Ok... um... for all you people who actually remember the timetables of Harry & co, I switched it. Juss lettin you know...
Hee hee hee!! I hope you liked the last chapter!! And, you know, that last sentence, I thought of that on the spot... I thought it would work well... I'm glad to know it did... .:maniacal laughter:. So, anywho... I hope you all like this next chapter!!!
Oh, and thx to all you ppl who told me that they were called the Harbingers! I just knew that 'bringers' couldn't be right!! I was too plain!!
Trinity Last... uh... you know that sheepish look that anime characters get?? Well, imagine it on my face right now... hee hee... between homework and projects, it might have slipped my mind... thx for the reminder e-mail... sorry bout that...
And so begins our tale... well... continues our tale...
OOOOOOOOOOOOOOO
Willow and Dawn walked along the corridor together. Dawn had just finished telling Giles all about her dream. Apparently, it wasn't good. They turned the corner and bumped into Oz.
"Oh, hey."
"Hey Oz," Dawn replied, somewhat preoccupied with her thoughts.
Oz looked from one to the other. "What's up?"
"Oh, you know. Apocalypse," Willow replied.
"Oh. And I thought it was serious," Xander quipped, coming up behind Oz.
Dawn smiled at her friends. They could beat this. Apocalypse was permanently a part of their 'don't-worry-too-much-about-it' list.
"You know," Xander continued, "a lot of people would probably be panicking right now."
"Most people consider homework their biggest problem," Willow countered. "Life on the Hellmouth for ya!"
"You know, I think I'd rather be fighting vampires for the sake of the world," Dawn speculated. "But that's just my personal opinion."
The rest looked thoughtful. "Yeah, I think you're right," Oz replied. "At least you don't get marked on your slaying."
Dawn grimaced. "Yea, 'cause that would suck!"
"So," Xander cut in. "Who's the apocalyptic psychopath this time? Hey! I just said 'apocalyptic'!"
"Uh oh," Willow smirked. "That's Giles speak!"
"But seriously, Xander's got a point. Who, or what is it this time?" Oz questioned, not sounding too worried.
"A Lord Voltron or something," Dawn answered.
"Voldemort," Willow corrected. "You're just like your sister, you know that?"
"Well, I was made out of her," Dawn answered.
"Lord Voldemort? Sounds like a comic book bad guy," Xander speculated. "Oh no side-kick guy! It's the evil Lord Voldemort!" he continued in a mock super-hero voice.
And then it happened. Dawn was first. It started out as a snicker, then grew to a giggle, until it became an all out laugh. Then Willow joined in, then Oz, and soon, Xander jumped in. The corridors rang with the sounds of their mirth, and no one would have guessed that the Apocalypse was coming up. Except Anya.
"Wow. You laugh loudly. What is it this time? Apocalypse? You usually don't joke that much unless there's a big bad and you need to get rid of stress. Is it an apocalypse? Cause then I should probably go."
Xander looked up at his girlfriend. "An, how many apocalypses have you seen?"
"Oh, well, a few hundred I suppose."
"And?"
Anya sighed. "And I didn't die then, so I probably wont die now."
"Exactly."
"Anyways, I was just on my way to tell you that I have to go for a bit and check on this girl. Bad breakup, you know the drill. See ya later!" Anya smiled as she walked away. Xander shook his head. He sure had a weird girlfriend. Oh well, as Willow had put it earlier: life on the Hellmouth for ya!
OOOOOOOOOOOOOOO
Buffy stared at the boy in front of her. Did he really just say that? She looked over at Angel and sighed. He'd gone into a brood. Of course it bugged him that he killed her, but, it wasn't really his fault. After all, he hadn't had his soul, and that had been her fault. *So,* Buffy reasoned *I might as well have snapped her neck myself* And Buffy saddened as well.
Harry looked from one to the other. Professor Summers looked sad, like this Calendar woman was an old friend. But when Harry looked to Professor O'Donerty, he was shocked. His face was wracked with guilt. More guilt that it should be possible to feel, and it was all over this one person. What were they hiding?
"Um... professors?" Harry asked tentatively.
Buffy shook her head. "Sorry. So, what did Je-" Buffy's voice caught. She took a breath, and started again. "What did miss Calendar tell you?"
