Chapter 6: The Witch Part 2
March 25, 1997 – Tuesday
Sunnydale High School
"Despite the terrible thing that happened yesterday ..." one of the cheerleaders at the judges' table began, her voice filled with a mix of solemnity and determination, "... we still have to pick new cheerleaders. If you make the team, you'll find your name posted in the Quad after lunch. Let's begin with group performance—Cordelia, Buffy, Amy, Morgan, Janice, and Lishanne."
The five girls, each clad in their cheerleading outfits, moved with a blend of nervous energy and practiced confidence toward the center of the gym. The space was a hive of activity, filled with the murmurs of students and the distant thumping of a bass drum as they prepared for the routine.
Amy fidgeted, her fingers slick with perspiration, as she glanced anxiously at her teammates. "Why do my hands have to sweat when I get nervous?" she whispered, her voice tinged with self-doubt.
Buffy offered a reassuring smile, her eyes crinkling at the corners as she tried to boost Amy's confidence. "Don't worry, you'll do great," she said warmly. As she scanned the faces around her, a flicker of concern crossed her features. If Paige was right and Buffy had indeed received premonitions, she hoped that one of the other cheerleaders might reveal a clue about the witch. The idea of accidentally bumping into the witch and discovering their identity seemed like a slim chance, but it was one she had to take.
As someone hit the play button on the tape player, a vibrant, upbeat cheer routine filled the gym, and the girls sprang into action. They performed a meticulously choreographed cheer, their synchronized movements and enthusiastic chants echoing off the gymnasium walls.
In the midst of the performance, Amy faltered slightly, missing one of the crucial synchronized moves. She collided with Cordelia, the impact momentarily disrupting the flow of their routine.
"You saw that, right?" Cordelia said, her voice sharp with irritation. "That wasn't me."
0 – 0 – 0 – 0 – 0
After the end of tryouts, Amy, still in her cheerleader outfit, stood in front of a gleaming trophy display case. Her eyes were fixed on a particular picture within the glass enclosure. The gym was slowly emptying out, the buzz of excitement from the tryouts fading into the background. Buffy, having just exited the locker room, spotted Amy and walked up to her. She followed Amy's gaze and looked down at the photo she was staring at.
"That's my mom," Amy said, her voice tinged with a mix of pride and sorrow.
"No..." Buffy said, reading the name on the placard beneath the photo. "Catherine Madison. Get down with your bad self."
"Her nickname was Catherine The Great," Amy continued, her tone bittersweet. "She took that team and made them tri-county champions. No one's ever done that before or since. She and my dad were homecoming King and Queen, got married right after graduation."
Buffy smiled softly. "That's kind of romantic."
Amy's expression darkened. "Well… he was a big loser. Couldn't make any money, took off with Miss Trailer Trash when I was twelve."
Buffy shook her head in sympathy. "Okay, that part's less romantic. My mom and step-dad split up too. Neither myself nor my mom knew that my step-dad wasn't my real dad. Not till recently anyways. We found him; he's a nice guy, has a wife and two sons."
"Drag, huh," Amy said, her voice heavy with resignation. "My dad left my mom with nothing. She put herself through cosmetology school, bought me everything I ever wanted, and never gained a single pound..."
"She sounds great, Amy, but that doesn't mean you have to, you know, lock step as far as the cheerleading thing—" Buffy began, her tone gentle and understanding.
Amy turned to Buffy, tears welling up in her eyes. "It's just, she was the best, and I can't get my body to move like hers. I choked in there so bad." Her voice cracked with emotion as she turned away and headed for the locker room, brushing past Willow. "I've got to get changed ..." she called back to Buffy, her voice trailing off.
"Hi, Amy…" Willow said softly as the door to the locker room closed behind Amy. She turned to Buffy; concern etched on her face. "She okay?"
Buffy sighed and nodded toward the photo of Catherine Madison. "She's wiggin' about her mother ... the big cheer queen back when."
Willow nodded in understanding; her expression sympathetic. "Yeah. Her mom's kind of ..."
"Nazi-like?" Buffy asked, raising an eyebrow.
"Heil," Willow agreed with a grim smile. "If she gains an ounce, she padlocks the fridge and won't eat anything but broth."
Buffy shook her head, her face a mix of disbelief and pity. "So Mommie Dearest is really ... Mommie Dearest."
