__The New Table__
By Angelwakes
Xander wiped his face with the shirt he had discarded earlier that day. He
was finished. The last piece of furniture was in place. There was an almost
palpable sense of anticipation hanging in the air. He paused to give the old
round oak table a final caress, his hand feeling every dent and knot in its
weathered surface. He was still amazed it had survived the destruction of the
Watchers' building in London unscathed. Also that it had been sent to him to
complete the new Watcher headquarters in Oxford. Careful questioning had
revealed that even Giles didn't know about the table's survival. This
was particularly odd because as the new head of the Watchers
Council Rupert Giles was rumoured to be omnipotent. Xander sniggered as
he remembered Giles' reaction to that tidbit of information. He was truly
grateful to his friends for allowing him to use the construction of this
building to keep him from dwelling on the loss of Anya. He even thought he
could hear her talking to him sometimes, particularly when he was engaged in
a very physical task. He was able to remember her and smile now and as a
thank you to his friends he had completely decorated the central room and
their offices, one each for Giles, Buffy and Willow. He was showing them the
new building tomorrow and he looked in satisfaction at his handiwork one last
time before switching off the lights and closing and locking the doors.
He didn't notice the table glow faintly after the final light went
off before the room was plunged into darkness.
The next day a small group of people were standing in front of a very elegant mock Georgian
townhouse. The head of the new Watcher's Council, his Head Slayer, Wiccan
Watcher In Training, student librarian and the construction worker.
"Allow me to present to you the new Council HQ!" Said
Xander with a flourish as he led them into the deceptively large building.
It stretched back for at least one hundred and fifty yards and there were
three floors below ground level. A skeleton staff was in place; they were
still contacting watcher families and slowly their numbers were increasing.
The four upper floors were crowned by a penthouse
accessible by a private lift which was used solely by the Scoobies and anyone
they authorised. It was out of this lift the group stepped at the end
of the tour. Their number was depleted by one; Dawn just had to stay in the library.
Having blended seamlessly into the British
Education System, Dawn was now taking her 'A' levels and hoping to get into
Oxford to study History. Giles was extremely proud of her and had already
offered to make her a Watcher when she left university but Dawn had stated
she enjoyed the research more than the fighting and was angling for
the head librarianship. "Just call me Madam Pince," she had said referring
to a librarian character in her favourite book.
The library covered a whole floor of the building with various reading rooms and private
corners and it was entirely possible to spend a whole day therein and not see
another person. Dawn was to be situated in the centre of the library with a
circular desk between her and the rest of the world. She had almost kissed
Xander's feet when he had shown her what would be her domain. She thrived
on studying and working in the library would be a dream come true.
There had been much appreciation of Xander's overseeing
the construction of such a fine building and Willow was still in
raptures at the up to the minute computers in the communications room.
Xander smiled at the memory. Wicca was going into the twenty-first
century with a bang if his best friend had anything to do with it.
"Umm, Xand why is the door covered by black plastic?" Buffy
was surprised at the sight in front of her.
"Well I got the idea off one of those daytime home improvement shows. It's supposed to
increase the surprise." He stopped, a little nervous as he explained to his
friends what he had done. "I just wanted to do something nice for you guys so
I've decorated your offices for you, to say thanks for letting a one-eyed man
be your site foreman." He grinned sheepishly and to forestall any
embarrassing mushiness from the two girls he ripped away the plastic.
"Oh my!"
"Xander!"
"Oh..."
They were looking at two very familiar doors with two circular windows set at eye
level, one on each door. The only difference to the old Sunnydale High
library doors was that the glass in the windows was mirrored so that nobody
would be able to see what the occupants were doing.
"This is what I like to call the inner sanctum." Xander unlocked the doors and they
entered the room, all three gazing around in wonder.
It was a replica of the school library and it wasn't. Xander had taken the best
aspects from that special place and pulled them together to create a
harmonious working area for the Scoobies. Low level bookcases curved around a
central table with twelve high backed chairs, there was soft light filtering
in through high windows, the destructive light was muted by jewel coloured
glass, and between each bookcase was either a door or a soft, inviting sofa
for the times research meant pulling an all-nighter. Strategically placed
lamps lit the room and the atmosphere was warm and welcoming.
Looking at the Tiffany lamps, Buffy thought fondly of
Giles' old apartment and gave a sigh of contentment. Yes, she could work in
this environment. She shook her head as she looked at the table. At
least it was round, not rectangular like the old library table. Buffy
had had quite a few naughty thoughts concerning the library table and
a certain tweed wearing stuffy Englishman and she didn't need any further
fuel for her fantasies.
Giles saw the room for what it was. An
attempt to bring their past into their new lives, and he welcomed the
familiarity of the surroundings as he tackled the daunting and unwanted job
of Head Watcher. He smiled at the table, a round table like the one in
the Magic Box. He had imagined many scenarios about that illuminated table
and wondered if Buffy would still lay flat on the new table protesting she
was exhausted by his training regime. He hoped so. His fantasies were fine
but new material was always welcome.
After a pause they all ran for their offices. If Xander did this in their common space they
were eager to see what would he do in their own individual areas.
Willow's room was the perfect cross between Wicca Goddess
and Hacker. The room was decorated in harmonious shades of green and
the technology she would be using was on a specially built desk area
in one corner. Along one wall a sofa was positioned between two low tables
and a wide window was draped with gauzy fabric. There was even enough floor
space for spell casting. It was perfect for her. The Wiccan breathed a sigh
of pure happiness. This was her dream room. She made a mental note to shower
Xander with cookies until even his appetite was exhausted.
Buffy was amazed at the sight that greeted her when
she opened her office door. The whole room was decorated in cool,
contemporary shades of blue. One side of the room held an ultra modern desk
and all the usual office furnishings, but it was the other side that
held her attention. The whole wall was mirrored, perfect for workouts.
Her sofa was placed under the windows and a small television and
video recorder were on a table in the corner.
Giles grinned as he heard the squeals of excitement coming from the two rooms either side of
him. It seemed the rooms were a success. He opened his door and was tempted
to squeal himself. The room was an exact replica of a gentleman's study. A
huge leather topped desk with a beautiful leather chair dominated the room.
Two similar chairs sat across the room either side of a fireplace, with a
real fire burning away in the grate. Occasional tables completed the
furnishings. The room was smaller than the other two and that suited him just
fine. The window was draped with heavy deep green velvet curtains and
the walls were lined with bookcases and a few tasteful paintings.
Just books... no computer technology, no idiot box, just books. Here
was his refuge. He was truly comfortable in this room already.
Xander sat at the table and waited for his friends to
finish admiring his work. He grinned as he saw Willow dash into Buffy's
office and the squeals began again.
Giles walked back into the central area and smiled at the young man. "Thank you, Xander.
Everything is just perfect."
Xander flushed at the heartfelt praise from this
man whom he looked upon as a father. Any further conversation was stalled by
the two female whirlwinds who proceeded to hug Xander until lack of
breath caused him to laughingly squirm out of their arms protesting that
his fantasies about this situation did not include suffocation.
When everyone had seen all the offices and Xander
had been hugged more than he ever had before, talk turned to the room they
were in now. They were already calling it the inner sanctum and they
tested out the sofas as Giles perused the books. General opinion was that
it would be great for planning sessions and as an unofficial
Scoobie hangout. Giles sighed and then consoled himself that at least
he could retire to his study, as he had affectionately named his
office, when the noise became too much.
"Oh, and the table's round. That means no head; everyone's equal, not that we are, 'cos Giles is
the head of us..." Willow was descending into babble mode.
Interrupting her friend, Buffy said, "this table is great,
Xander. There's room for all Giles' books and at least three pizza
boxes." She smiled at him knowing it was nearly lunchtime.
"And with that subtle hint, I'm phone guy."
"Just a minute, Xander, if I may." Giles' words stopped
Xander mid-dial. "Much as I regret getting between you and pizza I have to
ask, where exactly did you get this table?"
"It was delivered here from the old Council building. In fact, I'm amazed it survived the
explosion."
"Who delivered it, Xander?"
"That's funny. You know, I can't remember. In fact, I can't remember bringing it up
here. It's just as though it was always here."
"It's round, just like the round table." Willow was still babbling when she stopped suddenly
and gasped putting a hand up to her throat. "Oh, oh Goddess, Goddess!"
"Oh dear Lord! The Round Table!"
Giles and Willow were staring at the table in shock.
"Yes, the table is round. What's the big here? For those of us out of the loop, do one of you
guys want to fill us in?" Buffy looked at Xander, who was just as confused as
she was. Giles and Willow started talking again.
"Do you think it is?" Willow breathed in an awestruck voice.
"Well... it is ...old"
"Old enough?"
"I would think so, yes."
"Hey, magic guys, what's so special about the table?"
The duo stared at the confused pair.
"It is entirely possible that this is The Round Table." Giles stated as though
this could explain everything.
His Slayer shot him an exasperated look. "Still not getting it, Watcher-mine."
Giles sighed. It seemed he would have to give a crash course on English folklore to two
Americans.
"Xander, order the pizza and get Dawn. .She should still be in
the library." He made a mental note to check the library as soon as he was
able. It had looked smashing, and he was itching to get his hands on all those books.
"When Dawn gets here I'll explain it all to you as
it is a terribly long story and I don't wish to tell it more than once."
Xander was dispatched to bring Dawn up to them and he
whisked her upstairs with the promise of a tour of the rest of the
building later. They all sat around the table and Giles began to tell
them about the legend of the table.
After a potted history of King Arthur and his Knights, Giles was ready to call it a day but he
was surprised by a very insightful question from his Slayer.
"If this is that table, why have we got it now? We've already defeated the First,
so what's so bad that we need the magical table? It's not like we're a band
of Knights... there are only five of us, after all."
