Chapter Four
Just as McGonagall started clearing the old hat and stool, five ghosts came shooting through the walls.
The Scoobies all watched in surprise as the other children laughed and clapped as the silvery spectors swooped and dived over the tables.
"Yous all is looken likes yous never seens a ghosty." A sharp squeaky voice said from above them.
Looking up, the group was surprised to see that their table seemed to have a ghost of its very own; as there was a little man with wicked dark eyes and a wide mouth doing a hand stand in mid air, looking down at them.
"Actually, we've seen plenty of ghosts, just none like this..." Willow offered.
"Ya, you know, friendly." Xander finished.
The little man nodded, and floated down until he was floating cross legged over the table.
"Wells don't you ickle firsties worries, I's'll be yourses guide." he said with a nod, doing the breast stroke up and down the table.
"Not to be rude, but, do you have a name? Somehow I don't think 'Casper' is quite fitting." Buffy asked.
The little man swooped over to Buffy and appeared sitting cross legged in front of her and held out his hand.
"I is Peeves Miss. I is the oldest and best trouble maker this castle has ever seens." Peeves boasted proudly.
With a smile, Buffy reached out, and shook Peeve's hand.
"Yous! Yous thoucheded Peeves! Hows? Hows did yous do thats?" Peeves shouted, trying to poke Buffy, and pouting when his finger went right through her.
Buffy shrugged, but smiled wickedly and poked Peeves back, making him jump in surprise and cackle with glee.
"Trickster eh? Well mate, I think we'll get along just fine." Spike said rubbing his hands together, and giving a conspiring grin to Xander, Oz, and Harry, all of whom nodded back at him.
"Oooooo, friends and helpers! What fun wes will be havings!" Peeves clapped.
"As long as no one gets hurt." Buffy cautioned.
"Oh yeses, Mistress." Peeves nodded vigorously.
"Ya, goes without sayen' luv." Spike smirked, wrapping an arm around Buffy's shoulder.
"Why don't you have a seat Peeves, tell us all about Hogwarts." Hermione offered, moving over to give Peeves room to sit.
"Yous all is so nice to Peeveses!" he wailed, floating down to sit on the proffered bench.
Quite suddenly, a ghostly white sword point appeared at Peeve's chin making everyone who noticed, freeze.
"Get out of here Peeves, you know you're not allowed in the Great Hall at meal times."
Peeves was shaking, and seemed to be too scared to speak.
Everyone but the original Scoobies gasped when Buffy easily jumped onto the table, and stood between Peeves and the assaulting spirit with her back facing Peeves.
"Excuse me, but just who do you think you are?!" Buffy scolded, carelessly pushing the sword tip away from Peeve's throat. Relieved, Peeves decided that the safest place for him to be was behind Buffy, and so that's where he stayed.
Just as surprised as everyone else in the hall, the ghost stammered; "I-I am the Bloody Baron, and the Slytherin House Ghost."
With her hands still on her hips, Buffy continued to glare, which, much to the Slytherin's chagrin, made the Baron fidget nervously.
"Okay, then tell me, Baron, do you go around threatening to impale any of the other ghosts, or is it just Peeves you like to use as a pin cushion?" Buffy asked.
"Uh, I-I, well..." Buffy raised an eye brow. "Just Peeves, Miss." The Baron relented, with his head down.
"And why not the other ghost's?"
"We-Well, they-they are house ghosts, a mascot and symbol for the house they represent. Worthy of respect!"
"So, if Peeves were a house ghost, you would have no problem with him?" Buffy asked.
"Well, no, not really. But he isn't a house ghost, and he is the worst trouble maker Hogwarts has ever had to put up with." The Baron said, holding his head high and sheathing his sword.
"Sorry to burst your bubble Baron, but Peeves is our house ghost, and as for 'trouble maker' well, we're sure he'll represent us perfectly." Buffy said, crossing her arms over her chest and taking a step back, barely noticing as Peeves's arm accidently slid through her stomach. "And just to let you know - we don't really appreciate you assaulting our friend. Don't do it again." Buffy stared until the Bloody Baron conceded and finally backed down.
