Chapter 16:

The fifth year Gryffindors and Slytherins were flowing into DADA classroom. Buffy was in front of the class discussing something with Giles and Duncan. When she turned her attention to the class, the class settled down.

"Good afternoon class."

"Good afternoon Professor Summers." The class responded in union back.

"Mr. Giles is here to observe a few of my teaching techniques before he leaves today." She pointed toward Giles who nodded to the students.

"There is a slight change in the Curriculum. We are going to do Curses and Counter-curses to day and in the next few weeks."

Buffy leant back on the desk. "We'll start with the Unforgivable Curses. Who can tell me one and why is it 'unforgivable'?"

A few hands went up. One of them was, like always, Hermione's. Harry's and Neville's weren't one of them.

"Mr. Malfoy?" Buffy pointed with her hand toward Draco.

Draco had a smirk expression on his face. "Impercius Curse. It is a curse to control somebody's mind."

"Very good Mr. Malfoy. Five points for Slytherin. By the way. Did you see anybody perform this curse?" The question was asked very light, but you could see it in Buffy's eyes that she meant it very serious.

Draco was taken back by this question. "No."

Buffy stared at him for a few moments, before continuing the class. "Mr. Longbottom?"

Neville was startled. "Yes, Professor?"

"I'm sure you know of a second Unforgivable Curse."

It came very faint, but clear from Neville. "Cruciatus Curse."

"And why is it an Unforgivable Curse, Mr. Longbottom?" Buffy didn't put any pressure behind her voice, but you could hear that she wanted Neville to answer the question.

"It causes immense pain." There was some trembler in Neville's voice.

"Very good Mr. Longbottom. Five point for Gryffindor."

His fellow students were wondering why Buffy had chosen him for he didn't put up his hand. Buffy ignored them and looked straight at Harry. She didn't have to ask.

"The Avada Kedavra Cruse. The Death Curse." Buffy could see the reluctance in Harry's eyes.

"What makes this Curse so different from the other curses, Mr. Potter?"

"There is no counter curse."

"And?" Buffy didn't want to push.

"I'm the only one who ever survived one."

Buffy looked at Harry to reassure him he did well and gave him a warm smile. She gave Harry his points.

"Curses are more Mr. Baker's area, so he will continue the class." Buffy pointed to Duncan and sat next to Giles.

"Thanks." Duncan nodded toward Buffy and turned his attention back to the class. "These curses are very difficult. You can't just point with you wand." Duncan pointed his wand at Draco. "And say for example Crurio and expect it to work." Draco was twitching a little.

Duncan saw it, smiled inwardly and continued. "There is a lot of willpower, concentration and energy needed to make one of these hexes work."

"I will in no way teach you how to do these curses. But I will give a demonstration on how to behave, to know the best way to survive."

Duncan paused to survey the class.

"Professor Summers was so kind to assist with two of the 3 Unforgivable Curses."

Buffy stood up. "I thought the third one was a bit much for school spirit."

That got her a few nervous chuckles.

"We start first with the Impercius Curse. Imperio."

The curse hit Buffy and she was in some kind of trance. Duncan was circling Buffy. "The reason why an Impercius is so unforgivable is because you have full control of somebody. You can make them do everything. Some are funny like, Buffy tap dance."

Buffy did what he commanded her to. She tap danced and the class laughed.

"Buffy stop. I know that it looked funny. But you can make people also do things that are dangerous and painful. Buffy, punch yourself in the stomach. Hard."

Buffy made a fist and punched herself quite hard. Everyone showed a pained expression even Draco for a second. Buffy didn't even show a trace of pain or uttered it.

"In this state she didn't even feel any pain. I could ask her to kiss me and she would do it. Buffy kiss me."

Buffy bent forward to kiss him, but before their lips touched. He went double and fell to the floor. He looked up and the first thing he saw was Buffy's grim face and second, the clenched fist.

"And if you are well motivated you can break the curse." Duncan was holding his stomach. "I didn't think it was such a horror to kiss me." Duncan winced in pain.