At her words the table began to glow and their names appeared on the surface in front of them.
"Oh, wow!"
"Dear Lord!"
"Cool!"
The exclamations continued until Buffy noticed that there were faint impressions of other names
on the table. The gang stared and tried to make out the names but they were unable to read
the indistinct writing.
"Well it's obvious we have more Knights, we just don't know who they are." She said in an
irritated voice.
"Maybe it only works if they are here?" Giles mused.
"Angel may be one of our Knights." Giles shot her a look but Buffy looked as though she was deep
in thought and not paying attention to exactly what she was saying.
"Hey! Maybe the whole Fang gang are Knights." Xander yelped as more names appeared on the table.
Angel, Wesley, Gunn, Winifred, and Lorne.
"Ok that's ten. Start naming names, people," Buffy commanded. Willow started bouncing as she
began reeling off names. "Faith...Robin...Kennedy...Andrew...Cordelia...umm...Harmony??
The table remained blank, two spaces left unfilled.
"Maybe they are as yet unknown to us?" Giles suggested as he absently traced the letters of
his name.
"Ummm, I may know the name of another," Dawn suggested somewhat sheepishly.
"Come on then, Dawnie, offer up." Xander grinned at the _expression on the youngest Summer's face
at the childish nickname.
The teenager did a very good copy of Giles' glare.
"Don't call me that, Xander." She ignored Giles' snicker at someone else at
the mercy of Xander's juvenile wit.
"Promise me you guys won't get mad when I tell you." Dawn refused to say any more until she had
their assurances they would not 'get mad' after she had given them the name. "It's
William." At her words the name 'William' appeared on the table.
"Not mad, not getting mad." Buffy took a deep breath and
then asked her sister: "Who *exactly* is 'William'?"
"Well, you know I have been mailing Wesley a lot?" The teenager coloured slightly as
she spoke the former Watcher's name and Giles groaned inwardly as he realised
the so-called strictly research communication between Dawn and Wesley may
have, at least on her part, changed into a more complicated arrangement. He
was getting too old to deal with teenage hormones.
"Well there is a new guy working with them. His name is William and he's human."
"Ok a new LA Scoobie called William. That still leaves us
with one seat unfilled." Buffy accepted her sister's explanation and
missed the look that flitted across Dawn's face. The girl was keeping
the best part of the explanation for later. She couldn't wait to see their
faces when the realised exactly who William was, or more correctly, who he had been.
"I think that is enough for one day. We need to research this in depth but it would be better
when we've all had a full nights sleep." Giles could feel the excitement building in the group.
This was what they had missed. The Scooby gang working together: researching, slaying and then
partying. Smiles greeted his words and everyone got up to leave.
Buffy paused and called to the others that
she would catch up with them downstairs. When they had left she turned to
Giles who was still staring at the table.
"I think I'd better call Angel and the guys and tell them about this." She had seen the look on
Giles' face when she mentioned her former love and now for some reason Buffy
needed to let Giles know she no longer wanted the vampire as a lover. She had
moved on. "I can't explain, Giles, but I think we need them here. It's just
a feeling, but I think we all need to be together."
"Will you be all right?"
"With Angel being here? Yes, I've accepted that we're better as friends than lovers." She smiled
at the proud - expression on her Watcher's face. "Guess I've finally grown up. Do you want help
locking up?"
"No, that's quite all right. I just need to check a few things before I go."
"Gotcha. I'm outta here. Oh and Giles?
Read on the sofa. That way when you fall asleep you won't drool on the books
or the table." She grinned cheekily at him.
"Ha bloody ha! I believe is the appropriate response to that remark." Giles sighed as she
closed the door and then perked up. She no longer loved Angel... she was
free. Would she ever consider him as a lover? He shook his head, dislodging
some lovely, but impossible, dreams.
The Los Angeles gang responded with varying degrees of enthusiasm but all agreed to travel to
England as soon as possible. The reason for Cordelia's omission from the
Knights was revealed when Angel told Buffy they had finally located her body
that week and found that the coma was permanent. She was now living in the
spirit world and once her ghost had explained to the gang that she would be
operating in a non-corporeal mode, her body had disappeared for good.
Giles was working in his study when the call came through.
The LA contingent was downstairs and was it permissible for the
receptionist to send them up? He confirmed their admittance was allowed
and granted the entire group the highest possible security clearance. This
allowed them total access to the whole building and the penthouse. He spoke
briefly to Wesley, who agreed to pick up Dawn from the library on their way up.
He called Buffy and Willow from their offices.
Xander was asleep on a sofa and was shaken awake by an
excited Willow who was anxious to see the others again.
Giles alerted Dawn in the library that she was being collected by Wesley. The
Watcher may have thought himself old, but he knew he wasn't stupid, and
allowing Dawn to greet the object of her crush without a warning, would be
very stupid. All females like to check their looks before greeting a handsome
man, and Dawn was no exception.
"Dawn, please do not keep him there for too long, dear. We really do need to see what happens
when we are all together."
The teenager promised and then quickly smoothed her
hair and rummaged in her desk drawer for her compact, checking that her make
up was still perfect and applying a little more lipstick for that
just kissed, pouty look. Quickly affecting an unconcerned pose,
she pretended to read one of the many books on her desk.
Meanwhile, outside the lifts, Angel was mirroring Giles by
telling Wesley and William not to be too long as they picked up Dawn.
They assured the vampire they would resist the lure off the books
and follow the others up directly.
Dawn was so busy pretending to read that she missed the library doors silently opening and only
looked at the new arrivals when a very cultured British voice said: "Excuse me, ma'am,
but I'm the very spirt of vexation. I'm looking for a Nibblet. Do you know
where she might be?"
Dawn let out a very un-librarianlike shriek and ran out from her desk, almost slipping in her
haste to hug the stuffing out of Spike. She had been mailing the former vampire since she had
learned of his return, and their relationship had slowly resumed it's
former closeness over the last two years.
"Spike, Spike, Spike! Oh it's so good to see you! You feel so warm, and you're breathing!
Wow! You're breathing." She kissed him soundly on the cheek.
"Yes, pet. That's what usually happens when you're human,"
Spike said, laughing as he was hugged mercilessly by a wriggling bundle of teenage energy.
Wesley cleared his throat and Dawn slowly
let go of Spike and turned towards the Watcher. All the hugging and wriggling
had caused her hair to become a little mussed and combined with the recent
kissage, Dawn looked as though she had just tumbled out of someone's
bed. Wesley gulped, a flush staining his checks as all the blood in
his body headed south. When had little Dawn grown up?
Dawn was very pleased with his reaction to her new looks. They had spoken often but
not met since just after Sunnydale was destroyed. She remembered what Buffy
had told her about attracting a man in one of their girly night gossip
sessions. "When they're hooked, cool it a little and make them do the work."
"Great to see you, Wesley." She smiled at him and then
linked arms with Spike, leaving a slightly disappointed Watcher to follow them.
She could have hugged him too, he mused, wondering why he
felt like breaking Spike's arms as he saw them whispering ahead of him.
Spike, meanwhile, had observed her actions closely and
smirked to himself as he realised what was happening.
Poor Wes, he didn't stand a chance. Summers women, he thought, you got to love them.
"Dangerous game you're playing, pet," he whispered.
"Nope, I'm playing for keeps."
Spike snickered. Yep, poor Wes indeed. This was going to be fun to watch, but when
Wes caught on to Dawn's scheming she'd better watch out. Wes wasn't too
shabby at game-playing either. Life was looking good and he started whistling
as they reached the lift. His mood had altered by the time they were reaching
the penthouse level. He had made a throwaway comment about how glad he was
that the Scoobies hadn't gone overboard welcoming him back from the dead, or
rather, undead, and Dawn had suddenly coloured and started to shuffle her feet.
"Nibblet?"
"What?"
"You didn't tell them, did you?"
"Ummm, not yet."
The lift doors began to open.
Inside the sanctum Angel was being quizzed by Giles about William.
"Does he have any special talents we should know about? Dawn wasn't very forthcoming she just
told us he was human."
"Well he's still very strong and fast which is good in our line of work. His healing is a bit
slower than before but thats to be expected and his senses are now in the normal human range.
What?"
He was looking at five very confused faces.
"What do you mean 'still very strong' and 'a bit slower than before'?" Giles asked.
"I take it Dawn didn't tell you?"
"Tell us what exactly?" Angel took a step back, thankful there were no swords handy.
"About William, who he is or rather who he was before he became human."
"Willam, William, the only William Dawn would know is Spike but he was killed saving our
butts." Buffy was still in awe of the sacrifice he had made for the rest of the world and made
sure Angel knew it.
"Well it seems the Powers That Be decided he deserved a
reward and bought him back to torment me for a while." The expression on
his face seemed to indicate he didn't mind the tormenting, most of the time.
At that moment a very loud and familiar voice could be heard outside.
"When were you going to tell them! I don't bloody
believe it, Nibblet! You know, I ought to rip your head off! What were
you thinking? They're going to think I'm the First or some other nasty!"
"Spike!" Buffy breathed.
"Oh, Goddess!" Willow whispered.
Everyone watched the doors thinking of Buffy's last comment about the vampire's sacrifice.
The doors opened and Dawn entered first. Seeing the looks on the Scoobies faces, she realised they
had heard Spike. "Ummm...Surprise?"
She walked further into the room
followed by Wesley and a very familiar blonde dressed in black leather
trousers and a tight fitting black t-shirt. His hair was a softer shade of
blonde and longer with a slight curl but it was still Spike.
"Spike!"
Willow rushed over to hug him, Xander stood shocked and then looked at Spike who was becoming
very embarrassed at the Willow mushiness.
