Harry Potter and the Vampire Slayer
The Letter
Chapter Fourteen
by: Miss Witch
Rated PG
Summary: Giles gets mail. It's not happy mail.
Disclaimer: I know nothing, I own nothing. Blah, blah, blah. Don't sue!
Spoilers: This takes place before Season 4 of Buffy, and after -Goblet of Fire
Distribution: If you've had my permission before, knock yourself out. If you don't have my permission, you've just to ask.
Feedback: Feedback feeds my Muse. A well-fed Muse is a happy Muse. And a happy Muse means that I write more. So, the more feedback I get, the more I write.
Buffy groaned in protest as her pillow carefully disengaged itself from her.
"I have class." Giles whispered as Buffy reached out to pull him back into the bed.
"It's too early." she grumbled, her eyes still closed. Smiling Giles leaned over and kissed her gently. Buffy lazily draped her arm around Giles' neck, holding him close. Pulling away, Giles brushed his fingers over Buffy's cheek.
"Sleep some more then." he suggested. Huffing, Buffy propped herself up on her elbows and shook her hair out of her eyes.
"It's no fun if you're not in bed with me." she pouted sleepily. Buffy's gaze followed Giles around the room as he pulled his robe on over his naked frame. "Shame to cover that body up." she called as he walked to the bathroom. Buffy smiled as Giles muttered something she was sure was very British under his breath. Gathering Giles' pillow close, Buffy rested her head on it, breathing in his scent.
The routine had been the same every morning since the first time they'd made love. Giles would 'accidentally' jostle her awake as he slipped out of bed. She would grumble about being woken and then watch Giles get ready for the day. Some mornings, she'd join him in the bath, but mostly, she just enjoyed the view.
Buffy smiled to herself as she rubbed her cheek against the pillow, her eyes drifting closed. She could hear Giles singing as he bathed. Buffy wished he'd sing more. He only did it when he thought she couldn't hear him. Recognizing the song Giles was singing, Buffy hummed along.
If someone had told Buffy a year ago that she'd end up falling in love with her Watcher, she would've thought they were insane. But now, Buffy couldn't imagine her life without Giles in it. Rolling onto her back, Buffy stared up at the ceiling and smiled. Having a non-evil boyfriend was definitely of the good.
Making her decision, Buffy threw off the bedcovers. She didn't bother with her robe as she slipped into the bathroom. Giles stopped singing abruptly as he looked up from the tub at Buffy's naked body.
"I have class this morning." he repeated as Buffy slid silently into the water. She smiled knowingly.
"I know." Buffy wrapped her body around his, nipping softly at Giles' neck. "I won't make you late." she promised. Water splashed as Giles moved suddenly, pulling Buffy even closer.
"Ah, to hell with it." he muttered, covering Buffy's mouth with his own.
++++++++++++++++++
Giles studied his notes as he ate his breakfast. Since the attack of Fyarl demons on the castle, Defense of Dark Arts had become a very serious class. Buffy had not been pleased when she'd had to demonstrate the effects of various curses and hexes. Especially since it had required her to submit to the curses. She'd been the obvious choice, since her Slayer training endowed her with the strength of mind and body to throw them off.
Willow, however, had been in her element. She'd been thrilled when Giles had asked her to help with these exercises. Secretly, she'd confided to Giles that it was kind of fun to curse Buffy. Giles had chuckled and suggested that it'd probably be for the best if she didn't say that to Buffy.
Today, Giles planned to have the student practice blocking the curses. Hermione, Harry and all the Weasley's had already proved more than adept at cursing each other. Harry had explained that they'd practiced last year in preparation for the final task of the Tri-Wizard Tournament.
Giles looked up from his notes as Buffy streaked into the hall, her robe billowing behind her. She waved at him enthusiastically as she slid into the seat next to Willow, a smug look on her face. Giles could only assume that he had a matching look on his own. Buffy piled her plate high with food and began to eat, joining in the conversation with the other Gryffindors.
The rumble of conversation quieted as owls flooded into the hall from the windows above. Giles grinned as he saw Harry's owl drop a package in Buffy's lap. Buffy was always delighted when she got mail from home.
Hedwig had taken it upon herself to travel to America several times a month. Harry didn't seem to mind. In fact, he seemed relieved that Hedwig had something to do beyond carrying notes to Hagrid's hut. Giles had considered getting Buffy an owl of her own for Christmas, which was rapidly approaching. He'd suggested it to Buffy, but she'd grown quite attached to the snowy white bird and said she didn't want to hurt Hedwig's feelings. [Maybe next year.] Giles thought. [She might want one once we're back in Sunnydale.]
