Disclaimer: I don't own any of these they belong to JK Rowling and Joss
Whedon
Blood Crystals and Porcelain Dolls Aziraphael
As the rain pounded the ground, lightning struck illuminating the two figures at the doors of Hogwarts. Needless to say, it was a dark and stormy night. (Although not as dark and stormy as two nights ago when Neville had another accident in potions where he did slightly more than just melt his cauldron. Nevertheless, if any awards were given out for dark and stormy nights this would probably win one).
The taller of the two men adjusted his glasses and then pounded on the door. The huge oak doors heaved open and a small wrinkled face popped out.
"What are you two doing out here?" demanded the greasy old man. The tabby cat wrapping itself around his leg. "Mrs Norris and me will see what Professor Dumbledore will have to say about this."
"That'll be quite enough Filch, I'll take it from here." The sonorous voice echoed as another, taller man appeared at the door. He seemed to have materialised from the shadows, his dark cloak sweeping the floor.
"But Professor Snape."
"FILCH," his tone raised, Snape glared at Filch with dark cavernous eyes. Filch looked down, defeated he walked away muttering to himself.
Snape turned his attention to the two men, "Come in then. I don't want to have to wait all night." He looked disapprovingly at the taller man. He still had the same dark hair, the same mannerisms probably even the same glasses, he mused. He then observed the blond; his hair slicked back and his black leather duster dripping on the floor. Although the shorter of the two, he carried himself with an arrogance that seemed to infuriate the other.
"Follow me, you were expected an hour ago." Snape led them through a labyrinth of staircases and corridors, when suddenly Peeves appeared and spotted the taller man. "Look who's back!" he screeched "should've stayed at home". It was then that he spied the other entrant to Hogwarts. His face paled (well paler than usual, what with him being a ghost and all). "I'm sorry I'm sorry" the poltergeist pleaded. Snape watched in bewilderment as Peeves shot out of the corridor. It was as if his very afterlife depended on it. He looked over to the platinum blond who simply smirked. There was something different about him, something he couldn't quite place but whatever it was, it was dark. Snape could almost feel it.
They reached a stone statue. Snape sighed heavily and then said "butterbeer and Bott's every flavoured beans with banana and blackberry sauce." The two onlookers worked hard to stifle their giggles but failed miserably. Snape retorted with a stare that could kill. (And I don't mean a simple murder or even a double, I'm talking about a worldwide massacre with the numbers reaching the billions). The gargoyle slid away to reveal the narrow spiral staircase. The staircase moved up like an escalator and as they stepped off at the top, they found themselves in front of a huge gleaming oak door. The brass griffin knocker turned its head and watched them wearily as Snape pushed the door open.
* * * * * * * * * *
In the circular room, the paintings of former headmasters and mistresses watched intently as an age old man approached the three men. "I've been expecting you," beamed Dumbledore his eyes shining brightly as he greeted the taller man. "Wesley, my boy how are you?" Wesley grinned "Fine sir, although I'm not with the Watchers Council anymore, I'm a rogue demon hunter now." The blond scoffed, "and speaking of demons this is Spike."
"Oh yes of course the vampire," replied Dumbledore.
"Vampire! I was not told a vampire would be involved. How can we trust it? What of it's bloodlust?"
"Calm yourself Severus, I don't believe that will be a problem," answered Dumbledore.
"Yes, Blondie here now has a chip in his head. It causes pain whenever he tries to harm a human." Wesley explained "So basically he's been neutered."
Spike bristled at this; "look I can still kill demons okay! Anyway at least I don't work for that poof of a sire of mine."
"Take that back!" Wesley demanded.
"Make me!" Spike replied.
"Silence." Dumbledore ordered with a twinkle in his eyes, "I'm sure you two can cope Severus will now show you to your rooms". Wesley and Spike rose and were steered out of the room. "It has been a pleasure to see you again Wesley and a pleasure to meet you Spike, or should I say William." Spike turned in surprise just as the door closed and was convinced he had seen Dumbledore chuckling to himself.
* * * * * * * * * *
It was going to be their sixth year at Hogwarts, Yet their excitement had not faded, to meet old friends such as Dean and Seamus. To see what Fred and George had planned for their final year here. To see whom the new Defence against the Dark Arts teacher and pray Snape had been transferred away or at least had lost his voice for the year but that probably wouldn't stop him. This was running through their minds as they filed into the Great Hall. They took their seats knowing the new first years would be arriving soon ready to be sorted.