"She said Riddle was, er, 'summoned' by The First. I'm not too clear on that concept. But she said you would be, especially you, Professor," Harry looked at Angel, and Angel turned away. "She said he had to be stopped, and that the reason he was summoned would become clear in time, and that his mission would be carried out. She said I had to stop him, and you would help me."
"Alright Harry, we'll talk to you after class." Buffy answered distractedly, more concerned about Angel than this Riddle guy. He could wait, but the mentions of miss Calendar were getting to Angel.
Harry sighed. He walked right up to Angel and looked him in the eye. "and she sent a message," he started.
"Go on," Buffy prodded.
Angel returned Potter's gaze as he relayed the message. "She said you're forgiven."
And that did it. "I shouldn't be!" Angel screamed. "I don't deserve forgiveness!"
"Angel that's for her to decide!" Buffy reprimanded. She continued quieter. "During the whole ghost thing at school, I didn't think James deserved to be forgiven. Hell, for all I cared he could torment himself eternally for what he did. But, Giles told me something very important. 'Forgiveness is an act of compassion, it doesn't matter if you deserve it or not.' Angel, if she finds it in herself to forgive you, then you should to."
"It's not that simple Buffy," Angel sighed. "I can't just be forgiven and then move on with things. I can never finish atoning."
Buffy was about to reply when the class started to fill. She turned to Potter instead. "We'll talk about this after class."
"But, I have to go to potions-" Harry started.
"Then you'd better get Hermione to get the homework for you. We're having a nice long chat, you and I."
Harry sighed. "Yes Professor."
Buffy smiled and sent him to stand with his friends. She turned to address the class. "Alright class, seeing as I didn't write the day plan and I really have no idea what we're doing today, Professor O'Donerty will explain everything to you." This earned a chuckle from the students. *if one thing makes Angel forget about troubles, it's fighting!* Buffy thought to herself.
Angel stepped forward and flashed Buffy a small smile. "Ok, the first thing we're going to do is physical training. You won't be working with swords -or any weapons - for a while now," Angel answered the unspoken question. He knew the fight was on their minds. "We want you to be able to throw a punch before you start to throw daggers. Yes, you get to throw daggers."
Buffy stepped forward. "Of course, that will be once we're sure you can aim properly," she looked pointedly at Malfoy. The Gryffindors snickered. "The house that does best in today's class will earn 25 points. And that would be good for you if you've already lost some." Again, Buffy looked pointedly at Malfoy. The Gryffindors figured they had those points in the bag.
"First, you'll be split up into groups of two," Angel told the students. "Potter, Malfoy. Weasly, Longbottom. Granger, Patil," Angel went on pairing the students. Soon, they were ready to get started.
"Alright, Professor Summers and I will demonstrate a move, and you'll all do it." The students nodded. Angel threw a punch, and Buffy easily blocked it. He did it again, slower, so the students could see his form. They started to throw the punches, aiming for the shoulders of their partners. Buffy and Angel walked around the room, correcting students and telling them their problems.
Buffy got to Harry and Malfoy. "Very good, Potter. Excellent form." she praised. Malfoy threw a punch next. "No, no, Malfoy. Your form is all wrong, and it's too slow. If you're ever in a real fight, your opponent will be out of your way by the time the punch gets there! And you keep dropping your shoulder! Anyone who fights against you will have a huge warning that you're going to punch them! Try it again!"
Malfoy grumbled and threw the punch again. "No!" Buffy practically screamed. "You don't throw a punch like that!! Stop dropping your shoulder!"
"Well I won't bloody fight anyone like this! I'll use a wand! Like a real wizard," Draco countered.
Buffy glared and walked to the other side of the room. Malfoy just blinked. *did she really just leave me alone that easily?* Suddenly, Buffy spun around to face him. *Apparently not.* Before Draco knew what was happening, Buffy was charging at him. He had just whipped out his wand, when she snatched it out of his grasp.
"I just snapped your wand, Mr. Malfoy. Now what will you do?" She asked, just daring Malfoy to make another comment.
Malfoy grudgingly turned to Harry and threw a punch, without dropping his shoulder.
OOOOOOOOOOOOOOO
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