Giles frowned at the thought of going back to Sunnydale. Realistically, Giles knew that at the end of this year, he and Buffy would return to the Hellmouth. He'd be lying if he didn't admit, at least to himself, that he wondered what would happen to his relationship with Buffy once they returned to the non-magical world.
Lost in his thought, Giles didn't notice the feathered bird flying towards him. He leaned back in surprise as a large, tawny barn owl swooped down and dropped a letter in front of him before flying away. He couldn't imagine who was writing to him. Wesley had already sent his weekly report on the Hellmouth. Unless, of course, Buffy had told her mother about their relationship, and she'd written a blistering letter giving him a piece of her mind. [At least it's not a howler.] Giles thought as he picked up the envelope and studied the unfamiliar handwriting. Turning it over, Giles' breath caught in his chest as he saw the seal embossed on the back.
Standing abruptly, Giles hurried from the hall.
++++++++++++++++
Buffy squealed with glee when Hedwig dropped the package into her lap. She gave the owl a piece of bacon and patted her head before Hedwig flew away.
"Whatcha get?" Willow asked in interest as Buffy turned the package over. Quickly, she tore off the brown wrapping paper that covered the box.
"A package from my mom." Buffy answered as the box tumbled into her lap. Opening it, Buffy laughed out loud. Nestled inside was a round cookie canister that Buffy knew all too well. It was the ugliest thing Buffy had ever seen. Her mother had been trying to get rid of it for as long as Buffy could remember, filling it with cookies and giving it to various people over the years. And every single time, it had been returned. It drove her mother nuts. Snickering to herself, Buffy vowed to fill the canister with some wizarding snacks and send it back. Buffy grinned, imagining the look of horror on her mother's face when it came back. Lifting off the lid, Buffy sighed in delight.
"Cookies." Buffy held out the canister, offering the treats to the others. Everyone but Xander shook their heads, full from breakfast. Xander, however, reached out and snatched a cookie from the can.
"Mmmm, chocolate chip." he mumbled around the cookie. "Your mom makes the best cookies." Xander complimented. Replacing the lid, Buffy glanced up at the teacher's table, looking for Giles. She wanted to share her delight at receiving the package from home. Buffy's smile faded a bit as she realized Giles wasn't where she expected him to be. Confused, Buffy looked around the hall, searching for him. But Giles was nowhere to be seen. Frowning, Buffy shrugged, disappointed that he'd left without saying anything to her. At the very least, he usually caught Buffy's eye before he left the room. They normally walked to class together. Sighing, Buffy replaced the lid on the cookie canister.
+++++++++++++++++
Giles paced the floor of Dumbledore's office in agitation. He'd come directly to the headmaster's office from the Great Hall and shown him the letter.
"They can't do this." Giles declared, pointing at the letter on Dumbledore's desk. Adjusting his half-moon glasses, Dumbledore picked up the offending paper and scanned it, his eyes flat and cold. "I won't allow them to do this. I won't!" Giles ranted angrily.
"I received something similar this morning." Dumbledore told him, holding the letter out to Giles. Giles snatched the paper, crumpling it in his hand. "Rupert, sit. Please." Dumbledore requested wearily, gesturing at a heavy chair. He waited as Giles paced a few more steps before finally sitting in the chair. "Rupert," Dumbledore said softly. "I will do everything in my power to prevent this." Dumbledore gestured at the crumpled letter in Giles' hand. "They have no authority here." Giles opened his mouth to reply, but was interrupted by a knock at the door.
Exchanging a glance with the professor, Giles stood, his spine stiff, as Dumbledore spoke.
"Come in."
++++++++++++++++
Buffy scurried down the hall to class, late because she'd taken the canister of cookies up to her room. Sliding around a corner, Buffy dodged some first year students and burst into Giles' classroom, an apology on the tip of her tongue.
The apology died, unspoken, as she stared at the waiting class. Everyone was seated quietly at their desks, but Giles wasn't in the room. Buffy stared at his empty desk for a moment, before searching out Willow's confused gaze. The two girls stared at each other, neither having an explanation for the other.
Buffy whirled as the door opened behind her. Professor McGonagall bustled into the room, giving Buffy a sympathetic look as she passed by.
"Ladies and Gentlemen," Professor McGonagall said, raising her voice above those of the students. "due to unforeseen circumstances, Defense of Dark Arts will be cancelled for the day."