Buffy watched him until he was firmly seated back at the Slytherin table before graciously allowing Spike to help her off of the table.
"Oh thank yous Mistress! Peeveses is ever so grateful!"
"Don't worry Peeves, you're one of us. And we protect our own." Buffy said, smiling sweetly.
After a few moments the chatter had gotten back to normal when two voices were heard shouting out over the assembly.
"Hey!" Yelled a red headed boy who was sitting at the Gryffindor table.
"Professor McGonagall!" another red head, who was sitting beside his twin yelled.
"Thems is Fred and George Weasley, the Weasley twins. Wonderful pranksters' thems two weasels is. I's sometimes gets blamed for themses pranks." Peeves explained to the group.
"Bring that"
"Old Hat"
"Back out here!"
"We were"
"Sorted wrong!"
"Misters Weasley! What on earth are you talking about?" Professor McGonagall asked with a commanding tone. Minerva was at such a loss as to everything that had happened tonight, that dealing with the Weasley twins was not an option at this point.
"Professor! They have"
"Mischief making as a"
"House requirement!"
"We want that one!" The Twins shouted together, making everyone laugh, and some of the professors nod.
"Alright, alright, settle down now everyone, settle." The Headmaster said standing and making a calming motion with his arms, and chuckling.
"Thats is Headmaster, Professor Albus Dumbledore. He likeses Peeves alright, but Peeveses knows better than to trust old Dumbillydoor." Peeves told the table.
"Unfortunately, Misters Weasley, you were originally sorted into Gryffindor, and in Gryffindor you will stay." said Dumbledore.
"But Professor!"
"That House"
"Wasn't an option"
"When we were sorted!" The Weasley Twins complained.
"That's because, boy's, the rightful heir had not yet activated the house of Apotharni." Dumbledore explained.
"What do you mean Professor?" A Ravenclaw girl shouted out.
"All in good time Miss. Chang...For now...Welcome! Welcome everyone to a new year at Hogwarts! Let the feast begin!" And with another wave of his arms all of the tables appeared laden with food: Whole turkeys, chicken, stake, burgers, pastas, rice; nearly anything that they could think up appeared somewhere on the table.
"Wow." Harry said, looking at and rubbing his hands together before digging in.
"Woah." Xander said, his eyes nearly bulging out of his head.
"Bloody Hell." Spike breathed, just trying to take it all in.
"Seconded." Oz said, reaching for a large turkey drumstick.
"Wills, Hermione, one of you needs to learn how to do that!" Xander said through his already full mouth of food.
Everyone laughed even as they gave him a looks of disgust in varying degrees.
Shaking his head, Spike picked up the goblet that was in front of his place setting and took a sip. And very nearly spit the liquid back out.
"Spike? What is it?" Buffy asked from his right.
"It's blood..." Spike said in surprise, just staring at the cup.
Harry and Hermione's eyes opened wide in shock while the rest of the Scoobies just looked on in curiosity.
"Human or animal?" Buffy asked.
"Pig." He said, still in shock.
Buffy looked thoughtful for a moment, "You know, I wonder..."
"What is it luv?" Spike asked, pulling his attention away from his drink, and focusing on Buffy.
"I wonder if...Spike, try asking for some AB Negative at 98.6 degrees."
Without Spike having to ask for it a silver goblet appeared in front of him, and when he put down the gold one he had been holding, it disappeared.
"You do realise that the fact that you know exactly how he likes his blood is extremely disturbing, right?" Xander said, going back to his heaping plate of food.
"So are your eating habits, but do we say anything?" Buffy shot back, making the others chuckle.
"You-your-you're a-a...You're a vampire!" Hermione very nearly squealed, covering her mouth in fright and her eyes going wide.
"Ya I am, what do you think Bookworm? Am I as terrifying as your books say?"
