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Chapter Six
I’m The Slayer Harry woke up the next morning excited about the first day of classes, something that wasn’t a common occurrence. But he never had exciting classes with cool teachers to look forward to before. Last night he and Ron had dropped Trelawney’s divination class in favor of one of the new electives. Ron was going to take the wiccan magic class with Hermione. Although Harry suspected Ron’s eagerness to take the class had more to do with Hermione than with the actual course. He had noticed the looks his friend had been giving her lately, and they weren’t just in a friendly nature. He shook his head ruefully, like he had room to talk. He was going to take the Demonology Classification with Dawn and Ginny. He had heard that Professor Giles had requested they mixed years and houses up for his class. Harry hoped that he would be in class with both Dawn and Gin. Harry sighed as he ran his hand through his unruly hair, Dawn and Ginny. He admitted he was quite infatuated with Dawn, but who could blame him. They had grown so close over the summer and had shared so many secrets. She was so smart, but never showed off her intelligence. She had a thirst for life, to enjoy it to its fullest. Plus, the fact that she was gorgeous didn’t hurt either. But when Ginny had arrived last week, he had felt a little flutter in his heart. Merlin, she had changed over the summer. Gone was the shy, gangly girl he had known since his second year. In her place was a vibrant, beautiful woman. She no long blushed in his presence and was much surer of herself. It made him wonder what had brought on these changes and why they even mattered to him. “Oy, Harry, you up?” Ron asked as he climbed out of bed. “Yeah, you’re awake early.” “I know, it’s weird. I think Hermione has rubbed off on me. I’m actually looking forward to class.” “Me too. It was bound to happen you know. We have been giving her all of our bad habits, so we were bound to pick up one or two of her good ones.” “Yeah, but did it have to be her desire for class?” Ron asked with a frown. Harry chuckled. “Let’s get ready and go eat breakfast.” Ron’s eyes lit up. “Now there’s a reason to get up early.” *********** In the Gryffindor girl’s prefect’s room, Hermione and Ginny were also getting ready. Their roommate, Cecily Adara the seventh year prefect, had already headed down to breakfast. “I hope I have DADA first.” Ginny said with a sigh. “You really have a thing for Spike don’t you?” Hermione asked with a laugh. “Oh come on ‘Mione. You can’t tell me that you haven’t noticed how handsome he is. I know you’re not blind ‘cause I remember how you lusted after Lockhart.” “I did not lust after Lockhart. I just found him extremely handsome.” “Yeah, whatever. Ron told me how you had answered every question correctly on his quiz about himself.” “Like you weren’t obsessed over him, too?” “Actually, I wasn’t. I was too wrapped up in Harry, if you’ll recall.” “Ahh, I see. Now instead of lusting after Harry, you’re now lusting over Spike.” Ginny blushed and ducked her head. “I’m not lusting after Spike, I know he’s with Professor Summers. I just don’t see what’s wrong with admiring him.” “And what about Harry?” Ginny sighed and crossed to the window. She paused for a moment before she answered. “Don’t get me wrong, I’m still attracted to him, but I’ve finally come to terms with a few things. I don’t think he’ll ever stop seeing me as Ron’s little sister or as just a friend. I’m grateful that he loves me as friend, even if he’ll never see me as anything more. Besides, I think he likes Dawn.” Hermione’s heart broke for her redheaded friend. She knew how she felt, cause she was dealing with some of those same emotions herself. She doubted that Ron would ever see her as anything more than a friend either. She had seen no evidence to dispute that, so she had kept her feeling carefully hidden. She crossed to Ginny and hugged her. They both stood looking out the window before returning to finish getting ready in silence. ************ During breakfast Hermione had to keep restraining herself from rolling her eyes as she listened to Ron and Harry talk about quidditch. The conversations had become nearly intolerable after Ron had made the house team as a chaser last year, along with Seamus Finnigan. What had amazed her was that Dawn was enraptured by the conversation. Hermione wasn’t even sure that Dawn knew how to fly, let alone knew what quidditch was. “So, who else is on the house team?” Dawn was asking. “Talan Stottlemire is the other chaser and Caleb Andrews is the keeper.” Ron answered. “What about the beaters?” Dawn asked. Apparently she knows more about quidditch than I had thought. Then Hermione remembered that Dawn had spent a good deal of time with Harry over the summer, it would have been inevitable that she would have