There was a rumble of disappointed voices as the class began to gather up their books. Harry, Ron and Hermione exchanged concerned glances as they walked toward Buffy. Willow, Xander and Oz had already gathered around the Slayer, their voices a low murmur. Buffy shook her head in response to whatever Xander had asked her.
"No, he didn't say anything about canceling class." Buffy murmured. Harry caught movement out of the corner of his eye, turning as Professor McGonagall strode toward the group.
"Buffy," she said shortly, ignoring the rest of the group. "I need you to come with me." The professor fixed the rest of the group with a glare. "I'm sure the rest of you have other places to be." The group nodded, surprised by the professor's harsh tone, and moved away. Professor McGonagall took Buffy by the arm, leading her down the hallway.
"Professor, is Giles ok?" Buffy asked in concern as they hurried down the corridor. As far as Buffy was concerned, the only times Giles hadn't shown up for his classes were when something was very wrong. "He didn't eat any chocolate or anything, did he?" Professor McGonagall's mouth thinned into a grim line.
"Professor Giles is fine." she said shortly, but offered no further explanations. They came to a halt in front of the gargoyle that guarded Professor Dumbledore's office. Buffy turned to look at the professor. "Ice mice." McGonagall said, before Buffy could say anything. She gave Buffy a look of sympathy. "Just remember to keep your temper." McGonagall advised, nudging Buffy toward the rotating staircase.
Buffy stepped on to the stairs, glancing at Professor McGonagall's face as she rose. The professor's face was a mixture of concern and anger, which heightened Buffy's sense of anxiety. Buffy couldn't help but feel that she was woefully unprepared for what awaited her.
At the top of the stairs, Buffy hopped off the moving stairwell, and walked toward Dumbledore's office. Taking a deep breath, Buffy knocked loudly.
"Enter." Dumbledore's voice was loud and strong. Unsure what to expect, Buffy pushed the door open and strode into the office.
Professor Dumbledore sat at his desk, his face grim. The twinkle that normally shone from his eyes was gone. Instead, they met hers seriously. Even Fawkes the phoenix seemed to be regarding her somberly. Giles sat in a heavy chair next to Dumbledore's desk, his hands gripping the arms of his chair. Buffy tore her gaze away from his white knuckles to his face. Giles' normally expressive face was cold and set. Buffy could read the anger in his expression. It reminded her of the day that he'd discovered that Angel had come back from hell.
Fervently, Buffy hoped that she hadn't once again done something to earn Giles' wrath. His eyes were green and sharp, but softened as they met hers. Buffy gave a soft sigh of relief. Whatever had made Giles angry hadn't been done by her.
"Buffy." Professor Dumbledore's voice brought Buffy's attention back to him. He opened his mouth to continue, but he was interrupted.
"Miss Summers. It's a pleasure to see you again." Buffy froze at the arrogant, yet familiar voice. She saw the rage flit across Giles' face, quickly tamped down. Slowly, Buffy turned to face the men sitting in a row of chairs behind her. She took one look at the man who had spoken to her and shook her head.
"Oh, hell no!" Buffy declared angrily. She'd taken two steps toward the door when Giles' stopped her. Rising from the chair with incredible swiftness, he'd caught her by the arm.
"Buffy." he said softly. "Please sit down." Buffy spun and stared at him in disbelief and anger. She started to snarl at him, but stopped when she saw his clenched jaw. It was clear that he was just as angry about their visitors as she was. Closing her eyes, Buffy took a deep breath in a bid for self-control. "I need you to stay." Giles whispered softly.
Buffy nodded, her eyes bright with angry tears. She didn't want to be here. She certainly didn't want to be in the same room as these people. But Buffy understood that if ever she needed to act like an adult, now was the time. Very deliberately, Buffy walked over to the chair Giles had vacated and sat down. Giles stood behind her, his hand resting on her shoulder. Dumbledore quickly magicked a third chair, bringing it to rest next to Buffy's. Giles sat silently, lifting his chin defiantly as Buffy reached out to lace her fingers through his.
Buffy glared at the three men seated across from her. She only recognized one of them, but that was enough for her to dislike the others just on principle. She barely gave the other two men a glance before bringing her gaze back to the man sitting directly across from her.
He'd grown a goatee in the year since she'd last seen him, which, in her opinion, only made him look even more evil. He watched her with satisfaction, as if he had her right where he wanted her.
"Well, now that we're all settled, we can begin." he said, smiling a smug smile. Buffy's eyes narrowed in disgust.
"What exactly do you want, Quentin?"
TBC…