"There's a bitter streak—but Amy's nice," Willow said, her voice softening with nostalgia. "We used to hang in Junior High. When her mom'd go on a broth kick, Amy'd come to my house and we'd just stuff ourselves with brownies."
Buffy managed a small smile at the thought. "Brownies, huh? Sounds like you were good friends." She then shifted the conversation. "What did you find out on Amber?"
"Nothing thrilling," Willow said as she pulled a folded paper out of her bag. "Average student—got detention once for smoking—regular smoking, with a cigarette. Not being smoky. All pretty normal."
Buffy took the paper and scanned it quickly. "So, either this is a power she has difficulty controlling when she gets excited, and in the excitement of the tryouts she loses control," she mused, tapping the paper thoughtfully, "or she's not the witch we're looking for."
0 – 0 – 0 – 0 – 0
Buffy, Dawn, Willow, and Xander navigated through the bustling crowd after lunch, their anticipation growing as they waited for the cheerleaders to post the list of who made it onto the squad. The air was thick with nervous excitement, and the quartet could feel the energy buzzing around them. They noticed a cheerleader approaching the bulletin board, list in hand, and watched as a group of hopeful girls began to gather.
"Hey, they're posting the list!" Xander exclaimed, a note of excitement in his voice as they reached Amy and Cordelia.
Amy's face was a mixture of hope and dread. "I can't take this ..." she muttered, anxiety evident in her eyes.
"Spot me, I'm goin' in," Xander declared, his voice brimming with determination. He dove into the throng, his shoulders pushing through the sea of anxious faces. The tension was palpable as he finally made it to the front. His eyes scanned the list, and a moment later, he emerged from the crowd with a triumphant look.
"Cordy, you made it," Xander announced, his grin wide.
Cordelia's face lit up with a mix of relief and pride. "You're lucky," she said to Amy, who still looked anxious.
Amy's eyes searched Xander's face desperately. "What about me? Did I make it?"
"You made it also, and so did you, Buffy," Xander said, his excitement undiminished. "Buffy, you are first alternate and Amy, you are third alternate."
Amy's expression fell, her hope evaporating as she processed the news. She looked down in defeat, her shoulders slumping as she turned and walked away, clearly disheartened.
Xander turned to Cordelia, attempting to lighten the mood. "What better way to celebrate than with a romantic drive-through for two at –"
Willow cut him off, her voice gentle but firm. "Xander, alternates are the ones who didn't make the team. They only fill in if something happens to the ones who did."
Buffy watched Amy's retreating figure, her heart heavy with sympathy. She knew all too well the sting of disappointment and the pressure to live up to someone else's expectations. "Excuse me," she said softly to her friends, her concern for Amy outweighing her own disappointment. She quickly crossed the short distance to where Amy had stopped, still within earshot.
"For I am Xander, King of the Cretins, and all lesser cretins must bow before me," Xander declared, attempting to inject some humor into the tense situation.
"That's alright, Xander," Dawn said gently. "You didn't know."
"At least it's over," Buffy told Amy, trying to offer some comfort. "And you know what I think we should do about it? Brownie pig-out, my house, now."
Amy sighed deeply, the weight of her frustration and feelings of inadequacy clear on her face. "How many more hours a day can I practice? How much more can I do? This would never have happened to my mom. Never." With a mix of anger and sadness, she turned and ran off, leaving Buffy standing there, feeling helpless.
"Buffy!" Paige's voice called out, drawing her attention. Buffy turned to see Paige hurrying across the quad towards her, her expression one of concern. "Anything?" Paige asked when she reached Buffy, slightly out of breath.
"No," Buffy said with a sigh. "But one thing we know for sure is that according to Willow, Amber doesn't have a history, at least as far as the school is concerned, with a power that is uncontrollable. Of course, that doesn't prove anything. But if she had this power, someone would have likely seen it before now."
Paige nodded thoughtfully. "Not unless the Cleaners erased their memories of it," she suggested. "Have you asked around to see what people remember of yesterday?"
"No," Buffy said, her frustration evident. "I didn't think to."
"I did," Paige replied, her tone serious. "The banner you used is back in its place and looks as if it was not used to smother the flames. Also, the people I talked to said you ran up to Amber before yelling at someone to call 911. It is now being reported that Amber broke her leg."
