Disclaimer: I don't own any of the characters. They are owned by Joss
Wheton and J.K. Rowling.
A/N: Thanks for all the reviews. Don't think me stupid, when saw that I had even one, I was at school and went dancing around the computer room telling everyone that I knew and everyone that I didn't. Thank you all! Keep them coming. I hope that you enjoy this part. I have also just received my first flame!
Jo_Md: Yes you are right, I LOVE Mills and Boon romance novels...although I don't know how you figured that from the one chapter that you read? Oh well...have you ever read the Blaze books? They are the best.
Teaching is a Whole Different Language.
It didn't take them long to get to the front entrance of the school. Dumbledore took the time to explain some things to the two.
"All the teachers will be here, and a few others I presume. They all know that I was going to recruit a new teacher for the new class, but no one knew who or where I was getting them. They will all be in the teachers common room discussing the new timetable and teaching schedules."
"Very well. Are you sure that these teachers of yours will not mind me being on the staff? I am young to be looked at as a teacher." Buffy asked concerned.
"You don't look young at the moment." Giles commented gently. She arched her eyebrows at him. He smiled sheepishly and shrugged. She decided to ask him what he meant later.
There was no time to talk as they entered the castle, Buffy was too fascinated with the paintings that moved and the incredible enchanted stairways. She wasn't able to keep track of where they were going and quickly became lost in the passages and corridors.
"How do you find your way around?" She demanded. Dumbledore only chuckled and came to a halt in front of a huge painting.
"Crispy Lettuce." Dumbledore said and the painting split in half and slid open like sliding doors at a supermarket. They stepped inside. There was a large group of people in the room and they all turned to look at the new arrivals. They all wore the long capes and robes that Dumbledore wore and they made Buffy feel out of place in denim.
"Welcome back Professor." A lady with white hair murmured, standing slightly. We didn't expect you to return so soon."
"Ahh, Minerva, it is good to come home unexpectedly. It keeps people on their toes."
The lady looked over to Giles and Buffy. "Won't you introduce us?"
"Of course. This is Rupert Giles and Buffy Summers. I told you that I was getting a new teacher."
"It is a pleasure to meet you Mr. Giles." She warmly greeted Giles shaking his hand.
"You to Buffy. Is Mr. Giles your father? I hope you forgive me for asking but why have you accompanied your father?"
Buffy coughed uncomfortably and looked at Giles uncertain. Giles knew from experience that his slayer didn't like public confrontations and that if this matter weren't resolved then there she would turn and run. He looked at Dumbledore franticly. The Professor caught his eyes and realised his worry.
"Ahh, now Minerva, I didn't really make myself clear, did I? What I meant to say was here is our new Wand less Defence teacher Buffy Summers and her guardian Rupert Giles." This caused a gasp of astonishment.
Minerva took it in her stride though. She had noticed Buffy's worries also. "I'm sorry Buffy. I didn't mean to embarrass you. Welcome to Hogwarts. I teach transfiguration here. Let me introduce you to the other teachers." She took Buffy's hand and led here into the room. Buffy met the Professor Sprout teacher of Herbology, Professor Flitwick the charms teacher, Professor Bins teacher of the History of Magic, Buffy was shocked to see that he was a ghost.
She also met Madame Pince the librarian, Madame Hooch, Madame Pomfrey and a large man named Hagrid. Buffy took a liking to him immediately and she thought that he felt the same way. The last teacher that she met seemed to not want to meet her. His name was Professor Severus Snape and he taught potions. She looked at him for a long minute then did something that she almost never did any more. She held out her hand for him to shake. A gesture of friendship.
He looked at her more closely. How could this small, young girl want to be friends with him? He hadn't had many friends in his life and he didn't think that he wanted to start making them now. Still, he could at least be polite and shake her hand.
He saw that she noticed his hesitation and there was a brief look of hurt in her eyes and she went to turn away. His senses came back and he clasped her hand. It was as close he could get to a kind handshake but he was shocked at her grip. This girl had some hidden power.
He could have sworn that he saw a flash of relief and gratitude in her eyes before she covered it up. Her eyes went back to the way they had been when she first came into the room. They were filled with a deep sadness that he couldn't begin to comprehend.
The girl nodded and moved off with Professor McGonagall.
By the end of her introductions there were five teachers that she had felt friendship towards particularly strong; Professor McGonagall, Professor Dumbledore, Hagrid, a new/old Professor Remus Lupin who she liked quite a bit, and Professor Snape, although the later was with a lot of hesitancy. She was released and she retuned to stand by Giles again. He noticed her out of character mood and was confused. She appeared to be drawing some sort strength from his presence that re assured her.