"Welcome back, man." Xander detached Willow and nodded to the former vampire.
"Yes, welcome back, Spike, or is it 'William' now?"
"Spike'll do. I'm human but that doesn't mean I've changed or anything. I'm still evil, just
not in a 'rip your throat out' way."
Giles recognised the usual bravado covering the emotions Spike liked to pretend he didn't have. It
didn't mean he had to like the guy though.
"Bollocks!" Spike sighed. He'd forgotten how perceptive this man could be.
"Spike?"
For the first time he allowed himself
to look at Buffy. She had changed. She looked a little more relaxed and
happier, much happier than he had ever seen her before. Buffy walked over and
gently kissed him on the cheek.
"Thank you, Spike. I can't find the words to say how much we all owe you so... thank you."
"'S' ok."
They stood silently communicating as the others watched.
Eventually, satisfied with whatever they had seen in each other, they nodded
and stepped apart.
"Friends, right? Nothing more?" Spike held out his hand.
"Friends." Buffy took his hand and pulled him into a very sisterly hug.
Giles let out a sigh of relief at the declaration. 'Thank goodness.'
Angel looked at him. The vampire, sensing the rage Giles was witholding, took a step back.
Buffy turned to Giles. She could see the tension in him.
"Giles, please try to get along with Spike, for me. Who knows, you two may find you have
something in common." A terse nod was all she received.
The group turned to the table and at Giles' suggestion they all sat at their named places. All
the places were filled except one between Spike and Fred.
A gentle vibration came from the table.
"Wow! It's like it's purring!" Dawn reached out and began stroking the table. The purring
increased.
"Wow! Giles, it's as if the table's happy. How can a table be happy," Willow said, her voice
incredulous as the purring increased as more of the group began duplicating the teenager's
actions.
"Amazing! Simply amazing!" Wesley turned to the Head
Watcher, "How did you get this remarkable table, again?"
"We don't actually know, Wesley. Xander says it was just here one morning and he
thought it was shipped from the old Watcher's Council building, but we have
no idea how it got in the building. Your thoughts on the matter would be very helpful."
"It's like magic, no table. Poof! One table, and the cool glowy thing is very magical," Willow
said as Wesley frowned in concentration.
The two Watchers looked at each other.
"Bloody hell!"
"Oh, dear Lord!"
"You don't think...?"
"He wouldn't dare! What am I saying? Of course he would..."
"Giles, if you keep doing this cryptic conversation thing you are going to have a very cranky
Slayer, which as you know is so not a good thing. *Who* 'wouldn't dare'?"
Buffy stood up placed her hands on her hips and turned an 'I've just bought
new shoes and the demon glooped on them' glare at him. The table stopped
vibrating as if responding to the tension in the room.
"My old headmaster. I'm going to contact him this very minute and he better tell me
what's going on or you will see a cranky Watcher and that's *definitely* a bad thing."
He left his place at the table and entered his
office, slamming the door behind him. The other 'Knights' sat in stunned
silence and Buffy, still glaring, turned to Wesley and demanded, "who is his old headmaster?"
"I'm sorry, Buffy, but Giles will have to
tell you that himself. Perhaps we should just wait and see what he has to
say. I'm sure Giles will tell us when he has talked to Alb...damn!"
"Alb? Albert perhaps? Willow, has Giles ever mentioned an Albert before?"
"Oh, for Pete's sake, pet. If you think, you'll know who he's talking to." Spike shook his head
in exasperation.
"Spike?" Wesley questioned.
"Please don't ask, just don't." The former vampire rested his head in his hands.
Wesley made a mental note to talk to him very soon.
Meanwhile Giles was pacing back and forth in front of his fireplace muttering under his
breath. Being fluent in several languages was helpful when one wanted some
really choice swearwords. The object on his mantelpiece was the cause of his
ill humour. It was a small, innocuous, brown pot filled with a powder of some
kind. It had not been in his office earlier and there was no way anyone could
have placed it there except by magical means.
Stopping and squaring his shoulders, Giles took a handful of powder and threw it into the
fireplace. There was a flash of green then darkness.
"Well, it looks like I'm connected, then," he groused quietly to himself.
He went to his desk and retrieved a slender wooden
stick from one of the locked drawers, waved it a few times and was relieved
to find that all the learning he had received came flooding back.
"Silencio!" He was now ready to confront the old man
without any of the Knights overhearing. He sat in one of the chairs and faced the fireplace.
"Albus Dumbledore!" he roared.
"Yes, dear boy. What can I do for you?" The head of Hogwart's School of Witchcraft and Wizardry's
Headmaster was smiling up at him from the fire.
"Oh, just a small matter really, nothing of
great importance, just the sodding Round Table that appeared in my council
building a few weeks ago!" The Watcher said with biting sarcasm. "I take it
this was your doing?"
"Ah, I assume you have found out the identity of the new Knights. Splendid. That is good news."
"Why? We don't need new Knights. We have defeated the First Evil. There is no need for them,
unless you know something you're not telling me, and besides one of the places is still
vacant."
The twinkle that had been in the older man's eyes faded as he spoke.
"They are needed, Rupert. There will be a great, final battle. Be assured it will not happen for
many years, but it will happen and all the Knights will be needed. The reason you can't determine
the identity of the final Knight is because he hasn't arrived yet."
"You know who he is, then?" Giles asked, worried at the thought of another apocalyptic fight, even
one a while off.
"Rupert, my child, what is the oldest prophecy we are aware of?"
Every Hogwarts student knew that answer and the Watcher began, as if reciting an oft repeated
lesson.
"The Once and Future King.... Oh dear Lord! King Arthur...the prophecy of his return when
England is in her greatest peril."
"That's the one. The King will come again and we all need to start preparing now. I suggest you
let your friends know everything I have told you, or I can come and tell them." The
twinkle reappeared. "I am most anxious to meet your Slayer."
Giles shuddered as he thought of the reaction if Albus
made a sudden appearance in the neighbouring room.
"No, Albus, that's quite all right. I will explain, it is after all what I am trained to do. Do
we know when the battle will start?"
"Not for at least twenty years. I'm assured all the Knights will be together by that time."
"Good. Well, I'd better go and break the good news."
"Rupert, sarcasm does not become you, child. Severus, yes. You, no."
The headmaster suddenly started as he seemed to
remember something. "Please could you return this to William. Tell him I
never had the courage to snap it."
A wand flew out of the fireplace onto the floor in front of the stunned Watcher. Albus vanished
before Giles could ask any more questions.
"Spike, a wizard? God help us!"
Ten heads snapped towards him as Giles re-entered
the library. Nine jaws dropped as he walked around the table and handed Spike a wand.
"B...b...but how?" Spike whispered unable to believe his
eyes. "I thought it was snapped." The emotion in his eyes floored Giles.
The Watcher tried to imagine the destruction of his own wand. It was
a horrible thought. Wands were theirs from the beginning of their magical
lives. The destruction would be like a death in the family.
Spike's response after being given back his wand finally convinced Giles to put the
past behind him. if Albus trusted the new Spike, then Giles could too.
"Thanks mate." Spike spoke louder now. "Now lets see how many charms I can remember. Peaches, how
would you like an afro?"
A loud whistle stopped Angel from throttling his ex-childe
to death. Dawn lowered her fingers and demanded to know what the heck was going on.
Giles answered her. "Well, basically, Wesley, Spike and myself are wizards."
"Cool, but that still doesn't explain who you were just talking to."
"Bloody Hell, Nibblet! You of all people should know that. Think, if we are wizards, then where
do you think we went to school?"
"No way! Cool!" Dawn had lapsed into teenager
speak as she realised exactly what Spike was getting at. "So which house were
you all in?" She smirked at Spike as he gulped.
"Could we all stay on track here, please?" Giles saved Spike from his embarrassment. "For
those of you who haven't guessed, what those two are trying to say is that we
attended Hogwart's School of Witchcraft and Wizardry." He raised his hand to
stop the barrage of questions that were coming thick and fast. "No, not
everything in those infernal books is real. The story and the younger
characters are fiction. The teachers are all genuine and yes, I was just
talking to the most infuriating, meddlesome old man whom I have ever known."
He then proceeded to explain everything the headmaster had told
him finishing with the request to meet Buffy and return Spike's wand.
Dawn finally cracked the tension which had arisen after
the realisation that there was yet another apocalypse to avert. "Well
I still want to know your houses, oh, and yeah, is Snape really as evil as the books say?"
"Gryffindor and yes." Wesley was adamant.
"Gryffindor and no, Severus is a fine chap, just doesn't suffer fools gladly."
"Giles, you were in Gryffindor? Cool! Spike?"
"What?"
"Which. House. Were. You. In?" Dawn was bouncing with excitement. All her Christmases were coming
at once. Wesley was not only a cool Watchery guy, he was also a wizard with access to Hogwarts.
Perfect, simply perfect. It still didn't get Spike off the hook though.
"Hu..f...l..." He mumbled.
"What?"
"Hufflepuff! There! Happy now, Nibblet?"
Dawn was in hysterics. The Big Bad in Hufflepuff. Spike was
never going to live this down. She had forgotten he had a wand.
"Oi! Nibblet!"
Dawn stopped laughing long enough to see Spike twirling his wand and smirking.
"Eeep!" She ran and grabbed her sister, using the Slayer as a shield.
"Children! Behave!" Giles was trying to look stern but
there was laughter in his eyes. "I suggest we all regroup here tomorrow and
we can begin to formulate our plans for the next few years. I do not want
to see any foolish wand usage or I will hex the culprit into next week. Do I
make myself clear, Spike?"
"Yeah, crystal, mate," Spike grumbled, muttering under his breath as he left: "Bloody
Gryffindors!"
"Buffy, could you stay for a while please?" Giles
asked as the Knights headed to the nearest pub to discuss the events of the evening.