"These cleaners must not take events sometimes into account," Buffy mused. "Amber was stretching beforehand. She wouldn't have broken her leg that easily."
"I agree, but that is what everyone is saying," Paige said. "So, other than you, Xander, Willow, Dawn, Giles, myself, and this witch, no one remembers that Amber caught on fire."
Buffy sighed, rubbing her temples in frustration. "So we start asking to see…"
"No," Paige interrupted, shaking her head. "This witch would realize the cleaners did their job and would make sure to follow the story that everyone else has been talking about. We'll have to hope you get another premonition on who she is."
March 26, 1997 – Wednesday
Halliwell Manor
Paige woke the next morning to the gentle hum of birdsong filtering through the window and the comforting aroma of freshly brewed coffee wafting up from the kitchen. She stretched lazily, savoring the moment before the day's challenges unfolded. As she descended the staircase, the familiar clinking of cups and soft murmur of voices greeted her.
In the kitchen, Phoebe and Piper were already up, sitting at the rustic oak table, each cradling a steaming cup of coffee. The early morning light streamed through the curtains, casting a warm glow across the room.
"Any more left?" Paige asked, her voice still thick with sleep.
"Help yourself," Piper replied, gesturing to the coffee maker with a welcoming smile.
Paige shuffled over to the counter, the sound of her footsteps echoing softly in the quiet room. She poured herself a cup, the rich, dark liquid promising a much-needed burst of energy. She took a seat beside her sisters, feeling the familiar bond of their sisterhood wrap around her like a comforting blanket.
"Anything on the witch?" Phoebe asked, her eyes sharp with curiosity and concern.
"No," Paige said, shaking her head in frustration. "And Buffy has gotten no new premonitions either. The one she got suggests the witch knew that someone might try and discover her through a power like Buffy's or maybe through telepathy or a scrying power. We had hoped another victim might bump into Buffy and she might get another premonition. But there were no other victims."
"Which makes it possible," Piper mused, her brow furrowing in thought, "that the girl that was attacked may have been the only target."
"It's possible," Paige sighed, taking a slow sip of her coffee, savoring its warmth and bitterness. "If it was, then it is likely we may not find the witch."
"Regardless," Piper said, her voice resolute, "it might not be a bad idea to make a binding potion. I'll get started on it and have it ready for if or when you call needing it. Then all you have to do is orb me to Sunnydale, and I will freeze the witch long enough to force the potion down her throat."
"Sounds like a plan," Paige said with a smile, feeling a flicker of hope ignite within her. "Well, I better get to Sunnydale." She drained the last of her coffee, the caffeine coursing through her veins like liquid determination. With a final glance at her sisters, she stood up and orbed out, disappearing in a swirl of shimmering lights.
Sunnydale High School
"Cordy?" Xander said as he walked between Cordelia, who was walking more slowly and a little less regally than usual, and Willow toward Cordelia's locker. The hallway buzzed with the usual morning chatter of students, lockers slamming, and laughter echoing off the walls.
"I... I'm not sure," Cordelia replied, her voice tinged with uncertainty. She moved with an uncharacteristic hesitancy, her usual confidence seeming to evaporate with each step.
Willow let out a sigh and shook her head. She still could not understand how Cordelia and Xander had become a couple. Oh, she knew how, sure. But she and he had both been part of the I Hate Cordelia group. Now it seemed she was alone in that group. And she also realized that her crush on Xander was very likely futile at this moment. She glanced sideways at Xander, her heart aching with unspoken feelings.
Just then Buffy rounded the corner as Cordelia stopped at her locker and reached for the combination dial. She stumbled slightly before finding it, her fingers trembling.
"Cordy?" Xander said again, his voice tinged with concern, as Buffy stopped next to him.
"Xander?" Cordelia said. "I... I think... I'm." She turned to face them, her eyes wide with fear and confusion, and as she did, her eyes went suddenly and startlingly white. "Blind. Oh god, I can't see."
A hush fell over their small group as Buffy laid a comforting hand on Cordelia's shoulder, trying to steady her. "We'll find the..." she started to say, but her words were cut off as she gasped, her eyes glazing over as a premonition took hold.
The vision was vivid and unsettling. The witch stood before a bubbling cauldron; a doll dressed as a cheerleader clutched in her hand. She dropped the doll into the cauldron, its tiny limbs disappearing into the swirling concoction. Then, with a sinister smile, she pulled back the hood of her robe, revealing her face.