"Albus?" A voice demanded from near the window.
"Yes?" He asked looking to the voice. It was Mr. Flitch, the janitor.
"Are you sure you want this girl to teach an active class. She seems to be nothing more than a ditz that could be broken if she was bumped into." His voice said that he was discussed. He walked over to her and ignored Giles.
He was a full meter away from her and she saw that he was a deal heavier that hear and several inches taller. He deliberately and insultingly looked her up and down. Other teachers started to object to the treatment her was giving her. She saw Dumbledore gesturing to them to let her deal with it.
She no longer needed Giles support. She placed her hands on her hips and played the ditz that he obviously thought that she was. She had plenty of practice at that. She let her hip sway out to the side slightly the way she had so long ago. It made men drool over her and she thought that was good at the time. It had a similar effect on this dirty man. She placed a finger to her lip and smiled a dopey grin.
"You wouldn't be looking at me for 'that' reason would you?" She asked innocently her eyes wide. Giles had seen this routine before and he was struggling to conceal an outburst of laughter.
"Of course it is. Now little girl, maybe you can go home to where you can be nice and safe." He winked, suggesting that he might like to join her. She'd had enough of that. She took one step and closed that gap between them and grabbed him by the scruff o the neck. She lifted him up off the floor a whole foot.
The surprise he felt was evident in his eyes and she looked at him disgustedly. She shook him for good measure then brought him down and she told him in a voice that the others could hear if they wanted, "Don't ever make accusations that you can't back up. Ever look at me like that and I'll break your leg." She threw him across the room and he hit the wall.
She noticed that others were looking at her in awe. "What? It's not like I threw him hard of anything!" She exclaimed. They risked a glance at the wall where there was now a Flitch shaped dent, then back at her even more shocked. Giles, unable to contain it, burst into uncontrollable laughter. She elbowed him gently in the ribs also smiling.
Dumbledore was now also grinning, "I did tell you that I would bring back the best." He announced.
Buffy smiled at his compliment but instantly refused to accept it. "Don't be silly. I am defiantly not the best. I just trained hard." She muttered.
He gave her a look that said that he didn't believe it and she only shrugged.
"That was quite a display, Buffy." Remus spoke up. "I was wondering if you would be able to tell us what you would be teaching here at Hogwarts? That is if the Professor," he glared at Albus, "Has told you himself."
"Remus, if I may explain?" Dumbledore asked politely. "Ms. Summers here is the best. She not only has extensive martial arts knowledge, she also has plenty of on field experience in dealing with demons and other mystical creatures. I though that she would be a great help with some aspects of the Defense Against the Dark Arts, this year."
"Buffy, what do you do with the creatures that you have dealt with?" Remus pursued, she noticed that he was getting a little uncomfortable.
"Most of them I hunt down and kill." She told him bluntly. "Those are normally the bad guys though. You know, those that want to hurt people or kill them."
"So, what's your opinion of werewolves?" He asked. He looked as though he was afraid of the answer. The large dog on the common room floor, introduced to her, as snuffles seemed to perk his ears up for her answer also.
Buffy studied him closely. He seemed nervous and tired. He was perspiring but not too much. Suddenly if clicked to her. He had the same sort of posture and jitters that Oz had when he was around other people for too long. She smiled kindly at him.
"I have never harmed a werewolf. They cannot help who they are and they are relatively harmless when they are contained properly. In fact, when I was in high school a few years ago, a very close friend of mine, who also was my best friends boy friend, was a werewolf. We locked him in the weapons cage in the school library during full moons. Me and all my friends took it in turns to sit up with him." She smiled again at him and noticed that she had the whole room entranced with her story. "Don't worry sir, you are safe from me." He seemed to visibly relax and the dog gave a snort and dropped his head back to the floor.
They all talked more and eventually got back to the planning of the schedule. Giles and Albus took a seat and participated in the discussion. Buffy went over to the dog and the floor and sat beside him. She scratched him behind the ears and he seemed to like it, as he didn't object to it. He placed his head in her lap she grinned and continued to scratch him. She listened to the conversation that was being conducted around her.
She learnt a lot about the school and the classes that were offered. The teachers offered her information that she might need and offered her help should she need it. They told her about the students. She was warned more than once about a pair of twins with red hair. They were Fred and George Weasley. Apparently they were the worst pranksters since a group of for boys who Dumbledore referred to as Padfoot, Moony, Prongs and Wormtail. She wondered why Remus face reddened and the dog shifted uncomfortably at this announcement.
