A/N: Hello out there in internet land! Sorry for the delay. Between trying to rework the chapter and all the holiday hoopla, well, things happen. Not to happy with this chapter but I wanted to move things along a bit. The next chapter should pretty much be devoted to Harry and Hermione and all that stuff. Enjoy.
Chapter 12
"It's been too long. We should go back there," Harry said, pacing in front of the fireplace.
They had been back for almost an hour and for the past fifty minutes Ginny watched as Harry paced back and forth. She had stopped counting how many times he had wanted to go and 'rescue' Hermione after ten. If Ron wasn't with her helping to keep him from rushing out, she would have probably hexed him out of frustration. With everything Harry might be able to do, keeping his feelings well hidden wasn't one of them. If she hadn't suspected his feelings for Hermione, this definitely would have made her wonder. Now it just made her moody.
"Would you sit down already?! Your making me jittery," Ginny grumbled from her seat.
Harry stopped and ran a hand through his hair several times, "How can you be so calm? What if this was some sort of trap?"
Ginny exchanged a look with Ron which told him that it was his turn to do something.
"Harry, you do realize how insane your being, right? How could it be a trap? And why for Hermione?" Ron said.
"If I knew that, then I wouldn't be here. Ron, you know as well as I do that figuring out what Voldemort has planned isn't easy," Harry said, this time turning to face the two of them.
Shaking her head, Ginny chose to look into the fire and try to push the thought of Harry and Hermione out of her head. Though, there was a rather pleasant thought about pushing Harry down a flight of stairs. But that was only some of the residual hurt left over from their breakup. Still, it gave her something to smile about for a moment. Add to the fact that Xander was supposed to stop by to pick up his coat you would think that she would be a bit more chipper. Instead, she was feeling slightly nervous and annoyed that she was feeling nervous.
This didn't mean anything. He was merely coming to get something that he had lent her. Even if it did mean anything, she shouldn't be nervous. She had been pursued by some of her classmates and had gone out with more then a few of them. So why the hell was she nervous about him coming by then? It made no sense.
"Gin? Ginny, you alive over there?" Ron asked.
Blinking, she looked to find both boys where giving her an odd look. "What? What is it?"
"Nothing. You just looked like you where in a trance or something," Ron said then groaned catching his wording, knowing that it would send Harry off again.
Not to disappoint, Harry immediately started, "A trance? Do you think it could be from Harris? Should we go back there? If he's gotten to Ginny then he could have easily gotten to Hermione by now."
"I'm really happy that Luna had to go back to her own dorm. I don't think I could have dealt with two insane people tonight," Ron said, causing Ginny to laugh.
"I'm serious you two! What if Harris really is trying something here and we've all been fooled?"
"You know something, I think Harry might be right. Xander must be some kind of evil wizard! It's the only reason to explain why Harry's lost his mind," Ginny said with roll of her eyes.
"I'm serious! Hermione could be dead for all we know! And since when are you on a first name basis with him?"
Turning at the sound of the door opening, all three saw Hermione walk in. Ginny watched as she shut the door and Harry ran over to greet her. She was slightly sad to see him do that as well as the fact that Xander didn't seem to be with Hermione.
"Finally! We've been trying to get him to sit down ever since we got here," Ron said getting up.
Ginny followed suit and stood up, following Ron over to Hermione. Neither of them expected her to be harmed, but they where anxious to hear what she had found out. Ginny especially wanted to know if Xander was still stopping by tonight or if something had held him up.
"Harry, I'm fine. Honestly, what did you think was going to happen?" Hermione said reassuringly but firmly. She moved past everyone and went over to Ginny. "Xander said that you had something for him. He's waiting outside."
It was all Ginny could do not to break into a wide grin, especially when she could see that Hermione was trying not to do the same thing. Managing, barely at that, the two girls gave each other a smirk and Ginny had to move swiftly past her when Hermione raised her eyebrows in a knowing way. Just as she reached the door, she slammed to a halt, turned around and ran up to her dorm ignoring the curious questions of Harry and Ron.
When she grabbed the coat from under her bed, she hurried back down stairs, making sure to keep as quiet as possible so as not to wake her dorm mates. Once down the stairs though, she sped away out the door, again ignoring the questioning looks of the boys.