"Amy," Buffy said as she came out of the premonition, her voice filled with urgency and certainty. "The witch is Amy."
0 – 0 – 0 – 0 – 0
"Blinding your enemy to disable and disorient them is a classic," Giles said ten minutes later in the library, his voice grave and scholarly, "for a dark witch who is not concerned about personal gain." The room was dimly lit, the scent of old books and worn leather adding to the atmosphere of ancient wisdom and arcane knowledge.
"It is likely that the cleaners have already modified everyone's memories to make people think Cordelia was always blind," Paige said, pacing with anxious energy. "If we can reverse the witch's magic, it will reverse the physical effects, and Cordelia will see again."
"What about Amber's hands?" Dawn asked, her young face etched with worry and confusion.
"With the broken foot story," Paige explained, pausing to collect her thoughts, "they would have had to alter reality so that her hands were not burned. That spell is one that won't need to be reversed. The only way to reverse these spells, though, is with Amy's book." Her eyes flicked to Giles, determination gleaming in their depths. "Okay, Rupert, you take Dawn and Buffy to Amy's house. Get her book. I'm going to orb to San Francisco and get Piper, who has been brewing a binding potion. Once Piper uses her power on the witch, we will be able to force the potion down her throat and bind her powers."
The gravity of the situation hung heavily in the air as Paige prepared to leave. She closed her eyes, focusing her energy, and then orbed out, disappearing in a swirl of shimmering lights. The room fell silent for a moment, each of them steeling themselves for the tasks ahead.
Giles turned to Buffy and Dawn; his expression resolute. "Right, let's move quickly. We don't have any time to lose."
Buffy nodded, her eyes hardening with resolve. "Let's get that book." Dawn, standing close by, mirrored Buffy's determination, ready to face whatever dangers lay ahead. Together, they left the library, the weight of their mission pressing heavily on their shoulders.
Halliwell Manor
Paige orbed into the kitchen to find Piper standing before a pot on the stove. The rich, heady aroma of brewing ingredients filled the air, mingling with the faint scent of herbs hanging from the ceiling. The kitchen was bathed in a warm, golden light, making it feel like a sanctuary amidst the chaos.
"Is it ready?" Paige asked, her voice tinged with urgency.
"Just about," Piper replied, giving the potion a final stir. "Did you find the witch?"
"Another student was attacked," Paige explained, her brow furrowing with concern. "A friend of Buffy's, Cordelia. She went blind. But when Buffy touched Cordelia to comfort her, she got a premonition. Saw who it was. She, Dawn, and Rupert are going to get Amy's, that's the witch's name, book. We'll meet them back at the school where Dawn will cast the reversal spells while you standby to freeze, I will have the binding potion in hand, and Buffy will keep her distracted."
Piper nodded; her expression grim but determined. "Good idea," she agreed. She carefully poured the finished potion into a small, ornate vial, the liquid glowing faintly with a soft, blue light.
Madison Home
Giles knocked on the front door of Amy's house, the crisp, authoritative rap echoing through the quiet suburban street. Buffy and Dawn huddled beside him, their breaths visible in the cool evening air. They peered through a small window beside the door, their eyes darting as they took in the scene inside.
Through the frosted glass, they saw Amy's mother, Catherine, visibly startled by the unexpected knocking. Her eyes widened, and with a hurried, almost panicked movement, she slid something under a nearby table, her actions betraying her anxiety. She quickly composed herself, smoothing her clothes and brushing her hands over her apron, before heading towards the door.
Buffy and Dawn, their faces pressed close to the glass, exchanged glances filled with apprehension. They stepped back, allowing Giles to take the lead as the door creaked open to reveal Catherine. Her face was a mask of polite concern, though her eyes flickered with unease.
"What do you want? Is there something wrong?" Catherine asked, her voice carrying a veneer of composure that barely masked her apprehension.
"Mrs. Madison, we need to talk to you about your daughter," Giles said, his tone firm but respectful.
Catherine's face fell, a fleeting shadow of fear crossing her features. She shook her head, her hand reaching for the door as if to close it against their intrusion. "I'm not allowed to—you'll have to come back," she said, her voice trembling slightly as she tried to shut the door.
