Chapter 5:

Buffy left Hogwart in one of the secret tunnels to Hogsmeade with Duncan. They took a portkey to the Leaky Cauldron. Where they sat in a dark corner nursing their drinks. There hoods were covering their faces. They were waiting for their informant.

A goblin entered the Leaky Cauldron and noticed them. He ordered a drink at the bar and brought it to their table and was sitting next to Buffy. "Where is my treasure?"

Buffy was grinning under her hood. She turned to Duncan as if the goblin wasn't there. "Did I tell you about Willy the Snitch."

Duncan responded. "No."

"He was my informer in my old town. He was nibbling from both side. He was muggle so I couldn't kill him." She gave the goblin a faint smile. "But I put him a few times in the hospital."

The goblin swallowed hard. He knew that the woman in front of him had no reservations of killing him. He almost laughed at the idea that this petite figure could think about killing him. But the faint smile he saw scared him a little. "Are you planning on not paying me?"

"No, I just was warning you not to doublecross me." Her face was blank under her hood.

"Are you letting this woman speak for you Cowboy?" The goblin asked Duncan.

"So far the Little Woman is doing alright, Tiny." Duncan smiled amused. "Now spill before she get impatient." He kept smiling.

"The nest is 10 big. Their leader is over two centuries, named Josh." He dropped a parchment on the table. "This will show you the way to their lair."

Buffy looked at the parchment and saw a map of the underground around Piccadilly Circus. "You sure that these vamps worked for Voldy-guy."

The goblin gasped so loudly, that a few of the other costumers turned their head to them. If he didn't thought the girl was dangerous before he knew it now for sure. He nodded. "You-Know-Who gave them a wizard or witch in exchange for something. I don't know what."

Buffy stood up, took the parchment and rolled it up before putting it in her robe pocket. "Give him his treasure, Cowboy."

Duncan dropped a neckless on the table. "You earned it, Tiny." The goblin took the neckless and his eyes went glaze and confused. Duncan steered Buffy quickly to the exit. They walked to an alley and took off their robes. They turned their robes inside out, which turned them into muggle clothes. Buffy's into a leather duster and Duncan's into a trench coat. He turned his wizardhat inside out and it turned into cowboyhat.

"Are you going to tell me what you did to the necklace or not." Buffy asked impatiently.

Duncan grinned. "I put an obliviate charm on it."

"Again 'hu'?"

"I made him forget where he got the necklace and why."

"How long will it work?" Buffy asked.

"How long? The charm on the necklace will wear out in a few days. He himself won't remember until somebody revers the spell he is under." He answered her.

"Can somebody detect the spell?" Buffy asked curious

"Only if they look for it." Duncan shrugged.

"So he isn't going to rat us out, if he didn't already." Buffy said the obvious.

"No, and 'specially after you called Voldemort Voldy-guy. Tiny almost wetted his pants." Buffy grinned. "You know this's the tenth nickname you gave You-Now-Who. I thought by now you would know how to call out his name right."

"It's a pity he won't remember, but on the other hand I can use the material again. I want the bad guys to know I'm original." Buffy gave him her innocent look.

"You doing it on purpose. Damn, you are one crazy or brave lady." Duncan shook his head in amazement.

"It has nothing to do with being crazy or brave." Buffy looked serious at Duncan. "It is necessary that I'm not afraid of 'Voldemort'. Last time I was afraid, it almost cost me my sister." A sadness was washing momentary over Buffy. "I almost failed her and I'm not going to fail Harry."

"I still think you are crazy and brave." Duncan told to lighten the mood and it helped. Buffy was laughing.

"Lets go find a subway entrance, Goofball."

"Yes, Ma'am." They quickly found the underground. They were lucky. It was the blue line. It directly went to the Piccadilly Circus. They looked over the map and made some strategy. They were the only ones in the wagon compartment so they could speak freely. She even made a few cracks about his cowboy head. He told her back, that it brought him luck. In no time they arrived at the Piccadilly stop. At this time of the night it was almost abandoned with only a few people around.

They walked to the tunnel entrance, looked around to make sure nobody watched them and jumped carefully to not hit the third rail. They quickly entered a side entrance before a train could pass them by. It looked out of use, if it weren't for the footprints in the layer of dust.

Buffy pointed to the footprints and signalled him to be silent. There was enough light for Buffy to see. But Duncan needed more help so he put some special shades on. Buffy grinned. They followed the map for five minutes and looked out for traps, before Buffy stopped them. She remove a big heavy crossbow from the inside of her duster and loaded it. Without looking she pointed in a dark corner and shot the arrow. After an expression of pain a small puff was heard. The sound of a vampire going to dust.

