Key- "Blah" = dialogue
*blah* = thoughts
[blah] = Author's notes
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Hermione, Ron, and Harry stole silently away from the scene before them. Hermione was right, something was up with the new professors, and they had just confirmed their fears. When they were about twenty feet away from the scene, Ron stepped on - and snapped - a twig.
Buffy suddenly turned around to face directly towards the three. Angel noticed the action, and took care to speak loud enough so that only Buffy's acute hearing would know he was talking.
"What's wrong?"
Buffy answered in the same volume, "I heard something. There's something out there, what are you picking up?"
"I can smell the blood."
"Let's go." They stole off in silent pursuit of their unseen prey.
Hermione stole a backward glance and saw that they were being followed. She thought nothing of it however, and assumed they were simply leaving the forest. Turning back a second time, however, she realized that they were definitely being followed.
"Harry," she whispered "I think they know we're here."
Before Harry or Ron could reply, a figure lunged at them, and tore the cloak off of them.
"Ooo! Cool cloak!" Buffy put the cloak on, like a child who received a new toy. She stalked around, and none of the three friends knew where she was. They saw Professor O'Donerty walking towards them.
When he was about ten feet away, he turned to face thin air and said, "Buffy, take the cloak off. It isn't yours." To the astonishment of Harry, Ron, and Hermione, the cloak moved and Buffy appeared EXACTLY where Angel had been facing.
"You're no fun." Buffy pouted. "And as for you three, I believe this is called the Forbidden Forest, because it is FORBIDDEN! Our office, NOW!"
"You share an office?" Hermione didn't mean to say it, it just spilled out. She blushed a deep red, and Buffy caught on immediately.
Taking Angel's arm, she responded, "yes, I share an office with my husband." Hermione looked up with a shocked look on her face. "Now, our office, let's go.
Harry, Ron and Hermione followed ruefully, faces toward the ground.
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As soon as they were in the office, Hermione started rapid fire questions at Buffy. "What happened in there? Why did that guy turn to dust? How did you know how to do that? Was it magic? Why didn't you have a wand? How did you know we were there? How did he know where you were? Why were you in the Forest? And *why* didn't Professor O'Donerty *eat* at the feast?!"
Buffy smiled. "In order, none of your business, he was a vampire, none of your business, no, none of your business, you snapped a twig, he's my husband: he knows these things!, none of your business, and, um... none of your business?"
Spike walked into the room, and, not noticing the trio, addressed Buffy by the name he commonly calls her, "Slayer! We got tr-" Spike noticed the glares he was getting from Buffy and Angel. "What? I didn't *do* anything!... this time." In response, Buffy pointed to where the three friends sat. Spike followed her hand, and saw the kids, who just heard who Buffy was. "Oops. Sorry, luv. Didn't mean to go tellin' everyone who you are, but, I didn't see them!" Angel growled. "Easy there, Peaches! If what I've heard bout that brownie there is true, she'd have had it figured out for herself in no time! You just calm down! That temper of yours is a killer." Spike winked.
Angel was about to pummel Spike into oblivion, when Buffy stepped between them. "That's ENOUGH! For heaven's sake, Angel, they already heard Spike, and killing him - as much *fun* as it may be - will not *help* any." She glared at them both until they sat down. "Now, let's deal with *these* three."
Hermione looked at Spike, "I read about Slayers once," she said.
Spike looked uninterested. "Really?" he drawled.
The next comment interested Spike in a second. "Yes, they're a myth." Spike snorted, Buffy laughed, and Angel... he stayed very Angel-y... quiet. "What?" Hermione asked indignantly.
Buffy looked at her, "well, it would have saved me a lot of trouble if that were true."
Ron sided with Hermione. "The Slayer is just something muggles made up so they could feel safe. She's not real!"
Spike had the argument there. "They why don't muggles know she exists?"
"Well, uh, er..." he trailed off, realizing he'd lost.
"Exactly my point. As for you, luv, you better do better research."
Hermione didn't back down. "There's no proof anywhere that there is really 'one girl in all the world to find the vampires where they gather and-"
"-stop the swell of their numbers" Buffy finished the line for her.
"You know the prophecy?"
"I'm pretty familiar with it. That's just one of the variations I know. Now, I believe we were here to discuss a punishment." Buffy eyed the trio suspiciously. "What *were* you doing in the forest anyway?"
"Well, we, uh, were, er, walking, and, um..."
"Following us, huh?" Angel picked up right away. "If you were so suspicious of us that you broke not only one rule but *two* I'd say it would have to be very important?"
Hermione looked at the ground, and Ron and Harry exchanged a look. "We weren't following you." Ron stated.
Spike looked at him. "Not only do you suck at stealth, but you also suck at lying. So, I guess we were right bout you little friend there."
Buffy just sighed. "Spike, shut up. You three, fifty points for being out after dark, and fifty points for being in the forest. My God, it's not even the first day of classes and you've already managed to get in trouble. I guess that Snape guy was right about you. Now, go to bed!"
The three students left and Buffy turned to glare at Spike. "Next time, look around before you open your big mouth! We could have been in trouble there! Have you ever heard of a secret identity?!" Buffy calmed down while Angel asked the nagging question.
"Why did you come here in the first place, Spike?"
"Watcher found a prophecy. Involves the Potter kid."
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**exit music**
so there's chapter five. Hope you liked it. I'm really happy with the amount of reviews coming in for this fic, and I hope you keep them coming. I like knowing what people think o this story!