"Let him wonder, a bit," she thought smugly. "He can sit up all night and wonder for all I care."
Shutting the door, only half paying attention to the Fat Lady complain about the coming and goings of students at such a late time, Ginny looked up and down the hall not seeing Xander. "Damn! I must have missed him," she thought. "But, I only took a moment. How could he have made off so quickly?"
About ready to head inside, she heard two voices from down the one hall but around the corner. Instantly, she knew it was Xander but had no idea who the other voice was. She only hoped it wasn't another Professor.
"Will you stop following me?! I don't know anything about whatever crazy quest you're on. Besides, you're in a freakin' painting. How important could it really be then?" Xander's voice carried over.
"But you must! Quickly, good sir, there is not much time left," the second voice said.
'Definitely NOT another Professor,' Ginny thought as she approached the corner. Being quiet, she looked on as Xander stood facing and pointing a finger at one of the portraits on the wall. She couldn't see who it was but had a suspicion.
"Alright, if you don't quit it I'm reaching for the paint thinner, buddy. That's right, no more Mr. Nice Guy. Oh, no. I'll rub your ass right off that canvas," Xander threatened, causing Ginny to giggle and give her position away.
"You know, it really won't do any good to threaten him with that. It would take more then paint thinner to get him off of there," she said, moving to close the distance between them.
Looking at the painting, Ginny confirmed her suspicion and saw that Sir Cadogan on his horse looking at them.
"Ah, madam! I did not see you there. Is this young knight your escort through the terrors of this castle?" the painted knight asked.
"Sir Cadogan, he is. I really do need his help, if it's all right with you. He's already on a quest, you see," she explained to him, stifling her laughter.
Giving a slight bow to Ginny, something of a feat given his stature, he then turned and nodded to Xander, "Good sir, you only have said something. I bid thee good luck on thy journey." With that said, he rode off into another painting leaving a giggling Ginny and a confused Xander.
"What the hell? I've been trying to get that guy to leave me alone for the longest time. How'd you do that?"
Ginny gave him a grin, "Simple really."
Xander watched her, waiting for more of an explanation. "Uh huh. And, I don't suppose your willing to share that trick, are you?"
"Of course not. Where would be the fun in that?" she laughed.
Without even a word, the two started to walk slowly down the hall, away from the dorm. Ginny knew full well that what she was doing was beyond stupid but that didn't make her any more inclined to go back. Besides, he was just as likely to be thinking the same thing and he had made no move to leave.
"So, how did everything go? With Hermione I mean," she asked after trying to find something to say that didn't sound completely stupid.
Shrugging in a non committal way, he replied, "Oh, you know. After a few questions she pulled out the hot pokers and things got really interesting."
"Hermione can be rather tough when it comes to getting answers. Usually she doesn't resort to torture till she's read all the books in the library at least three times over though."
"I'm special, what can I say?"
Nodding her head, giving him a wry grin, "I bet you are, Professor."
"Oh, big talk from someone whose name is barely pronounceable."
"Your one to talk! Why on Earth would you want anyone to call you Xander of all things?"
"It sounds a lot better then Alex. Plus, you have to have some cool name if you want to get any of the ladies to notice you back home," he joked.
"I'm sure it must have worked wonders. You must have been beating them off of you with a stick," Ginny replied. She meant it jokingly, but it didn't hurt to see if she could gauge if there was anybody waiting for him back home.
Looking over at her companion, she saw that Xander actually seemed to be daydreaming about something. He came back after a second with an odd look on his face, "Oh, no. Just once I had to hold them back. But, uh, there where extenuating circumstances."
What struck her as strange was that she was almost sure he wasn't joking. Sure, he had said it with some humor in his voice, but that meant nothing, from what she was starting to piece together about him. He joked too much, almost all the time and especially when he was nervous.
She decided it was time to find out more about him then bits and pieces she strung together. "So, where exactly are you from? You sound like a Yank, but that would just be silly."
"I take offense at that. In fact, me and my whole country take offense at that," his voice filled with mock outrage.
"Your kidding me! You're a Yank? That's just...where are you from? Somewhere glamorous? New York? L.A.?" Ginny asked with interest. She had heard about these places from some of the muggle born and they sounded like the epitome of their world.