Buffy turned to the class. "For me it is easier to break an Impercius Curse, because I've been enthralled a few times. So I have practice." She turned to Duncan and helped him up and kissed him on the cheek. "No it isn't."

Duncan blushed a bit. He composed himself quickly. "I think this demonstration was convincing enough for the reason, why the curse is unforgivable."

"We'll go to the next Curse, the Cruciatus Curse. Ready Buffy?" Buffy nodded. "Crucio."

Buffy went through her knee, but she didn't even utter a small squeal. Her eyes met Draco's. She could see that he didn't enjoy her pain and she smiled at him through the pain. She stood up and stretched her arm toward Duncan's wand and snapped it out of his hand, which stopped the pain.

The students looked shocked at her. Buffy straightened her back a little to shake off the pain. "The best way to fight a Cruciatus Curse is trying to ignore the pain, but it is very difficult, you need a very high pain threshold."

"Blood hell." Ron was the first one to express his feeling in words.

"Don't curse." Hermione said it automatic, without noticing she said it.

Neville had panic written all over him, until he saw Buffy's regarding him with understanding and smiling reassuring at him which calmed him down. Hermione saw the exchange of looks.

While they were all staring at Buffy, Duncan removed a cage with a spider in it behind the desk and put it on the desk.

"Now we go to the last Unforgivable Curse. Thank you Buffy."

Buffy nodded and sat down next to Giles. The class turned their attention back to Duncan.

"The Avada Kedvra Curse. The beauty of this curse, if you compare it to the other two, is that it is quick and clean. But it doesn't make it any less unforgivable." Duncan pointed the wand at the spider. "Avada Kedavra."

The curse hit the spider and it died. It was over in seconds.

"To kill somebody you take everything away from him." Duncan paused to let the student digest it. "I want you to write a three sheet paper for next class about why these Curses are unforgivable. Class dismissed."

They packed their stuff with awe and/or with shock. Duncan stopped Neville before he left; he wanted to talk with him.

Giles left the same afternoon and the next week Buffy was looking out of the window at Dawn and the Trio in their Care of Magical Creatures class with Hagrid. This time Hagrid didn't have one of his Monster pets as a demonstration, but unicorns. Buffy smiled which disappeared quickly when she saw a shadow at the edge of the Forbidden Forest.

The shadow was watching the children. Buffy changed the robe into her duster and looked around if no one saw her. She jumped on the window ledge, looking down and jumped. The window wasn't that high, about 3 stores, so she landed safely with a quick role. She approached the shadow down wind so if it had a good developed smell, it wouldn't smell her.

Buffy approached it with a stealth that would make Angel proud. At a fair distance she recognized the shadow for what it was. She smiled and removed a rope from her duster and made a loose in it. She was ten feet away and he still didn't hear her approach. The last few feet Buffy sprinted and picked him up at the neck like an overgrown puppy, which he technically was. His animal reflexes made him go limp. He had a very confused and scared look.

Buffy smiled. "Hello, Mr. Black."

The expression of fear disappeared, which only left the confusion.

"I've heard a lot of good about you from Albus. He also told me you don't like to follow orders and rules. Like the one I asked Albus to tell you to stay away from the castle for the time being."

Buffy could swear she saw some apology in does dark dog eyes. Before she could continue, she heard horse sounds from the castle grounds. In the corner of her eye she saw that the unicorns were reacting to her presence. She quickly put the loose around his neck and put him down and pulled him out of the Forbidden Forest.

"Behave. It is your own fault if you get caught. Next time listen." It sounded a little hypocrite out of Buffy's mouth. She wasn't big on rules either.

The Dog walked docile with her. She received some surprised look from the students and panic from the Trio. Before she could say hi, the unicorns were hinicking for her attention. Buffy smiled.

"Harry hold the rope, and make 'sure' he doesn't escape."

Harry nodded and understood what Buffy meant. He took the rope, Buffy offered him.

"Hello, Hagrid."

"Mornin', Professor."