Buffy, with the merest hint of Slayer strength, pushed the door back open, the force of her movement a blend of subtlety and authority. She, Giles, and Dawn quickly surged inside, their presence assertive and determined.
"Your daughter is up to something very dangerous," Giles said, his voice steady and insistent. "Are you aware of that?"
Catherine's face paled, her hands gripping the edge of the doorframe as if it were a lifeline. "I don't know what you're talking about," she said, her voice a mix of denial and desperation.
Dawn, standing beside Giles, shook her head, her eyes reflecting a mixture of disbelief and resolve. "I doubt that, after all, she is your daughter."
Catherine's gaze darted nervously toward the hallway, as if anticipating someone's arrival. "You have to go. She's going to be home soon," she said urgently, her voice tinged with a frantic edge that suggested more than just concern for their visit.
"There is a girl that is now blind at school. Another was burned," Giles said, his voice filled with a steely resolve. "So, you will shut up and you will listen to us." His words were deliberate and firm, the weight of the situation pressing heavily on his shoulders.
"Your daughter," Dawn said, her voice steady but urgent, "is a powerful dark witch. Somehow your obsession with cheerleading has made her—"
"I don't care about cheerleading!" Catherine interrupted, her voice rising with emotion as tears began to well up in her eyes. "It's not my fault she's doing stuff." Her hands clutched the doorframe tightly, as if it were the only thing keeping her from collapsing under the pressure.
Buffy's gaze remained fixed on Catherine, her expression one of intense scrutiny. She could see the emotional strain and the mounting fear in Catherine's eyes.
"As her mother, you should accept some responsibility for her actions," Giles said, his tone a blend of authority and disappointment.
To everyone's surprise, Catherine started laughing, a brittle, disbelieving sound that seemed almost out of place in the gravity of the moment. "Well, these kids today..." she said, shaking her head as if in disbelief at the entire situation.
Buffy's frown deepened as she continued to scrutinize Catherine. She took a step back and glanced around, her gaze falling on the table. "Dawn?" she said, motioning for her to investigate.
Dawn moved beside Buffy and peered under the table. Her eyes widened as she saw a plate of brownies sitting there, untouched and incongruous with the tension in the room. She looked back at Catherine, her realization dawning. "You're Amy," she and Buffy said simultaneously, their voices echoing with the shock of the discovery.
Catherine took a step back, her face pale and her eyes wide with shock at being uncovered. She had clearly underestimated their resolve.
"I don't understand..." Giles said, his brow furrowed in confusion, struggling to piece together the truth of the situation.
"Mrs. Madison," Dawn said, her voice carrying the weight of revelation, "switched bodies with Amy."
Buffy moved the table aside with a determined shove and picked up the plate of brownies, the incongruity of the scene not lost on her. "Only a child afraid of their parent might hide them. An adult wouldn't have reason to," she said, her tone cutting through the tension. "Amy's mom stole Amy's body and put Amy in her own." She turned her gaze sharply towards Catherine. "She wanted to relive her glory days. Catherine the Great."
"Good lord..." Giles exclaimed, his voice filled with astonished disbelief.
Catherine nodded quietly, her eyes filled with a mixture of resignation and pain. "She said I was wasting my youth... So, she took it," she said, her voice trembling as she sank onto the couch, the weight of her confession evident in her posture. "I didn't know about her... her power. When my dad was here, they would fight. He called her a witch. I thought he meant something else. When he left, I wanted to go with him, but she wouldn't even let me call. She got crazy. She'd lock herself upstairs for days. And she'd get down on me all the time. She said I didn't deserve to have it so easy, that I didn't know how hard it was to be her. I guess she showed me, huh?"
"Amy, it's going to be okay," Dawn said, her voice soft and reassuring, trying to provide comfort in the midst of the revelation.
"A few months ago, I woke up in her bed, I didn't know where I was... and I looked in the mirror..." Catherine's voice faltered, the memory clearly painful.
"She locked herself upstairs," Giles said, shifting his focus. "Where?"
"She has a room in the attic," Catherine said, her voice growing faint with apprehension.
"Makes sense," Buffy said, her expression firm as she considered the implications. "Paige said her family kept their book in the attic. Not many people would look for it up there. They'd tend to look for it in the more public areas of the house."
"Show us," Giles said, his tone authoritative as he urged Catherine to lead the way.