The room was empty and both Watcher and Slayer
were relaxing on a sofa each silently thinking of the events of the day.
"How are you?" Giles asked, concern lacing his voice.
"About today?" He nodded, "A bit fed up actually if you
must know." She pushed a hand through her hair. "I mean, I guess I thought it
was all over, the big 'save the world' stuff, you know? Not the
little things like vamps and the rest, but the really big things. I
thought I was finished." She looked at him, resignation in her eyes. "I
guess I'll never be finished. Will I?"
"No, I'm rather afraid you won't. If it's any consolation I'll always be here to help you." He
chuckled at her sudden start.
"Oh, Giles, I'm so sorry. Here I am doing the poor me thing and you're in the same boat." She
leant over and gave him a hug. "Looks like we're in this together then, Watcher-mine."
Blushing slightly, he agreed. The hug was still happening and neither seemed anxious to end it.
"I think we've gone beyond our previous working relationship now though, Buffy. You no
longer need a Watcher. Maybe we should determine exactly what position I am
to hold this time." The hug was developing into cuddling and Giles retreated
into 'Watcher Mode' to try to distract himself from the delightful feeling of
his Slayer in his arms.
"Well, I no longer need a father figure or an uncle. What I need now is a partner. Could you be
my partner?"
'God, how do I answer that! Does she mean what I think she means? Or just what I want her to
mean? Oh, God, help me.' Giles gathered his courage for the most important question of his
life.
"How?"
"How, as in 'how much of a partner'?"
"Yes. How much of a partner are you looking for? A friend or a colleague or a life partner?"
"A life partner, hmmm.... I like the sound of that. Do you?"
'Yes! Gods, yes!' "Yes I do, but only with the right person." Two can play at this game Giles
thought as he realised what his Slayer was
doing. It was her turn to ask the difficult
question.
"Am I the right person?"
"For me?" He watched almost breathless, as she shyly nodded. Tenderly cupping her
cheek, he brushed his thumb over her trembling lips "Always." He bent and his
lips followed the path his thumb had taken.
As the kiss deepened Watcher and Slayer lost themselves in each other and it was only when they
finally paused to breathe that they noticed the table was glowing again. The
letters which spelt out their names were now edged with gold.
"It would seem the table approves."
"Yep, I guess so." They grinned at each other and after a final kiss left the library
to catch up with the others.
Upon entering the pub, which was conveniently located a few houses away from their building,
the new couple split and for the remainder of the evening they kept their distance, each
unwilling to deal with their friends' reactions to their new relationship. Therefore it wasn't
until he was preparing for bed, that Giles realised he
had forgotten one thing. The table. His name and Buffy's were now
edged with gold. Everyone would know come the morning. Sighing, he
reached for the telephone.
"I will seriously hurt whoever this
is unless the world is ending again in which case I will only maim." The
Slayer was not pleased at having a lovely dream involving her very naked
Watcher and a squeezy bottle of chocolate sauce interrupted by a ringing telephone.
"My dear, I'm sorry to wake you but we really need to
talk before morning." Warm fuzzies replaced anger and she felt a warmth
spread down her body at the sound of that voice. She whimpered and
prompted him to ask, "Are you alright Buffy?"
"I'm fine, Giles, and I've just realised I don't have a pet name for you. Giles is
everyone else's, I want one for just me."
"Yes, well, while I would love to discuss pet names with you, we really do have a problem. Our
names on the table are edged with gold now." He paused, "It will not go
unnoticed. We have to decide what, if anything, we tell the others." He
waited for her reply.
"We tell them the truth. We're together and
the table approves. I would like to tell Dawn first though. I don't want her
to find out with everyone else."
If he needed a further sign
that Buffy was taking charge of her life and growing as a person, this was
it. Giles felt a wave of pure love for the woman on the other end of the telephone.
"I love you so very much, Buffy."
"It was worth waking up to hear that. I love you too Watcher-mine, emphasis on the mine."
"Dream gently, love."
"I'll dream, not sure about the gentle part though." She smiled. "Are you gentle?"
Shocked and thrilled that she was teasing him like this,
Giles growled softly and said huskily: "You will find out very soon, my dear."
"I can't wait. Love you."
"And I you."
Next morning found a very nervous Slayer sitting at a small
table in her kitchen waiting for Dawn to finish in the bathroom.
"Oh no! What's wrong? Is the world ending again?" Dawn put her hand over her mouth in mock horror.
"Very funny. I can get up before you once in a while."
"Yeah, right!" Dawn was secretly worried, her sister was lazy and only the most dire
circumstances would rouse her this early.
"Please sit down and listen to me, Dawn. I have something to tell you."
Buffy waited as her sister grabbed a cup of coffee and went through the ways she could begin to
tell Dawn about the latest events in her love life.
*''Dawn, I'm dating Giles...' No, they weren't dating. 'Dawn, I'm in love with Giles.'
Better. 'Dawn, Giles loves me and we're going to be together, forever.' A
dreamy smile appeared on her face. 'Wow, that sounds perfect. Forever, with Giles...*
Dawn shocked Buffy out of her musings by asking: "Okay, who is he?"
"Huh, who's who?" The blonde never expected her
sister to start the conversation and it had muddled the Slayer's thought process.
"The guy who made that goofy expression appear on your face."
"Giles, it's Giles."
"Giles? You mean our Giles?" Dawn was shocked. Why was her sister getting mushy looks about
Giles?
"Yes. Giles." Buffy told her stunned sister about the
previous evening. By the time the Slayer was finished the teenager was
staring at her sister in wonder, coffee forgotten.
"Wow!" Dawn was amazed at the look of pure happiness on Buffy's face. Her sister had not
looked like that for a very long time.
"I just wanted you to know first, Dawn. I love the guys but you're family and I need you to be
okay with this."
Dawn reached over the table to hug her.
"You're happy and that's all I need to know. Besides, it's
Giles, Watcher extraordinaire. Who could be better for you?"
"Absolutely no one. Come on, we'd better get moving." Buffy
just wanted to get to Giles before the others showed up for research
and noticed the table.
The Slayer felt nervous as she pushed
the Sanctum doors open. To her relief, Giles was alone. The others hadn't
arrived yet. Dawn walked over to Giles, and hugging him tightly, said:
"Shovel talk time. You hurt her, I'll hurt you." Sisterly
duty done she squealed and hugged him harder.
"I take it you approve?" He asked dryly.
"Oh yeah, the best yet." Dawn drew back as she saw the heated look Buffy was sending Giles' way.
Buffy locked her hands behind Giles' head and pulled him down for a good morning kiss.
"Guys! Can you keep the PDA's for when I'm somewhere that's not here please! I may be okay with
this, but I don't want to see it. Oops!"
Unfortunately for the couple someone else had seen the kissage too.
Willow and Xander stood stock still in the doorway watching the lovers.
Buffy dragged her lips away from Giles' and followed Dawn's gaze to the doorway.
"Oops! Umm... hi guys, guess what?" Giles' kisses had fried her brain or Buffy would have
realised that her friends had already guessed what had happened with the lip locking
evidence before them.
"When...?"
"Last night. Willow, Xander... Buffy and I are redefining our relationship. Do either of
you have a problem with that?" Giles decided to explain as it seemed like
Buffy was still operating on a 'fire bad tree pretty' level. Mind you, if she
was like that after just a kiss he wondered what she would be like after
their first time together.
"Nope, no problem, just surprised. Congrats you guys. At least this one's breathing, Buff!"
"Thank you Xander, Will, we were going to tell you this
morning. I had to tell Dawn first, but you guys were going to be the next
to know. So, now you know." Buffy was lucid again.
"Wow! I don't know what to say except wow!" Willow said with a huge grin on her face.
"That's a good wow though, right Will?"
"Oh yeah, a very good 'wow'. Now let me have details, I need det...Oh, Goddess! Look at that!"
She was staring at the table. Buffy and Giles' names were outlined in gold.
"Yeah, the table approves of us getting
together." Buffy smiled at the thought of getting together with her Watcher
very soon, preferably naked and in a bed. She shot a smouldering look at
Giles who swallowed as he read the message in those lustful eyes.
"Hey guys! No making with the smoochies. We need to find
out more about the table and the big brewing evil."
Giles composed himself and answered, "I think it's time we got some help."
"What kind of help?" Xander asked.
"Well, in light of recent events, and the way the table is
behaving, I think we need more research material." He paused and then said,
"We need magical literature to understand magical objects. The
only library that meets our needs is in Hogwarts."
"We're going to Hogwarts! We're going to Hogwarts! We're going to Hogwarts!" Dawn
was giddy with excitement.
"Yes, quite. Dawn, please do calm
down, dear. Heaven knows what Hogwarts is going to make of us if you act like that."
"Giles, chill. She's excited. We all are. When do we leave?"
"Albus has sent us all train tickets. We can go whenever we're ready."
"Great, lets tell the others and we can get this show on the road."
"Look out, Hogwarts! The Scoobies are coming!"
* * * * *
Due to pressing work, exams and a major demon problem in San Francisco, it
was a while until a select team of Knights could visit Hogwarts. It had been
decided that sending all the Knights would leave the respective offices empty
and so it was just the Hogwarts Alumnae and the two Summers women who were
making the visit to the school.
The train journey had been an experience that no one would ever forget. Dawn's loud comments
had turned heads at the station as she kept saying: "You mean we* really* have to walk
*through* the wall! Cool!" Giles was profoundly grateful for the modified
obliviate memory charm that made the station occupants forget the
group's passage between platforms nine and ten.
The journey was no better. Dawn kept asking which of the situations in the books she had read
were real and which were fiction. Giles was feeling thoroughly exasperated
with her as they eventually pulled into Hogsmeade station and he gratefully
alighted from the train to be met with the towering form of Hogwart's grounds
keeper bearing down on him and his group.