Harry just sat, watching the proceedings, not fully understanding what was going on. Oh, he perfectly understood that Spike appeared to be a vampire, but he had also seen Spike get virtually beat up and then snuggle and cuddle with the petite blond who appeared to be the head of his new family.
"You're-you're supposed to be evil!" Hermione whispered harshly, making sure that only the people at their table could hear her.
"You hear that luv? I'm evil!" Spike said, grinning from ear to ear and pushing his chest out proudly.
"You're the evilest, baby." Buffy said patronisingly, patting the arm that was wrapped around her shoulders and going back to her dinner.
Hermione huffed, and sat back in her seat beside Harry. "Well I have to say, as far as vampires go, you're rather unimpressive. Wait, does that mean that you're going to stay eleven years old forever? Because that would be horrible!" Hermione rambled, making the whole table laugh out loud.
"Hey now, don't count your eggs before they hatch, Bookworm, you haven't seen me angry. And Trust me, you don't want to see me angry." Spike warned, taking another gulp out of his goblet.
"Oh, I love it when you get angry..." Buffy murmured, quivering, and rubbing her shoulder against his chest, making him growl.
With a rough tug, Spike pulled Buffy on to his lap and growled in her ear, making her shiver pleasantly again.
"As to the whole age thing," Spike continued, "we're not really sure how that works. It seems that on the anniversary of Buffy and I's joining, I just magically spurt up to look like what I would if I were living."
"But, how does that work? I mean, you're immortal, so, what, you just continue to grow old and then die when Buffy does?"
"Nope, I stop age'en when Buffy does. Goldilocks here is immortal too Bookworm, or, she will be when she reaches...what is it luv?" Spike asked, giving Buffy a little squeeze around the waist.
"My twenty seventh birthday." Buffy answered taking a drink of her juice, and going back to her dinner.
"Right." Spike nodded.
"Really?" Hermione asked with fascination, "I've never heard of a supernatural being that became immortal later in life. Normally, either you are or you're not."
"Don't worry, I'll explain everything when we get to our rooms tonight." Buffy said, taking another bite of her pasta.
"That's a good point Buffy. Where are we going to sleep tonight? This house, or whatever, that we got sorted into is bran spanken new, where are these dormitories supposed to be if no one knew that this house even existed?"Anya asked making everyone look at her, and then back at Buffy.
"Don't worry Ahn, I'm sure it'll be just like this table and the banner, Hogwarts will take care of us." Just as Buffy finished speaking, the castle gave another rumbaing quiver and everyone turned to look at their table.
"Sorry, my bad!" Buffy waved, smiling sheepishly. Shrugging, everyone went back to their meals.
"Well Hermione, I think it's safe to say that we will never, ever, be bored again." Harry said, leaning over to whisper in her ear.
He was surprised when he felt a shiver go through her, and put his arm around her. "Are you ok Hermione? You're not cold are you?" he asked, running one hand up and down her arm in an effort to warm her.
"N-no Harry, I'm fine, thank you." Hermione said, blushing deeply. Because she was looking down, Hermione missed it when Spike gave Harry a wink, and Harry's shy smile in return.
As the Start of Term feast ended, the headmaster's voice drifted over the crowd.
"Attention students, if I could please have your attention. Now that we are all fed, I have some start of term announcements: Firstly, Mr. Filch, our caretaker, has added a few more items to the ever growing list of items banned within Hogwarts..." Dumbledore started his announcements.
"Oh we'll be adding to that list for sure!" Xander said, rubbing his hands together in anticipation while the other boys nodded and smirked.
"Secondly, I must press that the Forbidden Forest is strictly forbidden to everyone. And I must insist that you do not venture into the woods without an adult chaperone."
Spike smirked while Buffy rolled her eyes. "Shhya, like that's going to happen." Buffy snorted.
"Thirdly, the third flood corridor is strictly out of bounds for all of those who do not wish to suffer a most painful death."
"Huh," Buffy's eye's opened wide along with everyone else's, in curiosity. "Gonna have to check that out." Buffy said with everyone but Hermione nodding in response.
