Author's Note: For the purposes of this story Hogwarts is in England. I've also taken certain liberties with Giles' past and his character traits.
Chapter 7: When Evil Meets Evil
"Voldemort's planning something…something big." Harry was explaining to Buffy as the four of them were walking towards the Gryffindor Common Room.
"He's that evil wizard, right?"
Harry nodded, "Yeah, and Dumbledore's being extremely secretive this year." Harry grumbled. Buffy could tell he was getting frustrated.
"Perhaps, he's just trying to protect you; or maybe he thinks there's a spy in the castle." She suggested; thinking about Dumbledore's protective nature, made her think about Giles. So deep in thought, Buffy didn't notice a figure step out to stand in their way.
"A spy?" he stated, "Give me a break." He scoffed.
Buffy narrowed her eyes, "Get lost." She all but growled at him. She was SO not in the mood for this.
The boy grinned at her, but didn't move. "Name's Malfoy…Draco Malfoy."
Buffy crossed her arms over her chest and proceeded to brush past him. He grabbed her arm, "You should be careful. This castle is dangerous."
Before anyone could react, Buffy punched Draco, forcing him to hit the wall. He stood, glaring at her. "You should be nice to me…I know some very powerful wizards."
"Ask me if I care." She turned to face her new friends, "Come on, guys, let's go."
They laughed at the startled look on Draco's face and headed off down the hall with Buffy. "Before you leave this castle, I shall know your name and you will respect me."
Buffy didn't respond as the whole encounter drudged up thoughts of Giles. She never knew how much she could miss him, until he wasn't there. She couldn't stop the tears from trailing down her cheeks.
"That was bloody brilliant." Ron was grinning like the Cheshire cat.
Hermione looked over and could see that Buffy was crying. "What's the matter?"
Buffy wiped at her eyes, before responding, "It's nothing…" She tried to wave away her concern.
"Something's there. Please, I just want to help."
Just like Willow, always willing to help. Buffy smiled slightly, but still the tears came. "It's just…well, my birthday's in a few days…" She couldn't finish as the tears came more steadily. The thought of not being with Giles broke her heart, more than any words could express. "I miss him." She whispered almost too quietly for the others to hear.
"Who?" Ron inquired.
The more she thought about him, the harder it became for her to talk. She wiped at her eyes and nose, "I'm sorry…it just…"
"Hurts," Harry supplied when Buffy faltered.
Buffy nodded as they approached the entrance to the common room. Buffy looked on in surprise as it turned out to be a picture of a fat lady. Hermione gave the password and they all entered. "Don't worry, Buffy. We'll figure something out." Harry tried to console her, to no avail. "If you ever need to talk…" Harry and Ron waved goodbye and they went their separate ways.
"See you in the morning!" Ron called after the girls.
Buffy couldn't bring herself to reply, so lost in thought. The only way to make it better would be if Giles were there; he was her joy in all this sadness. She could feel the tears coming, but didn't bother stopping them. That night she cried herself to sleep.
Voldemort's Lair
Spike landed with a thud. "Bloody Hell."
Lord Voldemort walked towards the vampire, not aware of the dog following his movement. Spike stood and with a low growl, vamped out. Voldemort grinned at him, but still didn't speak.
Spike looked on, refusing to let his guard down. It seemed as though Voldemort were sizing him up. "I have a proposition for you." He stated simply.
"I can remove that chip of yours, but you must help me in my conquest." Voldemort narrowed his eyes and waited for Spike's response.
Spike thought about his offer for a moment. All his problems started when he got that bloody chip. With it gone, he'd be able to revert back to his old ways. "You've got yourself a deal." He shifted back to his human visage.
That night Voldemort took Spike to the middle of the forest, where the full moon was shining brightly. He tied Spike in place while keeping one hand on his forehead. They stayed in this position while Voldemort recited an incantation to dismantle the chip and its abilities.
He started chanting in Latin, too quiet to be heart; not that Spike would know the words anyways. Spike screamed out in pain, and if not for the ropes, would have hit the ground. When Voldemort finished the spell, the pain instantly stopped as he lost consciousness.
Chapter 8: Dark Magick
Summers' Residence
Joyce Summers was pacing, while the others watched her. A knock came to the door and she promptly opened it. "Angel…what the hell are you doing here?" She demanded coldly.
"I called him." Giles answered, before Angel had the chance to. "You may not like him, but with Buffy missing we need him."
"Very well…" She sighed visibly, knowing that Giles was right. And if it would help Buffy, she supposed she could deal, albeit grudgingly. "You may come in." She stepped aside to let Angel and his crew enter.
"Thank you." Following Angel in was Cordelia and an associate they were unfamiliar with, as well as Wesley.