'Honestly,' he thought peevishly, 'you'd think Albus would have trusted me to get them to the
school safely.' Then he saw the looks on Buffy and Dawn's faces. They were studying
the giant with childlike wonder. It had been a long time since he'd seen
Buffy look that way and he blessed Albus for giving her back part of
the innocence she had lost as she took over the role of Slayer.
Their passage across the lake was similarly wondrous for the two girls as the boats
moved silently through the water. Disembarking, the group then walked up to
the main doors of Hogwarts, where Hagrid left therm, claiming he had babies to feed.
Pushing open the great doors, Giles led the others into the
school. They found themselves in a large entrance hall with an
impressive central staircase in front of them. Several doors and corridors
led off the hall and the whole room was lit by firelight, flaming
torches burned on the walls and braziers flanked the stairs. It was a
truly awe inspiring scene.
Giles had made sure the group had descriptions of all of Hogwart's staff and therefore it was
easy for the two women to recognize the two very different figures who were waiting to greet
them.
There was an elderly wizard whose welcoming smile and lavish multicoloured robes were a sure
indicator of his identity. He could only be Albus Dumbledore. The other figure was also
immediately recognizable. Long black robes, long straight hair and a scowl on
his face, Professor Snape.
"Welcome, welcome, it is so good to see you all." The headmaster rushed forward to greet them.
He embarrassed the men by clasping them in a heartfelt hug and greeted the two women with a
courtly bow and a kiss on their hands.
Buffy and Dawn smiled prettily at this display of social graces.
Snape scowled at this and nodded to the group sourly. "Price, William, Miss Summers, Miss Summers,
Rupert." Greetings over he crossed his arms as his scowl deepened.
"Snape." Giles returned just as dourly and then shocked everyone by bursting into laughter.
The next shock was even greater as Snape started to laugh as well.
"You should have seen the look on you face Ripper, you've been reading too much!" Snape was
doubled over in mirth.
"Oh sod off, Sev, you prat! I knew it was an act. You forget you can't fool me. Never
could." The two then embraced, pounding each other on the back in a gesture of brotherly
affection.
Dawn's eyes were wide open in amazement, the
books were dead wrong. This Snape looked like a fun guy and if Giles liked
him then she would too. "It's Dawn, and she's Buffy," Dawn said indicating her sister.
"Charmed!" Buffy drawled, not liking the out of loopy
feeling she was having watching the two men get reacquainted.
"A pleasure to meet you, Dawn and Buffy." This polite, affable Snape was a
pleasant surprise but then Giles had said that the books were fiction.
Spike and Wesley were looking around the entrance hall
marveling at how little had changed. In Spike's case there were a few
more portraits and he was giving a few sideways comments about the
people who he had known who were now looking down at them.
"Oh no! Not you two! What have I done to deserve this?" A feminine voice sounded from the
top of the staircase.
"Ah, Minerva my dear, allow me to introduce you to
our guests. These are the Buffy and Dawn Summers. Buffy, Dawn this is
Minerva McGonagall, my deputy headmistress. Minerva, you remember William and Wesley, here?"
"Yes, of course I do, you old fool." She shook her
head at the headmaster. " Lovely to meet you, my dears," she said, smiling at
the girls, "I meant those two over there." She glared at Giles and
Snape, who both wore identical expressions of innocence, "and don't
think you can fool me with those faces. Half the rules in the school
were made as a direct result of something you two did."
"Us!"
"Never!"
Both men looked shocked and hurt but the twinkle in their eyes and the twitching lips betrayed
them.
"Buffy," Dawn whispered, "Fred and George."
"Huh?" Buffy whispered back.
"Snape and Giles. Don't they remind you of the Weasley twins?"
Buffy watched the byplay between the two men and the deputy headmistress and snickered. "Oh yeah,
absolutely!"
The sisters began to laugh out loud and all eyes turned to look at them.
"D-d-don't mind us," Buffy said through her laughter, "just having a sisterly moment here."
"We promise to be on our best behavior, Minerva." Giles' attempt at smoothing the waters fell
flat as Severus arched his eyebrow in disbelief.
"Oh, dear Lord." McGonagall pulled off her glasses and started to clean them on the sleeve of her
robe.
Buffy and Dawn took one look at this and then each other and lost
the plot completely as they laughed even harder until tears rolled down their cheeks.
Giles' face went red. "Oh shut up both of you. It wasn't that funny."
"Y-y-yes it w-was," His Slayer said laughing up at him, "I'll never let you forget this."
"Forget what?" Minerva McGonagall asked.
"The erm... habit old Ripper here has picked up from you." Spike was relishing the look of acute
embarrassment on Giles' face.
"Explain, please."
"Well, Giles..." Dawn started but was cut short by Albus interrupting her.
"Fascinating as this all is we do have some serious business to deal with. Perhaps you would like
to come with me, Rupert and Miss Summers. I'm sure you two gentlemen will be able to give
Dawn a tour of the castle. The library may be a good place to start."
Dawn's eyes were shining as she looked at Wesley and Spike. "Please can we?"
No male could resist the puppy eyes she turned on the
two men and Wesley suddenly felt like sweeping her up and carrying her there
in his arms. He bowed instead and offered her his arm. "This way, my lady."
"Yeah, this way Pet." Spike not to be outdone by the younger
man offered his other arm and the trio walked off towards one of the
many corridors with Dawn looking like the cat that stole the cream.
The teen flashed her sister a 'two hunky men, beat that Buffy!'
smile over her shoulder as they left the hall.
Buffy smiled back. She was perfectly content with her guy, thank you very much. She was looking
forward to getting him alone, soon. There was so much they needed to talk
about, and for a few smoochies, of course. It had been a while since she had
had any Giles smoochies and she was ready for more.
Snape and McGonagall left for their respective areas of the castle and Giles and Buffy
followed the headmaster into his office as Wesley, Dawn and Spike vanished round a corner.
The trio's passage to the library led them past many
portraits and Dawn was thoroughly enchanted by the moving pictures. She waved
to the friendlier ones, who called out a greeting when they passed.
Once inside the library the teen was lost for words as she gazed
upon the seemingly endless rows of books. She noticed the librarian
seated at a desk rather similar to her own back at the Council
Building. With a smile on her face, Dawn made her way towards the witch.
The excitement at seeing the library and actually meeting Madam Pince
had made Dawn forget she had two companions. Said companions
were following her towards the librarian and the tiny witch greeted
the three of them enthusiastically. Dawn gathered from the hugs
and exclamations that both Wesley and Spike were frequent visitors to
the library and well liked by Madam Pince.
"This is Dawn Summers," Wesley introduced her, "she holds a very similar position to yourself at
the Watcher's Council."
"Really?" Madam Pince's eyes sparkled with enthusiasm. "I can give you a guided tour if you'd
like?"
"Oh yes! Thank you. I'd love it."
"Just one problem. You will need to put your hair up. Otherwise it will be getting in your way,
if you are reading."
Dawn frowned. She had left her hair loose. Wesley had once said
he liked long hair, and she had no means of tying it back. "Maybe I
can have a piece of string?" She asked.
Madam Pince pulled out a wand and with a murmured spell swished it until Dawn's hair was caught
up in a beautiful arrangement of curls on top of her head. Wesley gaped. The
arrangement suited her. Dawn's slender white neck looked so elegant and
seductive, he could imagine several scenarios in which he could watch her
hair come loose, tumbling around her shoulders. Gods, he loved long hair on a woman.
"Wesley, we've acquired quite a few new demonology texts since
you were here last. Perhaps you'd like to check them out?"
Wesley started out of his reverie and headed off to another part of the
library. In a much quieter voice, she suggested Spike check in the
poetry section, "...and you might like to read the anthologies that
were compiled just after you left us."
Spike stared at her in amazement. What was the witch trying to say? Had they published his
writings? A brief nod and smile from the librarian made him mutter a goodbye to Dawn
and head off in the opposite direction to Wesley.
"Alone, at last. Now let's get on, is there anything in particular you wish to see?"
"All of it! I'm seriously thinking of asking Albus if I can sleep in here."
"I think I'm going to like you, Miss Summers."
"Dawn."
"Rose."
The difference in their ages was forgotten. Both women recognized a kindred spirit in the other
and within moments a strong friendship was being forged.
While Dawn was getting her tour of the library, Buffy and Giles were seated in Albus' office
watching as Fawkes, the headmaster's familiar, went through a spectacular
preening and general showing off display.
"Forgive him," Albus said, "he likes to have a new audience. I'm surprised he hasn't advanced his
burning date just to show you how well he rises again."
"Been there, done that. Twice. Try something else." Buffy quipped to the bird.
With a soft trill, Fawkes flew over to the Slayer and perched on her knees.
Cocking his head he stared steadily into he eyes. Mesmerized, Buffy could not
look away. A great feeling of peace and contentment flowed over her and
silent tears trickled down her cheeks as she felt a peace she had not known
since her exit from Heaven, settle in her heart.
"Thank you, she whispered, her cheeks still damp.
Albus cleared his throat. "Well now let us see if we can make some sense of this business, shall
we?"
After much discussion and theorizing, the three had to admit defeat. They simply
did not know what was going to happen and the general consensus was that they
would have to wait and react as the events happened.