Catherine led them upstairs, her steps slow and hesitant as she guided them to the attic door. It was a sturdy, old-fashioned door with a heavy, tarnished lock. Buffy examined it for a moment before, with a show of Slayer strength, she forced the door open with a decisive, echoing crack.
Giles, Buffy, and Dawn stepped into the attic, their eyes adjusting to the dim light and the musty, aged air that filled the space. Catherine lingered in the doorway, her face pale and anxious.
"If she finds out I've been in here, she'll kill me," Catherine said, her voice barely above a whisper, filled with dread.
"My God..." Giles breathed, his voice barely more than a whisper as his eyes fell upon the array of dolls strewn about the attic. Each one seemed to hold an eerie semblance of life in its glassy eyes. "I believe we can reverse your mother's spell. All of them, in fact."
"You really could?" Catherine's voice trembled with a mix of hope and disbelief, her gaze darting from Giles to the dolls and back.
"Yes," Buffy confirmed with a resolute nod. "But we need her book. Her Book of Shadows. It must be somewhere in this house. Where would she keep it?"
Catherine's face flushed with anxiety as she shook her head. "I... I don't know. She was always so secretive about her things."
Giles, Buffy, and Dawn began a frantic search through the cluttered attic, their movements stirring up motes of dust that danced in the shafts of light streaming through the small, grimy window. Amidst the scattered relics and forgotten trinkets, they finally uncovered a dusty, ancient trunk tucked away in a shadowy corner.
As Giles approached the trunk, his heart quickened with anticipation. "Dawn, gather up the dolls and anything else that might be useful. We'll need everything we can find," he instructed, his voice steady despite the urgency.
He reached for the trunk's latch, but just as he lifted it, a sudden, wild screech shattered the stillness. A black cat, its fur bristled and eyes wide with terror, leapt out from the trunk. Giles stumbled backward in shock, barely managing to avoid the feline's panicked rush. The cat hit the floor with a thud and bolted out of the room, its screeching fading into the distance.
"Nice kitty..." Giles muttered, still catching his breath as he peered into the trunk with a mix of irritation and curiosity. He carefully reached inside, brushing aside old, forgotten items until his fingers closed around a worn, leather-bound volume. "Yes... This is it," he said, a note of triumph in his voice as he held up the Book of Shadows.
With the precious tome in hand, the group—Giles, Buffy, Dawn, and a visibly relieved Catherine—hastened to Giles' car. They drove back to the school, the weight of their mission pressing heavily on their shoulders, yet bolstered by a newfound sense of hope and determination.
Sunnydale High School
When they walked into the science lab, the room was bathed in the harsh fluorescent light that flickered intermittently. The faint scent of chemicals lingered in the air, mingling with the sterile smell of disinfectant. Paige and Piper were already there, their faces marked with a blend of relief and determination.
"Good you have her book," Paige said, her voice carrying a note of urgency. "We can reverse her magic. Now who do we have here?"
"This is Amy," Dawn said, her voice steady but edged with tension. "The real Amy, Mrs. Madison switched bodies."
Piper's gaze shifted towards her sister, her expression thoughtful. "We might be able to reverse that spell ourselves. Remember the soul-switching potion you made when you were first learning."
"Of course," Paige said, her mind already racing with possibilities. "I'll orb back to the Manor and get the ingredients." With a flicker of light, she orbed out, leaving behind a brief shimmer in the air.
Thirty minutes later, Paige reappeared, her arrival marked by a swirl of sparkling lights. "Got them," she announced, holding a collection of ingredients. She turned to Dawn, her expression focused. "While I make this potion, I need you to reverse Mrs. Madison's spells."
She then handed a potion to Giles, its surface reflecting the light with an ominous gleam. "Piper is going to freeze, and we're going to need you to force that down Mrs. Madison's throat once her soul is back in her body."
"Got it," Giles said, his tone resolute as he accepted the potion from Paige.
"Buffy, you need to keep Catherine distracted once the spell is reversed," Paige instructed, her voice firm and authoritative.
Paige set to work on her potion with practiced precision, her hands moving deftly as she mixed the ingredients. Dawn, meanwhile, busied herself with another potion, her concentration evident as she poured and stirred. The room was filled with the soft clinking of glassware and the occasional hiss of bubbling liquid.
