Author's Note: Just wanted to say thanks to all those who have reviewed and keep reading. It makes me happy and definitely makes me update faster. Even though I'm updating pretty quick anyway... Enjoy!
Disclaimer: All rights belong to Joss Whedon and J.K. Rowling. If only I'd thought of it first...
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"Did you hear...?"
"Did you know...?"
"I heard that..."
The Great Hall was abuzz with rumours surrounding the tiny blond transfer student. While she'd gone to her classes she'd only talked to Oliver and refused to answer any questions despite constant pestering. Buffy had disappeared after her last class of the day and no one had seen her since.
Oliver sat at the end of the Gryffindor table with the Golden Trio of Hogwarts, their heads close together in attempt to have a private conversation.
"Have she and Dumbledore decided what to say to everyone?" Hermione asked.
Oliver shook his head. "She told me that she and Professor Giles were going to discuss what happened with Dumbledore after class. I'm assuming that's where she is now."
"I don't think so mate," Ron whispered. "Look." Ron pointed to the head table where Dumbledore had appeared with Professor Giles. Buffy on the other hand hadn't shown up yet.
Standing from his chair Dumbledore motioned for silence and for the first time that day the room fell to silence.
"Everyone, as you know today we witnessed a truly terrifying and yet extraordinary event. The wards at Hogwarts were breached and a vampire, intent on harming one of our students, entered the grounds. The vampire is no longer a threat and I can assure you that you are all perfectly safe within these walls but you all deserve an explanation. We are faced with difficult times and I will not keep you in the dark.
"As you saw, our very own Buffy Summers defeated and subdued the threat, which has brought about many questions. While I cannot hope to answer them all, I will tell you what I can and Professor Giles will cover more in class. Miss Summers is what we refer to as the Slayer. One girl in all the world with the power to fight the forces of darkness.
"I want to assure you that you are in no danger. You are to treat her as you always have and do try to avoid overwhelming her with your questions. While you are tucked safely in your beds she is out protecting you from creatures which roam the grounds. In fact, she is the first witch to ever be called as the Slayer. I hope you all will take this as a learning experience and continue to go about your regular day to day business. Now, with that out of the way, tuck in!"
As the food appeared on the table, almost instantly the room was filled once more the dim roar of gossiping students.
Up at the teachers table Giles and Dumbledore were once again deep in conversation.
"I fear that the Watcher's Council will be greatly annoyed when they learn that all of Hogwarts is aware of the Slayer," Giles admitted to the elderly wizard.
"Unfortunately Miss Summers will face no doubt face ceaseless questions despite what I've said. She is a strong girl though and I have no doubts that she will pull through. Harder times are ahead for her I'm afraid."
Giles nodded. "So long as the Council does not try and remove Buffy from my care and from Hogwarts I know she will pull through. She's lived on that cursed Hellmouth for the majority of her life. Rumours are nothing."
"I promise you Rupert, that I will not allow Buffy to be taken from Hogwarts. As long as she is here, she will be safe."
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"So Spike, do we have a deal?" Buffy asked. She was pacing in front of the chained vampire and was becoming extremely annoyed. She'd been negotiating with Spike for almost two hours and her stomach was grumbling. A fact that she knew Spike was aware of.
He tilted his head to the side. "I'd shake your hand luv, but I'm a tad chained up here at the moment."
"Spike," Buffy warned, an edge creeping into her voice.
"Alright Goldilocks. You have a deal. I'll go back to the great git and tell him that I've slain the Slayer, allowing you to move about unnoticed and I'll pass along any information that the great one should choose to share. In exchange you grant me free passage when this mess is over and a pint of your sweet blood."
Buffy glared at Spike. "I told you, my blood is not part of the bargain. You have no leverage. You either agree to what I offer you or I will stake you. This is my final offer, Spike."
Spike groaned. "Never did like you Goldilocks. But seeing as I don't have a choice, I'll just nod my head in agreement and be off." He pulled and strained against the chains once more before slumping back to the wall in defeat. "You mind undoing these?"