At one point she decided that the dog in her lap was more intelligent than he seemed, as he appeared to listen to the conversations around him. Fortunately, Buffy had a soft spot for dogs. She had never had a pet of her own due to her duties and the fact that animals in Sunnydale tended to get eaten. She thought that if this dog were around then she would try to make the most of it.
It was hours later before the teachers decided to call it a night. They all stood and moved out of the room. The only people remaining were Dumbledore, Giles, Snape the Dog and Buffy.
Giles looked over to where Buffy and the dog were sitting. He was surprised to see that the girl had fallen asleep with her head resting on the back of the black dog. He looked at them as if to say that he understood that the girl needed the sleep.
The three men all fought the urge of protectiveness they felt over this girl with the sad eyes, who looked vulnerable now but the knew that she was dangerous.
In the end it was Giles that woke her gently and pulled her to her feet. He led her with an arm around her shoulder as he followed Dumbledore to where Buffy was to sleep. They were in a tower, that much Giles was able to establish. Giles room was opposite hers. They left the girl to put herself to bed and then exited the room.
***
Snape was confused. The girl couldn't possibly be that strong. He had witnessed her lift up Flitch and throw him across the room as though he weighed nothing more than a packed of chips. That was defiantly not normal.
He sank back into his chair deep in thought. She seemed to be very nice though. She even offered him friendship. Not many people like him and judge him on first impressions. She had looked into his soul with her deep sad eyes and seen something that others saw. For the life of him he couldn't think what that was.
How was it possible for a girl that young to come into the school and wreak havoc in only a few hours? But still, the girl looked unwell. There were bags under her eyes as though she hadn't slept in months and she seemed to be wearing her black clothes as though they were her mood perfectly displayed. Something terrible had happened to this girl. He decided at last. But he wouldn't interfere. He would wait and see how things played out.
He did have to chuckle at the attention that he gave the dog. He wondered what she would do if she knew the dog that had his head in her lap no less, was really Sirius Black, Harry Potters godfather and one of the wizarding worlds wanted felons. Not that he was guilty of course.
He continued to laugh quietly.
A/N: Thanks for all the reviews. Don't think me stupid, when saw that I had even one, I was at school and went dancing around the computer room telling everyone that I knew and everyone that I didn't. Thank you all! Keep them coming. I hope that you enjoy this part. I have also just received my first flame!
Jo_Md: Yes you are right, I LOVE Mills and Boon romance novels...although I don't know how you figured that from the one chapter that you read? Oh well...have you ever read the Blaze books? They are the best.
Teaching is a Whole Different Language.
It didn't take them long to get to the front entrance of the school. Dumbledore took the time to explain some things to the two.
"All the teachers will be here, and a few others I presume. They all know that I was going to recruit a new teacher for the new class, but no one knew who or where I was getting them. They will all be in the teachers common room discussing the new timetable and teaching schedules."
"Very well. Are you sure that these teachers of yours will not mind me being on the staff? I am young to be looked at as a teacher." Buffy asked concerned.
"You don't look young at the moment." Giles commented gently. She arched her eyebrows at him. He smiled sheepishly and shrugged. She decided to ask him what he meant later.
There was no time to talk as they entered the castle, Buffy was too fascinated with the paintings that moved and the incredible enchanted stairways. She wasn't able to keep track of where they were going and quickly became lost in the passages and corridors.
"How do you find your way around?" She demanded. Dumbledore only chuckled and came to a halt in front of a huge painting.
"Crispy Lettuce." Dumbledore said and the painting split in half and slid open like sliding doors at a supermarket. They stepped inside. There was a large group of people in the room and they all turned to look at the new arrivals. They all wore the long capes and robes that Dumbledore wore and they made Buffy feel out of place in denim.
"Welcome back Professor." A lady with white hair murmured, standing slightly. We didn't expect you to return so soon."
"Ahh, Minerva, it is good to come home unexpectedly. It keeps people on their toes."
The lady looked over to Giles and Buffy. "Won't you introduce us?"
"Of course. This is Rupert Giles and Buffy Summers. I told you that I was getting a new teacher."
"It is a pleasure to meet you Mr. Giles." She warmly greeted Giles shaking his hand.
"You to Buffy. Is Mr. Giles your father? I hope you forgive me for asking but why have you accompanied your father?"