As Dawn glanced through the book, her brow furrowed in confusion. "Paige," she said, her voice tinged with concern. "This doesn't look like any kind of spell you've mentioned."
"Interesting," Paige said, pausing to study the book over Dawn's shoulder. "The spell calls on Hecate. I don't think..." Her words trailed off as she looked at Piper, who was already moving closer to inspect the book.
Piper's eyes skimmed the text with a frown. "You're right," she said, her voice reflecting her surprise. "I've never seen such a spell before. Of course, this is the first time since..." She suddenly stopped, her eyes widening as she recalled the Grimoire. "Paige, touch the book."
Paige's gaze shifted to her sister, her eyes narrowing as she took in the tense expression etched on Piper's face. Piper's silent recognition spoke volumes—she knew something crucial. With a practiced, deliberate motion, Paige reached down and gently touched the surface of the book, her fingers tracing its worn, embossed cover.
"As I suspected," Piper said, her tone grave and contemplative. "Remember the Grimoire. It was designed to protect itself from benevolent forces. A dark witch would likely have employed similar enchantments to safeguard her own book. Buffy, Dawn, did either of you handle this book before?"
Buffy shook her head, her brow furrowed in confusion. "No, we didn't. Giles was the one who picked it up. Why?"
Piper's eyes met Buffy's with a piercing clarity. "I believe the witch who cast this spell is not an actual dark witch but rather a progenitor. She may possess some spell-casting abilities and limited powers, but she isn't on the same level as the four of us. If she were a truly gifted witch, her book would have had far more sophisticated defenses against us."
Dawn's eyes widened as she absorbed the implications. "What does that mean for us?"
"That means Amy is the one with true magical talent," Paige said, piecing together the puzzle with a dawning realization. She turned her gaze to Catherine, her voice steady yet laced with urgency. "Your mother must be a progenitor, which means you're likely the gifted one. The origin of our magical lineage began with Charlotte Warren, a progenitor. Her daughter, Melinda, was gifted, and it is from Melinda that my sister and I inherited our powers. It's highly probable that you, too, have inherited these powers. Your mother may have bound them at some point and then unbound them when she took over your body. This means that, once you're back in your own form, you'll probably be assigned a Whitelighter to guide you."
Paige's attention then shifted to the soul-swapping potion simmering on the table. "Alright, it's time for the final ingredient," she said, her voice imbued with a determined edge as she picked up the vial of powdered toadstool. She extended her hand towards Catherine. "Only you can add this. Make sure you speak clearly and state your intention to return to your own body."
Catherine nodded, her face a mix of anxiety and resolve. She took the vial, her fingers trembling slightly as she exhaled a deep, steadying breath. "I want to be me again," she declared firmly, her voice resonating with earnest desire as she sprinkled the powdered toadstool into the bubbling concoction. The potion's surface shimmered and swirled, casting an ethereal glow.
For a brief moment, Catherine swayed, her expression one of disorientation, before she looked around with a dazed confusion.
"Catherine Madison," Buffy called out, her voice slicing through the haze of Catherine's bewilderment. "Good, you're back in your own body. Piper, now!"
Without hesitation, Piper lifted her hands freezing Catherine in place. Giles moved swiftly, closing the distance to Catherine and forcefully administering the potion. The liquid slid down her throat, and Giles stepped back, his face etched with a mixture of concern and hope.
As Catherine's body unfroze, she sputtered, her eyes darting around as she struggled to comprehend her surroundings. "What did you do?" she asked, her voice a mix of confusion and irritation.
"We bound your magic," Paige said, her voice firm and authoritative, cutting through the tension that hung in the room. "And we've also called social services, who should be at your house momentarily getting evidence to have your daughter taken from you for abuse."
Catherine's face was a portrait of disbelief and frustration as she muttered a spell, only to find that her magic had indeed been bound. The spell she cast fizzled out impotently, her frustration growing as she realized the full extent of her helplessness. The realization that she was now powerless in the face of other witches' combined strength was a bitter pill to swallow. With a final glance of despair, she turned and fled the room, her footsteps echoing in the corridor as she passed by Amy, Xander, and Willow, who were just arriving.
"It worked," Amy said, a genuine smile spreading across her face as she looked at her restored body with relief and joy.