"Not that far from L.A., actually," Xander said casually. "Not that I've ever been, though. But it's just a few hours drive."
"What's it like? I hear that the States don't have that many wizarding area's but that might have just been prejudice, you know," she added, trying not to sound snooty.
"Wouldn't know. Muggle, remember?"
She shook her head, slightly embarrassed, "Oh, right. Sorry."
"Is that a bad thing? I know I'm not the one who can lay down the magic's but is that a problem?" he asked as the continued down the hall. They turned down another hall, Ginny leading the way simply by motioning with her head where to go.
"No, not at all! It's just that I'm not used to it. I come from a wizarding family and it's all I've known for most of my life. There are all these things that I don't know about with muggles and frankly, some of them don't make any sense," she explained.
Snorting, Xander nodded, "Riiiggghhht. You guys send your mail by bird and stick your head in a fire when you want to make a call. Out of the two of us, I think my world makes more sense."
"What are you talking about? All of that is normal for us."
Holding his hands in front of him in defeat, he said, "Hey, fair enough. I just get a little taken back is all. Fire generally equals bad in my history...or pretty depending on who you ask. I mean, I'd hate to see what happens when you forget some of that fairy dust before you stick your head there."
"It happens, but that's why there's always a cup of water nearby. I mean, unless some git of a Yank happens to be there. Then we hid all the water."
A comfortable silence fell between them. But, for Ginny, it lasted a bit to long. "Is it nice there? You're home, that is. You always hear all these stories about the states," she said, hoping that she could get back to some safer questions here instead of going through the differences about them. Best not to highlight that sort of thing. 'Surely talking about his home would at least give him something happy to talk about at least.'
Xander let out a breath, "Home was...well, Sunnydale was a learning experience, I'll say that much."
'Crap' she thought. "How so?"
"Well, I learned to run really, really fast for one thing."
Ginny slapped his arm, "Will you be serious. Home couldn't be as bad as it is here. At least you didn't have a war going on all around you."
"Hey, I am being honest. Come for scenery, stay because you're probably dead."
Ginny gave him another long look, "What kind of place was this? I mean, surely the magical community wouldn't have let such a thing go on if you were being overrun by dark creatures. There are laws!"
Xander scrunched up his face as if he was thinking really hard and finding something very difficult. Ginny thought it was rather odd that he had such trouble talking about such a simple thing as the place he lived in, yet she was beginning to see that most things having to do with Xander where odd.
"OK, here's the thing. Sunnydale is...complicated. Bad things happen there on a pretty constant basis. It's fun really. Plus, we there's all sorts of sites to see. We have more churches and cemeteries then most major cities. Oh, and, our school library had the largest collection of occult books for any public school."
"I'll take your word for it," she told him, not knowing wether to laugh or not. Ginny didn't feel like pushing the topic if it was too much for him, though she was interested in what he seemed to be talking about.
"So, Gin, what's it like growing up all witch like? Lot's of newts eyes in your soups and frog legs? You get good milage on those brooms?"
"Well, they are considered delicacies. But I never much cared for the taste," she smirked slightly.
Xander stopped and looked at her with wide eyes, "You eat newt eyes? I was kidding!"
With an innocent face she turned to him, "Newt eyes? I was talking about the frog legs." She turned and started walking again but added, "I love newt eyes."
She made it only a dozen paces or so before she heard Xander hurry to catch up. Try as she might though, she wasn't able to keep a straight face and her grin was almost ear to ear. Looking over, she saw him looking at her and giving her one of those goofy grins again. It was enough to make her smile widen even more, along with sending a blush creeping up her cheeks.
Having reached the end of the hallway, Ginny quickly looked around and found that they where by the Headmistresses office and she didn't think that McGonagall would take it well if she caught the two of them together. They must have been walking further then she had thought. Making a move, she grabbed his hand and laughed as she felt that they where a bit warm and slightly sweaty letting her know that he was at least a little nervous. She stopped and put a hand on his chest, mostly to stop him from crashing into her. At least that's what she told herself.
"What? What is it?" he asked looking slightly concerned.
"It's nothing. It's just...McGonagall's office is right down that hall. I didn't mean to take us over here and I think it be best if she didn't see us," she explained. Her hand felt his heart beat a few times before she took it away. He was to busy looking behind him in case McGonagall came around the corner so she didn't look too embarrassed since he didn't notice.