Buffy coughed uncomfortably and looked at Giles uncertain. Giles knew from experience that his slayer didn't like public confrontations and that if this matter weren't resolved then there she would turn and run. He looked at Dumbledore franticly. The Professor caught his eyes and realised his worry.
"Ahh, now Minerva, I didn't really make myself clear, did I? What I meant to say was here is our new Wand less Defence teacher Buffy Summers and her guardian Rupert Giles." This caused a gasp of astonishment.
Minerva took it in her stride though. She had noticed Buffy's worries also. "I'm sorry Buffy. I didn't mean to embarrass you. Welcome to Hogwarts. I teach transfiguration here. Let me introduce you to the other teachers." She took Buffy's hand and led here into the room. Buffy met the Professor Sprout teacher of Herbology, Professor Flitwick the charms teacher, Professor Bins teacher of the History of Magic, Buffy was shocked to see that he was a ghost.
She also met Madame Pince the librarian, Madame Hooch, Madame Pomfrey and a large man named Hagrid. Buffy took a liking to him immediately and she thought that he felt the same way. The last teacher that she met seemed to not want to meet her. His name was Professor Severus Snape and he taught potions. She looked at him for a long minute then did something that she almost never did any more. She held out her hand for him to shake. A gesture of friendship.
He looked at her more closely. How could this small, young girl want to be friends with him? He hadn't had many friends in his life and he didn't think that he wanted to start making them now. Still, he could at least be polite and shake her hand.
He saw that she noticed his hesitation and there was a brief look of hurt in her eyes and she went to turn away. His senses came back and he clasped her hand. It was as close he could get to a kind handshake but he was shocked at her grip. This girl had some hidden power.
He could have sworn that he saw a flash of relief and gratitude in her eyes before she covered it up. Her eyes went back to the way they had been when she first came into the room. They were filled with a deep sadness that he couldn't begin to comprehend.
The girl nodded and moved off with Professor McGonagall.
By the end of her introductions there were five teachers that she had felt friendship towards particularly strong; Professor McGonagall, Professor Dumbledore, Hagrid, a new/old Professor Remus Lupin who she liked quite a bit, and Professor Snape, although the later was with a lot of hesitancy. She was released and she retuned to stand by Giles again. He noticed her out of character mood and was confused. She appeared to be drawing some sort strength from his presence that re assured her.
"Albus?" A voice demanded from near the window.
"Yes?" He asked looking to the voice. It was Mr. Flitch, the janitor.
"Are you sure you want this girl to teach an active class. She seems to be nothing more than a ditz that could be broken if she was bumped into." His voice said that he was discussed. He walked over to her and ignored Giles.
He was a full meter away from her and she saw that he was a deal heavier that hear and several inches taller. He deliberately and insultingly looked her up and down. Other teachers started to object to the treatment her was giving her. She saw Dumbledore gesturing to them to let her deal with it.
She no longer needed Giles support. She placed her hands on her hips and played the ditz that he obviously thought that she was. She had plenty of practice at that. She let her hip sway out to the side slightly the way she had so long ago. It made men drool over her and she thought that was good at the time. It had a similar effect on this dirty man. She placed a finger to her lip and smiled a dopey grin.
"You wouldn't be looking at me for 'that' reason would you?" She asked innocently her eyes wide. Giles had seen this routine before and he was struggling to conceal an outburst of laughter.
"Of course it is. Now little girl, maybe you can go home to where you can be nice and safe." He winked, suggesting that he might like to join her. She'd had enough of that. She took one step and closed that gap between them and grabbed him by the scruff o the neck. She lifted him up off the floor a whole foot.
The surprise he felt was evident in his eyes and she looked at him disgustedly. She shook him for good measure then brought him down and she told him in a voice that the others could hear if they wanted, "Don't ever make accusations that you can't back up. Ever look at me like that and I'll break your leg." She threw him across the room and he hit the wall.
She noticed that others were looking at her in awe. "What? It's not like I threw him hard of anything!" She exclaimed. They risked a glance at the wall where there was now a Flitch shaped dent, then back at her even more shocked. Giles, unable to contain it, burst into uncontrollable laughter. She elbowed him gently in the ribs also smiling.
Dumbledore was now also grinning, "I did tell you that I would bring back the best." He announced.
Buffy smiled at his compliment but instantly refused to accept it. "Don't be silly. I am defiantly not the best. I just trained hard." She muttered.
He gave her a look that said that he didn't believe it and she only shrugged.