"Did either of you notice something on the train?" asked Hermione.
"Nope" replied Ron.
"Like what?" inquired Harry.
"Like Malfoy" she elaborated.
"He didn't come near us," said Harry.
"That's my point, not one insult or remark."
"Maybe he's finally learned that a Weasley is not to be messed with." Replied Ron puffing his chest out.
"I don't think that's it," said Hermione "I mean just look at him."
The trio looked over to the Slytherin table to see Malfoy absently stabbing the table between his splayed fingers with a butter knife.
"Weird," remarked Ron.
"What is?" Asked Ginny who had just taken her seat.
"Malfoy" replied Harry. Ginny looked over " Does someone want to tell him the table is dead already." She said.
"I don't know if he'd be able to hear them," observed Hermione.
"What are you all looking at?" asked Fred.
"Malfoy" replied Ginny.
"Malfoy, why?" asked George.
"Just look," she said, "he's been acting odd all day. He hasn't made fun of anyone, not even Neville. Even Crabbe and Goyle look confused." (Although you do have to admit this isn't exactly hard to do, I'm sure a three- numbered dot to dot would stump them.)
"Someone should maybe take the knife away from him, although it would be cool to see if he stabs himself." Replied Dean. Within seconds the entire Gryffindor table was watching Malfoy and soon so were Ravenclaw and Hufflepuff and finally Slytherin; as an uneasy silence filled the room all save the "thunk, thunk" of the knife as it stabbed the table in a regular rhythm which abruptly stopped as Malfoy broke from his trance and looked around with enquiring eyes. It was disconcerting to have the entire hall staring at him as he rose from his seat and left the hall.
"Well that was weird" observed Ginny. Ron was about to speak when the door opened to a cacophonous flood of first years.
During the sorting, Hermione said. Malfoy is not the only odd thing today."
"What?" asked Ron.
The windows have been boarded up, look," she explained.
"Oh yeah. Why did they do that?" Ron wondered.
"I just don't know." Hermione replied.
When the first years were finally sorted into their houses, the obligatory cheering from each house was over with, and nearly headless nick had amazed another year of children with his almost decapitation. Dumbledore rose to speak. Silence spread through the hall again, the headmaster began "I would like to say a few words; Bubble, pears, apples and squeak". The hall cheered and then Dumbledore called for quiet. "I should now introduce two new members to the staff," He said as right on Que. the Hall doors were thrown open and in walked Wesley. "This is Professor Pryce, he shall be the new Defence against the Dark Arts teacher. And he is also a former Ravenclaw student at Hogwarts." The Ravenclaw table cheered as Wesley waved and took his seat next to Dumbledore. " Kind of young to be a professor isn't he?" wondered Hermione.
"I guess, I didn't look that hard at him." replied Harry.
"What's that supposed to mean." Hermione demanded.
"Nothing" said Harry innocently, "Just remember Lockhart." He replied as he and Ron burst into uncontrollable laughter. Hermione went red and said "I hate the pair of you, I hope you know that" she said as she flushed red with anger.
"We're sorry Hermione but it was too easy to pass up," explained Harry.
"Actually Harry he looks kind of like you, without the scar I mean." Ron observed.
"He's right Harry." Hermione agreed.
"Really?" asked Harry.
"Secondly, we have Spike" Dumbledore announced as Spike swaggered into the room and spun a chair around and sat on it backwards." He will be teaching muggle studies as well as assisting Professor Pryce at times in DADA."
"I am definitely taking DADA and muggle studies this year," proclaimed Ginny.
"Me too." Replied Hermione.
"Hermione I thought you didn't want to do muggle studies because it felt like cheating just 'cos you didn't have to study?" asked Ron.
"Who said anything about study." Ginny replied before she looked at Hermione and the two girls burst into laughter.
"Ginny?!?" Ron was horrified at what his sister.
"Calm down Ron I'm sure they don't intend to run off with them or anything," reasoned Harry.
"Speak for yourself," said Ginny.
Ron glared at her. "Ginny stop winding him up," said Harry.
"Oh he's looking over here," Ginny exclaimed, "do you think he heard us?"
"What from the other end of the hall, oh yeah he has super hearing". Ron retorted sarcastically. Ginny simply stuck out her tongue at him and turned away. Harry and Hermione dissolved into giggles.