"It looks like she isn't around," he looked back at her and noticed the coat still in her arms. "Hey, have you just been carrying that around all this time? You should have said something."
"I didn't realize I still had it. Is that a problem?"
"No. No problem. Just make me feel less manly when you're the one carrying my stuff around."
"Oh? Well, we can't have your manliness be at stake, can we?" she said with a sly smile, putting the coat forward. When he grabbed it, she held on tight and pulled it, and him, toward her. Her heart was beating faster now as she leaned forwards and he leaned down to meet her. As luck would have it, when they're lips where not even half an inch apart they heard McGonagall cry out from her office causing both of them to jump apart and look around wildly.
A second after the cry came the sound of her shouting and then it sounded as if several people were shouting. It was incoherent and far away. But considering that her office was down the hall and up a flight of stairs it was safe to say that they were being quite loud.
"What the hell?" Xander said, looking back toward where the office was. "I swear, the universe hates me," he muttered.
Ginny was trying to slow her heart as well as clear her head. Her luck with Xander was beginning to annoy her but all of that had to take a back burner with all the shouting going on. She was pleasantly surprised when he reached out and took her hand and slowly started toward the office. All they could see though was the entrance which was blocked. The stairs were facing inwards and Ginny had no idea what the password was to get in.
The voices were louder now, and she could tell that there where three people arguing. McGonagall was the most constant, sounding both high pitched but firm. The second voice, it sounded almost like Giles, was a close second in both frequency and intensity, though he sounded a bit more controlled then McGonagall. The third voice barely said anything in comparison to the other two but when that person chose to say something, it was louder then the others.
"Don't suppose you know how to get in there, do you?" Xander asked after he heard something crash followed by more arguing.
"Are you daft? I'm not going up there," Ginny told him. So far it seemed like it was merely a heated argument, not a fight, and she didn't like the idea of barging in on her headmistress/head of house during a time when she should be in bed and most definitely not when she was with Xander.
"Look, I know that Giles is up there. I've heard that tone of voice before from him and if something is making him get like that, I'm gonna find out what," he said, face filled with determination.
"Great, he has to be foolhardy as well?" Ginny thought with an exasperated sigh. It seemed that she was stuck to be drawn to the types who threw themselves into harms way with no concern for thinking it through first. Not that anything better could be said for her considering her own recent urge to stay and fight an opponent that could have easily killed her had she wanted.
"Head back to the dorm. I'm gonna check this out," Xander told her. He dropped her hand, though gave it an assuring squeeze, and pulled his coat on. He wasn't wearing robes like any of the other faculty and she wondered if he ever planned on it when not at meals.
Before he could make it two steps, she grabbed and held his shoulder firmly, not letting him go. He thought that she was just going to head back because he told her to? What did he think of her? The boy was going to get a sever wake up call.
"You can't do any magic and if there is any trouble up there your going to need back up. I'm not going anywhere. Now, get behind me so I can shield us properly if need be," she hissed out with more then a bit of anger in her voice.
Without waiting to see if he would respond she moved in front of him and took her wand out as she moved toward the entryway to McGonagall's office. She was pleased that Xander followed right behind her without any hesitation, only barely hearing him say something to the effect of "Whatever you say, boss," which gave her a bit of courage. The shouting was still going on and she could pick out a few words here or there. Most of which would cause her mum to wash her mouth out with soap if she was to hear her say them.
She started racking her brain as to what the password would be once they reached the Gargoyle. The shouting was still going on and making it hard for her to think, never mind Xander being almost right on top of her. But for now she pushed any thoughts that produced from her head and moved to put some small amount of distance between them.
"So, what now, oh fearless leader?" Xander said, not bothering lowering his voice at this point. With all the noise coming from the office there wasn't any point too whispering.
Ginny shook her head, "I wish I knew. The password always changes. The Gargoyle wont let anyone in without it."
Xander looked around and saw the gargoyle sitting there with a blank expression on his face, "This guy? He guards the place?"
She nodded and watched as Xander poked the statue with his finger. He got to the things eye before it started on him, "Oi! Quit it, you. You think I don't know yer there?"
"Well, then let us in," Xander said simply.