"Not yet. Once I let you go there's nothing to stop you from going against me. You're going to make the unbreakable vow. I need to be sure that you'll be only loyal to me."
"Great, make me sound like a whipped boyfriend, Goldilocks."
"Shut up Spike. Giles and I will be back later tonight and we'll seal the deal. I have to make an appearance at dinner."
"Hard being famous isn't it luv?" Spike teased. Buffy just stuck her tongue out as she slipped out the room with a quick goodbye to Filch.
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When Buffy arrived at the Great Hall she frowned at the sudden silence. Of course, she wasn't surprised by it, but that didn't make any less annoying. With a quick wave of acknowledgment to Oliver and her friends, she moved up to the teachers table.
They watched her in curiosity as she whispered something to Giles. He nodded in acceptance and she moved back to join them. She continued to smile but Oliver could see that she was still uncomfortable around the constant staring and whispering.
When she approached the table Oliver pulled her down into his lap. He gave her a quick kiss in greeting. "I've missed you."
Buffy smiled. "Missed you too. But right now I am so hungry I can't see straight. Warm cuddly feelings come after food." She slid from Oliver's lap so she was between him and Harry and began loading her plate with food.
"So where were you?" Harry finally asked. He was surprised by how much food she was planning on eating. The plate looked as if it would overflow at any minute.
Between mouthfuls of food Buffy answered. "I was talking with Giles and Dumbledore for a bit about what to tell the masses and then I went to do some interrogating slash negotiating."
"So that vampire is still in the school?" Hermione asked eyes wide.
Buffy nodded. "He and I have history so I didn't really want to stake him. Besides, Spike's all about how he can get the biggest gain. In light of what's happened he can get that through me. We've made a deal."
"Are you sure that's the best idea?" Oliver asked concernedly. He didn't like the idea of his girlfriend making deals with a vampire that had tried to kill her mere hours ago.
"Not really. But Spike could be a valuable asset to us. He can play the part of the spy. I've seen it before. I don't trust him but I do know how can make sure he keeps his word."
The group was quiet for a moment before Ron's eyes opened in shock. "You're planning to make an unbreakable vow," he whispered. "I can believe you'd do that." Then as an afterthought he added, "Will that even work with a vampire?"
"It should. And it's the only way to ensure that Spike doesn't switch sides again when he gets a better offer. Even Spike, with whatever unlife he has, isn't ready for a more permanent death."
"He's not dangerous is he?"
"Spike talks a big game but when it comes to actually following through, it never quite works out how he wants it to. Now don't get me wrong, Spike is dangerous, he's killed two Slayers in the past. But I'm still alive so I'm not too worried."
"And you think you can control him?"
Buffy took a sip from her goblet. "Yep," she answered, popping the p.
They just shook their heads and focused on their food again while Oliver slipped his arm around her waist, refusing to let her go.
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"Hello William," Dumbledore greeted. He entered the room followed by Giles, Buffy and Harry. Dumbledore had come out of curiosity and the need to ensure that everything was being done safely in his school, Giles had come to perform the spell for the unbreakable vow and Harry had come because Buffy wanted him involved so he could later fulfill his destiny.
"If it isn't good ol' Dumbledore. How you doing old chap?"
Dumbledore chuckled. "I've had better days. Though I'm doing better than you I'd say."
"Well I should hope so. Haven't felt this defenceless since that blasted chip was put in my head," Spike muttered.
"What about the time I put you in a wheelchair?" Buffy offered.
"Shut it Goldilocks."
"Now Spike. You're working for me. I suggest you be nice."
"Buffy, please stop taunting Spike," Giles told her.
"Fine, fine. Now can we hurry and get Spike to swear his loyalty to me. Oliver and I have plans tonight."
Giles shook his head and moved to unlock the chains on one of Spike's shackles.
"Now get the other one, Ripper," Spike growled.