"What kind of name is Spike anyway?" said Ron resentfully.
"I wonder what his real name is," said Hermione trying to recover.
"Probably Malfoy," replied Ron.
"Huh?" said Ginny.
"That git has Malfoy written all over him," announced Ron.
"He does not." Replied Ginny indignantly.
"Sure he does, I mean look at the guy, he's practically a copy of the one here," said Ron, "he's a Malfoy if ever I saw one."
"Just because he looks like one, doesn't mean he is," said Hermione diplomatically.
"Sure it does," said Ron.
"Will you two shut up." Demanded Harry, "you can ask him in your lesson, but in the meantime arguing about it is doing nobody any favours."
"Fine I bet you one whole jar of every flavoured butterbeans that he isn't," Ginny challenged. "What scared?"
"No, okay, you're on." Ron answered.
Ron and Ginny sat and ate sulking in silence.
"Something tells me this is not going to be an easy year," said Harry.
"Have any of them," Hermione countered.
"I guess not," he replied as he smiled.
"Anyway, if he was a Malfoy would he really be teaching muggle studies." Ginny sniped.
"Ginny" Harry warned.
"What?" she replied with mock innocence.
"Never mind" he replied defeated. When it came to a Weasley argument, nothing could halt it. It was like an act of god, a hurricane or tornado. It would have been easier to stop the tide.
Spike started laughing to himself.
"What's so funny?" asked Wesley.
"Looks like our lessons are going to be filled with hormone fuelled teenage girls, that's all." Spike replied with a smirk.
"You shouldn't be listening to people's conversations like that." Wesley reprimanded.
"I'm evil, what did you expect." Spike said reasonably.
" It's still wrong, but.um, whilst your doing it .er. I don't suppose you could tell me what they are saying, could you?" Wesley asked hopefully.
"Why?" asked Spike with a sadistic grin on his face.
"Oh, um. purely from a professional viewpoint, you understand. To see my rapport with the students, I'd like to see what they think of having new teachers at their school and how it affects them." Wesley replied blushing with embarrassment.
"You're a pathetic liar" Spike replied shaking his head in mock disappointment. To cover up the smirking he was all too ready to fall victim to. " You just want your ego boosted."
"Oh come on, please," he pleaded.
"Okay, there may be a couple that like you." Spike said grudgingly "but that wont last past your first lesson."
"What do you mean?" Wesley asked slightly worried.
"Cordelia told me about how you got all nervous when her friends came over to the office and shoved an axe into the wall." Spike replied grinning.
"I swear I'm going to kill her when I get back." Wesley replied furious.
"Hey you're meant to be one of the good guys, I guess there's hope for you left." Spike said laughing.
Wesley glared at him whilst Spike fell into uncontrollable laughter and then he himself succumb to giggles.
"You're evil and depraved I just want you to know that, Spike," Wesley said smirking
"Wouldn't have it any other way" he replied wiping the tears from his eyes.
* * * * * * * * * *
Spike had walked out of the Great Hall and was blasted by the cool night air from the open double doors. "Good I needed a fag" he thought and walked outside. He leaned against the wall and took out a cigarette from the packet in his coat pocket. He pulled out his lighter and was about to light up when a flash of white caught his eye. "What the." He strode towards the lake where he could see a figure sitting at the edge.
Spike stood next to the sitting figure and stared out onto the lake. He lit his cigarette and sighed as a puff of smoke left his lips.
"They cause cancer you know. Aren't you worried?"
"Not particularly, believe me that's the least of my worries."
The figure laughed sadly "Yeah, I know the feeling." He sighed and then said, "You're new aren't you?"
"Yep I'm the new muggle studies teacher," Spike replied. The figure started to laugh and rose "Muggle studies." Then both Spike and the figure stared at each other. Their hair shining silver in the moonlight.
"Bloody hell!" exclaimed Spike, his cockney voice echoed through the trees.
"I was about to say the same thing" he replied and then laughed. " The name is Malfoy, Draco Malfoy." He offered his hand.
"What sort of like Blond, James Blond" retorted Spike in a bad Sean Connery impression. Malfoy just looked at him blankly. "Never mind," he took Malfoy's hand "Spike's the name although you can call me the Big Bad, if you prefer," he smirked.