"No one gets in without the password. Not even the likes of you, Mr. Harris," the Gargoyle said in it's gravely voice. It's choice of words, though, caught Ginny's attention. What was so special about Xander that the Gargoyle knew his name? Xander didn't seem to have ever seen the statue/guard before and yet he had not only called him by name, but made it sound as if there was something special about him. Definitely something for her to consider later.
The Gargoyle cocked his head as if listening to something. Then with a smile that was filled with pointy stone teeth, he said, "Well, now, if it's all the same to you, I'd think it be best if you two made a run for it," and started to hop out of the way.
The staircase started to reveal itself and Ginny started to move only to notice that Xander took only a few steps back before he stopped and held his ground. She stopped, trying to determine if she would be better to hid till she knew was coming down, or stand with Xander in case something was going on. He must have sensed her hesitation because he turned his head on mouthed for her to hid. Normally, she wouldn't be one to hid, but she also wanted to play things smart this time. Once she had gone behind the corner of the hallway, she listened as intently as she could, wand out and at the ready in case she had to jump in to save Xander.
"Mr. Harris, what are you doing out of your quarters? You're to be there at all times!" came McGonagall's voice followed by Giles, though less harsh.
"Xander! What on Earth are you doing out? Is everything alright?"
"Giles, relax. I'm fine. Just got this feeling that something was wrong and when I got near it sounded like the tryouts for a hardcore debate team," she heard Xander say.
So it seemed like everything was alright at the moment. She knew she had heard three different voices and so far only two of them had been accounted for. Who was the third person? Was whoever it was still here even?
"Mr. Harris, you where under direct orders not to leave your quarters," McGonagall started but Giles jumped in.
"Minerva, please. I have every faith in Xander. If he says there was a good reason as to why he was over here, then I believe him."
A small pause was broken when Xander asked, "So, who's the cloak and dagger guy?
Ginny wanted to sneak a peek around the corner but didn't dare. It was too much of a risk but she wanted badly to see who the stranger was. It seemed that these days, Hogwarts was full of them and this one was causing some kind of uproar with McGonagall.
"This is...a friend, Xander. He's going to be staying with us for a short amount of time," Giles told him sounding tired.
"He is not to leave the room, Rupert. Is this understood? Not one step outside of it. There is no telling the amount o-of pandemonium that he's being here would cause," McGonagall said, sounding angry as well as tired.
Ginny started looking for a place to hid as the she heard the four of them start down the hall toward where her. There wasn't enough time to run down the hall and down another corridor, but there was a sufficient lack of hiding area's as well. Preparing to be found out, Ginny tried to steady herself.
"Hey, hey, hey now people. Before we just hurry up and walk off I think that there's a few things to talk about first," Xander said.
All of the footsteps stopped and Ginny let out a breath she didn't know she had been holding. If she hadn't wanted to kiss Xander before, at this point she was ready to grab him and push him against a wall in passion.
"Xander, what...uh, ye-yes. Of course. So, what is it that you need to speak to us about?" Giles said, pausing slightly.
"Rupert, this is hardly the time or place to talk! Alexander, whatever it is you need to discuss, you can do so once you are back in your quarters," the anger was winning over the tiredness in McGonagall's voice.
"Now, Minerva, if Xander says that he has some important reason that he needs to speak with us, I believe we owe him that respect," Giles said and Ginny got the feeling that he somehow knew she was nearby. If so, he was helping Xander buy her time to get out of the area. Frustrated that she had to leave without finding out who the mystery man was, not to mention without saying so much as a good-bye to Xander, Ginny took off down the hall as quickly and quietly as she could. She only hoped that everyone was still awake when she got back.
BREAKBREAKBREAKBREAKBREAKBREAKBREAK
Xander had caught Giles eye and only hoped that he was able to convey that need to stay here for a moment. Somehow, though, it didn't surprise him all that much that Giles caught on and went along with it. But, now he was stuck trying to come up with a reason why he needed to speak to them. So, when in doubt, stall, "That's right. I mean, I wouldn't have come all the way here if it wasn't important, right?"
"This is bordering on the ridiculous. All of you, I want all three of you to return to your quarters at once!" McGonagall exclaimed.
"We are hardly student's, Minerva," Giles told her, looking a bit put out.