Duncan took a better look of the ashes and turned to Buffy. "I'm impressed." Buffy just smiled. Duncan took out his want. They walked on and after awhile Duncan could hear voices. Duncan saw Buffy hold up six fingers. He nodded in understanding. Buffy loaded her crossbow again. They stayed covered in doorway and looked into a spacious room. It looked like a underground storage space or a long abounded bombshelter. The vampires were happy talking and laughing. Talking about their last kill.

They made such loud noise, that they didn't hear Buffy or Duncan. Three were in centre in front of them, two were to the right and one to the left. Buffy knew immediately, who the leader was. She pointed him to Duncan. Simultaneous she shot an arrow to the trio and Duncan hexed a Petrificus Totalus at the leader. One fell to dust and the other stiffed up and didn't move.

The others were shocked. Buffy moved in and gave them a smile. "We came here for Josh. Please tell me the statue is Josh." That brought them out of the shock and they attacked. The vampire on the left attacked Buffy, but she knocked his head with the butt of her crossbow. The two on the right moved toward Duncan. He used a Incedus hex on one of them and he burst into flames. But the other vampire was to fast for Duncan to hex. He grabbed Duncan at his throat with his right hand and squeezed a little to prevent him from speaking and with his left hand he broke the wizard's wand.

The vampire started to taunt the wizard. "What is the big wizard going to do without his little wand." He didn't go far with his taunt, because he felt a pain in his chest. Duncan fell to the ground, because the arm which held him a few inches in the air disappeared into dust. He was holding a second wand in his left hand. He was coughing, because of the dust and the hand around his throat.

He heard clapping for the other side of the room. It was Buffy sitting on a chair with her loaded crossbow on her laps. "An excellent use of a wand." She unloaded her crossbow and put it away.

Duncan switched his wand form his left hand to his right. "You could have helped me."

"Why?" She asked innocently. "You did so well on your own."

Duncan first growled at her, then coughed. Buffy just smiled. "The Little Lady seems in a good mood today. What is the reason?"

"Heard some good news today." Buffy quickly changed the subject. "I think I go bronzing tonight. We have time before we go back?"

"What is bronzing?"

"Dancing, going out. There is a club called the Bronze."

Duncan nodded in understanding. "Shall we go to our guest of honour." Buffy nodded and they walked to the stiff vampire. "Enervate head"

The head moved. The vampire growled at Duncan. "Let me go, stupid wizard. Or you will regret it." He turned to the wizard and ignored Buffy. Buffy didn't like to be ignored, but let it pass for the moment. She let Duncan handle the interrogation for the time being.

Duncan just grinned. "I hope you are not expecting any help from Voldemort." The vampire was shocked. Not many wizard dared to call the Dark Lord's name out loud. And almost nobody said it without fear. "He doesn't care about his cannonfolder especially not one of his undead dogs."

Buffy could see, that the vampire was scared, but not scared enough to talk. Duncan was going to start with the questioning, but Buffy interrupted him. "Duncan. Why don't you go back to the station and wait for me while I handle Josh here."

Duncan looked confused at Buffy. The vampire saw his chance to aggravate the wizard. "Yeah, why don't you let the little girl handle me."

Before Duncan could react Buffy pushed him toward the exit. "You see he already agrees with me. In no time I have him eating out of my palm. Of course not literary that would be gross." Buffy showed him a grossed out face.

"Are you sure?" Duncan asked concern.

She gave him a stern look. "Yes. You would take to long and I want to have some fun tonight." She gave him a reassuring smile. "Plus I don't want you to see and hear, what I'm going to with him."

"That cruel." He had a pained look on his face. "I'm not going to think less of you." His face turned into worry.

Buffy smiled. "Thank you. But I rather want to do this alone. Watch out for any stray vampires. Tiny told us there were ten. We only found seven."

Duncan took of his hat. "Yes, Ma'am." And put it right back on. He walked out of the room.

Buffy listened for awhile. "When I said go back, I meant all the way." She heard a grunt and smiled. She turned to the vampire. "So Josh, having a bad nigh tonight?" She asked innocently.

"Do you think if the big bad wizard can't scare me that a little girl like you can." The vampire grinned at her. Looked at her as if she was food ,which she was. She just smiled back. She pulled a stake out of her pocket and threw it at the vampire. She missed his heart by a inch.

The vampire roared out of pain. "You bitch."