"Now just to reverse the spell on Cordelia," Dawn said, her voice filled with determination as she began preparing the counter-spell. She chanted, "The center is dark. The darkness breathes. The listener hears." As she spoke, she threw a carefully measured ingredient into the bubbling potion. "Hear me. Unlock the gate, let the darkness shine. Cover us with holy fear. Show me. Corsheth, and Gilail, the gate is closed. Receive the dark, release the unworthy... Take of mine energy and be sated!" With a decisive movement, she plunged her hands into the swirling potion, her fingers stirring the liquid with a practiced rhythm. She pulled her hands back, dripping with the potion, and repeated the incantation. "Be sated! Release the unworthy! Release!"
The air was charged with the raw energy of the spell as Dawn's voice rang out, the power of the magic surging through the room. The potion's surface rippled and glowed, the room bathed in a dim, eerie light.
"Are you okay?" Buffy asked, her concern evident as she looked at Amy, who seemed to be adjusting to her restored self.
"I'm fine," Amy said, her voice filled with gratitude and emotion. "And happy to be back in my own body." She took a deep breath, the relief evident in her posture as she settled into her familiar form.
"We called social services," Piper said, her voice filled with a mix of satisfaction and concern. "While we were waiting on you guys to arrive. You won't have to go back to her."
"I think Cordy's blindness has been reversed," Dawn said, her voice tinged with nervous hope. "Of course, it was my first spell casting; I may have got it wrong."
"Seeing how it is unlike anything we've ever seen before," Paige said, her tone thoughtful and analytical. "Who knows for sure?"
"I'll check on Cordy," Xander said, his voice resolute. "She's still in the library." He turned on his heel and left the room, his determination clear as he headed toward the library to assess the situation.
March 28, 1997 – Friday
Sunnydale High
Two days later, Buffy and Amy strolled through the bustling hallway of Sunnydale High, their footsteps echoing against the linoleum floor. The corridor was alive with the hum of students, a blur of motion and chatter, but their conversation provided a steady backdrop.
"Dad is so impossible," Amy vented, her voice tinged with exasperation. "He doesn't ever want me going anywhere, insists on spending every moment together. I'm like, Dad, I can go out, it's perfectly safe. He's got all this guilt from leaving me with Mom, and now he's being a total pain."
Buffy's lips curled into a warm, knowing smile. "You're loving it."
Amy's face softened into a genuine smile. "Every single minute."
As they walked, Cordelia and the other cheerleaders passed by, their presence commanding attention. Cordelia, now fully recovered from her previous injuries, acknowledged Buffy with a nod. Buffy returned the gesture with a friendly smile. Amber, also back to her old self, walked alongside her, her once-broken foot or burned hands healed and forgotten thanks to the Cleaners. The only lingering remnant of their shared ordeal seemed to be Cordelia's faint recollection of the events.
"Hey," Cordelia called out as the other cheerleaders moved on, leaving the three of them in a more private moment in the middle of the hall. "Hey, I'm really sorry you guys got bumped back to alternate."
"Well, I know I'll miss the intellectual thrill of spelling words out with my arms," Amy said, her tone dripping with sarcasm. "Really, I'm not interested, never was. That was all my mom."
"I know," Cordelia said with a sympathetic nod. "Speaking of her, have you seen her lately?"
Amy shook her head, her expression reflecting a mixture of relief and uncertainty. "She left town. She didn't even go back to the house to get any clothes or anything. I think it's safe to say, until she finds a way to unbind her magic, she won't be back."
"That's good," Cordelia said with a note of satisfaction.
"Regardless," Amy continued as they walked down the hall, "I'm just happy to have my body back. I'm thinking of getting fat."
Buffy chuckled at Amy's playful remark. "Well, that look is in for spring," she quipped.
The three of them shared a laugh, the tension of recent events momentarily lifted as they enjoyed the lighthearted banter amidst the ordinary chaos of high school life.
Author's Note: The next chapter is the Charmed Episode Scry Hard. Just to note this won't be like Another Halliwell or Ultimately Charmed where every other chapter is one from either series or the other. The story takes place mostly on the Buffy side of things. But just as there are guest appearances of Phoebe or Piper along with Paige and Leo in BTVS episodes the reverse will be true for some of the major episodes of Charmed such as the season 7 finale, and the season 8 premiere. Scry Hard is for Buffy though an introduction more or less to the family and the Charmed version of demons.