Buffy went into the corral and the unicorns were pushing each other away for her attention. Buffy was laughing at their antics. There was a big grownup white unicorn and two, who still had the golden coat, which meant they where younger the 3 years.

Hermione was observing this strange behaviour of the unicorns. This was not the normal behaviour for a unicorn. They are normally very shy and if you wanted to pet them you have to be very careful. They never initiate it. But these one are begging for her attention.

"Hagrid, I'm so sorry for interrupting your class." Buffy was looking apologetic as possible, but that wasn't much because she really enjoyed petting the unicorns.

"Don't mind it Buffy. I was jus' abou' finished with the class." He turned to the class. "I want you guys to write a paper about unicorns. You may go back to the castle."

The students were scattering back to the castle with the exception of Dawn and her friends. Hagrid opened the corral for Buffy to let the unicorns go free. She had to slap them on the back to make them sprint out of the correl. After that they disappeared into the Forbidden Forest.

Buffy could hear Harry whisper into Sirius ear. "I told you to stay away from the castle until I could explain."

Buffy smiled, but then noticed the strange look he gave Dawn. Dawn was going to pet him, but he backed down. Buffy's smile disappeared quickly and she kneeled down in front of him. She took his lower jaw and made him look into her eyes.

"That girl is my sister. If you mess with her I'm going to have a nice coat this winter." Buffy made sure that Sirius knew that she meant business.

Harry laughed, he was still holding the rope. Sirius didn't see the amusement in it. Neither did Hermione of Ron.

Buffy took the rope and handled it to Hagrid. "Hagrid, he stinks. Why don't you give him a bath, before you take him to the pound tomorrow?"

Buffy didn't know what shocked him more the bath or the pound. He was struggling to get away and even barked.

"T'is is a feisty puppy, maybe I should keep 'im to keep Fang company."

"You can keep him for awhile before you decide what you going to do with him." Buffy had trouble keeping a straight face.

Hagrid nodded. "Come boy."

Hagrid left with the still struggling Sirius. When they were out of side, they started laughing even Dawn.

"So that was the Dog boy." She turned to Buffy. "That with the bath was cruel."

"Albus told him to stay away. This will teach him to listen next time." Buffy had a mischievous smile.

Dawn squinted her eyes. "Evil. You're evil."

Buffy grinned. "I know." Buffy turned to Harry. "You have permission to rescue you godfather after curfew. I expect you to explain to him what he doesn't know." She slightly nodded toward her sister. Harry saw it and understood.

"I'll also tell him about the Dragon to help him remember that he should listen the next time." Harry was asking Buffy permission to tell Sirius about her being the Slayer.

"Sure." She turned to the others. "This permission doesn't extent to you guys."

Ron wanted to protest, but a stern look from Buffy nipped it in the bud.

"Yes, Professor Summers." Hermione and Ron responded meekly.

Buffy was looking at Dawn, who looked at her deviant back. "Jeez, Buffy. I wasn't even thinking about going with them. I have plans." Plus she knew that Sirius might recognize her as the Key and that was never pleasant.

"Good. I'm glad you try to stay out of troubles for once."

Dawn gave her mischievous grin. "I told you I have plans I didn't tell you I was staying out of troubles."

Ron burst out in a short burst of laughter. Hermione giggled and Harry smiled. Buffy glared at he sister, but it softened into a warm smile.

"Let's go. The next class will start shortly and I don't think you guys wanna be late for Snape's class."

The panic in their faces was evidently and they hurried with their stuff, said their goodbyes and left like the devil was on their tail. Buffy smiled after them and walked with a more relaxed pace toward the castle. She knew that Duncan would cover for her and start the next class.

A week before Halloween. Hermione and Dawn were sitting in Buffy's quarters bent over the Diaries and their notes. Hermione put a diary frustrated away.

"This can't be her. She didn't survive 3 months." Hermione looked sad and sounded the same way. "I can't believe they let these girl fight and die."

Dawn didn't want to go into that conversation. "I shouldn't expel her that easy she might have fought all these Bad Guys after her death."