"That was quite a display, Buffy." Remus spoke up. "I was wondering if you would be able to tell us what you would be teaching here at Hogwarts? That is if the Professor," he glared at Albus, "Has told you himself."
"Remus, if I may explain?" Dumbledore asked politely. "Ms. Summers here is the best. She not only has extensive martial arts knowledge, she also has plenty of on field experience in dealing with demons and other mystical creatures. I though that she would be a great help with some aspects of the Defense Against the Dark Arts, this year."
"Buffy, what do you do with the creatures that you have dealt with?" Remus pursued, she noticed that he was getting a little uncomfortable.
"Most of them I hunt down and kill." She told him bluntly. "Those are normally the bad guys though. You know, those that want to hurt people or kill them."
"So, what's your opinion of werewolves?" He asked. He looked as though he was afraid of the answer. The large dog on the common room floor, introduced to her, as snuffles seemed to perk his ears up for her answer also.
Buffy studied him closely. He seemed nervous and tired. He was perspiring but not too much. Suddenly if clicked to her. He had the same sort of posture and jitters that Oz had when he was around other people for too long. She smiled kindly at him.
"I have never harmed a werewolf. They cannot help who they are and they are relatively harmless when they are contained properly. In fact, when I was in high school a few years ago, a very close friend of mine, who also was my best friends boy friend, was a werewolf. We locked him in the weapons cage in the school library during full moons. Me and all my friends took it in turns to sit up with him." She smiled again at him and noticed that she had the whole room entranced with her story. "Don't worry sir, you are safe from me." He seemed to visibly relax and the dog gave a snort and dropped his head back to the floor.
They all talked more and eventually got back to the planning of the schedule. Giles and Albus took a seat and participated in the discussion. Buffy went over to the dog and the floor and sat beside him. She scratched him behind the ears and he seemed to like it, as he didn't object to it. He placed his head in her lap she grinned and continued to scratch him. She listened to the conversation that was being conducted around her.
She learnt a lot about the school and the classes that were offered. The teachers offered her information that she might need and offered her help should she need it. They told her about the students. She was warned more than once about a pair of twins with red hair. They were Fred and George Weasley. Apparently they were the worst pranksters since a group of for boys who Dumbledore referred to as Padfoot, Moony, Prongs and Wormtail. She wondered why Remus face reddened and the dog shifted uncomfortably at this announcement.
At one point she decided that the dog in her lap was more intelligent than he seemed, as he appeared to listen to the conversations around him. Fortunately, Buffy had a soft spot for dogs. She had never had a pet of her own due to her duties and the fact that animals in Sunnydale tended to get eaten. She thought that if this dog were around then she would try to make the most of it.
It was hours later before the teachers decided to call it a night. They all stood and moved out of the room. The only people remaining were Dumbledore, Giles, Snape the Dog and Buffy.
Giles looked over to where Buffy and the dog were sitting. He was surprised to see that the girl had fallen asleep with her head resting on the back of the black dog. He looked at them as if to say that he understood that the girl needed the sleep.
The three men all fought the urge of protectiveness they felt over this girl with the sad eyes, who looked vulnerable now but the knew that she was dangerous.
In the end it was Giles that woke her gently and pulled her to her feet. He led her with an arm around her shoulder as he followed Dumbledore to where Buffy was to sleep. They were in a tower, that much Giles was able to establish. Giles room was opposite hers. They left the girl to put herself to bed and then exited the room.
***
Snape was confused. The girl couldn't possibly be that strong. He had witnessed her lift up Flitch and throw him across the room as though he weighed nothing more than a packed of chips. That was defiantly not normal.
He sank back into his chair deep in thought. She seemed to be very nice though. She even offered him friendship. Not many people like him and judge him on first impressions. She had looked into his soul with her deep sad eyes and seen something that others saw. For the life of him he couldn't think what that was.
How was it possible for a girl that young to come into the school and wreak havoc in only a few hours? But still, the girl looked unwell. There were bags under her eyes as though she hadn't slept in months and she seemed to be wearing her black clothes as though they were her mood perfectly displayed. Something terrible had happened to this girl. He decided at last. But he wouldn't interfere. He would wait and see how things played out.
He did have to chuckle at the attention that he gave the dog. He wondered what she would do if she knew the dog that had his head in her lap no less, was really Sirius Black, Harry Potters godfather and one of the wizarding worlds wanted felons. Not that he was guilty of course.
He continued to laugh quietly.