"Sorry Spike," Buffy intervened. "You only need one hand for this."
Buffy grabbed Spike and clasped his forearm. Seeing that he had no choice, Spike gripped her forearm as well.
Giles moved forward and tapped his wand to their joined hands, a soft yellow glow wrapped around them, like binds.
Buffy and Giles had already discussed what the three separated terms of the vow would be to ensure there would be no mistakes or confusion.
"Spike, will you remain loyal to Buffy Summers and not betray her, no matter what offer is presented to you by the Dark Lord, or by anyone else?"
"I will," he growled.
"Will you share any and all information with Buffy and keep no secrets from her?"
"I will."
"Spike, will you lay down your life to protect Buffy and ensure her safety?"
Both Giles and Buffy knew this would be the stipulation that angered Spike. Giving his life for the Slayer would be degrading for him, but the term was Giles' suggestion and Buffy had no reason to argue.
"I bloody will no-" Spike began until he remembered how an unbreakable vow worked. "I bloody will. There happy?"
The glowing binding slowing dissipated, sinking into their skin. Buffy looked at Spike and grinned. "So how's it feel?"
"Goldilocks, you owe me for this," he sighed.
"And I appreciate your almost cooperation. Now listen to Giles for a while." Buffy moved to the door. "By the way, have we figured out a way to allow me to contact Spike?" she asked Dumbledore.
"We are still working on it but do not worry, I shall handle it," Dumbledore assured her. "Now go and find your Mr. Wood. I'm sure he's missing you."
"See you tomorrow," she called leaving.
After Buffy left the remaining three wizards sat down, leaving Spike chained to the wall. Spike growled and complained at their treatment of him but merely sighed in defeat when he realized it was useless.
"You do plan on letting me go right? Can't be of much help when I'm chained to a bloody wall all night," he reminded them.
"We'll let you go Spike when we're finished. That should leave you just enough time to find shelter before dawn," Giles informed him. "We want to go over your story before you live. We need to ensure that your story is believable so that the Dark Lord will have no question in his mind that Buffy is dead."
"Gonna be a bit difficult ain't it? How's he gonna know I killed the bird?"
Giles reached into his pocket and pulled out a small dagger with Buffy's initials carved into the hilt. It was one of her favourite weapons for close combat but she'd agreed to hand it over anyway. "It's coated in her blood, though we've altered it to ensure he doesn't learn that she is a witch. All he'll know is that it is the blood of the Slayer. You'll tell him you caught her off guard in the Forbidden Forest and overpowered her, using her own weapon to kill her."
"And if the git doesn't believe me?"
"Then I'm afraid you'll likely be staked. It's no skin off our teeth." Giles shrugged.
"What about the little boy over there?" Spike pointed at Harry with his free hand.
Harry frowned and glared and Spike. "I'm the-boy-who-lived," he said, thinking it would mean something to Spike.
"Right. And Buffy is the-girl-who-died and Voldywart is you-know-who. Seriously, can't we all be on a first name basis again. Much simpler that way. Why do you think I ditched the whole William the Bloody routine?"
Dumbledore sighed. "Please, we have a serious matter to discuss. William, Harry here is prophesized to be the one that must kill the Dark Lord which is why we have brought him. He should be privy to all the important information."
"Well he'll have to get it through Buffy. I didn't vow to tell him anything. Just cause she's got me on a tight leash doesn't mean I won't fight back."
"I think that's the best we'll get from him," Giles said.
Dumbledore nodded in acceptance. "We will be in touch William. I can assure you of that."
Dumbledore pointed his wand at Spike and the next thing he knew he was unconscious. When he woke up he was in the Forbidden Forest, the bloodied dagger in his hand, and the dawn approaching.
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Not a very good chapter but I needed to finish up the Spike problems for now. He will be back though. He's still not exactly good but he doesn't have a choice but to help Buffy now. Anyway, hope this didn't bore you to death. Next chapter will be better I hope. If you're happy and you know it please review!