The headmaster showed Buffy and Giles to the guest quarters that had been prepared for their
group. They were in one of the castle towers and each room had it's own
luxurious bathroom attached. Each Knight had been given their own room and
Buffy was very relieved. She loved her sister but it was easier to sneak out
for Giles smooching when Dawn was absent. Dawn didn't mind Buffy being with
Giles. The teen was all for the relationship. Buffy was much easier to live
with when she was happy. It was all the innuendo Dawn seemed to come out
with every time her sister left to spend time with Giles. Buffy
wouldn't mind so much except that all she was getting was some
serious petting, no 'sweaty stuff' as Dawn had so elegantly put it
once. Giles was holding back and to be quite frank Buffy was getting
a little frustrated. She loved him so very much and the time they
spent together was wonderful, but the Slayer was ready for more. She
needed more. She had been having more and more urges to take
their relationship to the next level. She had to seduce her Watcher.
Buffy smiled. It was going be a breeze. Giles was about to see how much his Slayer loved him.
A knock on her door sounded and, at her answering "it's open," Giles entered.
After a loving kiss as his greeting, Giles
informed Buffy that it was nearly dinnertime and they were expected to join
the others in the staff room. It was the holidays and with only four staff
members were in the school for meals it made sense to use the cozier staff
room rather than the Great Hall where meals were usually taken.
Buffy replied with a long, hot, hard kiss that left Giles panting as
she headed to the bathroom to freshen up.
Giles sank down onto her bed. That kiss was a blatant invitation. He shuddered as he relived the
embrace. He had been trying to take it slowly, ease into a physical
relationship. Loving Buffy was the best thing that had ever happened to him
and he hadn't wanted to rush her into anything she wasn't ready for. It
looked as though she was ready now, though, and had told him so, in typical
Buffy fashion, with a kiss that had melted his knees. He decided to move his
plans forward. Tonight. He would make it tonight. Many more kisses like
that, however, and all his good intentions would be thrown to the winds.
He would cave in to her desire and all his careful planning would be
for naught. Shifting nervously as he thought about what was going
to happen later, he waited for Buffy to emerge from the bathroom.
Buffy was making a mental note to check out the sinful looking
sunken tub later for seduction potential. She had a quick wash and,
shaking her hair into an artful display of curls, got ready to put her
plan in action. Serious flirting to commence right now.
Giles was glad the walk to the staff room was a short one. His Slayer was a determined woman
who had set her mind to a course of action and was following it through. No
matter how much he tried to ignore the heated glances and provocative
caresses, his nobility was being slowly and steadily eroded. Thank heavens
there would be company at dinner, otherwise he might just say to hell with
waiting and ravish her on the bloody table.
The staff room was roughly the size of the old High school gymnasium. It had a vast number of
portraits on the walls with oak panelling below them, a huge fireplace which was
surrounded by several comfortable looking armchairs set in cozy groups and a
large rectangular table set across one end of the room.
The staff and remaining Knights were already seated and apparently waiting for them to
arrive before they started to eat. The table was overflowing with food and
Buffy's stomach rumbled appreciatively as she smelt the mouth-watering aromas
emanating from the dishes. She was hungry. Flirting could wait until she'd eaten.
Of course she could flirt and eat. That lobster was so buttery
she would be licking her fingers and if she just happened to look at Giles
while she did? Well, there was no telling what would happen.
They took their places at the table. Dumbledore was at the head with Snape to his
right, Giles and Buffy sat in the two seats down from him. McGonagall was at
the other end and Dawn, Spike and Wesley were seated opposite Severus, Giles and Buffy.
The conversation was flowing nicely when Dawn asked what the
other staff members were doing with their holidays.
"Madame Hooch, our flying instructor, is in Switzerland. She says the views are spectacular."
McGonagall was about to continue but was interrupted by Snape.
'I'm going to shock the little girl's socks off,' he thought.
"Oh yeah, the *views*. I wonder if she's left the bedroom at all, considering who she took with her."
"Who?" Dawn asked intrigued.
"The Gryffindor quiddich captain," he paused for effect, "Hannah Stevens." He was sorely
disappointed as Dawn smiled and said wistfully, "I miss Tara." He looked at Giles.
"Tara?" He asked Giles.
"One of our friends. She was Willow's girlfriend, but sadly she was killed. It was her loss that
made Willow lose her grip on reality and try to end the world."
"Oh, surely she's not that powerful?" Snape snorted and shook his head dismissing the subject.
Dawn's hackles rose. Nice guy, friend of Giles, but no one
dissed Willow like that and got away with it.
"She is too! It was only Xander who stopped her! She knocked out Giles and he had the coven's
magical power, too!"
"Well maybe it was the heat of the moment. No one can be
that powerful without advertising it." Snape's effort at conciliation fell woefully short.
"Well, duh! She's Willow, she doesn't want to be
in the limelight." Dawn tried to explain just how powerful her friend was.
"She's the one who gave the Slayers their powers. She's a goddess now...
hell she could probably bust her way in here if she wanted."
"I seriously doubt that. These wards were set by the strongest Wizards there
have ever been. One slip of a girl can't penetrate their wards." He sat back, gloating.
Dawn turned to her sister for support.
"Buffy, tell him Willow can blast her way in here any time she wants. Old Snapey reckons this
place has all these wards that make it impossible to apparate in or out.
Willow can do it now she's a Goddess with all that power. Can't she?"
Giles answered before Buffy could formulate an answer. "Well,
we haven't really discovered what the limits of Willow's powers are. It is
possible she could, but there is no way to know unless she was to try."
"She did call all those Slayers, Dawn, and she did almost
destroy the world. I'd say she was pretty big with the mojo, but I honestly
don't know." Buffy inwardly wished Willow could, if just to wipe that smirk off Snape's face.
'Buffy? What's wrong?' The Slayer was startled
to hear the aforementioned goddess' voice in her head.
'Willow? Is that you?'
'Yep, little old me. For some reason I seem to be tuned in to all the slayers and I hear them
when they need some help. So what's the trouble? Any evil brewing?'
'Nope, just an old friend of Giles' who says you can't get past the wards to poof in here.' Buffy
smirked at her friend's predictable response.
'Oh he does, does he? Hold on, I'm on my way!'
Giles, noticing Buffy's distraction... she had stopped
flirting... watched as what can only be described as an evil grin crossed
her face. What was his love up to now? He raised an eyebrow in
question and Buffy mouthed back 'Willow'. Giles grinned then and sat back
to enjoy the show. Sev needed to be taken down a peg. He liked the guy but
it was fun to watch him squirm. The grin became a chuckle. Sev wouldn't know
what hit him. Buffy made eye contact with Dawn and smiled at her sister and
mouthed 'she's coming'. Snape, who was totally oblivious to all this was
looking smug, thinking he had won the argument. Dawn's next words made him
think he may have been just a little bit premature with the self-congratulating.
"Oh, boy, you're for it now. She's coming. I hope
she's not pissed with you, you really really don't want to see Willow pissed, it's not pretty."
"I'm shaking in my boots!" Snape's expression clearly conveyed that he wasn't.
"Umm Sev, you might want to re-think that," Giles said.
"Why?"
"Because she's standing right behind you."
All heads turned to look at a petite redhead who was standing in
the middle of the room hands on hips and looking just a bit put out.
"Ok, which one of you thinks I can't get in here?"
"That would be him," Dawn said pointing, to a gaping Snape.
All heads turned to look at a petite redhead who was standing in the middle of the room hands on hips and looking
just a bit put out.
"Ok, which one of you lot thinks I can't get in here?"
"That would be him," Dawn said pointing to a gaping Snape. The smirking teen sat back and waited for the fireworks
to start. Willow got very cranky when her magical ability was questioned.
Inky black eyes locked with sparkling green and the whole room held their collective breaths waiting for the
inevitable clash. They waited, and waited and waited. Willow and Severus continued to stare lost to everything and
everyone, except each other.
Willow was mesmerized by the obsidian eyes that locked with hers. She was falling deeper, deeper into the
darkness, all was black. Suddenly there was a flash of light and she saw a small, slender child curled up on a
window seat reading. Another flash and she saw the same child, a little older, floating a feather with his wand,
his face set in an expression of utter determination. Flash! Flash! Flash! Images of Snape's life coming faster
and faster until the final images which slowed somewhat. The last two sent her heart into her throat. The first
was the moment they were sharing now. She could hear Snape's thoughts as he saw her for the first time. The second
was the biggest shock of all. She was standing in a dark, cosy room with her hands on her obviously pregnant
stomach. The shock was the man behind her caressing her belly. It was Snape.
Snape was in the same position. He had had the memories of Willow's life up to their meeting and he was just as
agitated as her but for a very different reason. The minute he saw the image of the two of them together and the
obvious result of their togetherness, his heart screamed: 'Mine! You're mine!' With this silent exclamation he
snapped back to the present to see Willow looking stunned. He began to rise, intending to confront her, when her
expression cleared and he could see comprehension dawning.
Willow did what any sane, sensible woman would do in such a situation. She gave a slight gasp and elegantly
crumpled to the floor in a dead faint.
* * * * *
"Oh, that was good! You have a weak, vaporous child as your contribution!" The sarcasm was evident. "And I suppose
your petty, juvenile individual is any better?" "Boys! Do not start! We are almost there; the final players are
almost all in place. Let us observe, I think you'll both be surprised at the depths these two have."
* * * * *
Severus was on his feet in a flash and arrived at her side before the others had begun to rise.
"Willow, Willow, can you hear me? Don't do this to me! I need you!" His frantic whispering went unheard by the
rest of the group but as they drew closer his voice rose. "Oh hell! Enervate!"
"Huh? What happened? Whoa, why am I on the floor?"
"You fainted." Severus told her.
"I never, ever faint."
"Sorry, Will, but I have to agree with old Sev here. You fainted. Care to tell us why?" Buffy asked.
"Well..." Willow was very reluctant to share the final image with the group yet. It was obviously a very private
and intimate moment between her and Snape and she felt she really ought to share it with him first. She decided to
go with just some of the truth, for now. "It seems we just read each other's minds, and it kinda overwhelmed me
for a moment." She paused and then turned, eyes flashing, to Snape. "Hey! I don't look like an annoyed pixie
mister!"