learned about the game. “We need to hold tryouts for those positions cause our former beaters, Fred and George, graduated last year. McGonagall and I will make the final decision.” Harry explained. “Why do you get a say in it?” “Cause I’m captain this year.” Harry said with some pride. Before Hermione thought her head would explode with any more quidditch talk, McGonagall stopped by with their new class schedules. They sat in silence for a few moments while they perused their own papers. “We have muggle defense followed by potions this morning, great. My good mood from my first class will be squashed by my second.” Harry grumbled. “Hey, maybe we’ll have muggle defense with Slytherins and get to kick their ass!” Ron said, rather loudly. “Ron!” “Sorry, ‘Mione. I got a little excited.” He said sheepishly. “Well, it is possible, Ron. But I doubt even Dumbledore would do that. There are too many chances of students getting seriously injured.” “Yeah, you’re probably right.” Ron said glumly. “But we do have a double wiccan magic class in the afternoon.” Hermione’s heart almost burst when he flashed a large smile in her direction. “When do you guys have demonology?” Ginny asked. “I have it this afternoon, what about you, Harry?” Dawn replied. “Me too.” He looked at Ginny, who smiled and nodded. Great! Wait, not great. Both objects of his affections would be sharing a class with him. “So, when do you have DADA, Ginny?” Hermione asked, with the slightest hint of a smirk on her face. Ginny blushed lightly. “This morning after herbology. I don’t have muggle defense until tomorrow.” “Oh! It’s almost time for class. We’d better go.” “’Mione, class doesn’t start for another twenty minutes.” “I know, Ron. But I don’t want to be late. Dawn said Professor Summers and Spike had something special planned for the first class and I want to make sure I get a good seat.” With that she headed out of the hall. The rest sat there and thought about it for a second before they quickly got up to follow her. ********* Buffy entered her classroom and suppressed a smile. She should have known that those four would be the first ones to arrive for class. Ron, Hermione, Harry, and Dawn had seated themselves on the mats and sat there smiling expectantly at her. Only Harry and Dawn were in sweats, the other two were still in their robes. Buffy, herself, had opted for a pair of gray sweats and a white tank top and her feet were bare. She had pulled her blond hair up in a messy ponytail to keep it out of her face. She looked up as Spike walked in the room and she felt the familiar twinge in her stomach that she had long associated with him Spike had also forgone robes and was wearing his normal black t-shirt and jeans. He took off his boots and strolled over to the window. Buffy had noticed that although he had been able to walk in the sun for nearly two months now, it hadn’t curbed his fascination with it. She looked away from her lover when she heard a commotion at the door. Her eyes narrowed as she recognized the cause, Draco Malfoy. She had been wary of Dumbledore’s decision to place Slytherins and Gryffindors in her class together, knowing the animosity they held for each other. But she had learned in the past two months that when Dumbledore made up his mind there was no changing it. She just hoped that the students wouldn’t kill each other. Buffy had also heard the stories about Draco. Spike had seemed pretty familiar with the family, saying they had been involved with the black arts, even when he had been a student here. The Malfoys were trouble. They held themselves above the rest of the wizarding community, and Draco seemed like no exception. Buffy smiled inwardly, Let’s just see how far that holier than thou attitude will take you in my class. The petite slayer couldn’t help but grin as she noticed how the houses sat on opposite sides of the room with a definite path between them. After everyone had gotten seated she quickly called role. After noting that everyone was there, she began. “My name is Buffy Summers. Don’t call me Professor ‘cause I probably won’t answer, I’ll just look around to see who you’re talking to. Just call me Buffy. “As you’ve already heard from Dumbledore, I am the current slayer. Does anyone know who the slayer is?” Harry, Dawn, Hermione, and Ron’s hands shot up. “Besides you four?” Buffy knew that Dawn had already told them most of what had happened in her life. She looked around and no one else seemed to have the slightest clue. “Gees, I thought the American system was lacking. All right Ron, who is the slayer?” “She’s a girl who has enhanced speed and strength so she can fight vampires. There can be only one, and when she dies another is called.” “Good. Ten points for Gryffindor. Now who can tell me what a vampire is?” The same four raised their hands and Buffy rolled her eyes. “Anyone else?” She saw a hand