Hermione had very seldom broken the rules in her short life. She liked rules, they told her what was right and what was wrong, and set specific guides as to how she should behave. Her new family on the other hand seemed bound and determined to break or bend every rule in the book, and she didn't know how to feel about that.
"Finally, I would like to take this time to explain some of the happenings that took place tonight." At this, the entire Hall fell into a hush, and even the Scoobies turned to look at the Headmaster.
"First, as to the name of the new House of Apotharni and what it stands for: Apotharni is just as the Sorting Hat first implied; an even mixture of each of the four houses. The Apotharni were a majestic and noble species. They were similar in nature to Centaurs, with the only real difference between the two races being that the Apotharni were both male and female.
I use the past tense in this explanation because the Apotharni have not been seen since a decade after Merlin's death. You all should now that the House of Apotharni, although it has never been seen before, is not altogether 'new'. Just like the houses of the four founders of Hogwarts, Merlin himself, also prophesised a fifth house. When the four founders came along and created Hogwarts, but no fifth ever appeared, it was said that Merlin had gotten it wrong, and so the prophesy was largely discarded.
The Apotharni, both the being and the House, are said to value a great many things, not the least of which is: Loyalty, Passion, Trust, Honour, Valour, Bravery, Humour, Cunning, Intelligence, Strength, Dedication, Ambition, Power, and most importantly, Family above all else.
Merlin prophesised that there would come a house called the Apotharni who would come and go like life its self. The House of Apotharni would be a family like none other, with the strength and skill to defeat all evil-"
"Hey luv, their playen your tune." Spike smirked, nudging Buffy, who smiled and shook her head. Because the Hall was so quiet, Spike's voice traveled, and a few students turned to look at them.
"And although their purpose is to fight for good, they are neither light nor dark as a whole, but a complex mixture of gray: thus the House colour of silver.
In today's world, people like to believe that they have a soul mate somewhere in this universe, and that it is just a matter of time before that soul mate is found. Sometimes this is true, and sometimes not. With the Apotharni the being, however, every time a child was born, that child's Destined Mate was born somewhere close by, usually in the same village or community.
When the children and their Mates believed they were ready, they performed a 'joining' ceremony. It was not a full on Mating; they were usually still far too young, usually between the ages of ten and fourteen.
The Joining consisted of a tiny exchange of blood, like a prick of the finger, and a spoken promise. This small exchange of blood and words was completely binding, however, if for some reason the pair should never mate, the only consequences would be a long and lonely life. It was said that the House of Apotharni worked with in the same principals. "
As Dumbledore explained exactly what the Apotharni was, most of the other students turned to stare over at the Scoobies' table, making Willow, Xander, Buffy, Harry and Hermione slightly uncomfortable.
"Now, concerning my earlier statement; according to legend, Merlin stipulated that within the House would come: One of Death, One of the Beast, One of Vengeance, One of Human Spirit, One of Magic, One of Knowledge, One of Strength, and finally One of Power. I can only imagine who is which, but it is said, that the One of Power is to be the last heir of a very special and incredible legacy, of which I cannot tell, as it would be both unfair and unwise to spill such a spectacular secret."
"If you please, Headmaster, you make them sound as though they are other than human. If they are not human, what are they? And is it safe for us with them here?" The same Ravenclaw girl from earlier asked.
"Oi! Sitten' right here you know!" Spike yelled in frustration.
"Y-ya! And, hey! At least...four of us are mostly human so...so back off!" Willow spoke up.
"God, you're all looking at us like we should be put out before we pee on the good carpet, sheesh. I can assure everyone in this room, that we are not dang-" Buffy practically whined.
Spike cleared his throat, and everyone at the table looked at her with raised eyebrows.
"Right, sorry, what I mean to say was that: We're the good guys. As long as you don't put anyone else's life in danger, you won't have any problems from us." Buffy said with a bright smile, for a moment looking as innocent as her age implied.