"Are you sure you're a teacher here?" asked Malfoy incredulously.
"I'd be in the wrong bloody place if I wasn't." Spike replied, "anyway the rain is making my fags go out so I'm gonna go in. You coming?"
Malfoy thought for a minute and then smiled and said, "Yeah, I'm soaked anyway."
The two started to walk towards the door, "How long were you out here?" Spike asked.
"I don't know, an hour maybe more."
"That's a long time to stare at a lake."
Draco laughed softly, "yeah" he replied.
They reached the entrance hall, "well this is my stop," said Malfoy as he saw the Slytherin's walking to their common room.
"See ya," replied Spike as he watched him disappear down a corridor.
"Hey, where did you go to?" Wesley asked as he appeared at Spike's shoulder.
"Out" Spike replied distractedly, "see what you can find out about this Malfoy kid, I've got a feeling he might be what we're looking for."
"Yeah, okay but I give the next order," replied Wesley. Spike just looked at him and laughed as he walked away. "What? What's so funny? I can give orders too you know," Wesley shouted to the amusement of a couple of Hufflepuff students.
"Pryce, I trust we can be seen as more professional than this," thundered Snape.
"Yes Professor Snape," Wesley grumbled as he tramped his way up the stairs.
* * * * * * * * * *
An overweight silhouette sat hunched on the bench outside the train station. The silver arm glinted in the pale moonlight, it was still a wonder to him and probably would always be he thought as he proudly polished it.
"Oh isn't it pretty," a voice exclaimed.
Wormtail rose his eyes two see two women standing in front of him. The brunette that had just spoken was clutching a doll in one hand and her suitcase in the other as she stared entranced at his arm.
" I believe you were waiting for us," the blond said innocently as she flashed him a smile
Wormtail was taken aback. Of all he was suspecting the secret visitors of his master would be, he did not expect this. However, he felt very uneasy in their presence. Wormtail was not stupid, he hadn't survived this long to not realise when something was not right and these two were definitely not what they appeared. "It's this way," he said nervously.
"Oh look Miss Edith the metal man is scared of us," the woman told the doll and then laughed which only made Wormtail move faster, yet they kept up with him step for step. No these were definitely something to worry about.
* * * * * * * * * *
Blood Crystals and Porcelain Dolls Aziraphael
As the rain pounded the ground, lightning struck illuminating the two figures at the doors of Hogwarts. Needless to say, it was a dark and stormy night. (Although not as dark and stormy as two nights ago when Neville had another accident in potions where he did slightly more than just melt his cauldron. Nevertheless, if any awards were given out for dark and stormy nights this would probably win one).
The taller of the two men adjusted his glasses and then pounded on the door. The huge oak doors heaved open and a small wrinkled face popped out.
"What are you two doing out here?" demanded the greasy old man. The tabby cat wrapping itself around his leg. "Mrs Norris and me will see what Professor Dumbledore will have to say about this."
"That'll be quite enough Filch, I'll take it from here." The sonorous voice echoed as another, taller man appeared at the door. He seemed to have materialised from the shadows, his dark cloak sweeping the floor.
"But Professor Snape."
"FILCH," his tone raised, Snape glared at Filch with dark cavernous eyes. Filch looked down, defeated he walked away muttering to himself.
Snape turned his attention to the two men, "Come in then. I don't want to have to wait all night." He looked disapprovingly at the taller man. He still had the same dark hair, the same mannerisms probably even the same glasses, he mused. He then observed the blond; his hair slicked back and his black leather duster dripping on the floor. Although the shorter of the two, he carried himself with an arrogance that seemed to infuriate the other.
"Follow me, you were expected an hour ago." Snape led them through a labyrinth of staircases and corridors, when suddenly Peeves appeared and spotted the taller man. "Look who's back!" he screeched "should've stayed at home". It was then that he spied the other entrant to Hogwarts. His face paled (well paler than usual, what with him being a ghost and all). "I'm sorry I'm sorry" the poltergeist pleaded. Snape watched in bewilderment as Peeves shot out of the corridor. It was as if his very afterlife depended on it. He looked over to the platinum blond who simply smirked. There was something different about him, something he couldn't quite place but whatever it was, it was dark. Snape could almost feel it.