raise on the Slytherin side, she raised an eyebrow. “Yes, Mr. Malfoy.” “A vampire is a demon that animates a dead human. It looks like a normal human, but really isn’t. They drink blood to survive and cannot walk in the sun.” “Very good. Ten points for Slytherin. Now, how do you kill a vampire?” Again the four hands went up and Buffy gave up. “Dawn.” Dawn’s eyes lit up and she began excitedly, “Well, there are several different ways. The two most common ways are a wooden stake through the heart or decapitation. But you could also set them on fire, or douse them with enough holy water. The easiest way to do that is with a super soaker and.” “That’s enough, thanks Dawn.” Most of the students were looking at Dawn with wide eyes. It was obvious that she had had experiences fighting vampires. “Now I’m sure most of you are wondering why you have to take this class.” There was a loud grumble from the Slytherins. “It’s very simple.” Then Buffy and Spike proceeded with the same demonstration that they had shown Harry several months earlier. When they had finished, all but Dawn and Harry were sitting there in amazement. “The next question to answer is why is Spike helping me with this class. I have to have someone to spar with and to demonstrate moves with that I don’t have to worry about hurting. Now, without help from the peanut gallery.” Buffy said, looking at four specific Gryffindors. “Who would like to guess why I can fight with Spike?” Everyone looked at Buffy with blank expressions. Harry and Dawn smiled at each other, they knew what was coming. Buffy and Spike shared a look, then she turned back to the class. “He’s a vampire.” “But that’s impossible!” Draco yelled. “He’s standing in sunlight! You said they couldn’t do that!” Spike brought his demon face forward, and the students screamed. He quickly put his human mask back and waited for the students to calm down. He caught Harry and Dawn smirking at him. “How is it possible?” Gasped one Gryffindor. “Easy, ducks. Albus gave me an earring that allows me to walk in the sun. As for why I’m not killing you? I changed a long time ago, I work for the Powers That Be now.” “The Powers That Be?” asked Neville. “Yeah, we’ll go into that during DADA. Now, don’t tell anyone else who I am till next week. Each class needs to see me to understand. Got it?” They all nodded. “Take it away, luv.“ Buffy smiled at him, then turned back to the class. “If you want to learn why I trust him and haven’t staked him yet, I’m sure we can arrange a meeting with all who wish to know the story one weekend. But as for right now, you are still in my class. “From now on you need to wear clothes you can move in. Similar to mine or Spike’s, or even Dawn and Harry’s. You will be expected to work in this class, and you will sweat, a lot. But if you take it seriously, it can save your life one day. For the last several minutes of class, Spike and I will do another demonstration, this one with no wands. You guys might want to move, we have a tendency to get a little carried away.” After everyone stood and stepped out of the way, against the walls, Spike turned to Buffy. “Ready to dance, slayer?” “Always.” With that Buffy launched herself at Spike. They traded blows and kicks, neither really getting the upper hand. “Wicked. It’s almost as if they are dancing.” Ron said. “This is nothing, they’re just playing. If they were really sparring, it would be harder to follow their movements.” Dawn said, her eyes never leaving them. She loved to watch them fight, it was almost like poetry in motion. After Buffy landed a kick that knocked Spike across the room they stopped. Buffy looked at everyone with a smile, she wasn’t even breathing hard. “If you practice hard, one day you will be able to move like we just did. Class is excused.” Everyone but Neville exited the class talking excitedly. “Can I help you?” Buffy asked as Spike put his boots back on. “Were you serious about people becoming as good as you?” “What’s your name again?” “Neville Longbottom.” Buffy recognized the name from some of Harry’s stories. “Listen, Neville. You may never acquire my speed and strength because they were a gift to me from the PTB. But you can get faster, stronger and more sure of yourself through my class. The more you put into it, the more you’ll get out of it.” “Buff, I’m heading to class.” Spike called. “Ok hon, have fun.” “Always.” He replied with a smirk then he ducked out. “Do you really want to learn Neville?” He nodded his head. “Tell you what. Meet me here every night at seven and I’ll give you some extra help. I meet with Dawn and Harry at that time also.” Neville’s face broke out into the biggest smile Buffy had ever seen. “I’ll be there professor.” She shot him a mock glare. “I mean Buffy.” “All right, go on to your next class. I’ll see you tonight at seven.” Previous Chapter The Slayer... Menu Next Chapter |