Turning on him, the Head Mistress looked furious, "No, you are not students, Rupert. You are a Professor at this institute who disappears much to frequently when he should be here helping to train these children and keeping them safe. You," she said turning to Xander, "are a boy very far from home with no magical ability and the only reason that you are here is because Albus saw you as one last bit of hope in our struggle. Yet, so far you have caused more problems then you have solved." She turned finally to the stranger, "And you, Severus...there are no words to describe you. The pain you have caused us, the horrors you have performed...if it was not for your memories and Albus's that we viewed in the pensive, you would not be standing here. You are not trusted. You are not wanted. You are, however, needed and that is the only reason I have not dealt with you personally.
"Now, all three of you. As your boss, your host and your only means of survival, go to your quarters at once!" Minerva yelled, her face turning more and more red by the moment. Before anyone could make a move, she spun on her heel and stormed back up to her office leaving the three men staring after her in stunned silence.
Snape was the first to recover and started off down the hall. Giles, shook his head, cleaned his glasses and started off after him. Xander hurried after Giles and the man Minerva had called Severus. He caught up with them and, while not saying a word, kept looking about for any sign of Ginny. She had made to kiss him, he knew it and then all of whatever the hell that was back there had happened. Just his luck.
"She isn't here, Xander. I would hope she made it back to her dorm by now," Giles said glancing at him, though he thought he could see a slight smile on his lips.
"Huh? What? I'm not looking for someone. I'm just...looking around. I mean, not for a specific someone. Just, you know, around."
Xander watched Giles chuckle lightly and the hood guy, Severus, exhaled in a way that couldn't be mistaken for anything but contempt. "Xander, it's not hard to imagine what you really were doing out of our rooms. I do, however, would ask you next time to be a bit more discreet. There are many things going on here and teenage hormones will only muck it up."
"Are you to tell me that while this boy is supposed to be helping with the resistance, one couldn't imagine how, has instead been engaging with the students in a less then professional manner?" the man known as Severus said. Each word slipped from his mouth as if covered in oil.
"Well, that means so much from a guy who it seems has zero trust from anyone." Xander retorted.
Snape snorted, "Please. As if I care what a boy like you think of me."
"Severus! That isn't going to help anyone. Minerva was right, we should return to our quarters before any of the students see us," Giles hissed.
"What do you mean our quarters? Your not telling me that this guy is staying with us, are you? He ain't sharing my bed, that's for sure," Xander said. Despite Giles probably being right about Ginny heading back to her dorm, he still darted his eyes back and forth incase she was around.
"Xander, Severus will be staying with us. A room has been added for him so no, you won't be sharing your bed with him. I have had a very trying few days and at this point would just enjoy getting into bed."
Catching the tone of Giles voice, Xander was prepared to drop the subject. That was, until he caught Snape sneering at him. Whoever the hell this guy was, it didn't matter to him. "Alright, that is it. You've got something to say, then say it? Because I don't care if you've got some hocus mumbo jumbo thing going on. I'm ready to just say screw it, and throw down."
Xander stared at Snape, tense and ready to fight. His hands where loose at his sides, but his arms where tense and ready to swing. It only took all of his will power not to shake out of his boots. Life or death fighting was one thing. Fighting out of anger and knowing what your going up against before hand was not his forte. Snape, on the other hand, merely quirked an eyebrow.
Giles took hold of Xander's arm and turned him away from Snape. "Xander, this is Severus. As in Severus Snape. The friend I had told you about."
"This is the guy you've been running off to see? Wait. Snape?"
"Yes, Snape. And no, he was merely someone that I needed to see. Someone that I feel will also be of a great help to us. Because of this, his cover has been given away and he is no longer safe outside of these walls and soon, even that will not protect him. Now, we need to get him inside before anyone sees him."
"Giles, this is the guy? The guy you said they think killed that other guy, the old headmaster, Dumbledore? What the hell is he doing here?"
Rubbing the bridge of his nose, Giles responded in a very tired voice, "Xander, please. It's to long to get into out here but suffice to say, Severus is not exactly guilty. It's complicated, but he is not one of Voldemort's. Trust me."
Giving Giles a long look, he glanced at Snape to see the almost bored look on his face. Looking back to Giles he said, "Do you know anyone who isn't a psychotic murderer?"