They reached a stone statue. Snape sighed heavily and then said "butterbeer and Bott's every flavoured beans with banana and blackberry sauce." The two onlookers worked hard to stifle their giggles but failed miserably. Snape retorted with a stare that could kill. (And I don't mean a simple murder or even a double, I'm talking about a worldwide massacre with the numbers reaching the billions). The gargoyle slid away to reveal the narrow spiral staircase. The staircase moved up like an escalator and as they stepped off at the top, they found themselves in front of a huge gleaming oak door. The brass griffin knocker turned its head and watched them wearily as Snape pushed the door open.
* * * * * * * * * *
In the circular room, the paintings of former headmasters and mistresses watched intently as an age old man approached the three men. "I've been expecting you," beamed Dumbledore his eyes shining brightly as he greeted the taller man. "Wesley, my boy how are you?" Wesley grinned "Fine sir, although I'm not with the Watchers Council anymore, I'm a rogue demon hunter now." The blond scoffed, "and speaking of demons this is Spike."
"Oh yes of course the vampire," replied Dumbledore.
"Vampire! I was not told a vampire would be involved. How can we trust it? What of it's bloodlust?"
"Calm yourself Severus, I don't believe that will be a problem," answered Dumbledore.
"Yes, Blondie here now has a chip in his head. It causes pain whenever he tries to harm a human." Wesley explained "So basically he's been neutered."
Spike bristled at this; "look I can still kill demons okay! Anyway at least I don't work for that poof of a sire of mine."
"Take that back!" Wesley demanded.
"Make me!" Spike replied.
"Silence." Dumbledore ordered with a twinkle in his eyes, "I'm sure you two can cope Severus will now show you to your rooms". Wesley and Spike rose and were steered out of the room. "It has been a pleasure to see you again Wesley and a pleasure to meet you Spike, or should I say William." Spike turned in surprise just as the door closed and was convinced he had seen Dumbledore chuckling to himself.
* * * * * * * * * *
It was going to be their sixth year at Hogwarts, Yet their excitement had not faded, to meet old friends such as Dean and Seamus. To see what Fred and George had planned for their final year here. To see whom the new Defence against the Dark Arts teacher and pray Snape had been transferred away or at least had lost his voice for the year but that probably wouldn't stop him. This was running through their minds as they filed into the Great Hall. They took their seats knowing the new first years would be arriving soon ready to be sorted.
"Did either of you notice something on the train?" asked Hermione.
"Nope" replied Ron.
"Like what?" inquired Harry.
"Like Malfoy" she elaborated.
"He didn't come near us," said Harry.
"That's my point, not one insult or remark."
"Maybe he's finally learned that a Weasley is not to be messed with." Replied Ron puffing his chest out.
"I don't think that's it," said Hermione "I mean just look at him."
The trio looked over to the Slytherin table to see Malfoy absently stabbing the table between his splayed fingers with a butter knife.
"Weird," remarked Ron.
"What is?" Asked Ginny who had just taken her seat.
"Malfoy" replied Harry. Ginny looked over " Does someone want to tell him the table is dead already." She said.
"I don't know if he'd be able to hear them," observed Hermione.
"What are you all looking at?" asked Fred.
"Malfoy" replied Ginny.
"Malfoy, why?" asked George.
"Just look," she said, "he's been acting odd all day. He hasn't made fun of anyone, not even Neville. Even Crabbe and Goyle look confused." (Although you do have to admit this isn't exactly hard to do, I'm sure a three- numbered dot to dot would stump them.)
"Someone should maybe take the knife away from him, although it would be cool to see if he stabs himself." Replied Dean. Within seconds the entire Gryffindor table was watching Malfoy and soon so were Ravenclaw and Hufflepuff and finally Slytherin; as an uneasy silence filled the room all save the "thunk, thunk" of the knife as it stabbed the table in a regular rhythm which abruptly stopped as Malfoy broke from his trance and looked around with enquiring eyes. It was disconcerting to have the entire hall staring at him as he rose from his seat and left the hall.
"Well that was weird" observed Ginny. Ron was about to speak when the door opened to a cacophonous flood of first years.
During the sorting, Hermione said. Malfoy is not the only odd thing today."
"What?" asked Ron.
The windows have been boarded up, look," she explained.
"Oh yeah. Why did they do that?" Ron wondered.
"I just don't know." Hermione replied.