"Yes you do an adorable one though, even when you're annoyed."
"Adorable! What the heck is going on here?" Buffy rounded on Snape.
"Yes, an admirable question. Will someone please explain why this young lady can simply appear inside one of the
ost heavily warded sites in Britain? Now." McGonagall said sharply.
Willow stood and faced the Deputy Headmistress looking like a wild woman with her hair mussed up from the visit to
the floor. The rugs on the floor were charged with static electricity and it always played havoc with her hair.
"After waking several hundred Slayers a little thing like getting past some old, outdated wards is easy!"
"Outdated?" Dumbledore inquired mildly.
"Umm yeah. There were several loopholes in the wards. Certain wards moved to let me in. I can rectify that for
you. If you'd like? I can lock this place up tighter than, well... than a... you know I can't think of any thing
really tight but a really tight thing!"
"I can. Peaches, he's tight!" Spike said helpfully.
"Spike!"
"Ewwww!"
"Too much information there Spike, way too much!"
"Oh for fucks sake! I only meant the guy never pays for anything, I swear he's seen more sunlight than his wallet.
You lot just have filthy minds!" Spike smirked then added, "of course his..." A chorus of protest stopped him
elaborating but the smirk and waggled eyebrows told their own story.
"Who is Peaches?" McGonagall asked.
"It's Spike's pet name for Angel," Giles explained with a smirk of his own. "I can't imagine where it came from."
"Simple, it's because his skin... oof!" Spike stopped as a jab in his ribs from Buffy took the wind out of his
sails.
"Can we get back on topic here, please?" The Slayer said refusing to rise to the bait Spike was dangling. "I still
want to know what is going on with you two and the mind-reading stuff."
"Yes, yes, we all need to get to the bottom of this. Let us sit and Miss Rosenberg, perhaps you could explain how
you were able to apparate into this school and why my Potions Master made you faint." Dumbledore ushered them all
towards the armchairs and sofas moving them into a rough circle. Buffy and Giles sat on one sofa and Willow and
Snape, almost unconsciously, sat together and linked hands, on another.
Giles started to pull off his glasses as if to polish them but, spotting McGonagall doing the same, stopped.
"Don't worry, you can if you really need to, I promise I won't tease you, much," Buffy whispered into his ear,
watching in glee when he shuddered as her breath warmed his neck.
Dawn was watching the two couples and wishing she could be part of a pair too. She was seated, after some
deliberate elbowing, in the chair next to Wesley but not *next* to him as the other couples were. 'At least Xander
is still single, we can go do things when the others get too couple-y. Oh shoot we forgot Xander!' She thought.
"Umm Willow, is this important? 'Cos if it is then someone else needs to be here too," Dawn said to her friend.
"Xander! Oh Goddess! He'd feel awful if you all knew and he didn't." The Wicca turned to Dumbledore and asked,
"Can I go get him?" At the answering nod she dropped Snape's hand and disapparated to fetch her best friend.
Snape sat worrying his lower lip as he waited for the most important person in Willow's life to arrive. Having
seen all her memories he was amazed at the strength of the bond between the pair. He wondered what Xander would
make of him, secretly glad the man was unmagical; Severus liked all his parts where they were thank you very much.
Once the future pregnancy became common knowledge he was sure there would be a queue forming to remove some of
them and he rather suspected the young man would be the first in line.
* * * * *
Upon arriving back at the penthouse, Willow looked around for her best friend. Her jaw dropped in amazement at the
sight of an oblivious Xander talking to a chair.
"Umm... so Spike care to explain the off-side rule again? Duh! Dumb-ass he knows you hate soccer. Okay try again.
Spike you have a thing, I have a thing... eep!" Smothered giggles had alerted him to the presence of another
person in the room. "Will ol' buddy, how long have you been standing there?" 'At least it wasn't Spike' he thought
with relief.
"Spike?" Willow asked archly, "I didn't realize you meant it, Xand." At his puzzled look she clarified, "'Gay me
up' ring any bells?"
Xander decided to throw himself on her mercy.
"I've been thinking it over for a while now. You know my track record with women and I just though I'd go for it.
I do need help here though; I don't have a clue how to do this. Will, best friend who's also gay, I need you."
"Umm... okay just give me a moment to stop wigging about the Spike factor... 'kay wiggage done. The first thing
you are going to do is play it cool, no obvious drooling and we have to do something about your wardrobe. Gay men
do not wear Hawaiian shirts with chinos. Trust me on this." A look of glee appeared on her face and Xander
swallowed in apprehension. "I've always wanted to do this!" She squealed and waved her hand at him.
"Willow? I'm not so sure... Wow!"
He was now dressed in a pair of tight, butter-soft black leather trousers with a plain white t-shirt showcasing
his broad chest. A pair of Docs completed the ensemble.
"Whoa, Will, are you sure about this, I look..."
"Hot! The word you are looking for is hot Xand." She sniggered, "Spike won't know what hit him. I can't wait to
see everyone's face when they see the hotness that is Xander."
"Huh? What do you mean 'when they see'? Who's going to see my hotness?"
"Oh yeah, umm... oops… I got sidetracked by the chair thing. I need to take you to Hogwarts. There's been a
development."
"What kind of development?"
"Umm..." She drew a breath and said. "Well I kinda read this guy's mind and now it looks like we're supposed to be
together and he's really really great and I can't wait for you to meet him you'll love him."
"Take a breath Will. Now, who is the guy who's got my best-est buddy all flustered?"
"Severus Snape."
"What! The Greasy Git? Are you sure about this guy? I've seen the films, read the books, hell I actually have a
t-shirt Dawn gave me knocking around here somewhere," Xander said worriedly.
"It's like Giles said, the books are fiction. He's a bit like Giles to tell the truth. They are great pals and
anyone Giles likes is okay with me." She added: "Of course feel free to give the shovel talk, it's your best
friend duty. Just don't actually hurt him; I have plans for his bod."
"Typical! I embrace your alternate lifestyle, with a man who was a vampire I might add, and you go back to planet
hetro. I just hope he's worth it, Will."
She gave a gentle smile and absently caressed her stomach.
"He is. I promise, Xand. Only he could temp me back to loving guys."
"It's love, then? But you've only just met him!"
"That's the point of the mind reading thingy, I know more about him than I do about anyone else, even you."
"Tell me."
Willow was glad her friend was being supportive and told him that she and Snape were going to tell everyone about
the telepathy that afternoon and they thought that he needed to be there too. She added that she was reluctant to
tell everyone everything but was stopped by Xander reminding her that secrets were never a good thing, 'remember
the fluke', and it was better to be honest from the start.
"Thanks, I knew there was a reason I loved you, Xand," she hugged him and continued "and on that note I think we'd
better get back now. They're probably thinking I poofed somewhere and got lost."
Xander's eyes gleamed with excitement.
"Are we poofing there?"
"It is the quickest way."
"Can I? Please, please, please can I?" He begged.
"Go on." Willow said smiling.
"Beam me up Scotty!" He laughed as they disappeared.
"I am neither male nor Scottish, but I'm glad you got to fulfil one of your dreams, Xander Harris!" Willow laughed
as they reappeared in the Staffroom.
* * * * *
Spike snorted and said, "Welcome back Scotty!" He shook his head. 'No Spike you don't really watch Star Trek just
to have something in common with the nummy treat, just look at him, his dress sense was awf... ungh!' Spike did a
spit-take. `Where did Harris get that gear, he looked like pure sex on legs!'
Snape had worried his lip so much it was almost bloody. He was so pleased Xander didn't immediately head in his
direction that he almost missed the reactions of Xander's friends as the pair arrived.
"Wow!" Dawn fanned herself.
"Xander! I'm impressed! Those are Versace pants!"
"*!*"
"The word you are looking for Spike is 'Hot'." Buffy smirked at Spike's two fingered response.
"I must say that look suits you very well Xander."
"Thanks G-man, I'm going with the flow and embracing my new lifestyle, with a little help from the fairy godmother
here." He hugged Willow, "she was the one who dressed me." Noticing the darkly clad man growl and start to rise
Xander hastily said, "by magic, sheesh don't you guys get the fairy godmother bit, although I'm the fairy here not
Will. It seems she's switched sides again."
"Oh sorry Xand, this is Severus, he's the one I was telling you about, Severus this is Xander."
"'Fairy?'" Severus was surprised. Did that mean his closest rival for Willow was a homosexual? Judging from the
other expressions in the room they too were making the connection he had and the results were varied but none
outwardly hostile.
"Yep or, recently out of the closet male, if you prefer. Pleased to meet you Sev. You hurt my Wil and I'll beat
you to death with a shovel, are we clear?"
"Pleased to meet you *Xan* and if I hurt her I'll help you."
"Hee hee, he got the shovel talk! Hey, why didn't I get the shovel talk?"
"We're still fighting for that honour," Willow said. "But don't worry, when we've finished, you will get it."
"I gave Giles the shovel talk, sisterly duty you know." Dawn smirked at Buffy.
"So, Xander, was there anything you wanted to share with us?" Giles asked trying to deflect everybody's interest
away from his love life.
"Yeah, I decided to finally admit why I didn't do too well with women, I prefer men. Is that going to be a problem
for anyone?" He asked nervously glancing around at his friends and grinning when he heard their words of support
and love.
Smiling, McGonagall turned to ask Giles; "Is it always like this?"
"Welcome to the world of the Scoobies; dramatic love lives, occasional apocalypses and never a dull moment.
Guaranteed," Giles answered and was greeted with laughter and smiles.
Willow introduced Xander to the rest of the Hogwarts staff and then pushed him into the nearest sofa with a smirk
before settling back down beside Snape.
