Chapter 14 - Flying

At long last the weekend came and on Saturday, Ron, Hermione, Harry, Sirius and the Scoobies went out early, to the Quidditch pitch. The Scoobies had to borrow school brooms, and with the help of Harry, Sirius and Ron they learnt to fly. Buffy was particularly good at it, with her slayer reflexes. Xander also had some talent, and he and Buffy raced from one end of the pitch to the other. Harry watched them, wondering if he thought he could beat Buffy. It would be close he decided. Dawn was able to fly fairly well, and went slowly round the pitch with Hermione, who was not a big fan of flying. Willow hovered a few feet above Giles, who was having trouble convincing himself to get off the ground. Sirius was trying to help, but he found the whole thing too funny, and so was not much help.

"C'mon Giles," Willow said impatiently, "Just kick off. Its not difficult."

"I beg to differ," Giles said irritably, "I dislike heights, so I would say that makes it somewhat difficult."

Sirius just laughed, holding onto his broomstick to keep him standing. Eventually Giles kicked off and rose shakily into the air. Willow sped off on her broomstick, following Xander and Buffy. Giles flew a little way, then came to a standstill in mid air. He made the mistake of looking down, leading to him having to be helped down by Ron. Sirius, who was in mid-flight nearly fell off with laughter.

"Let's race," Harry suggested. They all agreed, except for Hermione, Willow, Dawn and Giles, who decided to watch and judge.

"Only if you change brooms," Ron said, "We've got no chance against a Firebolt." Harry took Giles' broom.

"Ready….set…GO!" Dawn yelled, and they shot off, racing from one end of the pitch. Harry pulled ahead, followed by Buffy, then Xander, Sirius and Ron. It was close, but Harry won it marginally, followed by Buffy, then Ron, and lastly Xander and Sirius who tied.

"I'll get you next time," said Buffy to Harry, "You wait."

"Doubt it," Harry said grinning, "But seriously, you're an amazing flyer!"

"Slayer senses," Buffy said nonchalantly. "Means I've got quicker reactions than most people." They picked up their brooms and headed back to the castle.

"So what's it like being stronger than everyone?" Harry asked Buffy, falling into step with her. "I mean doesn't it get annoying being singled out like that? I know I find it annoying."

"But its not like that for me." Buffy explained. "Not very many people know I'm the slayer, and I have to cover up my strength. Be Miss Invisible."

"She's scared of me despite the strength," Dawn said, joining them.

"She's a hair puller," Buffy said in agreement.

Harry was called to Dumbledore's office that evening after dinner and Dumbledore filled him in on the information of yesterday.

"You've got to let me fight," Harry said firmly, standing up, "I can fight, and I can face Voldemort.""

"I don't doubt that Harry," Dumbledore said calmly, "But we can't risk your death at that hands of a lucky death eater, or a clever vampire."

"But I can't just let everyone else face that without me," Harry cried, "What if Sirius dies again, or Lupin this time, or Buffy or you? We need to finish this, we can't have that kind of loss."

"I accept that Harry," Dumbledore answered "But we can face that kind of loss, what we can't face is the loss of you, you are too important."

"I'm supposed to wait in the castle while other people die?" Harry said angrily, "Like they don't mean anything, because they don't have a prophecy about them."

"This is war, Harry" Dumbledore said, "We are fighting a war against Voldemort. You are our weapon. Your time will come but when you face Voldemort, it will not be on a crowded battle field, surrounded by death eaters and demons, it will be face on. Please trust me on this." Harry looked at Dumbledore, not knowing what to do. Finally he nodded, he would have to trust Dumbledore. He left the office and walked the corridors, not really wanting to go to Gryffindor tower just yet. He turned a corner and ran smack into Buffy.

"Whoa," Buffy said, "Steady. You could take someone's eye out."

"Sorry," Harry said, "I've just been to see Dumbledore, and well…"

"You want to fight?" Buffy supplied. "He said you would."

"Yeah," Harry said. "I can't sit around whilst everyone else gets hurt. I'm no one special."

"But the point is that you are," Buffy said seriously, "You are special. Dawn was the same, she was vital to the cause. She could understand that she had to stay safe and you will have to as well."

Harry nodded.

"Truest me, I know what its like," Buffy smiled ruefully, "I was prophecy-girl myself, its not easy,. But sometimes things don't turn out how you think they will. I was supposed to die at the hands of the Master, and yeah, I did, but I'm still here. Things might turn out better than you think."

"It just bothers me, that there's so much pressure," Harry said, "I can accept what I have to do, I haven't got a choice, but if I get it wrong, if I'm not good enough then not only I die, but everyone who doesn't follow Voldemort dies."

"The weight of the world on your shoulders, not new ground to us," Buffy said musingly, "You know the story, the one girl in all the world blah blah blah, I've done the world resting on my shoulders to death. Literally. I've killed someone I loved more than anything, died twice and sacrificed everything that I hold dear along the way. Its not easy. But you've got no choice. It's hard but that's how it is. You except it or you don't. And I chose to accept it. Instead of asking why, I just did it. It was hard, I'm not saying it wasn't but in the end, I'm who I am because of it. You and me are always going to be different to everyone else, always going to the be the one alone, however many people are standing around us, because they will never fully understand what it is to be us. There are the other slayers, even Faith, who has been through a lot, but she will never understand because she hasn't been with me the whole way through. She never had to hear the prophecy of her death, or kill Angel, or jump off a tower to save my sister. But if you need someone who might understand you can talk to me. I'll be listening."

"Thank you," said Harry sincerely.

"G'night then," Buffy said smiling at him, and she disappeared into the darkness of the hallways.