When the first years were finally sorted into their houses, the obligatory cheering from each house was over with, and nearly headless nick had amazed another year of children with his almost decapitation. Dumbledore rose to speak. Silence spread through the hall again, the headmaster began "I would like to say a few words; Bubble, pears, apples and squeak". The hall cheered and then Dumbledore called for quiet. "I should now introduce two new members to the staff," He said as right on Que. the Hall doors were thrown open and in walked Wesley. "This is Professor Pryce, he shall be the new Defence against the Dark Arts teacher. And he is also a former Ravenclaw student at Hogwarts." The Ravenclaw table cheered as Wesley waved and took his seat next to Dumbledore. " Kind of young to be a professor isn't he?" wondered Hermione.
"I guess, I didn't look that hard at him." replied Harry.
"What's that supposed to mean." Hermione demanded.
"Nothing" said Harry innocently, "Just remember Lockhart." He replied as he and Ron burst into uncontrollable laughter. Hermione went red and said "I hate the pair of you, I hope you know that" she said as she flushed red with anger.
"We're sorry Hermione but it was too easy to pass up," explained Harry.
"Actually Harry he looks kind of like you, without the scar I mean." Ron observed.
"He's right Harry." Hermione agreed.
"Really?" asked Harry.
"Secondly, we have Spike" Dumbledore announced as Spike swaggered into the room and spun a chair around and sat on it backwards." He will be teaching muggle studies as well as assisting Professor Pryce at times in DADA."
"I am definitely taking DADA and muggle studies this year," proclaimed Ginny.
"Me too." Replied Hermione.
"Hermione I thought you didn't want to do muggle studies because it felt like cheating just 'cos you didn't have to study?" asked Ron.
"Who said anything about study." Ginny replied before she looked at Hermione and the two girls burst into laughter.
"Ginny?!?" Ron was horrified at what his sister.
"Calm down Ron I'm sure they don't intend to run off with them or anything," reasoned Harry.
"Speak for yourself," said Ginny.
Ron glared at her. "Ginny stop winding him up," said Harry.
"Oh he's looking over here," Ginny exclaimed, "do you think he heard us?"
"What from the other end of the hall, oh yeah he has super hearing". Ron retorted sarcastically. Ginny simply stuck out her tongue at him and turned away. Harry and Hermione dissolved into giggles.
"What kind of name is Spike anyway?" said Ron resentfully.
"I wonder what his real name is," said Hermione trying to recover.
"Probably Malfoy," replied Ron.
"Huh?" said Ginny.
"That git has Malfoy written all over him," announced Ron.
"He does not." Replied Ginny indignantly.
"Sure he does, I mean look at the guy, he's practically a copy of the one here," said Ron, "he's a Malfoy if ever I saw one."
"Just because he looks like one, doesn't mean he is," said Hermione diplomatically.
"Sure it does," said Ron.
"Will you two shut up." Demanded Harry, "you can ask him in your lesson, but in the meantime arguing about it is doing nobody any favours."
"Fine I bet you one whole jar of every flavoured butterbeans that he isn't," Ginny challenged. "What scared?"
"No, okay, you're on." Ron answered.
Ron and Ginny sat and ate sulking in silence.
"Something tells me this is not going to be an easy year," said Harry.
"Have any of them," Hermione countered.
"I guess not," he replied as he smiled.
"Anyway, if he was a Malfoy would he really be teaching muggle studies." Ginny sniped.
"Ginny" Harry warned.
"What?" she replied with mock innocence.
"Never mind" he replied defeated. When it came to a Weasley argument, nothing could halt it. It was like an act of god, a hurricane or tornado. It would have been easier to stop the tide.
Spike started laughing to himself.
"What's so funny?" asked Wesley.
"Looks like our lessons are going to be filled with hormone fuelled teenage girls, that's all." Spike replied with a smirk.
"You shouldn't be listening to people's conversations like that." Wesley reprimanded.
"I'm evil, what did you expect." Spike said reasonably.
" It's still wrong, but.um, whilst your doing it .er. I don't suppose you could tell me what they are saying, could you?" Wesley asked hopefully.
"Why?" asked Spike with a sadistic grin on his face.
"Oh, um. purely from a professional viewpoint, you understand. To see my rapport with the students, I'd like to see what they think of having new teachers at their school and how it affects them." Wesley replied blushing with embarrassment.
"You're a pathetic liar" Spike replied shaking his head in mock disappointment. To cover up the smirking he was all too ready to fall victim to. " You just want your ego boosted."