"But it says in the book that she had done it before her death and not after." Hermione was using her know-it-all tone.

Of course Dawn had to reply it. "It is a fairytale. You shouldn't believe everything that is written down."

Hermione thought about it. "It is even possible, that everything was a lie."

"Not about the Slayer's resurrection. She died and came back. She might have only been dead for a few minutes." Dawn didn't even look up from her Diary.

"How do you know that for sure?" Hermione was curious about it.

"Buffy told us." Dawn said it as if Buffy's words were the gospel.

Hermione didn't know where that much trust came from. She thought that Professor Summers was one of the best teachers she had ever met. Her knowledge of the Dark Art was supreme. But how could she know, that this part of the story was true.

Hermione looked at a list of Slayer's abilities.

'Strength of a giant.' She saw Buffy put a knife with the whole blade into the table. She beat a dragon around with a big hammer. Even if it was a magical hammer she had to need some of her own strength to wield it. She withstood two of the three Unforgivable Curses.

'Speed and agility.' She beat Professor Baker without the use of a wand in a duel. Did she ever use a wand? And to beat a dragon you need a lot of speed and agility.

'Weapon mastery.' She had cut of Lucius Malfoy hand without effort with a sword. She used stakes to kill vampires. I should know I carved enough of them. Dawn told me she is an ace with a crossbow and other weapons.

'Heightened senses.' Her hearing was very good. She seemed to knowing gaze, when we're having a conversation across the hall or corridor. She also detected Sirius from the castle.

'Slayer visions in dreams.' She told that crackpot of a Seer, that she had prophetic dreams.

'Magical creatures are attracted to Slayers.' The unicorns. The dragon had a health respect of the Professor. I read Charlie's report he left for Buffy. Didn't she say that the creatures in the Forbidden Forest follow her around? Even the Students seem to be attracted by her. We might be humans, but we are nevertheless magical creatures.

Hermione was in deep thoughts. Dawn noticed her.

"What are you thinking about?" Dawn asked curious.

Hermione was shaken out of her thoughts. "I went over these Slayer's abilities List and found out that your sister had a lot of common with them."

Dawn had to think about it quickly to cover up Buffy's secret. She came up with the perfect solution without lying.

"Didn't I tell you that Buffy was a Potential?"

Hermione was shocked. "No."

"Yep. Weird I can swear that I told you." Dawn used her most apologetic mask to put on a false trail.

The expression on Hermione face told Dawn that she had bought it. Hermione was in deep thought now. You almost could hear the wheels turn in her head.

"If Buffy is a Potential? So? Are you?"

"No. Why would you think that?" Dawn was confused.

"Well, most Slayers don't have siblings." Dawn nodded. Hermione picked a diary. "This Slayer had a sister and they were both trained together by the Watcher's." Hermione took two different diaries. "And these two Slayers are sisters, when one died the other one was called."

Dawn stood up and paced around hysterical. "Oh my god, Oh my god. Did Buffy know? She would try to protect me from all the weirdness and would hide it from me. Giles. Giles must have known. Oh when I get him in my hands."

Dawn's rambling scared Hermione a little bit. But before she could say anything, somebody knocked on the door.

"Dawn? You in there? Open the door." The last part sounded a little as a command.

This bought Dawn back out of here rambling and she walked to the door to open it. She was still angry at Giles and her sister that she gave Victoria the full burst of her anger. She answered it with an annoyed look and grabbed Dawn's arm.

"There you are. You promised me you would help me with my Top Secret Muggle project." She saw Hermione in the back. "Hi Hermione, bye Hermione."

Before Hermione could say anything, Victoria dragged Dawn away and left the door wide open. Hermione was stunned. She had a few more questions for Dawn, but it seems their study session was over and so she put the diaries back in the trunks. She was about to pick her stuff up. When a thought came through her head about searching Buffy's place, but rethought it would transgress her privacy. Going through her office was one thing but, then they were with the three of them and being alone she could hear her conscious a lot louder. She picked her stuff up and left Buffy's quarters untouched.

End Chapter 16.

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