodded. "I know. You'll have to tell me all about it. I'll be back Monday morning," she said.

"Is Giles going to go with you?" Cordelia asked.

"I can't believe you call Professor Giles that," Millicent said, looking scandalized.

"He says it's 'cause we're cheeky Americans, who don't understand proper titles and respect of adults," Buffy said, grinning.

The girls laughed as Buffy pulled Cordelia into their room and caught her up to speed. Draco hated that he had to wait to find out what was really going on, but he couldn't very well follow them into their room.

After dinner, the Weasley twins were very surprised when Xander told them to join him on a stroll to Professor Summers quarters. When they were greeted by Cordelia, who opened the door, they grinned.

"Oh, we didn't know our lovely—"

"Cordelia would be here," they said.

Harry and Ron came up behind them with Willow and Hermione a step behind them.

"Looks like everyone was invited," Harry said as he walked into Buffy's mom's room. Harry looked around in fascination. It was definitely a muggle room—larger than his living room back at his aunt and uncle's. It seemed that she had a large sitting room with a door that must lead to her bed and bathrooms. However, the place was warm and full of so much color. Since she was an art teacher, he shouldn't really be surprised about that. There were several art sculptors scattered around the room as well as two very nice pictures.

"Welcome," Mrs. Summers said, greeting them warmly. They were surprised to see Severus and Professor Giles there along with their head of house.

"Why is Malfoy here?" Ron asked confused.

"Because he's my godcousin, doofus," Buffy said. "He already knows my secrets, and I figured he could be here while I fill the rest of you guys in."

Hermione was excited as she'd been suspicious of Buffy for a while and knew that there was something that she was keeping from them. It hadn't really occurred to her that Buffy would actually tell them all about whatever it was. However, by the look of things she was.

"Minerva, do you want to start?" Severus asked.

"Children, it is imperative that you not share what Professor Giles and Buffy Anne are going to reveal to you," Professor McGonagall said. She had been surprised to be included but knew that Severus didn't trust the golden trio much and the twins even less. He wanted her to impart the wisdom of their discretion, and she knew how teenagers could be and agreed.

"We understand," Hermione said, elbowing Ron, who nodded. Harry and the twins echoed their compliance.

"I'm not going to have enough chairs," Joyce said.

"I can take care of that," Professor McGonagall said as she transfigured two cushions into chairs for the twins. Ron and Harry just sat on the floor. Severus was sitting on a sofa with Joyce and Buffy while Giles sat on her armchair.

When everyone was seated, Buffy began. "Okay, so there's something about me that I wanted you to know because something's happened that will require me to be gone on the weekends," she said.

"What's happened?" Hemione asked.

Buffy looked to Giles, who nodded. "The world is older than many believe," he said. "As you all are aware of magic and magical creatures, you are more prepared than most to know what Buffy is."

"What do you mean, what she is?" Ron asked, a confused expression on his face. "She's a witch."

"Yes, I am, but I'm not only a witch," Buffy said. "I'm also a vampire slayer."

"You slay vampires?" George asked.

"Professionally or for fun?" Fred asked.

"Well, both, really," Buffy said with a grin.

"If I may," Giles said, giving them that very British look. He then went on to explain how the first slayer came to be and how the slayer line became split. Then he shared how Kendra was killed, and Buffy needed to be gone a few days a week to guard the hellmouth until the new slayer could be called.

Harry looked at Buffy in awe. She was a chosen one, too. Called to fight monsters against her will—fate had deemed it so just like it was with him.

"This is incredible!" Hermione gushed. "I knew you were hiding something, but I never dreamed it was this."

"So you really can kick anyone's arse?" Ron asked excitedly.

"That's why she is so good—" George said.

—on a broom," Fred finished.

"I am naturally agile," Buffy said.

"I'm sorry about your friend," Harry said.

Hermione looked guilty for forgetting the main reason Buffy was even sharing her secret and added, "Yes, me, too."

"Thanks," Buffy said, looking sad.

Harry, though, was struck by the look on her face as she didn't appear just sad, but she looked like someone who had seen too much and done too much. A great well of empathy filled him as he thought of what she must've went through back on the States and the danger she was so willingly going into now. If they were alone, he probably would've tried to hug her. Instead, he just gave her a sympathetic look.

Ron looked at Draco, who remained silent and didn't look surprised. He narrowed his eyes and asked. "Did you already know?"

Draco gave him a smug look. "Of course, I did—I'm family," he said.

"He overheard us talking," Cordelia said, flashing her cousin a grin.

"Oh," Ron said, mollified.

"Well, how about you children take this back to your quarters?" Professor McGonagall said. "Thank you, Joyce, for the tea and allowing us to invade your space."

"Any time," Joyce said, smiling.

"Wait," Giles said. "When Buffy is gone, we will be telling the children that she is spending time with her father on the weekends as he has business in London."

"That's a good idea," Buffy said. "I didn't know you were so wily."

"I've been known to need to give credible excuses a time or two," he said.

Xander grinned. "You're a good liar, Ripper!" he said.