Xander was in trouble. The sofa Willow had deposited him on was already occupied. By Spike. Xander swallowed as
his leg brushed the former vampire's. He hoped Spike had lost his heightened sense of smell upon attaining his
humanity because Xander was sure he was giving off some serious 'take me' pheromones. Spike was still speechless
at Xander's new look and the admission of his bisexuality. The former vamp was realising that his dreams of a
Nummy playmate had just gained a major boost. He recovered sufficiently to smirk as he planned the seduction of a
certain edible Scooby.
After a whispered consultation with Willow, Snape related the visions they had seen up to the meeting in the
staffroom. As he paused to take a breath, Willow interrupted.
"There was one other picture and it was the only one of the future." She took hold of Snape's hand and held on for
grim death. "I was pregnant and Severus was holding me."
There was a general outcry at this and Giles raised his voice to ask: "I know you saw it, but how do you know it
is actually going to occur?"
"I don't know, I really don't how I know, but I do… know that is." Willow answered Snape whispered to her "I
wasn't going to tell them that yet."
"I know, but trust me on this, honesty from the start is the best way to go."
Xander, seeing Willow starting to get upset in response to the outbursts that greeted this bombshell, went over to
his friend and knelt, taking free hand in his. Looking into her slightly brimming eyes, he said: "I think you'll
do great, Will. You'll always love your kids, kiss their boo-boos, go to their school plays, drive them to soccer
practice and be an all round wonderful mom." The 'unlike ours' was unspoken but heard by at least seven other
people as Willow broke her death grip on Severus and hugged her best friend, laughing through tears as she nearly
fell on the floor next to him.
"I'm going to be a Mom! Oh Goddess I'm going to be a Mom!" Xander's words made the future image into reality for
the Wicca, "I'm going to be a Mom!" Her face shone with a radiance that communicated her depth of feeling to every
person in the room.
"And I'm going to be a father," Snape stated.
"My God! That's going to be one seriously magicked up kid!" Dawn's comment broke the silence as everyone absorbed
the news of Willow's future pregnancy.
"Dawn!"
"Well it is! Just look who its parents are. Babysitting will be a unique experience!"
* * * * *
"See! And now we have the final player. I wonder if he knows."
"He hasn't got a clue, just as well really."
"Why?"
"Think how you would react to being told you were the most important mortal in the whole world?"
"Get very, very drunk!"
"Amen to that sister!"
"It's time, ladies."
"At last!"
* * * * *
There was a loud *pop* and four people, two men and two ladies, in full wizarding regalia appeared in the
staffroom.
"Ahh welcome, welcome." Dumbledore greeted the four wizards. "It is so nice to see you outside of your portraits."
"Thank you Headmaster." One of the witches answered. "We are here to help you in your endeavours and when we
discovered the Neutral was here in Hogwarts we decided to appear in person to greet him as his position demands."
They all turned to face Xander and as one bowed or curtsied.
"Blessings to you." They all intoned together as the young man sat confused at their actions.
"Umm… Thanks, I guess. Why are you blessing me?"
One of the women answered him. "It is the correct way to greet the Neutral, and that is why we greeted you in that
fashion. You are the Neutral."
Everyone looked at Dumbledore expecting an explanation of the title. He was however unable to help confessing that,
whilst vast, his knowledge contained no reference to a Neutral in any shape or form. The four wizards summoned a
chair each and sat down among the group.
"Would you care for some refreshment?" Dumbledore asked.
"Thank you but no. We may appear corporeal to you all but we are in fact as insubstantial as the other spirits in
the school."
Noticing the confusion on some of the faces watching the scene unfolding in front of them the darker haired wizard
said. "Forgive us, we haven't introduced ourselves. I'm afraid the actual presence of the Neutral overrode our
usual manners. This is Salazar Slytherin, Rowena Ravenclaw, Helga Hufflepuff and I am Godric Gryffindor. We are
projecting this image to make it easier to shed what little light we can on the recent events. Helga my dear, if
you would begin."
"Of course Godric, Mr Harris, may I call you Xander?"
"Oh yeah, Mr Harris is my dad, I'm just plain Xander."
"Well then, Xander," she smiled, "is, as we said before, the Neutral. The Neutral is a non-magical human being.
There is no telling, however, how the Hellmouth has affected him and it will be very interesting to see how his
Neutral status develops in the coming events. I said Xander has no magic, basically he will never be able to
perform magical tasks but as the Neutral he is a vital part of the magical process. All magic is drawn from all
around us: the earth, air and water. Every time a spell is cast the witch or wizard draws an infinitesimal amount
of magical energy from everything around them, with the exception of other wizards, of course. This energy is
uncontrolled and this is where you come in, Xander. All the energy has to be gathered together for the spell, it
also has to be sufficient strength for the spell being cast. All the energy flows into you and you correlate and
distribute it as it is needed. You always hold an amount of magical energy in reserve, so to speak, in case there
is not enough magical power for the spell being cast and you need to add extra to the gathered amount. You do this
without knowing. In fact, if it wasn't for the present situation, it is certain you would never have found out
about being the Neutral at all.
"Wow! Hey, what happens if I die?"
"Then another Neutral will be created without their knowledge. For some reason you were identified by a strong
magical signature that is usually absent in the Neutral."
"Would that explain why he's always clumsy and things go wonky around him?" Willow asked.
"Yes it could, the Hellmouth affects magic in different ways, tell me, do you attract demons?"
"The man's a walking demon magnet." Spike said shaking his head slightly. Was that why he was attracted to the
young man? He snuck a look at the young man in question. `Nope; it was `Xander' he was attracted to not the
magic.'
"Don't worry Xand; I'll magic you up a shield or something. We'll stop the magic leakage no problem."
"Thanks Will."
Salazar cleared his throat. "It is getting late and we really must press on. Xander are you happy with your
explanation?"
"Yeah, although when it sinks in I may have a major wiggins, but for now I'm good thanks."
"I wouldn't blame you at all." Salazar answered, then continued, "Miss Rosenberg," Willow opened her mouth as if
to speak, "Willow," she smiled, "This concerns you and Severus. Your explanation is simple; you two truly are two
halves of the same soul. That is the plain truth; you are destined to be together."
"We will be, won't we?" Willow asked Severus.
"Yes, we will."
"Forever?"
"Forever."
"Wait a minute! Did you two just get engaged?" Buffy asked.
"Did we?"
"Yes Willow my dear, we did." The newly engaged couple shared a tender gaze and then turned back to Salazar.
"That's wonderful news. I'm sure you two will have a long and happy life together. We are running out of time, the
four of us have to go back to the other side soon." He warned and turned to speak to Rowena. "The next part is
your territory, Ro."
"Thank you, Sal. Willow, the reason you can apparate into the school past the wards is simple. When we first
warded the buildings we left a small loophole in the initial wards. Any one of us could pass through them. We
failed to foresee that this would mean anyone descended from us would also be able to apparate in and out at will.
You my dear are descended from myself, Godric and Helga. That is probably the reason you were such a strong Wicca
before you became so much more; we were three out of four of the strongest wizards of our time and for some reason
you have the ability to tap into our powers and more."
"Wow! That's like wizarding royalty, Will!" Xander joked at his friend.
"Of course we do have more than one descendant." Rowena continued, smiling at the Neutral's humour.
"You mean anyone who is descended from the four founders can apparate into Hogwarts? That is slightly worrying."
Albus said frowning.
"I wouldn't be too concerned Headmaster there a very small number of our descendants still living. In actual fact
there are only six in total." Rowena paused, the gleam in her eye prompted Giles to groan and say, "Let me guess,
they are all in this room, correct?"
"Astonishing! However did you know that?" Minerva asked.
"Experience." He replied dryly.
"You are quite correct Rupert. Five people in this room, plus Willow, of course, are our numerous great
grandchildren. I'll tell you who you are and who you are related to and then we can discuss it in the remaining
time before we return. Willow you already know your names. Severus," no one was surprised at this revelation, "you
have Salazar as your ancestor, Minerva you have Godric and myself, William," Spike's face was a picture of
surprise, "you have Helga and Salazar, and finally…" everyone was thinking the same thing: there were only four
names and she had said there was six people, "… Buffy and Dawn, you have Godric and Salazar."
"My God! No wonder I had so much trouble with you two!" Giles burst out.
Amid the laughter this comment produced Minerva said to the Watcher, "I'm glad to see we get the fate we deserve Rupert, but
be thankful, Severus's child will have the traits of all four founders, think on that."
It was obvious that several people did after they'd heard her and Snape groaned.
"Uh uh. No backing out now mister. We're in this together." Willow was also shocked but privately felt that having
to put up with Xander growing up, and Jesse, she could handle the magical prodigy her union with Severus would
produce. She hoped.
The Founders were starting to look a little insubstantial. As if realising their time was growing short Godric
addressed the whole room. "We will try to appear again as we are needed but I'm afraid this experience has been
very draining for us all. If you have any questions we will gather in the Headmaster's painting everyday at about
this time and we will give you what help we can. Is that acceptable to you all?"
Nods and verbal agreements answered him and the four bade the others goodbye as the Founders faded from sight.
"What a night!" The Headmaster said.
"Minor understatement there, if I may say Albus," Wesley said as the others burst into relieved laughter. It had
been quite a night.
Several new facts had come to light and there was much to discuss. A reminder from the clock on the mantelpiece
however delayed the inevitable dialogue. `Time for bed' was starting to move onto: `What on earth are you doing
awake at this hour!' Everyone made motions towards their rooms and the comfort their beds offered. Several though
had no intention of actually *staying* in said beds. Too much had been revealed and too many emotions were running
high. It was going to be a very interesting night.
* * *