"Damn. I missed." She ignored him and pulled another stake out. "I love this coat. You know how many stakes and other neat weapons it can hold." She just smiled at him. "Oh, you going to find out."

"I'm going to rip your little heart out, little girl." He snarled at her.

"Oh, how romantic. It reminds me about Spike. He always like to say those little words to me. But he calls me pet." There went a shock through the vampire. "Or Slayer." If he had a heartbeat it would have stopped, that kind of look of horror he had on his face.

Buffy just smiled. "You have heard of me and you know Spike. Ever met the Master. I killed him."

He didn't utter a word. "You know I'm going to kill you." He swallowed. "It will depend on your answers if it going to be a slow and very much painful or quick."

"What do you want?" He stammered out.

"We expected three more of your people. Where are they?" Buffy took a chair in front of him and sat down.

"Lisa and Eddy are in a club in Waterloo having some fun. There is no third one." He expected her to punish him for not believing him. But Buffy did nothing to him, but stare.

"What club?"

"Diana's Flower." He said more relaxed. Buffy threw another stake at him. He roared it out.

"Now comes the difficult questions." She could see him squeak. "What did Voldymouth want from you?"

It didn't surprise him, how she spook about the Dark Lord. She was the Slayer. They eat dark wizards for breakfast and the rumours were that she had killed a Hellgoddess. "I traded some demonblood for wizardblood."

"What kind of demon."

"Moria."

"What is so special about the blood?"

"It has regeneration power."

Buffy though about it and remembered something. "It is a demon with a jewel on his forehead." The vampire nodded. "Is there anything else you want to share with the class?" She asked with a sweet voice and to make her point she threw another stake at him.

"I know the Death Eater's name, who had to deal with me." The Vampire said quickly. "His name is Malfoy, Lucius Malfoy."

"What was the name of the wizard he gave you." Buffy asked with a blank face.

"I don't ask the name of my food." When he uttered the last word, Buffy threw her last stake at him.

She stood up and walked away leaving only ashes behind. She quickly found her way back to Duncan, who looked a little worried. She gave him a reassuring smile.

His worry left his face and was replaced with a smile. "I am impressed. It can take me hours to breakdown a vampire and that one seemed like a tough bronco to break. How did you do it?"

"I used my nature charm. He was pudding in my hands." Buffy grinned. Buffy's face turned serious again. "I found out, that two of his gang are in Waterloo."

Duncan looked at the map on the wall. "We have a direct connection. We have to take the brown line." He turned to Buffy. "Found anything else."

They went down with the escalator to go to the platform of the brown line. "He traded some demonblood for a wizard with Malfoy." Buffy eyes turned cold. "Malfoy was lucky escaping justice last time Voldemort was defeated. This time I will make sure he will pay."

Duncan was astonished. "You really think we'll bring the big honcho down?"

"We can't afford not to." Buffy gave him a small faint smile. "There is our train." She pointed out. They got on their train and sat down.

Duncan looked around to see if someone could listen in to their conversation. "What kind of demon and what is the blood good for."

She told him, what the vampire told her and her own experience of course without including Angel. It was still hard to talk about Angel especially after their last encounter.

******

They were sitting in a booth in a seedy bar between LA and Sunnydale. On opposite side of the booth. They didn't talk. They just stared. They were sitting motionless for a few minutes, that seemed like hours. Until Angel broke the silence. "How was heaven?"

Buffy wasn't surprised that he knew. Somehow she thought he knew. She gave him a vague smile. "Heavenly. At the least the things I remember. How did you survive."

"Went to a Tibetan monastery." He shrugged his shoulders. "Should have gone to Vegas instead."

That shocked Buffy a little and the vague smile returned. "It is good that you found some humour in my absent. I knew there was some in your brooding self."

"It is Cordelia's fault. She hates it, when I brood." He shrugged his shoulders again and give a small smirk.

"Cordelia." She paused for a moment. "She seem to have a good influence on you. I can't believe I'm saying this, but you should keep her close. She will keep you honest."

"She changed a lot, but she is still the same."

"If you see and feel the suffering of others it force you to change." Buffy kept a surprisedly blank face. Angel didn't react on it, didn't even know what to say.

After a moment of silence Buffy spoke. "I was afraid you would kill yourself."

"I almost did. Cordelia talked me out of it."

"Thank her for me."

******

"Buffy, it is our stop." Duncan touched her lightly on shoulder. Buffy came out of her remising, looked up to Duncan and stood up. They left the train in silence. They left the underground and asked for the direction to a passing bystander. He gave them accurate directions. In no time they found the club. It was a warehouse. The bouncer let her in without any problems, but he stopped Duncan.