"Cordelia…and Wes, we weren't expecting you." Willow stood to greet them both.
"Yeah…well, you know how it goes." Cordelia sighed as she sat on the couch. "This is Gunn." She waved towards their companion.
"Hey, all." Gunn said to the room and the introductions started.
Angel watched Giles, who seemed deeply depressed. Their early conversation tipped Angel off to Giles' true feelings where Buffy was concerned. Angel smiled slightly; they did belong together. Besides Giles was much better for Buffy than Riley.
"Giles?" Angel inquired breaking him out of his reverie, "Care to show me the scene?"
With a nod of his head Angel followed him up the stairs and to Buffy's room. Angel approached Buffy's bed, where the portal had presumably opened. Giles stood off to the side, willing his emotions to remain in check; it would do Buffy no good if he lost control.
Angel touched the bedspread as if expecting a residue to be there. "Nothing…" he mumbled to himself. He stood and turned to Giles, "Is there a spell that could tell us where the portal took her?"
"Perhaps," Giles conceded, "I just don't know." They turned to leave, but Giles caught movement out of the corner of his eye. "Wait…"
Angel turned to where Giles was looking and narrowed his eyes as he saw a bird approaching the window. Giles opened the window to allow the bird entrance. The bird perched himself on Giles' shoulder, as Giles spotted the note. He looked at the sealed parchment and saw a crest…the same crest from his dream. "Damn!" He cursed quietly.
"What is it?" Angel went to Giles' side.
"I saw this…" He motioned towards the seal, "in my dream, the night Buffy disappeared." He explained as if mesmerized.
"That's the crest for Hogwarts." Angel declared as Giles opened the parchment. At Angel's declaration, Giles glanced up sharply. "What?" Angel defended with a shrug, "I am over 200, you know."
Giles smiled and shook his head as he read the note. "He can't be serious" He mumbled before handing it to Angel.
"Why contact you?" Angel was asking as they walked downstairs, "isn't the Council in England?"
"Yes, but I think it has more to do with trust." Giles explained.
"He doesn't trust Travers." Angel surmised as they joined the others in the living room.
"Would you?" Giles countered.
Angel smirked in response. "Guys, care to explain?" Xander asked from his perch on the couch.
"Yeah, what's with the bird?" Cordelia added.
"His name is Fawkes." Angel explained, "He's a phoenix bird."
"We now know where Buffy is," Giles added, holding up the parchment.
They all looked at him expectantly as he unraveled the note. With a quick glance around the room he began to read:
"Mr. Rupert Giles,
I hope this letter finds you well. Something most strange has occurred and I find myself wondering why, for we all know that everything happens for a reason.
As you may recall, we are in the midst of a battle that has been raging for quite some time. I fear an end is in sight."
"Can't he just get on with it?" Xander interrupted, clearly bored.
He was rewarded with an elbow to his side by Willow. "Xander, please pay attention. This is important." Giles remarked, exasperatedly.
"Not to mention, interesting." Willow added, before motioning Giles to continue.
"Voldemort has risen and is forming an army solely of demons and vampires. He plans to decimate our world and lead us into darkness.
The Slayer has found her way to our shores. Why am I telling you this? Well it's quite simple, really, she has a light in her eyes; a certain fire that made me think of you…of Ripper.
We need her help in order to save our world, but she needs you. I may have only spoken to her the one time, so far, but I could tell there was a deep sadness in her eyes. She needs someone she trusts, as I trust you.
Please send a response to our plight with Fawkes. I trust you know how serious this is. Mr. Black informs me that there is an old book, with which you will be able to use as a gateway to this school. You know that book I mean.
I await your answer,
Albus Dumbledore
Headmaster, Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry"
After a few moments of silence Xander asked what most were thinking, "So, what, we go to this Hogwarts and help Buffy, right?"
He looked around and everyone just stared back blankly. Finally, Giles sighed, "Xander, Hogwarts is in England."
"Oh…that could be a problem."
Angel looked over at Giles; he could tell that he was trying to keep his anger in check. Giles knew that Buffy needed him to be strong; to know what to do, after all, she was essentially lost. "What about that book Dumbledore mentioned?" Wesley approached Giles wearily, "Do you know it?"
Giles nodded absently, "I do."
"You do?" Willow seemed surprised by this revelation. Though, Giles supposed, they all should be, after all the name of the book wasn't in Dumbledore's letter.
"Yes, back…" Giles cleared his throat, "before when I hung with Ethan, I owned a copy of it."
"So, what are we going to do to help Buffy?" Joyce demanded, clearly unaware of the turmoil going through Giles' mind; not that this wasn't interesting, but her daughter needed help now.
Thankfully, Angel knew exactly what he was going through. "Giles, can you get the book?"