"Oh come on, please," he pleaded.
"Okay, there may be a couple that like you." Spike said grudgingly "but that wont last past your first lesson."
"What do you mean?" Wesley asked slightly worried.
"Cordelia told me about how you got all nervous when her friends came over to the office and shoved an axe into the wall." Spike replied grinning.
"I swear I'm going to kill her when I get back." Wesley replied furious.
"Hey you're meant to be one of the good guys, I guess there's hope for you left." Spike said laughing.
Wesley glared at him whilst Spike fell into uncontrollable laughter and then he himself succumb to giggles.
"You're evil and depraved I just want you to know that, Spike," Wesley said smirking
"Wouldn't have it any other way" he replied wiping the tears from his eyes.
* * * * * * * * * *
Spike had walked out of the Great Hall and was blasted by the cool night air from the open double doors. "Good I needed a fag" he thought and walked outside. He leaned against the wall and took out a cigarette from the packet in his coat pocket. He pulled out his lighter and was about to light up when a flash of white caught his eye. "What the." He strode towards the lake where he could see a figure sitting at the edge.
Spike stood next to the sitting figure and stared out onto the lake. He lit his cigarette and sighed as a puff of smoke left his lips.
"They cause cancer you know. Aren't you worried?"
"Not particularly, believe me that's the least of my worries."
The figure laughed sadly "Yeah, I know the feeling." He sighed and then said, "You're new aren't you?"
"Yep I'm the new muggle studies teacher," Spike replied. The figure started to laugh and rose "Muggle studies." Then both Spike and the figure stared at each other. Their hair shining silver in the moonlight.
"Bloody hell!" exclaimed Spike, his cockney voice echoed through the trees.
"I was about to say the same thing" he replied and then laughed. " The name is Malfoy, Draco Malfoy." He offered his hand.
"What sort of like Blond, James Blond" retorted Spike in a bad Sean Connery impression. Malfoy just looked at him blankly. "Never mind," he took Malfoy's hand "Spike's the name although you can call me the Big Bad, if you prefer," he smirked.
"Are you sure you're a teacher here?" asked Malfoy incredulously.
"I'd be in the wrong bloody place if I wasn't." Spike replied, "anyway the rain is making my fags go out so I'm gonna go in. You coming?"
Malfoy thought for a minute and then smiled and said, "Yeah, I'm soaked anyway."
The two started to walk towards the door, "How long were you out here?" Spike asked.
"I don't know, an hour maybe more."
"That's a long time to stare at a lake."
Draco laughed softly, "yeah" he replied.
They reached the entrance hall, "well this is my stop," said Malfoy as he saw the Slytherin's walking to their common room.
"See ya," replied Spike as he watched him disappear down a corridor.
"Hey, where did you go to?" Wesley asked as he appeared at Spike's shoulder.
"Out" Spike replied distractedly, "see what you can find out about this Malfoy kid, I've got a feeling he might be what we're looking for."
"Yeah, okay but I give the next order," replied Wesley. Spike just looked at him and laughed as he walked away. "What? What's so funny? I can give orders too you know," Wesley shouted to the amusement of a couple of Hufflepuff students.
"Pryce, I trust we can be seen as more professional than this," thundered Snape.
"Yes Professor Snape," Wesley grumbled as he tramped his way up the stairs.
* * * * * * * * * *
An overweight silhouette sat hunched on the bench outside the train station. The silver arm glinted in the pale moonlight, it was still a wonder to him and probably would always be he thought as he proudly polished it.
"Oh isn't it pretty," a voice exclaimed.
Wormtail rose his eyes two see two women standing in front of him. The brunette that had just spoken was clutching a doll in one hand and her suitcase in the other as she stared entranced at his arm.
" I believe you were waiting for us," the blond said innocently as she flashed him a smile
Wormtail was taken aback. Of all he was suspecting the secret visitors of his master would be, he did not expect this. However, he felt very uneasy in their presence. Wormtail was not stupid, he hadn't survived this long to not realise when something was not right and these two were definitely not what they appeared. "It's this way," he said nervously.
"Oh look Miss Edith the metal man is scared of us," the woman told the doll and then laughed which only made Wormtail move faster, yet they kept up with him step for step. No these were definitely something to worry about.
* * * * * * * * * *