Buffy laid gently a hand on the bouncer's arm. "He's with me." She gave him one of her best smiles. The bouncer smiled back and let Duncan pass.

"With a smile liked that you could get me in one of Gringotts vaults."

Buffy hit him playfully on the upper-arm. "Charmer." She looked around. It resembled the Bronze a lot, but at least three times bigger. She sensed the vampires, but couldn't pinpoint them. She asked Duncan to order some drinks. While he went to get them, she looked around for potential vampires. When he came back, she found five, but disregarded two.

"See the blond girl on the far end of the bar?" Duncan looked in the direction Buffy pointed. "The one who is flirting with big brunet." Duncan nodded. "Keep staring at her and if she looks your way smile. Follow them if they leave. Okay?"

"Yeah, no problem staring and smiling at her." Duncan gave her a mischievous grin.

Buffy ignored it. "Her name is Lisa. I have two other candidates. The blond there or the dark handsome over there who gets hit on, but it could also be both."

"You think he lied about a third one?" He examined the two man quickly.

"No, I doubt it. If they are both of the undead variety. One of them is alone here." Buffy stood up. "I'll signal you if they are our 'friends' and don't lose the blond out of your side."

"Yes, Ma'am. Keep an eye on the bombshell. No problem." Duncan grinned, but kept his gaze on the blond girl. Buffy smile involuntary.

Buffy walked pass the blond and smiled at him. He smiled back. She saw his chest rising and saw him transpiring a little. She turned to Duncan and shook her head a little. She walked over to the other one. The closer she came the more signs she saw that he was a vampire. A girl was shamelessly flirting with the vampire.

Without a beat she put herself in between the girl and the vampire. She gently put a hand on his chest and looked up into his eyes. "Tell the girl to leave. She isn't woman enough for you."

The girl wanted to protest, but the vampire interrupted her. "Leave." The girl puffed and left.

"You dance, stranger?" Buffy asked seductive.

"I know a few moves, luv." Buffy stiffed a little, but took his hand and led him to dance floor. She dance seductively and rubbed her body against his. Then there was a slow number. She leant against him and was enjoying the familiar coolness what was radiating from him. She closed her eyes for a second. When she opened them again, she noticed that Duncan had left his table. She noticed that the blond was also gone. She waited for the number to finish.

"I think we need some privacy, don't you." She flashed at him with her whimpers.

"Sure pet." He followed her out back. The alley was dark. She waited for him to show his game face. She heard it shift and kicked him in the wall.

"So, do all you brit vampires use 'luv' and 'pet' for endearment." The vampire attacked in anger and growled at her. She ducked his swing and hit him in the back right into the wall. He turned. "Or is it just you and Spike."

The vampire was shocked by Spikes name. "Spike? You know Spike?"

"Yeah, you can say we are old friends." She slipped a stake unnoticeable out of her sleeve.

"He still owns me. I think I'll take it out of you." He grinned. "Like a beating heart."

"Beating heart. Normally they go for my throat." Buffy showed her neck a little. It was like she was talking to an old friend and she just kept smiling at him. He charged her with an angry roar and she flipped him over and staked him. She turned her back to the ashes and put her hands up in disappointment. "No applause, I applauded for you, when you staked your vampire." Buffy gave Duncan a fake hurt face.

Duncan jumped of his crate he sat on and walk toward Buffy clapping. "Excellent form. Maybe you should teach me a few moves."

"And which moves would you like me to teach you?" Buffy gave him an evil grin.

Duncan thought about it for a minute. "I think the best answer would be painless."

Buffy laughed and looked at her watch. "I think it is time for us to go home. So how did you enjoy our first night out." They walked out of the alley toward the underground.

"I expected dinner and some flowers." Duncan looked serious. Buffy just laughed. "I like you this way."

Buffy looked confused. "How?"

"Laughing."

Buffy smiled. She looked in front of her. "Me too. I think I'll send some books to my friends."

Duncan didn't immediately get the comment. "All this good mood comes from reading that little fairytale."

Buffy put her arm through his. "Yep."

Duncan knew the story, but couldn't understand why it would change the petite woman so much. "Why?"

"Because the story is true." Duncan saw the hope in the smile she gave him. Now he knew what made her different form the woman he met the first time. Hope. They discussed the fairytale all the way to the Leaky Cauldron and took the portkey back to Hogsmeads. From there they took the tunnel back to Hogwart. They even met Mr. Filch, who was patrolling the halls. They said there goodnights and went to their living quarters.

End Chapter 5.

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