Giles nodded, "Yes, I'll have to travel to L.A. in the morning. I know of store that should have a copy"
"I'll go with you." Willow put in, "you might need help."
"No," Giles contradicted her, "I will go alone."
"But, Giles…" She started to protest, but stopped when she looked at Giles' eyes. They had turned a darker shade of green.
Tara saw the look on Willow's face, she seemed almost afraid of Giles. Tara couldn't understand why, until she saw Giles' eyes and his firm set expression. That's when she knew. "It's a shop for d-dark m-magick, isn't' it?" She asked quietly.
The light returned to Giles' eyes and he looked down, "Yes, it is." He replied quietly.
Joyce looked shocked; she couldn't believe he would willingly go into a shop for dark magick. "You can't." She stated sharply.
He looked at her expression before replying, "I must."
"I may not understand much, but you can't just waltz into a shop like that."
"Mrs. Summers is right." Wesley stepped towards Giles, "We'll find another way."
"What way?" He demanded of them, clearly having made up his mind. "This book may be the only way to reach Buffy. I will not…" His jaw clenched in anger and his hand crumpled the letter in his fist. It was clear to everyone that he was angry and getting angrier with every passing minute.
"Giles is right." Angel interrupted. All eyes turned to the vampire in question. "Buffy needs us. If this spell will help, I say use it."
"Angel, dark magick is very unpredictable. What if something goes wrong?" Wesley still looked very skeptical.
The thought of Buffy in danger was enough to make Giles' blood boil. "Voldemort is a very powerful wizard." He took a step threateningly towards Wesley before continuing, "a very dark wizard. I will do what I must to ensure Buffy's safety."
They all looked at Giles and what they saw must have scared them, because they all took a collective step back. All except Angel; he knew that Giles was in love with Buffy. He also knew, beyond a shadow of a doubt, that he would stand by Giles' side in order to keep Buffy safe.
When no one made a move to argue the point, Giles' demeanor changed noticeably. He stopped acting confrontational and the light returned to his eyes. "Good," he stated matter-of-factly. "Now, I think it best we get word to Dumbledore.
Giles watched Fawkes fly off with their letters. His thoughts went back to Buffy; always to Buffy. She was his soul…his life. He could feel his body calling to her with a fierceness he found hard to resist. Giles closed his eyes, relishing in the feel of Buffy; wishing she were by his side.
Willow watched as Giles closed his eyes. She knew he was deeply in love with Buffy. It showed in his actions and on his face. She wished she could help, but didn't know how.
"Giles?" Slowly she approached him and watched as he opened his eyes. "Perhaps you should get some sleep. You've still got a few hours before you need to leave for L.A."
Giles forced a smile as he looked at Willow's expectant face. He was about to decline, saying he was fine, when Cordy stood, "She's right, Giles. You'll do Buffy no good like this. Angel's out patrolling…we're researching…and you've got a busy day tomorrow. Get some sleep. Let us deal with this."
"All right," he relented, "I suppose I could do with a few hours' sleep." He grabbed his coat, preparing to leave when Joyce stopped him.
"Mr. Giles, why don't you just stay here? You can sleep in Buffy's room…that is, if you don't mind."
Giles' mind shut down as he tried to think of a suitable response, finally he gave up and relented, "That would be fine, thank you."
Giles approached Buffy's room, wishing she was there, but knowing that it was futile. Soon, he told himself, Soon, he would be by her side again.
Slytherin Common Room; at night
It was nearing midnight and Draco Malfoy was getting ready to leave the Common Room. He was about to become a Death Eater. He smiled in anticipation. Malfoy crept through the many corridors, being as quiet as a mouse. He reached the front doors and made it to the edge of the forbidden forest without being noticed. Wormtail was scurrying by the edge of the forest. When he noticed Malfoy, he changed into his human form.
Wormtail flashed a light on the end of his wand in order to attract both Voldemort and Malfoy.
"Young Mr. Malfoy..." Voldemort stated, "You do look like one of us. Your father will be pleased."
"Yes, My Lord." Malfoy bowed to Lord Voldemort.
"Very good." Voldemort took Malfoy's wrist and branded him with the Dark Mark. It stung for a moment, and then Malfoy looked down at the inside of his wrist. It still looked very red. The tattoo was a picture of a skull with a snake protruding from its mouth. "One more thing, Malfoy."
"Yes, My Lord?"
"Have you noticed anything strange at the castle?"
Malfoy cocked his head as though thinking. "Yeah, some new girl. She's pretty cute. Never seen her before, though."
"Yes, well…try and get close to her. Find out all you can about her."
"Yes, My Lord." Malfoy retreated to the castle, knowing that the new girl would soon be his.