"And what, Miss. Giles, makes you think that you have the power or the right to act as judge, jury, and executioner to another student?" The greasy haired, pointed faced man from before, asked with a slight sneer.
"Oh not just students, uncle Snake, but faculty too. And my Birth Right given to me by the Powers That Be gives me the power to act as judge, just as it gives my family the right to act as jury, and the Fates to act as executioner. Don't get me wrong uncle Snake, we are here to go to school and to learn, but we are here first and foremost to protect this school and every being, living or dead, that calls its walls home."
Once again, Hogwarts trembled and the ceiling erupted in vibrant shooting stars.
"Nicely said Miss. Giles, yes, as Miss. Giles so eloquently stated, the Apotharni are guardians, and natural protectors. I would caution everyone to not be fooled by the Apotharni's height or apparent age. They are all born warriors, and it would be infinitely unwise to cross them. Speaking of age, Miss. Giles, would you mind if I asked...exactly who among your group is their apparent age?"
Buffy shrugged and she, Willow, Oz, Xander, Harry and Hermione all put up their hands.
"Interesting, and may I ask Miss. Jenkins, Mr. Jameson, what your real ages are?" Dumbledore inquired.
"Sorry sir, but I'm under a strict contract with my employer not to disclose any information about who I am or who I work for." Anya replied with a sunny smile.
"Very well, my dear, I understand the need for discretion." Dumbledore said with a sincere smile. "And you Mr. Jameson?" Dumbledore asked.
Spike paused for a moment, and looked to Buffy who gave a slight shrug, to which Spike nodded.
"Alright, don't see the harm in it, you all know I'm not human so...um...what am I now luv? I've just plum forgot." Spike asked, turning to Buffy again.
"Um...including your human years? Let's see, that would make you...27, I think." Spike nodded, that sounded about right.
"Ya, about 27 now." Spike offered the rapt audience.
"Shea, and the emotional equivalent of a three year old." Xander snorted. Spike just stuck out his tongue when everyone snickered.
"You're not sure?" Dumbledore asked bemusedly.
"Well, we've only celebrated my birthday for the last three years that I've been with Buffy, and up until I was eight before that." Spike explained with a shrug.
"But that's only eleven years accounted for, what about the other sixteen?" Professor McGonagall piped up.
"You don't want to know." Spike said in a tone that only the original Scoobies had heard before. Without any hesitation, Buffy grabbed Spike's hand and gave it a squeeze.
"If you don't mind, Headmaster, I think all of us are a little tired after all of the excitement and that huge feast." Harry offered, speaking for the entire congregation for the first time.
Smiling, and looking oddly proud, Dumbledore nodded. "I do believe you're right Mr. Potter. However, it does beg the question as to where to put you, seeing as no one had any idea that a new house was going to be added tonight, I'm afraid that we are at quite a loss as to where you are to sleep." He said, stroking his beard in thought.
"Not to worry sir, I believe Hogwarts herself has a dormitory prepared for us." Willow piped up, blushing when people turned to look at her.
"Really? How convenient. I must say, you lot are quite an interesting bunch, there's no doubt about that." Dumbledore chuckled.
"Excuse me Headmaster, but I believe that Hogwarts recognises Buffy or her bloodline as her-it's...master, of sorts, just as the ghosts do." Hermione theorised.
"You know Miss. Granger, I do believe you're on to something." Dumbledore nodded in approval. "Very well. If that is all, Prefects, you will escort the first years to your Houses. Miss. Giles, I assume you know where your dormitories are?"
"Peeves is going to guide us, sir." Buffy nodded.
"Are you sure, Miss. Giles? Peeves has been known to be quite a hand full."
"Oh don't worry sir, I'm sure Peeves will be a great guide. Wont you Peeves?" Buffy asked with a proud yet commanding tone.
"Oh yeses Mistress Buffys, Peevesys will be very well behaves." Peeves nodded vigorously.
"Very well, good night everyone." Dumbledore said, dismissing the students.