Severus gave him a dark look as did his head of house. "You shall not speak so disrespectfully to a professor, Xander Harris," Professor McGonagall said. "Fifty points from Gryffindor."

"You can't be serious!" Ron protested as Xander was too shocked at her anger to say anything.

"Professor, it is all right," Giles said. "Xander and I have fought in many a battle together, and he is like most Americans—too familiar."

"Well, he will learn his place while in my house," she said with a disapproving sniff. "You are dismissed."

All the teenagers, including Buffy, got up and fled the room.

Joyce started laughing as soon as they left. "I stand in awe of you, ma'am," she said, a giggle still escaping.

"Really, Minerva, that was not necessary," Giles said with a disapproving smile.

Severus, though, was quite pleased. "I think it was entirely necessary, Rupert. The children are very fond of you, and they know you intimately. However, you are a professor here at Hogwarts, and they must learn some decorum and respect," he said.

"They do respect me," Giles said, slightly offended.

"Of course, they do, Rupert," Joyce said, reaching for his hand. Severus frowned at her actions as he didn't like to see her so familiar with the man. "They love you."

"It is just that at this school a certain type of distance between student and staff must be maintained," Minerva said.

"Buffy Anne is cheeky and way too familiar, and there's probably no stopping her—she's too fearless," Severus said, a touch of pride evident even as his tone was disapproving. "But the rest of them can be taught."

Giles nodded. "Fine," he said, not wanting to argue. He'd find a way to give Xander back points later in the week.

Back in the Gryffindor tower, the twins were speculating about the various monsters Buffy had slain while Xander confirmed or denied their guesses. Ron was so astounded at the news that he kept saying to Hermione, "What have you read about vampire slayers again?" Hermione kept repeating various tidbits while Harry kept thinking, Buffy is just like me.

When Harry went to bed, he was smiling. Buffy had survived death and faced monsters even greater than Voldemort. Somehow, he just knew that she would be able to handle any thing that came at her without much worry. One day, he wanted to be just like her.

*****Sunnydale******

Buffy and her father apparated into her living room. Kendra's watcher had already moved out of Giles' apartment, unable to stay another moment on the hellmouth that had taken his slayer. They felt strange to be back, but it also was nice.

"I'll put my stuff up—you can stay in mom's room tonight," she said.

"I will tonight," Severus said. "However, I am most comfortable in my own quarters."

"I get it," she said. "Luckily, it's easy-peasy to get from here to there."

"True," he acknowledged.

"I'll grab some weapons," she said. "Do you want a sword or an axe?"

"I have a wand," he said.

Buffy gave him a disapproving look. "Father, you can't patrol with me with only magic. What if you lose your wand? What if a demon attacks you before you know it, and you drop it?"

"That would never happen," he said, giving her a dark look. He didn't admit it had actually happened his first night here when he was saved by Cordelia. Now he was better prepared, and he would make sure it would not happen again.

"This is the hellmouth—my area of expertise," Buffy said. "You have to have a backup weapon."

"Fine," Severus said in resignation.

*****Hogsmeade*****

Harry was excited to go Hogsmeade with his friends even if he wished Buffy was there. He and Ron hit the joke store first with the twins, who liked to keep abreast of the competition.

"They are totally not in our league," Fred said.

"Totally," George agreed.

"Do you guys think Buffy's okay?" Harry asked.

"She's fine," Xander said with confidence.

"How do you know?" Harry asked.

"Because she always is," Xander said.

"But didn't she drown once, and you saved her?" Ron reminded him.

"True," Xander said. "But that was just the one time."

"But she only needs one time to be dead for real," Harry said, feeling anxious. "You and Willow aren't there to help—Professor Giles isn't either."

"But Professor Snape is and Dead Boy," Xander said.

"Who is—"

"Dead Boy?" Fred finished.

"That's why I call him 'cause he's a vampire," Xander said.

"Why would a vampire be helping a vampire slayer?" Ron asked.

"That is a very good question with a complicated answer," Xander said. "He was sort of her boyfriend."

"What?" Ron asked in dismay.

"I'm going to be sick," George said.

"I might cry," Fred said. "I thought she was nearly perfect."

"She did get placed in Slytherin," George said.

"We should've known," Fred said with a forlorn look.

Xander elbowed him. "Cut it out," he said. "Buffy's great—she just fell for Angel before knowing he was a vampire."

"I thought vampires were evil?" Ron asked confused.

"They are," Xander said. "But Angel has a soul—the only one ever, so he's basically a good guy. He doesn't feed on humans. I don't particularly like him, but he does help Buffy with the slayage."

Harry felt relieved that Buffy had someone to help, but a bit upset that she had a boyfriend. Why did he care? She was practically his cousin.

He was so distracted with his thoughts of Buffy and wondering what this Angel vampire looked like that he didn't realize he'd gotten so far behind his friends.

They went around the corner to the entrance of the Leaky Cauldron when he was grabbed.

"Hey!" he called out, turning to see who had grabbed him.

Then everything went dark.

*****To Be Continued*****