Chapter 13: A New Plan
They all waited, in what could only be described as suspense, for Giles to continue. The three wizards were beginning to understand why they all looked up to Giles. He really knew what he was doing…if only they could piece together how helping Angel would stop Voldemort.
Giles knew they would think his question to be some kind of betrayal, but it had to be asked; so he lowered his voice to be least threatening and laced with concern. The last thing he wanted was to pit the group against each other, especially since they'd all be needed to help stop the impending apocalypse.
He approached Willow's side; she knew what was coming. She lowered her head in resignation, surprised that no one else had beaten him to the punch, so to speak. It was stupid and irresponsible, what she did, but it had to be done.
"Why, Willow? Why didn't you wait?" She glanced up sharply, confusion written on her face. Whatever she was expecting it wasn't that. She could even see the concern etche3d on Giles' face.
She glanced down in shame and started playing with her fingers. "I…I thought I could handle it." She looked up and Giles could see the tears flowing from her eyes. "Before…I did the spell…it…it worked. Why didn't it this time?"
"Close your eyes." Giles instructed. Willow, curious as to where this was going, obeyed without hesitation. When Giles could see that her eyes were closed, he continued, "What do you feel?"
She was going to blurt out that nothing was different, when something stopped her. She couldn't put her finger on it, but after sending her senses out she could feel…something. Another person, perhaps? A presence at any rate. She opened her eyes to see Giles watching her intently. "It felt like another presence." She explained, "When I pushed a little with my senses, it shoved me back…forcefully."
She could see the light dawning in Giles' eyes. He knew what was happening. Giles sighed, but didn't speak. He removed his glasses and started cleaning them; a sign that he was nervous, perhaps about what he had to say. "Giles, what's happening to me?"
He looked at her, not knowing how to say it, but knowing that it had to be said. He replaced his glasses and took her hand in his. "I believe you inadvertently bound yourself to Angel. Angelus is afraid of your power, which is why he pushed you away."
"How do we fix this?" Buffy could tell that Willow was scared and didn't know what to do, but she was betting Giles did.
Before Giles could answer Xander posed an interesting point. "If Angelus is scared of her, shouldn't we use that?"
Giles glanced in his direction, knowing what Xander meant. He hated the fact that they were planning to save Angel. This way they wouldn't have to. They could use him and then discard him; no harm…no foul. Giles felt disgusted with Xander and his views. If Willow stayed this way it would hurt her in the long run. This had to be fixed.
Giles shook his head and looked back at Willow, "No, we must sever this bond or Willow will, ultimately, be hurt during the final battle. Angel can play the part of Angelus, this we know, but if Angelus is still there we can't count on Angel being able to stay in control. We must bind his soul." He stated with conviction.
"And how do you expect to do that?" Ron glared at Giles, making it clear that he thought they were all crazy.
"With a spell, of course." Giles replied with a small grin.
Hermione grinned in response, "What kind of spell?"
Giles' eyes lit up with enthusiasm, "I've developed a spell that uses the power of the Watcher and Slayer to bind his soul. But first we must help Willow to perform the unbinding ritual."
"What about the council? They fired you; technically you're not a Watcher anymore." Xander pointed out.
"You make an interesting point, Mr. Harris." Dumbledore walked in with a twinkle in his eye; a sure sign that he had a secret. "However, you would also be mistaken."
Voldemort's Lair
"You're certain?" Voldemort demanded of his newest Death Eater.
"Yes, Sir." Malfoy stated with confidence. Malfoy scowled as he, once again, thought of Voldemort's earlier orders, "Get close to the girl." He had tried, hadn't he? But that girl wouldn't give him the time of day. And now with the arrival of her friends, especially that old man, he wouldn't get a second chance, but at least he could bring Voldemort news so that he may stay one step ahead of their enemies.
"We must get that vampire out of their grasp." Voldemort spoke quietly, as if to himself, as he continued to pace. Voldemort was surprised to notice Malfoy's eyes calmly following his pacing form.
Voldemort cocked his head to the side as he studied Malfoy; he was certainly turning out to be a good investment. Any of those other insufferable louts would be quaking in their boots by now, but not this boy. Voldemort smiled, this would work out perfectly. "I've got a job for you."
Hogsmeade
Spike was wandering around Hogsmeade with no real purpose. He had to admit, that girl from last night, Angelika, was a lot of fun. Maybe when this was all over he'd look her up. Perhaps even turn her, provided she lived through this war. The thought of her being killed was enough to make his blood boil. Maybe he was finally getting over Buffy. Not like he'd stand a chance, what with that Watcher around.
Spike smirked as a thought occurred to him. The Watcher definitely had to go. Of course, if he did the honors, Angelika would never speak to him again. And she was someone he wanted to spend the next century with…of course, he had thought that about Dru, and look how that had turned out. But Angelika was different; there was something special about her, he couldn't put his fangs on it, but Spike knew, without a doubt.
Perhaps he could make this work in his favor; he always did enjoy manipulating people.
Chapter 14: Loose Ends
Hogwarts
"What do you mean 'mistaken'?" Xander glared at Dumbledore, clearly this wasn't going how he had hoped. They may save Angel after all.
"I have a few surprises up my sleeve." He answered with a wry grin. "Perhaps we should take this to my office?" He added with a knowing look to Giles.
Giles knew what that look meant, he cursed silently; it was only a matter of time before the Watchers Council got involved. He just hoped to keep them in the dark, so to speak. So much for wishful thinking. "Of course," He replied with a look to Buffy. "We'll only be a moment." Giles sighed, not looking forward to this conversation, as he followed Dumbledore out.
"Giles, wait!" Buffy called after him, "What's going on?"
His eyes grew sad as he studied the concern etched on Buffy's face. He forced a smile as he replied, "Council business, nothing to worry about." He lightly tapped her chin and continued to follow Dumbledore out.
Buffy watched him go with a scowl on her face. She was the Slayer, that Council business also concerned her, didn't it? She was about to follow them when Willow's voice broke through her reverie, "Looks like Giles got reinstated."
"And it doesn't look like he's too happy about it." Xander added, with a glance at Buffy.
"Why wouldn't he be happy about it?" Dawn posed the question that was on everyone's mind.
Doubt started to trickle through Buffy's mind. Giles had always been there for her, whether he was her Watcher or not. Why would it matter if he was reinstated? In fact, wouldn't that help him anyways?
"Buffy," Harry approached her with a grin, "I have an idea."
Voldemort's Lair
"Where have you been?" Voldemort glared at Spike, hoping to intimidate him. The only problem: It's very hard to intimidate a dead man.
Spike smirked in response to Voldemort's efforts, "Out."
Voldemort growled in anger; this wasn't going as planned. The vampire had to go…he was too much of a loose cannon. Something had to be done. Perhaps…yes, his newest disciple could do something. Spike was as good as gone.
