Chapter Seven - Who Are You?

Buffy was sitting on the grass by the lake deep in thought.

'How cold I say that? God, what did I do?' She pulled her knees to her chest and wrapped her arms around her self.

A loud barking yanked her from her thoughts.

"Fang! Get back here!" Fang ran over and licked Buffy's face. She cracked a smile. "Hey Fang." Fang nudged her side with his nose and lay down, wagging his tail.

"Fang! What are you - Professor Summers? What're you doin' out here?"

"Just thinking. I needed some time alone to think."

"Do ya want company?"

Buffy tried to smile, but her lips just wouldn't cooperate. "Thanks, but I really need to get my head together. Things are very confusing right now."

Hagrid nodded. "I know the feeling. All right. Come on Fang."

Fang stayed put.

"Fang, come ON." Hagrid went to grab for Fang's collar and he growled.

"Uh...I think he wants to stay."

Buffy finally smiled. "Fang." Fang perked up and then sagged. She could have sworn he sighed. He got up and trotted after Hagrid.

"G'night Professor - "

"Its Buffy."

Hagrid smiled. "G'night Buffy."

"'Night Hagrid."

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Buffy awakened to soft barking.

"Mm." She sat up and rubbed her eyes. The barking didn't cease.

"Fang?" She got up and followed the sound.

"Fa-ang." The Forbidden Forest, she assumed, was supposed to be frightening. But to Buffy -

Big, fluffy bunny just about summed it up.

"There you- "

The dog winked at her and suddenly, there wasn't a dog at all.

There was a person.

Buffy shifted into a fighting stance.

"Ah yes, Ms. Summers. I've heard an awful lot about you."

"Have you now? I'm assuming then that you know that I'm the slayer and that you're in for a major amount of ass whipping if you don't tell me who you are and what's going on."

Sirius chuckled. "He said you were a fiery one."

"Who said?"

"Let me introduce myself. My name is Sirius."

"Black. You're the one who - "

"Made Angel human? Nah, I'm just the guy who showed him who could help him. Me? I don't have that kind of power."

"Who does?" "I'm sorry, but I can't reveal that." Buffy shifted into a more comfortable standing position. "But I can tell you that my godson has spoken an awful lot about you. Said you gave him some advice about sneaking around without getting caught."

Buffy smiled. "He already knew perfectly well how to snoop around. I just gave him the permission to and some friendly tips."

Sirius smiled. "His father would be proud. Well, thanks for keeping an eye on him for me slayer." He turned to go.

"Wait!"

He was already gone.

~*~*~*~*~*

"You're all alike, you know? The heroes."

"What? I don't understand."

Tara sighed. "You think you now who you are, what's to come. But you've only just begun."

As the last word was said, Tara suddenly changed into Kendra.

"Who are you?"

Kendra smiled. "A friend."

"What if I don't want a friend?"

"I never said I was yours."

"What does all of this mean?"

Kendra said nothing for a long stretch of time. At length, she spoke. "It's everywhere you know. Hiding in the shadows, waiting to pounce. It always comes, unexpected. She's no exception."

"She? She who?"

"You think you know, who you are, what's to come," Kendra was fading.

"Wait."

"But you've only just begun."

"Wait!"

~*~*~*~*~*~

Harry awoke with a stabbing pain in his forehead. He hadn't realized he woke up with a small scream.

"Harry!"

Ron was shaking him. Harry groaned. The pain had subsided to nothing more then an annoying pang.

"Harry, what happened? You were tossing and turning and then all of a sudden, you yelled 'wait' and then - you woke up."

Harry tried to remember, but a lot of it had faded. Nothing but a name remained.

"Kendra."

"Who?"

Harry shook his head. "I don't know. I was in this place. It seemed like pure evil, but then, Professor McClay was there and then she turned into another person - Kendra. How do I know that?"

"Harry, you don't look so good."

Harry glanced at the clock. It read 'You really should be getting up now." His watch told him it was 7:30. "C'mon. Get dressed."

Ron groaned. "Why?"

Harry was already changing his shirt. "Because we're going to pay a little visit to Professor McClay."

Ron shook his head, but continued to change anyway.

~*~*~*~*~*~

After waiting twenty minute for Ron to finally finish changing and dragging Hermione from the Common Room ("I have homework!"), the three of them were on their way.

"So, you think this has something to do with this whole key thing?" Harry had filled Hermione in on his dream on their way to Professor McClay's office.

"Definitely."

Ron knocked, and there was an answer from within. "Come on in, the door's open."

Professor McClay was seated at her desk and Professor Rosenburg was shuffling about trying to straighten up.

"Will, you really need to relax."

Willow just gave her a look.

"She'll turn up, I promise."

"Who will?"

The professors jumped. "Sorry Harry, didn't see you there. Professor Summers. She sort of...got lost last night."

"And she WILL turn up. C'mon Willow, you know she will." Willow just grumbled and continued tidying up.

Tara sighed. "So, what's up Harry?"

"Huh? Oh right. Umm, well, it's sort if hard to explain, really, it's - "

"Oh REALLY Harry. Don't be such a big baby." Hermione said rolling her eyes. "Harry had a dream last night with you in it, Professor McClay. He said you told him something odd and then you turned into - Harry, who was it?"

"Kendra?"

Willow dropped the books she was holding with wide eyes. "I'm sorry?"

"Kendra. Does that mean anything to you?"

Willow opened and closed her mouth a few times before clearing her throat. "Wha- what did she say to you."

"I'm not too sure. It's all a blur. She said something like 'It's hiding in the shadows and it always comes unexpected. She's no exception.' I was hoping you could tell me what exactly was hiding and who exactly 'she' is?"

"The prophecy." Willow grabbed her things. "I have to go speak with Giles." This was addressed to Tara.

"Willow, who's Kendra? Did you know her?"

Willow sighed. "I did."

"Wha-what do you mean d-did?" Hermione dreaded the answer.

"She died Hermione. She was killed over three years ago." Willow mouthed something to Tara - 'slayer.'

Tara's eyes went wide. "You mean - "

"The first time. That's why - "

"Faith." Harry was amazed that they could finish each other's sentences so easily when he was so utterly baffled.

"Can someone please tell me what the hell is going on?" Harry asked angrily.

Willow bit her lip. "I'm sorry Harry, but I'm not the one to tell you."

"Then who is?" He asked, exasperated.

"One of the new professors." Willow grabbed Tara's arm and pulled her out of their office.

Harry called after them, "Oh yeah, THAT LIMITS IT DOWN!" He let out a frustrated groan.

"Am I the only one sensing something funny going on?" Ron said, glancing worriedly at Harry.

Suddenly, Hermione shot up. "Faith - Professor Morgan!"

"WHAT?!"

Hermione sighed. "Really, don't you two pay attention? Faith IS Professor Morgan. And Willow mouthed 'slayer.'" She paused. "You don't think?"

"I do think." Ron said. "I think it would damn near explain a lot. Let's go find her."

"Not now Ron, we can't - Potions."

Ron and Harry groaned loudly.

:: On To Chapter Eight ::